Lu Qianning picked up Xi Weilan and gently pinched her little cheek. “Lan’er, whenever you miss your sister, come back. The Princess Residence will always be your home.”
Xi Weilan wrapped her arms around Lu Qianning’s neck and kissed her cheek. “Mm-hmm, Sister Lu. Elder Sister and I are only going out to have some fun. We’ll come back once we’re tired of playing.”
Seeing the reluctance in Lu Jinshuang’s expression, she leaned over and kissed her cheek as well. “Sister Jinshuang, don’t miss us too much. Elder Sister and I haven’t even thanked you for teaching us that lightness technique yet.”
Although Lu Jinshuang had initially agreed to teach them because of Lu Qianning, she had indeed treated the girls very well.
The more Lu Jinshuang looked at the sensible child, the more reluctant she was to let her go. She stroked Xi Weilan’s head and smiled. “Remember to practice your skills every day. Who knows? Maybe I’ll come find you two one day.”
Xi Qingyue thought for a moment, then took out two pistols and handed one to each of them, explaining how to use them.
“These are pistols. Think of them as hidden weapons. Take one each for self-defense and keep them concealed. They might save your lives at a critical moment. I’ll leave you enough ammunition.”
Afterward, she handed one to each of Luo Ling and the others as well. Luo Ling was so excited that she could barely speak, staring blankly at the little weapon in her hand.
Lu Qianning set Xi Weilan down, then she and Lu Jinshuang bowed solemnly to Xi Qingyue. “Thank you, Younger Sister Yue. We sisters will remember this kindness.”
They both understood how valuable these things were. If they were sold in the capital, they would fetch an astronomical price. Yet Xi Qingyue had given them away so generously, and they were deeply grateful.
Xi Qingyue had not expected them to bow. She quickly stepped aside and waved her hands dismissively. “I’d just hate to come back and find you dead because someone harmed you. That would ruin all my fun.”
After a pause, she added with a smile, “By the way, keep an eye out for refugees coming toward the capital. If you encounter anyone from Willow Tree Village in trouble, lend them a hand. There’s also a Scholar Han. I’m not sure whether he has any enemies here in the capital, so make sure no one bullies him.”
Lu Qianning nodded with a faint smile. “Don’t worry. Leave such a small matter to us.”
Xi Qingyue looked at the radiant smiles of the few people in the capital whom she actually liked. If it weren’t for these sisters, she might have slaughtered half the capital by now.
Without the Princess Residence backing her, countless people would have come looking for trouble. By then, she would have wiped them out one family at a time, and perhaps even ended up fighting the Imperial Guards. She wouldn’t have had any time left for fun.
These sisters were accumulating good karma for themselves. They deserved a few gifts.
As another thought occurred to her, Xi Qingyue suddenly brought out more than a dozen tightly sealed crates.
She took out a machine gun and handed it to Lu Qianning. “This is a machine gun. It works much like the pistols I just showed you. I’ll leave you a batch. You should find them useful. I hope that when we meet again, you’ll have changed your status. Your fief will temporarily belong to Lan’er and me.”
A look of shock flashed across Lu Qianning’s eyes. Xi Qingyue had actually given her such a generous gift.
She immediately nodded with a smile. “All right. Take the fief if you like. I’ll have Mu Jin bring the seal there. From now on, it will be under your control.”
Xi Qingyue’s smile grew just as bright. This was a happy arrangement for everyone.
She immediately picked up Xi Weilan and bid farewell to the others. “Then we’ll be going. It’s getting late. Until we meet again.”
Lu Jinshuang and Lu Qianning exchanged a glance before saying in unison, “We’ll see you off.”
Xi Qingyue had no objection. If they wanted to see them off, then so be it. They had no idea how long it would be before they met again.
Lu Qianning took Xi Weilan from her arms and strode outside, while the belongings inside the room were collected by their trusted aides.
They left the city in a carriage, with Mu Jin driving a mule cart behind them.
The guards at the city gate paid little attention when they saw the two princesses leaving. Even the many people keeping tabs on the Princess Residence thought nothing of it. Everyone assumed they were merely going out to have fun.
Many people were even planning to use the Commandery Princess’s investiture ceremony as an excuse to visit with gifts and make her acquaintance. That way, they could ask her to come to their homes and treat their illnesses. None of them knew that after tonight, they would not even be able to find her.
The people of the Duke of State’s Residence had been racking their brains for the past few days. They wanted the Eighth Prince to approach Xi Qingyue for treatment, but something had happened at the Eighth Prince’s residence, and there had been no movement. In the end, they had no choice but to come up with a plan themselves.
When they heard that the group had left the city, they did not think much of it. Xi Qingyue had already been made a commandery princess, so surely she would remain in the capital. Who could have imagined that the two children would refuse to act according to convention?
Several miles outside the city, beside a roadside pavilion, Xi Qingyue and Xi Weilan climbed down from Lu Qianning’s carriage.
Xi Qingyue took Xi Weilan’s hand and waved at the sisters with a smile. “Even the longest farewell must eventually end. You two should head back.”
Instead, Lu Jinshuang joked, “Listen to you, speaking so formally all of a sudden. I’m just worried that you two won’t have anywhere to stay at night. If you wanted to leave, you should have gone during the day. Lan’er, why don’t you stay in the capital with your sister?”
Xi Qingyue glanced around. After confirming that no one else was nearby, she pursed her lips and smiled before putting away Ta Feng and the carriage.
In the next instant, a pitch-black motorhome appeared out of thin air before them.
“Come on, Sister Jinshuang. I’ll show you and Lan’er our house. Just don’t blame me if you can’t sleep when you go back later.”
Lu Qianning stared at it in shock. It was such a huge vehicle. But if it was a vehicle, why did Xi Qingyue call it a house?
Xi Qingyue took Xi Weilan by the hand and walked into the motorhome. This would be their traveling home from now on, and there was no longer any need to keep it hidden.
They now had official status. If the authorities dared to seize their belongings by force, it would be an act of defiance against those above them. Xi Qingyue could then kill them openly and see who would come out on top.
Curious, Lu Qianning and the others followed them inside. The moment they stepped through the door, they were utterly stunned.
The interior was spacious and brightly lit. There were soft, comfortable sofas, smooth glass tables, and all sorts of strange objects they did not recognize. Farther inside, they even saw a large, soft bed.
Xi Weilan happily began introducing them to everything. When she turned on the faucet and cheerfully washed her face, Lu Jinshuang and the others stood frozen in place.
Xi Qingyue lifted her chin proudly. “How do you like my vehicle? Pretty nice, isn’t it? Don’t worry, Sister Jinshuang. Lan’er and I won’t have to sleep outdoors. We can even bathe whenever we want.”
Lu Qianning stood before the faucet, marveling at the water flowing from it. The device was practically a work of divine craftsmanship.
Lu Jinshuang ran to the large bed and sprawled across it, sighing with emotion. “Younger Sister Yue, this place is so comfortable that I don’t want to leave. It’s even more comfortable than my Princess Residence. I’m definitely not going to sleep tonight.”
She regretted running her mouth. After seeing such a wonderful place, she would surely think of the warm water here whenever she bathed in the future. And no matter how many lamps she lit in her room, it would never be as bright as these lights.
Fifteen minutes later, Lu Qianning, Lu Jinshuang, and the others were driven out.
Xi Qingyue switched the vehicle to self-driving mode and drove away, raising a cloud of dust behind her.
Watching the motorhome disappear into the distance, Lu Jinshuang patted her chest, her face full of regret. “Sigh… Younger Sister Yue really is stingy. I wanted so badly to spend the night in there. I think I saw a lot of bottles inside that strange cabinet. Could they have been drinks?”
Lu Qianning patted her on the shoulder. “Seventh Sister, she’s deliberately showing off to make you jealous. Who told you to leave Lan’er behind when you left? If you want to live there, you can go to Jiangnan too.”
At that, she shook her head. “Alas, it’s too late for you to catch up now.”
