Chapter 322: Luo'er Imprisoned, Sha Lei Betrays?

Li Qingluo's fingers clenched involuntarily after seeing this scene.

However, Duan Rongshi swiftly tore the person away from himself.

Although she couldn't see his face clearly, Li Qingluo could distinctly feel his contempt and disgust.

She heard Duan Rongshi say, "Qin Yu, don't play tricks with this prince."

"You know, if it weren't for this truth you still carry, this prince would not have let you run wild like this!"

Having said that, he shoved the person away hard and then strode off.

Qin Yu cried a few times.

After the person left, she remained expressionless and calmly wiped away her tears.

Li Qingluo turned around and drew a heavy breath.

As it turned out, she was actually in Prince Su's Manor at this moment.

She had just tried it.

She slammed the wall before her with all her strength, but Duan Rongshi seemed completely unaware.

Even though this is Prince Su's Manor, there are secret chambers he doesn't know about.

Perhaps he knows… but he could never have imagined that she would be hidden here by someone.

But how exactly did she get into Prince Su's Manor?

Was it Sha Lei's doing, or Qin Yu's?

However, Li Qingluo discovered a truth.

Why does Prince Su keep Qin Yu, who is clearly the Lotus Sect Leader, and still let her romp about in the Daliang Chao?

He is doing it for the truth behind her mother consort's death!

Although Li Qingluo doesn't know the full story, from their dialogue she can infer that the death of the Moon Noble Consort back then surely hid a shocking secret.

Moreover, on that day Qin Yu was inside the Osmanthus Fragrance Palace, and she saw something.

But she repeatedly claimed she had lost her memory, so Prince Su allowed her to stay by his side; even knowing she was the Lotus Sect Leader, he kept her alive and did not drive her to a dead end.

On the surface, Qin Yu appeared to be fond of Prince Su.

But in reality, she had long secretly truly chosen the Crown Prince.

Although it's unknown whether they are allies or have a private affair.

Li Qingluo knows this, Prince Su knows this, but she is unsure whether Sha Lei knows.

Qin Yu could establish the Lotus Sect; she also possessed the Hall of Abundant Blessings, a grand restaurant, and the Macau Gambling House, which is even larger in scale, bringing in riches daily.

From this, it appears that Princess Qin Yu is truly a peerless, shrewd and capable heroine among women.

Her courage is extraordinary, her talent unmatched.

Li Qingluo is merely a fledgling just flown from the mountains, utterly incomparable to her.

Moreover, Qin Yu is a princess of two kingdoms, who single-handedly fosters good relations between them.

In the hearts of the peoples of both nations, her standing is naturally supremely exalted.

So, Sha Lei handles affairs for Qin Yu, likely because he believes Qin Yu will surely become Prince Su's future consort.

Even though Qin Yu already has a marriage engagement.

But if she were to become Prince Su's consort, she would surely be a great aid to him!

Just as Li Qingluo was thinking, a sound came from the darkness.

Li Qingluo immediately closed her eyes, but she heard Sha Lei's voice: "I know you've awakened."

He walked to a place not too near nor too far from Li Qingluo and stopped.

"If you wish to hate me, miss, I have nothing to say."

"But you truly cannot continue staying by Your Highness's side."

"Do you realize that as long as you are here, Your Highness will never see the princess again?"

"They have been childhood sweethearts, grew up together, and even jointly experienced the death of the Noble Consort… how could you possibly compare to the princess?"

"But Your Highness now values you more and more."

"If you merely remain by Your Highness's side as a concubine, that would be fine too."

"But I think, if you keep staying like this, Your Highness might not want you to suffer this injustice… do you understand what I mean?"

Li Qingluo struggled, and with a hoarse voice, she uttered two words haltingly: "Dog… fart…"

Sha Lei: "I know you're cursing me."

"The princess is the Lotus Sect Leader's identity, and she also has some private dealings with the Crown Prince."

"But what of it?"

"If Your Highness is willing to put a little thought into the princess, she will change her heart and wholeheartedly assist Your Highness."

"The person who truly matters to her in her heart has always been Your Highness."

"If Your Highness were to give the princess even a tenth of the patience you show me, she would never have been forced to choose another."

Li Qingluo wanted to laugh inside.

Sha Lei, that idiot.

He obviously knows everything.

Yet he disregards the facts and acts on his own judgment.

This has caused me to suffer such a great fall!

Li Qingluo really wanted to strangle him!

Wait, could it be that he likes Princess Qin Yu?

Otherwise, how could he understand Qin Yu so well, wholeheartedly devoted to her?

At this moment, Li Qingluo's heart was filled with genuine suspicions about Sha Lei.

However, she had no chance to learn the truth, because Sha Lei threw something over and then left again.

Li Qingluo picked it up, felt it, and smelled it.

She discovered it was a steamed bun.

Duan Rongshi returned to his room and immediately took off his outer robe, then repeatedly washed his hands.

Burn this robe!

Eunuch Wu hurried forward and took it with both hands: "Your Highness, what happened?"

Duan Rongshi's face full of disgust: "I order you to do things, and still I have to give you a reason? Get out!"

Eunuch Wu: "Okay."

Then he truly rolled out carrying the robe.

Duan Rongshi looked gloomily at the pitch-black night outside.

Upon hearing a servant say that Qinyu had already left, he then put on a clean outer robe again.

Let Zhui Yu and Sha Lei come and accompany me on a trip.

Yes, Your Highness.

Just as he was about to leave, a report came from Osmanthus Garden: "Your Highness, Osmanthus Garden says someone has already prepared a meal for you, waited all day without seeing you, so they sent someone to ask whether you will still go today."

Duan Rongshi's heart stirred.

Osmanthus Garden prepared a meal for him?

He certainly knew that they prepared an offering table for the mother consort every year on this day.

He also went there every year.

Just as he was about to leave, he was indeed heading to Osmanthus Garden.

But to have specially prepared a meal for him… could it be her?

Duan Rongshi walked out with a hint of urgency, and replied, "Go."

Osmanthus Garden.

Although a light rain was still falling, the offering table in the garden pavilion remained as usual, prepared with great care.

Duan Rongshi also discovered six plates of pastry styles not seen in previous years.

The mute servant gestured excitedly: "Your Highness, the miss personally made this for the consort."

Duan Rongshi: "Has she come?"

The mute servants hurriedly invited Duan Rongshi to the dining hall.

Only then did Duan Rongshi see a table of hot dishes kept warm in clay pots.

The mute servants continued gesturing: "Your Highness, the miss came early this morning and personally prepared it."

Every dish is one Your Highness loves to eat.

The miss was very thoughtful, even picking the vegetables herself.

Moreover, the miss personally pulled a noodle strand and cooked the soup. She said that if she didn't come tonight, have the servants prepare the longevity noodles and serve them to you.

As they gestured, a bowl of steaming hot longevity noodles was finally brought to the table.

Duan Rongshi stared blankly at the lavish spread of dishes and the steaming longevity noodles, then walked forward.

The hostility in his heart vanished completely at the sight of all this.

He couldn't help but smile.

He whispered, as if speaking to her: "I know, Your Highness."

Watching Your Highness eat quietly, Zhui Yu's eyes welled up with emotion.

"How many years has Your Highness not celebrated a birthday?"

"That's wonderful; from now on, with the miss attending to Your Highness, Your Highness will no longer be so lonely……"

Sha Lei looked at him speechlessly.

"It's just a meal……"

Zhui Yu shouted at him: "What do you understand?"

"Is this just a matter of a meal?"

"This is about cake and longevity noodles!"

Sha Lei gave a dry laugh twice.

"I think the cake is fine too; it's all about the thought."

Zhui Yu hummed: "Indeed, it's all thought. But shouldn't we look to Your Highness's preference—whether he likes cake or longevity noodles—rather than our own?"

"Knowing full well that Your Highness dislikes sweet foods, yet they keep sending sweets every time."

"Is that what Your Highness wants?"

"What Your Highness needs and likes is the best in this world."

Zhui Yu felt so moved she was about to cry: "Indeed, the best in this world is the miss, sob sob sob……"

Sha Lei looked at him with a complex expression.

"You……"

Zhui Yu: "What's wrong with me? On the contrary, you—why are you acting so strange today?"

"Your eyes dart, your expression guilty…… have you been up to something good?"

Sha Lei gave Zhui Yu a sideways glance: "You're overthinking."

However, at the latest by tomorrow, news of Miss Li's disappearance will arrive, and then no one knows what attitude Your Highness will take……

The next day.

Duan Rongshi had originally still been staying overnight at Osmanthus Garden, but he heard Prince Su's mansion come rushing to report: "Your Highness, an imperial edict has arrived in the palace, saying you must hurry out of the mansion and together with the Crown Prince, assist the Water Ministry in disaster relief and water control!"

Outside the city, the flood disaster has become catastrophic.

One hundred li out, there is also a village that has been completely submerged by the flood.

Although the Water Ministry had already taken preventive measures to relocate people, the Zhuang family almost entirely suffered misfortune...

This year's grain will yield not a single grain, and the people are wailing everywhere.

The suburbs are like this; even farther away, we still don't know how dire the situation is.

Moreover, this rain has clearly been falling for two full days straight, yet there is no sign of it stopping.

Duan Rongshi had originally planned to go to Xiuli Jiangjun Fu today to meet Li Qingluo.

He had some things he wanted to say to her.

Even though she is a naive young woman.

If it weren't for the fact that last night was too late, he would have already gone to see her in person.

This imperial edict forced him to temporarily set this aside again and hurry back to Prince Su's mansion.

As soon as Duan Rongshi left, Zheng Mama from Xiuli Jiangjun Fu came to the door.

Upon learning that Li Qingluo had not stayed overnight at Osmanthus Garden last night, Zheng Mama jumped up anxiously.

She then went chasing after him to Prince Su's mansion.

The young lady, without uttering a word, disappeared together with Deng Mama and Que'er; they must have come to harm!

Because no matter what, the young lady would definitely send word back to the mansion.

For now, they are still keeping the Old Lady in the dark at Free Abode, using the excuse the young lady had arranged yesterday to deceive her.

But looking at the situation now, it's impossible to keep it concealed.

Zheng Mama went to Prince Su's mansion, but still couldn't find Prince Su.

Because Prince Su had already left the mansion and gone to the Water Ministry.

Zheng Mama kept missing Prince Su by a narrow margin each time, growing more anxious; by the time she reached the Water Ministry, Prince Su had already left ahead of her.

This time, he went out of the city...

Li Qingluo lay in a dazed state in the dark secret chamber for two full days.

If it weren't for her also finding a bowl of water in the corner, and that earlier steamed bun she had deliberately saved and not finished all at once, she thought she would have starved to death by now.

Fortunately, after these two days, the numbness in her limbs has mostly worn off.

But she still has hardly any strength from hunger.

Just as she suspected she might be left to die locked in, the door let out a 'creak—' and actually opened.

"Is there really a room here?"