Chapter 594: First Argument! Reconciliation Tonight?

Although the Chu Emperor regretted not being able to keep him, he ultimately could not, unlike with Li Qingluo, still forcibly order Duan Rongshi to share a meal with him.

He could only watch Duan Rongshi's departing figure in desolation.

Who would have thought that the once brutal and inhuman Chu Emperor, when facing his own nephew and in private with no one else, would become as meek as a child who made a mistake, always at a loss.

Only in the court could he openly, relying on Duan Rongshi's merits, praise him over and over, and gladly look at him repeatedly.

At this moment, standing high and watching Duan Rongshi's retreating back, the Chu Emperor felt satisfied as well.

"Prepare the marriage of Prince Yue and Princess Yue properly."

Eunuch Ji: "Your Majesty, you care so much for Prince Yue; he will surely be deeply moved."

The Chu Emperor smiled happily: "I hope so. Eunuch Ji, did you see? I brought this up to him tonight; although he didn't thank him, he didn't outright refuse either."

"You have no idea how excited I am."

"I have never done anything for him; at least this is better than what that beast Yan Emperor did?"

Eunuch Ji dared not speak, for he was filled with doubt: why bring up the Yan Emperor of DaLiang again?

"Your Majesty's mind is getting increasingly muddled; your words are all over the place."

Moreover, Prince Yue paid him no heed as emperor, yet he still grew proud.

He doesn't even get angry, fly into a rage, or feel upset?

It's simply abnormal.

Just what kind of people are this Prince Yue and his wife to him?

He can have the Emperor eating out of his hand; it's downright abnormal, as if he'd possessed him.

Eunuch Ji was thinking when a clueless eunuch suddenly knocked over the tea cup he was holding, startling the Chu Emperor.

The Chu Emperor instantly flew into a rage: "Nonsense! Drag him out and behead him——"

Eunuch Ji trembled, no change, still no change—indeed, it truly is the Emperor.

But Eunuch Ji quickly urged: "Your Majesty, when I encounter such matters, I must always restrain you and mention Prince Yue..."

He trembled as he knelt, daring not to lift his head, fearing the next one ordered to be beheaded would be himself.

However, the Chu Emperor heaved several deep breaths and actually managed to endure it.

Then, under Eunuch Ji's astonished gaze, he merely waved his hand, lowered his voice, and said: "Take him away; I don't want to see him again."

So, it doesn't necessarily have to be execution?

Eunuch Ji's pupils shrank sharply.

Indeed, Prince Yue will surely encounter great fortune in the future!

Meanwhile, Duan Rongshi had just stepped through the gate of Nan Gong Fu when the guards left on duty approached and muttered a few words quietly.

Duan Rongshi's gaze deepened, and the emotion in his eyes sank as well.

"Your Highness knows; you may go."

Leng Dian and Zhui Yu followed behind Duan Rongshi, so they were the most able to sense their master's barely restrained urgency just now; now they likely have all turned cold.

Leng Dian: "Your Highness, should we subordinates go investigate this person's true nature?"

Zhui Yu: "Your Highness, if you fear the princess will mind this, we will act more covertly; we will make sure that person dares not speak of it."

Zhui Yu now despises most those who harbor petty, scheming thoughts and ill intentions.

Clearly the master of this manor is absent, yet this outsider male dares to shamelessly take up residence here, not fearing to tarnish the princess's reputation!

What a lawless jianghu person!

Duan Rongshi, however, said: "Mind your own business."

"Get out!"

Having said that, he abandoned the two and returned first to Tangdi Residence.

As he entered the courtyard, Li Qingluo was sitting by the moonlit window, writing.

But waste paper was already scattered all over the floor.

Ink had also stained a sleeve.

Altogether she looked disheveled, like a spotted cat.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

The several maidservants attending nearby, upon seeing his return, all knelt on the ground.

Li Qingluo then set down her brush, hastily rose, and said: "Ah Shi, what happened?"

She walked over anxiously, pulled him into the room, and then handed him Nanping's letter.

Duan Rongshi looked at it with a normal expression; Li Qingluo saw his expression unchanged and instantly understood.

She found it hard to accept: "So you already knew?"

Duan Rongshi: "Luo'er, I made a trip back to DaLiang."

Li Qingluo's voice rose uncontrollably: "Why didn't you tell me!"

"Although I helped Zongzheng Xingyao prevent the marriage alliance without fault, I still can't help wondering: if they both were sent out on the marriage alliance at the same time, whom should I help to thwart this fate!?"

"In my heart, now is Zongzheng Xingyao's affection more important, or Nanping's?"

"Duan Rongshi, tell me!"

Duan Rongshi grasped her arms tightly: "Luo'er, the fates of their marriage alliances are not your doing; why do you take responsibility upon yourself?"

Li Qingluo: "Because if Zongzheng Xingyao marries there first, Nanping's marriage alliance would fail, and she would not then be sent to the Western Regions!!"

Duan Rongshi shook his head: "No, whether Zongzheng Xingyao goes to the Western Regions or not, Nanping will certainly be sent there."

"Luo'er, you still don't understand?"

"Nanping is a sacrificial pawn, and moreover a blade in the power struggle between Duan Chengjue and Xiyue."

"Nanping should already be on the road, en route to the Western Regions. Do you think that by not stopping Xingyao, Xingyao will get there faster than her?"

Moreover, if the two women were to marry at the same time, the Western Regions' imperial court would certainly take them both!

Li Qingluo covered her face, in great pain.

I can't save Nanping.

Seeing her letter, my heart feels like it's being cut by a knife.

Ashi, I have to save her.

We can't let her really die in the Western Regions! She used to call you Fifth Royal Uncle.

Duan Rongshi stared at the person before him and asked, "Then what do you want to do?"

Go to the Western Regions?

Or, are you going to follow that man from the Western Palace?

Li Qingluo showed a doubtful expression: "What are you saying?"

Duan Rongshi's expression turned icy: "Western Palace, that senior brother—what is he here for?"

To let you go save your master?

Lu'er, if you say you want to go save Mr. Nangong, I will let you leave.

But don't drag the excuse onto Nanping!

Li Qingluo shoved him away with a sudden push.

These are two separate matters!

It's just that they happened to coincide.

Duan Rongshi, what exactly do you mean?

At a time like this, you're randomly being sour and jealous—have you considered my feelings?

Duan Rongshi stepped toward her, step by step.

And what about me, Lu'er?

I was overjoyed and eager to come back to see you, but as soon as I returned, I heard that an outsider man had come to the house.

Seeing you again, you anxiously blame me—are outsiders' affairs more important than me?

He grew angry, and Li Qingluo also had a sullen face.

She stopped speaking, and Li Qingluo no longer left him.

She turned and stormed into the purification room.

After coming out again, she went straight to bed, pulled the covers over her face, and fell asleep.

Duan Rongshi seemed to have already calmed down; he quietly watched her lie down, then stepped forward and personally blew out the lamp.

At this moment, Que'er and Zheng Mama waiting outside the door exchanged a bitter glance.

Oh no, with tonight's situation, Your Highness surely won't sleep in separate rooms from the young lady, will you?

Since they got together, this is the first time we've seen them argue, and they had such a fierce quarrel.

Both were nervous, afraid they had really hurt their feelings.

If they sleep in separate rooms again, when will they ever be able to reconcile as before?

Que'er wanted to lock the door.

Zheng Mama grabbed her, then pointed to the still-open window.

Moreover, can this door possibly lock in the two ancestors inside?

They could only keep hoping, at the latest by tomorrow they'd make up, at the latest by tomorrow they'd clear up the misunderstanding.

However, they waited left and right, but Duan Rongshi did not come storming out of the room.

Because after he came out of the purification room, he neither left nor intended to separate to calm down.

Instead, he remained lying on the outer side of the bed.

After hearing his breathing become even, Li Qingluo, who had not slept at all, also gently pushed the covers aside.

She sat up, looked at Duan Rongshi whose face was illuminated by moonlight beside her, reached out to touch him, then withdrew her hand.

After doing this several times, Duan Rongshi, who had been pretending to sleep, stopped pretending.

He grabbed her hand and asked in a low voice, "Are you going to touch me or not?"

Li Qingluo was startled.

You, you aren't asleep, are you?

Duan Rongshi: "Aren't you asleep either?"

Li Qingluo's face instantly turned both red and white.

I, I won't speak to you!

She hurriedly lay down and turned over, preparing to turn her back to him, but Duan Rongshi this time quickly moved up onto her.

Lu'er, I've been outside the city for several days—do you really not worry about me, not miss me?

What if I were injured—could you really bear to ignore me?

His voice carried a hint of resentment, truly sounding both pitiable and aggrieved.

Li Qingluo turned and stripped off his clothes.

Seeing that he indeed had two bandaged wounds on his body, she instantly turned pale with fright.

Sorry!

I... I really didn't mean to... it's just that these successive events have made me frantic.

Sorry, Ashi, you are the most important person in my heart. I was wrong.

I should have asked you first; when you came back I still made you unhappy—punish me.

She sat up properly on the bed, kneeling, tears welling in her eyes; at this moment she was so obedient that he could hardly be angry.

"Do you really know you were wrong?"

A big hand came to rest on her cheek, fingers tugging open her sash.

In her eyes, it naturally grew hot as well.

No matter how great the affair, we can discuss it later.

Hearing the commotion inside, Que'er and Zheng Mama happily exchanged a glance.

The two dared not listen any longer; finally relieved, they hurriedly retreated and heated the water in the Small Kitchen.

Look, look, their master—even when angry from a quarrel, it never lasts past night.

They really are their little ancestor!

After the thoroughly satisfying conclusion, Li Qingluo collapsed again.

Yet her mind grew much clearer.

Earlier, because of the South Screen matter, she indeed grew angry from anxiety.

But this matter is already settled; no matter how anxious she becomes, she cannot alter the result.

"But..."

"A Shi, I still want to save South Screen."

"I'm afraid she'll do something foolish."

"Even if I'm overthinking, I want to know whether she's doing well and happy in the Western Regions."

"Not only because I've long considered her my closest friend, but also because… you."

Duan Rongshi understood her meaning.

He listened silently as she continued: "Although you have your schemes, that's why you initially feigned death to escape. But if you hadn't left then, could you not have deterred the Western Regions, keeping them from acting rashly again?"

"I can't help but think this way."

"It's clearly because of the conflict between Grand Princess Xiyue and Duan Rongjue that South Screen was dragged into this vortex."

"It's clearly that they're useless."

"But your Imperial Uncle also indeed did not protect her well."

Li Qingluo's nose reddened; she lifted her gaze to Duan Rongshi's chin and asked, "Let me go to the Western Regions for a trip, okay?"