Chapter 494: Rogue, improper?

Li Qingluo instantly resembled a boiled crab, her face and neck turning bright red.

Duan Rongshi sighed helplessly: "Not hard to remember."

"Luo'er, I don't want you to be frightened midway because of this."

"Besides, if I don't go practice sword, I'm afraid I'll have to stay awake until dawn before I can sleep."

Apart from some uncontrollable thoughts in her mind, her sleeping posture was also not very honest.

So, to keep her from flailing about, he could only lock her limbs.

After the whole night passed, he suffered double torment.

So he just wanted to practice sword a bit longer so he could fall asleep tonight, and his six senses could be a little calmer.

Li Qingluo deeply felt his thoughtfulness.

She also felt a bit embarrassed about her own earlier haste.

"Um… I… I'm going to sleep. You hurry and practice sword!"

She flung herself onto the pillow, covered her head, quickly closed her eyes, and just wanted to pretend nothing had just happened.

Duan Rongshi couldn't help but let out a low laugh, shaking his head, then he picked up his sword and strode out.

However, Li Qingluo hadn't fully fallen asleep when a familiar stomach pain wrenched her awake.

Indeed… it was her monthly flow.

She hurriedly got up and went to the cleansing room, only to find everything already prepared.

Menstrual belt, clean undergarments and pants—all were neatly laid out to the side.

Que'er, hearing her rise, hurried in with hot water.

"Miss, the decoction is simmering in the pot; please bear with it."

"Drink it in a moment and you'll feel better."

Li Qingluo was deeply moved: "Good Que'er, I'm glad you're here."

Que'er pressed her lips and smiled: "Miss, we were rushing on the road this time, we've only settled down for two days, and I forgot all about this."

"It was the son-in-law who reminded me tonight to start simmering your nourishing decoction, and that's why I remembered."

"Miss, I never expected the son-in-law to be so attentive to you nowadays."

"He even remembers this, while other men would fear falling short; he's fine, just worried you might suffer even the slightest pain or injustice."

"Miss, I'm truly happy for you."

Li Qingluo leaned against the windowsill, gazing at the swaying black shadow on the ground outside the courtyard, her heart feeling as if filled by something.

Perhaps the dew was too heavy, she felt her eye sockets moistened.

She quickly rubbed them and snorted: "You keep calling him son-in-law, and it rolls off the tongue nicely."

Que'er said: "Miss, Zhui Yu rolls off the tongue even more easily than I do."

"That big fool, as if encountering something novel, keeps calling him son-in-law, practically blackening his face with the name."

"Haha…"

Que'er held her belly and laughed nonstop.

Li Qingluo also gave a faint smile.

"Little fool."

Soon, the matter of Tranquil Distance Temple spread throughout Southern Peace, known to every household.

On the main street, everyone was discussing this.

Li Qingluo, wearing a veil, walked down the street buying big meat buns, and heard the diner eating wontons nearby say: "I never expected that the Second Princess, after all these years, still longs for that Xie family young man—truly devoted."

"Pah! Devoted? She may be devoted, but the prince consort isn't just wearing a hat—I see him all green."

"Looking for death? Speak softer."

"What's there to fear? Now everyone in Southern Peace says the prince consort is a pitiful person—could the authorities really arrest all of us ordinary folk in Southern Peace?"

Meanwhile, the people in the Small Teahouse were also engaged in lively discussion.

"I heard they were burned to death while embracing each other."

"Where did the prince consort go? The princess's mansion had so many people go, yet they couldn't rescue the princess."

"Hey, I heard they all went to protect the civilians."

"The prince consort is really a good person."

"I heard the monks of the Xie family have been cheating people out of money these years, sending it to the Xie family, and even hid a floor's worth of cash in a room!"

"Those villagers down the hill ran to dig up the money, but those monks naturally refused, rushing to block them; a disagreement sparked a fight."

"The prince consort naturally had to protect the civilians. Leading his guards to rescue people, he momentarily didn't notice the princess actually charging into the flames to die for love."

"Well, as I say, even if he went to save her, what good would it do? People die for their old lovers; rescuing her would be useless."

"Exactly, speaking bluntly, Princess Zhiyan is also a bit too ruthless."

"What about the Changning Commandery Princess—don't you think she looks somewhat like those Xie family girls?"

The Xie family was soon investigated because of the rumors.

In the end, it was confirmed that they indeed used the money sent back by Tranquil Distance Temple.

The whole family was subsequently thrown into a major prison before the year's end.

The disaster the Xie family escaped twenty‑seven years ago.

Now, it has finally befallen them again.

In the blink of an eye, it's New Year's Eve again.

As for the tavern, things turned out exactly as Li Qingluo had anticipated: ever since she, the young proprietor, appeared without her veil that day, the tavern's business plummeted.

Besides despising the young proprietor for being a woman, those men also shouted "ill omen".

Li Qingluo directly closed the tavern's main door.

Then, with a clang clang clang clang, she began the redecoration.

This tavern was originally a large tavern in Southern Peace.

Moreover, regardless of the décor grade, dishes, and flavors, it had always ranked among the top five taverns in all of Southern Peace.

It was also a leisure spot that many nobles of Southern Peace often took turns visiting.

Now, although the tavern's reputation and business have suffered some damage, the young master actually didn't think of saving it, but instead turned around and directly smashed it.

Everyone couldn't help shaking their heads.

Surely she's a shallow‑minded young lady; with such methods, what business could she still run?

As a young lady, she ought to stay home to tend her husband and educate her children; how could she possibly run out, expose herself, and learn to do business like a man?

However, although everyone discussed it heatedly, it in no way affected the liveliness inside Nan Gong Fu today.

After Li Qingluo had just awakened, she began to lightly taste alcohol.

Then she suddenly discovered that drinking alcohol would no longer make her pass out.

Indeed, her body and soul are at peace; she has completely changed her fate.

From then on, she could finally be a free and carefree person who could drink alcohol.

Afterwards, she each time took a small drink.

Gradually, even increasing her alcohol intake had no effect.

Until today, Li Qingluo also got drunk along with everyone else.

Because it was New Year's Eve, the mansion was everywhere decorated with lanterns and bunting.

Li Qingluo, drunk, looked at the flower lanterns.

She searched everywhere for Duan Rongshi.

"Ah Shi!"

"Where is Ah Shi?"

"Ah Shi!"

"Quickly go find my husband for me——"

"Tell him, tonight, this young lady's small——"

Before she could finish her sentence, a big hand quickly covered her mouth.

Li Qingluo lifted her head and saw a handsome, graceful face.

She frowned dubiously, then sternly shoved that big hand away.

"What are you doing?"

"You damned rascal, dare to molest me."

"I will have my husband kill you——"

Facing her bared teeth and claws, Duan Rongshi hurried forward and tightly held her in his arms.

"All of you, get down."

Duan Rongshi turned his half‑side face to look at everyone behind him.