Chapter 138 - Is It Funny That the Reincarnated Senior Sister Is Also Being Pursued?

"Ming Chao, what kind of person is the empress, Your Highness?" Bai Lian asked curiously. She had only seen the empress's portrait in the game, and she had to admit that she was very beautiful. Despite being just a supporting character, her looks rivalled those of the female lead. Unfortunately, there wasn't a specific route for her, and in the main storyline, there wasn't much interaction with her. "The empress, she is an exceptionally gentle person. Being around her feels like a breath of fresh air, and whether it's the servants or the ministers, she treats everyone with equal kindness." "Although the empress is not very old, her words are very persuasive. Even the ministers arguing in the court would calm down because of her words." "Listening to the empress's voice is like listening to a Buddhist chant, very comforting." "However, it seems she hasn't cultivated any abilities, just an ordinary person, and her background isn't very impressive. I heard she's just a merchant's daughter. Her parents entered the monastery, and she had no choice but to enter the palace." "Because of her humble background, the adults in the court initially opposed her. But as time went on, she eventually gained their recognition and respect." "Previously, when there was a disaster near the capital, the empress personally comforted the people and was loved by the public." Perhaps it was because of the empress's gentleness that she gained everyone's recognition. "Unfortunately, the empress has yet to give birth to a child for His Majesty." As Ming Chao spoke of the empress, there was a longing light in her eyes. Obviously, a commoner who could transform into a phoenix, be kind and approachable to the servants, and gain the recognition of the entire court had become her— Bai Lian felt more and more puzzled as she listened. It wasn't because Ming Chao said anything wrong, but... the empress, as a potential romanceable character, seemed a bit too perfect. The defining trait of Lingriche characters like Bai Lian was that most romanceable characters had their own imperfections, providing players with opportunities to pursue them and giving players reasons to pursue Lingriche characters. The empress, as described by Ming Chao, was gentle, kind, and generous, almost like a Bodhisattva, making it difficult for the eager players to make a move. With these doubts, Bai Lian arrived at the Palace of Wanyan. It was just as magnificent as she had seen in the game, with opulent palaces and buildings, a testament to the favor bestowed upon Princess Wanyan. Although the area was not large, it was more splendid than many of the mansions of the princes and nobles. Next to the Palace of Wanyan was the vast Wanyan Lake. The sunlight reflected on the lake's surface, casting a faint golden hue, and the early winter morning breeze stirred the ripples on the water's surface, bringing the golden glow to life. Even though Bai Lian had witnessed many beautiful sights in the game, she could not deny that the scenery of Wanyan Palace on Wanyan Lake was truly enchanting. Entering the palace gates, she was greeted by a complex labyrinth of gardens, pavilions, and towers, where maidservants hurriedly passed by from time to time. Bai Lian's gaze flickered and was reminded of a certain plotline from the game. At that time, due to an accident, she had to hide in the Palace of Wanyan and became lost in the complex gardens, only to stumble upon an intriguing secret event involving Princess Wanyan. Eventually, she was coerced by Princess Wanyan and became her nominal follower. Their ill-fated relationship began from then on. Looking back now, that plotline was full of clichés and routines, enough to be criticized for being overly predictable even in a novel. But at that time, her mind was filled with bitterness, and she didn't care about how cliché it was. She really missed those times she spent with Princess Wanyan. "Bai Lian, please keep up with me. The gardens in the palace are quite intricate. If you're not careful, you might get lost," Ming Chao reminded timely. Bai Lian smiled faintly and said, "I know." With that, she continued to walk ahead. "Huh?" Seeing Bai Lian's familiar demeanor, Ming Chao suddenly felt lost. Why did it feel like Bai Lian had returned to her own home upon arriving at the Palace of Wanyan? Who exactly was the person in the Palace of Wanyan! For Bai Lian, the Palace of Wanyan felt just like home. Just like how she and Mu Jianli were very familiar with every detail on Chick Peak, she left many traces with Princess Wanyan in the vast Palace of Wanyan. She even knew where she could clearly see the maids outside chatting, but they couldn't see her. Once, a maid happened to walk that way, and they were almost face to face, causing the emotionally charged Princess Wanyan to be scared out of her wits. Well, now that she thought about it, she had been extremely wicked back then. No wonder Princess Wanyan had such deep malice towards her after being reborn. In this lifetime...she should make it up to her. Lost in familiar surroundings, Bai Lian was oblivious to the approaching figure at the corner. The other person also seemed distracted, and the two of them collided smoothly. At the moment of contact, it felt like two water balloons colliding, exerting a tremendous force on both of them, causing them to fall backward simultaneously. "Ah-!" Caught off guard, the person opposite let out a frightened cry, about to fall from the stone bridge into the water. Bai Lian suddenly snapped out of her thoughts, and her spiritual power instantly enveloped her body, swiftly pulling the person into her arms, preventing them from falling into the water. "Sorry, my fault for not paying attention. Are you okay?" she asked apologetically, steadying herself. "I'm fine," a soft voice reached her ears, causing Bai Lian's breathing to skip a beat. In theory, as a Sky Soarer, she wouldn't be affected by such external appearances. However, upon hearing that voice, she couldn't help but feel an inexplicable yearning, an impulse to get closer and pay homage. She looked up to see a woman with a smiling face who appeared to be in her early twenties, stunningly beautiful like a peony, yet not overly showy. She instantly recognized the identity of this young woman— The Empress of Daxia, Liu Yunmeng. Just then, Ming Chao finally caught up, and upon seeing the young woman in Bai Lian's arms, she immediately knelt on the ground. "Ming Chao pays respects to Your Majesty, the Empress!" "Ming Chao, please get up. Wanyan doesn't like these formalities. If she saw this, she'd probably blame me again," Liu Yunmeng said. "Yes, Your Majesty." Ming Chao complied, standing up meekly. It was clear that Liu Yunmeng's reputation in the Palace of Wanyan was not lower than Princess Wanyan's. After letting Ming Chao get up, Liu Yunmeng turned to Bai Lian with a smile and said, "Thanks for helping. Yunmeng appreciates it, but..." "Can you let go first, miss?"