Feng Xiwu's eyes were about to spew fire. This was a blatant provocation!
Just as he was about to grab her to teach her a lesson, Lu Qingwan suddenly leaned down and pressed a major acupuncture point on him before walking out with a swaying gait.
Feng Xiwu: ...
His face, from his forehead to beneath his clothes, was flushed crimson. His eyes were vacant, and he remained lost in thought for a long time.
From behind an inner door, Lu Qingwan leaned back elegantly on a chaise lounge and turned to face the woman before her.
The woman was dressed as a matron, wearing a black cloak. Even the dim candlelight could not hide her beauty, nor, naturally, her weariness.
Lu Qingwan's gaze lingered on her face for just a moment before she spoke, "What relation are you to Wu Ying?"
"My lady truly sees through everything. I am Wu Ying's elder sister. My name is Xiao Yueying. My lady, you must leave quickly. Tomorrow is the Double Ninth Festival, and tonight there is no curfew. If you don't leave now, it will be too late!"
After introducing herself, Xiao Yueying urged them to leave. Lu Qingwan listened with confusion.
"Why should we leave for no reason? Even if we have to leave, we should wait until dawn. Where would you have us go if we left the city in the middle of the night?"
"Anywhere is fine, just don't stay in Yeyu City!" Xiao Yueying stomped her foot anxiously.
Lu Qingwan remained unmoved. "Miss Xiao, even if you are Wu Ying's elder sister, I cannot leave the city overnight just because of your words. I will not leave until you explain yourself clearly."
"Your saving Wu Ying has been discovered. Lin Qingquan knows you are in Yeyu City and has already sent people to seal the city. Once the grand celebration of the Double Ninth Festival passes tomorrow, he will arrest you. If you fall into his hands, you will not have a good end!"
Xiao Yueying was desperate to save Wu Ying and thought that if she explained the reason, Lu Qingwan would obediently leave. However, Lu Qingwan showed no intention of leaving.
"Who is Lin Qingquan, and why does he want to arrest me?"
Xiao Yueying realized that Lu Qingwan would not leave unless she explained everything. She was so anxious she wished she could explain everything to Lu Qingwan in one sentence, but she had to patiently recount the story.
"Since my lady saved my younger sister, you must know what she has suffered. Lin Qingquan is the culprit who caused my sister's family to be destroyed and her to become a wanderer. He somehow learned that my lady has come to Yeyu City and has already ordered people to secretly seal the city. He will personally lead his men to arrest you after the grand celebration of the Double Ninth Festival tomorrow!"
Every time Xiao Yueying mentioned Lin Qingquan, she gritted her teeth. "Lin Qingquan is narrow-minded and extremely arrogant. He wants my sister's life. Not only did you save my sister, but you also injured his men. In Lin Qingquan's eyes, you are opposing him, and no one who opposes him has a good end. My lady, don't hesitate any longer. Hurry and leave. If you hesitate any further, you won't be able to leave!"
"Thank you for the reminder, Miss Xiao. However, since I have come to Yeyu City, it means I wanted to come. Therefore, I will only leave when I wish to leave." Lu Qingwan smiled faintly. "On the other hand, if Lin Qingquan finds out that Miss Xiao came to deliver this message to me at this time, will he let you go easily?"
"I...?" A flash of bitterness crossed Xiao Yueying's face before she said with great resolve, "I never thought of living after being forced to submit to Lin Qingquan, the enemy who destroyed my Xiao family. I have only survived until now to be close enough to inquire about news of my elder brother and younger sister. Now that I know my younger sister is safe, I will try to save my elder brother. If it doesn't work, I have no regrets about dying with my brother."
She had pledged to die to deliver this message to Lu Qingwan. Lu Qingwan's heart was stirred, but she was still doubtful. "Miss Xiao, I am grateful for your risk in sending me a message. However, you say you are Wu Ying's sister, but Wu Ying has never mentioned her family to me. Can Miss Xiao clarify this for me?"
"It's normal." Xiao Yueying said dejectedly, "In my sister's heart, we are probably already dead, so she wouldn't mention us."
Recalling Wu Ying's hateful and depressed appearance when they first met, Lu Qingwan believed her somewhat.
"I see." She nodded as if suddenly enlightened. "Miss Xiao, please wait here for a moment." With that, she turned and entered the inner chamber.
In the room, Feng Xiwu had recovered. Seeing Lu Qingwan, although his cheeks were still slightly warm, he did not show any embarrassment. He stubbornly refused to speak to her first.
Lu Qingwan acted as if nothing had happened. "Your Highness heard everything?"
Feng Xiwu raised an eyebrow. "You want to save her?"
"She is Wu Ying's sister." Lu Qingwan answered, not directly to the question. "Wu Ying is currently very useful to me. I don't think I will find such a capable subordinate in the future."
Feng Xiwu understood. "Then save her."
He agreed so readily that Lu Qingwan felt a little embarrassed. "What about this Lin Qingquan? Does Your Highness know him? Will offending him have any impact on Your Highness?"
"If it were the former Martial Arts Alliance Leader, Xiao Hanyun, I might have had to consider it. A mere Lin Qingquan, I do not take him seriously." Feng Xiwu warned Lu Qingwan, "If you truly want to save Xiao Yueying, it is best not to let her return tonight. I can't say for sure about other things, but she is right about Lin Qingquan's narrow-mindedness. If she returns, she will surely die a horrible death."
Lu Qingwan was surprised. "You know Lin Qingquan?"
Feng Xiwu did not hide it from her. "If a stranger of unknown origin and great skill inexplicably appears beside my Consort, should I not investigate?"
"You should, of course, you should." Lu Qingwan blinked fawningly. "Since Your Highness already knows everything about Wu Ying, I won't show off my meager skills. This time, Your Highness helps me save Miss Xiao. I'll give you ten percent of the money Wu Ying earns in return, how about it?"
Feng Xiwu chuckled and shook his head. "I am not so desperate as to covet your small amount of money. You go and settle her yourself. Call Li Yang in, and I will give him a few instructions."
"Alright!" Lu Qingwan readily agreed and turned. As long as Feng Xiwu was willing to help save the person, there would be many ways to repay him. There was no need to rush.
Xiao Yueying waited anxiously. Upon hearing Lu Qingwan's words, she exclaimed, "Not go back? No, if I don't go back, Lin Qingquan's men will surely follow the clues and find this place. Then, instead of saving you, I will have harmed you!"
"What's the rush?" Lu Qingwan said helplessly, "Come with me."
Xiao Yueying followed with a bewildered expression into the inner chamber and saw Feng Xiwu sitting in a wheelchair. After a single glance, she hesitated slightly. "Regent?"
"That's right." Lu Qingwan patted Feng Xiwu's shoulder proudly. "The greatest backing is right here, what are you afraid of? Although I don't know how that fool Lin Qingquan investigated, he recognized my face but failed to recognize the dignified Regent. But you wouldn't think my Lord would be afraid of a mere martial arts rogue, would you?"