Chapter 655: Old Lady, Don't Rush—This Is Indeed a Grand Celebration!

Pei Lao Furen glanced at the urn of ashes in Li Qingluo's arms, and her face was full of regret.

"Silly child, next time you take a master, remember to choose a long‑lived one. How come the master from the Witch Moon Sect just hurried away, and now another appears."

"Which master did you actually take on the road?"

Seeing Grandmother and Luo Fan approach, Li Qingluo immediately greeted: "Grandmother, Grandfather."

Her eyes reddened as she had to tell the truth: "I went to the Western Regions… couldn't save the master."

"It is my uselessness that betrayed the trust and expectations of you two elders."

"Please, Grandmother and Grandfather, accept my condolences."

Pei Lao Furen and Luo Fan both could not believe this.

Luo Fan even chuckled: "Li Qingluo, stop telling jokes."

"That's not funny at all."

"That ugly thing has always been a dashing and decisive person, and his martial skill is superb; even Your Highness's martial prowess can only match him, and how many in the world can easily wound him?"

"He is several years younger than me and your grandmother, how could he die?"

Pei Lao Furen: "Indeed, Li Qingluo, is your master hiding, staging a play with you to scare the two old fools?"

"Nan Gongdi, keep pretending to be a deity, it's no longer amusing!"

"Are you accusing me of not telling you about my marriage to Luo Fan?"

"We invite you to drink; you may drink as long as you wish, as much as you wish, and even if you drink until darkness, no one will stop you. Come out quickly!"

Luo Fan, supporting Pei Lao Furen, called out everywhere: "Indeed, ugly thing, come out quickly!"

"The three of us haven't properly shared a drink yet; we still need to play chess together, drink together, watch you sword‑dance… ugly thing, come out!"

The two elders supported each other's hands, shouting until their eyes reddened.

Even Pei Lao Furen's steps became unsteady, unable to stand.

Li Qingluo tried to step forward to support Grandmother, but Duan Rongshi held her tightly beside them.

They shook their head at Li Qingluo and glanced at her belly.

Li Qingluo, eyes reddened and about to explain, saw Xuan Cang and a few others step forward first.

They raised their hands to Pei Lao Furen and Luo Fan and bowed deeply.

"Old Lady, Luo Shenyi."

"The master has already ridden a crane westward; please, you two elders, accept our condolences."

"Along the way, the junior junior sister endured many hardships for the master, traveling from Eagle King City to Loulan, then from Loulan to Hala City."

"For the master she even bargained with the tiger for its hide, and negotiated with the King of Loulan and Princess Anar."

"Several life‑or‑death moments, if not for the junior sister, none of us might have returned alive."

"Even the junior sister risked life and death to enter the Imperial Inner Palace, where she met the Western Regions' Emperor Gu Du Hou."

"The master's death is not anyone's responsibility."

"It was his own willing choice."

"He saved the people he wished to save, making up for his life's regrets and debts."

"Although we disciples, and you two elders as the master's old friends, are very reluctant to let him go, perhaps if we let go, the master can rest in peace."

"This matter ends here; we will live on honoring the master's final wishes."

"Please, you two elders, do not be too sorrowful; be sure to take care of your bodies."

Listening to Xuan Cang's every word, Pei Lao Furen could no longer hold back her tears, which fell in a steady stream.

Luo Fan still muttered in disbelief: "How could this be?"

"How could it be like this…"

"Ugly thing, how could you bear to abandon us?"

"You are too ruthless!"

Pei Lao Furen: "What on earth happened? What exactly occurred when you went to the Western Regions?"

"Li Qingluo, quickly tell Grandmother…"

Pei Lao Furen, emotionally agitated, stepped forward, and Zhang Mama quickly supported her.

"Old Lady, please don't be impatient, this old servant watches the girl…"

Zhang Mama saw that Li Qingluo's figure seemed off.

Although she wore heavy furs, Que'er, Zheng Mama, and even Prince Su, Your Highness, guarded the girl almost without leaving her side.

Those cautious movements.

And the girl's walking posture also raised a suspicion in Zhang Mama's heart.

Could it be…

Pei Lao Furen, preoccupied with Nan Gongdi's matter, did not notice the change in Li Qingluo.

Although she also felt pain for Li Qingluo's hardships, Nan Gongdi's death now shocked her even more.

So she wanted to quickly get a clear answer: what exactly happened that made Nan Gongdi willingly choose death?

Li Qingluo also wanted to explain clearly.

She followed forward toward Pei Lao Furen: "Grandmother, actually…"

Before she finished speaking, her figure flickered.

Then she clutched her dizzy head and could no longer keep her footing.

"A Shi, I…"

Li Qingluo's complexion turned pale as she lifted her head.

The people who returned with Li Qingluo all gasped in shock.

Duan Rongshi's complexion also changed in an instant.

In a lightning‑fast motion, he grabbed her and hoisted Li Qingluo up sideways.

"Grandmother, Qingluo is already more than six months pregnant; this really isn't the time to discuss Senior Nan Gongdi's matter."

"Qingluo has been fighting through obstacles all the way, and now she's pregnant; she's already endured enough suffering."

"For now, just spare her."

"As for Senior Nan Gongdi's affairs, there'll be plenty of time later to clarify them."

After speaking, Duan Rongshi gave a deep nod, then hoisted Li Qingluo and strode away.

Li Qingluo could only whisper weakly, "Grandmother, later Qingluo will explain to you…"

"Please don't be sad…"

Watching Li Qingluo being carried away by Duan Rongshi's long strides, Pei Lao Furen nearly fell backward.

The shock provoked another chorus of exclamations.

"Old Lady!"

Zhang Mama: "Old Lady, don't rush; this is a great joyous occasion!"

Pei Lao Furen's face turned ashen with regret, eyes full of disbelief: "Indeed. Qingluo… she's pregnant?"

"My Qingluo has her own child?"

"W‑what did I just do? She's been toiling and suffering so much, and I kept pressing her…"

"I—I'm such an old fool; I didn't see it, didn't understand the child's plight!"

"It's my fault to her."

"All the countless mistakes are my fault! I truly deserve death."

"Old Zhang, Luo Fan, how did this sorrow and joy come together like this?"

"I'm not a good grandmother; I've failed Qingluo."

Luo Fan hurriedly soothed the flustered Pei Lao Furen: "It's not your fault, Xiu Zhen, don't be anxious."

"Aren't you also unaware, and overly concerned about Nan Gongdi's death?"

"If you keep rushing into something, what will you do about Qingluo?"

"She's only just lost her master; the journey back exhausted her to the point she almost fainted."

"Don't worry, from now on I, as her grandfather, will carefully tend to her personally; I'll use all my skill to ensure nothing happens to Qingluo."

"Let's go; I'll go check on Qingluo myself."

"If you look after her, you'll feel reassured."

"I'm also an old fool; I didn't notice Qingluo's abnormality."

Luo Fan pulled Pei Lao Furen and chased after Duan Rongshi's departing direction; a group behind them hurried toward the main courtyard as well.

Fortunately, Li Qingluo truly had no serious injury.

It was merely due to extreme fatigue, a tangled heart meridian, and the renewed grief over Nan Gongdi's death that her emotions overwhelmed her briefly.

After Luo Fan carefully checked her pulse, he let out a huge sigh of relief.

He issued a confinement order to Li Qingluo.

"For at least ten days, you may not leave this courtyard!"

"You need to convalesce, Qingluo."

"Even the best constitution can't endure such strain."

"Fortunately the fetus is healthy, but if you don't want to further deplete your vital essence, you must stop acting recklessly, understand?"

Luo Fan's expression was very solemn.

The Pei Lao Furen and Duan Rongshi beside them listened even more earnestly than Li Qingluo herself.

Pei Lao Furen: "Did you hear? Listen carefully to Grandfather's words; we must first nurture our bodies— you and the child in your womb are the most important."

Duan Rongshi also told her: "Obey."

Li Qingluo turned her head left, then right, realizing that even if she didn't want to follow Grandfather's orders, this time she probably couldn't refuse.

She let out a long sigh: "Fine…"

"I'll obediently heed the words. You all needn't worry."

"Grandmother, Qingluo is truly fine; please don't make Qingluo worry, okay?"

Pei Lao Furen couldn't help but redden her eyes: "Alright."

"My Qingluo is still so sensible."

"Grandmother, I'm truly gratified, very happy in this life to have a dutiful granddaughter like you."

"Qingluo, you must stay well; Grandmother wants you to live a hundred years, understand?"

Li Qingluo gently rested on Grandmother's shoulder.

After a short while, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

When she awoke again, it was already midnight.

Duan Rongshi was not in the room.

But as soon as Qingluo woke, he learned the news and rushed back from the front courtyard immediately.

Li Qingluo was eating by herself.

Seeing that she had a good appetite, Duan Rongshi's eyes softened deep within.

"Qingluo."

He sat beside her, chin propped, full of tenderness, watching her.

Li Qingluo: "Hmm? What's wrong?"

"Why are you staring at me?"

Li Qingluo touched her own face, thinking she had become ugly over the past six months.

Because they were in the house where the Earth Dragon had been burned, Li Qingluo was only wearing a thin shirt.

Now it was clear just how large her belly truly was.

But Duan Rongshi was looking at something else at that moment, not her belly.

Regarding Li Qingluo's pregnancy, Duan Rongshi still felt lightheaded about it, as if it weren't real.

So earlier, while they were discussing in the front hall, he drifted off in thought several times, not even hearing clearly what Po Feng and Wei Zhaolie had said.

When he heard the report that she had awakened, he hurriedly interrupted and ended the discussion, then rushed back.

It turned out that just watching her eat made him feel reassured.

He reached out, pulled her up, and then sat her on his lap.

"You eat, I'll watch you eat."

Li Qingluo forced a helpless smile, "How can I possibly eat like this?"

"What on earth is wrong with you?"

"Ashi, are you alright?"