Chapter 247 Luo'er, I'll wait for you to come back...

Upon hearing Zhuiyu's words, Li Qingluo immediately looked at Prince Su and said, "Your Highness, if you go any further ahead, you'll reach the Pei family's dungeon."

Duan Rongshi lit the tinderbox in his hand.

In the dim firelight, Li Qingluo said directly, "To be honest, today, or perhaps yesterday, I and Miss Pan were both kidnapped and taken to the Pei family's dungeon."

"The Pei family wants me to be a blood slave for the old Duke."

"I also saw several shriveled but not rotten corpses in two separate secret cells, some of whom may have come from the palace."

"Furthermore, the master of this dungeon is the third son of the Pei family, and it's still unknown whether he's connected to the entire Pei family..."

Duan Rongshi interrupted her: "So, you escaped here all by yourself, bringing two useless people with you?"

Pan Li and the sickly man, who were still not far away, asked: ?

The two exchanged an awkward glance, inwardly cursing: This Prince Su truly is the most unlikable person in the world!

Li Qingluo quickly waved his hand and explained, "Your Highness, you misunderstand. Miss Pan did not hold us back. As for that young master, he was the one who saved us in time. If it weren't for his help today, Miss Pan and I might already be dead in the dungeon."

Duan Rongshi didn't care about the two people.

He simply brought the tinderbox closer.

He stared at Li Qingluo's face, examined her closely, and even reached out to wipe the bloodstains sprayed on her cheek.

Li Qingluo gasped inwardly.

This Prince Su is far too obsessed with cleanliness; why does he always wipe away her blood so many times?

Is it really that offensive?

Li Qingluo quickly wiped her face with her sleeve again.

Duan Rongshi paused, his gaze freezing.

A clueless, unromantic woman.

He glared at her, but after confirming that she was not seriously injured, he asked, "Is it still an hour or so's journey from here to the Pei family dungeon?"

Li Qingluo was still wiping her face when she heard this and was surprised: "How did Your Highness know?"

Duan Rongshi: "Do you know where I entered this tunnel from?"

Li Qinglu guessed for a moment: "Could it be the Qinhuai River?"

Where does this underground river lead?

Moreover, water droplets were constantly dripping from the stone walls along the tunnel, so there must be plenty of water sources near the tunnel.

This situation only occurs near the Qinhuai River in Jinling City, so Li Qinglu guessed that the tunnel was dug right next to the Qinhuai River.

Duan Rongshi looked at her with admiration in his eyes: "Yes, this tunnel is indeed close to the Qinhuai River. However, the entrance is the Pei family mausoleum outside the city."

A cemetery!?

So if you keep going straight through this tunnel, will you get out of the city?

The Pei family is incredibly audacious.

Li Qingluo looked up at Prince Su, "Your Highness, did you find this place yourself because of Twelfth Sister's case?"

Prince Su: "The death of the twelfth daughter of the Pei family is complicated and may uncover a secret that the Pei family has kept hidden for decades. Therefore... I have been outside the city these past few days and did not know that something had happened to you."

"Thank goodness you're alright."

His voice suddenly lowered, and Li Qingluo met his deep gaze, her heart skipping a beat for some reason.

She had just looked away when there was a sudden, violent shaking behind her, accompanied by a loud 'boom'!

Li Qingluo immediately and reflexively raised her hand and grabbed Prince Su's arm.

Duan Rongshi pulled her close to his side, and once they were both steady, Pan Li immediately helped the sickly man through.

"Luo'er, has this caused an earthquake?"

Pan Li looked at Li Qingluo with a panicked expression, but after seeing Prince Su and Li Qingluo standing together so intimately, she stared at the two of them again: Huh? The two of them...

The sickly man clutched his chest and shook his head: "No, it's definitely not an earth dragon. Judging from the sound, it seems like the entrance was destroyed."

Duan Rongshi seemed to think so too, but he still noticed the sickly man again.

"Who are you? And why are you here?"

The imposing aura and oppressive presence emanating from the imperial family made Pan Li's scalp tingle instantly.

This Prince Su is rumored to be a ruthless killer!

Although he had once been kind to her, Pan Li was terrified of this man deep down.

The sickly man seemed completely oblivious, replying calmly and casually, "Your Highness Prince Su, I am but a nobody in the martial world, not worth mentioning."

"Today, I also followed Pei Sanlang into this dungeon by mistake. Because I accidentally discovered this tunnel and saw that the two young ladies were driven to the brink of despair, I didn't want Pei Sanlang to go further astray, so I stepped in to help the two young ladies."

"As for the fact that the exit is just ahead, I only learned about it by overhearing Your Highness mention it a few times."

Li Qingluo knew he was lying.

This person must know that the exit of this tunnel is just ahead.

Because when Pan Li was taken hostage, he clearly said that someone would come to rescue them immediately.

He was definitely not referring to Prince Su or the officials of the Court of Judicial Review.

He was probably referring to his own people.

The exit is now destroyed, and it's unknown whether it was done by his people or due to some other accident.

But for some reason, Li Qingluo did not expose him.

She simply lowered her eyelids slightly, pretending not to know anything about it.

Prince Su: "You will follow me."

Duan Rongshi was naturally speaking to Li Qingluo.

Li Qingluo looked at Pan Li: "You guys wait for me here."

After saying that, he and Prince Su hurriedly headed towards the exit.

It turned out that they were indeed very close to the exit, only three or four miles away, when they saw the rocks and mud that had collapsed and blocked the way.

The faint sounds of fighting could be heard outside.

Li Qingluo stepped forward and pressed her ear against the stone wall. Duan Rongshi looked at her and asked, "What are you doing?"

Li Qingluo: "Listen, can you tell who's outside?"

Duan Rongshi: ...

He stepped forward and reached out to pull her away.

Then he placed a palm on the rock wall and called out in his usual manner, "Cold Lightning, Eagle Fang, are you there?"

Sure enough, two voices immediately came from outside: "Your Highness, your subordinates are waiting!"

Li Qingluo's eyes instantly filled with envy: Is this what internal energy is?!?

I wondered how many years it would take her to master it, and I suddenly felt a pang of jealousy.

No, once she gets out, she must study even harder under her master's tutelage, strive to catch up with her grandmother as soon as possible, and become an invincible woman who is no longer afraid of being bullied by any evil people!

Li Qinglu made this vow to himself in his heart, and then heard Leng Diancha step forward and report: "Your Highness, a group of well-prepared assassins suddenly came outside. It was our incompetence that allowed them to take the opportunity to destroy the exit."

"Your subordinates will dig this tunnel as quickly as possible to rescue Your Highness!"

Duan Rongshi: "Let's put aside the matter of digging the secret passage for now. You should deal with these assassins as soon as possible, capture as many alive as you can, and then go into the city to meet up with Pofeng. Take the people from Dali Temple and get to Pei Mansion as soon as possible."

"I will leave the Pei residence."

Leng Dian immediately replied, "Yes, Your Highness!"

He seemed to know that his people were bound to win?

Li Qingluo didn't dare to ask any questions and followed Prince Su back to where Pan Li and the others were waiting.

The sickly young master seemed unable to walk back, and waved his hand, telling Li Qingluo and the others to leave as soon as possible and not to worry about him.

The journey back would take another hour, which was indeed a considerable burden for him.

Li Qingluo looked at Pan Li: "And you? What are your plans?"

Although Pan Li's feet were already swollen and painful from walking, she still said, "I'll go back with you."

Li Qingluo nodded and said to the sickly young master, "Once His Highness Prince Su's men have dug an exit through this area, I will personally come to fetch you. This will be my way of repaying your kindness in saving me and Miss Pan. Please wait for me, young master!"

Seeing her so confident, the sickly man couldn't help but smile: "Miss, you don't need to be so polite."

However, as Li Qingluo walked further and further away, his eyes continued to follow her.

"Luo'er, I'll wait for you to come back..."

Don't keep him waiting too long.

After walking a distance, Duan Rongshi looked down at Li Qingluo and suddenly said, "You are quite loyal and righteous."

Li Qingluo: "Thank you for your praise, Your Highness. It is my duty."

Duan Rongshi looked at her, gave a meaningful "heh", and suddenly quickened his pace to walk forward. Soon, his long legs left Li Qingluo and Pan Li behind.

Li Qingluo was struggling to catch up, and Pan Li grabbed her, saying, "You've offended him."

Li Qingluo looked terrified: "Did I have it? When? Why?"

Seeing her bewildered expression, Pan Li couldn't help but shake her head and chuckle: "You, perhaps you don't understand why His Highness Prince Su only speaks to you?"

Li Qingluo: "I'm quite familiar with him."

Pan Li: "I heard that Princess Qinyu and Prince Su are also quite close. Is that how they get along?"

Li Qingluo: "I didn't notice. But is there any difference?"

Pan Li suddenly looked up at the sky and took a deep breath: "Forget it, what right do I have to teach you anything? Aren't I a complete mess myself?"

Li Qingluo: "What are you talking about? I don't understand."

Pan Li: "Let's not talk about this anymore. Luo'er, since we're going back to the Pei family now, there are some things I need to tell you first. You can then figure out a way to carefully reveal them to His Highness Prince Su."

Li Qingluo was prepared and listened attentively.

Pan Li: "We'll talk about who I am now when we get outside. But how exactly did Pei's twelfth daughter die? How about I tell you a story first?"

Li Qingluo: "Okay, I'm listening."

As she spoke, she looked up at Prince Su, who was walking further and further away. Presumably, Prince Su couldn't hear what the two of them were saying, which is why Pan Li dared to continue speaking to Li Qingluo.

Pan Li: "After Pei Shierniang was poisoned, her health deteriorated day by day, and she had long been prepared to die. But at this time, thanks to her friend, she was able to meet a good doctor and finally had a glimmer of hope to live."

"For the rest of her life, Twelfth Sister only wants to stay by her parents' side and serve them well, so if she can live, she naturally wants to live."

"But all the changes suddenly occurred on the fifth day of the first lunar month."

"It all started with the Pei family. The Pei family was a prominent and secluded family, and a military clan that had been in power for decades. Naturally, they also had many secrets that were unknown to outsiders."

"Among them is the old Duke of the eldest branch, whose actions back then suddenly changed the fate of the entire Pei family..."