Chapter 1: The Turmoil of the Flowerless Palace (3) (Bonus)
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The evening sun streamed through the cracks in the door, casting neat lines of light on the floor, while Fatty sat dumbfounded at the dining table, oblivious to how those beams had divided him into three parts.
The figure entering through the door had a stylish bob haircut and a bright smile, her cheeks glowing with the radiant light of sunset. Ah, wasn’t that the very Second Palace Master Bai Tao he had been trying so hard to get close to?
She saved him?
But wait, wasn’t she locked up in a cell, completely stripped of her freedom?
Observing her current state, she seemed to have broken free from her shackles.
Could it be that the Great Palace Master changed her mind?
Fatty finally let out a sigh of relief.
“Thank you, Second Palace Master, for saving me. I, Xiao Mei, am forever grateful.”
Bai Tao smiled gently, “You’re too polite, Xiao Mei. To save me, you endured a lot, even being locked in the dungeon and tormented. This kindness, I will never forget.”
Fatty hurriedly replied, “The Second Palace Master shouldn’t take it to heart. This was also Senior Sister Luo Ying’s instruction; I dare not take credit for it.
Knowing you’re safe, Senior Sister Luo will be overjoyed. But this sudden change—I couldn’t have expected it. Did something happen to the Great Palace Master?”
Bai Tao sighed, “You’re right. The Great Palace Master… has passed away.”
Fatty froze for a moment. He hadn’t expected the Great Palace Master to d*e.
But this did explain why the Second Palace Master was able to escape so easily.
With the Great Palace Master’s sudden departure, Bai Tao, as the Second Palace Master, naturally had an easy path to take over the Flowerless Palace. It made sense that she was escorted out by the disciples.
But…
Fatty suddenly recalled the frail woman who had been interrogating him in the dungeon just a few days ago.
Although he had never learned her identity, she clearly held a high position in the Flowerless Palace.
What role did she play in the whole matter of the Great Palace Master’s d*ath?
“So now, does it mean that you have the final say in the Flowerless Palace?” Fatty asked.
Bai Tao reflected, “Yes, I never imagined… before the Great Palace Master passed, she publicly transferred the leadership of the sect to me… I really… sigh…”
As she spoke, tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably.
She raised her head to wipe her eyes, but when the emotions surged, the tears flowed like an uncontrollable spring.
Fatty dug through his pockets and, thank goodness, found a clean handkerchief. He quickly handed it to Bai Tao, who softly said thank you.
Seeing her tear-streaked face, so different from her usual bold self, Fatty didn’t know what expression to wear. He wanted to comfort her but had no idea how to act.
The love manual once said that a crying woman needs a man’s hug and comfort the most.
A broad shoulder would make her feel safe and ease her distress, and even just listening could help her emotions settle.
To expose her vulnerability and helplessness in front of a man actually proved he must have a certain place in her heart.
Thinking this, Fatty timidly reached out and patted her shoulder before pulling her into a solid embrace.
Bai Tao showed no resistance and actually sobbed quietly in his arms.
Wait a minute, am I Fatty finally hitting the jackpot in romance?
Although Bai Tao’s short hair gave her a slightly masculine vibe, her looks and figure were top-notch.
Haha, who would have thought that Fatty could find love in this game?
I must seize this opportunity.
Fatty gently patted her back to comfort her.
“The Great Palace Master has passed, so please don’t be sad, Second Palace Master. Taking care of yourself is how you can lead the Flowerless Palace forward.”
Bai Tao rubbed her red-rimmed eyes and slowly eased out of his embrace, “Fat Sister, you’re right!”
Wait, did you just call me what?
Fatty jolted. It suddenly hit him that he was still wearing that oversized women’s outfit, with an unremovable wig perched atop his head.
No wonder it was so easy to hug her earlier; she saw him as a woman and, of course, didn’t put her guard up.
Holy cr*p… this is getting exciting.
What if… I whip out the goods down there to prove my true identity?
But considering the consequences of this action might lead to him losing his little brother forever, he reluctantly chose to let go of his dignity as a man.
Fat Sister it is then.
At least compared to Xiao Mei, Fat Sister felt more like an endearing nickname among friends.
After all, until now, Bai Tao had only just begun to trust him.
A small mistake might ruin everything—if Bai Tao discovered the truth before their relationship had grown intimate enough, he might not even be able to save himself with Senior Sister’s help. Once their bond was stronger, he could reveal his identity, and perhaps then he could get her forgiveness instead of getting his head chopped off.
“Fat Sister, who would have thought things would develop to this extent? Truly, the world is unpredictable, and fate plays its tricks.”
Once Bai Tao calmed down, she pulled Fatty to sit at the dining table.
Fatty hurriedly poured her some wine, only for her to wave her hand, “I don’t like drinking.”
So that was an act to show off for the Great Palace Master back then.
Those days, she and Senior Sister were drinking together so joyously that Luo Ying immediately identified the issue.
Fatty had no choice but to sit down and replied, “What do you mean, Second Palace Master?”
Bai Tao said softly,
“I’ve known the Great Palace Master for decades. No, she’s even been somewhat of a guide to me.
Sigh… although I felt her personality change quite a bit in these past two years, who can guarantee their character remains unchanged forever?”
Fatty furrowed his brows, “Are you saying she wasn’t like this before?”
“Exactly! The Great Palace Master was strict but generally caring and considerate towards her subordinates. Yet since two years ago, she has become increasingly harsh. Even minor mistakes led to punishments that were hard to bear.
I simply couldn’t stand it and clashed with her a few times, and as a result, I, the Second Palace Master, was stripped of most of my power and became a figurehead.
In this past year, the Great Palace Master often secluded herself, leaving all affairs to her chief disciple, Ren Dan.
Everyone thought Ren Dan was a shoo-in for the next Sect Leader.
You should have seen Ren Dan’s expression at the time; she looked like she was ready to give her acceptance speech. Then when the Great Palace Master said the position was passed to me, her face just went flat! If it weren’t for all the disciples around, I bet she would have flipped out right then and there.
Honestly, I still don’t understand what happened. The Great Palace Master was always in good health; she could have lived for another hundred years. So how come she just… poof!?”
……
Fat Sister: Hey, hey, big guy! I’m all yours, why don’t you come take a look? One ticket for one entry!
