After Scholar Han killed his enemy and avenged himself, he turned to Lu Qianning and thanked her gratefully. “Thank you, Princess, for saving my life!”
Lu Qianning glanced at him and gave a slight shake of her head. “Ultimately, this was due to my negligence. If I had discovered your whereabouts sooner, you wouldn’t have been trapped for so long. Fortunately, you found a chance to send the child through the dog hole to seek help. That was quite a stroke of luck.”
Scholar Han sighed deeply. “It wasn’t merely luck. Your people had been stationed in the outskirts of the capital all along. If the child hadn’t run into them, there’s no telling whether he could have made it into the capital and found the Princess’s residence on his own.”
Although he had been imprisoned and unable to leave these past few days, he had managed to glean plenty of information from Scholar Wang. He knew that the sisters, Xi Qingyue and Xi Jinshuang, had been made commandery princesses. He also knew about everything they had done in the capital, as well as their close relationship with Lu Qianning and Lu Jinshuang.
He had repeatedly looked for opportunities to send someone out for help, but he had never succeeded because he was watched too closely. Only today, when Wang Yunchen had brought people to torture him and had relaxed his vigilance in a moment of triumph, did the headman’s grandson finally get the chance to crawl through the dog hole. He had happened to encounter Zhou Shu, and that was how fortunate they had been.
Headman Liu Teng also came over at this moment. After hesitating for a while, he finally asked, “Princess, how are Little Yue and the others doing now?”
Lu Qianning chuckled softly and handed him a letter. “See for yourself. You don’t need to worry about whether they’re living well. You should be worrying about the officials and powerful families in the places they pass through.”
Liu Teng was confused by her words. He took the letter and opened it curiously. The more he read, the more shocked he became.
Scholar Han, who was standing nearby, also read the contents clearly. Unlike Liu Teng, he was not shocked. Instead, relief filled his heart, and a faint smile appeared on his face.
Ever since Xi Qingyue had given them weapons for self-defense and tools for making fire, he had begun to suspect that she had encountered some kind of fortuitous opportunity. When the Wang family had imprisoned them and repeatedly tried to pry information about the hidden weapons from them, he had become even more certain.
After they finished reading the letter, Lu Qianning glanced at the other villagers and slowly said, “Let’s go. Yue’s commandery princess residence is still empty. You can stay there for now and recuperate.”
She was having them stay at Xi Qingyue’s residence partly for their own safety. Living there would signify that they had a certain relationship with Xi Qingyue. As long as they did not deliberately court death, no one would willingly provoke them, which would save them a great deal of trouble.
If they wanted to leave later, New Peace City would also be a good place for them to settle.
Liu Teng and Scholar Han exchanged a glance before nodding in agreement. Their group immediately began gathering their belongings.
Most of the Wang family’s guards had been killed outright by Lu Qianning’s men. Only the steward of the estate and two servants were left alive. Along with Wang Yunchen, who was barely clinging to life, they were taken back to the capital.
Wang Yunchen was tied to the back of a horse on the journey home, and many people saw his miserable condition along the way.
Lu Qianning took Scholar Han and the others directly to Xi Qingyue’s residence, while Luo Ling brought Wang Yunchen, the others, and some evidence to the Jingzhao Prefecture.
As she gazed at the imposing commandery princess residence, Aunt Wang wondered if she was dreaming. She even rubbed her eyes hard. “I’m not dreaming, am I? Little Yue really has a residence of her own now. Those two girls have truly made something of themselves.”
Li Wanqiu nodded happily. “Exactly. Little Yue is so capable. As long as they’re safe, that’s all that matters.”
With a smile, Lu Qianning pointed to a neighboring residence. “That one belongs to Lan’er. This one is Yue’s, and that one is Lan’er’s. They each have a residence of their own. Before they left, Yue told me to let you stay wherever you liked once you arrived.”
The people of Willow Tree Village were all moved to tears. They had failed to care for the two girls, yet had constantly received their protection. They felt deeply ashamed.
“Come on. We’ll talk inside.”
With that, Lu Qianning entered first, followed by Liu Teng and the others.
An hour later, Lu Qianning and Scholar Han were sitting alone in a pavilion.
Lu Qianning spoke slowly. “Ask whatever you want. Also, if you wish to remain in the capital, I can arrange a place for you in the outskirts. If you want to leave, I can have someone escort you out.”
Scholar Han was blunt. “Princess, aren’t you afraid of offending the Wang family by helping us like this? Wang Yunchen’s father is the Left Vice Minister of War, and he even has an aunt in the palace who is Consort Bing. You’re only a princess. Aren’t you afraid the Emperor will blame you?”
Lu Qianning calmly shook her head. “No. You should know that I fought my way back from Northern Yue. Although my escape was rather humiliating, I survived. A mere vice minister cannot do anything to me, and what can Consort Bing do? Her nephew has committed enough evil to deserve death many times over. If those officials learn that you come from the same village as Yue and that you nearly died at the hands of the Wang family, they wouldn’t dare say a word.”
Although Xi Qingyue was not in the capital, the officials there were well aware of her arrogance and ruthlessness. From now on, they would only fear her even more.
For the first time, Scholar Han clearly realized that the little girl who had once needed their care had grown into someone so formidable that a single name was enough to protect them.
He no longer dwelled on that matter and asked about something else instead. “Princess, was the Duke of An’s heir originally named Xi Wenliang? Did he suffer a head injury when he first returned to the capital? And what is the story behind his current wife?”
He could not believe that his good friend had become the kind of man who would abandon his wife and daughters. Scholar Wang had explained the matter vaguely, merely saying that the Duke of An’s heir was Xi Qingyue’s biological father and that the two sides had never acknowledged one another. He desperately wanted to know the truth.
Lu Qianning looked at the anticipation in his eyes and shook her head. She then told him everything about how Xi Daniu had returned to the capital.
She also relayed everything the heir’s wife had told her. “I don’t care what relationship Xi Daniu has with you, but Yue and her sister will never acknowledge him as their father. He is unworthy.”
After hearing this, Scholar Han was utterly disappointed in Xi Daniu. He had never expected his good friend to be such a man—someone who had been led astray by beauty and had abandoned his wife and daughters for wealth and status. In more than three years, he had not returned even once. A father like that was indeed not worth acknowledging.
He sighed. “Ah, this is Yue’s family matter, so I won’t interfere. But I heard that the Duke of An’s entire family has gone to Jiangnan. They may cause trouble for her again.”
Lu Qianning smiled calmly. “There’s no need to worry. Yue can handle it herself. You only need to focus on recovering from your injuries.”
Scholar Han hesitated before suddenly asking a daring question. “Princess, are you trying to claim that position?”
Lu Qianning froze. She had never expected a scholar from the countryside to ask such a blunt question. Still, she nodded. “Yes. If I don’t fight for it, others will control my fate. I don’t want to die, and I certainly don’t want to become an object that others can dispose of as they please.”
At those words, Scholar Han dropped to his knees with a thud. His voice was solemn as he declared, “Princess, though I am unworthy, I am willing to pledge my allegiance to Your Highness. I swear to follow you to the death and clear away every obstacle in your path.”
