Chapter 68: Do Good Deeds and Ask Not About the Future

Soon, Liu Jian brought Huo Renli's children into the palace.

Brainwashed by Yuan Ning, and both being lazy by nature, they harbored no suspicions whatsoever and instead appeared exceptionally excited.

In particular, upon laying eyes on the Fourth Prince—whose beauty resembled that of a celestial being—Liu Dahua's eyes instantly lit up. She eagerly stepped forward and said, "You must be the Fourth Prince, right? Did my father become a high-ranking official by following you?"

Liu Erxi was a bit more cautious. He tugged at his elder sister's sleeve, shrank back slightly, and looked on with vigilant eyes.

Yet, seeing that the Fourth Prince showed no displeasure, Liu Dahua plucked up her courage and continued, "Grandpa Liu said you brought us into the palace to live a life of luxury. Fourth Prince, will you treat us like close family from now on?"

"My father treated you very well, didn't he? Is that why you were willing to bring us here?"

The Fourth Prince replied, "He was indeed very good to me. I will take you to see him very soon."

Liu Dahua exclaimed excitedly, "That's wonderful! We haven't seen him in ages. Right before we left, Mother even said Father was a liar, but she was wrong. Father is no liar at all; he has become a high official."

"Little brother, we are going to get rich!"

Looking at the Fourth Prince's forced, unsmiling expression, Liu Erxi felt a chill strike deep into his heart. However, seeing that the surrounding palace attendants remained entirely unconcerned, he gradually let down his guard.

Yet, the very instant they set eyes on Liu Qiang, two piercing screams tore through the night sky, foreshadowing the unrest of this night.

...

Early in the morning.

Luo Qingyu entered the palace to report on the Prince's Manor's financial revenues to Lin Yue. Since Lin Yue was still fast asleep, he had no choice but to wait outside.

The Empress Dowager had already risen. Seeing Luo Qingyu waiting outside the hall—possessing sword-like eyebrows, star-like eyes, and a tall, upright posture whose profile bore a striking resemblance to Xiao Jingyun—she suddenly understood why this young man had caught her son's eye. She deliberately walked up to him and asked, "Are you here waiting for the Prince Consort's wife?"

Seeing her dressed in ordinary garments, Luo Qingyu assumed she was merely an elderly palace matron and replied, "Replying to Mama, yes, I am."

The surrounding palace attendants widened their eyes in shock, just about to step forward and explain, when they heard the Empress Dowager chuckle heartily and say, "What a coincidence, so am I."

"The Princess of Ding tends to sleep in. Just let her sleep a bit longer. When she is at the manor, none of you are allowed to disturb her. A woman's morning temper is fierce and not to be trifled with."

Luo Qingyu pressed the corners of his lips together and said, "In the past, the Princess would still have the Heir's wife pay her morning respects. Later, out of consideration for the Heir and his wife's recent marriage, she excused them from coming to the main courtyard for morning greetings."

"Now that the Princess has returned to the manor, she still sleeps until she wakes up naturally."

Hearing his voice, which was warm, honest, and accompanied by bright, spirited eyes, the Empress Dowager thought to herself that he was truly a vibrant and energetic young man.

The Empress Dowager said, "Hearing that puts this old body at ease."

Luo Qingyu froze: *This old body?*

Could she be...

He felt his pupils contract violently, and he quickly dropped to his knees.

Just then, the chamber door opened, and Lin Yue chided playfully, "Mother is trying to frighten children again."

The Empress Dowager laughed heartily. "He is Jingyun's disciple, which makes him half a grandson of mine. What harm is there in teasing him a little?"

"Look at you—why didn't you have him come later if you couldn't wake up in the morning? He traveled all the way from outside the palace, which means he must have gotten up before dawn."

Luo Qingyu hurriedly said, "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, your servant is simply used to rising early. This has nothing to do with Her Highness the Princess."

The Empress Dowager remarked, "Look at that, he is already defending his master."

Lin Yue observed:
*[Most importantly, he is upright, motivated, and a diligent, upward-strriving fine young man.]*
*[Besides, although he is the exact same age as Xiao Huaiqing, he somehow looks several years older. Not only is he poised and steady, but his character is also top-notch.]*

Hearing Lin Yue's inner thoughts, Luo Qingyu involuntarily blushed, yet his gaze grew increasingly brilliant.

In truth, he was not nearly as wonderful as his royal mistress made him out to be, but... he would work hard to become so!

Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager grew somewhat puzzled and asked, "How old is this child this year?"

Lin Yue replied, "He is the same age as Huaiqing."

Luo Qingyu added, "Yes, I was born just a day after the Heir." *Actually, it was only a few hours later, since the Heir was born in the evening, while I was born at midnight.*

The Empress Dowager recalled, "I remember now. Your mother once served the former Princess Consort."

Luo Qingyu nodded. "Later on, after my late father passed away unexpectedly, the former Princess took pity on my mother for having no one to rely on, and brought her by her side to take care of her."

Lin Yue asked in surprise, "Your father wasn't even a man of the Prince's Manor? And your mother remarried outside?"

Luo Qingyu nodded.

The Empress Dowager stated, "If I recall correctly, he was a bailiff in the magistrate's office who died in the line of duty. Their marriage was even arranged by Jingyun back then."

Lin Yue nodded, indicating that she understood.

*[No wonder Xiao Jingyun likes Luo Qingyu so much and even taught him martial arts. It seems he harbored a sense of guilt and raised Luo Qingyu like an adopted son.]*
*[Yet Xiao Jingyun could never have anticipated that Luo Qingyu would ultimately die trying to save Xiao Huaiqing. Of course, a strong desire to repay a debt of gratitude played a part in that as well.]*
*[But the situation is different now. By bringing Luo Qingyu to my side, Xiao Huaiqing's suspicious nature will surely prevent him from ever heavily employing him again. Hopefully, this can avert Luo Qingyu's destined fatal tribulation.]*

Listening to this, the Empress Dowager was left in a state of utter confusion. Did that mean her grandson was still facing a fatal tribulation?

Although she had grown somewhat weary of that suspicious child of his, he was, after all, her youngest son's only offspring, and she could not help worrying about him.

Yet, seeing such an upright and capable young man as Luo Qingyu, she lacked the heart to sacrifice his life to save her grandson's.

She would simply have to think of another way.

Using morning exercise as an excuse, the Empress Dowager soon took her leave.

After washing up, Lin Yue ate her breakfast while listening to Luo Qingyu's report.

"The people selected by Senior Official Bai are all from the lists provided by the Ministry of Works, so Your Highness may rest assured. In addition, Your Highness's eldest brother, Lord Lin, upon hearing that the manor intends to build charitable halls and shelters, has invited several officials from the Ministry of Works to help with the planning. He said Your Highness just needs to wait to inspect the results."

"The Heir's wife is currently taking inventory of the manor's revenues. Senior Official Bai has allowed her to inspect all the account books, and no issues have been found thus far."

"The Heir went out as soon as dawn broke, riding the thousand-li steed the Prince brought back from the frontier. It is unknown where he went, but Senior Official Bai secretly dispatched guards to follow him. Please rest assured, Your Highness."

As he spoke, Lin Yue noticed that Luo Qingyu's voice was growing lower and lower, as if he were deliberately suppressing something.

When she raised her eyes, she saw Luo Qingyu frowning, his expression tinged with worry.

Lin Yue asked, "What is wrong? You wear this expression whenever the Heir is mentioned. Could it be that you know where the Heir went?"

Luo Qingyu shook his head. "Your servant does not know. However, when your servant was leaving, I heard the Heir ask Senior Official Bai: *'In this world, who else is a mystic capable of rivaling Celestial Master Zhang?'*"

"Senior Official Bai replied that in his early years, he had heard of a mystic surnamed Yuan, whose arrogance was utterly outrageous, but he had vanished from the world for a decade or more."

"Upon hearing this, the Heir immediately declared he would go out to seek him."

"Your servant is merely worried that..."

With a smile, Lin Yue said, "You are worried he is finding someone to deal with me?"

Luo Qingyu did not speak, but the worry etched across his face was unmistakable.

Finding the surname Yuan somewhat familiar, Lin Yue asked the system in her mind, *'A mystic surnamed Yuan—who is that? Why does it ring a bell?'*

The system replied: *[Yuan Huaizhi, the military advisor of an enemy state. He can observe astronomical phenomena and calculate the fortunes of nations; insignificant mortals are mere toys in his palm. He possesses a deeply malicious and vicious nature. Xiao Huaiqing is walking right into a path of self-destruction by seeking him out.]*

Lin Yue: *'Didn't you say Xiao Huaiqing has the plot armor of picking up stray windfalls?'*

The system: *[......]*

Lin Yue: *'Damn it, even you are speechless now. It looks like I'll have to be careful.'*

The system: *[Do good deeds and ask not for the future; this system will pray for you.]*

Lin Yue: "..." !?