We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real? Chapter 426: Please Grant This Subject Death, Your Majesty!
[A deal with you, Young Master, what do you say?]
[Young Master, truly no wish to cultivate with me as partners?]
[If Young Master becomes the Sect Master of Myriad Dao Sect, Sili will remain by your side forever.]
[Young Master, look—the moon is so bright...]
[Bright or not, doesn't matter. Even if it's not bright, this concubine still likes it!]
Sili lifted her head, gazing at the man before her.
The moment Sili's eyes met his face, a tremor ran through her previously blank, unmoving gaze. Her mind went blank, her thoughts scattering like fallen leaves.
Recollections of past experiences flooded Sili's consciousness.
It was then Sili felt an intense heat emanating from within her storage pouch.
Within Sili's storage pouch, the blade spirit of the shattered Ink-Dyed Blade had long since dispersed, yet the lingering consciousness within the blade itself detected a familiar aura, triggering a response.
Normally, to locate the master's reincarnation using Ink-Dyed would require a meticulously prepared spell formation, taking considerable time.
However, with Ink-Dyed now merely five steps away from the ruler of Zhou, it had instinctively recognized its master!
Though Sili hadn’t obtained the ruler of Zhou’s blood, she had, at this very moment, confirmed the other party's identity!
There was no room for doubt!
Ink-Dyed's reaction said it all!
A profound joy, long suppressed, surged through Sili's heart.
Sili felt as if the entire scene before her was imbued with an ethereal quality.
In days past, she had tried every conceivable method to search. Every night, she yearned for reunion with her master.
Yet, upon finally finding him, the overwhelming sensation was that of a dream, a persistent fear that waking would reveal it all to be a mere illusion.
“Young Master...”
Sili gently bit her lip, her gaze tracking his movements. With trembling lips, she uttered his name softly.
“Hm?”
Xiao Mo turned, his eyes finding Sili. He saw the woman staring at him, lost in a daze.
It was a look akin to someone beholding a long-lost beloved returned at last.
Xiao Mo, too, felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity toward this woman.
Yet, he was certain he had never encountered her before.
Witnessing Sili commit such a breach of palace etiquette, the head palace maid, Yang'er, gasped in fright. She quickly pulled Sili down, forcing her to kneel before His Majesty:
“Your Majesty, please forgive her. She is a new palace maid, recently transferred to the Hall of Nourishing the Heart to serve you. Beholding Your Majesty’s extraordinary imperial presence, she was overcome with emotion!”
Xiao Mo paid no mind to Yang'er. He approached the pair, looked at Sili, and inquired plainly.
“What is your name?”
“Replying to Your Majesty, this servant is called Si Li...” Sili spoke with a waver in her voice. “The ‘Si’ from the Directorate of Celestial Observation, and the ‘Li’ from pear tree.”
“You are a newly arrived palace maid?” Xiao Mo inquired.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Sili lowered her head as she replied. “This servant girl entered the palace not long ago. My senior sister, Shuang'er, who instructed me, said I excelled in all assessments, hence I was assigned to serve Your Majesty.”
“So that is how it is.” Xiao Mo nodded. “Just now, were you speaking to me? What did you call me?”
Sili lowered her head even further. “This concubine found Young Master's appearance to be exceptional, like the description in books—‘a young master like jade’—and thus lost my composure. May Your Majesty punish this concubine.”
“For such a trivial matter, what punishment needs to be given?”
Xiao Mo stated calmly, unbothered.
His conversation with Si Li was merely a result of hearing her speak, turning his head, noticing a new face, and feeling a flicker of curiosity.
“Here, simply focus on performing your duties diligently. There's no need to fret over minor details. You've only been here a short while; you can learn gradually. If you require anything, feel free to inform Yang'er and the others.” Xiao Mo offered words of comfort.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you for Your Majesty’s magnanimity.” Sili performed a deep kowtow.
“Rise.”
Xiao Mo said no more. He turned and proceeded into the inner palace chambers.
Once Xiao Mo departed, the palace maids finally straightened their postures and lifted their heads.
Yang'er exhaled a relieved breath and chided Sili in a half-scolding tone. “You, you—Si Li, little sister. Were our His Majesty not of such broad and kind disposition, with your temperament, a single casual remark before him could have cost you your life.”
“Elder Sister’s admonishment is correct. Younger sister will certainly be more mindful henceforth,” Sili responded.
“It is good that you acknowledge this.” Yang’er cast a look towards the sleeping quarters. “You may proceed. As His Majesty’s personal attendant, you will be required to remain by his side constantly from now on. Once you have established yourself with His Majesty, we will all depend on you for matters concerning the inner palace.”
“Older sister is too kind. In the future, when I, your younger sister, encounter situations I don’t understand, I will still need your guidance and support, older sister,” Sili replied humbly.
“Heh, heh, heh—Si Li, our little sister, and we are to support you?” the palace maid Liu Mi playfully questioned. “One day, if we happen to displease you, little sister, I hope you won’t speak ill of us to His Majesty.”
“Don’t pay their idle chatter any mind,” Yan’er said with a gentle smile. “Little sister, quickly go inside.”
“Understood.” Sili offered the palace maids a slight curtsy and made her way towards the sleeping palace.
Upon reaching the chamber door, Sili knocked. After receiving permission, she entered and found Xiao Mo seated at a desk, engrossed in reading. Wei Xun was attending to Xiao Mo nearby.
Observing the elderly eunuch—
Sili always sensed a hint of melancholy in the old eunuch’s demeanor.
“Sili pays her respects to Your Majesty.” Sili stepped forward, performing a deep curtsey.
“Hm.”
Xiao Mo put down the book he was holding and turned his gaze towards Sili.
“Si Li, from this day forward, you shall remain by my side, attending to my daily needs and relaying my commands within the inner palace. If there are matters you find confusing, do not fret. Take your time to understand them. After all, I generally lead a rather leisurely life.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Sili’s heart swelled with joy as she responded.
“Wei Xun, commencing tomorrow, you may resume your duties in the front hall. There is no longer a need for you to be constantly by my side,” Xiao Mo instructed Wei Xun.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Wei Xun subtly wiped at the corner of his eyes.
However, he felt there was nothing he could say against the decision.
After all, it was the established system for eunuchs to manage the front hall, while palace maids were responsible for the inner palace.
The only reason he had been permitted to accompany His Majesty in and out of the inner palace previously was because the inner palace had been devoid of occupants.
Now, with two noble consorts preparing to enter the palace, it was naturally no longer appropriate for him to frequent the inner quarters.
“You old fellow, what are you weeping about?” Xiao Mo inquired with a laugh. “It’s not as though you’ll never see me again.”
“But this old servant cannot be by Your Majesty’s side at all times. My heart feels heavy with this change,” Wei Xun lamented with a touch of gloom.
“Enough, enough. Cease this display. I must attend the Imperial Study daily; how could you possibly not see me then?” Xiao Mo waved his hand dismissively. “Return to the front hall and rest. Leave this place to Si Li.”
“Understood. This old servant takes his leave.”
Wei Xun offered a respectful salute, cast one last sorrowful glance at Xiao Mo, and then departed from the sleeping palace.
Inside the chambers, only Xiao Mo and Sili remained.
Just as Xiao Mo reached for his book to continue reading, Sili suddenly knelt before him:
“Sili has committed a grave offense! I beg Your Majesty to punish this servant girl!”
“Hm?”
Xiao Mo looked at the woman before him and offered a gentle smile.
“You have only just arrived. What transgression could you possibly have committed?”
“Replying to Your Majesty!”
Sili lightly bit her delicate lip and performed a deep kowtow.
“This servant girl was acting under Empress Dowager Yan’s orders to keep watch over Your Majesty. I implore you to deliver your judgment upon this subject, Your Majesty!”