Chapter 588: My Master, Who Is Also Your Master

Zongzheng Xingyao stared at her strangely: "How can you guess everything?"

"Exactly."

"You are now the Yue King's consort."

"Nan Gong, congratulations! From now on, in South Peace City, no one will look down on your status as a merchant's wife."

Zongzheng Xingyao guessed that she still didn't know this news.

That's why he waited until now, to suddenly tell her and give her a big surprise!

Who would have thought, Li Qingluo's face showed no hint of surprise.

They really are a strange couple.

I heard that Li Wu was like that in the previous dynasty as well—when the emperor ennobled him as Yue King, he showed no surprise at the honor, as if he felt no joy at all.

Do they truly not care about these riches and honors?

Or have they simply not reacted yet, unaware of what kind of honor this is, or how their lives will be completely transformed?

And Li Qingluo could guess it because Zongzheng Xingyao had already let slip once when he arrived.

She had suspected it at the time, never thinking it would be true.

Li Qingluo regretted: "Then he can't be my live-in husband, can he?"

Zongzheng Xingyao almost stumbled and fell.

"'Are you focusing on the wrong thing?'"

Que'er also regretted: "Yeah, from now on we can't casually call him son-in-law anymore."

"'This kind of opportunity comes only once in a lifetime.'"

Zongzheng Xingyao shook his head and sighed: "You two really are a loyal master and servant pair."

However, upon learning that Duan Rongshi had brought five thousand troops, Li Qingluo felt somewhat relieved.

She only sent Kill One, ordering him to personally take ten kill characters out of the city to secretly support Duan Rongshi.

"'Those people in the Bureau of Military Affairs, he's not yet familiar with them.'"

"Furthermore, a person of unknown origin and no background, suddenly ennobled as Yue King—those aristocratic powers likely want to take the opportunity to probe his true capabilities."

"There will surely be those who dislike him and seek to cause trouble."

"You few, be diligent, cooperate with his personal guards to help him sharpen the Bureau of Military Affairs' weapons."

Kill One immediately accepted the order, turned, slipped into the darkness, and left quickly.

Li Qingluo thought: It seems the Chu King will not easily let Duan Rongshi leave Chu for now.

It's both ennobling him and giving him another chance to achieve great merit.

Could it be that they truly intend to boost this nephew's prestige and give him more real power?

Does he truly not care about Duan Rongshi's identity as a DaLiang prince?

Or is there some other purpose?

And Duan Rongshi likely also feels uneasy about leaving now.

After all, the Chu emperor is brutal; it was they who decided to return him to the court.

If they had killed him back then, they would have just left.

But now that he has been released, if he again commits those past brutal acts because of Duan Rongshi's sudden departure, it would instead bring disaster to the people.

The matter of leaving Chu will likely have to wait a bit longer.

Perhaps they will wait for the Chu emperor's emotions to stabilize further, for him to gradually return to normal, and bring the gu poison under control.

Only then would they not be failing the innocent people of Chu.

Zongzheng Xingyao still rushed back to the palace.

Li Qingluo returned to her mansion and saw the courtyard filled with bestowed gifts, not knowing where to set foot for a moment.

Dong Er saw the mistress return and hurried over, saying: "Miss, the maidservants have already sorted everything."

"'Your and the prince's previous storeroom was a bit small, so I took the liberty of treating the courtyard beside you as the storeroom.'"

"'I have just finished cleaning them out.'"

"'If you agree, we can move things in.'"

Li Qingluo: "Move them, hurry."

"Thank you for your hard work, Dong Er."

Dong Er excitedly turned sideways: "This is my duty as a maidservant."

Dong Er is capable at managing finances.

Now that she's familiar with it, Li Qingluo is gradually letting her handle the storeroom affairs.

Today, facing mountains of gold, silver, and jewels, she can handle them in an orderly manner so far; although her speed is still lacking, it looks fairly steady.

The steward came up and asked: "Miss, should we move house?"

"'The emperor granted the prince a West Garden as his residence.'"

"'If we continue living here, it would indeed be a loss of the prince's status.'"

"'This...'"

The steward's words reminded Li Qingluo.

This 'Li Wu' is now the prince's identity.

If we still lived in Nan Gong Fu as a son-in-law, we would indeed lose face.

Moreover, the Chu emperor bestowed gifts and such great honor; refusing would be a slap to his face.

Li Qingluo: "Stay."

"'Why not stay? I've heard the West Garden is built like an imperial garden, both magnificent and luxurious.'"

"Since it's an emperor-bestowed residence, let's happily move there."

"In these few days, hurry up and pack; we'll move in half a month."

Everyone felt happy upon hearing this.

Nan Gong Fu is not bad either.

Everyone has lived here so long, grown attached, and become accustomed to its warmth.

But now their son-in-law… oh no, their lord is already a noble of gold and jade status, and also a prominent favorite close to the emperor.

Only by living in Xihe Garden would it match his status.

When one person attains the Dao, even chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.

These servants of theirs have also gained face; they can now walk out with heads held high.

From now on, everyone will also be members of the prince's household.

Times have changed; no one will call us the lowly merchant family's dog servants anymore.

Just thinking about this life feels wonderful.

Li Qingluo, however, didn't really feel anything.

She didn't sleep soundly all night.

As soon as dawn broke, she summoned people inside: "Zheng Mama, have someone constantly watch the situation outside the city; if there's news, send it to me promptly."

Zheng Mama: "Miss, rest assured; no news is good news."

Besides, Your Highness has superb martial skills and extraordinary ability, both courageous and strategic; there are hardly anyone in the world who can match Your Highness.

Miss, you'd better sleep a little longer.

Li Qingluo always felt a bit of panic in her chest.

It seemed as if something was about to happen.

Her heart had been feeling uneasy.

Sure enough, as soon as Li Qingluo left the mansion, she encountered the hurriedly coming Sha Er.

Miss, I was just about to look for you.

The person in the infirmary has awakened.

Knowing the person had awakened, Li Qingluo immediately rushed over.

However, upon reaching the infirmary door, before entering she heard fighting sounds from inside.

Sha Er gave a low shout: "Not good!"

He gripped his sword and rushed in.

Sure enough, he saw a group of black-clad people fighting together with three other Sha characters.

It seems these black-clad people's martial arts are not to be underestimated; otherwise the three Sha wouldn't have taken so long yet still not subdued them completely.

As for the bloodied person lying on the bed yesterday, where is there any trace of a person now?

Li Qingluo also didn't expect to have arrived just in time.

She immediately shouted: "Keep one alive!"

Yes!

Both sides overturned the infirmary so the roof almost collapsed; shelves collapsed everywhere, flinging all kinds of rare medicinal ingredients out.

Li Qingluo felt heartbroken.

The doctors and servants hiding in the dark were even more angry and pained.

Li Qingluo could only have Que'er quickly evacuate everyone.

She herself then looked up toward the upper floor.

She seemed to hear footsteps upstairs as well.

Li Qingluo, using cover, sneaked up to the upper floor from the side, and indeed saw a black-clad person sneaking about, holding a knife and searching around.

Li Qingluo did not bring the Azure Fall Sword when she went out today.

She then picked up a stick at the stairwell.

Then she deliberately stepped on a jar nearby.

When the jar made a sound, as the black-clad person looked up, she kicked the jar flying.

The jar flew straight at the black-clad person; at the moment he swung it away, Li Qingluo also rushed forward holding the stick.

Over the past two years, her martial arts have grown rapidly by quite a bit.

Nowadays, not saying she can suppress the Sha, but she often can fight to a draw.

Although her archery skill is the finest, ordinary knives, swords, and sticks are also no problem.

So Li Qingluo, in just a few moves, was already engaged with that black-clad person, and quickly exchanged blows.

Sha Er downstairs, hearing the fighting upstairs, saw that they had already killed four black-clad people, and with two more it would be no problem for the three of them to take down; he thus turned and hurried upstairs.

When he reached the stairwell, he saw Li Qingluo was at a disadvantage because she held a stick instead of a sword.

He thus quickly threw his sidearm over: "Miss, catch the sword!"

Li Qingluo grabbed the hilt with one hand, and reversed her grip to firmly press against the black-clad person's blade.

Then she exerted a push; while she quickly retreated backward, she also sprang up on tiptoe and lunged forward again.

Soon, her blade was at that person's throat.

"Who exactly sent you here?"

The black-clad person still wanted to resist, but Li Qingluo's slash directly drew blood.

Seeing the situation, that person gave a cold laugh: "You'll never find out!"

Having said that, he abruptly threw himself onto the blade, cleanly cutting his own throat.

Li Qingluo quickly retreated, waiting until that person's blood flowed all over the floor before she lifted her head to look at Sha Er.

Sha Er came over and took the knife from Li Qingluo's hand: "Miss, rest assured. Sha Liu and the others know their limits; they know how to keep a survivor."

Li Qingluo nodded.

She turned and looked at the rooms on either side of the hallway.

Just now, this black-clothed person, who were they looking for?

She stepped forward to search both sides.

Soon, just as she pushed open a door, she collided with a short dagger.

That short dagger had a dagger on one end and a sharp pestle on the other.

Li Qingluo raised a hand to block it, then struck with a palm.

That person was greatly startled, quickly withdrew their move and fell heavily backward.

Then, that person bent over and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Then, clutching their chest, they looked at Li Qingluo with a sickly, pallid smile.

"You must be Junior Sister Qingluo, right?"

Li Qingluo walked over and crouched down.

"What are you calling me? Junior Sister?"

"Who exactly are you?"

"Besides, my people clearly searched you earlier. Apart from this jade pendant, you have no other tokens on you."

"Where did you get this dagger from?"

That person said: "My shoe has a hidden pocket for this small weapon that ordinary people wouldn't notice."

"As for who I am, you already have the answer in your heart, don't you?"

"According to sect rules, you should address me as senior brother."

"My name is Xuan Cang, the first senior disciple under Sect Leader Nan Gongdi of the Flying Star Gate."

"My master is also your master."

"The jade pendant in your hand is the token my master gave me to find you."

"As for the jade pendant I hold, if I recall correctly, my master said it was the design you, Junior Sister, drew yourself, a weapon you created."

"Is that so, Junior Sister?"