Chapter 595: Going to the Western Regions? Husband and Wife Separated Again!

She asked cautiously, but the determination in her tone had already given her and Duan Rongshi an answer.

Although she did not feel that her decision was wrong in any way.

But she was married after all, and could not just abandon him without reason.

So she wanted him to understand that no matter where she wanted to go or what she wanted to do, she cared about him.

That is why she asked this.

Duan Rongshi understood clearly.

His arms loosened then tightened, tightened then loosened.

The expression on his face remained tightly tense, as cold and grim as a deep abyss.

He merely weighed the pros and cons in his heart several times, and ultimately lost.

"Alright, I'll accompany you to the Western Regions."

Li Qingluo heard this and shook her head firmly, opposing decisively: "No!"

"Ah Shi, you still cannot leave Great Chu."

"If you leave now, Zong Zheng Langri will certainly not let go."

"By then, if he goes mad again, it won't just be the court that suffers; I fear the entire populace of Great Chu will be innocently implicated."

"So, I can only go ahead to the Western Regions myself."

Duan Rongshi: "Do you really want to part from me?"

"I could send Zhui Yu and Leng Dian on a trip to bring Nan Ping's relative out safely—wouldn't that work?"

The anger in his heart nearly burst forth uncontrollably.

Because saving someone is not solely dependent on her personally going.

Li Qingluo: "Not just Nan Ping."

"And my master."

"My master was captured by the Western Regions' Princess Anar, and several of my fellow disciples whom I have never met are also in peril."

"Originally, regarding my master's matter, I had already wanted to go myself."

"Now, for Nan Ping's sake, I have become even more resolute in my decision to go to the Western Regions."

"Ah Shi, I cannot truly ignore my master."

"Furthermore, you know well how our master treats us; this is also my duty as a disciple."

After learning that Nan Gongdi had met with misfortune, Li Qingluo could not possibly just stand by and do nothing, merely giving Xuan Cang a painting.

Upon mentioning Nan Gongdi, Duan Rongshi also became completely calm.

Nan Gongdi has followed Li Qingluo and himself through life-and-death battles, slaying enemies and saving people, and even treats Li Qingluo like his own daughter.

He unconditionally indulges her, teaches her, helps her, accompanies her, and believes in her.

Even, he cherishes her.

Li Qingluo found in Nan Gongdi the paternal love she had never felt from Li Chao Jing.

To Li Qingluo, Nan Gongdi is not only her master but also like a father.

How could she just sit idly by?

Duan Rongshi rose, put on his long robe, and got off the bed.

He walked to the window, flung it open, and breathed deeply of the outside air.

Li Qingluo followed, rose slowly, went behind him, and tightly embraced him.

"Ah Shi, you understand this deep down."

"Given the current situation, you cannot leave Great Chu; and I also cannot simply stay in Great Chu waiting idly for news of unknown outcome."

"I hate to leave you."

"But there are some things I must also do myself."

Duan Rongshi drew a deep breath, lowered his head slightly to look at her behind him: "Have you truly decided?"

"Do you know how many dangers await on the journey to the Western Regions?"

"Leaving aside the matter of wanting to rescue Nan Ping, I have also heard of that Princess Anar."

"Rumor has it she is an extremely ruthless and vicious woman, yet extraordinarily wise. In the Western Regions, while still young she was widowed, and even with a young child she could personally behead her husband's three brothers. In the end, she carried her infant still in swaddling clothes and secured the throne."

"You wish to rescue Master Nangong from her hands—do you know what suffering that entails?"

Li Qingluo, upon hearing of Princess Anar's deeds, was also speechless, even shocked.

But, so what?

"Then I will plan carefully; there will always be a way."

Duan Rongshi knew he could not stop her.

She has always been this way.

Once she has decided, even mountains collapsing and seas overturning cannot change it.

Initially, after being poisoned by gu, she resolved to leave.

Later, she went to Great Chu to avenge her birth mother.

No one can sway her once she has made up her mind.

Duan Rongshi closed his eyes deeply.

Knowing these two matters are both urgent, she will not wait for him to have free time to accompany her.

In the end, he let out a deep sigh.

He only asked softly: "When will you depart?"

"Perhaps in a few more days? Even ten days or half a month would be fine."

He wanted to tell her that Zongzheng Langri had already enthusiastically set a date, intending to hold a proper princely wedding for the two of them.

However, he did not say those words out loud.

Because he understood in his heart that, to his Luoluo, this was the most trivial matter.

Li Qingluo, however, did not answer.

Yet at this moment, her silence was already her answer.

She simply could not wait that long.

Duan Rongshi felt a bit lost: "Luoluo, I cannot keep you confined in this inner rear courtyard, merely as my consort."

"You are always yourself; you may go wherever you wish and do whatever you wish."

"You are not merely my puppet, but my wife. You remain yourself, you are the brave and resolute lady Li Qingluo."

"So if you wish to leave, I will not stop you."

"I only ask that you promise me one thing."

Li Qingluo lifted her head, tears streaming uncontrollably from her eyes.

She choked out: "Speak."

He, unable to bear letting go, turned and pulled her tightly into his embrace.

"Cherish your own life."

"I want you to return to me safe and sound, and I wish to grow old together with you."

"If you cannot do that, then next time, even if you hate and resent me, I will not let you leave anywhere again."

"Do you understand?"

Li Qingluo nodded through her tears: "Okay."

Only at this moment did she feel the heart-wrenching pain of parting.

Making the decision was easy.

But truly contemplating the separation made it utterly agonizing and difficult.

Duan Rongshi cupped her face, lowering his head to kiss her repeatedly.

Wanting to swallow her tears.

The result was that he ended up consuming her whole person, once, twice, three times…

Tonight, no matter what, it was never enough for him.

He seemed mad, only wanting to hold her tightly in his hands.

The window was pressed until it creaked.

The brush and ink on the table were also scattered all over the floor.

A gust of wind swept in, blurring his vision so he could only lower his head to search for her whereabouts.

Duan Rongshi relentlessly pulled Li Qingluo, making a fuss until half the night passed.

By the time Li Qingluo woke again the next morning, her whole body ached as if she had fallen apart.

The space beside her was empty.

She knew in her heart that he must have already gone to court.

Only then did she recall that she had yet to give Xuan Cang an answer to the matter she had promised him yesterday.

Just as she was about to hastily put on her clothes and go, Duan Rongshi personally came in, holding a tray and opening the door.

"You, you didn't go to court?"

Li Qingluo was so startled her jaw almost dropped.

He was actually still at home?

She had thought he rose so early that he had already gone to the palace.

Duan Rongshi laid out the morning meal.

"Today is a day of rest."

"I will keep you company."

He said this solemnly, then lifted his head to look at her.

"Do you want me to come over and feed you, or to hold you so you can eat yourself?"

Li Qingluo hurriedly pulled her clothes together, leapt out of bed: "I'll eat myself!"

After all, she is a martial practitioner; her body is not as delicate as an ordinary woman's.

Therefore, even though she had been roughly tossed about last night, today she could still endure and adapt.

Moreover, she still had a request of him, so she intended to be more obedient.

"A Shi, then you ought to keep me good company today."

"Shall we go stroll the streets?"

"I intend to pass through Rongle, stay a night, and first go see my grandmother."

"I also want to bring some things for my grandmother."

Duan Rongshi: "All right. I will take care of purchasing the things."

"Furthermore, Luoluo, I intend to let Leng Dian accompany you on a trip to the Western Regions."

"Although you have the Twenty-Seven Killers by your side, leaving one of my confidants with me will also let me know at any time where you are and whether you are safe."

"Only then can I be at ease."

Li Qingluo: "Then you would have only Zhui Yu left by your side!?"

"A Shi, I do not agree to this."

"I promise, I will write you a letter every three days, and I will certainly not break contact."

Duan Rongshi: "There is no room for negotiation or turning back on this matter."

"You either agree to let Leng Dian go along, or you don't go at all."

"Choose."

He chewed his vegetables slowly, while refusing to let her decline the matter again, leaving Li Qingluo truly unable to utter another foolish refusal.

"In that case, why not let Zhui Yu go?"

"Leng Dian acts more steadily. Although you have other guards beside you, Leng Dian is irreplaceable."

Duan Rongshi raised his eyebrows: "You want Zhui Yu? Seriously?"

Li Qingluo immediately thought of Que'er.

She fell silent for a moment.

"Then let Leng Dian go."

Li Qingluo feared that Zhui Yu would not be able to bear facing Que'er and Sha San all day.

Moreover, Sha San and Que'er already plan to marry, so it's better for Zhui Yu to avoid them.

For now, this matter is settled as such.

After breakfast, Li Qingluo brought up the matter of Xuan Cang.

"The young man residing in the western garden counts as my senior martial brother."

"He has come following my master's orders..."

Li Qingluo gave a rough outline of the situation, then mentioned the matter of that painting.

"To save my master, this painting seems especially important. And I need to ask you for it."

Duan Rongshi: "You want to ask me for something?"

"What do I have that could save Mr. Nangong?"

Li Qingluo rose and took Duan Rongshi's hand.

"A-shi, come with me first."

The two left the room and went to the study next door.

Li Qingluo opened a box.

Then she carried out a large bundle.

She then shook open the bundle, and seven or eight scrolls rolled onto the floor.

Li Qingluo casually picked up one scroll and opened it; as the scroll unfurled, the figure depicted on it immediately sprang to life before her eyes.

As if it had truly come alive.

Lifelike and vivid, exquisitely detailed.

The woman's brow seemed to frown yet not quite, her eyes glimmering as if holding half a pool of spring water.

Clearly dignified and graceful, yet also lively and spirited.

Though possessing a beauty that could overthrow kingdoms, she also bore the shy, endearing manner of a young maiden.

The entire scene in the painting, together with the woman within, became vivid and brilliant.

And the person in the painting is none other than Zong Zheng Qingyue.