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In the confusion of it all, Mengdie didn't bother to clarify the misunderstandings. She expertly prepared tea, distributing it to everyone, including Rand. Then she took her seat.
During the ensuing conversation, Mengdie, Nia, and Xiu briefly recounted the events leading up to their visit - the Black Flame Snake stealing Yinyue's King's Cup, Aya's perilous situation, the incident at Lake Missuriwa, the secret news from Mawei City, and their plan to ask the princess to send a message back to Yinyue. Edward, overwhelmed with emotion and not the sharpest tool in the shed, was unable to articulate the situation clearly, so they didn't bother asking him to speak.
"Ah... so you want to meet Princess Sashara..." Rand mused, sipping his tea and seeming relieved that Mengdie was not eloping with Edward. "It might be difficult at this time... It's one o'clock. In two hours, Princess Sashara will go to the royal garden to enjoy the flowers. Men are not allowed in the garden during that time. However, this beastman lady and the little girl can enter. But, you might need to disguise yourselves as the princess's maids to deceive the guards."
Edward, Xiu, and Nia had no objections, but Mengdie felt uneasy. Only women were allowed in? Did that mean accepting her current female identity? She didn't want to enter, but sending Nia alone wasn't feasible since Nia had never met the princess.
Caught in a fierce internal struggle, Mengdie crouched in a corner, her ears drooping, tail curled in front, shaking. Her dilemma perplexed everyone else.
"Why did you leave Yinyue to become a gardener here, Teacher Saldin?" Edward blurted out excitedly. He expected his words to reignite the old man's past glory, but instead, Rand's expression changed dramatically. The previously humble demeanor was replaced by cold indifference.
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"Yinyue has nothing to do with me anymore, Your Highness. Since ten years ago, Sword Master Saldin died, and now I am Rand, an old gardener in Luowei City."
Edward seemed not to grasp the gravity of Rand's words, naively suggesting, "What are you talking about, Master Saldin? If you return to Yinyue, you will be reused! The position of the Royal Knights' commander is still vacant because no one is as powerful as you! And once you return, my father will surely find a way to heal your back..."
"Enough, Your Highness," Rand interrupted, placing his tea cup on the table more gently than necessary, out of respect for Edward.
"If you knew that your father, the King of Yinyue, was the one who broke my back, branded me a traitor, and expelled me from the country, would you still advise me to return?"
The atmosphere in the room froze. Edward's smile turned into a rigid mask. Mengdie, sensing the shift, stood up.
Mengdie was only aware of a peasants' revolt in Yinyue ten years ago and knew nothing more. So, she observed silently.
Rand, realizing his outburst, picked up his cup again, "I'm sorry, Your Highness. I shouldn't speak ill of His Majesty. But I was expelled from Yinyue, and that's an undeniable fact. Allowing someone accused of treason to return would be an insult to Yinyue. Afterward, I came to Luowei Empire and became a gardener, disengaged from worldly affairs. If not for your visit today, I wouldn't have spoken about Yinyue again."
Finishing his tea, Rand collected the cups and retreated to the kitchen, leaving Edward lost in thought.
"There, there. It'll be okay," Mengdie comforted, patting Edward's shoulder, her pretty face smiling gently.
"Everyone has their own beliefs, and once they hit a dead end, it's not easy to turn around. You can't expect a single persuasion to change someone's mind."
Edward seemed to understand Mengdie's point and stood up determinedly.
"Right! Master Saldin! I'll convince you to return to Yinyue! I believe you're not a traitor! Mengdie, if there's nothing else after meeting Princess Sashara and until we find the Black Flame Snake, I'll stay here to continue the swordsmanship I didn't finish learning ten years ago! I'm sure if I work hard, Teacher will change his mind and join us in searching for the King's Cup, and then return to Yinyue together!"
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