Chapter 353

Zheng Wanshou really did stay temporarily.

Li Qingluo accompanied Pei Lao Furen back to her grandmother's courtyard before voicing her worry: 'Grandmother, we'd better not get involved with the Lotus Sect.'

"The Lotus Sect has done all kinds of evil these past two years, stirring up trouble everywhere. In Jinling City they've caused who knows how much chaos, committing countless sins."

"They will surely come to no good end."

Pei Lao Furen sighed: 'Grandmother, how could you not know?'

"But Grandmother, it's really because of her that I could find you again. This is a debt Grandmother owes her!"

"Without you, Luoluo, coming to Grandmother's side, do you know how much more loneliness and hardship Grandmother would have to endure in this life?"

"Luoluo, Grandmother wants to thank her."

Li Qingluo's heart instantly surged with various complex emotions, and above all, she truly felt her grandmother's loving affection toward her.

She felt only hatred toward Aunt Zheng.

She hated her for using her, hated her for wishing her a miserable death, hoping to exchange her life for Jingchuan's survival.

She wanted to eradicate the root completely.

But she had never thought that without Zheng Wanshou, she would have no familial bond with her grandmother in this life.

Pei Lao Furen: 'All right, no need to worry for now.'

"Grandmother knows she's not exactly a good person now; covering up her Lotus Sect affiliation a bit for now can be considered repaying the favor."

"Wait until that child Jingchuan wakes up, then ask them what they plan."

Knowing that Grandmother didn't intend to keep them for long, Li Qingluo felt relieved.

But... since they've come, they might as well not come for nothing.

Returning to the Free Abode, Li Qingluo had Zheng Mama first go summon Sha Yi to report back.

The Night Assassin Sect members now all reside in Xiuli Jiangjun Fu, having become Li Qingluo and Xiuli Jiangjun Fu's personal guards.

Li Qingluo went to see them the day she returned from Prince Su's residence.

Moreover, she only then learned that their names, in order, were actually Sha Yi, Sha Er, Sha San… all the way to Sha 27.

What ridiculous names did the old duke come up with?

Li Qingluo immediately covered her forehead.

But she couldn't come up with twenty-seven good names, so she finally gave up the idea of renaming them.

But looking at those twenty-seven tall fellows, not only were they all dressed in black, they even wore masks at home, which she found very eyesore.

She therefore directly ordered them to remove the masks from their faces; otherwise, with everyone wearing masks all day while lounging at home, the wet nurses and maids would feel uneasy seeing them.

What's more, she feared that turning a corner they'd be mistaken for an assassin come to the house, another turn another, and if they mishandled it they'd start fighting.

Sha Yi they also only hesitated a moment, then each obediently pulled down their masks.

Li Qingluo then saw that their faces had all undergone the ink punishment.

Everyone, the left cheek had been carved with the character 'kill'.

Honestly, the old duke really isn't anything good.

Seeing them each lower their heads in shame, not daring to show their true faces, Li Qingluo then clapped her hands.

"All right, this matter is up to me."

"From now on, when you go out with me, to avoid attracting attention, you will wear masks."

"But at home, not a single one is allowed to wear one!"

"Otherwise, how would I tell you apart?"

"Understood?"

The Night Assassin Sect members all looked at each other.

Home?

This place……could it become their home?

But the master has already spoken, so they can only grit their heels and obey.

"Yes, miss, we subordinates await your orders!"

Turning his head, Sha Yi arrived at the Free Abode.

Li Qingluo sat in the corridor and asked him: 'How have the matters I entrusted you with these past two days gone?'

Sha Yi knelt on one knee and reported: 'Miss, the princess's residence appears calm on the surface, but is actually under strict defense.'

"Subordinate hung under the eaves for two days before confirming that Princess Qin Yu is indeed recuperating from serious injuries in her mansion."

"She hasn't set foot outside her room even half a step these past two days."

Is her injury that serious?

Li Qingluo: 'Besides her and her maid, have you seen any other suspicious persons?'

Sha Yi: 'Yes. There is a young gentleman and a young lady who each day go in and out of the princess's bedchamber once.'

"Also, yesterday Prince Su himself personally went to the princess's residence once."

Li Qingluo's eyebrows twitched slightly.

She actually didn't know about this.

What was Duan Rongshi going to do?

Was it to capture Zuluya who had turned into forsythia, or Zongzheng Wuhen?

Probably those two slippery fellows aren't so easy to catch.

"You've worked hard, go on now."

Li Qingluo waved her hand; Sha Yi had just risen and was about to retreat when he suddenly seemed to sense something and turned his head to look left.

Upon seeing a hideous, terrifying figure like a ghostly apparition standing just beneath the archway connecting the two courtyards, he immediately drew the sword hanging at his waist.

Li Qingluo shouted loudly: "Sha Yi, stop!"

She sprang up like the wind and rushed over; before Hudie, like a mad wild dog, snarled and lunged forward, she stepped in front of Sha Yi.

"Hudie!"

Li Qingluo seized Hudie in a fierce embrace, then let Sha Yi quickly withdraw.

The other grannies and maidservants only then reacted, all rushing forward to pull Hudie apart.

Li Qingluo felt as if her whole body was about to fall apart.

Hudie's impact force was truly not that of an ordinary person; it was like that of a wild beast.

"Has Hudie woken up?"

"When did she wake up?"

"Yes, that's great. Just now, it must have been Sha Yi's scent that drew her over."

"Quick, go inform Doctor Dong."

"Also, keep Mr. Nangong and Doctor Luo Shen from coming near us for now, lest they suffer harm as well."

Although startled, Li Qingluo was still pleased to see Hudie suddenly wake up.

"You could say you escaped death this time!"

Li Qingluo smiled and reached out, but before she could touch Hudie's face, Hudie stared at her coldly as if she no longer recognized her, motionless.

Li Qingluo's hand froze in midair, and her heart gave a soft "thud".

But after Cui Er and Zheng Mama appeared, she lowered her guard completely and obediently let them touch her.

Suspicion rose in Li Qingluo's heart.

"Could it be because of this face of mine?"

"Her face hasn't yet returned to its true appearance, so Hudie doesn't recognize her?"

"But even when seeing a strange young woman, her gaze wouldn't be so cold."

"Cui Er, do I have any strange scent on me?"

Li Qingluo sniffed herself.

Cui Er also took a sniff: "No, miss. When Hudie bumped into you just now, did it touch your wound?"

Li Qingluo hurriedly turned and went back to her room.

She took off her clothes to examine them; these wounds were fine, and no fresh blood was seeping out.

Li Qingluo looked at the bronze mirror and suddenly noticed the butterfly on her shoulder.

Hudie, there has been a change.

Originally pink, it had somehow turned a pale purple…

Li Qingluo's heart sank slightly as she touched the butterfly, murmuring: "Hudie… Hudie?"

"In the world, could there be such a coincidence?"

After Dong Siyuan arrived, they directly fed Hudie a bowl of calming soup.

Once Hudie fell asleep, Dong Siyuan could then take her pulse.

"Her pulse is much steadier now. But it's only a temporary reprieve, letting her return from the brink of death for a moment."

"The gu worms inside her will still flare up at any time, so this Miss Hudie may still, as before, suddenly run a high fever and convulse, lose consciousness, and then soon lose her life."

Li Qingluo was also standing in Hudie's room at that moment.

After hearing Dong Siyuan finish, she asked: "Miao girl, is she the only hope to save her life?"

Dong Siyuan: "Miss, rest assured; my subordinate has personally written to request help, and the Miao girl must already be on her way to Jinling."

"If they travel at full gallop, they should still make it in time."

Li Qingluo was very surprised: "Your Highness, your connections turn out to be yours? Then why did you initially refuse to help me?"

"Only after Duan Rongshi personally gave him an order did he finally agree to seek help."

Li Qingluo thought: ……

Dong Siyuan sighed: "Miss, this time my subordinate also gritted his teeth to ask… asked for the sweetheart he abandoned when he left his hometown years ago for his ideals…"

"She is the one my subordinate betrayed; this matter is truly extremely embarrassing, and I cannot bring myself to speak of it."

Li Qingluo: "That sacrifice is indeed quite great."

"It seems that unless Duan Rongshi personally speaks up, he really wouldn't dare to summon this Miao girl."

"I've heard that Miao girls always repay grudges, loving and hating fiercely."

"Hope he takes good care of himself."

Li Qingluo stared at Hudie, who had fallen into a deep sleep once more on the bed, and that thought rose again in her mind.

"Could the precious poison that Zuliya refined over five years also be related to this Hudie before us?"

Suddenly she felt moved, took out a small knife, cut Hudie's finger, and then drew a few drops of blood into a porcelain vial.

After securing it, Li Qingluo extended her wrist to Dong Siyuan: "How about you also take my pulse? Let's see how it compares to hers."

As Li Qingluo was about to have dinner, Duan Rongshi arrived with Qin Ling, trussed up tight.

"You—you guys, could you at least be gentle with me—ah! ow—"

Qin Ling was thrown to the ground.

Zhui Yu kicked him: "What are you pretending for?"

"Remember, sir: if you cannot restore the young lady's face to its original state today, even the slightest flaw will cost you your head!"

"Do you understand?"

Zhui Yu made a throat-slashing gesture, frightening Qin Ling into a shudder.

He could only keep nodding: "I… I understand."

Qin Ling really is about to be worn out this time; he hasn't slept for three days and three nights.

He knows that if he fails this time, he won't wait for them to behead him—he'll drop dead himself—so how could he not summon all his energy?

Li Qinglo looked at them in surprise, "How did you come at this time?"

Clad in black, Duan Rongshi stepped out of the twilight and threw back his hood.

Upon seeing her, his gaze fell deeply on her face: "Your voice has recovered."

Like a clear spring, pleasing to the ear, gentle yet lively, it carried her own vitality.

Zhui Yu's face also showed a look of delight.

Indeed, it was the young lady's original voice!

Qin Ling was greatly shocked and couldn't help glancing secretly at Luo Fan.

Indeed, he is the sect leader's most proud senior disciple, managing to restore her voice to normal so quickly.

Even I myself couldn't manage it—otherwise Yun Niang wouldn't have had to speak with a man's voice all these years.

Qin Ling's heart suddenly stirred with an idea.

Li Qinglo hurried down the steps and came over to pay respects to Duan Rongshi: "Your Highness, have you eaten yet?"

Duan Rongshi reached out and personally helped her up: "I've been thinking of coming over to eat with you, so I haven't yet."

Li Qinglo's face broke into an unstoppable smile: "Then you've come at just the right time, commoner girl—this Free Abode just happens to have something fresh."

"Someone, quickly bring tea and hot water for Your Highness."

Qin Ling muttered on the side: "I haven't eaten either. What on earth is this mansion doing? Why is it so fragrant?"

He couldn't help sniffing around.

Zhui Yu rolled her eyes, lifted him to the side and tossed him into a corner: "Did I ask you? Still want to eat? Go be a starving ghost!"

But it really is fragrant.

They had just entered the Xiuli Jiangjun Fu when they smelled the fragrance.

The young lady's courtyard is filled with a rich, pervasive aroma—what could be so delicious?

They really have caught a good break today!

Li Qinglo pointed to the corner of the courtyard wall and said: "The Delicacies Restaurant has recently launched a new menu, learning to make barbecue from the northwest. You've come at just the right time—let's eat together!"