Chapter 688: Extra Chapter: All the Mountains and Rivers Lie at Our Feet

The rain in South of the River lasted for over ten days straight.

Li Qingluo held the Token of the head of Tianfeng Trading House; wherever she went, she need not worry about food, clothing, shelter, or travel.

So they stayed in South of the River for a whole month, helping to relieve the flood before setting off again for the Northern Frontier.

When it snowed heavily in the Northern Frontier, they ice-skated on the river and fished by the lake.

Li Qingluo would personally cook soup, brew tea with snow water.

The two sat in a room heated by floor vents, leaning together by the window to watch the snow, spending an entire day like that.

When spring came and flowers bloomed, they went to the Great Grassland.

On the grassland they herded sheep and rode horses, able to travel hundreds of miles on horseback in a day.

As summer approached, they toured mountains and waters all the way to Medicine King Valley.

Just as they arrived, Pei Lao Furen, tears streaming down her face as she embraced Li Qingluo, said: "Your daughter, who is destined to ascend to heaven and roam the earth, who wanders the world performing righteous deeds and has already gained some renown in the jianghu, left only five days ago!"

Is it Fangfang?

Li Qingluo exclaimed in delight: "Grandma, Fangfang also came to see you?"

"She came together with her senior brother, didn't she?"

Pei Lao Furen did not hide it from Li Qingluo: "She came alone, bringing with her an otherworldly, extraordinarily handsome young man. That young man suffered grave injuries; she brought him here to treat his wounds and seek medical care."

Li Qingluo was greatly startled.

Looking over at Duan Rongshi beside her, his face had sunk to the depths of the valley.

They had not gotten even a hint of news.

Why did Xuan Cang not say that he was not together with Fangfang?

Li Qingluo originally wanted to stay a bit longer.

But Pei Lao Furen also worried that Fangfang would be deceived, so she urged the two of them to leave quickly.

"They headed east, apparently wanting to go to some place called Penglai Island."

"If you hurry, you might still be able to catch up."

Li Qingluo and Duan Rongshi were both anxious.

They only stayed one night, leaving before dawn from Medicine King Valley.

"Grandma, Li Qingluo will return as soon as possible to see you again!"

Li Qingluo bade a reluctant farewell to her grandmother, and together with Duan Rongshi they set off eastward in pursuit.

Indeed there is a Penglai Island to the east.

However, Duan Rongshi said that the island is inhabited solely by reclusive cultivators who stay apart from the world.

They never interact with ordinary people, nor do they involve themselves in worldly affairs.

How could Fangfang know such people?

Although Fangfang roams freely between heaven and earth, she is after all a young lady; if she were deceived she would suffer greatly.

As her mother, Li Qingluo could not help but feel worried and anxious.

Fortunately, after ten days of pursuit they obtained news of Fangfang.

After all, Li Qingluo holds the Token of Tianfeng Trading House.

Duan Rongshi also has hidden guards scattered across the world; for the two of them to find someone is not difficult.

Fangfang is in a small fishing village to the east.

When they found Fangfang, she was crouched in the kitchen, face smeared with ash, stoking the fire to cook a meal.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, she joyfully lifted her head and shouted: "Jinchuan!"

But upon seeing that the visitors were her own parents, Duan Qingwu merely stared in shock for a moment.

Then she rushed into her parents' arms with reddened eyes.

"Father—Mother—"

This child has suffered a great injustice.

No matter how they asked, she refused to say who Jinchuan really was.

Duan Rongshi's face was extremely grim: "It seems I have spoiled you."

"Who you should associate with, who you should not trust—you have forgotten all of that completely."

"Thus, you will return with me to Jinling."

Having said that, Duan Rongshi turned and left angrily.

Duan Qingwu lowered her head, tugging at her garment's hem, still not uttering a word in her own defense.

Li Qingluo gently stroked her head: "Do not be angry with your father; he merely pities you."

"Fangfang, you are your father's sole treasure."

"He cannot bear to see you suffer hardship and injustice for someone obscure, unknown, and of unclear origin."

"Look at you—what have you reduced yourself to?"

"Moreover, are you not intending to go to Lanhai Kingdom?"

"Do not forget, you are the queen of Lanhai. You have grown up but have only visited Lanhai twice."

"Fangfang, you also bear your own responsibilities."

"You may set aside the rivers and mountains of Dayue, but Lanhai is the birth gift your father gave you upon your birth; do you truly not want it?"

Fangfang raised her hand to wipe away her tears.

"Mother, Fangfang understands."

"Fangfang should not fantasize about someone she ought not to fantasize about."

"He and I are not of the same world… I will go with you."

Li Qingluo felt heartache for her daughter.

「Fangfang, anyone in this world who can earn your favor is blessed. 」

「So, don't use the words 'wishful thinking'. 」

「Because you are the princess of Great Yue, the queen of Lanhai, and moreover the apple of my eye, Li Qingluo and Duan Rongshi's. 」

「My Fangfang deserves the best in the world. 」

「Those who cannot see Fangfang's goodness are blind and heartless! 」

Fangfang broke into a smile through tears, nestling in the mother's embrace.

「Mother, only you, Father, and Ah Yuan love Fangfang the most. Fangfang understands. 」

Li Qingluo took Fangfang, cleaned up, then went to the riverside and found Duan Rongshi.

Duan Qingwu has always been best at cheering up his father since childhood.

A few words made Duan Rongshi let go of his annoyance toward her.

「Father, no matter who this Jinchuan is. 」

「Has he done anything to hurt you? 」

Sensing the father's killing intent, Duan Qingwu kept shaking his head hard.

「Father, it's Fangfang who overstepped and clung to him; he has never done anything improper toward Fangfang. 」

「I sent him to the Medicine King Valley to save his life, and he repaid me. 」

While speaking, Duan Qingwu pulled out a flute only the size of a palm from the bundle.

Duan Qingwu said: 「This is a token from their Penglai Immortal Island. Jinchuan said, as long as I blow this flute, no matter where I am in the world, messengers from their Penglai Island will appear. 」

「But is it really that miraculous? 」

No one knows.

Because Duan Qingwu seems not intending to use it now.

Duan Rongshi and Li Qingluo could only exchange a glance.

Both were somewhat curious about the Penglai Immortal Island, but they couldn't interfere too much in the youngsters' affairs.

Soon, Xuan Cang, Que'er, and Sha San's son Shao Lin, along with their party, finally found them.

Shao Lin, having lost his master, was already tormenting himself to the point of barely retaining human form.

Seeing the princess safe and sound, the youth's eyes turned red and he fainted dead away.

After they and Duan Qingwu got lost, this time it was Li Qingluo and Duan Rongshi's people who actively sought them out and brought them back.

So Li Qingluo immediately thought that Qingwu still lacked enough attendants.

After returning to Jinling, the three of them quietly returned to the palace.

Waiting for Duan Jingzhi to stumble back to Zhaoyang Hall, he saw that father, mother, and older sister were already waiting for him to eat.

His eye sockets instantly turned blood-red.

「Father, Mother, Elder Sister! 」

As soon as Duan Jingzhi entered, Duan Qingwu rushed over and hugged him tightly.

「Ah Yuan! 」

「You've grown taller again. 」

Li Qingluo also came over with red eyes, reaching out to pat the young emperor's head.

「Mother's Ah Yuan, besides growing taller, has become stronger and more imposing. Ah Yuan, how have you been over the past year or more? 」

The young emperor, who had become increasingly steady and composed abroad, now seemed to revert to a not-yet-grown child.

He released his sister and then embraced his mother.

「Mother, Ah Yuan misses you all greatly, so he hasn't been doing well. 」

「Mother, now that you and Father have returned, will you not leave again? 」

Duan Rongshi came over, grabbed the son's collar from behind, and pulled it open.

He embraced his wife in his arms and, not very patiently, said to his son: 「You are already a ruler of a state, yet clinging to Mother's embrace—what propriety is that? 」

Duan Jingzhi felt full of grievance: 「Father, your servant knows his mistake. 」

「Father, your servant hasn't done well; please don't be angry. 」

Li Qingluo, seeing her son in this state, could hardly bear it in her heart.

She pushed Duan Rongshi away and took hold of Duan Jingzhi's hand.

「Ah Yuan, you've done very well. 」

「The populace is praising you as an excellent young emperor. 」

「You have not disappointed father and mother. 」

Only then did Duan Jingzhi break into a smile: 「Really, Mother? 」

「Really, Father...? 」

Duan Rongshi narrowed his eyes slightly.

He suspected that Ah Yuan had just deliberately acted that way to make his mother feel pity.

But regarding his son's desire for affirmation, he was not stingy and gave his son a nod.

「Although you still need to do better. 」

「But you have indeed not disappointed us. 」

Duan Qingwu also slapped his brother's shoulder with a palm.

「Ah Yuan, you're truly amazing! 」

The family of four finally sat down to eat a reunion meal.

After the meal, Ah Yuan asked excitedly whether they were not leaving at all.

Duan Qingwu, however, said: "I can stay at most ten days; I need to hurry to Orchid Sea to take a look."

Li Qingluo also said: "Ah Yuan, Father Emperor and Mother Empress also only plan to stay at most one month, then they will go out to look around."

"We will strive to return for Spring Festival and celebrate the New Year together with you."

Duan Jingzhi, although somewhat sad, but instantly a new hope ignited in his eyes.

"Mother Empress, Ah Yuan will be waiting for your return!"

"Ah Yuan will govern the realm well, so you can relax and travel more outside without worrying about Ah Yuan and court affairs!"

Li Qingluo: "But Ah Yuan also needs to take good care of their body."

"Mother Empress also worries about you and misses you. Hope that next time you return, Ah Yuan's body will grow taller and stronger."

Regarding the Mother Empress's instructions, Duan Jingzhi nodded solemnly.

On his handsome face, there was nothing but seriousness.

"Mother Empress, your subject knows."

After the meal, everyone took out all the gifts they had brought for Duan Jingzhi during their travels.

At each place, Li Qingluo would buy one item for each of the two children.

In the end, they even had to hire an escort bureau to send the gifts back in advance.

Fortunately, Ah Yuan really liked these folk trinkets.

Moreover, the family of four sat together talking about the novel things they encountered outside, and Ah Yuan listened with utmost seriousness.

It was as if he himself were there in person.

The originally increasingly steady and composed young emperor, at this moment his innocent smile on his face finally gradually increased again.

However, soon the days passed in a flash.

First, Duan Qingwu left home again.

Next, Li Qingluo and Duan Rongshi also quietly set out.

However, this time Duan Qingwu brought more than just a young attendant.

Besides Li Qingluo giving her ten death characters, Duan Rongshi also gave her twenty shadow guards.

Moreover, they also arranged the youngest lineal grandson of the old General Wan from the Northern Frontier, whom they had personally inspected there—Wan Linbei.

This person is handsome and suave, extraordinarily mighty.

Not only is he a heaven-sent divine general, his character has also been personally inspected by Duan Rongshi.

They all think he will be a fine prince consort.

Although Old General Wan is reluctant, in this peaceful world there is no opportunity for his grandson to display his talents and heroic bearing.

So they simply took him in, letting him hide his name and serve as an attendant guard for Duan Qingwu's entourage.

"Ah Shi, you say... will Fangfang like that Wan-surnamed boy, or does she still think of Jinchuan from Penglai Island?"

Duan Rongshi turned his head to look at the son still standing on the city wall behind him.

He is only thirteen, but his height already nearly reaches his father's ear.

Moreover, he is increasingly bearing the spirit and demeanor of his father's youth.

This realm I entrust to him, and I can rest assured.

The night before leaving, Duan Rongshi also gave him his own long sword.

"Ah Yuan, the realm is yours to protect."

"Father Emperor, I must go await Mother Empress."

After completely leaving the imperial city, Duan Rongshi took Li Qingluo's hand.

"Who is Jinchuan? Let's charge into Penglai Island and we'll find out."

The myriad rivers and mountains lie beneath our feet.

And their journey across mountains and rivers has only just begun……

【End of Full Text】