Chapter 1: Chapter 234: She is getting married tomorrow!

Linghu Shuiyue was led by the Seventh Princess to a magnificent phoenix carriage drawn by three horses. The curtains of the carriage were lifted by two young eunuchs, and someone had already placed a cloth mat beneath her feet. Sensing the situation, she knelt and kowtowed, saying, "This humble official, Linghu Huori, pays respects to the Grand Empress Dowager. May the Grand Empress Dowager live for a thousand, thousand years!"

A kind yet naturally intimidating female voice sounded above her head: "We are in the middle of these desolate mountains and wilderness; let us dispense with such formalities! Young Marshal Linghu, raise your head and let Empress Dowager take a look at you."

Linghu Shuiyue slowly raised her face. To her surprise, she saw that the Grand Empress Dowager was wearing only light, elegant makeup. Although her palace attire was intricate in pattern, it did not possess as much glitz and glamour as she had imagined. Furthermore, the Empress Dowager held a string of black beads in her hand, appearing as if she had been chanting sutras continuously.

Even so, when the Empress Dowager allowed her to look at her, she possessed a benevolent countenance that seemed bathed in Buddhist light, yet she was so intimidating that even a young girl from the modern era like her could feel the immense power of her imperial authority, making her dare not look directly at her.

There were already white hairs at her temples; Linghu Shuiyue estimated she must be around sixty years old. However, her complexion was maintained like that of a woman in her forties, and her features were dignified and grand—she had the unmistakable air of an Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager glanced at her, seemingly having truly just happened to catch a glimpse of her.

She spoke unhurriedly, "They all say that General Linghu's eldest son is ill, and that the world's most famous physicians are helpless. Yet, the Emperor suddenly issued an imperial decree for Young Master Linghu to go to war; it turns out his illness has recovered. Looking at this complexion, he truly has improved. And he is quite handsome! Seventh Girl, he is so striking that if you two were to stand together, one really wouldn't know who would outshine whom."

"Old Buddha, you are teasing Wei'er again." Hearing the Old Buddha say this, the Seventh Princess took another look at Linghu Huori. The Seventh Princess had also heard that Young Master Linghu's beauty surpassed that of Ninth Brother, who was known as the 'Number One Handsome Man Under Heaven,' but unfortunately, he had been chronically ill. Yet, looking at him properly now, where was any sign of illness? On the contrary, upon that handsome face carved like pink jade, his brows carried a romantic elegance and a great deal of spiritual vitality. Thinking this, the Seventh Princess looked at Linghu Huori once more.

The Empress Dowager said, "What I said is the truth. Alright! Seventh Girl, let us go! Young Master Linghu, on another day, follow General Linghu into the palace to keep me company with some conversation! Seventh Girl is the same age as you; perhaps you two will find you have much in common."

"Yes, this humble official respectfully obeys the Empress Dowager's decree. We respectfully see the Grand Empress Dowager back to the palace!" Linghu Shuiyue stepped aside from the roadside, watching the Empress Dowager's grand procession set off once more.

It was said that the Empress Dowager frequently visited temples to practice Zen, staying for as long as a month at a time. One would think that after listening to so many Zen teachings, a person would truly develop a Buddha's heart. However, an Empress Dowager is still an Empress Dowager, capable of turning clouds into rain with a flip of her hand.

"Let us go as well!" Linghu Shuiyue also boarded the carriage, heading toward the direction of General Linghu's manor.

Upon returning to the General's manor, General Linghu learned that Linghu Shuiyue had once again disguised herself as Linghu Huori to wander through the marketplace and had even been attacked because of it, resulting in a young maid sustaining minor injuries. General Linghu did not impose any heavy punishment, as Linghu Shuiyue's status as the Consort of Prince You had already been established.

However, General Linghu requested that on this final day, he hoped Linghu Shuiyue would no longer wander about aimlessly and would instead stay home to wait for her wedding. Since she was to be married tomorrow, Linghu Shuiyue was also too lazy to wander. Every time she went out, she encountered an attack; if the true culprit wasn't found, she wouldn't be able to live her life in peace.