"Is there anything you need me to do?"
Jiang Lu's gaze drifted away unconsciously, as though she had fallen into some train of thought.
"No—"
That voice was low, carrying the sense that it might scatter away at any moment.
As the words fell, Jiang Lu was carried out of the mountains and appeared at their foot.
She turned around. As though their conversation had been an illusion, the entire forest had become tranquil, and even that faint trace of spiritual energy had withdrawn, leaving it no different from an ordinary mountain.
Jiang Lu took one deep look, dusted off her clothes, and headed for the Eldest Princess's Residence.
—Imperial Palace—
"Your daughter pays respects to Father Emperor."
Gong Chenyue entered the hall, but did not see the Emperor.
She beckoned to an attendant nearby and asked softly, "Where is Father Emperor?"
The attendant glanced toward the inner chamber, then cautiously looked outside before replying in a low voice, "Reporting to Your Highness, His Majesty... His Majesty is in the inner chamber."
Hearing this, Gong Chenyue took a deep look toward the inner chamber, concern flashing through her eyes. Just as she was about to give the attendant a few instructions—
The chief eunuch walked out from Zhengding Hall. Upon seeing Gong Chenyue, he immediately came forward.
"Your Highness, you have returned?"
Gong Chenyue smiled gently at him. "Chief Eunuch, is Father Emperor unwell?"
The chief eunuch shook his head, his gaze flicking toward the inner chamber. "Your Highness, His Majesty has important matters to attend to. You..."
Gong Chenyue understood at once. As expected, her guess had been right. Her father was fooling around with some beauty again.
"Then I shall not disturb him. I have yet to pay my respects to Mother Empress, so I shall go first.