Chapter 296

This melody was pleasant and familiar; Li Qingluo immediately wondered when and where she had heard it before.

Last time, after leaving the Macau gambling house, in that grove, when Zhui Yu appeared disguised as the Lotus Sect leader, wasn't she accompanied by this tune?

But what appears here and now is certainly not Zhui Yu.

It can only be the true Lotus Sect leader——

Is it her? Princess Qin Yu!?

Li Qingluo hurriedly dragged Li Jingchuan and hid in the bushes beside them.

She glanced down at her white robe; even in pitch‑black night it would still be somewhat conspicuous.

She quickly grabbed the black fur pelt beside Li Jingchuan and hid herself inside it.

Lotus petals fell on her head; Li Qingluo held her breath as lightly as possible, watching a procession of people dressed like fairies carrying a palanquin swoop past before her eyes……

After a long while, those people vanished completely from sight, and Li Qingluo finally exhaled.

Although hiding was somewhat cowardly, she knew her own strength alone could not match those people, so she hid if she could—her life was paramount.

Suddenly a fit of coughing came from above; Li Qingluo looked up and met Jingchuan gongzi's gaze.

Jingchuan gongzi looked at her with gentle eyes.

"Miss Li, you've saved me again."

"But… I don't know if it's convenient for you to come out now…"

Li Qingluo then realized she was still hiding under his fur pelt.

Her face flushed, and she hurriedly crawled out: "Sorry, I acted hastily just now; I offended you."

Jingchuan: "It's fine. Cough, cough cough…"

Seeing his uncontrollable cough, Li Qingluo thought: Fortunately he hadn't just woken up, otherwise they would surely have been exposed now.

One wonders whether the situation at Jingyun Shan Zhuang will change because of Princess Qin Yu's arrival.

However, regardless, Li Qingluo had no intention of joining that excitement again.

Fortunately, not long after waiting, the three assassins from the Ye Ye Men returned, escorting Deng Mama and Hudie.

Hudie had sustained a slight injury and lay pitifully on Deng Mama's back.

Because she would frenziedly bite anyone whose male scent she smelled, Deng Mama could only bind her with cloth strips to her own body for now.

Seeing them, Li Qingluo quickly crawled out of the bushes.

"Deng Mama! Where is the master?"

Deng Mama panted: "Miss, Mr. Nangong said you needn't wait for him or worry about him; he knows his own way back to the Xiuli Jiangjun Fu."

Li Qingluo thought: With the master's skill, capturing Zheng Wanxiu would be easy; he probably stayed behind to assist Prince Su.

"By the way, did the Lotus Sect leader leave? How is the situation over there now?"

Deng Mama: "You're right. Just now the Lotus Sect leader made a grand entrance, flower petals flying everywhere, and a few jade envoys descended and killed people."

"However, Mr. Nangong said that tonight Prince Su himself, again disguised as Yue Wuye, is personally leading troops to hold the fort; even if that leader has gone, Jingyun Shan Zhuang cannot be defended."

"Miss, are we to wait here, or…?"

As for what comes next, Li Qingluo is unable to help.

Staying here might only cause more trouble, so she simply said: "Let's go! We should return to Jinling City."

The assassins hoisted Li Jingchuan onto their backs; after walking a few more li, the carriage sent by Pei Lao Furen to meet them also arrived.

"Miss! Mr. Nangong, Old Deng!"

Zheng Mama jumped down from the carriage, waving her hands excitedly.

At daybreak, the carriage finally swayed its way to the outskirts of Jinling City.

Before even entering the city, they heard soldiers beating drums and gongs announcing: "The Second Prince has suppressed the bandits, utterly destroying the Lotus Sect's lair at Jingyun Shan Zhuang—the Second Prince has suppressed the bandits, utterly destroying the Lotus Sect's lair at Jingyun Shan Zhuang—!"

The Second Prince?

Deng Mama: "The Second Prince is the Deposed Crown Prince. Wasn't he confined in the Southern Mountain Villa?"

Li Qingluo: "Even stranger, this merit shouldn't belong to him; why would it fall on the Deposed Crown Prince's head?"

Last night it was clearly I and Duan Rongshi who planned everything; although Duan Rongshi certainly did not want to reveal his identity as Prince Su, this credit could in no way go to the Deposed Crown Prince!

Li Qingluo couldn't figure it out for a moment, not knowing what else had happened at Jingyun Shan Zhuang last night……

The victorious soldiers poured into the city in great numbers.

Moreover, many captured Lotus Sect followers were all escorted behind.

The crowd buzzed excitedly: "I heard they killed a Lotus Sect Dharma Protector, captured one, and two of the jade envoys beside the Lotus Sect leader died as well."

"Really? I never expected the Second Prince to be so formidable; truly he is wise and martial!"

"That is the eldest son the current emperor once favored most; how could he not be formidable?"

"Although he had been imprisoned for three years, I heard he recently received the emperor's pardon and permission; originally he intended to go personally to the hunting grounds to offer to hunt two game for the emperor and Prince Yun, but who knew that passing Jingyun Shan Zhuang he would accidentally discover it was the Lotus Sect's lair, so he memorialized the court, gaining the chance to lead troops himself to suppress the bandits and earn merit……"

"So the Deposed Crown Prince isn't going to return to Jinling, is he?"

"I heard that for Prince Yun's birthday banquet tomorrow, he has been specially permitted to come back, to personally congratulate his younger brother."

"Prince Yun is blind in one eye; it's only natural that his full‑blooded elder brother should return."

"What I mean is, the Deposed Crown Prince might possibly return to the court……"

"You dare to casually discuss state affairs—don't you want to live?"

Instantly the crowd fell silent.

Soon, voices from another side rose again: "The Lotus Sect has committed countless evils; they truly deserve it!"

"Exactly, in an otherwise peaceful and prosperous age, they raise the banner of changing the world, yet they have filled the State of Liang with corruption and panic; this time it is truly satisfying!"

"Beat them to death! Beat them to death!"

"The Second Prince is wise and martial! A peerless god of war!"

"Second Prince, long live, long live, ten thousand years——"

The crowd cheered, only Zheng Mama muttered softly: "It's not over yet; the Lotus Sect spreads across the whole world, the Lotus Sect Leader wasn't captured this time, and two Dharma Protectors escaped—it's just a nest, but the Lotus Sect might yet make a comeback……"

Li Qingluo glanced at Jingchuan, who was asleep beside her, saw his eyes tremble slightly, and knew he might have already woken up.

Looking at his tightly clenched fists, she knew he might be worried about his uncle and mother.

But Li Qingluo pretended not to notice anything; some things cannot be spoken of.

Xiuli Jiangjun Fu.

Li Qingluo, upon returning, first went to see Pei Lao Furen.

Pei Lao Furen seeing her safe and sound, happily scolded her: "Little monkey! Although Grandmother worried about you venturing into the dragon's pool and tiger's den, Grandmother also knows I cannot stop you; you have your own matters to attend to, and what you've done is also for our family."

"Grandma, I haven't even had time to be happy yet."

"Really, Luo'er, Grandma seeing you grow so quickly to be able to uphold a sky for Grandma, Grandma is truly moved and proud."

Li Qingluo leaned into Grandma's embrace, hadn't even uttered two coquettish words when Pei Lao Furen suddenly pinched her nose.

"Luo'er, how many days have you gone without bathing?"

"Grandma can barely tolerate it."

Li Qingluo: "Grandma, your love is like a gust of wind……"

Li Qingluo arranged for Jingchuan to stay in the outer courtyard.

And she informed Pei Lao Furen.

"Is that the Jingchuan gentleman from last time? Grandma sees he doesn't seem like a bad person, but you two do have some affinity."

Regarding his identity, Li Qingluo herself isn't sure either, so she didn't tell Pei Lao Furen.

After arranging for someone to attend to Jingchuan gentleman, Li Qingluo first returned to her Free Abode.

After taking a thorough bath, Li Qingluo then relaxed and lay on the bed, Cui Er still wiping her hair, and she had already fallen asleep.

When she woke again, it was already three quarters past the Shen hour.

Cui Er heard the movement and hurriedly brought people in to attend.

First they gave Li Qingluo hot tea, then they brought up the dishes that had been kept warm.

"Young lady, you must be starving? The servant didn't dare to call you, knowing you were tired, and wanted you to rest first."

"This is the pigeon soup the Old Lady personally ordered for you to stew; try it first."

Li Qingluo had been eating only big fish and meat lately; although she hadn't gained weight, seeing meat soup now made her feel a bit nauseous.

But thinking it was Grandma's intention, she still endured the discomfort and drank half a bowl.

Then she quickly ate all the light vegetarian dishes on the table, and only then did she feel a bit better.

After eating her fill, Li Qingluo went to check on Que'er.

"Young lady……"

Que'er had improved considerably; seeing Li Qingluo return safe and sound, her nose soured and she burst into tears.

Li Qingluo: "Good Que'er, why are you crying?"

Li Qingluo sat beside her and wiped Que'er's tears.

Que'er pursed her lips: "Young lady, do you think I'm useless? This time I didn't bring you anywhere, and I'm worried sick."

Li Qingluo laughed and cried: "How would I know? This time I went out and actually can't come back? I let you get hurt and suffer an ordeal—this time it's the young lady's fault; I, the young lady, apologize to you."

Que'er instantly sat up again, looking anxious: "Miss, please don't wear me out!"

Cui Er laughed from the side: "At least you can go out with the miss each time; as for me, I can only envy you each time. Compared to you, I still have to worry more about you, right?"

But I know I'm useless, so I can only guard the manor well for the miss.

Li Qingluo tightly grasped both of their hands: "Alright, alright. You two are both my dear ones."

One will be my future grandma, the other is my housekeeper.

Cui Er now manages all the jewelry and silver in my rooms and courtyard, as well as food, clothing, housing, and travel—everything neatly; Que'er follows me in and out, sharing my hardships.

Without you two, nothing would work!

From now on, if you follow me, the miss, and as long as you don't say you're leaving, we'll be together forever and enjoy happiness.

Cui Er and Que'er exchanged a glance, then both burst out laughing 'pfft'.

Miss, this is what you said!

When we're old later, I want to be your Que'er grandma.

Exactly, exactly, then I'll also be Cui Er's grandma.

The master and servants laughed together until a maid came knocking: "Miss, Miss Hudie over there suddenly came down with a high fever, and just now she even spat a mouthful of black blood—please hurry over to take a look!"