Chapter 588: Trouble

Chapter 588 Trouble

Amidst a jumble of colorful artificial hills and streams, Li Huowang—previously calm and composed in his conversation—suddenly raised his head, his expression turning grave as he stared intently at the sky. The relaxed atmosphere around him vanished instantly.

Li Sui, observing the unusual behavior of his usually normal father, asked cautiously, "Father, what’s wrong?"

Beside him, Bai Lingmiao also inquired carefully, "Senior Brother Li, are you alright?"

At this moment, they were standing within the imperial garden of Daliang. Though winter had arrived, the eunuchs who tended to the flowers had somehow managed to keep various blossoms blooming in full splendor.

As Li Huowang approached, the attendants and maidservants guarding the garden knelt from afar, trembling with fear.

They had been enjoying the scenery when suddenly Li Huowang's demeanor shifted, turning the atmosphere tense in an instant.

Hearing their voices, Li Huowang calmly turned his gaze back and replied in a steady tone, "Nothing much. Just thought the weather today was quite pleasant."

Upon hearing this, everyone exhaled in relief. Particularly Gouwa, who had been startled, said, "Ah, Senior Brother Li, you scared me half to death. I thought you were about to have another episode again."

"I’m all better now. What kind of illness would I still have? I heard that the Lü family troupe came with you to the capital too?" Li Huowang casually changed the subject.

"Yes, that fool even gave them a huge opera house! The Lü zhuangyuan is probably so happy he’ll start drooling from his nose," Bai Lingmiao replied.

Despite Li Huowang's current appearance with his lotus-headed form, they weren’t nearly as uncomfortable as Bai Lingmiao had imagined. Instead, they accepted it naturally. After all, they had already seen such things on the road. However, the palace eunuchs and attendants clearly found it hard to adjust.

"Really? That’s good news. He finally fulfilled his lifelong dream," Li Huowang said, gently stroking Li Sui’s head on his knee.

The writhing tendrils around him picked up various flowers one by one, gradually adorning his head. Li Huowang took one and pinned it behind Li Sui’s ear.

Seeing that Li Huowang was fine, Li Sui—who had a simple mind—didn’t think much of it and happily nestled closer to him.

"With such a massive opera house, the Lü troupe will definitely perform their pink plays with great enthusiasm. Once they start performing, I’ll definitely go support them."

"Still doing pink plays? Such a waste of space."

"Oh~! What’s wrong with pink plays? Who doesn’t enjoy watching them?"

Under Gouwa’s rambling chatter, the small incident quickly passed. They continued strolling through the imperial garden.

After some time, they discovered that there were even special greenhouses for growing winter vegetables inside the garden. Everyone was thrilled and rushed down to pick some, planning to use them for making dumplings during the New Year.

Fresh greens in the dead of winter were rare treasures. There was no need for politeness; these vegetables belonged to Gao Zhijian—and thus, to them as well.

After touring the entire imperial garden, the group returned home satisfied, having enjoyed a spring outing in the courtyard.

Given Li Huowang’s current state, rest was essential. The others didn’t intend to disturb him, so they left him at the doorstep before departing.

Once everyone else had gone, Bai Lingmiao pushed the wheelchair carrying Li Huowang into the house.

"Senior Brother Li, are you really okay?" Although Bai Lingmiao, who had swallowed a relic, was blind, her perception was unusually sharp. She knew Li Huowang hadn’t just been looking at the weather.

"It’s nothing. Nothing serious. Nothing at all."

Just as they were about to enter the house, Li Huowang suddenly spoke. "Miaomiao, please help me summon the Astronomical Bureau later. I have some matters to inquire about."

Bai Lingmiao’s face flickered slightly in surprise, but she nodded. "Okay, I understand."

As she left, she also took along Li Sui, who had been clinging to Li Huowang. But after not seeing him for some time, Li Sui was reluctant to part.

"Madam, let me stay with my father. I haven’t seen him in so long," Li Sui pleaded with a childlike voice, despite his beautiful appearance.

"No way. Your father’s head is fragile now. What if you accidentally knock it off? Come with me right now!" Bai Lingmiao’s stern tone made Li Sui immediately give in. Holding his hand, she led him away, glancing back three times.

After they left, the room fell into silence. Li Huowang slowly closed his eyes.

His right hand tapped rhythmically against the tight leather, while his left tapped on the smooth cane chair. In the dark, the scent of disinfectant intertwined with a faint floral fragrance.

"Li Huowang, I hear you wanted to see me?"

Li Huowang slowly opened his eyes and saw the Astronomical Officer standing before him.

Tall and imposing, he wore a wide red robe that dominated his entire presence.

Li Huowang looked at him calmly, paused, then said slowly, "Did you miss cleaning up the tail?"

"Who told you that?" The Astronomical Officer seemed surprised by Li Huowang’s sudden realization.

"No one told me. I just sensed it myself." A vision flashed through Li Huowang’s mind—the gaze that had come from the far end of the hospital corridor.

The Astronomical Officer nodded slowly. "Indeed. But such minor matters are handled by the Observational Department. You don’t need to worry. Rest and recover."

"What exactly is going on?" Li Huowang pressed again. He didn’t believe something involving the dragon vein of Daliang could be trivial.

But the Astronomical Officer did not answer. He simply turned and walked away.

"You don’t trust me?" Li Huowang’s words stopped him. "I’ve helped you deal with the dice. Why don’t you trust me?"

"If you were in my position, would you trust yourself?"

Hearing this, Li Huowang didn’t try to explain further. Without the common enemy of the dice, their relationship wasn’t as close as it might seem.

"If you ever need help, feel free to reach out. I live in Daliang too. I don’t want the empire to fall."

The Astronomical Officer’s shadowy figure within his robes turned toward Li Huowang once more. "I know you think that way. But do you know what your future self intends? You’re no longer the same person."

"The plans of fate never align with those of mortals. The Observational Department, the Observational Department—it is destined to observe the heavens."

With those words, the tall figure faded into the shadows of the room. Silence returned.

Li Huowang fell into deep thought. The Astronomical Officer trusted him—but he didn’t trust his own future self.

Yet, if the Astronomical Officer didn’t trust him, how could he possibly trust the man?

Since he refused to reveal anything, Li Huowang would have to find another way to resolve this.

Since trouble had come knocking, he couldn’t sit idly by.

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Next chapter updates at 00:02.

(End of Chapter)