Chapter 110 Is she someone Prince Su can use?
At that time, Li Qingluo helped Zheng Lingzhou block Duan Rongshi's sword, but her bracelet was also cut in half by Duan Rongshi.
Now, it's intact again.
Li Qingluo picked it up and examined it carefully; it was indeed hers!
However, something seems different now.
Duan Rongshi: "I have replaced the thin rope inside with a stronger iron wire. Would you like to try it?"
After saying that, he took out a dagger from his sleeve, and at his signal, Li Qingluo also took off her bracelet.
The wire was wrapped around the bracelet, and despite Duan Rongshi's efforts, it could not be cut again.
However, Li Qingluo's hand could not withstand his strength, and the bracelet flew out, only to be caught tightly by Duan Rongshi and held in his hand again.
"What...what is this?"
Li Qingluo was extremely surprised, and a hint of fanaticism couldn't help but show in her eyes.
Duan Rongshi: "Refined iron."
"Refined iron?" As the name suggests, she could roughly guess what kind of good stuff it was.
Presumably, swords and hidden weapons forged from refined iron are far superior in sharpness to those made from ordinary iron.
It turned out that the resources used by the powerful and wealthy were beyond her imagination.
Duan Rongshi said, "The dagger designs you sold to the Lotus Sect, and the daggers made from them, were all made of refined iron."
Li Qingluo looked up in surprise: "How come they, a sect, have so much refined iron available?"
As she spoke, Li Qingluo suddenly felt a little guilty.
Because she couldn't help but wonder if she had messed up his plans last time?
So, he wants to settle scores with her later?
It's no wonder Li Qingluo is so cautious and suspicious. She has repaid a favor by releasing Zheng Lingzhou, but it seems she owes Prince Su more and more.
Duan Rongshi stared at her, calmly answering Li Qingluo's question with his arms crossed: "All the iron mines in Daliang are controlled by the imperial court. All blacksmith shops must purchase their iron-forging tools from the imperial court."
"The fact that the Lotus Sect is willing to use refined iron to make a dagger, and is so unscrupulous, shows how abundant the amount of refined iron they possess."
"Therefore, there are members of the Lotus Sect within the imperial court, even among those in high positions."
Li Qing was astonished, never expecting that the Lotus Sect had infiltrated the imperial court.
"Last time... at Guanshui Cliff, you arrested quite a few Lotus Cult members, didn't you? Didn't you get any clues out of them?"
Duan Rongshi: "We did capture a few people alive, but they were not afraid of death and all of them committed suicide by poisoning themselves."
Where had Li Qingluo ever heard of these things?
I was so shocked that I didn't know what to say.
Duan Rongshi, however, did not let her off the hook, and continued, "The Lotus Sect at Guanshui Cliff used the daggers made from your design to assassinate many people in the imperial court. Are you aware of that?"
Li Qingluo then realized that this was what Prince Su was waiting for her to say!
They really came to confront her!
Her heart trembled violently, and she immediately stood up and knelt down. "I only sold a design back then, and I really didn't know that the other party was related to the Lotus Sect. I beg Your Highness Prince Su... to forgive my ignorance."
Duan Rongshi knew that he had frightened her.
Therefore, he did not press her further or continue to interrogate her.
After only a cup of tea, he spoke, "In that case, I can spare you this time. But from now on, if you have any designs for new and unusual weapons, you must show them to me first. If I take a liking to any of them, you will be well rewarded."
Li Qingluo looked up.
Is Prince Su's intention... to sell him weapon blueprints?
Because of the bracelet and dagger, he saw his own rudimentary skills, and Li Qingluo didn't know whether it was a blessing or a curse.
However, she couldn't refuse. After all, regarding the incident at Guanshui Cliff, whether it was because he saved her or because she released Zheng Lingzhou, Li Qingluo knew she owed him a lot.
"I...I do have a few drawings I made in my spare time, and I wonder if they might be of use to Your Highness..."
Duan Rongshi's eyes revealed a hint of a smile: "I'll know once I've seen it. Five days from now, the Princess's residence will hold a winter banquet. You can bring the design with you then."
After saying this, Duan Rongshi stood up and left the private room first.
Li Qinglu saw him off, thinking to herself: Why wait five days? That Rain-Chasing Guard can already come and go freely in the General's Mansion without making a sound. Taking a blueprint is a piece of cake.
They even made her attend the banquet she hates the most; it's really putting her in a difficult position.
She sighed, and just as she stood up, Que'er and Granny Deng rushed in.
"Young lady, His Highness Prince Su did nothing to you, did he?"
The nervous look on Granny Deng's face amused Li Qingluo.
"What will he do to me? Don't worry, he doesn't care about my life right now."
Perhaps because she still had some use, Li Qingluo sensed that Prince Su was somewhat patient with her.
Granny Deng exclaimed, "Oh dear, young lady, I'm not talking about your life, I'm talking about your innocence! You two are both unmarried, a man and a woman, alone together in a room, what is he...?"
Li Qingluo raised a finger, her expression turning serious.
“Granny, be careful what you say. In His Highness Prince Su’s eyes, I am nothing more than a useful person. I’m afraid that whether I am a man or a woman makes no difference to him. Granny, you don’t need to take this to heart.”
Granny Deng: "Is...is that so?"
However, upon reflection, she realized that what the girl said might actually make some sense.
Prince Su is twenty-two years old this year, but he has not yet married.
His younger brothers, who are seventeen years old, all have wives this year.
But this Prince Su, I heard, doesn't even have a single concubine in his palace.
That's really strange.
"Could it be that His Highness Prince Su is truly not interested in women and prefers men?"
Sparrow couldn't help but exclaim in surprise and suspicion.
Li Qinglu glared at her fiercely, "Don't you want to live anymore?"
Sparrow then covered her mouth in fear.
Granny Deng hurried to the door and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that no one was outside.
Little did they know that Prince Su, Duan Rongshi, who hadn't actually gone far around the corner of the stairs, had twitched his ears and overheard every single word of their conversation.
At this moment, Duan Rongshi's face was as gloomy as if covered by dark clouds, as if a hailstorm could break out at any moment.
Zhuiyu swallowed hard, her heart pounding with fear: "Your Highness, I'll go cut that little maid's mouth off right away!"
Duan Rongshi remained silent, but his gaze fell upon Zhuiyu like a knife.
Zhui Yu realized what was happening and quickly slapped her own mouth, saying, "It was my fault for being so talkative. Your Highness still needs Miss Li, so please forgive that little maid this time!"
Duan Rongshi: "She is indeed a useful person."
After speaking with an indifferent expression, Prince Su lifted his foot and left.
Zhuiyu: Your Highness, you're clearly seething inside, aren't you? You're just being stubborn. In this world, where else can you find a maidservant as close to you as the Second Miss?
If there were no difference between men and women, I'd probably be surrounded by women by now.
Clearly, the second daughter is different...
Turning around, Duan Rongshi went to the princess's residence.
When she left, Princess Xiyue still looked puzzled.
"When did I ever say I was going to hold a winter banquet?"
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