Chapter 254: Daughter Kingdom, Princess?

It was evening.

After leaving his sister and brother-in-law's place, Luo Zijun went out, preparing to head to Bao'an Hall.

Ever since he had touched his senior sister's chest last time, he had not dared to go there again.

He had been staying at home, focusing on his cultivation.

Now that his revenge had been exacted and the stone in his heart had finally settled, he prepared to go see his senior sister.

He bought some fruit on the street and also bought two candied hawthorn skewers.

Just as he arrived at the entrance of Bao'an Hall, he heard the sound of a woman crying inside.

His senior sister was wearing a plain white dress, her long, raven-black hair draped over her shoulders, sitting all alone and cold behind the counter, grinding medicine; that pure and beautiful face of hers, under the reflection of the evening sunset, was still as picturesque as a painting, as if it were not a thing of the Human Realm.

Upon seeing him, she merely raised her eyes slightly before lowering her head again to continue grinding the medicine, her flawless, beautiful face still maintaining that cold, aloof expression of not wanting to pay attention to anyone.

However, the magnificence on her chest, for some reason, was already proudly and ostentatiously resting on the counter.

Luo Zijun remembered very clearly.

When he had just seen her, it had not been on the counter.

"Doctor Su, I beg you, save me..."

Luo Zijun entered the door and saw a woman with her face covered by a veil and dressed in rather flashy clothes, crying and pleading with his master.

Seeing him enter, the woman hurriedly turned her face away, wiping her tears, and did not dare to speak again.

Su Dafang sighed and said, "Take these medicines back and eat them first; as for this kind of illness... I cannot guarantee anything."

Qingwen tied up several packets of medicine and handed them to the woman.

Perhaps because she saw a young man enter the room and he was so handsome, the woman's face turned visibly red, and she looked very uncomfortable; she hurriedly took the medicine, wiped her tears, and left the shop in a hurry with her head bowed.

After she had walked far away, Luo Zijun placed the fruit he had just bought on the table and asked, "Master, what illness does she have?"

Su Dafang walked to the corner to wash his hands and said irritably, "What other illness could it be? Venereal disease, of course."

After finishing, he looked at him meaningfully and said, "Regardless of whether it is a man or a woman, those who mess around outside are all likely to contract this disease."

Luo Zijun did not dare to respond and handed the candied hawthorn skewers to Qingwen.

Qingwen was wearing a pink dress, looking even more delicate, soft, and graceful; she smiled as she took the skewers, gave him a look, and glanced inside the counter.

Luo Zijun handed the remaining skewer to the inside of the counter and said ingratiatingly, "Senior sister, I bought this especially for you."

Su Qingling kept her head down grinding medicine and ignored him.

Su Dafang dried his hands, walked over, and said unhappily, "Have you been very busy these past few days? Why haven't you come to see your senior sister?"

Luo Zijun said, "I have indeed been a bit busy, busy with cultivation. Master, I have now broken through to the Martial Artist Sixth Realm."

Su Dafang's eyes widened immediately: "Really? So fast?"

Luo Zijun said, "I broke through two days ago. Master, have you heard of Jile Villa outside the south suburbs?"

Su Dafang was stunned for a moment and said, "I have heard of it; I hear some high-ranking officials and nobles like to go there to play. As for what exactly they do inside, I am not yet clear. Why, have you been there?"

Luo Zijun said, "I took the Imperial Guard there today, arrested everyone there, and burned the entire villa down."

"The Imperial Guard?"

Su Dafang's face was full of astonishment.

At this moment, Su Qingling, who was grinding medicine, also raised her head.

Luo Zijun handed the candied hawthorn skewer in his hand to her again and said, "Senior sister, this is a long story. You eat the candied hawthorn, and I will tell you slowly."

Su Qingling looked at him expressionlessly, paused, and then reached out to take it.

Only then did Luo Zijun say, "Our family had an enemy named Lai Da, who was a head steward at the Jia Mansion..."

Qingwen, who was to the side, let out an "Ah" and said, "It's Steward Lai?"

Luo Zijun looked at her and said, "Yes."

As he spoke, he recounted everything from how he had once formed a feud with Lai Da, to how he had now taken revenge, and how he had plotted to destroy the other party's winery and Jile Villa.

"When I killed Lai Da today, my brother-in-law did it himself, cutting off his head; it can be considered as having avenged the child my sister once carried in her womb..."

"I have been busy with this matter recently, but fortunately, I got my revenge before the other party could escape Lin'an City."

After listening, Su Dafang sighed and said, "Your sister and brother-in-law never mentioned this to us. Actually, I had noticed that your sister and brother-in-law were a bit off back then, but I didn't feel it was appropriate to ask too much... I didn't expect there to be such a past..."

As he spoke, his face was full of gratification: "Zijun, it is good that you have become successful. I imagine that Lai Da, even until his death, could not have understood how you were suddenly able to crush him..."

At this moment, Su Qingling, who had been silent, suddenly asked, "That Queen, is she pretty?"

The room suddenly went quiet.

The corners of Su Dafang's mouth could not help but twitch; he was likely also speechless at his granddaughter's tricky line of thinking.

Luo Zijun was speechless: "Senior sister, I am telling you about my revenge, why are you bringing up whether the Queen is pretty? No matter how pretty she is, what does it have to do with me? What does it have to do with you?"

Su Dafang's lips moved, seemingly wanting to complain about his granddaughter, but he did not dare.

Su Qingling kept her pretty face cold and continued to press: "Is she pretty?"

Luo Zijun had no choice but to say, "I only took one look, she looks alright..."

Just as Su Qingling narrowed her eyes, he continued, "However, she doesn't compare to Qingwen, and naturally, she doesn't compare to you, senior sister."

Qingwen giggled on the side.

Su Qingling asked coldly again, "Just because of a few words from you, she lent you the Imperial Guard from the palace?"

Luo Zijun explained, "Besides recognizing my talent, Her Majesty the Queen might also have reasons for wanting to show goodwill to the Bai Family. Also, Jile Villa has committed all kinds of evil, and with the Prince of Nanhe involved, I imagine Her Majesty the Queen has long been dissatisfied with the Prince of Nanhe, which is why she used my hand to strike at him."

Su Dafang nodded and said, "That is likely the latter reason. I have also heard that Her Majesty the Queen has been gradually stripping these nobles of their power during this period."

Su Qingling did not speak again.

At this moment, Su Dafang suddenly said, "By the way, Zijun, I have a piece of news to tell you, it is about... *cough cough*..."

He suddenly stopped and glanced at his granddaughter, seemingly a bit afraid.

Su Qingling kept her head down, slowly grinding the medicine, her expression unreadable.

Luo Zijun asked curiously, "Master, what news?"

Su Dafang took another look at his granddaughter, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Do you still remember that little girl Keqing? When you and Ling'er were young, that little girl often clung to you two to play, and she loved to cry."

Luo Zijun's heart tightened, and he hurriedly asked, "I remember, what happened to her? Does Master know where she is now? Is she getting married?"

"Getting married?"

Su Dafang was stunned upon hearing this, and looked at him rather strangely, saying, "How did you think of the matter of getting married?"

Su Qingling also raised her head, her gaze cold.

Su Dafang continued, "When I went to see a patient before, I happened to go to her home. At that time, she was still being kept at home and was not allowed to go out as she pleased. A few days ago, I went to her home again. Guess what I heard her foster father say? That little girl is actually a Princess of the Daughter Kingdom. Some time ago, she was found by people sent by the Daughter Kingdom and taken back to the Daughter Kingdom."

Luo Zijun: "???"

In *Dream of the Red Chamber*, the idea that Qin Keqing was a princess lost among the common people had been speculated about by others, but a princess of the Daughter Kingdom... isn't this a bit too absurd?

"Master, is it true or false? Is Qin Keqing a Princess of the Daughter Kingdom?"

Su Dafang said, "Of course it's true. You didn't see her foster father's smug look; he was practically flying. Those people from the Daughter Kingdom gave him several chests of gold, silver, and jewelry. It made me envious, tsk tsk..."

As he spoke, he looked toward his granddaughter.

Luo Zijun was stunned for a while and said, "The Daughter Kingdom doesn't seem too far from here. Has Master been there?"

"What are you trying to do?"

Su Qingling suddenly looked at him coldly and said.

Su Dafang glanced at her expression, didn't dare to say more, and hurriedly said, "You two chat, I'm going to the outhouse."

After finishing, he immediately went to the back.

Luo Zijun spread his hands and said, "Senior Sister, I was just asking out of curiosity, what could I do? After all, that girl, we were together when we were young..."

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

Before he could finish, Su Qingling began to pound the medicine vigorously.

Qingwen covered her mouth to stifle a laugh and also turned and left.

Luo Zijun did not continue this topic. He stared at the beautiful scenery bouncing slightly on the counter for a while, and after admiring her cold and stunning face for a moment, he said, "Senior Sister, then I'll head back first. I'm a bit tired today and need to go back and rest early."

Su Qingling continued to lower her head to pound the medicine, ignoring him.

Luo Zijun looked at her a few more times before turning to leave. Just as he walked out the door, he heard her suddenly say, "You touched my chest last time, and I haven't told Grandfather yet."

Luo Zijun's footsteps paused. He turned his head to look at her and said, "You pinched my chest too, and I haven't told Master either."

Su Qingling looked at him expressionlessly and said, "But they have grown bigger again, and it's all because of you."

Luo Zijun: "..."

The sunset fell, and the light in the room began to grow dim, but the fairy-like figure and face behind the counter became even more soul-stirring in the haze, especially that pair placed on the counter...

"Too lazy to deal with you!"

Luo Zijun didn't dare to stay longer and hurriedly fled.

Even after escaping a long distance away, his heart was still thumping rapidly.

That girl's tone, expression, and posture just now—looking cold and aloof on the surface, but actually truly lethal—he couldn't resist it at all...

"She really knows how to seduce people..."

He took a few deep breaths before continuing to walk forward.

Just as he arrived at Chujian Bookstore, he saw a maid supporting a slender and delicate figure coming out of the shop, preparing to board the carriage at the entrance.

That figure was draped in a fox-fur cloak, her frame slender and weak, panting softly. Her appearance was extremely delicate and beautiful, and her whole body exuded an unusual beauty of illness; it was none other than Lin Meimei from the Jia Mansion.

Their gazes met.

Lin Daiyu was slightly startled, then her face flushed red, and she hurriedly lowered her head to bow: "Young Master Luo..."

Luo Zijun also cupped his hands and said, "Lin Meimei, oh no, Lin Guniang."

"Pfft..."

A burst of laughter suddenly came from inside the room.

Liu Chujian walked out and laughed, "Brother Zijun, when did Lin Guniang become your Lin Meimei?"

Lin Daiyu's face turned even redder, too shy to raise her head. She wanted to get on the carriage but felt too embarrassed.

Luo Zijun hurriedly apologized, "Slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue. I hope Lin Guniang will not take offense."

Lin Daiyu was too embarrassed to speak, and even her two little ears were flushed red.

Liu Chujian laughed, "Daiyu came in the afternoon, reading books here and chatting with me. She has come over to keep me company often these past few days, much better than some people."

Luo Zijun said, "I've been busy these past few days."

As he spoke, he cupped his hands toward Lin Meimei again: "Thank you, Lin Guniang."

Lin Daiyu then lowered her head shyly and said, "I was just bored staying in the mansion, so I came over to talk with Sister Chujian and Second Sister. Young Master Luo, please don't be so polite."

Seeing that she was uncomfortable, Luo Zijun said, "It's getting late. Lin Guniang should head back soon, so the mansion doesn't worry."

Lin Daiyu gave a low "Mm," and only then, supported by the maid, prepared to board the carriage.

Just at this moment, perhaps due to the cold wind blowing, she suddenly coughed a few times. As soon as one foot stepped onto the carriage, her body went limp, and with an "Ah," she fell to the side.

Luo Zijun was quick-witted and fast-handed; he hurriedly stepped forward to support her.

When his large hand grasped her soft, boneless little hand and one arm wrapped around her willow-slender waist, he clearly felt her delicate body tremble, and she fell into his arms even more weakly.

A faint, unique fragrance of a young girl wafted into his nose.

Feeling the delicate body in his arms, soft and boneless like warm jade and fragrant, Luo Zijun's heart also fluttered. Not daring to hold her for long, he hurriedly lifted her gently and sent her onto the carriage, saying, "Lin Guniang, be careful."

Lin Daiyu got onto the carriage, but her face was flushed red and her body was limp, barely able to stand. Fortunately, a maid climbed up from the other side and hurriedly supported her.

Only then did Luo Zijun notice that her lips were covered in blood.

"Miss, you're coughing blood again, hurry inside..."

The two maids' expressions changed, and they hurriedly supported her into the carriage, speaking inside with a sobbing tone.

"Cough, cough..."

A series of weak coughs came from inside the carriage again.

"Young Miss, hurry back and take your medicine..."

The two maidservants burst into tears.

The woman driving the carriage hurriedly said a word to Luo Zijun and Liu Chujian, then drove the carriage away.

The carriage hurried out of the alley, sped off, and soon disappeared into the cold twilight.

Luo Zijun frowned; in his palm and against his chest, a trace of the sickly young girl's warmth and softness still lingered, and in his nostrils, there seemed to remain that faint, medicinal fragrance.

Liu Chujian came to his side, looked at the street, and could not help but sigh softly: "These past few days, she has been coughing frequently, coughing up blood every time. Xueyan says the medicine she takes no longer seems to be working, and her complexion does not look good either. Brother Zijun, do you think she will..."

Luo Zijun was silent for a moment, then said, "I will think of another way."

At this moment, in the carriage, Lin Daiyu coughed a few more times, lowered her head to look at the hand that had just been held in someone's palm, and thought of the scene where she had just been held in his arms by her slender waist; her face, already flushed, suddenly turned bright red as if it were on fire.

Her heart was also thumping rapidly.

(End of this chapter)