Chapter 120: Prince Yun Lures the Fake Miss for a Private Meeting?

Before Pei Nanji could reply, she was interrupted by the Princess of Nanping pulling on Li Qingluo's sleeve.

"Little Sister Luò, we were talking about playing, how did you drag it onto your own conversation?"

Li Qingluo patted Nanping's head as if patting a child, then sighed helplessly: "You. If you're really bored later, just call me out to keep you company. I can accompany you hunting in the mountains or fishing in the river."

The Princess of Nanping instantly became delighted and jumped about like a little bird, chirping as she spun in place.

Nanji asked Li Qingluo in surprise: "You can leave the mansion anytime?"

Li Qingluo smiled, pulled out the token at her waist and showed it to Nanji: "With my grandmother's protection, I can come and go freely."

Nanji stared at the token in amazement: "Huh? My father also has one of these tokens, but… the color is a bit different. Is this one from your grandmother?"

Li Qingluo kept in mind the task her grandmother had given her, so she naturally wanted to get closer to Nanji.

So she took off the token and showed it to Nanji.

Pei Nanji examined it for a while, and the Princess of Nanping tiptoed to get a better look.

Just then, a senior maid came over to summon the Princess of Nanping, saying that *** was calling her over for questioning.

The Princess of Nanping huffed: "It must be Pan Li tattling again! I haven't even spoken against her yet, and she's trying to turn the tables and accuse me! Humph, just wait and see how I deal with her today!"

The Princess of Nanping stormed off, and Pei Nanji and Li Qingluo looked at the garden scenery for a moment. Since it was still cold outside, they were about to head back when they suddenly bumped into a group of people coming toward them.

The leading man was full of noble bearing, with at least thirty servants following behind him.

Li Qingluo and Pei Nanji immediately stepped aside behind a large tree, but the man still spotted them at a glance.

"Which household are you from? Lift your heads."

The attending palace personnel immediately shouted: "Impudent! This is Prince Yun, Your Highness—hurry and pay your respects!"

The two had no choice but to kneel hastily, then half‑raise their heads.

"Greetings, Prince Yun, Your Highness."

"Your Highness, I am the twelfth daughter of the Duke Pei's residence, Pei Nanji."

"Your Highness, I am the second daughter of the General's residence in Dongyin Lane, Li Qingluo."

Upon hearing Li Qingluo's name, Prince Yun let out an "Oh?"

"Are you that Li Qingluo?"

He stared straight at Li Qingluo for a while, making her break out in gooseflesh, before finally leaving.

Pei Nanji supported Li Qingluo and asked, "Are you all right?"

She thought Li Qingluo's odd complexion was due to seeing someone of such high status for the first time.

Li Qingluo said, "I'm fine. Nanji, I want to wash up—you go back first."

Having said that, Li Qingluo didn't wait for Pei Nanji's reaction and hurried off with Que'er.

Upon reaching the washing room, Li Qingluo saw Deng Mama already waiting there.

Seeing her, Deng Mama grinned and approached: "Miss."

Li Qingluo: "How is it?"

Deng Mama: "The matters you entrusted, I have naturally taken care of them."

Although the washing room was empty, after washing her hands Li Qingluo still went out.

Deng Mama and Que'er followed, one on each side, and Deng Mama continued in a low voice: "I spread the word and arranged for Liu Jinzhi to be quietly placed in the vegetable‑delivery merchant‑farmer team; once she entered, no one would notice her."

"Also, Prince Yun's new concubine—she went back to her natal home today to visit family, and on her way back to the prince's residence I had her seized and dumped at the waiting‑moon platform."

Li Qingluo: "Wait for the right moment, then lure Prince Yun over."

Deng Mama: "Don't worry, we brought several maids out today, and they're all quite clever."

Li Qingluo let out a sigh of relief.

The day before, Li Qingluo had learned that Li Qingzhu would certainly come to this winter banquet.

Although she wasn't bringing her, given Li Qingzhu's temperament, this matter would certainly not be let go easily; she definitely had ways to deal with it.

Sure enough, once the Pan family's letter arrived at the General's residence, Li Qingluo received the news.

That works out well; Li Qingluo can now better arrange how to continue dealing with her.

Moreover, the person involved wasn't brought by her, so afterward no one would naturally suspect her.

Now, Li Qingluo's courtyard has a maid named Zi Jin, who previously came from the Lan Cang Institute.

Before departing, Liu Sui'er informed Li Qingluo that Zi Jin harbored divided loyalties.

Li Qingluo naturally intended to make good use of that.

Under her direction, Zi Jin has now gone to the Ziwei Tang.

However, Li Qingzhu felt that her name clashed with the Ziwei Tang, so she has now given her a new name, Luying.

Li Qingluo said, "Luying is accompanying her today; have her keep an eye on Li Qingzhu, and if necessary, lure Li Qingzhu to the waiting‑moon platform as well."

Li Qingluo let her fingers hang down, rubbing the small token at her waist.

She hadn't known how to use this token at first, but now that she does, she realizes her grandmother's network of eyes and ears spreads throughout Jinling City.

Calling it an intelligence bureau is hardly an exaggeration.

Even if she is in the princess's residence today, as long as she wishes, she is not unable to act.

The dishes at the princess's residence are mostly northwestern in style.

Such as hand‑grasped lamb, mutton hot pot, baked buns, and willow‑branch meat skewers about the size of an egg.

Everyone stared in shock, and even the muttony smell made most unwilling to eat.

But at the banquet, Xiyue*** personally appeared, greeted everyone to start eating, and so they had no choice but to partake.

However, the taste of these dishes is still excellent.

Li Qingluo could even describe it as stunning.

Instantly that strange smell seemed to disappear as well.

Li Qingluo had never tasted such a flavor in two lifetimes, so while eating these fresh things she was somewhat unwilling to put down her chopsticks.

Especially the lamb in the pot, although it looked light, once dipped in the sauce various rich and delicate flavors instantly filled her whole mouth, also opened her taste buds.

Even eating those meat skewers and such were all amazingly delicious.

Moreover, after finishing this meal it also made her body feel warm.

Today's winter banquet invited only the ladies of Jinling City.

***First she politely thanked each household, tolerating the trouble caused by the Princess of Nanping's frequent visits over this period, and then she said that everyone could often come to the Princess's mansion to play in the future.

But she is from the imperial family—who would really take her words seriously?

Yet refusing would be impolite, so everyone raised their cups and drank heartily.

Li Qingzhu felt vexed in her heart, so she drank a few more cups than others.

Lu Ying advised her a couple of times from the side; she laughed and reached out to take a look, then pinched a big handful on Lu Ying's inner thigh.

Then she tilted her head, lowered her voice, and said in a tone only the two of them could hear: 'If you keep talking, when we go back I'll definitely slap your mouth. You lowly servant, is it now your turn to boss me around?'

Lu Ying's eyes welled with tears: 'Miss, I just don't want you to lose composure today. I've heard that Prince Yun is also at the Princess's mansion today; if he sees any lady lose composure, word will get out and you'll surely be criticized.'

Li Qingzhu's eyes lit up instantly: 'Who are you talking about? How do you know this?'