Chapter 289 Zheng Lingzhou's true purpose towards Luo'er?

The Lotus Sect!?

Is it Princess Qinyu, or Zheng Lingzhou?

Or did the two of them do it together?

Prince Su walked in and asked, "So, you've confirmed that it was the Lotus Sect who kidnapped you today?"

Upon seeing Prince Su, Li Qingluo could no longer remain seated and immediately stood up from her chair.

After everyone in the courtyard knelt down to greet Prince Su, Li Qingluo quickly waved for everyone to leave.

"I heard from the people at the Taoist temple that your men have been arrested?"

Li Qingluo had intended to keep it a secret, but she hadn't expected to be unable to hide it at all.

This Ling Fengzi is still not very reliable.

"……yes."

Prince Su: "You must save them."

He knew she was always loyal and devoted, and he reciprocated with his whole heart.

Now that Prince Su already knows, Li Qingluo has nothing left to hide.

"Your Highness, I intend to go alone."

"Your Highness, please grant my request."

To everyone's surprise, Prince Su was not surprised: "This matter is of utmost importance. Have you really thought it through?"

"Since you are from the Lotus Sect, perhaps this trip will be your last!"

Li Qingluo: "I will make careful plans and do my best to return."

Prince Su snorted coldly, turned around and sat down: "Then tell me first, what exactly is your plan?"

Li Qingluo lowered her head somewhat awkwardly: "This commoner hadn't decided yet when Your Highness arrived..."

"By the way, Your Highness, are you familiar with this item?"

Li Qingluo handed the jade pendant that Duke Pei had given him to Prince Su.

This jade pendant is a ring shape, with the words "Slaying Night" engraved in the center.

"This is the token of the sect leader of the Xiaoyao Sect's Night-Slaying Clan. Your Highness, you have obtained the token of the Xiaoyao Sect's leader, haven't you?"

Duan Rongshi narrowed his eyes and took a gold-plated token from his waist.

The words '逍遥' (Xiaoyao) are indeed present above.

Looking at the jade pendant in Li Qingluo's hand, Prince Su suddenly smiled and said, "As expected. No wonder you are the one who wrote the Pei family's military treatise; your calculations are so thorough."

The entire Xiaoyao Sect must be quite powerful.

Now that all of the old Duke and Zaina's secrets have been thoroughly discovered by Prince Su, if he wants to protect Pei Sanlang and the entire Pei family, he must come up with something that can save the entire Pei family.

Therefore, he brought out the Free and Unfettered Sect.

Even though the old Duke wanted to surrender to Prince Su, he did not hand over all his power to him.

Instead, he gave the most powerful branch of the Night Slayer Sect to the descendants of his own sister.

Perhaps there was also a reason for considering his own daughter, but the biggest reason was that he wanted to control himself to some extent.

Perhaps he also realized his own feelings for the woman...

He wanted to completely bind General Xiuli's Mansion and Prince Su's Mansion together.

The future of the Pei family must also be entirely dependent on these two families.

Unfortunately, the girl in front of me is a bit slow and hasn't learned her lesson yet.

Li Qingluo didn't think that much about it.

She simply picked up the jade pendant and examined it closely: "This time, why don't I test the strength of the Night Slayer Sect first?"

It is absolutely impossible for Li Qingluo to say that she is not afraid at all.

Even though she's incredibly bold now.

Even the next day, her heart was still pounding with anxiety.

But she still rode her horse herself all the way to the official road twenty miles away.

There is indeed a tea shop here.

They are an ordinary couple who run this business.

Li Qingluo ordered a bowl of tea and a steamed bun.

She had only taken a few bites when a woman's voice came from behind her: "Miss, don't turn around."

"Does the young lady recognize this token?"

Granny Deng's sachet swayed from behind and came into view of Li Qingluo.

Li Qingluo feigned complete ignorance: "Who exactly are you? Where are my people?"

"Now that my men are here, shouldn't you release them?"

The other person said, "Don't worry, young lady. Your people are all alive and well, but you have to come with me to see them."

Li Qingluo obediently allowed them to tie her eyes and hands, and then was helped back onto the horse.

She knew all along that this tea shop was not the place she was really going to today, so there were no ambushes around.

Only after they had completely disappeared into the distance did a few dark figures dart around the tea shop...

Several hours later, Li Qingluo's horse came to a complete stop.

"Have we arrived?"

She lowered her head and asked.

But all around her was silent, and Li Qingluo did not hear any other voices.

She immediately slid the dagger from her sleeve into her palm, then swiftly and deftly cut it off before quickly removing the blindfold from her eyes.

Li Qingluo looked up and saw four large characters: Jingyun Manor!

Where else could one see?

It was as if she had just been kidnapped, and it was all just a ridiculous illusion...

As Li Qingluo knocked on the door, she had no idea what she was about to face...

Until a little girl peeked out.

Seeing that it was her, the little maid smiled innocently: "Is this Miss Li? Please come in, Miss. Our Second Master and Madam have been waiting for you for a long time."

At this time, in the Western Shu Pavilion.

Although it is called a pavilion, it is actually a large-scale royal summer estate.

Princess Qinyu was punished by being sent out of the palace to reflect on her mistakes, and this is where she was imprisoned.

Just now, Princess Qinyu had sneaked back, changed into a clean spring dress, and her double had disappeared into the shadows.

Before she could even take a sip of her tea, the jade messenger came to report: "Princess, Jingyun Manor mobilized a large force yesterday to ambush and capture people from General Xiuli's mansion."

"Early this morning, Li Qingluo went to Jingyun Manor alone from Qingsong Temple."

"We were too late in making our move, Zheng Lingzhou and his sister were a step too late!"

"Please punish me, Your Highness!"

Princess Qinyu frowned deeply, but then quickly relaxed: "Get up. Zheng Lingzhou will not accomplish anything today."

The jade envoy rose from the ground. "Princess, how did you know?"

"I've noticed that Master Zheng has tried to take Li Qingluo away several times without success, so he clearly has something important to do. Could it be that he'll reveal information about our Lotus Sect to Li Qingluo?"

Princess Qinyu: "Reveal what? Reveal how many people he killed and how much gold and silver he plundered?"

"Although he saw my face that day, he did not know my identity, so he could not expose me."

"As for what he's planning, has he been looking for Zulia these past two days?"

The jade envoy was very surprised: "Princess, you are truly insightful, even knowing about this matter."

"But why is he looking for that witch Zulia at this time?"

Qin Yu: "A few years ago, this Yun Gu Sect Leader not only came into contact with me and the Crown Prince, but also with him. His nephew has been seriously ill for many years and I'm afraid he won't last more than two years."

"I have heard that among the witchcraft practices of Miao territory, there are evil spells that can exchange lives for lives. However, only a sorceress who is a blood relative and has extremely high skill and power can do it. With Zuliya's abilities, it may not be difficult for her to accomplish this."

"So I suspect... perhaps he wants to use the Li family's daughter, who has been living away from home, to save that sickly man."

Upon hearing this, the jade envoy trembled.

"That Zulia is really strange. Can he really do something like this?"

Princess Qinyu: "The art of Gu poison in Miao territory has been extremely evil and insidious since ancient times. Although it has gradually been lost in later generations... various terrifying legends about it have continued to circulate among the people..."

The jade envoy asked in confusion, "Princess? What future generations?"

Princess Qinyu snapped out of her daze: "It's nothing. Invite Zuliya to me and let Zheng Lingzhou know that without my permission, he will never achieve anything!"

The jade envoy shook his head: "Zuliya has been missing for the past two days. Your subordinates... have not been able to contact her."

Qin Yu suddenly lost her temper.

"How could they all just disappear without a word?!"

"The bitter forsythia has also been missing for many days without a trace, and now Zuliya is also gone. The number of people I can use is getting smaller and smaller!"

"Have you figured out whether they are missing or have simply left?"

The jade envoy knelt on the ground: "Princess, please calm your anger! We went to her residence yesterday and it doesn't seem like she's... about to leave."

“Princess, this Zuliya is exceptionally skilled. Even if her martial arts are only average, her skill in using poison is almost unmatched in Liang.”

"Besides, she has a habit of leaving without a word in the past, as long as she is not caught. And if we can't contact her, we naturally can't contact Jingyun Manor either."

Princess Qinyu's anger gradually subsided.

"You all hurry up and keep looking for her, and also keep looking for bitter forsythia for me!"

Jade Envoy: "Yes!"

Qinyu: "By the way, I heard that Prince Yun has gone blind in one eye? His birthday banquet is in a few days. This is truly a wonderful gift from me to him."

Qin Yu coldly drank a cup of tea, "He should also pave the final way for his elder brother, the Crown Prince, to return to the Eastern Palace smoothly."

The jade envoy said, "The Empress has sent a letter instructing you to visit His Highness Prince Su at his residence after you return to Jinling."

Princess Qinyu: "I know what I'm doing. You may leave."

After the jade envoy left, Princess Qinyu opened the scroll that was beside her.

The scroll depicts two handsome young men, gazing at each other across a river.

Qin Yu reached out and touched their faces: "I hope that my choice back then was not wrong."

...

Li Qingluo looked up at the plaque again: "Is this Jingyun Manor?"

The young maidservant opened the door wide with a smile: "Miss, you've come to the right place, please come in!"

A servant came out and led the horse away.

Li Qingluo was led through the gate by the little maid.

This mountain villa is filled with the beauty of flowers and birds.

As you climb up the mountain, you see artificial hills and pavilions everywhere.

Li Qingluo felt like someone was watching her from the shadows, but when she turned around, she saw nothing.

Jingyun Manor occupies the entire mountaintop, and as Li Qingluo ascended, he felt only emptiness.

Although there were houses and pleasant scenery everywhere, apart from the occasional maid or servant, there were hardly any other people.

There was something eerie about it.

Moreover, this is the territory of the Lotus Sect, something Li Qingluo dared not forget.

Finally, they arrived at the main hall, and the little maid happily led Li Qingluo inside.

"Second Master, the young lady has arrived."