Chapter 587

Although Zongzheng Xingyao lost two imperial brothers in succession, she seems to be in decent spirits.

Royal family affection is inherently thin.

And her two imperial brothers: one is not her blood relative now, the other tried to kidnap and hold the Chu Emperor hostage, nearly ruining her big plan; so even if she feels a bit sad inside, she won't show it on her face.

After all, both of them have now been labeled as rebels.

Who dares to have any connection with them anymore?

"My father the Emperor summoned me right after court. He said I suffered this time, yet he saw my filial devotion."

"I almost laughed out loud, haha..."

"Moreover, Father said he would never again marry me off to the Western Regions, no matter what, and he reassured me he wouldn't make such a foolish mistake again."

"Nangong, Father Emperor this time returning seems to have truly changed!"

"I originally feared you and your husband would kill Father Emperor, but seeing him return safely and change so greatly, regardless of what you did to him to bring about this change, I... I am truly grateful to you."

"Before, you once saved my life; I haven't forgotten."

"Now, I owe you more and more."

"From now on, your affairs are my affairs; whoever troubles you troubles me."

"We can consider ourselves friends, can't we?"

Li Qingluo gave a knowing smile: "Of course."

Li Qingluo could feel Zongzheng Xingyao's sincerity; from the time they broke the stronghold onward, she never again referred to herself as "this palace" in front of Li Qingluo.

Being able to lower her stance to interact with me shows she has placed us on equal footing.

She no longer acts superior, as if being friends were a favor she granted.

Li Qingluo likes her attitude.

Zongzheng Xingyao happily took Li Qingluo's hand: "From now on, in private don't call me Princess; just call me Xingyao."

Li Qingluo: "Then congratulations, Xingyao, on fulfilling your wish; you no longer need to worry about being married off far away."

"However, please just give them a warning and let them go after scaring them a bit."

Zongzheng Xingyao was puzzled: "Why?"

"They bully you like this, and you can still endure?"

"How could I not think you are such a weak, easy-to-bully person?"

Li Qingluo: "Yes. But I cannot chill the hearts of other victims' families."

"After all, they are implicated only because of my personal grudge with Zongzheng Wuheng."

"After this incident, surely no one will dare to cause trouble again."

"Moreover, I know who might be behind the scenes directing this Spring's family; I will personally send people to deal with him."

Zongzheng Xingyao was very curious: "Who?"

Li Qingluo: "If I haven't guessed wrong, it's the unmarried cousin of Spring's family."

Actually, even if Zongzheng Xingyao hadn't come, Spring's family would have slunk away in disgrace.

Afterward, Li Qingluo naturally had her own means to intimidate them further, so they wouldn't dare cause trouble again.

If they cause trouble again, the townsfolk of Southern Peace City who hope Li Qingluo's shop will open new positions certainly won't stand for it.

Just fearing that Spring's family might ruin those possible opportunities again.

By then, only his family would grow rich through rascality, while everyone else would have no meat to eat.

However, since Zongzheng Xingyao helped her wrap this up in another way with just a few moves, Li Qingluo also let it go naturally.

Just don't cause any more loss of life.

Spring has already died a miserable death; sparing her family's lives is already the utmost benevolence and righteousness.

The two had only spoken a few sentences.

Suddenly, a scream came from downstairs.

Then followed a commotion.

Li Qingluo personally went out from the side room, lifted the curtain, and looked downstairs.

The main hall was empty, but the entrance was bustling.

Because of Spring's family matter, they had dispersed all the onlookers.

Deng Mama was pointing at people, busily busy, not knowing what she was handling.

Li Qingluo looked toward Xi Qiu, who had followed her out today: "Go see what happened."

Xi Qiu quickly returned, her expression seeming also frightened.

"Miss, a blood-soaked person collapsed at the entrance of our tavern."

Li Qingluo: "A blood person?"

Xi Qiu: "I personally went to look; it really is a blood-soaked person. His whole body is covered in blood, as if he suffered severe injuries."

"He kept saying he was looking for something Nangong."

Before Li Qingluo could react, Zongzheng Xingyao pointed at her and said: "Looking for you? Have you provoked someone?"

"That's not right; nowadays no one dares to provoke you. Could it be an old enemy from your jianghu days, coming to seek revenge?"

Saying this, Zongzheng Xingyao's eyes lit up.

It seemed as if this were something worth getting excited about.

Li Qingluo: ……

Since following me on that outing, the Seventh Princess's nature seems to have been unleashed, and now she's getting wilder and wilder.

However, Li Qingluo now bears the surname Nangong in this Great Chu.

And as far as she knows, in all of Southern Peace, no one else shares her surname.

He just happened to collapse in front of her tavern.

Could he really have come looking for himself?

She was about to go check personally when Zheng Mama came rushing up anxiously.

Miss, there's a gravely injured young lord who has lost consciousness but keeps shouting to see the South Palace.

Besides, this is his token.

Saying this, Zheng Mama handed over a blood-stained jade pendant.

Li Qingluo examined it closely, and her face instantly changed.

Is this my master's jade pendant?

Is this person related to my master?

Could he have come looking for my master?

She looked at Zheng Mama and said, "Come, take me to see this person!"

This bloodied person is a man, so he cannot enter the Flower Pavilion Tavern.

Zheng Mama had already sent people to temporarily settle him in the Herbal Hall not far from here.

That Herbal Hall happens to be a shop of the Heavenly Wind Firm.

But just as she came downstairs, Que'er rushed up anxiously, saying, "Miss, something's happened."

Something else happened?

One thing after another, Li Qingluo felt a headache and vexation.

Moreover, because she was worried about her master at the moment, she directly rejected Que'er: "We'll talk later."

Li Qingluo brought Zheng Mama and hurried to the Herbal Hall first.

In the Herbal Hall, several consulting physicians were busy to the point of not touching the ground.

"Qin Ling, where is he? Have him come quickly!"

Obviously, the bloodied person's condition is somewhat critical.

Zheng Mama said: "I've already sent someone to fetch him, but I don't know why he hasn't come yet."

Soon Sha Er rushed in anxiously, saying, "Miss, my subordinate was a step late. Qin Ling was first taken away by the son-in-law."

Did Duan Rongshi take Qin Ling away?

Where was he taken?

Sha Er shook his head: "I don't know either. All I know is that he seems to have been taken out of the city."

Fortunately, without Qin Ling, these physicians in the Herbal Hall could work together to save the bloodied person.

Although they had been busy for a long time, the sky outside had already darkened.

But they had finally gotten past the most dangerous moment.

"Report to the master: although this young lord is still unconscious, as long as he takes the medicine, he will surely wake up by tomorrow at the latest."

"Master, please rest assured."

Li Qingluo let out a great sigh of relief.

"You've all worked hard today."

"Whoever saves this person will be richly rewarded."

"For this person, we must use the finest medicinal ingredients, leaving no root of illness."

"Also, as soon as he wakes up tomorrow, come and inform me immediately."

The physicians who received the master's affirmation were all flushed with excitement.

"Yes, master."

Although it was hard work, everyone this time showed their true abilities, finally saving face for themselves.

Who let him usually take all the limelight, letting Qin Ling take it all?

He would appear only once every few days, and when he did, he acted high and mighty, ordering everyone in the Herbal Hall around like servants, even making these consulting physicians act as his assistants.

His medical skill is indeed superb.

Whatever orders the master gave, he could carry them out without a hitch.

But even if we combine our skills, we might not necessarily be worse than him!

Today we finally seized the chance to vent our frustration; hopefully the master will notice us from now on.

Qin Ling had no idea; he was merely temporarily seized and sent out of the city to do hard labor, and upon returning his position was almost lost.

Li Qingluo went into the inner room and took a look.

The bloodstains on his body had already been cleaned up neatly.

So, his appearance could now be seen clearly.

He is actually quite handsome.

Moreover, he is tall and big, very strong.

Just who is he?

What on earth happened to him to leave him covered in blood?

Li Qingluo felt a bit wary, looking at the attendant beside her and asking, "Does he have anything else on him?"

The attendant replied: "Besides half a dried-out bun, a nearly empty waterskin, and a few bits of silver, there's nothing else."

Li Qingluo turned and went out to Sha Er, saying, "Send four people to the Herbal Hall to take turns guarding him tonight."

"I'm afraid the person who hurt him might still show up."

"If that happens, be sure to capture him alive!"

Since it concerns her master, Li Qingluo cannot help but devote more attention.

Second-class attendant: "Yes, miss!"

Returning to the Flower Pavilion Wine House again, I never expected Zongzheng Xingyao still hasn't returned to the palace?

Aren't you afraid the palace will be locked, and if you return late you won't be able to enter the palace gates?

Zongzheng Xingyao was still leisurely sipping tea: "What's the rush?"

I can't go back; I'll stay at your Nan Gong Fu tonight.

She seemed to have long wanted to go to Nan Gong Fu to have fun.

Li Qingluo had never invited her, so she minded it quite a bit.

Li Qingluo: "My place's temple is small; going there would be boring."

In the midst of speaking, Que'er, who had been anxiously waiting all afternoon, saw the miss return and hurried over to report: "Miss, this matter concerns the son-in-law; the son-in-law has left the city."

Li Qingluo: "I know he left the city."

But what happened?

Que'er didn't dare delay and hurriedly said: "Zhui Yu came to say that the son-in-law originally wanted to go to Wangzhen Tower to find you. Knowing you had already left, he turned back toward the wine house."

But before he arrived, he was stopped by the Military Command!

They said that rebel forces have appeared fifty li outside the city, and His Majesty orders the son-in-law to personally go suppress this.

Zhui Yu said the son-in-law asked him to come personally to tell you this, so you know his whereabouts.

Li Qingluo furrowed her brows tightly.

What? Rebel forces? They're already fifty li out?

How come we haven't heard even a whisper of this?

Seeing her worried look, Zongzheng Xingyao said: "Que'er, you need to change your way of addressing."

From now on, you can't keep shouting 'son-in-law, son-in-law'. And the Li family miss, you can't keep shouting 'miss' either.

Que'er hadn't yet reacted to Zongzheng Xingyao suddenly turning to such trivial matters.

So she just stared at Zongzheng Xingyao with a dazed look.

Princess, Your Highness, what do you mean…… Que'er doesn't understand.

Li Qingluo: "Could it be…… your father the emperor has made him a king?"