Meanwhile, on the other side, Fengguang grabbed the first person she saw to ask for directions and hurried straight to the Imperial Study. The guards at the entrance stopped her. She forced a pleasant smile, squinting slightly as she said warmly, “I have an urgent matter and need to see His Majesty. Could I trouble you to announce me?”
The guard replied with rigid impartiality, “His Majesty is currently discussing affairs with the Crown Prince and the State Preceptor. He has ordered that no one is to disturb them.”
“The State Preceptor?” The moment Fengguang heard that title, her heart skipped. She had developed a genuine fear of anything involving the State Preceptor.
“Yes,” the guard said respectfully. “The State Preceptor is inside the Imperial Study as well. Please forgive me, Crown Princess—I am only following orders.”
Fengguang wasn’t the type to make trouble without reason. She knew there was no point in harassing these working guards, so she scratched her head and could only pace aimlessly outside the hall.
After walking in circles for a while, she realized something felt off. She didn’t even like Baili Mo—why was she so anxious about whether he lived or died? But then another thought struck her: Yi Ren had just helped her, and Baili Mo was Yi Ren’s beloved. If she helped Baili Mo, wouldn’t that count as repaying Yi Ren’s favor?
The more Fengguang thought about it, the more sense it made. She turned back, wondering if there was some way she could sneak into the Imperial Study. Just as she was gritting her teeth and racking her brain, the doors opened. Baili Mo stepped out, accompanied by an elderly man with an otherworldly, immortal bearing.
The old man spotted Fengguang and let out a soft “Oh?” before teasing, “I imagine the Crown Princess was simply too worried about His Highness to stay away, and so came to wait outside the Imperial Study. Youth truly is wonderful—one day apart feels like three autumns.”
Fengguang’s face flushed, a rare sight.
Baili Mo chuckled and walked to her side, gently taking her hand. Her first instinct was to pull away, but with so many people watching, she didn’t want to embarrass him, so she endured it.
“I’ve heard that the Crown Princess has lost her memories, so allow me to introduce myself,” said the elderly man with white hair and a youthful face, cupping his hands slightly. “This humble one is Xuanhu, unworthy as I am, and currently holds the position of State Preceptor.”
Fengguang returned the courtesy with a slight bow. “So you are the State Preceptor. A pleasure to meet you.”
“For this old man to meet the Crown Princess today is truly fortunate,” Xuanhu said kindly, stroking his beard. “However, judging by Your Highness’s complexion, your body is still quite weak. You should drink more blood-nourishing tonics.”
“Does the State Preceptor practice medicine?” Fengguang asked.
“I dabble a little—it is hardly worth mentioning.”
Fengguang had never heard Feiyu mention this State Preceptor, so she couldn’t gauge exactly what abilities he possessed. She smiled politely. “I will keep the State Preceptor’s advice in mind.”
“Then I shall not disturb the Crown Prince and Crown Princess any longer.” Xuanhu bowed and turned to leave.
Only after his figure disappeared did Fengguang hurry to ask the man beside her, “What did His Majesty talk to you about? He’s not planning to throw you back into the Heavenly Prison again, is he?”
He shook his head gently.
Fengguang let out a sigh of relief, then grew even more puzzled. “Then why did His Majesty summon you? It can’t have been just to have a heart-to-heart talk, right?”
He smiled faintly, took her hand, and slowly traced words into her palm:
My charge of treason has been cleared.
“Really?!”
“I wouldn’t lie to you.”
Seeing those words, Fengguang’s emotions turned complicated for a brief moment. But soon she brightened and said happily, “That’s wonderful! Now that your name is cleared, you won’t have to worry about being dragged off to the Heavenly Prison ever again.”
“These past few days… thank you, Fengguang.”
As he wrote her name, his movements slowed, gentled, the faint strokes making her heart itch in a way she couldn’t quite explain.
Lucien On ABRWF Chapter 34.1