Chapter 432: Luo'er Disappears, Prince Su Loses Control!

Over ten pairs of eyes stared at him.

Pei Qinghong hastily raised both hands.

"I just came back to take the antidote."

Li Qingluo didn't speak to him, directly leading the people deeper into the tunnel.

Pei Qinghong, however, followed behind them.

"Princess of Yaoguang, do you know that yesterday my uncle and the others have all been thrown into the Ministry of Punishments' prison?"

"The Pei Dukedom now has no elders left."

"And the dukedom's title may also be lost this time..."

Li Qingluo turned sharply: "What exactly do you want to say, Third Young Master Pei?"

"You think saying the Pei family hates me will make me afraid?"

"Or do you know what happened in the Prince Su's mansion, and now as his shadow guard you want to block my way?"

Pei Qinghong gave a self‑mocking laugh: "We of the Pei clan revere you as our benefactor—how could we hate you?"

"Just Princess of Yaoguang clearly knows what happened in the Prince Su's mansion—why bother seeking a result yourself?"

"In that case, aren't you afraid of hurting your relationship with His Highness Prince Su?"

Li Qingluo hesitated only a moment under her feet, then hurried on.

"It was he who first broke the promise."

"But I, Li Qingluo, cannot abandon myself again!"

She raised a hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead.

Although she was sweating all over, her heart felt as if it had plunged into an ice cellar, utterly cold.

The opposing forces of ice and fire pulled at her whole body, almost burning her to ashes.

She was willing to die alongside him to uncover the truth of Consort Yue's death.

Even to take revenge.

But facing Duan Rongshi, she felt she was merely a gentle breeze that could temporarily smooth the lines between his brows.

Perhaps she is indeed a small variable in his life's path.

But she will never sway his game because of her.

The one who spied on Qingsong Back Mountain and leaked the news was absolutely no one else.

It was Duan Rongshi himself!

Prince Su's mansion deliberately relaxed its defenses so that Great Chu's spies could smoothly rescue Zongzheng Wuheng from the mansion.

He intended to release Zongzheng Wuheng back to Great Chu.

But why?

Why on earth!

That day on Qishan, he clearly had a chance to explain.

But he didn't.

Not only that, in the Western City Riot she merely helped him take charge of the situation.

The overall situation has always been in Duan Rongshi's own hands.

Li Qingluo knows this is correct.

He wants to avenge her mother, just as he, reborn, would avenge himself.

Nothing in this world will change their resolve.

Moreover, he is the true mastermind behind all this—what difference would telling myself make?

She indeed could not help him bear much.

Moreover, the matter is being uncovered step by step.

But regarding Zongzheng Wuheng, Li Qingluo felt a deep betrayal!

Tonight, she must pursue Zongzheng Wuheng.

Her grudge against Zongzheng Wuheng must also be settled.

And if Duan Rongshi truly has difficulties, let him come explain himself!

Li Qingluo glanced back at Pei Qinghong behind her: "Tell him, releasing the prisoner is his concern; my killing for revenge is mine."

"Unless his reasons for releasing the prisoner can convince me."

"Otherwise, even if I chase him to Great Chu, I will never turn back!"

Having said that, Li Qingluo's group completely abandoned Pei Qinghong and pressed on into the deeper darkness.

Pei Qinghong hesitated only a moment, then quickly turned and walked out of the prison.

Pei Jingzhe was still waiting at the cave entrance.

Seeing him come out, he immediately asked: "Did you stop her?"

Pei Qinghong: "I stopped her—how else could I come out alone?"

"She is a woman with extremely strong self‑will, and her abilities exceed what I imagined."

"Those killing techniques are the elite forces painstakingly cultivated by our great‑grandfather over the years; now they loyally follow her unto death. Our Pei clan, meanwhile, have merely made her a suit of armor as a bridal gown."

Pei Jingzhe's chest heaved with anger: "Can't she just live peacefully?"

"If something happens to her, what are we Pei to do?"

"Father and the uncles of each branch willingly bear the guilt for the Pei descendants."

"Moreover, there's no turning back now—must we sacrifice in vain?"

After a moment of silence, Pei Qinghong added: "This matter must be reported immediately to Prince Su."

Older brother, it's the person I helped my great-grandfather kill.

The utterly wicked person is also me.

I will stake my life to guard the Pei family.

Rest assured, the antidote will still be sent to the Pei family.

Having said that, Pei Qinghong quickly left the Duke's residence.

But tonight, the imperial palace is heavily guarded.

Although Pei Qinghong is now a shadow guard, once he sneaks into the palace, he cannot enter the Hall of Purple Celestial, which is as tightly sealed as an iron barrel.

Pei Qinghong can only wait in the dark night.

After great difficulty waiting for Leng Dian to appear, he hurried to the corner and stopped him, saying, "Something has happened."

After saying that, Pei Qinghong, disregarding Leng Dian's unpleasant expression, continued, "I will first leave the city to intercept her."

Please, Guard Leng Dian, quickly inform Your Highness of this matter so that Your Highness can make a decision.

After saying that, he quickly disappeared into the night again.

Leng Dian dared not hesitate, even dropping the matter he had just come out to handle.

Turning and entering the Hall of Purple Celestial, he found Prince Su resting with his head propped up in the side hall.

Your Highness, miss…

Upon hearing those two words, Duan Rongshi opened his eyes.

Wasn't I supposed to have you deliver a letter?

Duan Rongshi couldn't free himself to go see her in person.

That's why he previously wrote a letter himself, asking Leng Dian to personally deliver it to Xiuli Jiangjun Fu.

There are some things he doesn't want Luo'er to misunderstand.

Despite his hesitation, Leng Dian still spoke the truth: "Your Highness, the miss has already discovered the truth."

Moreover, an hour ago, she had already left the Pei family prison and gone out of the city; now she is likely chasing those people from the Great Chu state.

Duan Rongshi's expression changed instantly; he sprang up in shock: "What did you say?!"

Outside, a torrential downpour was falling.

She actually dares to go chase Zongzheng Wuheng on a night like this!

What makes Duan Rongshi even more anxious is that she knows he has broken his promise to her…

In her heart, she likely feels utterly disappointed in him.

Moreover, she doesn't know what wild thoughts she might have.

Just thinking of this, Duan Rongshi instantly becomes anxious as if on fire, his heart in turmoil.

No longer able to stay here, Duan Rongshi immediately set out to leave the city.

Luo'er…

Leng Dian and Xia Duo, seeing this, hurriedly gave chase.

Your Highness, you absolutely must not—

If you leave now, the Jin Wang faction will surely take advantage and infiltrate the palace; the hard-won control we have will collapse.

Your Highness, you have been making this move for over a decade.

Your Highness, you must think carefully!

As for the miss's side, we subordinates will go out of the city to look for her.

Even if we sacrifice our lives, we will certainly bring the person back to you unharmed, Your Highness!

Your Highness—

Xia Duo and the others immediately knelt on the ground.

They bitterly pleaded.

If the Wan family army comes to knock on the palace gates overnight…

…and Duan Rongshi is not there at that time.

…the situation will completely spiral out of control.

How can everyone be willing to endure all these years only to give up halfway?

Everything will come to naught; all previous efforts will be wasted.

Duan Rongshi's steps were forcibly held back.

He lowered his head to look at those people behind him.

If today he loses control of his emotions due to personal affection and truly abandons everything to leave the palace, these people will all die because of him.

They have loyally followed him for over a decade.

They are the support that Duan Rongshi cannot abandon.

He looked toward Leng Dian and Po Feng.

You, on behalf of the prince, bring her back safe and sound!

I, the prince, beg you.

Leng Dian, with tears in his eyes, said: "Your Highness, rest assured!"

We two subordinates, even if we sacrifice our lives, will definitely protect the miss unto death!

This rain lasted only one night.

The next day, as soon as it dawned, it cleared up completely.

The old general Wan of the Wan family army led twenty thousand troops toward Jinling.

Upon hearing this, Duan Rongshi rode out alone on horseback to personally go out and meet them.

Soon, all the turmoil in Jinling City settled down.

The Wan family army and the Bei Tu army did not start fighting.

Instead, they both withdrew to a place twenty li outside Jinling City and encamped together.

Old General Wan followed Duan Rongshi, bringing only a few hundred men into the palace once.

All that could be seen was Emperor Yan lying on the bed, unable to speak or move.

He could only lie motionless on the bed, his mouth askew, constantly drooling.

His eyes seemed to have something to say.

Old General Wan stepped forward and knelt before Emperor Yan: "Your Majesty, this old subject knows, this old subject knows all."

"Your Majesty fell into grief over the Crown Prince's collusion with a heretical sect and rebellion, which caused this hemiplegic illness."

"Your Majesty, take good care of your health; I will help you select a prince who truly serves the country and people to temporarily share your worries."

"Your Majesty will surely recover."

Emperor Yan's eyes turned blood-red with anger.

Large tears fell down one after another.

Old General Wan sighed while wiping his tears: "Your Majesty, why do you put yourself through this?"

Old General Wan wanted to stay a few more days in Jinling.

Fortunately, Duan Rongshi finally got a moment's respite and immediately summoned Zhui Yu: "Did Leng Dian and them send back any news?"

Zhui Yu knew she couldn't hide it.

She then said: "Your Highness… Miss, she has gone missing!"

Duan Rongshi's eyes instantly turned as icy as a poisoned blade: "What do you mean missing!?"

"How did you handle this!?"

Zhui Yu lowered her head firmly: "When Leng Dian and them pursued, the rain was too heavy, so they only found traces of a fight in the woods twenty li out."

"Then they found several shattered corpses below the cliff."

"Fortunately, none were the Miss; it was all those people from Great Chu who died."

"Moreover, there wasn't a single corpse bearing those killer marks."

"But still..."

"It's just that we have no trace of the Miss or the killers."

"Perhaps the heavy rain washed away the tracks."

"Leng Dian and Po Feng haven't dared to rest a moment; they've been searching day and night for the Miss for two days..."

"But still..."

The words Zhui Yu could not speak turned into daggers, each stab piercing Duan Rongshi's chest.

Duan Rongshi supported his swaying head.

"It's all my fault..."

"It's all my mistake; I lost her."

"Get out of the way—everyone get out of the way!"

"I'm going to find Luo er."

"I, the prince, will personally bring her back!"

"Luo er will absolutely not come to harm, and must not come to harm!"

Having said that, he no longer cared for anything, grabbed his sword, and rode straight out of the palace on horseback.

Old General Wan came over and saw only a fleeting shadow of a horse racing down the long street.

He then asked curiously: "Your Highness Prince Su, why are you in such a hurry? Where are you going?"

The deputy general behind him said: "It seems Prince Su's future consort has gone missing."

Old General Wan, hearing this, was stunned for a moment.

Afterwards he gave a "ha ha" laugh.

"Look, even a hero like Prince Su has a day when love overwhelms him."

"It seems he is not truly a heartless person after all."

"That's somewhat interesting."

As his words fell, a little eunuch arrived from the Palace of Longevity.

"Old General Wan, the Empress Dowager summons you to the Palace of Longevity for a talk."