Chapter 5: Paying the debt of love, the little prince can't be fooled
"Prince Rong...Prince Rong'an."
Lord Deng's lips trembled, and he suddenly threw Deng Yesi's hand away, causing Deng Yesi to almost fall to the ground.
Even so, Lord Deng didn't even glance at his daughter. He just smiled and swung his sleeves in salute, as if he wasn't the one who had just cursed.
"Prince Rong'an, what do you mean by this?" Lord Deng looked behind him and saw a group of officers and soldiers appearing out of nowhere. He smiled apologetically, sweating profusely, "I love my daughter dearly, and I may have offended you just now. I beg your Highness to forgive me."
What a loving daughter he is.
Luo Qingling helped Deng Yesi up and walked her into the wing, leaving the mess outside to Qin Yanheng to deal with alone. She had thought that Lord Deng would be worried about Deng Yesi, who had disappeared overnight, but she didn't expect him to start with a barrage of foul language, slandering his own daughter.
"Mrs. Luo, I'm sorry to have embarrassed you. My father is such a person. I haven't had a father's love since I was young. He always forced me to learn women's work in the name of doing good for me, and forced me to meet people. If I didn't obey, he would beat and scold me..."
Deng Yesi sat at the table sobbing, covering her eyes with a handkerchief from time to time. Luo Qingling naturally understood Deng Yesi's difficulties. She silently pushed the teacup to Deng Yesi and then patted her on the back, showing with her actions that she was someone who could be trusted and listened to.
After the two entered the wing room, the hall outside the door suddenly became quiet. It was not known whether it was because Lord Deng did not dare to be as arrogant as before after facing Qin Yanheng alone.
"My father, he loves to act," Deng Yesi gradually calmed down, holding the teacup in both hands and continuing with his head down, not even looking at Luo Qingling. "Everyone in the capital says that my father single-handedly rose from a minor official to the position of Shangshu, that he values talent and cares for the people, and that he is a good official."
"He is a good official, but a bad father! He...he actually..." Deng Yesi couldn't control his emotions and sobbed with his hands covering his face.
Seeing how Lord Deng accused Deng Yesi of being unvirtuous as a woman as soon as he entered the room, Luo Qingling felt a pang in her heart. It was useless to say anything now. She could only let Deng Yesi speak for herself - including everything that happened tonight.
They also need to know from Deng Yesi whether their aunt was also killed.
"Madam Luo," Deng Yesi suddenly looked up and took her hand. Her red eyes were filled with tears as she pleaded, "My father wanted me to choose a husband at the Qujiang Banquet tonight, but I had already made an appointment with Jia Lang to meet at Xiangshan Temple at twilight hour, so I ran here alone."
It's Xiangshan Temple again! My aunt went there early this morning. I think Deng Yesi should know her whereabouts...
"Just now I heard Madam Luo talking with Prince Rong'an. Is there something wrong with Xiangshan Temple? Jia Lang... Jia Lang must still be waiting for me there. Madam Luo, can you go with Prince Rong'an to look for Jia Lang?"
The opportunity has come!
Luo Qingling seized on the topic and pressed the issue, "I seemed to see you meeting a man at the post station at dusk. Could it be that he wasn't Master Jia...?"
"That was a demon in disguise! He came to me disguised as Jia Lang and took me into Qinlou. He even..." Deng Yesi sniffed, placing one hand on his abdomen, his expression sad, "and wanted to take my child's life."
"Madam Luo, please, save Jia Lang and my child."
Deng Yesi had been hesitant and reluctant to speak in the presence of Qin Yanheng and the others. It turned out that she and Jia Lang had already had a child, and it seemed that Lord Deng was still unaware of this. Without further delay, her aunt and Jia Lang were still at Xiangshan Temple, and she had to go and find out what was going on.
When I opened the door, I saw Lord Deng standing there with a worried look on his face. I didn't know if he really cared about Deng Yesi.
Luo Qingling nodded slightly as a greeting, then walked straight towards Qin Yanheng, sat beside the latter, and whispered the clue he had just obtained.
Of course, she did not mention that Deng Yesi was pregnant.
"Madam Deng is saying that she and Jia Lang had agreed to meet at Xiangshan Temple tonight, but a sudden downpour hit them halfway through their journey, and while resting at the post station, she saw Jia Lang transformed into a demon?"
Qin Yanheng found this even more outrageous. Why would Deng Yesi, a noblewoman from the capital who never left her home, cast a spell on her?
"Why did the monster go to such great lengths to create an illusion and tie Madam Deng up in Qinlou? Could it be that he has taken a fancy to Madam Deng?" asked the cousin.
Qin Yanheng said nothing, turned his head and looked at Luo Qingling quietly with the corners of his mouth raised, his eyebrows slowly raised: What do you think?
The young man in front of her had his eyelashes fluttering, his eyes were clearly black and white, and his eyes moved when he looked at her. Although he had a smile on his face, his eyes contained a bit of coldness and were full of inquiry.
Well, I can’t hide it. This young prince is not someone who can be fooled.
Luo Qingling looked away, clenched his fist and covered his mouth with his hand, his voice much lower than before: "Deng Yesi is still pregnant."
Before he could finish his words, his cousin took a cold breath and was about to ask something when Qin Yanheng glanced at him. His cousin raised his hand and slapped himself in the mouth.
This monster is not coveting beauty, it is obvious that he came for the "fetus" in Madam Deng's belly!
"Then my mother—" my cousin shouted. Mother went to Xiangshan Temple during the day, worshipping Buddha was one reason, but most importantly...
"How is my aunt?" Luo Qingling asked.
"The imperial physician examined Madam's pulse two days ago," the attendant interrupted, "and found out Madam... is pregnant."
*
Mao time, dawn.
A pale sky appeared on the horizon, and the mountains were covered with fog. Horses were traveling back and forth on the mountain road. The sound of horse hooves came from far away and startled a flock of flying birds.
A quarter of an hour ago, perhaps because of the solemn expressions on everyone's faces, the Minister of Personnel felt extremely uneasy and wanted to ask to bring Deng Yesi back to the mansion, but because Qin Yanheng did not speak, he did not move for a long time.
"Lord Deng."
Qin Yanheng stood up. Seeing this, the Minister of Personnel stepped forward and bowed. Qin Yanheng then gave an order: "The illusion has been broken, the Qin Tower has been destroyed, but the monster has disappeared. Until I figure out this matter, none of you are allowed to leave the post station."
Outside the post station were soldiers armed with knives, probably sent by Qin Yanheng to guard everyone.
Qin Yanheng ignored Lord Deng's obstruction, stepped over the threshold and walked straight out, leaving behind a sentence "No one can leave without my order", and then his back disappeared from the post station.
"Your Highness—"
Luo Qingling chased out, holding the Golden Dragon Sword in her hand. Not far away, Qin Yanheng jumped on his horse, picked up the reins and was about to leave, but he suddenly pulled the horse and turned back to look at her.
Luo Qingling looked up at the young man on horseback. Even after hours of travel, his clothes remained fresh and shiny, giving no sign of having been up all night. Perhaps the royal family was very concerned about their appearance. Luo Qingling took a deep breath and said, "Your Highness and I will go to Xiangshan Temple together!"
"No..." Qin Yanheng was about to refuse when he caught a glimpse of the Golden Dragon Sword in Luo Qingling's hand. He really couldn't leave the Golden Dragon Sword at the post station. If he lost it, his old master would nag him.
Qin Yanheng raised his eyebrows and changed his tone, "You have only a moment to find a horse and follow me."
Saving people was the most important thing at the moment, so Qin Yanheng didn't have the energy to dwell on why the Golden Dragon Sword, which he had carried with him for many years, would recognize Luo Qingling as its master. Besides, the monster had great magical powers, so he couldn't go to Xiangshan Temple alone with his bare hands, so he agreed to Luo Qingling's proposal.
After the two men left, Lord Deng stood at the gate with his neck stretched out, looking around until their figures disappeared into the woods.
Lord Deng glanced at the knife-wielding soldiers and, noticing no one was paying any attention, covered his mouth with the back of his hand and whispered to his attendant, "I just asked you to call the officials from the Ministry of Personnel to bring some men over. Why haven't they shown up in such a long time?"
"Lord Deng - Lord Deng!" There was a carriage parked outside the post station. Lord Fang, the Minister of Personnel, stood at the head of the horse and waved and shouted at Lord Deng.
Upon seeing this, Lord Deng hurriedly waved to Lord Fang, signaling him not to come in and to stand outside the door to report anything. Otherwise, once he entered the door, he would not be able to leave without His Highness's order.
Unexpectedly, Lord Fang seemed to have misunderstood Lord Deng's meaning. He showed his token to the soldiers guarding the gate, then strode into the post station with a smug smile on his face.
Looking at Lord Deng's eyes widening, Lord Fang felt that he was very smart and could figure out what his boss Lord Deng was thinking without too many words.
"It's bad!" Lord Deng pushed his followers away and ran forward to stop Lord Fang, but the man had already come here and he couldn't get him out.
"Sir Deng," Lord Fang said, opening the scroll and pointing to the list of names, "The arrangements for the new Jinshi scholars require your approval. Has your Excellency decided on the future plans for these new Jinshi scholars?"
There were a few names written sporadically on the first line of the book. Lord Deng saw at a glance that they were all the names he had shown his daughter Deng Yesi last night. Unexpectedly, she looked down on all of them and even sneaked into the mountains and was captured by the monster. Not only did she alarm Prince Rong'an, but even he, her father, was locked up in the post station. He was really infuriated!
It would be fine if the other Jinshi daughters looked down on him, after all, they were plain-looking and didn't have much talent. I also don't know why Prince Rong'an wanted to let this group of commoners enter the officialdom, when it was obvious that the candidates who asked him for recommendation before the exam were more outstanding.
Unfortunately, Prince Rong'an was selecting the candidates himself this year, and even the Minister of Personnel did not dare to recommend anyone, otherwise his daughter would have been ready to marry the candidate he liked.
However, this batch of new scholars is not without good seedlings... While he was distracted, his subordinate beside him repeated the question in a low voice. Lord Deng suddenly came to his senses, pointed to the name at the top of the list, and asked.
"Why didn't Mr. Du come to the Qujiang Banquet last night?"
Lord Deng admired the number one scholar Du Yubai very much. He heard that Du Yubai came from a poor family and studied hard for many years before he came to the capital. He had the demeanor of his youth. If he could be recruited as a son-in-law, it would be really great!
"I met Mr. Du last night. Before the banquet started, he said he had something to do at home and left early. Today, he has not reported to the Ministry of Personnel. Should we send someone to Mr. Du's home to look for him?" Lord Fang replied.
"Perhaps Du Yubai has been delayed by family matters. Let's wait a few more days," Lord Deng pondered for a moment, unwilling to give this "son-in-law" away for nothing. "This year's national examination questions are not easy. It's not easy for a student from a poor family to reach this point."
Lord Deng is determined to marry his daughter Deng Yesi to this Mr. Du. As for the Mr. Jia mentioned by his daughter, he doesn't even have the ability to become a Jinshi. He is just a country bumpkin!
The stained glass window behind her suddenly closed, and a beautiful figure was reflected on the window paper.
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