Deng Weixians Godfather had quietly departed, but Deng Weixian sat on a stone chair in the courtyard, expressionlessly pondering something.
Li Xuan, seizing the opportunity, immediately checked the information in his mind.
[Bloodthirsty Tiger Claw: 7%]
"Huh? Why is it already 7% progress right off the bat?"
He was momentarily stunned, but then his face lit up with joy.
No matter what, this was good news.
"Is it because I've mastered the Tiger Form Ten Styles? Or is it because the target I'm secretly learning from is different?"
Li Xuan had only just learned his second skill, so there was too little data for reference.
But no matter what, this saved him a lot of time.
He eagerly looked at his cat paws, intending to quickly find an opportunity to practice the new martial art.
Deng Weixian sat silently in the courtyard for a while, then let out a long sigh before returning to his room.
Seeing that there was no more movement in the room, Li Xuan also left the Shi Jian Courtyard, preparing to go home.
On the way, he couldn't help but think about Deng Weixian and his Godfather.
Deng Weixian had hidden a lot of things from Yu'er, but it seemed he also had his own difficulties.
For someone of his temperament to prostrate himself and kneel so respectfully, he must have been incredibly resolute.
He just didn't know what the reason was that made him do it.
"It seems Yu'er's younger brother has quite a few secrets."
"But thanks to him, I learned an advanced martial art today."
Speaking of which, Deng Weixian was truly Li Xuan's lucky star.
The first time, when Li Xuan stumbled upon him practicing at night, it helped him unlock his "talent."
Tonight was even more so.
After mastering the Tiger Form Ten Styles, Li Xuan's enthusiasm for practicing had diminished significantly.
You really can't say, whether the progress bar is full or not is truly two different things.
If it weren't for the fact that practicing the Tiger Form Ten Styles every day made his body feel exceptionally comfortable, Li Xuan would have been lazy long ago.
Unbeknownst to him, Li Xuan returned to Jingyang Palace.
Princess Princess Ankang, not having waited for Li Xuan, had fallen asleep in a daze and was helped to bed by Yu'er.
As for Yu'er, she hadn't slept yet; she sat in her room, her eyes red.
Seeing that Princess Princess Ankang was sound asleep, Li Xuan, feeling a bit worried, came to check on Yu'er and saw her sitting blankly in the dark room.
Even though Jingyang Palace was a bit more affluent now, Yu'er's frugal habits hadn't had time to change.
Unless absolutely necessary, she would never light a lamp to waste lamp oil.
Li Xuan softly "meowed" at the door, then climbed onto the table and looked at Yu'er.
It really was true, the siblings looked very similar when they were spacing out.
"Is that Li Xuan?"
Yu'er heard the cat's meow, called out, and then saw a pair of glowing cat eyes approach her.
"Why aren't you asleep yet? Are you also unable to sleep?"
Yu'er stretched out her hands and pulled Li Xuan into her embrace, feeling the warm temperature, which made her mood a bit better.
Li Xuan looked up and found that Yu'er's face was still wet, so he extended his cat paw and gently wiped her face with the back of his hand.
Feeling Li Xuan's gentle movements, Yu'er couldn't help but smile faintly, and the strength with which she held him increased slightly.
"Li Xuan, you're so good!"
"If everyone else in this world were like you, how wonderful would that be?"
Yu'er's mood was low; it seemed the bad news she heard from her younger brother today had a significant impact on her.
In fact, even Yu'er herself had never expected to be so affected.
Once, she resented those two people.
Selling herself to feed her younger brother.
Although Yu'er accepted this fate, it didn't mean she was willing.
Once upon a time, Yu'er had also been the apple of her parents' eye.
But ever since her younger brother was born, she was even sold off.
However, Yu'er never resented her younger brother; he was just an innocent little life like herself.
Yu'er still remembered that day, when she was led away by a strange man, her younger brother cried and shouted, clinging to her and refusing to let go.
Constantly shouting: "Sister, don't take my sister away…"
Facing such a younger brother, how could Yu'er possibly hate him?
But her parents…
Yu'er had thought she'd forgotten their faces, but now, for some reason, their faces suddenly became clear again.
All those past memories, both good and bad, came flooding back.
Just as Yu'er felt her tears had dried, her eyes welled up again.
Li Xuan stayed by Yu'er's side until she fell asleep, drowsily slumped on the table.
"Sleeping like this won't do."
Li Xuan nudged Yu'er with his head, trying to wake her up.
But Yu'er was sleeping very deeply and didn't react at all.
Having suffered such a blow suddenly, Yu'er's heart must have been very tired.
Helpless, Li Xuan could only drag the bedding from the bed and cover Yu'er with it.
At least this way, she wouldn't catch a cold, but sleeping face down would inevitably lead to back pain tomorrow.
After doing all this, Li Xuan closed the door and quietly left.
In the courtyard of Jingyang Palace, silver light spilled down, dreamlike and ethereal.
The bright moon shone beautifully in the sky, and the stars in the river glittered brilliantly.
It was truly a beautiful night scene.
Li Xuan, using the moonlight, came to an open space and began to practice the Bloodthirsty Tiger Claw he had just learned.
His cat paws exerted slight force, and sharp claws suddenly extended.
Today, Li Xuan would also reveal his sharpness.
...
Early the next morning.
Li Xuan got up early and headed straight for Yan Qu Hall.
He planned to see what had happened to the two eunuchs who were arrested and if the matter had been resolved.
Chief Steward Shang's probing visit yesterday had truly left Li Xuan with a lump in his throat.
If this matter wasn't settled soon, he probably wouldn't even enjoy his meals.
In the Imperial family, eunuchs and palace maids always started their busy day early, and Yan Qu Hall was no exception.
These servants would get up early to clean and prepare breakfast; those with masters were more at ease, as these laborious tasks didn't fall to them, only needing to serve their masters when they woke up.
Li Xuan strolled around Yan Qu Hall and saw many beautiful young women of various charms.
Their attire and demeanor were clearly different from ordinary palace maids; they seemed equally busy, but mostly with their own affairs, such as dressing up and grooming.
Presumably, these were the Talent, beauties, and Jieyu who had just been sent into the palace.
If the Shi Jian Courtyard was the'starter village' for eunuchs and palace maids, then this Yan Qu Hall was the'starter village' for these imperial concubines.
These young women would learn various palace etiquette, singing, and dancing here, and even secret techniques like Imperial family bedroom arts, which was quite arduous.
Moreover, not everyone could wait for the day they would be favored by His Majesty.
Some would gradually transform from "prospective nobles" into "prospective burial companions." Those who found connections would submit applications to become nuns, spending their lives with a solitary lamp and ancient Buddha, which was considered a good end.
Li Xuan watched the daily life of Yan Qu Hall with curiosity, searching for his targets, but after a long stroll, he didn't see the two eunuchs, nor did he hear anyone talking about them.
He went to their room and found it had long been emptied, as if no one had ever lived there.
Li Xuan thought that these two might have already "disappeared."
Don't let Chief Steward Shang's politeness when he came to Jingyang Palace that day deceive you; he was definitely not a soft-hearted person.
If these two eunuchs simply disappeared, Li Xuan would feel more at ease.
Li Xuan also didn't plan to leave; he decided to stay in Yan Qu Hall today to see if he could get any useful information.
But at that moment, he saw a familiar figure in a corner of the courtyard.
"What is she doing there?"