Traveling through another world to stir the emperor's heart

Lan Xuanming took a deep breath, looked at the Queen Mother calmly, and slowly said, "Mother, how did you find out about this?"

The Queen Mother lowered her eyelids slightly, her voice calm but full of deep meaning: "These past few days, Xu'er has often come to my palace to chat with me and relieve my boredom."

Today, she accidentally mentioned that her cousin met someone who was very similar to A Yue in Beiyan.

She didn't seem to intend to say more about it, but I had a vague feeling in my heart that her words were not unintentional.

So, my son, you'd better send someone to thoroughly investigate this matter.

The Queen Mother paused, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes, and continued, "What's more, Xu'er has been coming here so frequently since Ah Yue went south, almost every day. This behavior is a bit abnormal."

Lan Xuanming's heart moved slightly after hearing this, and he immediately responded, "Mother, I understand. I will immediately arrange for personnel to conduct a detailed investigation."

Seeing her son's decisive response, the Queen Mother relaxed a little, but she remained stern, "Also, regarding why Ah Yue suddenly left Lan Country a year ago, you must not hide anything from me. You must tell me the truth."

Lan Xuanming pursed his lips and whispered, "As my mother said, Ah Yue left because she foresaw some kind of event and realized she had to leave to save the Lan Kingdom from danger."

The Queen Mother frowned slightly, clearly doubting this reason. "She is the goddess of my Lan Kingdom, shouldering the heavy responsibility of protecting the nation's destiny. What does the outside world have to do with her? How could she just walk away like this?"

Lan Xuanming hurriedly explained, "Mother, Ah Yue may indeed have foreseen some kind of crisis. She had her reasons for leaving. I believe she must have a deeper meaning behind her actions."

The Queen Mother sighed slowly, her tone softening slightly. "My son, I know you are simple-minded, and Ah Yue is undoubtedly important to you. But you must remember that as the ruler of a country, your primary responsibility is still to protect the peace of Lan Country."

Lan Xuanming lowered his head and remained silent for a moment. Finally, he nodded and replied, "Your Majesty, I understand. What you said is absolutely right. However, Ah Yue is also a very important person in your heart."

The Queen Mother said nothing more, but simply warned: "Protecting the country and the people is God's will. If your heart is biased, I am afraid you will not be able to bear this great responsibility."

Lan Xuanming knew his mother's intentions and responded respectfully, "I will keep this in mind."

When he left the Queen Mother's Palace, he felt a bit heavy-hearted, so he summoned his trusted secret guards and ordered, "Immediately investigate Su Xu's recent whereabouts and keep a close eye on the movements of the Imperial Master's Mansion. You must pay close attention and make sure to be thorough."

After explaining all this, he walked into the Imperial Garden to relax.

As soon as I entered the garden, I saw Liu Xuer and her maid standing in the garden, as if waiting for someone.

When she saw Lan Xuanming's figure, a light suddenly flashed in her eyes. She hurriedly saluted and said softly, "May the king be well."

Lan Xuanming stood there, looking at her calmly, his eyes as calm as water: "Get up."

Liu Xuer nodded gently, with a hint of hesitation in her eyes, and then asked cautiously: "Your Majesty, when I was chatting with the Queen Mother just now, I overheard that the Queen Mother intends to take a concubine for you. I wonder what your Majesty thinks about this?" Her tone was gentle with a hint of expectation.

Lan Xuanming raised his brows slightly, and couldn't help but wonder in his heart why my mother never mentioned this to me.

His voice remained calm as usual: "This is my business, there is no need to tell Miss Liu."

After hearing this, Liu Xuer tried to hide her feelings, but a hint of disappointment flashed across her eyes.

She lowered her head again, as if suppressing some emotion, her voice soft but with a hint of helplessness: "Ah Ming, are you really going to do this to me?"

Lan Xuanming remained unmoved and responded coldly, "Ms. Liu, please do not cross the line."

Liu Xuer was slightly stunned, and then tears welled up in her eyes. She choked and said, "I understand that you don't like me... But, Ah Ming, I just want to be by your side and protect you silently, without fighting for anything. Why, even this insignificant wish, you won't fulfill it for me?"

Lan Xuanming's eyes flashed with a hint of coldness, and his tone became even colder: "Miss Liu, I have no romantic feelings for you. You should understand this."

Liu Xuer seemed not to have heard the ruthless rejection. Instead, she became even more agitated. "What's so special about An Qingyue? She always only cares about herself. Has she ever considered you for even a moment?"

Lan Xuanming was furious, his brows furrowed, his eyes growing colder and fiercer: "Miss Liu, that's enough! I don't need you to tell me what kind of person Ah Yue is!"

After hearing this, Liu Xuer suddenly sneered, not disguising her sarcasm: "Yes, in your eyes, Ah Yue is naturally wonderful in every way. But even so, didn't she abandon you in the end?"

Lan Xuanming frowned, staring at Liu Xuer with blazing eyes, and asked sternly, "What do you know?"

Hearing this, Liu Xuer laughed even harder, her sarcasm evident in her words: "Haha, I never thought that the king of a country like ours would be manipulated by others."

Lan Xuanming suppressed his anger and asked through gritted teeth, "What exactly do you want to say?"

At this moment, Liu Xuer put away her smile and said indifferently, "Why don't you go and ask that good Ah Yue you've been thinking about so much about the real reason why she left a year ago."

Lan Xuanming's heart suddenly shook, anger and doubt intertwined into an indescribable emotion.

He coldly threw away his sleeves and said angrily, "This is nonsense!" Then he turned around and strode away without looking back.

Liu Xuer stood there, watching Lan Xuanming's back gradually walking away, a sneer appearing on her face.

The maidservant couldn't help but whisper, "Miss, why are you so confrontational with the king? If you continue like this... in the future..."

Liu Xu'er ignored him, smiled coldly, and muttered to herself: "No matter how much I try to please him, he always disdains me."

Since that’s the case, I might as well just be my true self.

After saying this, she raised her head slightly, her eyes firm and resolute: "Whatever I love and adore, whether it is a person or something else, must belong to me!"

After she finished speaking, she turned around resolutely and strode towards the palace gate, leaving behind a lonely and stubborn figure.

The maid followed behind her, with a hint of worry in her eyes, but in the end she didn't say anything and just followed silently.

At this time, Lan Xuanming was already walking quickly back to his bedroom in the palace. The surging emotions in his heart made him unable to calm down.

He could not forget Liu Xuer's sarcastic words, those questions that seemed to tear his heart apart.

Why did Ah Yue suddenly leave Lan Country a year ago? Was there something he didn't know about her, as Liu Xuer said?

These questions were like sharp blades, piercing deep into his heart.

He stopped in front of the bedroom door, paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself down.

After entering the bedroom, Lan Xuanming took off his coat, walked to the window, pushed it open, and let the breeze blow across his face.

His eyes were complicated, and seemed to contain an unspeakable heaviness.

"Ayue..." He murmured softly, the pain in his throat making him speechless for a moment.

……

At the same time, Feng Qingyue and his group finally arrived in the town.

Night falls, a cool breeze blows, and the streets are sparsely populated, with only a few lights flickering occasionally in the dim light.

Feng Qingyue stood at the end of the street, turned around and looked at Jin Yu, her brows cold and calm: "Brother Jin Yu, let's find an inn for everyone to rest first, and we will set off tomorrow."

Jin Yu nodded and led everyone towards the nearest inn.

The door of the inn was gently pushed open, and the waiter came forward with a smile: "Sir, are you staying here or having a meal?"

"Stay in the hotel and have a meal." Feng Qingyue's voice was cold, with an unquestionable aura in her words.

"Okay, sir, please follow me." The waiter respectfully led them into the inn.