Chapter Sixty-Four: When Enemies Meet, Hatred Burns Even Brighter

Baili Xian naturally had no time to seek trouble with Liu Ling’er out of boredom—he could barely manage his own affairs. He only ever sought her out when something required her attention, taking the opportunity to tease her in passing.

Since Baili Xian hadn’t come to see Liu Ling’er, it was instead an unexpected guest who arrived. When Liu Ling’er saw little Shuangshuang push open the door with her tiny hand, her astonishment knew no bounds. In order to avoid being disturbed during her cultivation, she had specifically instructed Su Yunyun and Xiao Tao not to let anyone in.

Fortunately, she had already recovered her strength; otherwise, if someone had barged in while she was still restoring her powers, it could have led to disastrous consequences—a deviation in her cultivation, or perhaps a complete loss of her internal energy. The mere thought made Liu Ling’er shudder with lingering fear—how lucky she was.

Scooping up little Shuangshuang, Liu Ling’er tried to look stern. “Shuangshuang, why are you so mischievous, wandering about in the middle of the night instead of sleeping? How did you get here? Didn’t the big sister outside stop you?”

Shuangshuang shook her head vigorously, like a rattle-drum. “The big sister outside didn’t stop me at all! I just walked past her. Maybe because I’m not very tall, even if I walked right by, they didn’t notice me.”

Liu Ling’er broke out in a cold sweat. Indeed, if no one paid close attention, a child as small as Shuangshuang—barely half a meter tall—could easily slip by unnoticed.

Still holding Shuangshuang, Liu Ling’er stood up and headed for the door. “Shuangshuang, tonight you’re supposed to stay with that lady. Come, I’ll take you back, all right? Children need their sleep, you know.”

The moment Shuangshuang realized Liu Ling’er wanted to send her back to the other lady, she clung tightly to Liu Ling’er’s neck. “No! I want to stay with Ling’er Sister. You promised to tell me a story tonight—you can’t go back on your word! If you lie, you’ll turn into a puppy!”

Heavens, how could such a tiny child have such a sharp memory? Liu Ling’er felt helpless. Since Shuangshuang was so insistent, she couldn’t just throw her out, could she?

But half an hour later, Liu Ling’er regretted playing the part of the magnanimous elder. She had agreed so readily to tell Shuangshuang a story, thinking a few random tales would suffice. How naïve she had been.

“Once upon a time, long, long ago, there was a…” Liu Ling’er began, but before long, Shuangshuang interrupted, “This one isn’t good. I want to hear another.”

Fine. Liu Ling’er tapped her head, thinking. “It’s said that far, far away…” She hadn’t gotten three sentences in before Shuangshuang cut her off again. “This one’s not good either. Tell me a new one, please, Ling’er Sister!”

A fine sheen of sweat appeared on Liu Ling’er’s nose as she forced a pained smile. Oh, my little mistress, don’t be so hard on me—it’s not easy to think up stories on the spot! Though she grumbled inwardly, Liu Ling’er had no choice but to dig through her mind for old tales. “Once upon a time…”

From under the covers, Shuangshuang poked out her little head. “That doesn’t count—it’s too short. I want a long story.”

Liu Ling’er stared blankly and nodded mechanically. “Back in the day…” She hadn’t even finished the first sentence when Shuangshuang protested, kicking at the covers. “Ling’er Sister, are you trying to fool me because I’m small? That story is even worse. Hmph, it’s so old-fashioned!”

Liu Ling’er nearly toppled off the bed in exasperation. Was this even survivable? It was just a story, for heaven’s sake! Never again would she promise a child bedtime tales.

The next morning, Liu Ling’er, with dark circles under her eyes, appeared in front of Xiao Tao and Xiao Cui, giving Xiao Tao quite a fright. “Miss, what happened to you? Why do you look so exhausted?”

Liu Ling’er glared at Xiao Tao. If you hadn’t let little Shuangshuang, that little troublemaker, into my room, would I be in this state?

Recalling the previous night’s ordeal, Liu Ling’er wanted nothing more than to find a quiet corner and weep her heart out—a tale of suffering indeed! Fine, if Shuangshuang wanted a long story, Liu Ling’er would tell her the tales from A Thousand and One Nights. Back when she was little, her own mother had read her a story from that book every evening.

That worked at last. But just as Shuangshuang was drifting off, she murmured drowsily, “Ling’er Sister, that was fun. From now on, I’ll sleep here every night, and you’ll tell me a story.”

Good grief. Liu Ling’er certainly didn’t remember the entirety of A Thousand and One Nights. Lying under the covers, wide-eyed, she spent the whole night wracking her brain. To make matters worse, Shuangshuang ground her teeth in her sleep, sounding just like a little mouse gnawing away—making it impossible for Liu Ling’er to sleep at all. No wonder she woke up with those panda eyes.

Taking advantage of Shuangshuang still being asleep, Liu Ling’er fled her own room. If this continued, little Shuangshuang would give her a full-blown fear of children.

As she walked down the bustling street where Baili Xian had given her the deed to that plot of land, Liu Ling’er’s mind was preoccupied, her thoughts drifting, and she didn’t notice the commotion on the street.

An ornate sedan chair borne by eight bearers was approaching, with palace guards clearing the way and a eunuch loudly announcing, “Her Highness the Imperial Consort is passing—make way, all commoners!”

With a collective rush, the crowd parted to either side, leaving only Liu Ling’er, lost in thought, standing in the center of the street. The eunuch shrieked, “Impudent woman! How dare you block Her Highness Consort Wu’s procession?”

Snapping back to reality at the mention of Consort Wu, Liu Ling’er’s anger flared instantly. When it came to old grudges between her and Consort Wu, there was bad blood running deeper than the sea.