As Lu Qing Wan's face visibly fell, Duan Yue quickly tried to salvage the situation.
"My lady, do not fear. The sandstorms here are fierce and the temperature is low. The adobe walls are only for blocking the wind. The beds inside are actually no different from those in Da Qian."
Realizing Lu Qing Wan had misunderstood something, Han Chen nodded rapidly. "Duan Yue is correct. The furniture and furnishings inside are still wooden. Although their style differs slightly from Da Qian's, they are certainly not made of mud."
Lu Qing Wan said skeptically, "Truly?"
Lu Qing Wan's expression clearly showed disbelief. Would this mud box cause her to end up in a coffin?
The three nodded vigorously. Li Su also joined the effort to persuade Lu Qing Wan. "It's true. My lady, think about it. This is Xiliang City! Even if ordinary citizens can endure mud houses and mud furniture, the nobles of Xiliang cannot! Look at the Xiliang Imperial Palace. Although it's a bit small, it's still quite luxurious, wouldn't you say?"
Li Su pointed to the most luxurious building in Xiliang City. Lu Qing Wan followed her gaze, and the sight of the magnificent architecture, so similar to Da Qian's imperial palace, instantly dispelled her aversion to the upcoming living environment.
However, she then asked, "Is this truly the Xiliang Imperial Palace? Why does it look like the Da Qian Imperial Palace has been moved here?"
"Oh, my lady, could you lower your voice a little?" Li Su glanced at the passersby on either side with unfriendly expressions and whispered, "This is Xiliang City. If you speak like that again, you'll be beaten."
Lu Qing Wan had merely spoken her mind in the moment, not truly seeking trouble. Reminded by Li Su, she promptly fell silent. After a short pause, she whispered, "Let's find any inn. No need to make it too troublesome."
Han Chen and the others understood. Trouble was secondary; Lu Qing Wan didn't want to expose their nascent strength to the scrutiny of Xiao Jing An and Xie Shi Yu.
Upon receiving the order, Han Chen immediately sent people to arrange for an inn while he accompanied Lu Qing Wan on a stroll through Xiliang City. However, as they wandered, he sensed something was amiss. "My lady, it seems we have tails behind us."
Han Chen was a little nervous. He knew Lu Qing Wan's purpose for coming to Xiliang. But if Xie Shi Yu and Xiao Jing An discovered their presence before anything even began, how could they possibly succeed?
To his surprise, Lu Qing Wan remained remarkably calm. "It's alright. Let them follow if they wish."
Han Chen was puzzled and wanted to ask more, but the brothers he had sent out earlier had already returned. He could only escort Lu Qing Wan to the inn.
Approaching the inn, which was as tall as a mud box, Lu Qing Wan had to psych herself up before stepping inside. She had braced herself for living in a mud box, but upon entering, she was pleasantly surprised. Just as Han Chen had said, only the exterior was built of mud. The interior structure was, in essence, no different from the wooden buildings of Da Qian. It was merely a bit more rustic, with more vibrant color contrasts. The carved beams and pillars, along with colorful painted murals, had a distinct style reminiscent of China's Tibetan regions. Lu Qing Wan even detected a rich scent of butter tea upon entering, which finally put her at ease.
Seeing her brothers had secured rooms, Lu Qing Wan entered her own first. Perhaps her eyes had already adapted to the dazzling array of colors in the lobby, so she was unfazed by the abundance of orange interiors and gold and silver fixtures. Sitting on the edge of a large heated kàng, which could comfortably sleep dozens of people, she beckoned Han Chen over. She also instructed Li Su, "Go guard the entrance."
Li Su stood by the door, while Duan Yue and the others stationed themselves at different windows. Lu Qing Wan then lowered her voice. "Xie Shi Yu and Xiao Jing An are both confined to the palace, and ordinary people rarely get to see them. Therefore, I deliberately left some vulnerabilities on the way here, so they would discover me and be lured out of the palace. This way, while I can see them, it also gives them an opportunity to prepare in advance. Later, we'll arrange for more safe houses and more escape routes, just in case."
The others nodded silently, acknowledging Lu Qing Wan's plan. Lu Qing Wan waved her hand. "Then everyone go rest. Ru Yue will stay to serve."
Li Su's face paled. Throughout the journey, whenever Lu Qing Wan needed someone to stay behind, all twelve of her attendants, except Duan Yue who was male and thus inconvenient, had taken turns. Li Su was the only one who hadn't even been assigned to assist Lu Qing Wan with bathing or dressing. She knew Lu Qing Wan was punishing her for her two instances of disobedience. While she knew she deserved the punishment, she couldn't help but feel sad. When Lu Qing Wan first entered the manor and hadn't yet opened her heart to Feng Xi Wu, she had already placed great trust in Li Su. This trust had been eroded by her repeated acts of self-will. Bowing, she left Lu Qing Wan's room and chose the room closest to Lu Qing Wan's. Duan Yue and the others, understanding Li Su's devotion to Lu Qing Wan, didn't argue with her. Only Duan Yue offered her a word of advice. "Even if your intentions are good, don't forget your place. She is the mistress, and you are her subordinate. If everyone acted like you, thinking they know what's best for her and acting on their own, what would be the point of the ring she wears, the token of Bu Ye Zhou, or her identity as the Holy Maiden? Moreover, can you guarantee that every decision you make for her own good is always correct?"
If no one had spoken to her, Li Su might have been able to bear it. But with someone speaking up, the fear and anxieties that had been building up within her surged like a breaking dam. She finally asked the question she had always wanted to ask but never dared: "If I hadn't acted on my own initiative and brought the Princess Consort back to Shangjing, would Marquis Lu not have died? And would the Prince not have perished in the snow mountain sinkhole trying to retrieve Marquis Lu's remains?"
Usually, people who asked such questions were seeking a negative answer. For example, "It wasn't your fault," "You couldn't have known," or "The other party intended to kill the Prince anyway, and it would have happened with or without you." However, she happened to be asking Duan Yue, who had hardened his heart to completely separate himself and the Twelve Months from the Reincarnation Hall after following Lu Qing Wan. Hearing Li Su's words, filled with self-reproach, Duan Yue merely raised an eyelid and said coldly, "It's good that you know." As if not wanting Li Su to feel guilty enough, he added, "The first time, the order came from the Marquis, her father. She couldn't punish you, because doing so would mean she was blaming the Marquis. The second time, it was because you belonged to the Prince. The Prince had already met his unfortunate end, and she was unwilling to punish the old subordinates of the Prince. The third time, can you guess what reason you would have for her to spare you?" Li Su trembled all over, leaning against the wall, almost unable to stand. Duan Yue, however, turned and left without a shred of mercy. Ying Shi and Yu Yue from the Twelve Months glared at Duan Yue, but they each took Li Su by the arm and led her into the room. Ultimately, they didn't scold Duan Yue. It was clear that they also agreed with Duan Yue's words, but since Lu Qing Wan hadn't spoken, they hadn't directly rebuked Li Su.