Chapter 596: With no other choice, preserve life, destroy the painting!

Li Qingluo pointed to the remaining scrolls and said, 'A Shi, these are all the paintings I brought out from the secret chamber that day.'

The tyrant thought I had burned them all, which made him quite angry.

Now I have brought them all out for you.

I only need one. Perhaps Mother Consort's painting can truly save my master.

Duan Rongshi reached out and lightly touched the painting paper, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Mother Consort… indeed looks exactly like this. It is exactly as I remember her.

After all these years, he can still paint Mother Consort's likeness.

At this moment, Duan Rongshi's feelings toward Zongzheng Langri became even more complicated.

He lowered his gaze to look at his wife before him, and thinking back to when he met Li Qingluo in the secret passage behind the rockery that day, she not only dragged Zongzheng Langri along, but also bore a huge bundle with great effort.

Back then she said they would go home and look at them together.

Only now does he understand what she risked her life to bring back.

It is Mother Consort's portrait.

It is something she endured great hardship to give him as a keepsake.

Moreover, she even took a wooden horse from Mother Consort's childhood from the cold palace.

Duan Rongshi's heart had already turned soft as mush.

His Luo'er has him in her heart!

Thinking of this, Duan Rongshi stroked Li Qingluo's cheek, lowered his head, and kissed her again.

After a long kiss fell again, both were somewhat out of breath.

However, this is not a place for intimacy.

Both feared soiling Mother Consort's portrait.

So they quickly separated again, and opened the other scrolls to appreciate them carefully.

These paintings include both new and old ones.

Each one is identical to Zongzheng Qingyue, without any difference.

They seemed to see together the youthful Zongzheng Qingyue, how radiant and peerless she was, how utterly beautiful.

Though clearly within reach, she remained utterly unattainable.

But how could Mother Consort's painting become the key to saving Nan Gongdi?

I haven't figured this out either.

Perhaps we will understand once we go to the Western Regions.

Duan Rongshi said, 'These are all you risked your life to bring out; no need to ask me. Take whichever you like.'

If it truly can save Mr. Nangong, Mother Consort would have no objection.

Li Qingluo then picked a painting of Zongzheng Qingyue wearing a long red robe.

A Shi, I will surely cherish this painting and will not let Mother Consort suffer any damage.

Just as important as my life!

Duan Rongshi glanced at her forehead and said, 'Mother Consort's spirit in heaven also hopes you will regard your own life as more important.'

Luo'er, if there is no other choice, preserve life, destroy the painting.

Remember what I said; I want you to return to my side safe and sound.

Their foreheads gently touched; the sorrow of parting welled up again in their hearts, and Li Qingluo's heart grew ever more anguished.

They quickly packed up and set out together.

Although Li Qingluo wanted to buy everything.

But for this journey, she did not intend to take a carriage.

Riding a horse would be faster.

The carriage would delay the itinerary, so Li Qingluo outright abandoned that means of travel.

Therefore, whatever she brings should be as light as possible.

In the end, she brought only a few gifts for Old Lady Pei.

'Grandmother seeing me will be the greatest surprise; she won't mind at all.'

Li Qingluo bought a couple of extra things for the little dolls when the time came.

A Lan is about to give birth.

Although I am her junior uncle, by family ties she is also my sister-in-law.

Although we address each other differently, the gifts for the little nephew must not be lacking.

They also shared a meal together on the street.

However, Duan Rongshi is picky with his food, so he only moved a few chopsticks.

Li Qingluo promptly took his hand and returned to the manor early.

She personally went to the kitchen and bustled about for an hour, then prepared a table of his favorite dishes.

A Shi, come taste and see if my cooking has deteriorated.

Soon a small mountain piled up in Duan Rongshi's bowl.

Seeing her busy and flushed, Duan Rongshi did not hesitate and immediately took a bite.

Sure enough, just as always, it was his favorite flavor.

He smiled and nodded heavily: 'Luo'er's cooking is just as before.'

Having said that, he began to eat slowly, mouthful by mouthful.

Every chopstickful was without hesitation, and he showed not the slightest sign of dislike.

Li Qingluo then propped her head up and watched him eat from the side.

Actually, she hadn't personally cooked a meal for him in a long time.

Thinking about it, she felt truly guilty.

Even though she knew he was picky.

But because she was busy with her own affairs, she could never find the time each day, so it had been a long while since she let him taste her cooking.

Watching him eat bite by bite, Li Qingluo felt both happy and sad.

"From now on, I will definitely cook for you personally more often."

"Ashi, I'm sorry."

"Since we got married, I've paid too little attention to you."

"And we're both busy with our own matters, so we're often together briefly and apart for long. You just came back from DaLiang, and yet I have to leave again..."

"Ashi, once everything settles down in the future, I will certainly not neglect you like this again."

Li Qingluo said, then picked up a handkerchief and personally wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Duan Rongshi took hold of her hand.

"It's fine."

"Do you still remember, Luo'er, the sweet potato feast you made at Qingguan Temple when we first met?"

"That was the first time I ever ate food you cooked."

"Actually, it wasn't anything extraordinarily delicious."

"But strangely, your cooking always manages to catch my taste buds."

"Perhaps this is the fated marriage star your mother mentioned. No matter what you do, you are naturally attractive to me."

"So, no matter what Luo'er does—cooking, or diligently attending to your own affairs, drawing weapon schematics, practicing martial arts and archery—whatever form you take, it will make me happy, delight the gods."

"Even if you were to leave me for the Western Regions, though I would be reluctant to part, Luo'er's deep affection and righteousness, loyal heart and courage, likewise fatally attract me, making it impossible for me to look away."

"So Luo'er, do not let me down."

"Come back to my side soon."

Duan Rongshi held her hand and pressed it to his cheek, reluctant to let go.

Li Qingluo's eyes reddened as well: "Okay."

After they had finished their early meal, Zheng Mama and the others came early to clear away the bowls and chopsticks.

Next, they sent away the guards and servants stationed near Tangdi Residence.

Thus, only the two of them remained inside and outside the courtyard.

They first walked hand in hand around the courtyard, then fed the fish in front of the fish tank.

Then they sat under a tree to play chess.

Li Qingluo grabbed Duan Rongshi's hand and acted coquettish, refusing to let him place the decisive killing piece.

Finally, they sat together under the tree, frolicking and playing.

When it grew dark, they sat together again under the eaves to watch the pair of fireflies among the flowers.

Soon after, Li Qingluo leaned on Duan Rongshi's shoulder and fell asleep.

He was just about to lift her up and carry her back to the room to put her on the bed, but Li Qingluo suddenly woke up.

"Go to sleep. We still have to rush tomorrow, so rest early tonight."

Duan Rongshi tucked the blanket around her, was about to rise and leave, but Li Qingluo sat up and threw her arms around his neck.

"Ashi, I can't bear to sleep."

"She still wanted to look at him a while longer, to keep him company a bit more."

"This parting, we do not know how long it will last."

"Is it a few months?"

"Or a few years?"

Li Qingluo even dared not give herself a definite timeframe.

"So after tonight passes, we will not know when we will meet again."

Li Qingluo could no longer hold back and began to sob softly.

"She rarely shows such weakness."

"But this moment she no longer wanted to endure the sorrow of parting in her heart."

"Ashi, if you could finish your affairs in DaChu early, would you come find me?"

Duan Rongshi gently coaxed her, replying: "Okay."

"If you also finish your affairs early, I hope my Luo'er won't be fond of play and can come back to me right away."

"Have we agreed?"

Li Qingluo, crying, hooked her finger around his.

Seeing her like this, Duan Rongshi coaxed her: "If you're so upset, why not not go? Let them go!"

Li Qingluo quickly shook her head: "No!"

Duan Rongshi then understood.

"She cries, but also to coax him."

"You little troublemaker."

"Then what should you do to not cry?"

Li Qingluo sat up, still hiccuping.

"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine soon."

Duan Rongshi decided to give her time.

He simply got up and sat cross-legged on the low stool by the bed.

He picked up pen and paper and began to write and draw.

Li Qingluo wiped her tears, composed herself, and then came over again.

"What are you drawing?"

Duan Rongshi: "A relationship chart of the various tribes of the Western Regions."

"Luo'er, take your time looking at it on the road, so you won't go to the Western Regions completely clueless."

"Besides, Po Feng is in Mantuo City."

"Go there, and you can contact him. He will follow your orders in everything and help you."

Li Qingluo was delighted: "Po Feng?"

She hadn't seen Po Feng in a long time, knowing he had been secretly sent by him to do something else; it turned out he was in Mantuo City!

Li Qingluo immediately agreed: "Okay."

"By the way, I still have something I haven't told you."

"The Heyiyuan garden your uncle gave you has already been cleaned up for you."

"That place is now the Yue Wang Residence; after I leave, you can move there to live, right?"

"Otherwise, it would be ridiculous for a high and mighty Prince of Yue to still be living in this tiny residence, moreover as a son-in-law living under his wife's roof, needlessly giving those people in Nan'an something to laugh about."

"I won't stand for that!"

Duan Rongshi also agreed: "Okay."

The two exchanged a smile, each having made a little plan for the other.

Not long after, Li Qingluo actively clung to Duan Rongshi, wanting to tease him.

Duan Rongshi helplessly grabbed her hand.

Clearly he had been teased by her to the point of almost losing control, yet he still retained a shred of reason.

"Aren't you tired yet?"

"You really want to come?"

"Can we still make the journey tomorrow?"

Li Qingluo laughed and lunged at him: "Spring nights are short, my husband."

"If you don't cherish tonight, you may end up alone in an empty room for who knows how long."

"Are you really still going to be polite?"

Hearing that, Duan Rongshi pulled her into his arms in one swift motion.

"Luo'er, this is your own doing."

"I'll make you regret it!"

Sure enough, when Li Qingluo could no longer rise and could barely keep her eyes open, he still refused to let her go.

He still coaxed her; she slept as she pleased, and he didn't need to worry.

"How could he not care?"

"Did he not care whether she could sleep?"

She really did regret it.

She wept and begged for mercy; only then did he wipe her tears and let her rest.

Upon waking, Duan Rongshi was truly gone.

Li Qingluo felt a sense of loss as she touched the pillow beside her; after getting up, Que'er came in to attend to her.

She didn't know where to look, only able to say with a flushed face: "Miss, Your Highness said he didn't want to see you off, so he went to court."

"Let us…… have a smooth and safe journey."

Li Qingluo: "I understand."

"Que'er, let's pack up and set off quickly."

She had just finished dressing and washing up when Zheng Mama delivered a letter.

"Miss, this is a letter personally delivered early this morning by the attendant of Jiang Qiniang."

"It seems rather urgent."

Li Qingluo: "Jiang Qiniang?"

Li Qingluo hurriedly opened it, glanced at it quickly, and her expression gradually turned strange.

Que'er sensed something else was happening and asked anxiously: "Miss, what's wrong? What did Jiang Qiniang say?"

Li Qingluo placed the paper on the table: "Do you still remember the thirteenth daughter of the Jiang family?"

Que'er: "I remember. She's the daughter of Third Master Jiang, who came to us covered in blood that day begging for our help… but this girl is quite strange; frankly, I didn't think she was that simple."

Li Qingluo: "She went to plead with Minister Jiang, saying she wanted to enter our Yue Wang Residence and become the Prince's concubine."