Chapter 561: Drugged |
After they boarded the ship, Ning Qi followed closely behind and soon boarded as well.
"Boom!"
"Boom..."
Fireworks immediately erupted in unison from the decks of the surrounding pleasure boats.
They were a riot of dazzling, brilliant colors.
"So beautiful."
Li Xiangrou couldn't help but exclaim in admiration as she looked at the scene before her.
Ning Qi also watched the fireworks, a look of reminiscence appearing on his face.
"Your Highness, the song and dance performance is starting!"
Li Xiangrou was on the highest level of the pavilion on the largest pleasure boat, observing the surrounding spectacle.
It made her feel the extravagance of the imperial family.
So, this is what Elder Sister was pursuing.
But all of this would eventually turn to fleeting smoke and clouds.
Everything would return to calm; what use was it?
Rather than chasing after these things, it was better to cultivate with all her might to improve her strength. Only then could she ensure she had sufficient power to deal with those who opposed her.
Seeing her serious expression, Ning Qi couldn't help but ask, "Well, do you find it fun?"
"Not fun."
Li Xiangrou shook her head. "This kind of indulgent, extravagant life is not what I want."
"Oh? What do you want then?"
Ning Qi was curious and couldn't help but ask.
"Strength!"
Li Xiangrou turned to look at Ning Qi and said seriously, "I want absolute strength, the kind that ensures I will never be assassinated again!"
"Even if someone wants to kill me, I will have the power to protect myself."
"Also, I want to protect everything I wish to protect."
"All of this before me will only lead me to corruption; it offers me no help whatsoever."
"Hmm, good. Since you wish to improve your strength, I will lend you a hand."
After hearing her words, Ning Qi showed a satisfied expression. "I will give you cultivation techniques and magical treasures. At the very least, no one within the Celestial Immortal realm will be able to threaten you!"
"Ah? Really? Thank you."
Hearing this, Li Xiangrou immediately smiled and said, "Then I won't stand on ceremony with you."
"Between us, there's no need for formalities, right?"
Ning Qi smiled slightly, looking at Li Xiangrou as he said, "However, once I leave, you'll have to rely on yourself!"
"Mmm, no problem. I can handle things on my own!"
Li Xiangrou wore a resolute expression, looking at Ning Qi as she said, "It's enough that you can help me reach the end!"
"Good, hearing you say that puts my mind at ease!"
Ning Qi smiled with relief.
Looking at the current Li Xiangrou, he understood clearly that she had fully matured.
"Your Highness, please sit over here. Try our fragrant tea and watch the performances here."
Wang Mang proactively invited Li Xiangrou over.
"Alright!"
Li Xiangrou did not refuse. Instead, she followed and sat down, not forgetting to beckon to Ning Qi. "Ning Qi, you come too."
"Alright!"
Ning Qi also gave a simple response, then followed and sat down as well.
A cold gleam flashed imperceptibly in Wang Mang's eyes.
His attention swept over Ning Qi for a moment, then he clapped his hands. "The acrobatic troupe, begin."
"Yes!"
"..."
After his command, the people in the rear began to move.
The dancing girls from earlier were called away, and soon acrobats came onto the ship's deck one after another to begin their performance.
Each one exerted themselves diligently, not daring to slack off in the slightest.
Watching the acrobatics below, Li Xiangrou did not, as she might have in the past, excitedly cheer and jump around.
This time, while watching these performances, she only applauded symbolically.
Wang Mang had also been observing her every move the entire time.
"Your Highness, how is our acrobatic performance?"
When the performance was about to end, Wang Mang asked with a smile.
"Not bad. You've all put in effort. When they go down, reward them."
Li Xiangrou responded with a smile.
In such situations, if no reward was given, the result for them upon leaving would be execution or exile.
Not expressing approval meant their performance was unsatisfactory.
"Yes! Your Highness!"
With her words, Wang Mang knew these people would not have to die.
After agreeing, he said with a smile, "Your Highness, it's getting late. Let us return to the mansion to rest."
"Alright! I am indeed a bit tired."
Li Xiangrou lightly rubbed her forehead and agreed.
"Your Highness, please!"
Wang Mang then stood up and motioned for Li Xiangrou to follow him off the ship.
They soon disembarked and headed back the way they came.
Ning Qi followed the entire time. Commander Li and his men, seeing Li Xiangrou approaching, also returned.
Thus, following Wang Mang's procession, they retraced their route and soon returned to the City Lord's Mansion.
Wang Mang personally led Li Xiangrou to a fine pavilion.
"Your Highness, please stay here for now. I have already ordered it to be cleaned."
Wang Mang pointed at this pavilion, speaking respectfully to Li Xiangrou.
"Good, thank you for your trouble!"
Li Xiangrou offered a polite remark, then walked straight in.
At this point, people were already waiting for her inside.
"Your Highness!"
"..."
Seeing her enter, they all bowed respectfully in greeting.
"Alright, no need for such formalities!"
Li Xiangrou raised her hand, signaling the maidservants to rise.
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
"..."
Only then did the several maidservants stand up, each retreating to the side.
"Your Highness, then I shall take my leave. If you have any instructions, simply dispatch them to notify me."
At this moment, Wang Mang also stood at the doorway, speaking respectfully to Li Xiangrou.
"Good, City Lord Wang, you may go. If there is any matter, this princess will find you!"
After Li Xiangrou agreed, she let him leave.
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Wang Mang acknowledged and quickly withdrew.
"All of you may withdraw as well!"
Li Xiangrou glanced back and then continued, "Go back and tell your City Lord Wang that this princess does not need maidservants."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The maidservants exchanged glances, not daring to disobey her wishes.
Thus, they could only agree one after another and then leave in succession.
After they had all left, Ning Qi also walked over. Looking at Li Xiangrou, he said, "This Wang Mang is likely your elder sister's person. I think he is testing your true situation."
"Correct, but it doesn't matter. I have no interest in anything he's doing!"
"I'm just waiting to return now, to see if my elder sister can still laugh!"
Li Xiangrou had already seen through her elder sister.
"Good, it's getting late. You should rest early. I will rest for the night in the chamber downstairs."
Ning Qi looked around and noticed the layout of the place.
The three-story pavilion had resting areas on the first and second floors, while the third floor was an open terrace, clearly a place to appreciate the beautiful scenery here.
"Alright, I really am a bit sleepy."
Li Xiangrou lightly rubbed her forehead again and then headed upstairs.
"Commander Li!"
Seeing her go upstairs, Ning Qi beckoned to Commander Li outside the door.
"Young Master Ning."
Hearing this, Commander Li hurried forward. "What are your instructions?"
"Have the brothers split into two teams and patrol around this pavilion."
"To guard against unforeseen events!"
Ning Qi ordered in a deep voice.
Although he could use his divine sense, there were also many methods to evade divine sense detection.
Therefore, they could not let their guard down.
"Good, I will go arrange it immediately!"
After Commander Li agreed, he hurried away.
For a moment, only Ning Qi remained here.
"Master, what do you think this Wang Mang is doing?"
"I thought after handing Princess Xiangxiang over, he would do something."
The Pill Spirit on his shoulder wore a serious expression.
He simply couldn't figure out what Wang Mang's intention was this time.
"Let him be. In the face of absolute strength, none of this matters."
Ning Qi didn't care at all, then looked into the distance. "He's probably thinking of some plan right now, reporting to Li Xiangrou's elder sister."
"Oh? Is that so?"
The Pill Spirit agreed, also looking ahead.
Directly ahead of them was the direction of Wang Mang's front courtyard meeting hall.
"City Lord Wang, what should we do?"
At this moment, an old man below asked.
Wang Mang sat in the main seat, looking at the people below.
The dozen or so grand master chairs were all occupied, many by those who had just welcomed Li Xiangrou.
They had all been summoned by Wang Mang, clearly to help him devise strategies.
"Tell me, who exactly is the person by the princess's side, and what is his strength?"
"I observed for a good while but discovered nothing."
Wang Mang sighed, speaking to several military officers beside him.
"City Lord, I feel this person might not be strong. Although his strength is unfathomable."
"Could we also interpret that he is just an ordinary person, or that his strength isn't much?"
A staff officer nearby responded.
"I think that may not be the case."
Another person followed up. "Don't forget, the people who escaped back told us there is an expert by her side."
"Before we know his true identity, we cannot rule out who he is."
"Consider this: how could the princess possibly keep an ordinary person by her side, inseparable from her?"
Yet another person began to analyze.
Gradually, more people joined in, making the meeting hall increasingly lively.
"Yes, City Lord Wang, didn't you see? The princess actually has no interest in any of this!"
The person from earlier spoke up again.
"What does that signify?"
"It only means she is too foolish!"
"..."
Immediately, several people began to mock.
Both sides gradually started to argue, and the scene became increasingly heated.
"Enough!"
Seeing them begin to debate, Wang Mang pressed his hand down. "All of you, quiet down."
After his words, everyone present fell silent, each wearing a serious expression as they looked at Wang Mang.
"Sir, there is a secret letter."
It was at this moment that a guard suddenly arrived outside the door, kneeling on one knee.
"Present it!"
Wang Mang waved his hand, commanding.
"Yes!"
The guard hurried forward, presenting it with both hands to Wang Mang.
Wang Mang took the secret letter and directly opened it.
Seeing the contents written inside, he couldn't help but frown tightly.
"City Lord, what is it?"
"What did Her Highness say?"
"..."
Seeing his expression, everyone asked worriedly.
"Her Highness orders us to act again!"
Wang Mang sighed. "She told us not to use force, but to use soft methods!"
"There's an expert by her side. I'm afraid neither hard nor soft methods will work!"
"Yes, we still don't know who this person is."
"And she wants us to use soft methods? How do we do that?"
"..."
As soon as he finished speaking, the meeting hall immediately erupted into an uproar.
Everyone discussed the matter; it was a major problem presented to them.
"Don't worry. I already know Her Highness's temperament."
"Do you think I took her to see the pleasure boats and performances just to simply show her around?"
Wang Mang smiled, then said to everyone, "I already made arrangements long ago."
"Ah? Sir, what are your plans?"
"You kept us all in the dark!"
"..."
With his words, the people below immediately felt as if a great burden had been lifted.
Each wore a curious expression, looking at Wang Mang before them.
They waited for him to announce his plan.
"Don't forget, Her Highness has a marriage alliance with the Protector Duke's household!"
Wang Mang smiled and continued, "The Protector Duke's great-grandfather is an elder in the Myriad Swords Sect."
"Right, but the Protector Duke is not of one mind with us!"
"He won't pay us any heed. Pleading with him is useless."
After his words, the people below began to discuss again.
Each wore a puzzled expression.
At this critical juncture, Wang Mang was still talking about useless things.
"But, if Her Highness... were to lose her chastity, what do you think the Protector Duke would do?"
"You must know, they care most about reputation!"
At this point, seeing everyone's puzzled looks, Wang Mang finally smiled and said, "If it were you, what would you do?"
Us?
"..."
Several people fell silent upon hearing this.
Clearly, they had all thought of a method, but how to implement it?
Li Xiangrou's side was heavily guarded, with an expert stationed there. They simply couldn't find an opportunity to act.
"Hmph, I already acted against her when she was drinking tea with me and watching the acrobatics!"
"And her guards, I also tampered with them."
Wang Mang smiled, then continued, "I'm talking about her personal guards!"
"Sir, brilliant!"
"We admire you!"
After his words, many people began to flatter him.
"If I waited for you all to think of a way, it would be far too late."
Wang Mang laughed smugly, then said, "The potency of the drug is such that even a Celestial Immortal couldn't withstand it!"
"As long as the drug takes effect, then there will be a story unfolding in that pavilion!"
"If she marries the Protector Duke's grandson in the future, that would be interesting!"
"Sir, but wouldn't that take a long time?"
One person suddenly thought of something. "How could they get married immediately?"
After his words, everyone began to discuss again.
"Hmph, can't you just send people to spread rumors?"
Wang Mang glanced at everyone and said impatiently, "Do I need to teach you this as well?"