Chapter 507: This Emperor, Brutal and Debauched!

"But how did I hear that it was that princess who vanished first?"

"Her background was poor; from childhood her identity was swapped, and when she returned home she never felt any warmth, so she early on left the clan with her equally lonely grandmother and set up her own household."

"But after she was made a county lady and betrothed to Prince Su, it seems that within just a few months she fell silent; I heard she was gravely ill and passed away!"

"Then that makes sense! Prince Su must have been heartbroken, so on the battlefield he lost his footing and was ambushed by the Western Regions."

"He, he turned out to be such a sentimental and righteous lord? But didn't you say he was some kind of Death God? Can a man like that fall for a woman?"

"What's so strange? That lady is said to be beautiful as a flower and moon, and more importantly she escaped that cannibal household by her own skill, which is already rare in the world."

"When encountering such a woman, even the coldest man would be moved."

"I'm truly envious. In Great Chu such things never happen. At home we follow the father, after his death we follow the elder brother, after marriage we follow the husband; what decides our fate has never been ourselves."

"I heard she can decide her own destiny and future."

"What a pity, how did both of them end up both…"

"Ah, I heard this Prince Su looks like an immortal, exceedingly handsome! Our Princess Qin Yu, they say, went so mad for him that she wouldn't even return to Great Chu."

"Don't forget, he is the only bloodline our legitimate Great Chu princess left in DaLiang! I heard he looks exactly like Princess Qingyue!"

"Then isn't that a man with a woman's appearance? Princess Qingyue is already said to be as beautiful as a celestial maiden; a man with such looks—who knows how handsome he truly is."

"Dying isn't all bad. Don't you know that after Princess Qin Yu died in DaLiang, the Western Regions found an excuse to invade DaLiang's border?"

"The situation between Great Chu and DaLiang has been growing tense; that day I passed by Father's study doorway and heard Father and Elder Brother discussing that we might have to go to war with DaLiang."

"So now that Prince Su is dead, Great Chu has one less formidable enemy!"

Those few days of listening nonstop beside me made Li Qingluo's ears feel like they were about to die from overwork.

She even wondered, with Great Chu's affair being so fervently discussed, how the DaLiang populace might be making a fuss.

During those days Li Qingluo would return each evening, organize some important information, and place it on the table for Duan Rongshi, who only came back in the dead of night, to see.

No kidding, she really handed him a lot of important stuff.

Holding a notice in her hand now, Li Qingluo knows another tough battle is about to begin.

Duan Rongshi wrapped his arms around her, involuntarily pressing his head against hers and said, "Of course, our Li Qingluo is still impressive."

Li Qingluo: "Hmph, stop feeding me that soul‑stirring broth."

Duan Rongshi, unable to laugh or cry, slowly explained, "This Middle Colonel, though of low rank, his wife's family is the Jiang clan of Nan An."

"The Jiang family is among the top four great clans of Nan An. However, his wife is not very prominent in the family, so the couple's status there is low."

"But Li Qingluo, now you are a big name throughout Nan An."

"Who in Great Chu doesn't know that Nan An City now has a heroine—Lady Nan Gong?"

Li Qingluo pointed at herself: "Me? A heroine?"

"They actually evaluate me like that?"

Duan Rongshi: "You opened the first women‑only tavern; of course you deserve the title of heroine."

"Moreover, Li Qingluo, what you did is truly excellent."

"Now everyone admires your ability."

"When I acted outside, initially introducing myself as a live‑in son‑in‑law drew scorn and sneers, but once people learned I came from Nan Gong Fu, their gazes turned quite friendly."

"I even discerned a taste of envy and jealousy."

Li Qingluo let out a snort, "Really? People still envy you, Ah Shi, for being a live‑in son‑in‑law? Ha ha!"

"But don't they look down on women? How could their attitude change?"

Duan Rongshi: "What I say is, of course, all true."

"No one knows me as Li Wuming; all envy the Nan Gong live‑in son‑in‑law!"

"Li Qingluo, what you opened is the first uniquely distinguished women's tavern in all of Great Chu."

"Now your reputation is great, and which household doesn't have a wife, mother, or daughter?"

"Although they initially wanted to see your jokes and spectacles, gradually your fame spread together with the tavern, and everyone naturally offers congratulations to such a special Lady Nan Gong."

Li Qingluo pursed a smile: "But do you truly not feel embarrassed?"

"Ah Shi, you have been a golden‑honored prince since childhood; making you my son‑in‑law at Nan Gong Fu has wronged you."

She said this, and a wave of sorrow rose in her heart.

She lifted her hand, wrapped his neck, and gently rested her head in his embrace.

Duan Rongshi: "My Li Qingluo is already compassionate toward others."

"But I truly don't feel aggrieved. How could the world know how happy it is to be cared for by a lady?"

"Being Li Qingluo's husband is my supreme honor."

Just then, Zheng Mama arrived with people delivering food.

Duan Rongshi, seeing two unfamiliar maidservants come in, couldn't help but knit his brows.

After everyone left, he said, "From now on, when I'm present, they are not allowed to enter Tangdi Residence."

Li Qingluo smiled: "Fine."

Duan Rongshi hadn't tasted Li Qingluo's home‑cooked meals in a long time.

So tonight they ate especially a lot.

After they were full, he finally brought up the matter he hadn't finished last time.

"Do you still remember I told you about Overseer Ji?"

Li Qingluo: "I remember. You said he was a chess fanatic, so we became chess companions."

Duan Rongshi: "I pretended not to know his identity, so I casually also talked about my family affairs. After hearing it often, he could only say he had served his master all his life."

"From his words, I guessed that Zongzheng Langri suffered from the Nightmare disease."

Li Qingluo: "Nightmare disease? I think Grandpa Luo once mentioned that a person with it has nightmares every day, and once trapped in a dream they can't wake up; even if someone shouts to wake them, they still can't distinguish reality from the dream."

"He actually came down with the nightmare sickness; for a king, that's certainly not a good thing."

Duan Rongshi: "So, people die frequently inside the imperial palace. He has now become increasingly tyrannical and licentious."

"Among the eunuchs around him, over these years only Old Eunuch Ji has survived."

Li Qingluo's complexion also gradually darkened.

"I also heard some rumors at the tavern, saying he... seems to have no regard for gender."