Chapter 357

Li Qingluo walked forward with her hands behind her back.

Watching Zong Zheng Wuheng's figure rush toward Kill Four and Kill Seven, she slightly turned her head to look at Kill One behind her.

Kill One immediately understood what she was thinking, and replied in a low voice: "Miss, rest assured, they have their own ways to escape; they won't die."

What Kill One didn't say was that even if they accidentally died here, dying for their master was their destined fate.

They harbored no regret.

Li Qingluo nodded and reached out her hand to Kill One.

Kill One immediately presented the longbow and arrows he had conveniently taken from within the princess's manor.

Li Qingluo removed her veil.

A hard shell, stiff as plaster, covered her face.

It was like an icy mask; only her eyes, revealed, retained a hint of lively spirit.

At this moment, her dark eyes stared fixedly at the shadows in the darkness.

She drew the bow.

She nocked an arrow.

Zong Zheng Wuheng, knife in hand, charged into the crowd and quickly clashed with Kill Four and Kill Seven.

Kill Seven and Kill Four were not only heavily surrounded, but also encountered the expert Zong Zheng Wuheng, and immediately found themselves struggling.

The two had originally revealed themselves on purpose; besides luring out Zong Zheng Wuheng and Ku Lianqiao, they aimed to kill as many as they could.

Now, it was also time to withdraw.

The two leapt onto the roof, and Kill Seven took a blade to his back.

Kill Four grabbed him tightly, preventing him from falling.

They turned and threw flying darts together, blocking another wave of attack.

Then they sprinted wildly across the roof.

Zong Zheng Wuheng and the remaining guards were about to give chase when a long arrow suddenly sliced through the night sky, shooting straight at his back.

A "swish" sounded, the sound of a blunt weapon entering flesh.

Zong Zheng Wuheng's chest was pierced straight through.

His eyes widened with shock as he turned his head to look behind him.

Another arrow followed, shooting toward him.

The guards behind him reacted, swinging their blades desperately to block it.

Then countless people rushed forward to shield Zong Zheng Wuheng.

Li Qingluo gave a silent cold smile, nocked three arrows, and shot them off in a swift, urgent volley.

When the three arrows together tore through the night sky and pierced three heads, even Kill One behind her was filled with shock.

As it turned out, the miss's archery was astonishingly precise!

Could this be due to innate talent?

Even I, facing her archery, have no sure chance of winning……

Facing the master whose killing intent now flared, Kill One's eyes already held admiration and sincere reverence.

Because of these successive arrows, Kill Four and Kill Seven naturally vanished into the night.

Although Zong Zheng Wuheng had been struck by an arrow, he had not yet lost his life.

He clutched his chest and roared angrily: "Over there on the pavilion roof…… go—seize them!"

Zuli Ya also finally arrived.

Seeing Zong Zheng Wuheng struck by an arrow, she cried out in alarm: "Six…… Sixth Lord!"

Zuli Ya lunged over and first stuffed a pill to steady his pulse into Zong Zheng Wuheng's mouth.

Then she looked at his wound, and her heart sank sharply.

Li Qingluo watched the dark figures sprinting and leaping onto the roof.

Still unwilling, she kept shooting arrows from her hand.

Watching people continually fall, it was a pity that Zuli Ya had not yet sustained any injury.

Now, blocked by a mass of bodies, it was hard for her to strike again.

Moreover, her arm had grown weak, lacking strength.

Even a distant arrow could not be shot.

"Miss……"

Kill One gripped his sword, ready to rush out at any moment to continue clearing the path for Li Qingluo.

Li Qingluo: "Tonight, this was not in vain."

After all, she had killed so many of Princess Qin Yu.

She had also struck Zong Zheng Wuheng.

The future is long; Princess Qin Yu and Zuli Ya, she will surely make them both die before her eyes sooner or later!

Li Qingluo swiftly put away her bow, no longer lingering in battle.

She turned and, together with Kill One, quickly leapt down from the pavilion, disappearing into the night……

When the guards arrived, they could only find nothing.

And the entire princess's manor, that night was a total loss.

After hearing the news, Princess Qin Yu fell into utter disbelief, unable to react for a long time.

"Who…… who exactly is it?"

She screamed hoarsely, furious to the point of near madness.

Even Zongzheng Wu Heng was struck by an arrow, his life or death unknown; clearly this person was targeting Zongzheng Wu Heng!

Who exactly wants to be her enemy to this extent—who is it!!

Guard: "No, I didn't see clearly."

"Yes, four, four people."

"All had their faces covered."

"That archer, looking at his stature, he isn't as tall as an ordinary man, and on his face he wears, wears a white mask……"

Qin Yu racked her brain, trying to recall if she had ever borne a grudge against someone like this.

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't think of anyone else who could possess such power and skill.

Could it be…… that the Crown Prince wants to burn the bridge after crossing the river?

Or perhaps it's Zheng Lingzhou, whose whereabouts are now untraceable?

Or maybe it's someone from Chu?

Or someone from the Western Regions?

Or…… could it really be that Li Qingluo?

Qin Yu doubted everyone in her mind, her whole person exhausted and pale as she lay at the bedside: "Go, go investigate!"

"Turn Jinling City upside down, I must dig this person out for my palace!"

"What a madman, to drive me, Zongzheng Yu'er, to this point!"

"Once this person is found, my palace will flog his corpse three thousand times—still not enough to dispel the hatred in my heart!"

Li Qingluo returned to the Jiangjun Fu with ease.

After killing her, she sent her to Free Abode, then hurried back to the front courtyard.

Li Qingluo felt uneasy, so she summoned Zheng Mama, then had her invite Dong Si Yuan to the front courtyard to check on Kill Four and Kill Seven.

Then she called Cui Er to prepare bathwater, washing away all the bloodstains from her body, exhausted, she collapsed and fell asleep.

The next day, after Li Qingluo woke up, she first touched her face.

It was still a hard shell.

Five hours had naturally already passed.

She slowly rose, but there was no one in front of the room.

Unable to call out, she got up herself and first put on the clothes that Cui Er had previously hung on the rack for her.

It was already late spring to early summer, and Jinling City was somewhat hot.

Li Qingluo's attire was also somewhat cooler.

She herself came to the washroom, reached out to dampen a cloth, then gently wiped her face with it bit by bit.

When a basin of water turned milky white, her face was finally clean.

Li Qingluo slowly walked back and sat down before the dressing table.

She looked at herself in the bronze mirror—familiar brows and eyes, red lips, outline.

Then she touched her cheeks, as smooth as a peeled egg, and the gloom and anxiety between her brows finally eased away completely.

Li Qingluo wasn't skilled at doing her hair.

So she only used a jade hairpin to temporarily tie her hair into a low bun.

Then she hurriedly prepared to go out, wanting first to see her grandmother and give her a surprise.

But unexpectedly, as soon as she opened the door, she bumped headfirst into a wall of flesh.

"Ah!"

She let out a low cry, and her whole body stumbled backward from the impact.

A large hand shot out quickly and grabbed her.

Li Qingluo lifted her head, and met Duan Rongshi's deep gaze fixed upon her.

Li Qingluo's heart gave a slight tremor.

He—how could he have come so early?

Li Qingluo: "Your Highness, when did you come over?"

"Why are you just standing at the doorway?"

Looking at his attire, he was still wearing the same outfit from last night.

Li Qingluo's heart startled: Could it be that after he hurriedly left last night, he didn't return to the Prince Su's mansion before coming to see me again?

He has always loved cleanliness to an extreme; even if his robes were stained with blood or dirt, he would find it intolerable.

He…… this time he is so impatient, could it be that he just wants to see whether my appearance has recovered?

Upon thinking this, Li Qingluo's face also flushed.

Duan Rongshi's gaze never wanted to shift away for a moment.

Although even if she could never recover her appearance in this lifetime, he actually didn't care.

The first time I saw her, wasn't she just a dark, skinny little monkey?

But now, looking at this charming little maiden in his arms, how could he not feel even more delight?

Without makeup, her complexion is like dawn clouds reflecting on snow.

Her natural beauty is like a painting, pure and elegant, transcending the vulgar.

Indeed, his little cook has finally become the most beautiful maiden in the world.

Duan Rongshi helped her up: "I came over at the mao hour."

"I, the Prince, have already lost sleepiness; seeing you sleep so soundly, I ordered them not to disturb you."

So, at this moment there isn't even half a person in the courtyard.

Because they were all cleared out by Duan Rongshi.

This is indeed my Free Abode!

He already finds it so easy to order people around?

Zheng Mama and the others are bold too, daring to let him be the family's door god.

Moreover, although everyone knows Prince Su is a gentleman in male-female relations and would never take advantage of danger, they're perhaps overly reassured.

But thinking that he had been waiting outside for her to wake up for so long, Li Qingluo felt ashamed again.

"Your Highness, are you tired? Why not rest at our residence?"

"Or would you like to have breakfast first?"

"Someone…"

Li Qingluo had just spoken when Duan Rongshi reached out and gently pulled her into his embrace again.

"I just want to look at you."

"Luo'er, I've finally found you completely."

"I'm very happy."

Li Qingluo froze for a moment.

She understood that he meant her true appearance and voice had been recovered.

She pursed her lips and smiled: "I, a commoner, am also very happy… thank you, Your Highness."

Duan Rongshi warned her, displeased: "Don't keep calling yourself a commoner; I, the prince, don't want to hear it."

Before Li Qingluo could agree to this overstep, she smelled a faint scent of blood on Duan Rongshi's body.

"Did you kill someone last night?"

Duan Rongshi: "Hmph. Just a few disobedient lackeys."

Li Qingluo wanted to hear what exactly had happened to him last night, but she couldn't bring herself to ask.

If he doesn't say, then she simply cannot know.

Duan Rongshi knew this wasn't the Prince Su's residence, so he didn't hold her too long, and slowly let her go.

"I heard that last night, several intruders sneaked into Princess Qin Yu's residence and killed many of her people."

"This matter has caused an uproar in Jinling City since early morning, and both the Ministry of Punishments and the Supreme Court have gone."

Li Qingluo's face showed surprise: "Really? Who did it? What a pity."

Duan Rongshi poked her cheek: "That thief must have grown wings; otherwise, how could he have such ability and courage!"

Li Qingluo bit her lower lip with her upper teeth, only smiling without speaking.

Duan Rongshi lowered his head and leaned close to her: "Be careful, don't let anyone grab your little tail; otherwise, I, the prince, may have to enact righteousness against kin."

Li Qingluo took a deep breath.

She had wanted to speak, but her chest suddenly tightened sharply.

Afterward, it felt as if someone had grabbed her and pulled hard, leaving Li Qingluo unable to catch her breath in an instant.

Next, her vision turned a blurry white.

She shook her head hard.

She smelled a strange fragrance.

Her gaze involuntarily fell on the expanse of snow‑white skin that was giving off warm vapor.

Li Qingluo felt terribly parched, staring at the faintly twitching skin before her, and licked her lips.