Chapter 596 As a last resort, to save my life, I'll destroy the painting!

Li Qingluo pointed to the rest of the paintings and said, "Ashi, these are all the paintings I brought out of the secret room that day."

"The tyrant thought I had burned everything for him, which made him very angry."

"I've brought everything out for you now."

"I only need one painting. My mother's painting might really be able to save my master."

Duan Rongshi reached out and lightly touched the drawing paper, his eyes filled with disbelief.

“Mother…that’s exactly how she looks. Just like the one I remember.”

"So many years have passed, yet he can still draw his mother's likeness."

At this moment, Duan Rongshi's feelings for Zongzheng Langri became even more complicated.

Looking down at his wife, he recalled the day he met Li Qingluo in the secret passage behind the artificial hill. She was not only dragging Zongzheng Langri along, but also carrying a huge package on her back.

She said she would watch it together when she got home.

Now he understood what she had risked her life to bring back.

It is a portrait of my mother.

It was a hope she had gone through so much trouble to give him.

Not only that, she also retrieved a wooden horse that her mother had used as a child from the Cold Palace.

Duan Rongshi's heart had already melted completely.

His daughter has him in her heart!

Thinking of this, Duan Rongshi stroked Li Qingluo's cheek and lowered his head to kiss her again.

After another long kiss, they were both a little out of breath.

However, this is not a place for intimacy.

Both of them were afraid of soiling the portrait of their mother.

So they quickly separated and began to carefully appreciate the other paintings.

These paintings include both new and old ones.

Each and every one of them is exactly the same as Zongzheng Qingyue's.

They seemed to see together how beautiful and stunningly gorgeous Zongzheng Qingyue was in her youth.

It's so close, yet so far away.

However, why did the mother's painting become the key to saving Nangong Di?

"I haven't figured this out either."

"Perhaps we'll understand once we get to the Western Regions."

Duan Rongshi: "These are all things you risked your life to bring out, so there's no need to ask me. Just take whichever one you like."

"If it can truly save Mr. Nangong, Mother Consort will have no objections."

Li Qingluo then chose a painting of Zongzheng Qingyue wearing a long red dress.

"Ah Shi, I will cherish this painting and will not let Mother suffer any damage."

"It's as important as my life!"

Duan Rongshi glanced at her forehead and said, "If your mother is watching over you from heaven, she would hope that you would value your life more."

"Luo'er, if it's absolutely necessary, to save your life, destroy the painting."

"Remember what I said, I want you to come back to me safe and sound."

Their foreheads touched gently, and the sorrow of parting welled up in their hearts again, making Li Qinglu feel even more distressed.

They quickly packed up and went out together.

Although Li Qingluo wanted to buy everything.

However, she did not plan to travel by carriage this time.

Riding a horse is faster.

The carriage was too time-consuming, so Li Qingluo abandoned this mode of transportation altogether.

Therefore, it's best to pack light.

In the end, they only brought a few gifts for Madam Pei.

"My grandmother would be overjoyed to see me; she wouldn't mind at all."

When Li Qing arrived, she bought two more items for the little dolls.

Alan is about to give birth.

Although he was her junior uncle, from a family perspective, she was also his sister-in-law.

Although everyone calls themselves separately, the gifts for the little nephew must not be neglected.

The two even had a meal together on the street.

Duan Rongshi was a picky eater, and only ate a few bites.

Li Qingluo quickly pulled him back to the mansion.

She spent an hour in the kitchen herself, and finally prepared a table full of his favorite dishes.

"Ah Shi, quickly taste my cooking and see if it's gotten any worse?"

The bowl in front of Duan Rongshi quickly piled up into a small mountain.

Seeing her flushed face from being so busy, Duan Rongshi didn't hesitate and immediately took a bite.

Sure enough, as always, it was his favorite flavor.

He smiled and nodded heavily: "Luo'er's skills are as good as ever."

After saying that, he slowly began to eat, bite by bite.

Every bite was taken without hesitation, and without the slightest hint of dislike.

Li Qinglu propped her head up and watched him eat.

In fact, it had been a long time since she had personally cooked a meal for him.

Thinking about it makes me feel really guilty.

I knew he was picky.

She was too busy with her own affairs to spare any time each day, so it had been a long time since he had enjoyed a bite of her cooking.

Watching him eat bite by bite, Li Qingluo felt both happy and sad.

"I will definitely cook for you more often in the future."

"Ah Shi, I'm sorry."

"I haven't shown you enough care since we got married."

"And we're both busy with our own things, so we rarely get to see each other. You just came back from Daliang, but I have to leave again..."

"Ah Shi, once everything settles down, I will never ignore you like this again."

As Li Qingluo spoke, she picked up a handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Duan Rongshi took her hand.

"It's alright."

"Luo'er, do you still remember the sweet potato feast you prepared at Qingsong Temple?"

That was the first time I ate food cooked by Luo'er.

"Actually, it's not exactly an exceptionally delicious dish."

"But strangely enough, Luo'er's cooking skills can capture my taste buds."

"Perhaps this is the star of destiny that Mother Consort spoke of for you. No matter what you do, you are naturally attractive to me."

"So, no matter what Luo'er does, whether it's cooking, or you're engrossed in your own things, drawing weapon blueprints, practicing martial arts and archery, no matter what you look like, it will make me happy and bring me divine joy."

"Even if you are leaving me to go to the Western Regions, although I am very reluctant to part with you, Luo'er is affectionate, loyal and courageous, which is also fatally attractive to me, making it impossible for me to take my eyes off her."

"So Luo'er, don't let me down."

"Come back to me soon."

Duan Rongshi held her hand and pressed it against his cheek, reluctant to part.

Li Qingluo's eyes reddened as well: "Okay."

After having breakfast and dinner, Granny Zheng and the others came early to clear away the bowls and chopsticks.

Then, he dismissed all the guards and servants near Tangdi Residence.

Only the two of them remained in the courtyard.

They first took a walk hand in hand in the yard, and then fed the fish in front of the fish tank.

They then sat under the tree and played chess.

Li Qingluo grabbed Duan Rongshi's hand, stubbornly preventing him from placing the decisive chess piece.

Finally, they sat together under the tree, playing and frolicking.

As darkness fell, we sat together on the veranda to watch the pair of fireflies in the flowerbed.

Before long, Li Qingluo fell asleep leaning on Duan Rongshi's shoulder.

He was carrying her back to the room and placing her on the bed when Li Qingluo suddenly woke up.

"Go to sleep. We have a long journey ahead tomorrow, so get some rest tonight."

Duan Rongshi tucked the blanket around her and was about to get up and leave when Li Qingluo stood up and hugged his neck.

"Ah Shi, I don't want to go to sleep."

She wanted to see him more and spend more time with him.

This parting may last for an unknown period of time.

What month is it?

Or several years?

Li Qingluo didn't even dare to give herself a definite date.

So, once tonight is over, who knows when we'll meet again?

Li Qingluo could no longer hold back and began to sob softly.

She rarely showed such weakness.

But at this moment, I no longer want to suppress the sadness and sorrow of parting in my heart.

"Ah Shi, if you had finished dealing with the affairs of the Great Chu earlier, would you have come to find me?"

Duan Rongshi gently coaxed her, "Okay."

"If you finish your work sooner, I hope my Luo'er won't be too playful and will come back to me immediately."

"We made a promise?"

Li Qingluo cried as she hooked her finger around his.

Seeing her like this, Duan Rongshi coaxed her, "Since you're so upset, why don't you stay? Let them go!"

Li Qingluo quickly shook her head: "No way!"

Duan Rongshi already knew.

She cried to comfort him.

"You little rascal."

"Then what will you do to stop crying?"

Li Qing sat up, still sobbing intermittently.

"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine soon."

Duan Rongshi decided to give her time.

He simply got up and sat cross-legged on the low couch next to the bed.

He picked up a pen and paper and started writing and drawing on the paper.

Li Qinglu wiped away her tears, composed herself, and then followed.

What are you drawing?

Duan Rongshi: "A diagram showing the relationships between the various tribes in the Western Regions".

"Luo'er, take your time to read along the way, so you won't be completely clueless when you get to the Western Regions."

"Also, Pofeng is in Mantuo City."

“Once you get there, you can contact him. He will follow your instructions and help you.”

Li Qingluo was pleasantly surprised: "Breaking through the wind?"

She hadn't seen Pofeng for a long time and knew that he had been secretly sent by him to do something else. It turned out that he was in Mantuo City!

Li Qingluo immediately agreed: "Okay."

"Oh, right, there's something else I haven't told you yet."

"I've already had the Hexi Garden, which your uncle gave me, cleaned up."

"That place is now the Yue King's residence. After I leave, you can move there and live there."

“Otherwise, it would be unbecoming of a son-in-law to live in such a small house as the Prince of Yue, and he would only become a laughing stock for the people of Nan’an.”

"I won't allow it!"

Duan Rongshi agreed, "Okay."

The two exchanged a smile, each having made some plans for the other.

Before long, Li Qingluo took the initiative to pester Duan Rongshi, wanting to make trouble for him.

Duan Rongshi helplessly grabbed her hand.

He was clearly aroused by her teasing, yet he still managed to maintain a sliver of rationality.

"Don't you feel tired?"

"Are you really coming?"

"Can we still travel tomorrow?"

Li Qingluo laughed and pounced on him: "The spring night is too short, my husband."

"If you don't cherish this time tonight, you'll be spending countless days alone in an empty room."

"Are you really going to be so polite?"

Upon hearing this, Duan Rongshi pulled her into his arms.

"Luo'er, you brought this on yourself."

"I'll make you regret this!"

Sure enough, even when Li Qingluo was too weak to continue and could no longer open her eyes, he still wouldn't let her go.

Keep comforting her, let her sleep, don't worry about him.

How can we ignore this?

Does she even have time to sleep?

She really regretted it.

She cried and begged to be let go, only then did he wipe away her tears and let it go.

When I woke up, Duan Rongshi was really gone.

Li Qingluo touched the pillow beside her with a hint of disappointment. After getting up, Que'er came in to serve her.

She didn't know where to look, and could only blush as she said, "Miss, His Highness said he didn't want to see you leave, so he went to court."

May we have a safe and smooth journey.

Li Qingluo: "I understand."

"Sparrow, let's pack up and get going."

Just as she got up, dressed, and washed, Granny Zheng brought in a letter.

"Miss, this letter was personally delivered early this morning by the nanny who serves Jiang Qiniang."

"It seems quite urgent."

Li Qingluo: "Jiang Qiniang?"

Li Qingluo quickly opened the package and glanced at it; her expression gradually turned strange.

Que'er realized something had happened again and asked with concern, "Miss, what's wrong? What did Jiang Qiniang say?"

Li Qingluo slammed the letter face down on the table: "Do you still remember Thirteenth Sister of the Jiang family?"

Que'er: "I remember. She was the daughter of that Third Master Jiang. She came to us covered in blood that day, begging us to save her... But this girl is very strange. Anyway, I don't think she's that simple."

Li Qingluo: "She went to Minister Jiang and asked him to let her enter our Prince Yue's mansion and become His Highness's concubine."