Chapter 599 Leaving the City, Farewell!

At this moment, Li Qingluo, who was already far away from the Jiang family, was in an alley.

After tearing off his human skin mask, Sha Si gave Li Qinglu a fawning smile.

"Miss, how was my disguise?"

Although Sha Si's smile was stiff, Li Qingluo was becoming more and more satisfied.

Her "kill" characters are now gradually becoming more and more like human beings, no longer like expressionless puppets as before.

Li Qingluo naturally praised him.

"The disguise is excellent; he looks almost exactly like the real Wu Lang. A reward is due."

Kill Four was praised and beamed with joy: "Thank you, Miss."

Li Qingluo looked up at the sky and said, "Let's go, it's time for us to leave the city."

Although Li Qingluo learned from Jiang Shisan Niang that there were still many noble ladies in Nan'an who were now vying for the position of concubine in the Yue Prince's mansion.

But she no longer intends to stop them one by one.

You can't stop them.

And if it really comes, there's no escaping it.

Let Duan Rongshi handle these matters himself.

If he himself were willing to accept the marriage bestowed by the Chu Emperor, then his actions would be superfluous.

The group had just left the city and met up with Sha Yi and the others at the agreed location. Before Li Qingluo could even get out of the carriage to change horses, Sha San stepped forward and said, "Miss, His Highness has arrived."

Duan Rongshi?

Why is he here?

Didn't he get up early and go to court?

Why would they be waiting for me outside the city?!

He... he didn't go at all?

Li Qingluo's previously somewhat disappointed mood was instantly shaken.

A wave of sweetness welled up in my heart.

She quickly lifted the carriage curtain and climbed out.

Duan Rongshi was sitting on horseback, gazing at her quietly.

Without a word, he spurred his horse forward and then reached out his hand to Li Qingluo.

Without hesitation, Li Qingluo reached out and gently helped Duan Rongshi onto his horse.

"Everyone, stay put and rest."

"We will depart on time in half an hour."

Duan Rongshi left with a single sentence, then raised his whip and led Li Qingluo away from the place.

After everyone had left, Leng Dian stepped forward and looked at Zhui Yu with a complicated expression.

"You little rascal, you're good at pretending. Come here!"

Que'er looked on with a puzzled expression as they walked to the side. Taking advantage of this moment, Sha San brought Que'er some pastries that he had been carrying in his arms.

Are you hungry? Want to eat something?

Sparrow smiled and shook her head: "I'm not hungry. We'll eat it later, and the young lady can have some too."

Sha San smiled and nodded, and the two sat down by the carriage to talk.

Seeing this from afar, Leng Dian looked at Zhui Yu with unbearable pity: "Are you really going to make yourself suffer? You know she has no chance of turning back, yet you still insist on getting involved?"

"Zhuiyu, do you really have to risk your life like this?"

Zhuiyu, holding his sword expressionlessly, said, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Leng Dianye laughed.

She stretched out her leg and kicked him: "What are you pretending for?"

"His Highness clearly told me to go with the young lady, but you dared to drug me last night!"

"You just want to keep me from getting up today so you can sneak off, right?"

"For a mere sparrow, you'd abandon even His Highness?"

"Following His Highness is going to make you suffer?"

Zhuiyu drooped her head.

"I just want to try one last time."

"Otherwise, when they come back, I'm afraid they'll already be pregnant."

"Brother Leng, give me this chance. I promise I won't do anything stupid."

Leng Dian: "You're so insightful when it comes to other people's problems, how come you're so clueless when it comes to your own?"

"If you had had this much drive to find your own cousin back then, you wouldn't have dragged it out for so many years."

"You do seem to care more about this sparrow."

"You deserved to have said those nasty things back then."

But there's no going back in life!

"Zhuiyu, you'd better figure this out yourself sooner rather than later!"

Zhuiyu smiled bitterly: "I understand. Let's just consider this the last time..."

"This trip will serve as a reminder for myself."

As he spoke, he turned back to look at the sweet and loving couple in the carriage, and a wave of bitterness and pain washed over him.

Li Qingluo and Duan Rongshi rode their horses through the woods and arrived at the stream.

Li Qingluo was personally helped off the horse by Duan Rongshi and sat down on a rock by the river.

Then he reached into his pocket and, after a while, pulled out a jade hairpin.

The texture of white jade is clear and transparent.

The hairpin is plain in color, with a snow lotus blooming lifelike on its tip.

Duan Rongshi raised his hand and personally inserted the hairpin into her hair bun.

Li Qingluo touched it with great surprise.

"Ah Shi, what is this...?"

What woman wouldn't love to receive jewelry from her husband?

Although Li Qingluo has now made her gold and silver jewelry shop the number one in Nan'an, she can naturally get whatever she wants.

No matter how expensive, how beautiful, or how exquisite, she can afford it all.

But the fact that Duan Rongshi gave it to her personally made it even more meaningful to her.

Moreover, she could feel the jade in her hand with just one touch; it was as cold as ice!

This jade is definitely not an ordinary piece!

Duan Rongshi looked into her eyes and said, "I made it myself."

"It was done on the way back to Daliang."

"I've kept it in my arms for months. I just haven't had a chance to give it to you."

"It may not be as exquisite as the ones in the shop, but I hope it can accompany you on your journey to the Western Regions."

"Luo'er, protect yourself as you would protect it."

Li Qingluo's eyes welled up with tears.

"good."

This jade hairpin is not easy to polish and carve.

Moreover, carving that jade lotus requires immense patience and meticulousness.

She realized his intentions.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Li Qingluo couldn't help but reach out and hug him.

"Ah Shi, I'm leaving. Take good care of yourself."

"However, if that tyrant bestows upon you a few concubines, you don't need to write to tell me."

"When I return, I can continue to live in the Nangong residence..."

Duan Rongshi frowned: "What concubine?"

He knelt down, supporting her arms, and stared at her, asking, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Li Qinglu originally intended to wait for him to resolve the issue himself.

She had even thought it through on her way out of the city: if she came back to find him with a bunch of concubines in his household, she would separate from him and live alone.

Anyway, we've had these sweet days for over a year now.

From now on, remember the good times. If you can make it work, great; if not, then part ways.

She wasn't the type to force herself to compromise...

"Now the news has spread throughout all the major families in Nan'an City that the tyrant is going to bestow several concubines upon you."

“That Jiang family’s thirteenth daughter is also eyeing you. I just went to the Jiang family before leaving the city and scared her.”

"She probably won't dare to think about you anymore."

"But there are so many prominent families and so many daughters of noble families in Nan'an, I can't possibly ask them one by one which family has their eyes on you, or which one has secretly fallen for you..."

Am I very jealous?

"She's not exactly a kind and generous wife..."

"I'm going on another long trip. When I get back, your household will surely be quite lively..."

She kept spouting sarcastic remarks.

This shocked Duan Rongshi.

Then it turned into a situation where I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Do you think he would dare to force me into a marriage?"

"You alone are enough to deter him from provokeing you. After all, you are the woman who set fire to his precious secret chamber and kidnapped him from the palace!"

"He plotted to kill his two sons and one brother."

"He still dares to make you uncomfortable?"

"Besides, if you upset me, I might just quit."

"I wish I could drop this mess and leave with you right now, how could he dare?"

Li Qingluo then figured it out.

I chuckled to myself.

"So it's just a rumor?"

"Then why did the Ministry of Rites announce that they were going to arrange your wedding..."

Her words abruptly stopped.

He then pointed incredulously at himself.

"Me...we?"

Duan Rongshi then nodded and revealed the matter he had originally intended to conceal: "Don't worry, after you've been gone for another three to five days, I will go to the palace to tell him that you have gone on a long trip."

"He doesn't need to bother with this marriage anymore."

As for why we should wait three to five days, it was because we were afraid that the madman Zongzheng Langri would be unwilling to give up and send people to chase after Li Qingluo.

That would only disrupt her journey.

Upon learning the truth, Li Qinglu felt a pang of guilt.

"Ah Shi, I'm sorry, I..."

"I even made wild guesses, and even..."

"Did I do something wrong?"

Fortunately, Jiang Shisan Niang was only frightened and no one was killed.

Duan Rongshi reached out and gently flicked her forehead.

"But I'm happy."

"I am yours."

"It is your duty as a wife not to let others have designs on you."

"Luo'er, you did a great job."

His eyes sparkled, as if he genuinely rejoiced at Li Qingluo's jealousy.

"However, have you already planned out your escape route in your mind?"

He narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint in them.

Li Qingluo quickly waved her hand guiltily and smiled, "Where? I didn't, absolutely not!"

Duan Rongshi sneered: "Still saying you don't?"

"Your words are written all over your face!"

"You just said you were going back to the Nangong residence. How dare you?"

"Remember! I care more about me and the women around me than you do about you and the men around you—hundreds of times more!"

"Are you the only one who's jealous?"

"Your senior brother is giving me a real headache! Do you know, I even considered killing him to silence him a couple of days ago?"

Li Qingluo was startled by his idea.

Given Duan Rongshi's personality, Li Qingluo knew what kind of change he had made, that he would have had this thought but still suppressed it.

Li Qingluo: "I understand. I was really wrong!"

"I will never doubt you again."

Even if they all try to get close to you, I believe you will ruthlessly push them all away. You will never get involved with them.

"Just like me, we only have each other."

"And my senior brother is just a senior brother. Between him and me, there is only Master."

"Ah Shi, thank you for believing in me."

He would speak his mind, which made Li Qingluo very happy.

She didn't want them to separate with any lingering resentment, suspicion, or grudges between them.

Duan Rongshi opened his arms and said, "Hold me."

Li Qingluo happily rushed over.

The two embraced each other tightly.

Duan Rongshi reluctantly lowered his head and kissed her face again and again.

"Luo'er, take care on your journey."

"Come back soon."

"I'm waiting for you at home."

In the blink of an eye, half a month later.

Rongle County is located at the border between Daliang and Chu.

Before Li Qingluo and her party even entered the city, they saw Zhang Mama, who was already waiting at the city gate.

"girl!"

"girl--"