Chapter 289

Lotus Sect!?

Is it Princess Qinyu, or Zheng Lingzhou?

Or perhaps it was done by the two of them together?

Prince Su walked in and asked: "So, have you confirmed that it was the Lotus Sect who kidnapped your people today?"

Li Qingluo, seeing Prince Su, could not sit still and stood up directly from the chair.

After everyone in the courtyard knelt to greet Prince Su, Li Qingluo quickly waved her hand, telling everyone to disperse.

"I heard from the Daoist temple that your people were captured?"

Li Qingluo had intended to conceal it, but didn't expect she couldn't hide it at all.

This Master Lingfeng is still not reliable.

……Yes.

Prince Su: "You must save them."

He knew she had always been affectionate and righteous; those who were loyal and righteous toward her, she would give her whole heart in return.

Since Prince Su already knew, Li Qingluo had nothing left to hide.

"Your Highness, this commoner plans to go alone."

"Please, Your Highness, grant permission."

Who would have thought Prince Su wasn't surprised: "This is no trivial matter; have you really decided?"

"Since it's the Lotus Sect, perhaps this journey will be one-way!"

Li Qingluo: "This commoner will plan carefully and will certainly do her best to return."

Prince Su let out a cold snort, turned and sat down: "Then first tell me, what exactly is your plan?"

Li Qingluo, feeling embarrassed, lowered her head: "This commoner hadn't figured it out yet when Your Highness arrived..."

"By the way, Your Highness, do you know what this is?"

Li Qingluo handed the jade pendant given by the elderly Marquis Pei to Prince Su.

This jade pendant is a ring, with the characters "Slay Night" hollowed out in the center.

"This is the token of the Slay Night Sect sect leader of the Carefree Sect; Your Highness, you must have obtained the Carefree Sect leader's token, right?"

Duan Rongshi narrowed his eyes slightly and took a shimmering gold token from his waist.

It indeed bears the characters "Carefree".

Looking at the jade pendant in Li Qingluo's hand, Prince Su suddenly curled his lips into a smile: "Indeed. As expected of the one who could write the Pei family's military treatise, his calculations are so thorough."

The entire Carefree Sect's influence must be considerable.

Now all the secrets of the elderly Marquis and Zayina have been completely known to Prince Su; if he wishes to protect Pei Sanlang and the entire Pei family, he must produce something that can save the whole Pei family.

So, he produced the Carefree Sect.

Yet even if the elderly Marquis wanted to surrender to Prince Su, he did not hand over all his forces.

Instead, he gave the largest branch of the Slay Night Sect to the descendant of his elder sister.

Perhaps there was also consideration for his own daughter, but the main reason was still to restrain himself somewhat.

Perhaps he also saw through his own feelings for this maiden...

He wants to tightly bind the Xiuli Jiangjun Fu and the Prince Su's residence together.

And he wants to make the future of the Pei household completely dependent on these two residences.

Yet, the young lady before him is foolish and has not yet become enlightened.

Li Qingluo, on the other hand, hadn't thought so much.

She simply held up the jade pendant high to examine it: "This time, this commoner might as well first test the strength of the Slay Night Sect."

Li Qingluo said she wasn't the slightest bit afraid, which is absolutely impossible.

Even though she is now a bold person.

Even in her heart, on the second day, she kept beating a small drum.

But she still rode her horse all the way to the official road twenty li away.

There indeed is a tea stall here.

It is an ordinary couple running this place.

Li Qingluo ordered a bowl of tea and a steamed bun.

After she had taken a few bites, a female voice came from behind: "Miss, don't turn around."

"Do you recognize this token, miss?"

Zheng Mama's sachet swayed into Li Qingluo's view from behind.

Li Qingluo pretended ignorance: "Who exactly are you? Where are my people?"

"My people have also arrived; shouldn't you release them?"

The other party: "Miss, don't rush. Your people are naturally still safe, but you must go with me to see them."

Li Qingluo obediently allowed them to blindfold her eyes and bind her hands, then was helped back onto the horse.

She already knew this tea stall was not the true destination for today, so there truly were no ambushes around.

Only after they had gone far away did a few black shadows faintly flicker near the tea stall...

After several hours, Li Qingluo's horse came to a complete stop.

"Have we arrived?"

She asked, lowering her head.

But all around was silent; Li Qingluo heard no other voices.

She immediately slid the dagger from her sleeve into her palm, then swiftly cut the bindings and quickly removed the blindfold from her eyes.

Li Qingluo looked up and saw four large characters: Jingyun Shan Zhuang!

Was there any other figure around?

It seemed as if she had just been kidnapped over, but it was nothing more than a ridiculous illusion...

Knocking on the gate, Li Qingluo didn't know what she would face...

Until, a little maid poked her head out.

Seeing that it was her, the little maid genuinely smiled: "Are you Miss Li? Miss, please come in; our second young master and madam have been waiting for you for a long time."

At that moment, the West Shu Pavilion.

Though called a pavilion, it is actually a large royal summer villa.

Princess Qin Yu was punished, expelled from the palace to reflect in seclusion, and thus was confined here.

Just just now, Princess Qin Yu had only just sneaked back, changed into a clean spring outfit, while her decoy concealed and hid.

Having lifted her teacup but not yet taken a sip, she heard the Jade Envoy report: "Princess, yesterday at Jingyun Shan Zhuang there was a major commotion, an ambush that captured people from the Xiuli Jiangjun Fu."

"This morning, Li Qingluo went alone from the Green Pine Temple to Jingyun Shan Zhuang."

"We moved in, but we were a step behind Zheng Lingzhou and his sister!"

"Please punish us, Princess."

Princess Qin Yu furrowed her brows tightly, then quickly relaxed: "Get up. Zheng Lingzhou won't succeed today."

The Jade Envoy rose from the ground, "Princess, how do you know?"

"I have seen Zheng Incense Chief repeatedly try to take Li Qingluo away without success, clearly there is some urgent matter to attend to. Could he be about to reveal our Lotus Sect's affairs to Li Qingluo?"

Princess Qin Yu: "Reveal what? Reveal how many people he has killed, how much gold and silver he has looted?"

"That day he may have seen my appearance, but he did not know my identity, so he could not expose me."

"As for what he intends to do, has he also been looking for Zu Li Ya these past two days?"

The Jade Envoy was greatly surprised: "Princess, you truly have divine foresight, even knowing this."

"But why is he looking for Zu Li Ya, this witch, at this time?"

Princess Qin Yu: "A few years ago, the Master of Yun Valley not only came into contact with me and the Crown Prince, but also with him; his nephew has been seriously ill for years, likely unable to last another two years."

"I have heard that among the MiaoJiang witchcraft technique, there is a dark art that can exchange lives for lives. However, it requires blood relatives and a highly skilled witch to perform; given Zu Li Ya's ability, accomplishing this might not be difficult."

"So I suppose... perhaps he intends to use this Li family daughter who has drifted abroad to save that sickly seedling."

The Jade Envoy trembled all over upon hearing that.

"That Zu Li Ya is indeed sinister. Could such a thing even be accomplished?"

Princess Qin Yu: "The MiaoJiang poison technique has been sinister and treacherous to the extreme since ancient times; although it has gradually been lost in later generations, the various terrifying rumors about it have continued to circulate among the people..."

The Jade Envoy listened, puzzled: "Princess? What do you mean by 'later generations'?"

Princess Qin Yu came to her senses: "Nothing. You summon Zu Li Ya for me, and let Zheng Lingzhou know that without my approval, he will never accomplish anything."

The Jade Envoy shook his head: "Zu Li Ya, I don't know where she has gone these past two days; we... have not been able to contact her."

Princess Qin Yu suddenly flew into a rage.

"How come one or two just silently disappeared!?"

"Ku Lian Qiao has also been missing for days without a trace, and Zu Li Ya is now gone as well; the usable people around me are dwindling!"

"Have we figured out whether they are missing or have left?"

The Jade Envoy knelt on the ground: "Princess, please calm your anger! We went to her residence yesterday to check; it doesn't seem... like she intended to leave."

"Princess, Zu Li Ya's abilities are extraordinary; even if her martial arts are average, her poison skills are virtually unmatched in DaLiang."

"Moreover, she has a habit of silently leaving without a word; as long as she isn't captured, it's fine. And since we can't contact her, naturally we can't contact Jingyun Shan Zhuang either."

Princess Qin Yu's anger only then gradually subsided.

"Redouble your efforts to keep looking for her, and also for Ku Lian Qiao; continue searching for them for me!"

Jade Envoy: "Yes!"

Princess Qin Yu: "By the way, I heard that Prince Yun has lost sight in one eye? And in a few days is his birthday banquet; that really is a fine gift from me to him."

Princess Qin Yu coolly downed a cup of tea: "He should also pave the final stretch of the road for the Crown Prince's elder brother to return smoothly to the Eastern Palace."

Jade Envoy: "The Empress has sent a message letting you return to Jinling, and then visit the Prince Su's residence to see His Highness Prince Su."

Princess Qin Yu: "I have this matter in mind. Go on!"

After the Jade Envoy left, Princess Qin Yu then opened the scroll beside her.

On the scroll were two jade-faced gentlemen, gazing at each other from afar across a river.

Princess Qin Yu reached out and touched their faces: "I hope that my choice back then was not mistaken."

Li Qingluo looked up again at the gate sign: "Is this Jingyun Shan Zhuang?"

The little maid beamed and flung the gate wide open: "Miss, you haven't taken a wrong turn; please come in quickly!"

A little servant came out and led the horse away.

Li Qingluo was guided by the little maid into the main gate.

Throughout this mountain villa, everywhere are scenes of flowers and birds.

All the way up the mountain, everywhere are artificial hills and pavilions, terraces, and towers.

Li Qingluo constantly felt someone was watching her from the shadows, but when she turned her head, she saw nothing.

Jingyun Shan Zhuang occupies the entire mountain peak, and as Li Qingluo climbed upward, she felt only emptiness.

Although there are buildings and pleasant scenery everywhere, aside from occasionally seeing a few maids and servants, there are hardly any other people.

Everywhere exudes a hint of eeriness.

Moreover, this is the domain of the Lotus Sect, and Li Qingluo dare not forget that.

Finally they arrived at the main hall, and the little maid happily led Li Qingluo inside.

「Second young master, the young lady has arrived. 」