Chapter 271: I, the Prince, never let those beside me leave!

Li Qingluo gasped in surprise: "Zha Yina? Master, it's her!"

She looked at Nan Gongdi: "But how could this be? Isn't she supposed to be at least fifty?"

Nan Gongdi also found it strange, thinking to himself: "Perhaps only my junior martial brother and the Old Lady can tell whether this girl is truly Zha Yina."

But the Zha Yina before our eyes clearly has no difference from the face of a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl!

Li Qingluo's heart pounded nonstop; she felt as if she were about to touch Zha Yina's true secret.

Duan Rongshi knew this was not the time for questioning, so he merely glanced at Li Qingluo.

Li Qingluo hurriedly gave him a simple explanation: "Your Highness, if her identity is genuine, then she is the shaman doctor who served by the Old Duke's side!"

"She disappeared from the Pei family, and I never expected to find her here. But she should be at least fifty, yet she looks about my age—this is truly eerie."

"Could this blood gu worm really grant immortality?"

Seeing her so agitated, Duan Rongshi merely stared at her unblinking and said: "It seems I brought you on this trip today for the right person."

Li Qingluo: "Your, Your Highness, what do you mean by that?"

Duan Rongshi did not answer, but instead summoned Zhui Yu forward.

"Go, tell Po Feng to move the shadow over, and do exactly as I ordered..."

After a brief whisper, Zhui Yu clearly replied: "Yes, Your Highness!"

Immediately, Zhui Yu went out first.

While the crowd below was still murmuring in confusion, the masked young man spoke up again: "Everyone, look at her—isn't she an unparalleled beauty, fresh and tender like an eighteen-year-old maiden?"

"But in fact she's an old thing—she must be at least seventy this year, right? Zha Yina, do you agree with what I'm saying?"

The hall erupted in exclamations.

"Seventy?!"

"How is that possible?!"

"Yes, in DaLiang, those who live to seventy are few and far between—how could anyone possibly keep such youthful, beautiful looks?"

"No, this absolutely isn't real!"

Everyone took it all as a joke, and the masked young man wasn't in a hurry to explain.

He merely continued in a calm tone: "What a pity—she has now suffered a backlash; the person who placed the gu on her can neither move nor speak, perhaps already on her deathbed."

"That's why she appears this way."

The hall burst into an uproar.

"We've long heard of the potency of MiaoJiang gu insects—how can this be so nefarious?"

"Yes, but what exactly did she do to keep her appearance unchanged for so many years, retaining eternal youth?"

"If true, wouldn't that be an absolute treasure of the world?"

"But we have no idea how to handle this worm, and didn't you hear him say? Raising this worm costs not only money but life—even a Macao Gambling House couldn't afford to support it, so how could we possibly manage?"

Below, the discussion never ceased, and hardly anyone dared to bid on this mysterious item.

Moreover, the vast majority still thought it was merely a gimmick cooked up by the Macao Gambling House, not at all real.

If it were real, why bother being so vague and secretive?

Yet upstairs, in several side rooms, quite a few people had already been moved.

Leng Dian entered and said: "Your Highness, the Prince Jin and Prince Yun sides have already gone to inquire about the price."

Zhui Yu, who had just returned, clasped his sword and said: "Prince Jin certainly has the means to buy this worm, but we still don't know whether it's genuine; if it's a scam, wouldn't that be drawing water with a bamboo basket—all for nothing?"

Leng Dian: "Perhaps it's Prince Yun who wants this more—his birthday is coming up, and he might intend to present it to those two above as a filial offering..."

As for those two brothers, Duan Rongshi had only two words: "idiots."

After scolding them, he suddenly gave a cold smile, sat back, and leaned backward.

"It seems the person the Macao Gambling House is waiting for today is me. If so, how could I let them down?"

"Go, first bid for this worm in the name of Lord Yue Wu Ye—no matter the price, add it on for me!"

Li Qingluo looked puzzled at Prince Su.

Suddenly, a very bold idea came to her mind.

"Your Highness, could it be... that the Duke is in your hands?"

Duan Rongshi instantly turned his head, his gaze sharp as he looked at her.

He raised his hand, and Leng Dian immediately reached out to invite Zheng Mama and Nan Gongdi: "Could you two do me a small favor?"

Zheng Mama hesitated, looking at Li Qingluo.

Nan Gongdi, however, walked out first with his hands behind his back: "Let's go."

Li Qingluo nodded, and Zheng Mama then followed her out.

After only Li Qingluo and Prince Su remained in the room, Duan Rongshi then solemnly looked at her, word by word, and asked again: "Have you thought it through? If you insist on continuing to inquire, I can tell you what you want to know."

"But once you step into this muddy water, there will be no retreat for you afterward."

His eyes clearly hid a warning.

It seemed that if she dared to take this step, she would truly enter a realm of eternal damnation.

Clearly ahead lay a ten-thousand-foot cliff, clearly just like that day when she would have leapt down together with him from that mountaintop.

That time, Li Qiongluo had indeed not been prepared and was swept along by him into a life-or-death situation.

But this time...

She drew a deep breath, then spoke candidly: "Your Highness, please tell me, commoner. I am already deeply entangled in this, and how could one simply say 'withdraw' and actually withdraw?"

"Rather than continue to be framed and persecuted in obscurity by others, it's better for me to clearly understand my situation now, so I may have a chance to protect myself in the future."

"Moreover..."

Li Qingluo did not continue.

Duan Rongshi, however, pressed on tightly: "And what?"

Li Qingluo shook her head: "Your Highness, are you testing the commoner girl today? If the commoner girl pretends to be clueless, saying nothing and doing nothing, Your Highness would let the commoner girl return to Jinling, and from then on have no further contact?"

Duan Rongshi answered without hesitation: "Yes."

What she said was indeed correct.

He did not want to provoke her.

But in this world there always exists a strange fate that constantly pulls her back to his side.

It makes him repeatedly, involuntarily sink deeper into it, until now it grows ever deeper.

Day by day he longs more to see her, to draw near to her.

How could he not know that there is no safe place for him by his side?

That is why he remains ambiguous, tugging back and forth, never having clarified his feelings.

Even now, though he is merely asking about the Pei family, Duan Rongshi seems to be waiting for an answer that needs to be confirmed…

Li Qingluo remained silent.

Prince Su, however, grew impatient.

His gaze grew darker, and in a sudden impulse he seized her wrist and pulled her to his side.

"Li Qingluo, if you make a decision today, I will take it as you wishing to stay and serve by my side."

"You must understand, I never let those near me leave."

"Unless it is death."

Meeting his cold, overbearing gaze, Li Qingluo shuddered, suddenly feeling much clearer.

"I…"

Before she could answer, the hall below suddenly erupted in chaos.

The two hurriedly lowered their heads to look down, not knowing when a fight had broken out below.

Li Qingluo's eyes widened; before she could comprehend, she saw a person suddenly lunge at Zayina on the chair: "Demon woman, give me your life——"

However, that person hadn't even gotten close to Zayina before being flung by an ambush from the side into the wooden tub of the blood worm.

In an instant, that person let out a miserable scream: "Ah——"

Then, the pink flesh-worm instantly coiled him into the tub; moments later not a scrap of cloth remained, as the pink blood worm crushed and devoured him completely, leaving not even bones.

Everyone who witnessed this scene was immediately frightened pale.

Following one after another scream, everyone rushed to flee outward.

However, the Macau Gambling House had already prepared countermeasures, all doors and windows were completely sealed shut!

Only now did everyone realize they might have fallen into a trap set by the Macau Gambling House today!

"Everyone, why are you rushing to run? Don't panic."

"Having come, settle in."

"Today's auction has not ended; no one is allowed to leave!"

The one shouting these words was none other than the masked young gentleman.

By now he had already donned a red cloak, seated on a sedan chair lifted by ten people, gazing at the hall full of shocked faces, appearing quite pleased.

Zheng Mama burst in, panting: "Miss, it's the Prince Jin's man, eaten by that blood worm."

However, Zheng Mama's gaze froze the moment she saw Prince Su tightly gripping her young lady's wrist, and her eyes widened instantly.

Is this something that old thing of hers could even see?

Oh no, will Prince Su Your Highness silence them by killing?

Zheng Mama had many thoughts racing through her mind, but Li Qingluo had already walked over.

"Zheng Mama, are you alright?"

Seeing that Prince Su showed no sign of anger, Zheng Mama hurriedly shook her head and grabbed Li Qingluo: "Miss, let's leave this place quickly; it's no longer safe, we can't keep watching the spectacle!"

Zheng Mama, upholding her principle to protect Li Qingluo, only wanted to leave quickly.

Li Qingluo, however, firmly said: "No, we have no way to retreat."

The doors and windows are sealed; today it seems we must go in and out together with Prince Su to get out.

Li Qingluo, not at all afraid, calmly asked Zheng Mama: "Just now, what exactly happened downstairs? Wasn't it an auction? How did it suddenly turn into a disturbance?"

Zheng Mama glanced at Prince Su's back, then said: "Originally they were just going to auction it normally, but the Prince Jin's people suddenly demanded to inspect the goods, asking the Macau Gambling House to explain clearly how this worm could grant immortality, and also to verify whether that shamaness is genuine or not."

"Others joined the clamor, also wanting to know."

"The Macau Gambling House staff refused, and a conflict broke out after just a few words."

Li Qingluo frowned: "Are the Prince Jin's people really this impulsive? Or is it not intentional?"

Obviously this blood worm today is merely a catalyst.

It couldn't possibly be so simple as to be auctioned off just like that.

But who exactly is behind this catalyst?

Prince Su Your Highness?

As soon as Li Qingluo finished speaking, Duan Rongshi rose and approached: "Since you won't leave, then stay and keep watching the spectacle."

Having said that, he once again took hold of her wrist and strode out boldly.

Li Qingluo:?

Could it be that she actually still had a choice to leave just now?