Chapter 204 Luo'er goes to see Nan Jia off on her final journey!
After another heavy snowfall, the whole city was covered in white.
Li Qing went to Jingci Hall before dawn.
She hadn't slept all night, so her eyes were bloodshot.
Wearing a cloak and a hood, Li Qingluo strode into the hall and saw her grandmother leaning against the couch.
"Grandmother! Did you... also stay up all night?"
Li Qinglu walked over and sat down next to Madam Pei.
Madam Pei opened her eyes and sighed, "Luo'er, are you going out?"
Li Qingluo nodded: "Grandmother, your granddaughter wants to go to the Pei residence."
Madam Pei sat up abruptly: "What are you doing at the Pei residence?! You already know something has happened at the Pei residence, yet you still go to that dangerous place. Do you know how dangerous it is?"
"Luo'er, Grandmother will not ask you to do what you promised me before. Just stay at home. Since you and that Twelfth Sister are so close, Grandmother will send people to inquire about this matter and let you know the results..."
Li Qingluo lowered her head: "Grandmother. Since I came to Jinling, besides you, the only other people I've truly confided in are Princess Nan Jia and Princess Luo."
"Luo'er wants to see Nan Jia off on his final journey."
Madam Pei was a woman of great loyalty and affection, and she knew that she would not be able to stop Li Qingluo from doing so.
"But such a thing happened at the Pei residence... what if it really was the work of your great-uncle..."
Sure enough, Grandmother did know some things about her great-uncle.
After Li Qingluo found out the details of the old Duke Pei's current situation, she never told her grandmother.
During her last visit to the Pei residence, Li Qingluo witnessed a maid being nearly driven to death.
She knew that her great-uncle had completely lost his mind.
Although Grandmother had always deliberately avoided investigating matters concerning the Duke of Pei's mansion, nothing stays hidden forever, and perhaps this information had already leaked out of the Duke of Pei's mansion itself...
Li Qingluo: "Grandmother, don't think too much and upset yourself. I heard that my maternal great-uncle can't even leave his room now, so it's not necessarily him who did what happened in Nanjia."
"Let's wait for Uncle De's news."
After Li Qingluo came out of the general's mansion, a young man was squatting in the corner of the wall outside the mansion, covered in snow.
Li Qingluo glanced at him once before getting into the carriage. It wasn't until the carriage had been gone for a while that the boy climbed onto the front deck.
"This servant Wu Quan greets the young lady."
Li Qingluo spoke to him through the curtain: "Are you Uncle De's son?"
Wu Quan: "Yes, young lady, I am my father's youngest son. My father has not yet returned to Jinling, so I have been running errands for you lately."
Li Qingluo: Look at him, he's only fourteen or fifteen years old, but he's already quite capable.
"Have you found out anything about the Pei family's affairs?"
Wu Quan: "They say that the second master of the second branch of the family was like a demon last night. He took a sword and wanted to kill the old Duke. After being stopped by the whole family, he went to the Dali Temple to report the case. I heard that several groups of people have already gone there. The whole Duke's mansion was in an uproar all night."
Li Qingluo clenched her fist.
She was devastated to hear the bad news last night and found it hard to accept.
Even when she was getting out of bed to put on her shoes and socks, she tripped and fell to the ground.
Nan Jia's voice and smile kept flooding into Li Qingluo's mind. The joy and happiness she had shared with Nan Jia, and the friendship they had formed during those days of eating and sleeping together at Siyuan, made Li Qingluo feel even more pained than if her own heart had been ripped out when she heard the devastating news.
It took her a long time to recover.
It wasn't until I was standing in the yard, getting soaked in the heavy snow, that I came to my senses and realized it was real!
Nan Jia's tragic death was so cruel!
Even he himself couldn't accept it, let alone Nan Jia's father, who only had this one daughter.
Li Qinglu thought of that Aunt Guan, wondering how she would bear this matter.
Having never experienced her own mother's love, Nan Jia grew up surrounded by the most intense love from her parents, and this happy family was thus completely torn apart...
Li Qingluo felt heartbroken whenever she thought about it.
"Granny, go to Prince Su's residence."
The carriage made a turn and changed course, no longer heading straight for the princess's residence.
"Young lady, are you going to see His Highness Prince Su?"
Li Qingluo knew that she had promised her grandmother that she would no longer have any involvement with Prince Su, but who else could she turn to for help?
Only Prince Su can allow her to see Nan Jia.
Li Qingluo: "Today, no outsiders are allowed to enter the Pei residence. Even if I bring Princess Nanping with me... it might just be a wasted trip."
"But the Prince Su, who is the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, is someone the Pei family cannot stop."
Outside the Prince Su's mansion, the General's carriage was quietly parked in a corner not far away.
Granny Deng went to the gatehouse of Prince Su's mansion with a trembling heart. She returned with a strange expression and reported, "Miss... the servants of Prince Su's mansion said... that His Highness is waiting for you in the mansion, and that you... can go in and see him directly."
Li Qingluo lifted the carriage curtain: "Really?"
Granny Deng also looked puzzled: "Yes, young lady. But did His Highness Prince Su already know you would be coming to see him?"
Li Qingluo and Nan Jia's intimate relationship was not common knowledge in Jinling City, yet he knew that she would come looking for him... Did he calculate it correctly?
Li Qingluo thought of the words that Prince Su had said last night.
Tell her that if she needs anything, she should go and ask him for help herself.
Li Qinglu felt bitter; she hadn't expected that she would actually come to beg him so soon.
Li Qingluo: "We can't worry about that now, Granny, let's go!"
Sparrow quickly followed behind and opened the umbrella.
The snowflakes were still falling as Li Qingluo and her three servants hurried toward the Prince Su's residence.
When the servant at the door saw her arrive, he quickly came forward to greet her.
With a beaming smile, he said, "This servant greets Miss Li!"
Li Qingluo raised her hand in surprise: "Please get up quickly."
The servants of Prince Su's mansion were unlike Prince Su's usual imposing manner and style; they were all so amiable to outsiders.
Just as Li Qingluo finished thinking and was about to step onto the stairs, a surprised exclamation came from behind her: "Li Qingluo! What are you doing here!?"
Li Qingluo turned around and saw Princess Qinyu.
She then remembered that Princess Qinyu's residence was right next to Prince Su's mansion.
At this moment, Princess Qinyu was followed by a group of palace officials. It seemed they were there to personally escort her to the royal palace outside the city as punishment for her crimes last night, so she could be confined and reflect on her mistakes.
Li Qingluo turned around and respectfully greeted Princess Qinyu: "Greetings."
Princess Qinyu walked towards her angrily: "Didn't I warn you not to come near your cousin again? Li Qingluo, you've played me—"
Li Qingluo rose with composure: "Your Highness, it is my freedom to see whomever I wish. Even if you are Your Highness, you have no right to interfere with my life, do you?"
Qinyu tried to come forward again, but was stopped by the palace servants behind her.
The palace servant looked troubled and said to Princess Qinyu, "Your Highness, please don't make things difficult for me. The time has come; you should leave the city."
Qin Yu clenched her fists and stared intently at Li Qingluo.
"Fine. Fine, you eldest daughter of the Li family..."
How could Qin Yu not be angry?
When she left the palace to establish her own residence, she wanted to live with her cousin in the Prince Su's residence, but he flatly refused!
Over the years, even if I wanted to enter the Prince Su's residence at will, I had to get my cousin's permission first.
This Li Qingluo was treated as an honored guest by the Prince Su's mansion!
I've hardly ever seen that sycophantic lackey act like that!
Yet they treated her with such utmost respect, this lowly daughter whom the general's mansion had only recently found!
Princess Qinyu wished she could crush that dog servant's face!
However, because there were people from the palace present, Qinyu held back and did not lash out.
Li Qingluo met his gaze without fear.
She didn't want to cause trouble, but she would never be a coward.
Seeing her such spirit, Princess Qinyu couldn't help but let out a cold smile, "This princess will absolutely not let you go."
She left those words behind, turned gracefully, and boarded the carriage.
Li Qingluo: "Respectfully seeing off Your Highness the Princess."
She was tough on the outside, but the thought of Princess Qinyu returning in three months and having to face this world-renowned princess who was famous in both countries made Li Qinglu feel somewhat troubled.
Moreover, I am currently no match for her.
However, when soldiers come, generals will block them; when water comes, earth will dam it.
Li Qingluo no longer had time to think about that!
She turned and hurried into the Prince Su's mansion, following the servant who led the way, through the garden full of white flowers to the main hall where the Prince Su lived.
Before Li Qingluo could even enter, he saw Prince Su already dressed in the official robes of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, with a black fur cloak over it, and striding out with a long sword in his hand.
"Let's go."
He glanced at her only once before leading Li Qingluo outside.
Li Qingluo hurriedly followed: "Your Highness, are you going to the Duke Pei's residence?"
Duan Rongshi: "Otherwise, who am I waiting for?"
Li Qingluo then asked, "Is Your Highness's injury no longer serious?"
Prince Su did not reappear at the palace banquet last night, as if the person Li Qinglu saw in the side room was just an illusion.
However, Li Qingluo knew that it was true.
Moreover, the reason why Prince Su did not attend the palace banquet was that he had been seriously injured during the last siege by rebels, so he was recuperating in his residence. Even Emperor Liang had expressed his condolences several times.
Li Qingluo thought that even if she met him and asked him for a few words, she could at least get a token from Prince Su.
Unexpectedly, he was going to take her out himself?
Duan Rongshi stopped and looked at Li Qingluo: "Miss Li, are you concerned about me?"
Li Qingluo: "?"
Your Highness, have you misunderstood something?
She was simply wondering why, if he could leave the manor in person, she had to come in herself.
After the two left in a hurry, Eunuch Wu hurriedly chased after them from around the corner.
"Where is she? Where is Miss Li?"
Servant: "Eunuch Wu, Miss Li has already left with the Prince."
Eunuch Wu stomped his foot in anger: "Oh dear, I've never even met this legendary Miss Li! Every time Leng Dian and that lousy Zhui Yu mention her, I'm so envious."
"She is truly as beautiful as an angel, far more beautiful than any other girl?"
The servant replied, "That's not entirely true. But when he stands next to our prince, he does look quite pleasing to the eye."
Eunuch Wu was even angrier.
Why did Po Zhuiyu have to look for him now of all times?
The Duke Pei's Mansion.
Li Qingluo, her face veiled, followed Prince Su, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, into the Duke of Pei's mansion in a grand manner, causing many people to stare in disbelief.
When did a woman come to accompany the cold-blooded, bloodthirsty, and ruthless Prince Su?
Moreover, it happened during the time he was solving the case—this was an unprecedented and bizarre occurrence!
Everyone in the Duke Pei's mansion felt something was amiss, but dared not ask anything.
No one dared to stop her, so Li Qingluo followed Prince Su to the dilapidated courtyard.
Sha Lei immediately stepped forward: "Your Highness, we have found six pieces of the limb."
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