Hearing this voice, Old Master Luo's heart faltered in an instant.
"No, not at all!"
He shrank his neck and turned around to see Empress Dowager Yan Xi of Great Chu walking in under the escort of a group of maids and eunuchs from the opposite gallery, through an archway.
The woman's carriage was dignified and luxurious, her right hand resting on the hand of a close maid, and the sharpness between her eyebrows did not fade away.
Those phoenix eyes coldly scrutinized him.
"Not at all?" Yan Xi sneered, her eyes sweeping over the secluded and tranquil courtyard.
"What are you here for if not?"
She had received news that he had been coming to this secluded courtyard for several days in a row.
As Empress Dowager Yan Xi's eyes, full of sharpness, landed on the corner where Old Master Luo stood, it intensified.
"I have said, Luo Tong, without my command, you cannot go anywhere!"
"Are you not here to attempt an escape?"
"I…" Old Master Luo had a face full of distress.
He truly wasn't!
He was just here to pass on a message for his precious granddaughter not to come looking for him, lest she be confronted by her.
But these were the words he dared not speak to Yan Xi.
As he stuttered, unable to articulate a single word, Empress Dowager Yan Xi abruptly waved her hand, "Search for me!"
The sternness in her eyes was evident.
She wanted to see just who in the Great Chu Imperial Palace was in contact with Luo Tong.
Was it Prince Ning's group of people?
If it was them, Luo Tong's identity might have already been discovered!
With this thought, Empress Dowager Yan Xi's gaze towards Old Master Luo was incredibly complex.
As the Empress Dowager of Great Chu, keeping a man forcibly within the Imperial Palace was extremely hazardous.
Even though her hands controlled most parts of the Imperial Palace, there were still places she couldn't manage to attend to.
In this world, there are always countless loopholes waiting for people to exploit.
If someone discovered Luo Tong's identity and used it to their advantage, what awaited her was irredeemable ruin!
All her years of planning and strategizing would also be destroyed in an instant.
But… she just couldn't manage to send this man away!
After decades of separation, the man had aged so significantly, Yan Xi thought she would despise him, be disgusted by him, forget him!
But she hadn't anticipated that she would still love him!
This man, what right does he have?!
Especially since he has aged so much!
Especially since back then he blindly believed others, thinking that she had an affair and caused the death of their child!
Especially since he quickly married another after her, with the Luo Family prospering and flourishing!
Why can't she forget him? Why does she still love him?!
Even now, he constantly seeks to flee, always deceiving her, yet she still worries about him being exploited!
Yan Xi gritted her teeth as she looked at Old Master Luo.
The latter felt increasingly guilty under her gaze.
"Xixi, I really didn't intend to flee…"
He was just passing a message…
"Shut up! Whether or not you plan to escape, that's for me to investigate!" Empress Dowager Yan Xi's voice was icy cold.
Just then, those around her returned from their search.
"Empress Dowager, no suspicious signs were found."
"Empress Dowager, there are no traces of others having been here."
…
A number of people reported in succession.
Listening, Old Master Luo instantly breathed a sigh of relief.
True to the Black Domain's reputation, that was a close one.
"Xixi, you see, I really wasn't planning to run away." Old Master Luo hurriedly said.
"Then what are you doing here?" Empress Dowager Yan Xi looked at him with a cold expression.
"Luo Tong, this is the Great Chu Imperial Palace. If you don't want to die, behave and don't have any dealings with people who come without a reason!"
Yan Xi still didn't quite believe his presence here was a coincidence.
However, since no traces of anyone else were found, she felt much more at ease.
"I…" Old Master Luo hesitated for a moment, then suddenly felt something he had hidden up his sleeve, his eyes lighting up abruptly.