Upon hearing this, Eunuch Chang hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Your Majesty's words make sense, but Princess Rongyang's stubborn nature might be..."
The old emperor knew this too. He glanced at the pile of memorials on the table and, as if he had thought of something, a smile gradually appeared on his face.
Meanwhile, Qin Qing and the others finally began to move forward. Looking ahead, the endless rocks and sand made them feel even more restless.
Liu Qing and the others had not yet caught up. They sat quietly in the carriage waiting, but Liu Piaorou's expression became complicated. After a long while, she finally spoke.
"Xiao Lian, something feels off..."
After all, she was a well-read and talented woman; even if she were slow-witted, she should have noticed something.
Xiaolian looked bewildered. She was good at fighting, but it was a bit difficult for her to use her brain.
Qin Qing, standing beside the carriage, chuckled, seemingly unintentionally saying...
"How did the bandits happen to run into us in this desolate wilderness? Even if it was a coincidence, why did they give up without even chasing us when we ran? It was as if they were afraid of a fight. Oh, right, these bandits are strange. Young Master only mentioned his name. There are so many officials with the surname Liu in the capital. How did the bandit leader guess the young lady's identity?"
With each word she spoke, Liu Piaorou's face grew paler and more flustered. With all these strange coincidences combined, only a fool would believe there was nothing wrong!
Seeing Liu Qing and his servants approaching from afar, Qin Qing immediately turned around, tied the horse's reins, and continued his attack.
"Oh dear, if we hadn't run away just now, Miss would definitely have been captured. A talented young lady from a prestigious family being captured by bandits, witnessed by the servants themselves, would have ruined her reputation if word got out. At a time like this, if someone were to take the initiative to propose marriage, they would definitely win the gratitude of the Grand Tutor!"
After saying that, she quickly covered her mouth, stared wide-eyed in disbelief, and turned to look at Liu Piaorou, whose face was pale and whose eyes were filled with horror.
"Miss, please don't listen to my nonsense. I'm just making a hypothetical scenario. The storyteller has told similar stories before. Please don't listen to my rambling."
After saying that, Liu Piaorou nodded blankly. Xiao Lian, who was standing next to her, also understood a little. She was so angry that she almost rushed over to fight Liu Qing!
If this were to happen, Liu Qing would definitely be the one to propose to the Grand Tutor; she wouldn't even need to think about it!
It was Liu Piaorou, who was standing to the side, who snapped out of her daze and quickly pulled her back, suppressing her anger.
"Xiao Lian! Don't be impulsive! Perhaps... the truth isn't like that?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Qing couldn't help but roll her eyes. Xiao Lian, standing to the side, was also utterly incredulous, but seeing her young mistress on the verge of collapse, she could only shut up in a huff.
The three remained silent. After a moment, Liu Qing finally rushed over, looking at Liu Piaorou with a worried and anxious expression. His affectionate look almost convinced Qin Qing!
"Rou'er, are you alright? Don't be afraid~ Brother Qing will definitely protect you!"
Liu Piaorou snapped out of her daze and looked at him quietly, making Liu Qing's heart tighten. He thought his conspiracy had been exposed! She then smiled and said softly.
"Rou'er is alright, thank you, Brother Qing!"
Qin Qing shook her head upon seeing this. What a silly girl!
Just then, Liu Qing breathed a sigh of relief and said something.
"That's good. Don't worry, no matter what happens, you will always be the wife I, Liu Qing, have chosen! I would give my life for you."
These words made Qin Qing turn around with disdain. What, he hadn't even finished the first half of the plan, yet he still insisted on finishing the second half? He was truly dedicated!
At that moment, no one saw that Liu Piaorou in Liu Qing's arms stiffened, her pupils instantly constricted, and tears suddenly fell.
If their assumptions were just guesses, then Liu Qing's words were tantamount to indirectly admitting those guesses.
What does "no matter what happens" mean? Does it mean he hopes something will happen? Or did he already anticipate what would happen?
If she had harbored any illusions or expectations before, they were completely shattered at this moment. The man she trusted and loved so deeply actually had to resort to such methods to gain her father's approval! It was utterly shameful!
That's right. The reason why the Grand Tutor recognized Liu Qing as his son was to cut off Liu Qing's feelings for her. However, she was devoted to him, and the father could only remain in a stalemate despite his disagreement. But now it seems that Liu Qing is not someone to whom one can entrust one's life, and the father's insistence was right!
After Liu Qing left the carriage, the procession continued on its way. Inside the carriage, Liu Piaorou bit her lip tightly, suppressing her emotions so that no one would notice.
The sweltering air was unbearable; sweat had already seeped from their bodies, and the group was parched. However, they had to get out of this rocky area before dark, otherwise there was nowhere to rest, and the sudden changes in temperature could easily make them sick.
An hour later, Liu Piaorou, whose emotions had been fluctuating wildly, was the first to give in. Her face was flushed and she seemed to be suffering from heatstroke. Qin Qing quickly wet a cotton cloth and placed it on her head, which made her feel better.
A bead of sweat slid down Qin Qing's forehead. Qin Qing's subconscious wiping motion suddenly froze. Looking at the sweat on her fingers, a bad premonition arose in her heart.
Drought...is here!
The thought flashed through her mind, and she frowned deeply. Peony would probably take the children this way too. A carriage would certainly be faster than walking, but they were just a group of children and young girls; wouldn't that attract unwanted attention...?
At that moment, a sudden worry welled up in her heart, and she became somewhat restless.
As afternoon approached, the sun was no longer as scorching as before, and huge rocks came into view. Liu Qing couldn't stand it any longer and finally decided to take a break.
Qin Qing helped Liu Piaorou down from the carriage. Everyone sat on the hot rocks to rest and replenish their energy, but she seemed a little absent-minded.
Just then, her eyes inadvertently caught sight of a hem of clothing under a large rock, revealing a small hand lying quietly there. She suddenly shuddered, a wave of panic washing over her, praying that the person wasn't the one she imagined…
He strode over there, completely oblivious to Xiaolian's surprise.
As she got closer, she finally saw a few figures lying under the rocks. Dust from the hot wind covered them, and their closed eyes made them look lifeless. Their sun-darkened skin had lost all its previous whiteness! Heartache and fear welled up in her heart, and Qin Qing clenched her hands tightly before rushing over.
With trembling hands, she helped her granddaughter up from the corner. Noticing her faint breathing, she breathed a sigh of relief. As if remembering something, she waved her hand, and a bottle of mineral water appeared in her hand.
To avoid causing unnecessary trouble, she rarely lost supplies in her spatial storage, but she couldn't care less about that now.
The cool mineral water entered her dry mouth, and the refreshing sensation gradually woke the little girl who had been drowsy. Unconsciously, she picked up the bottle and drank it in big gulps.
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