After Shen Chong finished administering acupuncture to Qi Yun and writing a prescription, Long Yue and his wife ca to bid farewell.
"Not staying a bit longer?"
Following the acupuncture session, Qi Yun no longer had a headache and looked spiritedly at the couple opposite him.
"I’m already in good health, planning to return ho to host a banquet for Princess Nianxi. Since she’s requested to et multiple tis, not eting would allow others to underestimate our Dazhou."
Qi Yun glanced at him, lightly snorting, "I thought you weren’t planning on eting her?"
Li Qingmu replied awkwardly, "I just don’t want to provoke gossip, since privately eting another country’s princess is against protocol."
"Alright then, I approve of this, go forth!"
"I take my leave!"
"Minister’s Wife takes her leave!"
...
After Long Yue and Li Qingmu returned to the General Mansion, many visiting guests arrived.
There were old acquaintances and unfamiliar faces, even the Third Prince and Seventh Prince sent people with gifts, ostensibly congratulating him on his rescue efforts, but actually aiming to attract him.
Li Qingmu remained calm, accepting all the gifts without exception. Long Yue had been busy counting the gifts these past days until her hands and feet cramped, yet she was delighted.
At the court, so tried to impeach Li Qingmu for forming cliques and engaging in private gain, but all those petitions sank without a trace. Qi Yun didn’t even glance at them, ordering them to be taken to the Imperial Kitchen to be burnt.
Afterwards, Qi Yun commanded those individuals in court to investigate the assassination case, giving them a six-month tifra, leaving them looking despondent.
All those assassins were dead, even the false Princess Nianxi and the monkey were dead, how could one investigate? With no evidence, wasn’t this deliberately making things difficult?
Instantly, those officials understood the Emperor’s intentions — he was prioritizing Li Qingmu.
Thus, the number of guests at the General Mansion increased even more.
Long Yue was annoyed, for her husband’s body was still quite frail and needed rest. Having so many people coming and going was not ideal; thus, she ordered Huanhuan to decline visitors citing the Imperial Censor Li’s health as not yet suitable.
And amidst this bustling atmosphere, Long Yue received a visit from Princess Nianxi of Daliang Country.
Princess Nianxi was not a mber of the Liang Country imperial family, but because she was intelligent from a young age, she was favored by Princess Liang and was adopted as a foster daughter, granted the title "Nianxi."
This ti Princess Nianxi ca to Dazhou not only to bring Liang Country’s friendship but also to find her brother. Whether he was her biological brother or another, that was unknown.
That was the official statent, but at the ho of Long Yue, Princess Nianxi stated her true intentions.
"My foster mother, Princess Liang, once lost a child, who was supposed to be my titular brother. This ti I ca to Dazhou to find him."
Princess Nianxi had a slightly round face that looked sowhat cute. She took a sip of tea and spoke.
Long Yue handed her so pastries, curious, "Princess, saying this to us, do you an for us to help find him?"
"Yes, my personal strength is limited, and I need to seek others’ help. Originally, it wasn’t necessary, but all who ca with were killed, so I could only seek you."
"But why us?"
Long Yue found it quite strange.
Nianxi: "You saved my life, I trust you."
"Is this matter so confidential? It requires trust?"
Finding your brother should be public for better chances, right?
Nianxi shook her head, "I don’t know. My foster mother said the search must be discreet, and even after he’s found, it shouldn’t be publicized. Alas, even I don’t understand why such discretion is needed, but her instructions mustn’t be disobeyed."
"That Princess Liang is truly peculiar."
"Indeed, I’ve already sent a letter to Daliang, detailing the entire situation of the mission’s tragic outco. Soon another batch of envoys will co to assist . But before that, I ask for your help."
"Alright!" Li Qingmu agreed, "Is there any lead?"
"Yes, he has a birthmark on his arm. It’s this pattern, sowhat like a flower outline, yet also resembling a cloud formation, hmm..."
Nianxi dipped her fingers in water and drew a shape on the stone table.
After finishing, she realized the surroundings were silent, and the atmosphere was tense.
She looked up in confusion, gazing at the couple opposite, seeing them staring at the pattern dumbfounded, she couldn’t help but joyfully ask, "Have you seen it?"
"No, just felt the pattern was odd."
"Indeed, because my foster mother has the sa pattern on her arm."
"Really?"
Long Yue was shocked.
Knowing people can inherit their parents’ temperants and eye colors, but now being told a birthmark can be inherited? What a joke!
"Are you certain?"
She asked again.
Princess Nianxi nodded vigorously like pecking rice, "Certainly, such matters I dare not fabricate."
"Alright, we’ve understood."
Li Qingmu said calmly, "Princess Nianxi, other than this matter, is there anything else you wish from us?"
"No, just to thank you for saving my life."
"This matter benefits the friendship between the two countries, it’s nothing much, Princess don’t worry about it, cough cough..."
As Li Qingmu spoke, he suddenly coughed violently, Long Yue quickly brought him tea.
Princess Nianxi hastily rose, "Apologies for imposing too long, forgetting Mr. Li is still injured, thus I shall take my leave!"
"Princess take care, Huanhuan, see the Princess out!"
Huanhuan, being quite large, typically startled most people upon sight, but Princess Nianxi rely paused before calmly following her out.
Such a lady has so courage indeed.
Once she left, Li Qingmu ceased coughing, gazing deeply in silence at her departing direction.
Long Yue silently observed the man opposite, having been married for two years, no one knew him better than her. Near his shoulder, on his upper arm, there was this very sa birthmark!
And moreover, identical to the one Nianxi illustrated!
So...
Could that Daliang Princess be his mother?
Hiss—
Long Yue inhaled sharply, astonished by this revelation.
But even more surprising was, if Princess Liang was indeed the forr Princess Consort Yun, then why didn’t she co to Dazhou earlier to seek the Emperor and her son?
Was it due to instability within her own country?
Long Yue was filled with confusion.
"A Mu, are you alright?"
Seeing Li Qingmu silent for too long, Long Yue worried he might encounter a mishap, hurriedly approached to gently nudge him.
Li Qingmu rely shook his head, "I’m fine."
"Then, will you inform her?"
"No!"
Uh, so resolute, so decisive?
"It’s been nineteen years. All these years, the Emperor has been searching for her amidst vast crowds, deploying all forces at his disposal to find her, yet she has hidden from him all along, why is this?"
The intelligence agency like Yulong Pavilion, if tasked to find soone, wouldn’t face any challenge. Yet if they perpetually fail, there is only one reason, the target doesn’t want to be found and keeps evading.
She, as the Daliang Princess, certainly has the capability to hide.
But why, why must she hide?
Hide as she might, but now she erges seeking her child?
What exactly is her aim?
Li Qingmu too had a hard temper, thus he firmly refused to acknowledge!
User Comments
0 comments from readers