Chapter 380: Pan Li's Affection for Prince Su? A Rival Appears Midstream!

Suppressing bandits?

When did Prince Su go to suppress bandits?

Yeah, how come we haven't heard any news at all?

What bandits? In the past few years, outside Jinling City within a radius of several hundred li, only the Lotus Sect has been causing trouble; how come we haven't heard of any other bandits?

How could there be none? Upstream three hundred li on the Long River, water bandits have appeared these past months; it's said they've already robbed a lot of merchants' goods.

They dare not disturb official goods, but merchants have suffered losses; indeed, many cases have been reported.

He suppressed the water bandits silently and swiftly; Prince Su is indeed decisive and formidable, not to be underestimated.

After all, his title of Yama the Slaughter God is not for nothing; before, we only thought he was skilled at solving cases, but we didn't know he also commands troops like a god.

Is Prince Su going to regain favor again?

Isn't that so? Last time at the West City Gate, they captured a batch of Lotus Sect followers intending to free prisoners; this time they suppressed water bandits and earned merit, likely just like the Crown Prince, they'll both regain their positions.

Amidst the heated discussion, Emperor Yan's brows also showed a hint of joy.

Good!

Indeed, worthy of being my good son.

Issue the order: let Prince Su station his troops where he is, and quickly have him come see me at once!

Emperor Yan's spirits have improved greatly.

Others stepped forward one after another to congratulate Emperor Yan.

Congratulations, Your Majesty; congratulations, Your Majesty.

Prince Su has again succeeded in suppressing bandits, and the Crown Prince previously also struck at the Lotus Sect; our Daliang Dynasty has such imperial sons as Prince Su and the Crown Prince—truly a blessing for the royal house!

Yes, Your Majesty, with these outstanding imperial sons, our Liang Dynasty can completely eradicate the Lotus Sect's remnants and return to a prosperous age—it's just around the corner.

May Your Majesty live for thousands of autumns, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years——

The Empress Dowager was also very pleased.

They greeted Madame Pei the Elder and had a chat together.

Only the Empress, although she wore a smile on her face, that smile did not reach her eyes.

Li Qingluo's complexion also wasn't very good.

So he went to suppress bandits?

That night in the imperial palace, what exactly did he trade with Emperor Yan?

Although they are father and son by blood, Li Qingluo again felt that Duan Rongshi was merely a knife in Emperor Yan's hand.

Regarding the Pei family's affairs, Emperor Yan clearly felt that this knife was too sharp and wanted to discard it.

Yet now, he has once again employed Duan Rongshi.

Li Qingluo couldn't help but look toward the Crown Princess not far away, Lady Su.

The eldest daughter of the current prime minister, the most outstanding daughter of the Su family.

Dignified and virtuous, gentle and worthy.

She is the paragon of all noble ladies in Jinling City, and also the beloved virtuous wife praised by the Crown Prince.

Li Qingluo had been reading a few days ago and came across a term: "balance of power."

The Crown Prince has returned to the Eastern Palace, Prince Yun has fallen, and Duan Rongshi is rising.

Are they perhaps merely pawns in Emperor Yan's hand for maintaining balance?

Su Miaoyu seemed to sense something and turned her head to look at the crowd.

Not catching those eyes, she merely furrowed her brows slightly.

"My lady, are you really going? Or should we just go back? The hunting ground is too dangerous..."

Su Miaoyu spoke softly: "No problem. I promised my elder sister I'd accompany her to ride horses in the hunting ground; how can I go back on my word?"

"Don't worry, my archery and horsemanship back then were also not bad."

The Eldest Princess Xiyue was at the forefront.

She wore her riding attire with a mighty bearing and laughed loudly: "My fifth younger brother has again achieved great merit! To celebrate before our father emperor, I, the princess, will surely hunt a great bear today and present it to father emperor and grandmother empress!"

With the sound of the horn blowing.

The ladies also entered the hunting ground one after another.

The ladies leading the charge were certain to achieve some results today; they all instantly rushed out.

In this hunt, the lady who comes out on top will receive a vermilion hairpin from the Empress.

Who wouldn't want such an honor?

However, the Princess of Nanping's aim is not that; she wants to see the handsome Cui Qilang.

Upon entering the forest, he vanished in the blink of an eye.

Li Qingluo and Pan Li strolled leisurely at the rear; after the crowd had mostly dispersed, the two turned a corner and took their people toward the least crowded direction.

Li Qingluo: "Did you arrange the person I asked you to meet yesterday?"

After making sure no one was around, Li Qingluo asked Pan Li.

Pan Li: "Right ahead."

The two, each with their own retinue, rode to the appointed place; indeed, from afar they saw Cui Shiyi Niang.

However, Li Qingluo and Pan Li did not immediately reveal themselves.

They first dismounted quietly, then had Que'er and the others lead the horses away to hide farther off.

The two of them patiently hid first behind a dense thicket.

After waiting, Cui Shiyi Niang grew impatient and was about to mount and leave when another troupe happened to come from the other side.

"Cui Shiyi Niang, didn't you say that Pan Li had arranged to meet you here?"

Why hasn't that person arrived yet?

Li Qingluo and Pan Li exchanged a glance.

The newcomer was indeed Noble Consort Jing—Yi Zixuan.

Cui Shiniang said, "How would I know why she stood me up?"

"This Pan Li was never anything good—she's really a con artist!"

"She's definitely playing me; just wait till I settle the score with her!"

Cui Shiniang is hot-tempered—how could she endure such humiliation?

She immediately spurred her horse and fled.

Yi Zixuan's face darkened: "Go, follow her."

After the two figures had left, the granny beside her asked Yi Zixuan, "Noble Young Mistress, why bother fixating on an insignificant Pan Li?"

"Someone as lowly as her—does she really deserve all this trouble from you?"

Yi Zixuan said, "Pan Li's temperament has changed drastically lately."

"I have tested her, and she seems to have completely forgotten what happened back then in the palace."

"No matter how abnormal she acts, it's impossible for her to be allied with that Li Qingluo."

"They never had a good relationship before, and moreover Pan Li is clearly much closer to that Liu Qiongzhu."

"But didn't you see yesterday how Pan Li and Li Qingluo were chatting and laughing together?"

"It's really too strange."

"I suspect Pan Li has remembered something—or perhaps she remembers everything but is feigning amnesia out of fear."

"And will she use that past incident to curry favor with the Nanping County Princess and that Li Qingluo?"

The granny didn't understand: "But why would she do that?"

"They used to be at odds; could it be that they're now forced to ally for some benefit?"

Yi Zixuan said, "That is exactly my suspicion."

"Recently, I inadvertently overheard the Empress and the Emperor speaking."

"They said they plan to take Pan Li into the Eastern Palace as the Crown Prince's concubine."

"This Pan Li used to be a scatterbrain, but after dying and being revived she has indeed become much more steady and restrained."

"But just because her father is a fifth-rank Palace Secretary, making her a Crown Prince's concubine is nothing but elevating her!"

As she said this, Yi Zixuan's voice was tinged with jealousy and hatred.

"It's only natural that she's close to the Nanping Princess."

"But she absolutely should not be that close to that Li Qingluo!"

"I have personally seen that Li Qingluo and Prince Su are ambiguous—not pure at all."

"And as for Pan Li's former feelings toward Prince Su, others may not be clear, but of course I know."

"That night by the lake she herself blurted out, saying the Crown Prince isn't even worth a finger of Prince Su."

"So I suspect Pan Li doesn't want to be the Crown Prince's concubine; she wants to be a person in Prince Su's household!"

Upon hearing this, Li Qingluo was still stroking her chin in thought when Pan Li suddenly grabbed her arm excitedly.

Her eyes were full of grievance.

As if saying, "I'm not! I didn't! Luo'er, hear me out!"

Li Qingluo: …

After Yi Zixuan left, Pan Li could no longer hold back: "Pah! Who would want to be a Crown Prince's concubine?"

"Luo'er, you must never believe that nonsense—the former Pan Li is not the present Pan Li."

"I have absolutely no improper thoughts toward Your Highness Prince Su!"

Pan Li wished she could raise her hand and swear.

Li Qingluo laughed despite herself, took her hand, and said: "I know. I know."

"This Pan Li is not that Pan Li—others may not see it, but don't I know?"

She playfully flicked Pan Li's nose.

"Wait, why… is it… my Prince Su?"

She narrowed her eyes.

Pan Li covered her mouth, astonished: "You couldn't possibly still not see Prince Su's feelings for you, could you?"

Li Qingluo felt surprised: "Even you know?"

Her heart went thump-thump wildly.

The last time Shiniang saw Prince Su was when she was in the Yi family dungeon.

At that time, could his intentions have already been so clear?

Even Shiniang could see it at a glance, yet I myself remained oblivious for so long.

It was that she dared not think it.

How could someone like me deserve such sincere affection?

But he still came rushing straight toward me…

He never hesitated, never gave up on her.

Li Qingluo felt as if something inside her heart was slowly unfolding, like a lotus blossoming in the rain and dew.

Thereafter, her radiant beauty could no longer be concealed.

She clenched her fists, recalling Duan Rongshi's every smile, his brows, eyes, lips, and the way he looked at her each time.

Profound and tranquil, she could always lose herself in it, unable to extricate herself.

She finally seemed to understand; he, who had braved thorns and brambles, also wanted to keep her by his side, as if it were truly just because of that one sincere heart.

And yet she herself… was passive, like a cowardly deserter.

Pan Li: "Luo'er?"

"Luo'er, what are you thinking?"

"What's wrong with you?"

Li Qingluo: "I'm fine. Is the Pan Manor really intending to send you to the Eastern Palace as the Crown Prince's Good Consort?"

Pan Li: "Pah! Nice dream."

"My father has indeed hinted at this matter obliquely, but I am unwilling; he then said he would only listen to me."

"Even if it truly offended the Eastern Palace, he would never force my will."

Li Qingluo: "With the Grand Princess backing the Pan Manor, this shouldn't be difficult."

Saying this, she rose: "Let's go. Someone else is still waiting for us."

Li Qingluo quickly met up with Pan Li, Que'er, and Zheng Mama.

The two of them were not conspicuous, merely strolling casually through the woods.

Pan Li saw a rabbit.

Li Qingluo picked up her long bow, nocked an arrow, but before she could shoot, someone had gotten there first and taken the lead.

They turned their heads and saw that it was not a stranger, but Zhong Liulang, whom they had seen yesterday.

Besides him, traveling alongside were the Fourth Prince and the Fourth Prince Consort.

The Fourth Prince—formerly Prince Yun—after losing virtue and propriety at his birthday celebration in the mansion, had completely lost the favor of the Emperor and Empress.

Although later investigation showed the assassin incident had nothing to do with him, he was still stripped of his Prince Yun title on the spot due to his negligence, which had put the Emperor and Empress in danger of assassination.

However, because he had already lost one eye, Emperor Yan still showed him a sliver of mercy; aside from making him reflect behind closed doors for a month, no further punishment was imposed.

But the once glorious Duan Rongxuan, having fallen from the clouds into the mire in an instant, now finds life worse than death.

Having long remained inactive and depressed at the Fourth Prince's Manor, this was the first time he had appeared before everyone again.

Yet compared to the former Prince Yun, who was radiant and full of vigor, the present Fourth Prince is merely a stone that has lost its starlight.

He wore an eye patch, his eyes holding a hint of excitement as they fell upon Li Qingluo and Pan Li.

Zhong Liulang arrogantly raised his chin: "Bold! Do you not know this is the game the Fourth Prince, Your Highness, has taken a fancy to, intending to present to the Fourth Prince Consort? With just the two of you, you also dare to try to seize it?"