With Official Gavin Gao's urgent shouts echoing behind him, Liam Willow was quickly ushered into this ridiculously lavish palace.
The moment he stepped inside, Liam saw a white gauzy curtain. Through it, he could just make out a bed—and what looked like someone standing next to it.
"Quick, hurry and greet Her Majesty the Empress!" As soon as they entered, Official Gavin Gao saw Liam just standing there, totally spaced out, and couldn't help but remind him.
Hearing this, Liam Willow was one hundred percent unwilling. Anyone Ivy hated, he hated too; anyone she resented, he resented just as much. But right now, he kept telling himself: Hold it in, hold it in, or you'll never get to see Ivy. So he knelt down and said, "This humble commoner greets Her Majesty the Empress."
"Rise." From inside came Cao Wan’er’s voice, totally neutral. Before Liam could say anything, she let out a soft laugh: "Looks like there were some misunderstandings between us before. I’ve heard about what happened from Jue’er—he only passed on rumors and led you into that peach blossom grove by mistake. But really, Scholar Willow, you should be grateful for that! If it hadn’t happened, how would you have had the chance to encounter Buddha and become the Saint?"
"Yes." Liam Willow had no idea how to respond, so that’s all he said. But inside, he was fuming—he knew every word out of this woman’s mouth was a lie!
"Hmm. Are you still interested in being Number One Scholar? Jue’er thought something might’ve happened to you, but your title has always been safe. If you want, I can make you a First-Rank Official." She finished speaking and even smiled a little.
"F-First Rank?" Official Gavin Gao’s jaw dropped in shock—he had no idea what to say. Holy crap, that’s a huge honor! Jumping straight from Seventh Rank to First Rank? That’s... that’s way higher than his own position!
The next second, Official Gavin Gao quickly glanced at Liam Willow, secretly thinking, Good thing I never pissed him off—otherwise I’d be totally doomed in the future.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your recognition. But this humble commoner doesn’t want to be an official—I’ve already seen through the world’s illusions and joined the Buddhist path."
"Saint Willow..." Such a sweet deal and he still turns it down—Official Gao really wants to call him a stubborn old mule!
Cao Wan’er nodded at the sound, "If that’s what you want, I won’t force you. The fact that you’re willing to let bygones be bygones and come pray for Jue’er’s blessing—that’s exactly what the abbot at Cloud Virtue Temple praised you for."
"This humble commoner doesn’t deserve such praise."
Seeing this, Cao Wan’er didn’t bother with more pleasantries. She knew this scholar might have ties to the demoness, but the demoness was dead and he’d shaved his head to become a monk—clearly, he’d let everything go. In other words, people fear death, and scholars? Hah, probably even more so!
Thinking of this, Cao Wan’er finally asked the question she’d been dying to know: "Just now, Official Gao said the Saint sensed demonic energy in the palace a few days ago?"
Liam Willow froze, clutching his hands tight and staring at the floor, face burning. "Yes... this humble commoner noticed black qi swirling in the palace a few days ago. I feared a demoness was in power, and... and might threaten Your Majesty’s life." Official Gao wanted him to pray for Song Jude, but after days in the palace with no action, Liam had to make something up. Only by spinning this story could Gao be convinced to bring him in!
"Does the Saint know if it’s a man or a woman?" Cao Wan’er believed in ghosts and spirits, but her years of caution made her ask anyway.
The sudden question caught Liam off guard, but he quickly stammered, "It’s... it’s a woman. A female demoness." He’d almost said ‘man,’ but changed it at the last second—since Ivy was disguised as a maid, only if he said ‘woman’ could he search the maids and maybe find her.
"Is she powerful?" Cao Wan’er was so shocked by Liam’s words she didn’t know what to say, but forced herself to stay calm and ask anyway.
"This demoness is extremely powerful—not just in sorcery, but in scheming too." Liam kept making things up. Honestly, he was thinking of Silver Consort—the woman was basically a demoness to him, with her insane martial arts and deep plots. Anyone tangled up with Song Jude must be a master schemer!
Liam Willow’s words made Cao Wan’er freeze for a moment. True, she herself was strong and fearless—even ghosts wouldn’t faze her. But her son? He was defenseless, not skilled in martial arts, and that woman was always leading him astray...
“So what clever solution does the Saint have?” Hearing that Song Jude might be in danger, Cao Wan’er’s heart couldn’t help but tremble.
“Let me take a look. I’ve received my master’s true teachings, and I’m sure Your Majesty has heard the rumors that I’m Morning Star Reborn. I don’t dare claim it, but my master and the abbot have said so. Since I have such deep Buddhist affinity, perhaps I can subdue this demoness. But... I need to see her first to know how powerful she is,” Liam Willow said, suddenly hesitating.
He was shocked—when did he get so good at making up stories on the spot?
Suddenly, Butterfly Rogue’s teasing voice echoed in his mind: “Hehehe, Little White Rabbit, you’re turning bad! You’re getting worse by the day!”
“Luna, you and Official Gao take Saint Willow to the Crown Prince’s palace and let him have a look,” Cao Wan’er suddenly ordered.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Luna quickly replied.
“Your humble servant obeys,” Official Gao snapped back to attention and bowed.
Seeing this, Cao Wan’er said, “Saint Willow, I hope you can truly find out who this demoness is. Don’t let her harm the Crown Prince, not even a single hair!” If she weren’t worried about exposing herself, she’d kill the demoness herself. But she was badly injured—if she acted now and failed, she’d only make things worse for herself.
“I will do my very best,” Liam Willow replied, heart pounding with excitement. Did this mean he was about to see Ivy?!
Liam Willow’s words made Cao Wan’er freeze for a moment. True, she herself was strong and fearless—even ghosts wouldn’t faze her. But her son? He was defenseless, not skilled in martial arts, and that woman was always leading him astray...
“So what clever solution does the Saint have?” Hearing that Song Jude might be in danger, Cao Wan’er’s heart couldn’t help but tremble.
“Let me take a look. I’ve received my master’s true teachings, and I’m sure Your Majesty has heard the rumors that I’m Morning Star Reborn. I don’t dare claim it, but my master and the abbot have said so. Since I have such deep Buddhist affinity, perhaps I can subdue this demoness. But... I need to see her first to know how powerful she is,” Liam Willow said, suddenly hesitating.
He was shocked—when did he get so good at making up stories on the spot?
Suddenly, Butterfly Rogue’s teasing voice echoed in his mind: “Hehehe, Little White Rabbit, you’re turning bad! You’re getting worse by the day!”
“Luna, you and Official Gao take Saint Willow to the Crown Prince’s palace and let him have a look,” Cao Wan’er suddenly ordered.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Luna quickly replied.
“Your humble servant obeys,” Official Gao snapped back to attention and bowed.
Seeing this, Cao Wan’er said, “Saint Willow, I hope you can truly find out who this demoness is. Don’t let her harm the Crown Prince, not even a single hair!” If she weren’t worried about exposing herself, she’d kill the demoness herself. But she was badly injured—if she acted now and failed, she’d only make things worse for herself.
“I will do my very best,” Liam Willow replied, heart pounding with excitement. Did this mean he was about to see Ivy?!
Liam Willow’s words made Cao Wan’er freeze for a moment. True, she herself was strong and fearless—even ghosts wouldn’t faze her. But her son? He was defenseless, not skilled in martial arts, and that woman was always leading him astray...
“So what clever solution does the Saint have?” Hearing that Song Jude might be in danger, Cao Wan’er’s heart couldn’t help but tremble.
“Let me take a look. I’ve received my master’s true teachings, and I’m sure Your Majesty has heard the rumors that I’m Morning Star Reborn. I don’t dare claim it, but my master and the abbot have said so. Since I have such deep Buddhist affinity, perhaps I can subdue this demoness. But... I need to see her first to know how powerful she is,” Liam Willow said, suddenly hesitating.
He was shocked—when did he get so good at making up stories on the spot?
Suddenly, Butterfly Rogue’s teasing voice echoed in his mind: “Hehehe, Little White Rabbit, you’re turning bad! You’re getting worse by the day!”
“Luna, you and Official Gao take Saint Willow to the Crown Prince’s palace and let him have a look,” Cao Wan’er suddenly ordered.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Luna quickly replied.
“Your humble servant obeys,” Official Gao snapped back to attention and bowed.
Seeing this, Cao Wan’er said, “Saint Willow, I hope you can truly find out who this demoness is. Don’t let her harm the Crown Prince, not even a single hair!” If she weren’t worried about exposing herself, she’d kill the demoness herself. But she was badly injured—if she acted now and failed, she’d only make things worse for herself.
“I will do my very best,” Liam Willow replied, heart pounding with excitement. Did this mean he was about to see Ivy?!