Chapter 545: Saving Lives, Feigning Reality!

Li Qingluo lied without a draft: "Your Majesty, as a subject and wife, I naturally only pledge loyalty to the true dragon."

Duan Rongshi's mouth twitched.

He knew his Luo'er had begun to bewitch hearts again.

Her tactics were getting better and better; sometimes even he was left bewildered by her coaxing.

This Chu Emperor was especially fond of this approach.

How could he not like it?

Everyone around him now feared him to death; even his children no longer dared to get close.

They spoke, trying to appear calm and composed, but their eyes and gestures gave them away.

The Chu Emperor looked at this young lady before him, yet for the moment saw nothing amiss.

Could it be that she truly isn't afraid of him?

Even if she saw his tactics tonight, she still wouldn't be afraid?

Whether true or false, she acted so well that he merely let himself be convinced for a moment—what of it?

The Chu Emperor laughed even more happily.

"A reward!"

Duan Rongshi: "Your Majesty."

The Chu Emperor glared at him: "Don't think that because your sword is fast now I won't dare to move against you! I'm speaking with your lady—what are you nervous about?"

"Are you afraid I'll eat her?"

The Chu Emperor's face already showed a hint of displeasure.

But he did not flare up.

Instead, he shifted his tone and softened a bit.

"I'm just asking her a few questions—look how you've been frightened."

"Rest assured, no one in the world will know that the Marquis Weiwu's heir was shot by her."

Could the Chu Emperor still not know his thoughts?

Marquis Weiwu had died.

But perhaps more people in the world did not want him dead than those who wanted to kill him.

Therefore, if the world learned that the one who killed the Marquis Weiwu's heir was this young lady, she likely wouldn't live to see tomorrow.

The Chu Emperor looked toward Eunuch Ji: "Do you know what to do now?"

Eunuch Ji: "Your Majesty, rest assured; I will go and silence anyone who might have seen."

"If anyone refuses to obey, I will personally gouge out their eyes."

Li Qingluo lowered her head.

That Eunuch Ji could survive beside the Chu Emperor—aside from being the adopted son of Elder Eunuch Ji, he was also a ruthless figure.

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

Li Qingluo kowtowed openly, prompting the Chu Emperor to laugh heartily again.

"Good! You may go."

Only after she returned to her mansion did she feel utterly exhausted, as if she had been run over.

Duan Rongshi had to handle the Imperial Guards and palace affairs, so he did not return that night.

He merely, with the Chu Emperor's permission, personally escorted her to the palace gate and kissed her forehead before she boarded the carriage.

"Tonight, Luo'er did well."

"As for matters outside the palace, you need to worry more."

Li Qingluo understood the meaning behind his words.

Taking advantage of the moment she embraced him, she whispered: "Husband, rest assured; I will manage everything at home and know what to do."

Thus, Li Qingluo, though exhausted, forced herself to wait for Kill One to arrive.

"How did things go?"

Kill One: "Miss, rest assured. So many died in the palace tonight; finding a guard similar in build to the Marquis Weiwu's heir is not difficult."

"My subordinate and Kill Two have already found someone who can pass as real; once Qin Ling finishes the human-skin mask, we can send out the fake Marquis Weiwu heir."

Li Qingluo: "This matter must be settled as soon as possible; every delay increases the chance of exposure."

Kill One: "Yes, I understand."

Li Qingluo: "How is the Marquis Weiwu manor faring now?"

On her way back, Li Qingluo already saw flames shooting up in the direction of the manor.

Even five streets away, one could faintly hear cries and shouts.

Tonight, in all of Nan'an City, no one afraid of death could sleep.

Kill One: "The Imperial Guards and the other divisions have already gone… I hear the people of the Marquis Weiwu manor are resisting to the death…"

"Many have already died on the spot."

Li Qingluo remained silent for a while.

The Marquis Weiwu manor was tonight's only variable.

Even if they were not harmed by her, if it weren't for moving against Zong Zheng Wuxie, the Chu Emperor would not have seized the opportunity to punish the Marquis Weiwu father and son tonight.

The Marquis Weiwu father and son fought to the death, yet they did not carve out a path of survival for all of Great Chu, nor even for their own manor.

Instead, they drove the entire family toward the road of utter ruin…

Even though this is Great Chu.

It is the enemy state of DaLiang.

Seeing the nation's capable general meet such an end, Li Qingluo also felt somewhat desolate in her heart.

Do your best. Save as many as you can.

The most important thing is that your own lives matter more; do not expose yourselves.

Kill One: 'Yes, miss.'

After Kill One left, Zheng Mama came in and said, 'Miss, the Jiang family sent a message last evening, saying that the Second Lady invites you to come to their residence tomorrow for a visit.'

Li Qingluo: 'You want me to go to the Jiang family?'

After the Jiang family's matriarch died, the Jiang family also fell into turmoil.

Jiang Second Master, who is also Jiang Qiniang's father, bore the blame for killing the matriarch.

In a panic, Jiang Qiniang came to look for Li Qingluo.

Li Qingluo gave her an idea.

Indeed, the coroner confirmed that the matriarch had been poisoned.

However, the time of death was close to when the Second Master entered the matriarch's courtyard, so he was not completely cleared of suspicion.

Yang Qilang happened to return to the manor at that moment.

He quickly took charge of the situation for Jiang Qiniang, and the matter escalated to a criminal case filed at the Nan'an Prefecture office, formally pitting him against the Jiang family's main branch.

Yang Qilang now also has some acquaintance with Deputy Minister Dong of the Ministry of Justice.

So he, on one hand, maintained his own connections, and on the other, pressed the Ministry of Justice to continue investigating the case.

Thus, even now the case remains undecided.

What could they possibly achieve by inviting me to the Jiang residence at this time?

Li Qingluo thought for a moment, but still firmly refused.

'Reply tomorrow saying I have pressing matters at home and am not convenient to visit the Jiang residence these days.'

My current affairs are already overwhelming; how could I have the energy to wade into the Jiang family's muddy waters now?

However, just as Zheng Mama was about to send Li Qingluo's reply the next day, the Jiang family's people came themselves.

Jiang Second Lady, Jiang Qiniang, and Yang Qilang all came to Nan Gong Fu.

Li Qingluo had intended to slip out the back door, but at the last moment she drew back her foot.

If she could hide at home, they would surely follow her to the Flower Pavilion teahouse.

If I can avoid the first day, how could I avoid the fifteenth?

Since there's no way to hide, I might as well see what the Jiang family really wants.

Li Qingluo changed into proper attire and came out.

'These days I have been busy at home, so my hospitality has been lacking; please forgive me, Second Lady, Seventh Young Master Yang, and Young Lady Seventh.'

Jiang Qiniang rose and grabbed Li Qingluo's hand.

'Miss Nan Gong, let's stop speaking indirectly.'

'Please save my father!'

Saying this, Jiang Qiniang was about to kneel to Li Qingluo.

Seeing this, Jiang Second Lady also moved to kneel together, frightening Li Qingluo, who lifted both mother and daughter up with a burst of inner energy.

'Yang, Seven, Lang——'

Li Qingluo glared at Yang Qilang with gritted teeth, her eyes sharp as a blade, startling even Yang Qilang, who was watching from the sidelines, making him shudder.