A plea for help

Verdant Green Maiden chatted with Hou Moch'en Liyong for quite a while.

He certainly had what it took to be a court flatterer. Both his thinking and his eloquence were impressive.

"Have you remembered all that?"

Once he had finished explaining, he asked her another question.

Verdant Green Maiden nodded. "Yes, I remember! Don't worry, Daoist Hou Moch'en."

"Good."

Hou Moch'en Liyong nodded.

He glanced around.

"All right, I won't linger any longer. In a few days, come into the palace with me and meet His Majesty as the Goddess! Then we'll pull a few more strings and fool His Majesty with whatever longevity technique we can come up with. That will do! Right, get yourself ready. I'll take my leave."

With that, he bowed slightly to Verdant Green Maiden.

Verdant Green Maiden nodded and watched him leave.

After he was gone, the smile on her face gradually faded.

"Heh..."

She gave a cold snort.

After they returned to the Wu Duke's Residence, Li Yu did not ask Verdant Green Maiden about Hou Moch'en Liyong.

"What would you like to eat today, Verdant Green Maiden?"

"I'll have someone start preparing it."

Hearing this, Verdant Green Maiden thought for a moment and raised one finger.

"Wild boar!"

"One."

"One yellow ox!"

"One rabbit."

"And... find me a few large turtles."

After saying this, she waved a hand at Li Yu. "All right, that will do for now."

She headed toward the rear courtyard, leaving Li Yu standing there in a daze.

Evening came.

Li Yu had prepared a wild boar, a rabbit, and some turtles.

"Unfortunately, we couldn't find a yellow ox."

Li Yu looked apologetically at Verdant Green Maiden. He paused, then spoke softly.

"Could you make do for today, Verdant Green Maiden? I've already instructed them to find a