That evening, Nangong Xu found an inn and booked the entire place for himself.
That evening, while Nangong Xu was taking a bath, Yun Qingran took the opportunity to knock out a servant, then changed into the servant's clothes and sneaked out of the inn.
She had considered poisoning Nangong Xu, but he had already taken all the poison from her body under various pretexts. Ordinary poisons wouldn't work on him. Running away was the only option.
Yun Qingran found a fine horse in the backyard of the inn, mounted it, and rode off.
"My lord, something terrible has happened! Princess Rongchang has run away!" A guard immediately reported to Nangong Xu after realizing what had happened.
Upon hearing this news, Nangong Xu immediately flew out of the water, wrapped himself in his clothes, and asked, "What does it mean that Ranran ran away?"
Wasn't Ranran under a love spell, hopelessly in love with him? Why did she run away? Nangong Xu's mind was in turmoil.
"She injured a servant, changed into his clothes, and rode off on a horse from the backyard." The guard's voice weakened, and he dared not look Nangong Xu in the eye.
"Why?" Nangong Xu raised his hand and slammed it down again, shattering a wooden table beside him, just like his broken state of mind.
The guards dared not speak.
In a few moments, Nangong Xu regained his composure, took the lead and stepped out, saying in a deep voice, "Chase."
The guard breathed a sigh of relief; he had been genuinely afraid that his master might kill him in a fit of anger.
Yun Qingran rode her horse, whipping it the whole way, and finally arrived at Ganxi Academy.
After making inquiries, she learned that Luo Ru was lecturing at Ganxi Academy.
"Hello, I'm looking for Prime Minister Luo. Could you please take me in?" Upon arriving at the academy gate, Yun Qingran quickly dismounted, lifted the front of her horse, and ran up the stone steps, hurriedly addressing the guard.
"Are you a student? Do you have an invitation? You need an invitation to enter." The guard looked at Yun Qingran. This servant had red lips and white teeth, and was extremely handsome. He was obviously disguised and not an ordinary person.
"I'm not a student, and I don't have an invitation, but I'm Luo Xiang's student. Please, please let me in quickly." Yun Qingran kept looking back, afraid that Nangong Xu would catch up.
“I know all of Luo Xiang’s students, and none of them are like you. Why don’t I go in and inform Luo Xiang?” The guard dared not let her in rashly.
Time was of the essence; there was no time to wait for the announcement.
Yun Qingran took out the Three Phoenix Jade Slip directly from her small bag and held it up in front of the guard, saying, "Let me in."
Upon seeing the Three Phoenix Jade Slip, the guard looked at Yun Qingran in astonishment, "You are Yun Qingran, the Princess of Rongchang of Beiyin."
Prime Minister Luo was the greatest Confucian scholar in the land, and the Three Phoenix Jade Slip in his possession was regarded as a treasure representing Confucianism. The whole world knew that Prime Minister Luo had given the Three Phoenix Jade Slip to Yun Qingran.
"Yes, let me in quickly." Yun Qingran's heart was pounding. She could sense that Nangong Xu was about to catch up.
"Yes, Princess Rongchang, please." The guard immediately let them through.
"If anyone comes, do not let them in, and do not tell them my whereabouts," Yun Qingran instructed the guards.
"Princess Rongchang, please rest assured, I understand." The guard nodded.
This guard is one of Luo Xiang's men, and Yun Qingran is Luo Xiang's disciple, making her half his master.
"Thank you." Yun Qingran quickly slipped inside.
As soon as Yun Qingran entered the room, Nangong Xu led a team of guards to catch up with her.
"This is Ganxi Academy. Who goes there? Please stop." The guard immediately shouted.
"Did a young girl dressed as a servant just go in?" Nangong Xu asked, dismounting from his horse.
"No," the guard replied coldly.
Nangong Xu didn't believe it. Ranran was Luo Ru's student, so she must have come to find Luo Ru.
"My lord, it's the horse that went missing from the backyard of the inn." A guard pointed to a horse branded with the inn's name not far away.
Nangong Xu's gaze instantly turned as sharp as a drawn blade, cold and menacing. He coldly uttered two words to the guard, "Get out of the way."
"This is Ganxi Academy, where Prime Minister Luo and over three thousand Confucian scholars reside. Who dares to trespass?" the guard replied firmly.
"Then go die." Nangong Xu raised his hand, but just as he was about to strike, Luo Xiang appeared and shouted, "Stop!"
"Prime Minister Luo, it's been a long time." Nangong Xu withdrew his hand and greeted Prime Minister Luo gently.
"Your Highness Xu of Southern Chu, I wonder what brings you to Eastern Qi? You even dare to attack the people of my Ganxi Academy." Prime Minister Luo's tone was tinged with anger.
"Just passing by." Nangong Xu said with his hands behind his back. "As for coming to Ganxi Academy, it's to find someone."
"Who are you looking for?" Luo Xiang asked.
"Why pretend to be confused with me, Prime Minister Luo? Hand over Ranran." Nangong Xu's tone was leisurely, but his words were full of ruthlessness.
"Ranran is my student and Princess Rongchang of Beiyin. What qualifications does Your Highness have to ask me to hand over Ranran?" Prime Minister Luo met Nangong Xu's gaze.
"Ranran has already agreed to marry me; she is my woman. If Prime Minister Luo doesn't hand her over, then don't blame me for forcing my way in." Nangong Xu's eyes narrowed, filled with danger, like a ferocious beast suppressing its raging fury.
"This is Dongqi, Ganxi Academy, with three thousand Confucian scholars. Your Highness, please give it a try." Prime Minister Luo flicked his wide sleeves, looking at Nangong Xu with a resolute attitude.
"Kill them for me," Nangong Xu ordered the guards behind him.
The leader of the secret guards paused upon hearing the order, then leaned closer and whispered, "My lord, this is Luo Ru, and there are three thousand Confucian scholars inside. If we make a move, we will inevitably be condemned by the people of the world."
"I order you to kill!" Nangong Xu roared, his eyes bloodshot.
He couldn't accept Ranran leaving his side; without Ranran, there was no point in this world existing.
“My lord, we don’t actually need to break in. We can just surround Ganxi Academy. Princess Rongchang can’t stay inside forever,” the head guard tried to persuade Nangong Xu.
Inside are over three thousand Confucian scholars, including the foremost Confucian scholar, Luo Xiang. If the emperor were to kill or injure them, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Nangong Xu naturally understood this principle, but more than anything, he dared not force his way in. If he did, what would he say and do if he saw Ranran? He hadn't forgotten how she had refused to be with him, even at the cost of her life, in the secret chamber last time.
He clenched his fists tightly and finally spoke, "Guards, stand guard here for me, and do not allow anyone to enter or leave."
“Nangong Xu, this is Dong Qi, do you think this is your Bei Yin?” Prime Minister Luo said angrily.
"Prime Minister Luo, I have already backed down. Don't push your luck," Nangong Xu said coldly.
The Southern Chu was far stronger than the Eastern Qi, and the Eastern Qi could not afford to offend the Southern Chu.
Luo Xiang glanced at Nangong Xu, then ordered the door to be closed.
Looking at the tightly closed door, Nangong Xu's eyes overflowed with a faint melancholy and detachment, as if an unknown pain was quietly growing within him.
The fact that Ranran ran away from him shows that Ranran was not under the influence of the love potion, and she had not fallen in love with him at all. She had been putting on an act with him all these days.
No wonder every time I try to kiss her, she either sneezes, twists her neck, or chokes on her saliva.
He never loved me, not even in a false sense.
Nangong Xu clutched his chest, his heart aching terribly.
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