Chapter 35

Li Qingluo bent her knees in a salute, her heart racing.

The "my lord" they speak of—could it not be Prince Yun?

Li Qingluo never expected that her ghostly appearance would actually become a convenient raft for her actions.

In the long corridor, Li Qingluo followed Granny Zhao and the others, holding exquisite, delicious hot dishes, passing through pavilions and towers, crossing the lake and rockeries, finally arriving at a courtyard filled with flowers and grasses.

Spring Full Pavilion

Inside the room it was quiet, everything proceeding in orderly fashion.

After Li Qingluo helped others place the hot dishes on the table, she stepped back to stand aside.

After Granny Zhao drove out the young, beautiful maidservants, she kept a few inconspicuous ones like Li Qingluo waiting.

However, when Li Qingluo didn't lift her head, her figure was still quite eye-catching.

Granny Zhao glanced at her and pushed her even further to the back.

This suited Li Qingluo just fine; she accordingly hid half her body behind the curtain.

Not long after, a man and woman who seemed like an immortal couple walked in hand in hand.

The man wore a moon-white luxurious brocade robe, his head adorned with a coronet inlaid with several gems that glittered in the sunlight behind him.

A jade belt cinched his waist, also inlaid with various gemstones, exuding nobility, his luxury overwhelming.

His face was naturally also a rare beauty in the world.

His bearing was even more suave and refined, though his eyes held a hint of emptiness; even with powder on his face, the dark circles beneath could not be concealed.

He must be Prince Yun, then?

The one who stood behind Li Qingzhu, helping her plot self-immolation to escape the Li household.

Looking at the woman beside him, her features were like a painting in dark ink, her lips naturally rosy; even without makeup she could entice one to pluck, and when she smiled, it was as if peach blossoms burst forth in spring—bright yet not wanton, carrying a faint fragrance enough to intoxicate.

Her skin was like white snow, fine and smooth, as if water could be wrung from it.

A head of black hair fell gently at the nape, her bun soft and unassuming.

Though she wore hardly any hair ornaments, she was simply elegant, like a fairy among the clouds.

She wore a pale white gauze gown that swayed lightly with her steps, as ethereal as drifting clouds.

She was Li Qingzhu.

After her death, she remained, in almost everyone's eyes, a white moonlight.

Indeed, she was beautiful enough.

Before her, I felt like a wild duck still wearing its black down.

In her previous life, Li Qingluo only saw Li Qingzhu's face after dying and existing as a ghost.

But that single glimpse was enough.

Enough for Li Qingluo to recognize her at a glance when they met again.

Li Qingzhu gazed shyly at Prince Yun beside her, and the two sat together at the table to begin their meal.

"My lord, try this—it's your favorite crystal shrimp dumplings."

"Zhu'er, you eat too. I think today's eight-treasure duck is not bad."

They exchanged chopsticks, one offering, the other taking.

Between their brows and eyes flowed deep affection and a hint of shyness.

Everyone in the room seemed not to find it strange at all.

Li Qingluo watched their intimate pose—what else was there not to understand?

She had merely guessed before; now it was confirmed.

Li Qingzhu and this Prince Yun likely already had a private affair.

Now, having faked her death to escape, she was actually kept by this Prince Yun in his private mansion.

Is she a concubine?

Yet she still dresses as a maiden.

Or a guest?

But the servants here all call her "miss" and treat her as their mistress.

I don't know what she's thinking—is it just because she's engaged to Zhuang Wei?

So she would rather fake her death and elope with him to be with this Prince Yun?

To live together under one roof with Prince Yun, disregarding reputation—yet who knows whether betrothal makes her a wife, elopement a concubine?

Is this the Li family's so-called well-bred young lady?

And then throw on Li Qingluo the infamous name of a murderous woman!

She really kills two birds with one stone.

Afterwards, she need only find an excuse as in her past life to return to the Li household—lightly taken up and set down, still the Li family's eldest legitimate daughter.

And Zhuang Wei's engagement to her naturally transferred to Li Qingluo, so Li Qingzhu could still openly discuss marriage with Prince Yun.

Marrying Prince Yun and becoming a concubine is not impossible.

What a clever scheme!

Li Qingluo clenched her palms; in this life she would naturally not let Li Qingzhu succeed as she wished.

After the meal, Li Qingluo, like the other maidservants, hurriedly withdrew after attending to them.

Li Qingzhu was held by Prince Yun's arm around her shoulders; they stood by the window gazing at the risen stars and moon.

They talked of poetry and song, chatting about life.

Li Qingluo walked the corridor, still wondering how to escape the manor, when she heard someone say: "The miss ordered that we get taro-paste yam cake from Minglou Tower; who will buy it tomorrow morning?"

Li Qingluo immediately stepped forward and said: "Older sister, I'll go."

Several maidservants looked at her: "You? Right, you—where are you from? How come I've never seen you before?"

Li Qingluo replied without blushing or racing heart: "Sisters. I only just came back with Granny today. Because I went home a few days ago, fell and scraped my face, so you sisters didn't recognize me at first. From now on, please give me your guidance."

Her reply was ambiguous.

Was she someone Granny brought back, or a new face that had arrived a few days ago?

However, no one pursued it further, after all there are many people in this manor, constantly coming and going; if they're not from the same courtyard, it's indeed possible to go a year without seeing each other.

The next day.

Because she had a sweet tongue, Li Qingluo, who could spend the night in the maids' quarters, left with Granny early that morning.

In the crowded crowd, in the blink of an eye she took off her outer maid's dress, undid her hair bun and quickly braided it, then swiftly left the main street.

By the time the Granny who had escorted her out looked back, there was no trace of her.

The Granny searched for a while but saw no sign of her, then hurried back in a fluster to Prince Yun's villa.

But when they asked and checked the roster, there was no such person in this manor.

Everyone said they had never seen her, and assumed she was the new person Granny Zhao had brought back.

Hearing this, Granny Zhao's face changed dramatically; she slapped her thigh and cried, "Oh no!"