Chapter 265: Luo'er Meets Prince Su, Throwing Herself into His Arms?

After the servant covered Liu Qingzhu's mouth and took her away, Li Kechuan went to the door, opened a crack, and glanced at Li Chao Jing.

Li Chao Jing had already been made very honest by hunger.

But he was still fiddling with that pile of broken toys.

Li Kechuan: "Mother, don't really starve Father to death. It's the son's fault; I heard that if it weren't for my matter, Father wouldn't be like this."

Thinking of this, Li Kechuan's eyes filled with pain.

He is an unfilial son.

Once his father gets better, he will definitely turn over a new leaf and again support the Jiangjun Fu.

But who knows how many more days the Jiangjun Fu can still be called that?

Li Kechuan's heart also filled with endless bitterness.

If it weren't for Zhu'er's great fire, the Jiangjun Fu wouldn't have come to this point...

Only today did he fully understand: it was indeed that fire that destroyed everything of the Jiangjun Fu!

At this moment, Li Kechuan redirected all his hatred toward Liu Qingzhu.

Only then could his heart feel a little relieved...

Outside the city, West Mountain Pavilion.

Li Qingluo followed Nan Gongdi in martial practice, and she was drenched in sweat.

She then returned to the Free Abode to bathe and freshen up, after which she prepared to go out.

It was already spring; Li Qingluo had long taken off her heavy fur cloak and now wore a light lined coat, feeling much cooler.

For convenience, she only tied a simple high ponytail, bound with a goose-yellow ribbon, a few small braids, and was about to leave when she saw Nan Gongdi waiting for her outside the courtyard.

Li Qingluo: "Master? Do you still have something to ask of your disciple?"

Nan Gongdi rose and said: "Come on, Master will accompany you for a trip."

Li Qingluo:?

Nan Gongdi is usually somewhat aloof; when teaching Li Qingluo martial arts, he is unsmiling, almost rigid, a very stern person.

Moreover, he seems to dislike Jinling; since arriving these days, aside from going out to find himself for two days, it's said he hasn't set foot outside the Xiuli Jiangjun Fu.

It seems he came here solely to teach Li Qingluo martial arts.

Is he going to accompany me out of the city today?

Li Qingluo was also quite surprised.

Could it be that Grandmother is uneasy, so she sent him to protect me?

Li Qingluo hurriedly thanked: "Then disciple will trouble Master today."

At the gate, Li Qingluo saw at least ten grannies intending to accompany her outside the city, which truly shocked her.

Grandmother... is it that she's uneasy about me, or uneasy about Prince Su?

Hehe, hehe...

Behind Li Qingluo, Que'er also carried a bundle.

Besides that pair of men's shoes, the bundle also contained several weapon sketches that Li Qingluo had drawn recently.

Master and servant climbed onto the carriage; Nan Gongdi rode his own horse, Wu Quan drove the carriage, and the group departed the Jiangjun Fu in a mighty procession.

After they left, Zhang Mama then brought the divorce letter and the betrothal gifts previously sent by the Qu family to the Li household, and likewise went in a grand procession to the Qu family...

Outside the city, West Mountain Pavilion.

Li Qingluo didn't expect the scenery at West Mountain Pavilion to be so beautiful.

The moon sets westward, dusk illuminates the mountain shadows.

A lone goose flies alone, insect chirps fade far away.

Li Qingluo's heart involuntarily let out a sigh.

Unexpectedly, after persisting in daily reading and writing, one day she could also embarrassingly show off a couple lines.

However, no matter how beautiful the scenery, there are times when one gets hungry.

Li Qingluo's group then set up a pot rack in the pavilion and laid out the food and drink they had brought halfway from the Delicacies Restaurant.

Soon, the fragrant hot pot began to bubble with a "gudong gudong" sound.

Li Qingluo called over all the grannies; everyone gathered around, taking turns with chopsticks, and they ate heartily without disliking each other.

While they were eating with great enthusiasm, Zhui Yu unexpectedly appeared at some point.

Nan Gongdi heard the disturbance, shot a chopstick sideways; Zhui Yu swiftly dodged, and the chopstick firmly nailed into the pillar.

Zhui Yu:...

Now the people around Miss Li are also becoming increasingly formidable; even I could barely block that move just now!

This person seems to be a master indeed.

Zhui Yu quickly shouted: "Miss, save me, it's me!"

Only then did Li Qingluo notice he had arrived.

"Eh? Isn't it not yet the appointed time? Zhui Yu, you came alone?"

Li Qingluo still held a bowl, piled high with meat and vegetables.

Zhui Yu looked on, drooling.

Li Qingluo: "Want to eat?"

Although Zhui Yu really wanted to join, he still steadied himself, clasped his fist and coughed: "Miss, the Prince requests you to step aside for a talk."

Has the Prince already arrived?

The pavilion is packed with our people; this place is indeed no longer suitable for conversation.

Originally everyone planned to eat their fill and then leave; unexpectedly, Prince Su arrived early.

Li Qingluo hurriedly looked at her master Nan Gongdi: "Master, that disciple will go and come back soon; you all eat slowly?"

Nan Gongdi frowned slightly.

Although he had long heard of Prince Su's reputation, and moreover it was highly improper for a lone man and woman to meet in the middle of the night, this master who had come halfway had no intention of overly managing his disciple's affairs; he was just bored staying in that four-direction house, so today he simply came out to casually relax.

So he only gave a single reminder: "Be extra careful, call for me if anything happens."

Li Qingluo laughed and bowed: "Master, don't worry; following Your Highness, Luoluo will be very safe."

After saying that, Li Qingluo followed Zhui Yu and left.

Nan Gongdi merely stared curiously at their retreating figures until they disappeared.

Rumor has it that Prince Su is no good person.

But why does Luoluo trust him so much?

Luoluo doesn't seem the type to trust just anyone; could it be that Prince Su is not the cruel, tyrannical killer god as rumored?

Zhui Yu was very happy.

The young lady just praised Your Highness, right?

She feels it's very safe to follow Your Highness!

Look, no attendant followed her; she came with just a small bag slung over her shoulder.

Your Highness will surely be pleased to know that.

When I get back, I'll definitely whisper in Your Highness's ear, and then you'll be so happy you'll eat an extra half bowl of rice!

Zhui Yu walked with light steps, bringing Li Qingluo to a small pavilion at the cliff's edge.

Everyone only knows that the most famous pavilion on West Mountain is the West Mountain Pavilion where Li Qingluo and company just ate hot pot.

It is situated on the mountainside amid the woods, where one can view the beautiful afterglow and the thin morning mist.

But actually, there is another very old, dilapidated small pavilion on the cliff edge, from which one can overlook the entire Jinling City.

Li Qingluo was stunned by the beautiful night view of Jinling City before her eyes.

Lights adorn the homes all around the city, while a river of stars runs through the center of the water.

Li Qingluo couldn't help but exclaim: "It turns out Jinling City's night scenery is not inferior to its daytime in the slightest."

Duan Rongshi: "I heard you were eating hot pot?"

Li Qingluo: "..."

Li Qingluo: "Your Highness, you haven't had your meal yet, have you?"

Zhui Yu nodded frantically beside her.

If it weren't for the young lady bringing a crowd to eat hot pot in that pavilion, Your Highness would have already appeared.

The young lady is also at fault—coming to see Your Highness while bringing so many people is bad enough, but she didn't even prepare a serving of hot pot for Your Highness.

Li Qingluo hurried over, sat down in the pavilion, opened the bundle on her back, and took out a tightly wrapped taro paste cake.

"Your Highness, this is a taro paste cake I made myself early this morning; if you don't mind and don't dislike the taste, why not give it a try?"

"By the way, I deliberately added only a little bit of sugar."

Outside the pavilion, a fire was still burning.

Duan Rongshi had been sitting in the shade inside the pavilion; upon hearing Li Qingluo's words, his whole person gradually stepped into the light.

He looked at the taro paste cake spread in her palm and reached out to take it.

Zhui Yu originally wanted to say, "Your Highness, would you like to test it for poison?"

But he thought that if he ran out now to spoil the mood, he might get a beating again.

So he hastily covered his buttocks, leading his group of sensible people to withdraw.

After Duan Rongshi ate a piece of the taro paste cake, Li Qingluo suddenly remembered something.

"By the way, Your Highness, these are your shoes; I've washed them clean and will return them to you today as well?"

Upon seeing Li Qingluo pull out another pair of shoes from the bundle, Duan Rongshi's body instantly froze.

He glanced at the remaining pieces of taro paste cake in his hand, and his appetite vanished instantly.

"Li Qingluo, did you do this on purpose?"

His gritting teeth voice finally made Li Qingluo snap to attention.

"Oh dear! I, I forgot that Your Highness... usually... likes cleanliness and has a mysophobia. Sorry, I really didn't mean to do that."

"It's all my fault; I'm usually careless, only thinking your shoes were clean and odorless, completely overlooking that Your Highness would be bothered by this."

"It's all my fault. Your Highness, please stop eating!"

Li Qingluo reached out to take back the remaining pastries in Duan Rongshi's hand, but he held his hand high to avoid her.

He wrapped up all the pastries and stuffed them into his own bosom.

"Having already given them away, there's no reason to take them back."

"Just consider it a debt you owe to this prince..."

Who would have known that Li Qingluo, being too anxious to retrieve them, would lose her balance and tumble toward Prince Su!

Duan Rongshi could have instantly raised his hand to steady her, but instead, against his better judgment, he suppressed the impulse and let Li Qingluo fall into his embrace.

Prince Su was seated.

With that tumble, Li Qingluo's whole body pressed against him, and she nearly ended up sitting on his lap.

Li Qingluo's entire body froze instantly...

She didn't even dare to lift her head to look at Duan Rongshi's face.

She felt as if her whole body were about to catch fire.

So embarrassing... so embarrassing!

Having made mistake after mistake tonight, she was so ashamed she couldn't lift her head; just as she tried to rise quickly, Prince Su raised his hand and pressed her back down, immobilizing her.

Don't move.

He spoke softly, using his other hand to pluck a piece of emerald-green fallen leaf from her head.

Duan Rongshi: "Tonight, Miss Li threw herself into my arms of her own accord—this could be considered Miss Li taking liberties with this prince."

Li Qingluo hurriedly pushed herself up using his shoulders, stammering: "Your, Your Highness, forgive me; I did not intend to take liberties with Your Highness! If Your Highness wishes to punish me, I have nothing to say."

She hurriedly dropped to her knees.

Duan Rongshi couldn't help but smile at her flustered appearance.

Just then, his arms felt suddenly empty, leaving him somewhat disappointed.

"Utterly foolish!"

"Forget it, I'll let you off this time."

"But if there is a next time, this prince will take revenge. You know this prince is petty, bears grudges, and never suffers a loss."

Prince Su finished speaking and, not wanting Li Qingluo to continue being embarrassed, let her rise.

Li Qingluo, to ease the awkwardness, quickly took out the jade pendant from her bosom and handed it to Duan Rongshi.

"Your Highness, do you recognize this jade pendant?"

"Who would have thought that upon seeing the jade pendant in Li Qingluo's palm, Duan Rongshi's expression changed slightly in an instant."