Chapter 5 005 Each goes their own way, cooperates for mutual benefit, and then parts ways...

It was Qiu Zhi, followed by a servant and maid. They were heading towards the Princess's courtyard. Qing Li's heart tightened, wondering if he would be discovered. Half a cup of tea later, a dark figure jumped out. She inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief, but froze the next moment. He was heading in her direction and had entered the cave.

The man's face was covered, revealing only his cold, stern eyes, which gleamed with a captivating, eerie light. Upon sensing the unfamiliar aura within, his entire body tensed up like a fully drawn bow, the tip of his knife already pointed at her face. Qing Li's back was pressed tightly against the mountain wall, protruding rocks slamming against her flesh, and the two of them stood frozen in place.

From afar came Qiu Zhi's commanding voice. The man had nowhere to retreat. He glanced at her coldly and then shot towards her like an arrow. Before Qing Li could even utter a sound, the cold, hard blade, carrying a chilling aura, approached her neck, causing her to tremble.

"Don't make a sound!" The voice was deep and resonant, making her body tremble.

Qingli's mouth was tightly covered by him, and she couldn't make a sound even without him saying anything. What was even more unbearable was that his fingers were placed between her lips, the calluses on them tingling and numb. Her nostrils were filled with the cold, hard smell of raw iron, familiar yet compelling. His hot breath sprayed into the back of her clothes, and her back was embedded in his broad chest, the warmth of his body slowly transferring to her.

The sound of hurried footsteps approached and then receded. The hand loosened slightly, and the voice carried an icy chill: "Make a sound and you'll die!"

Meng Qingshan noticed the person in front of him nod, and tentatively let go of her hand. The person suddenly pulled away from him, but the cave was narrow and could only accommodate two people. They were just facing each other. The bright moonlight shone through the gaps in the mountaintop. His sharp eyes fixed on her face. Her rapid breathing due to fear carried a faint fragrance, which felt like swords piercing his heart.

The smooth skin was still in his palm. He realized the mask on his face, suddenly lowered his head, paused for a moment, and then approached her step by step. Everything happened in an instant. He only took one step, his hands supporting his chest, trembling slightly.

"what are you up to!"

"I..."

A series of steady, strong footsteps sounded outside, not the kind of panicked footsteps of maids and servants. Qingli recognized them as the guards of the Prince's mansion, and Meng Qingshan recognized them as well. Qingli stared straight at them with moonlight in her eyes. Suddenly, she didn't want to shout. She didn't know if it was because of the joy she had felt earlier, or because seeing him jumping around made her think that he must have something difficult to say. She thought to herself, "Forget it. If he kills me, I'll be free. I won't have to be imprisoned in the Prince's mansion every day."

A glint of light flashed in his eyes, and the sorrow within them suddenly reminded Meng Qingshan of the desolate Yan and Yun prefectures. He didn't know where the anger came from, but before the guards arrived on patrol, he picked her up and flew into the air.

Yes, it took flight, soaring freely above the Prince's mansion—something Qingli had never seen before. She didn't scream in fear; her earlier self-destructive behavior had vanished in her excitement. Her blood was rushing, her heart was pounding, and her eyes were shining with excitement. Her hands tightly gripped the narrow waist, and as her arms wrapped around it, she felt a strange sense of familiarity with the embrace.

She pointed in a direction, "Go to the side hall."

Then they stood on the roof, waiting for a group of maids to pass by, and he put his arm around her waist and jumped down.

A laugh escaped from the tip of his nose. "Let go."

Qingli suddenly came to her senses, let go of his hand, but her legs were weak and she staggered two steps before sitting down in the armchair. The candlelight was dim but enough. He took off his mask, revealing a resolute and tough face. She was stunned and stared straight at his eyes, which were sharp and piercing.

From childhood, he had stared at her so intently, from head to toe, his eyes like hooks, always trying to pluck something from the depths of her heart. She always felt timid in his presence, often avoiding him. For example, there was a complex feeling in her eyes right now. She really didn't want to face him. They had parted on bad terms back then. He was furious and then put her in such a miserable situation. She no longer hated him and had never thought of him in the past five years. She never placed her hopes on someone who was so unattainable.

Her memories drifted far away, but reality arrived in an instant. When she came to her senses, she was already calm, devoid of any lingering love or hate towards him. But then, a thought flashed through her mind, and her thick, curled eyelashes fluttered as she asked softly, "What are you looking for?"

Meng Qingshan's aura instantly became incredibly oppressive. Qingli noticed his wariness, let out a mocking laugh, and quietly waited for his answer. There are advantages to old acquaintances; they are familiar with each other.

"Looking for letters, looking for people."

"Has it been found?"

"No."

The long, drawn-out note of the opera faded away, and the hand warmer in Qingli's hand lost its scorching heat, but her palms were covered in a fine layer of sweat. She was considering how to bring up the topic and achieve cooperation between the two of them. She had his identity, which made it inconvenient for him to go out and investigate, while he had her convenience in going out to investigate.

"The Prince's mansion is vast and heavily guarded; it's best to plan carefully before acting." She omitted the second half of her sentence, actually expressing her disapproval of his reckless behavior; jumping around like a monkey was not a wise move.

"Indeed." Meng Qingshan admitted frankly, then hesitated for a moment before quickly continuing. He noticed that Qingli raised an eyebrow, indicating that she was deep in thought, and therefore did not notice his change of tone. "Releasing people in the Prince's mansion is not easy."

Qingli felt relieved upon hearing this. She glanced at him, her aloof expression, which she had maintained since their first meeting and which carried even more annoyance than that of a stranger, was now replaced by a gentle one. She sighed softly, "The rules of the Prince's mansion are strict; it is indeed not easy."

Meng Qingshan clenched his fists, waiting for her to continue. "If you believe me, brother, I might give it a try."

The word "brother" made Meng Qingshan's heart leap into his throat, his head swaying slightly for a moment. Having been through many battles, he quickly relaxed. "The situation is dangerous. Protecting yourself is the most important thing."

Qingli lowered her eyes and rolled her eyes where no one could see. If something really happened, she would definitely be the fastest to run away, without him having to be so hypocritical. As long as they cooperated and he didn't stab her in the back and sell her out, it would be fine. She was trapped in the Prince's mansion and knew nothing about the outside world regarding her return to the capital, so he was the best choice.

She inquired in detail about the progress of the past two days of exploration, and finally decided to search in the study of the Prince of Dingxi. In the end, she sighed and said, "I will keep my brother's matter a secret."

Meng Qingshan was tall and slender. She sat up and looked up at him for a long time, her neck aching. He had something to gain and would definitely need her. So she stopped beating around the bush and said directly, "My maid's family has been missing recently. I would like to ask my brother to do some work for her."

The man sent by the grandfather was Song Zhang, whose ostensible identity was a relative of Jiang Yue and Jiang Zhao. Jiang Zhao, who had been waiting outside, followed his wife's hint and entered the house with a hand warmer. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the tall man and recognized him as the general he had seen before. He knelt before him and said with a sob, "My cousin has been away from Yanmen City for more than three months. We agreed to return before the New Year, but I have been waiting quietly in familiar places for many days without any news. I am worried that my cousin has encountered danger on the road. I beg the general to lend a helping hand. My cousin and I will repay you with our lives."

Meng Qingshan looked down at Qingli sitting sideways, his face tense. He turned to the maid and finally said, "Write down the information, and I will have the post stations along the way keep an eye out."

Qingli scoffed inwardly. She was working her life away in the Prince's mansion, while he was just keeping an eye on things. He, on the other hand, knew how to do business. He said unhurriedly, "If it were just keeping an eye on things, it would take forever."

Her voice trailed off with a cold tone, making Meng Qingshan look at her. She stared back at him, her expression serious and earnest.

"I will write a letter by hand and have the post station search for it."

Seeing her frosty expression and continued dissatisfaction, he said, "I will personally send someone to investigate this matter. However, the heavy snow has blocked the roads, and Kyoto is far away. It may take more than a month for a round trip."

Qingli nodded, and Jiang Zhao immediately knelt down to express his gratitude. Meng Qingshan glanced at the two of them, but didn't say much. He gave them some instructions on the layout of the study, gave them a deep look, and left when he saw that they weren't looking at him at all.

Jiang Zhao immediately stood up and went to the lady's side. He was about to open his mouth to shake his head at her when, after a moment, there was no more noise outside, and even the music in front of him stopped.

"We'll talk about it when we get back."

The mistress and servant returned to Peach Blossom Pavilion. Jiang Zhao sent the little maid back to her room, and the three of them discussed the matter. At this point, Qing Li took the opportunity to reveal her past relationship with Meng Qingshan. Jiang Yue and Jiang Zhao stared wide-eyed, their mouths agape. After a long silence, Jiang Yue stammered, "That...that..."

After talking for a long time without uttering a word, the two maids were truly astonished. How could the general's sister have fallen into such a state, and be treated like a stranger, ignored by everyone? Jiang Zhao's initial gratitude towards General Meng instantly turned into irreconcilable hatred. What kind of wolfish ambition could lead someone to do such a thing?

Qingli hadn't expected them to be so angry, but when she was tied up, she had already made a clear decision, and she didn't want to waste her energy on people who weren't worth it.

“Then we won’t beg him! We’ll figure out a way to deal with Brother Song’s matter.” Jiang Zhao slammed his fist down with a dull thud.

Qingli smiled at the angry words. If they had a way to deal with Song Zhang's disappearance, they wouldn't have dragged it out until now without any solutions. She didn't want to have any contact with him, but in this palace, he was the only one most likely to help her escape. He wouldn't be in Yanmen City for long, so now was the best opportunity.

Each going their own way, cooperating for mutual benefit, and then parting ways—this was the solution she came up with to break the deadlock. Hatred only breeds when survival is assured. She appeared to be safe and sound, but in reality, she was in grave danger. Moreover, she could tell from the increasingly weak writing in the letter her grandfather had given her that her health was deteriorating, and she needed to return to the capital as soon as possible.

What is Meng Qingshan anyway? Anyone from the previous four years would have remained calm as long as there was something to gain.

"The important matter is paramount." She only said one sentence, and the three of them, master and servant, calmed down without saying a word.

Qingli instructed, "Tomorrow, go and inquire about the prince's arrangements, and go to the kitchen to ask for a bowl of soup."

“Yes, Madam,” Jiang Yue and Jiang Zhao curtsied in response.

After taking a bath, Qingli lay on the bed and suddenly felt the curtains fall, seemingly cutting off the air. The bed felt cramped and stuffy. She got up and hung half of the curtains on the plum blossom-shaped silver hooks. Leaning against the soft pillows, she sat up and looked outside. The bright moonlight spread onto the bed. She took a couple of comfortable breaths, and the suffocating air in her stomach was finally expelled.

She was still resentful, harboring resentment over how well he had treated her. She scoffed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. The moonlight illuminated her profile, revealing a sharp, cold indifference on her beautiful face. She brought up the past as if reliving it all, finally suppressing her restless and turbulent emotions. Only by facing the unbearable could she abandon any lingering hope.

After lying down, she carefully considered her plans for tomorrow.

"lady"

Qingli suddenly opened her eyes and realized that it was already broad daylight outside. She had to dress up carefully to see the Prince of Dingxi today. Qingli sat in front of the bronze mirror and carefully drew her eyebrows with face powder. Her eyebrows were graceful crescent-shaped, and her eyes were as sparkling as the Milky Way. She wore a beautiful red dress, and her high bun was adorned with a gold and kingfisher hairpin. She wore a light pink floral dress. As soon as she stood up, it felt as if the frozen water had melted away, the daytime scenery was clear and peaceful, and the beauty of the weeping willows and apricots came to life.

She was covered with a beige-colored embroidered satin cloak, with a rabbit fur trim around the collar, which softly accentuated her beauty. She left Peach Blossom Pavilion and arrived at Bamboo Green Garden. Song De saw her from afar, turned around and instructed the eunuch to wait on her before going into the house.