Chapter 630

Even after the officials entered and conducted a thorough carpet‑style search of the premises, they naturally found nothing unusual.

Not only did they find nothing, they clearly saw that the back kitchen was already empty, not a grain of rice left, yet why did these Central Plains people look so energetic, as if nobody were hungry?

Could it be that they still have food hidden on their persons?

But that shouldn't be the case!

They entered the city gate to have their weapons confiscated; they certainly didn't carry any dry rations.

But how did these thirty‑odd people fill their stomachs?

Could it be that a traitor sympathetic to these Central Plains people has actually appeared in the city, secretly supplying them with food?

The officials left full of suspicion, and Que'er and the others were even more curious.

"Miss, where exactly did you hide that thing?"

"These Loulan people have clearly turned our dressing table upside down, and this is their territory; they know best where things can be hidden and how to search—"

Que'er scratched his/her head, full of questions, and also went into the room.

Looking east and west, they still couldn't figure out where the young lady had hidden those two human‑skin masks.

Li Qingluo pointed to a painting on the wall.

"Take a look at that beauty—doesn't she look familiar?"

If you don't look, you won't know; but once you do, you'll be startled.

The portrait of a beauty on the wall is indistinguishable at a glance—isn't it exactly the face the young lady used before?

Que'er clapped and exclaimed, "Absolutely!"

Indeed, real and fake are hard to tell apart.

Moreover, the Loulan people never imagined that the suspected internal traitor they were wary of turned out to be merely a painting on the wall!

The young lady simply stuck the human‑skin mask onto the beauty's face in the original painting on the wall, so even if the Loulan people dug three feet deep they could not find what they were looking for.

After all, who would suspect a painting?

Perhaps they themselves aren't even clear about what they're trying to find.

Que'er was admiring it when suddenly Li Qingluo said, "Have Qin Ling make a new human‑skin mask."

Que'er thought the young lady would be taking another person out tomorrow.

But she was mistaken.

Li Qingluo intended to take Zhui Yu out, and the human‑skin mask that Xuan Cang had used yesterday was burned to ashes right in front of them.

In the blink of an eye, that thin‑as‑a‑cicada‑wing human‑skin mask turned to ash.

Qin Ling felt anguish: "What a waste of heavenly material! Can't we keep it as a keepsake?"

This ungrateful little brat!

Nowadays, only someone with money to spare would dare burn it so recklessly, completely forgetting how hard life used to be.

Before Qin Ling's resentment could even vent, Xuan Cang beside him couldn't hold back and rushed out first.

"Lu'er, what are you doing?"

Xuan Cang, face pale, reached out and grabbed a handful of the ashes, but it was already too late.

He didn't understand.

Could it be because of what happened yesterday when we met Zisu and the others?

Zisu and the others' attitude was indeed bad.

But we are all fellow disciples; does she really have to be so calculating?

Yes, she was originally of noble birth and shouldn't suffer such grievances, but she needn't take it out on herself, right?

Xuan Cang's face was full of incomprehension, and even a bit of anger.

Li Qingluo didn't care at all about his vague emotions.

"Your senior brother's face has already been exposed; perhaps there are already posters of you on the streets today—if you go out wearing that face, are you trying to walk into a net?"

"For these two days you'd better stay here; I'll go out with Zhui Yu to gather information and buy supplies."

Xuan Cang: "But yesterday we already agreed with Zisu and the others that we would discuss saving our master today; if I don't go, what will they think?"

"Their situation is probably already very difficult; no, I must go out and see for myself!"

Li Qingluo shook her head helplessly and let out a sigh.

She looked at Xuan Cang, knowing he was not her subordinate, so she didn't have to insist on his obedience in everything.

"If your senior brother gets caught, remember to insist on the death that we have nothing to do with it."

Xuan Cang also gave a cold face: "Rest assured, no matter what we do, we won't implicate you, the Yue King's consort."

Those nearby hearing this already felt very uncomfortable.

Before Que'er could speak, Zhui Yu interjected: "Our miss is more than just the Yue King's consort."

"Lord Xuan Cang, you've been following our group south and north these days, even going to Rongle—don't you know how exalted our miss's status is, what rank she holds?"

"Even the princess of DaLiang doesn't give our miss a face, calling her sister over and over, obedient as a little cat, with no airs at all."

"How dare you, relying on being from the same sect, bully people and not put our miss in your eyes?"

"Remember! Even Mr. Nangong has never given his most beloved disciple any grievance to suffer!"

Zhui Yu's barrage of words left Li Qingluo listening in silence.

Indeed, a person from A Shi—just a few sentences and they know what this female master has been through.

Moreover, one has to admit that Zhui Yu's sharp tongue left Xuan Cang speechless.

Xuan Cang, face pale: "Lu'er, I didn't mean it that way……

Li Qingluo shook her head: "Senior brother, please understand; Zhui Yu meant no harm."

"In short, just be careful in everything."

After speaking, Li Qingluo no longer talks much with Xuan Cang, turns and leads Zhui Yu to change off their human‑skin masks together.

Even Xuan Cang did not notice when the two of them actually left.

Li Qingluo and Zhui Yu, wearing conical hats, walk on the street.

In broad daylight, to hide their eyes they either pretend to be blind or wear conical hats to pose as farmers.

Fortunately, Li Qingluo had noticed yesterday that many people on the street wore conical hats, so she and Zhui Yu easily blended into the crowd.

They also remain silent, communicating with gestures when something happens.

Sit for a while in a teahouse.

Listen for a while in a small restaurant.

Walk on the street and plunge straight into the crowd.

In that flash, half a day passes.

Zhui Yu had already stealthily fetched food twice, and on the last trip carried back dozens of large steamed buns bought from more than a dozen stalls.

Moreover, he is extremely diligent, refusing to let Li Qingluo carry even the slightest weight.

At most, he lets her lift herself, while his neck, back, and both shoulders are laden with items.

Zhui Yu's behavior even makes Li Qingluo at times feel she is useless.

Yet she occasionally sighs inwardly.

That guy missed Que'er; who knows what kind of wife he'll end up marrying in the future.

But whoever it is, he should enjoy happiness.

The two have just set foot in the courtyard; the parcel Zhui Yu still has in his mouth hasn't been put down, and Sha Yi has already rushed over.

"Miss, more people have arrived."

Li Qingluo tears off her human‑skin mask in one go and quickly goes out to greet them.

Fortunately, this time the Loulan people only came to deliver a notice.

They invite Li Qingluo's party to go to the palace tonight for a banquet and to meet the Loulan King.

Moreover, all thirty‑four who entered the city must be present; none may be absent.

How can they enter the palace?

Li Qingluo, of course, would not decline.

Today she and Zhui Yu uncovered many useful things on the street.

Zhui Yu understands a bit of the Loulan language, so they inferred and gathered a lot of the information they wanted.

The most important is Princess Anar, who indeed is still in the Loulan kingdom!

And she has not left since becoming queen.

Since she is here, they should be able to trace their master's whereabouts!

Li Qingluo is now full of confidence, already having thought of dozens of ways to slip out of the Loulan Palace tonight to find her master.

However, after seeing the Loulan people off, she notices everyone's expressions are off.

Li Qingluo's heart instantly lifts.

"Could it be that Xuan Cang hasn't returned yet?"

She knows Xuan Cang will definitely go out.

But she also fears Xuan Cang may never be able to free himself again.

Of course, she has no objection to him staying together with those from the Meteor Sect.

After all, they share genuine brother‑sister ties; she is merely a half‑way intruder and would not overreach to claim any position.

Either way, whether they can rescue the master or not does not delay her own plan to save him.

Li Qingluo is more worried that Xuan Cang's departure will entangle her companions.

Que'er: "Miss, it's still early; perhaps Lord Xuan Cang is still tied up with matters, so he hasn't managed to return yet?"

"Let's wait a bit longer; he'll surely rush back in time!"

Li Qingluo looks toward the dusk that is slowly descending.

She certainly will not sit and wait for doom.

"We must make two preparations."

Soon, as the sun sets, people arrive at the Loulan Palace, personally leading Li Qingluo's party to the palace.

Seeing each of them looking listless, with a pallid complexion, starving to the point of seeming completely depleted, the palace attendants' eyes are full of contempt.

These useless and cowardly Central Plains people.

If they weren't afraid they would truly die in this courtyard and rot, they really wouldn't care about them at all.

They're just a bunch of useless locusts!

The palace attendants silently curse, glance at the crowd, and without counting, usher everyone out.

Streets and alleys are packed with onlookers.

After all, so many Central Plains people have come before; a group this large, staying obediently in this house for two or three days without a word, is truly unprecedented!

So, what exactly is this group's background?

Everyone rushes to get a clear view, when suddenly someone in the crowd deliberately says in Mandarin, "They captured more than ten Central Plains people today!"

"It's said it's not just a simple expulsion from the city. They tied up the young master, and now he's in trouble."

"Is that true? How dare they kidnap the young master? Are they really stupid or courting death?"

"Those Central Plains people who all day only know how to barge in recklessly, complain about spending money, shirk work, lack etiquette, and are arrogantly detested by everyone—if they weren't granted a special pardon to stay, why are they still restless?"

"Rumor has it they're looking for someone. Now that they can't find the person, they themselves are finally in trouble."

A group of strange laughs erupts in the crowd.

Li Qingluo and her party, who had just boarded the carriage, simply couldn't smile.

Que'er: "Miss, Lord Xuan Cang…"

Li Qingluo raised a finger and lowered her voice completely: "Shh— even if he gets caught together, it was his own choice; we should first protect ourselves."

Que'er and Zheng Mama both nodded solemnly and did not bring up the matter again.

In the blink of an eye, they arrived smoothly at the gate of the Loulan palace.

The towering palace entrance, even though it was merely a royal residence, was no less majestic and grand than those of the great nations DaLiang and DaChu.

From the palace entrance onward, Li Qingluo began, together with Que'er and the others, sticking her head out of the carriage to survey this mysterious and ultra‑luxurious place.

One spot, one scene.

A hundred scenes, each different.

Though breathtakingly beautiful, for Li Qingluo and her companions, this Loulan palace was both filled with exotic, mysterious charm and shrouded in unknown danger.

"Master, Luo'er is here, Luo'er will definitely find you."