Chapter 89: The Ten-Thousand-Year Princess

In the Dowager Empress's chambers, Liu Yao had apparently been delayed for a while by matters concerning Diao Chan, so Dowager Empress Dong and Liu Xin had already been waiting there for quite some time.

At that moment, Liu Xin was seated in a chair, puffing out her cheeks and swinging her little feet, her face full of indignation. She kept muttering under her breath, "That rotten Imperial Brother, that Imperial Brother of mine, made me wait so long. If he won't let me bring a gift, then I'll never speak to him again."

As for Dowager Empress Dong beside her, she was gazing at Liu Xin with endless affection. In these past few years, Liu Yao had not remained at her side, and only Liu Xin had been there to keep her company and ease her loneliness.

By then, Liu Yao had only just stepped into the palace when he heard Liu Xin's words, and could not help but tease her. "And who was it that said she would never speak to her brother again?"

When Liu Xin heard that familiar voice, she turned her head and saw Liu Yao's figure. All her earlier anger was instantly forgotten, and in one swift leap she sprang toward him, clinging to him like a little koala. "Brother Emperor, you're finally back. Xin'er missed you so much."

"Is that so? I seem to recall someone just saying she wouldn't speak to me anymore."

Liu Xin heard this and hurriedly shook her head as if it were a rattle drum. "No, no, no. Brother Emperor, you must have heard wrong. No one was speaking just now."

Seeing this clever little sprite, Liu Yao could not help but smile, and the anxiety he had carried all these years finally eased. Inwardly, he sighed with feeling: this is what home feels like.

"Come down already. You're not a little child anymore, always hanging on your brother like this. What would people think if they saw you?" Liu Yao said with mock sternness.

Only then did Liu Xin notice that behind Liu Yao stood a beautiful young woman and a stern-faced youth. Embarrassed, she stuck out her tongue and jumped down from Liu Yao's arms.

Liu Yao then walked up to Dowager Empress Dong, dropped to both knees, his heart surging with emotion, and respectfully bowed. "Your grandson pays his respects to Grandmother."

"Get up quickly, child. The ground is cold." Dowager Empress Dong hurriedly helped Liu Yao to his feet and brushed the dust from his clothes. Then she studied him carefully from head to toe. Seeing his sturdy build and slightly bronzed skin, tears welled in her eyes. "My boy, you must have suffered a great deal these years."

"Grandmother, please don't say that. For the sake of Han, what is a little hardship worth?" Liu Yao said firmly.

Only then did Dowager Empress Dong notice the two people behind Liu Yao. She completely ignored Shi A; anyone could tell at a glance that he was Liu Yao's guard. But when she saw Diao Chan, she was somewhat surprised. It would be perfectly normal for Liu Yao to bring a guard, but bringing such a delicate young woman here was rather strange.

Then, as if she had suddenly thought of something, a flash of insight crossed Dowager Empress Dong's eyes, and she began to examine Diao Chan from head to toe, clicking her tongue in wonder from time to time. Her expression now bore all the curiosity of a mother-in-law sizing up her son-in-law, except that here it was more like a mother-in-law scrutinizing her future daughter-in-law.

Diao Chan, however, was made shy by Dowager Empress Dong's even more unrestrained gaze than Liu Yao's. The blush on her face deepened, and she lowered her head like an ostrich, burying it against her chest.

"Grandson, who are these two?" Dowager Empress Dong asked.

Hearing this, Diao Chan and Shi A hurried forward and bowed. "Shi A, and this servant Diao Chan, pay respects to Your Majesty."

"Grandmother, this is my personal guard commander, Shi A." Liu Yao pointed to Shi A and said.

Then, gesturing toward Diao Chan, he said somewhat haltingly, "This young lady is... someone I... I just rescued in the palace. Her name is Diao Chan."

"Oh!" Liu Yao then seemed to remember something and said anxiously, "Grandmother, Diao Chan's hand is still injured. Please have someone bandage it quickly."

Diao Chan felt a wave of emotion at his words, as though she had tasted honey. She had never imagined that Liu Yao would care so much about a humble palace maid like her.

As for Dowager Empress Dong, seeing the anxious look on Liu Yao's face, her smile only deepened. She quickly summoned several maidservants to take Diao Chan into the inner courtyard to have her wound tended.

"Brother Emperor, did you bring a gift for Xin'er this time?" At that moment, Liu Xin seized Liu Yao's arm and began to sway it back and forth, coaxing him sweetly.

Liu Yao immediately broke into a cold sweat. This visit to the palace had been urged on him by Liu Hong; before he had even settled in, he had rushed straight over. How could he possibly have had time to remember anything about gifts?

Seeing Liu Yao's expression, Liu Xin instantly knew he had forgotten. Her little mouth curled downward, the corners of her eyes reddened, and she looked as if she were about to cry at any moment.

Liu Yao could not bear it when his little sister cried. Suddenly remembering something, he took a telescope from his robe. "Here, Xin'er. Your brother never said he didn't bring a gift. Take it."

Generously, he handed the telescope to Liu Xin. He only had this one himself, but he wasn't using it at the moment anyway. If need be, he could always have a few more made in a couple of days.

Liu Xin took the telescope curiously and kept examining the hollow wooden tube. She knew her brother was always tinkering with interesting little inventions, so this one was surely no exception.

Liu Yao then taught her how to use it. The moment she tried it, she fell in love with this marvelous device. Eager to play with it properly, she immediately wanted to run outside the palace.

But before she could take a single step, Liu Yao stopped her and said gravely, "Xin'er, wait a moment. I have one more important matter to discuss with you both."

Seeing Liu Yao's serious expression, Liu Xin knew it was no small thing and quickly grew quiet.

"Grandmother, I already have Father's permission. I want to take you all to live in You Province. What do you think?" Liu Yao asked.

"I want to go! I want to go!" The moment Liu Xin heard of going to You Province, she jumped up in delight. As a princess, she had been like a golden canary all her life, never once leaving the imperial palace, and so she was full of longing for the outside world.

Unlike Liu Xin's immediate agreement, Dowager Empress Dong simply shook her head without hesitation. "Grandson, I'm old now, and I don't wish to travel so far. You should take Xin'er with you. As for me, I'd rather remain here in Luoyang."

After all, she was no longer young, and she found it hard to part with Luoyang.

"But..." For a moment, Liu Yao did not know how to persuade her. Should he simply tell her that Luoyang would face a great calamity five years from now? If he did, Dowager Empress Dong would surely be even less willing to leave.

"Grandmother, you should come with us," Liu Xin pleaded sweetly.

Yet Liu Xin's once-unbeatable coaxing did not move Dowager Empress Dong this time at all. She still refused to leave Luoyang.

At this point, Liu Yao was helpless. He knew Dowager Empress Dong was utterly determined not to leave Luoyang. But inwardly, he had already made up his mind: before the chaos in Luoyang began, he would drag her away to You Province if he had to kidnap her himself. He could not let anything happen to her in that place. After all, in history, it had been after Liu Hong's death that Dowager Empress Dong was poisoned to death by that vile woman, He Lingsi.

"Since Grandmother is unwilling, then your grandson will not press you," Liu Yao said.

Dowager Empress Dong nodded with some reluctance. After all, she could not bear to part with Liu Yao and Princess Liu Xin. "Xin'er, go and see whether the young lady inside has finished having her wound bandaged."

Suddenly, Dowager Empress Dong said this to Liu Xin. But Liu Yao could clearly sense that she was sending Liu Xin away.

Liu Xin was still young and naturally understood little of such things. She immediately answered and walked toward the inner courtyard.