Chapter 631: Loulan King? Luo'er's sophistry!

Thud—thud—thud—

The drumbeats sounded, and the gorgeously dressed yet refreshing dance girls filed in, surging into the hall.

Immediately, a passionate song and dance commenced.

Li Qingluo and her group had all come from the Central Plains.

Who had ever seen such a scene?

Her bare slender waist.

Her long, beautiful legs.

Her partially revealed beautiful bosom.

Her flowing autumn gaze, together with her incessantly swaying posture.

Although she was also a woman, this passionate scene made Li Qingluo's face flush and ears burn, leaving her quite embarrassed.

Zheng Mama watched with relish, but Que'er beside her covered her eyes.

She not only covered herself, but also wrapped Sha San up tight: 'No peeking, got it?'

Sha San naturally enjoyed it, thoroughly relishing having someone look after him.

But the rest of the 'kill' nicknames weren't so fortunate.

Each one, like cooked shrimp, sat on pins and needles, daring not to look inside the hall, their eyes darting, faces flushed with shame.

They had once been cold-hearted pawns, but now each followed the young lady and Sha San into the mortal world, acquiring worldly thoughts; their former training was thus rendered useless.

Upon seeing the ladies, they were no longer mere stones.

Even Sha Yi kept sipping tea nonstop, pretending to be busy.

Only Zhui Yu remained relatively calm.

Sitting upright behind Li Qingluo, he continually glanced sideways to survey the surroundings.

Suddenly, a eunuch rushed in from outside, pointing at Li Qingluo's party and saying, 'Seize them!'

Before Li Qingluo could move, everyone beside her sprang up, forming a solid wall around her that no one could approach within half a step.

"Who dares move our princess!"

At the cry of 'princess,' the eunuch was startled.

"Princess?"

"What princess?"

"Just who are you?"

His face shifted several times, his eyes full of doubt.

Li Qingluo rose slowly: 'I am the younger sister of the lord of Mantuo City, Princess Luoluo.'

'When I requested an audience with the Loulang Wolf King, I had already informed the gate guards of my identity.'

'And I presented the travel pass.'

'Don't you adults know about this yet?'

Upon hearing this, the eunuch panicked.

He naturally dared not decide on his own, and hurriedly turned and ran out.

The dance girls also fled in panic, and the entire hall inside and out was surrounded by guards.

Que'er anxiously turned to look at Li Qingluo, not daring to relax: 'Miss, you had best not act; I and they can handle it.'

Zheng Mama and Qin Ling nodded in agreement, and Qin Ling and Li Yunchu pressed even closer to Li Qingluo.

"Rest assured, if she dares to act rashly, I'll be the first to grab her leg!"

Although the couple knew no martial arts, they could still manage to drag someone by the leg.

Li Yunchu wore a grave expression, secretly clenching her fists as if she had already taken on a monumental task.

Li Qingluo: ……

"Just with the two of them?"

"To be honest, she only needs a left kick and a right punch; those two will surely fare worse than getting slapped before."

"However, today seeing the couple, she didn't find them as annoying."

"Perhaps there's no need to resort to force."

Just as she thought, a loud shout came from outside: 'His Majesty the King approaches——'

"The Queen approaches——"

"The Grand Empress Dowager approaches——"

"The Wusun Grand Empress Dowager approaches——"

Such a huge commotion?

They actually all came?

All because she revealed her identity as the Luoluo Princess of Mantuo City.

Are they curious about Mantuo City, or do they simply think she must be a princess anyway?

"But their arrival is timely; Li Qingluo has also grown a bit impatient these days."

She only wants to find her master quickly and then leave the Western Regions as soon as possible.

The child in her womb cannot stay hidden much longer; it will soon be exposed to the world.

When the time comes, appearing with a pregnant belly, she will no longer be able to pose as a marriage-alliance princess.

Moreover, she now clearly feels daily fatigue, a stark contrast to her former self, who was once endlessly energetic and unaware of what weariness meant.

Li Qingluo also wants to protect the tardy child in her womb.

She wishes to preserve the bloodline of herself and Duan Rongshi.

So, to rescue my master, I must quicken my pace.

With the summons, several figures in splendid robes, their bearing and looks unlike ordinary folk, entered one after another.

The one leading must be the rumored Loulan king, right?

Although he is nearing the age of forty, he remains handsome and valiant.

Moreover, his posture is straight as a pine, his softly curled long hair flows like a waterfall, a golden crown rests on his head, and his stern visage bears a calm, gentle composure.

Yet in every gesture he displays imperial majesty; though he possesses a stunning appearance, he also exudes a kingly aura that awes all directions.

This Loulan king is truly unforgettable.

Moreover, the few who followed him in are equally impossible to ignore.

A dignified and noble queen.

The dowager empress, her dignity still intact.

And there is also a foreign‑styled woman, though half her hair is white, she remains beautiful like a worldly enchantress— that must be Anar, right?

Li Qingluo quickly distinguished these people in her mind and boldly met the Loulan king's gaze.

She had not only seen the Loulan king, but also those behind him.

"You are the Princess Luoluo of Mantuo City?"

"You have quite the gall."

Li Qingluo's calm composure and the bold aura radiating from her also surprised the Loulan king and his entourage.

They turned and took their seats on the high platform; looking down, their eyes were filled with interest.

They seemed curious about Li Qingluo's unexpected identity as well.

The crowd parted, and Li Qingluo naturally stepped forward.

"Yes."

"I indeed come from Mantuo City; I have seen the Loulan king, the queen, and the dowager empress."

Li Qingluo, with great poise, greeted them using Central Plains etiquette.

Loulan Queen: "I've heard that Central Plains women are beautiful and dignified, and that their etiquette is profound; seeing her perform the rites, it truly lives up to its reputation—better to see once than hear a hundred times."

Anar let out a mocking cold laugh: "She's decent‑looking, but this beauty and dignity? In my view, she's disgracing Central Plains women."

Li Qingluo: "That is merely your short‑sightedness, Your Highness."

"In this world, flowers come in myriad purples and reds, people possess the seven emotions and six desires. The world is inherently dull; it becomes vibrant only because of the myriad different kinds of people."

"Are the people of the various Western Regions all the same?"

"Along my journey, I have observed that the customs and temperaments of the various Western Regions differ greatly, even the dispositions of men and women; take your Loulan, for example—it is the most distinctive and independent kingdom I have ever seen."

"As for Central Plains women, we are naturally no exception."

"Due to north‑south differences, ethnicity, region, and even between states, there are great distinctions."

"Thus, some women are dignified and beautiful, some are passionate and bold, some are gentle and affectionate, others are cool and independent—different from the majority—but what's wrong with that?"

"They excel at poetry, literature, and song; they are skilled at needlework; some even wield blades and spears. Why must everyone be the same?"

"I admit I am not particularly dignified and beautiful, but am I not from the Central Plains?"

"Of course not."

Anar's face darkened after being rebuked by Li Qingluo's words.

"What a sharp tongue!"

"I only said one thing, and she fired back a hundred!"

"I think your Mantuo City harbors ill intentions!"

The Loulan dowager empress kept nodding.

It seemed she agreed with Anar's words.

"I have indeed heard that the princess of Mantuo City went to the Hara Imperial City for a marriage alliance."

"How… the Hara Imperial City and our Loulan are in completely opposite directions, south‑pointing chariots versus north‑pointing steeds; how could a Central Plains princess lose her way?"

"Speak! What is your purpose in coming to our Loulan?"

"Moreover, are you connected to those Central Plains ruffians who dared kidnap the young master yesterday?"

The Loulan king had been propping his chin with his hand; upon hearing this, he narrowed his eyes deeply.

"I have received a report that the number of you who entered the city together that day, compared with those who entered the palace today, is short by one person."

"Why not have the Princess of Mantuo explain to me: you've stayed confined to your residence these past few days, not stepping out even half a step—so how did the number decrease? And where did that missing person go?"

"On the contrary, the gang that kidnapped the young master actually has one more person."

"I just don't know whether that person is the one who fled from your side."

"If that is the case, then it's truly strange—unless you were all in cahoots from the start!"

"Bold Central Plains folk, you dare to toy with our Loulan—do you know what crime this entails?"

The Loulan king slammed the armrest hard; instantly killing intent poured forth, leaving no trace of his earlier half‑kind demeanor.

Truly befitting a sovereign of a nation.

His imperial aura is fully present.

However, Li Qingluo is not one to be frightened easily, and she has seen all sorts of tyrannical emperors.

How could she be intimidated by the mere authority of a petty king like him?

She raised her head, neither humble nor arrogant, and looked at the few power holders.

"As I suspected, I wasn't wrong."

"No matter who, once they enter your Loulan, every word and deed is strictly monitored under your watch."

"So whether we go out or how many of us enter the city, it's impossible to hide from you."

However, could it really be that you all just remembered wrong?

We really didn't leave the house, and no one has lost anything; we refuse to accept this false charge!

Li Qingluo intended to stubbornly deny it to the end.

Her behavior seriously provoked the Loulan king's anger.

Bold!

You think that if you don't admit it, I have no way to deal with you?

Li Qingluo: "Why should I admit to something that never happened?"

Anyway, the result is just being driven out of the city gate; lying would only harm us with no benefit, so why would I lie?

In any case, being driven out of Loulan was your original goal from the start.

You will never accept any outsiders.

And we will never lie!

Regardless of whether we actually went out these few days, you have a way to turn the mistake into our fault.

If that's the case, why bother hypocritically inviting people to the palace banquet?

Unless, this is your Loulan way of hospitality!

Li Qingluo's words completely enraged the Loulan king: "Impudent!"