The Emperor had personally verified the fact that Tian Miao was someone from the clan of divine operators, so naturally, the Crown Princess didn’t dare to neglect extending hospitality to TIan Miao.
“Divine…” The Crown Prince almost came to close to directly addressing Tian Miao as “Divine Operator.” Fortunately, she managed to correct herself just in time. “Miss Tian, this way please.” She’d already learned from Princess Yong An that the Divine Operator was an avid lover of good food, so she had long given the orders to prepare the most popular snacks in the palace, as well as to serve tea of the finest quality.
With Tian Miao sitting at the same table as the Crown Princess and Princess Yong An, many people stole glances at them, all fervently wishing that they could see exactly what made a Divine Operator different just by looking at her long enough.
Tian Miao calmly remained seated. Aside from eating and drinking tea, she also amicably joined in the conversation. Kong Hou, who was standing not far away, saw her Master replying to the Crown Princess’s questions in such an amicable manner and cried out loud inside. She swore on the wings of Dong Xiao that their master was definitely being so friendly with the Crown Princess because the snacks and tea that the latter prepared were more to her liking. One just had to look at her attitude toward the Emperor.
That day, the Emperor had run over to where she was, empty-handed, just to ask some nonsensical questions. It would’ve been strange if her master had been happy about it.
Princess Yong An and the Crown Princess were happily chatting away, but when the Crown Princess turned around to ask Tian Miao something, she realized that Tian Miao had gone. “Miss Tian, when the time comes, we can go there together to pray… eh? Where is Miss Tian?”
It was only then that everyone at the table looked at one another with blank looks on their faces.
When had Tian Miao left? How come they hadn’t noticed?
“Go and send someone to look for Miss Tian. See if she’s gone to change her clothes,” the Crown Princess instructed her personal palace maid, but she was still confused. Why hadn’t she noticed that Miss Tian had left the table?
At this moment, Tian Miao was strolling idly by the lake of the Eastern Palace. It was obvious that this lake had been painstakingly built. It was surrounded by a variety of neatly staggered and well-placed faux rocks with jagged edges, and right in the middle, there was a small island. There was a pavilion on the island in the middle of the lake, with stone table and chairs. And there was a chessboard carved into the stone table.
“Boss, why don’t you send that Ji Liruo flying with a single slap? She’s really so pretentious that I really find her revolting,” Kong Hou muttered in a low voice as she followed Tian Miao.
Tian Miao stopped in her tracks and turned her head slightly to look at the island in the middle of the lake. She smiled before slowly saying, “Kong Hou, you don’t understand humans…”
There was a bewildered look on Kong Hou’s face as she said, “Ha? What has that got to do with this? Indeed, I don’t understand humans, but I can slap many of them to death.”
Dong Xiao wanted to laugh again. Forget it. He would hold it in. Adorkable. That was just who Kong Hou was.
Tian Miao didn’t hold back at all. She laughed lightly, turned around, and reached her hand out to caress Kong Hou’s head. A pair of round and smooth dragon horns immediately appeared on Kong Hou’s forehead. Kong Hou instinctively moved her horns closer to Tian Miao and accepted her master’s caress, her face filled with pleasure.
“Kong Hou, humans are very complicated creatures.” Tian Miao withdrew her hand and looked at the island in the middle of the lake again. There was a distant look in her eyes as she said, “For humans, the most painful thing isn’t death. Rather…”
Tian Miao didn’t say anything more. Kong Hou was itching to ask her what it was but didn’t dare to.
Dong Xiao’s face was also filled with puzzlement.
If the most painful thing for humans wasn’t death, then what was it?
Just as Kong Hou and Dong Xiao were pondering this, a voice came from ahead and interrupted their thoughts.
“Xiao Anning, I have something to say to you.”
“Your Highness, what is it?” It was Xiao Anning’s voice, just as gentle as always.
“Go and tell my imperial Grandfather that you don’t agree to this marriage,” Liu Ming said in an authoritative tone.
“What? Why?” Xiao Anning’s puzzled voice could be heard.
“Because you’re not worthy of her!” Liu Ming practically growled out loud. His voice was full of rage, disdain, contempt, and mockery as he said, “Because you’re nothing more than a blind man!”