“My Lady, it’s alright. I understand her feelings at this moment, and I do not blame her.” Leng Ruo Li replied with a calm expression and magnanimous words.
“Thank you, Consort. You are kind-hearted and will surely be greatly rewarded in the future.”
The old woman, not knowing many pleasantries, could only offer her silent gratitude to Leng Ruo Li in her heart.
Hearing her words, Leng Ruo Li’s lips curved into a slight smile. She turned and walked out of the patient’s room.
As she stepped out, she saw two familiar figures standing in the medical hall.
“Father, Your Highness, when did you arrive?” Leng Ruo Li asked them with a smile.
“Heh heh…”
“Li’er, your father and His Highness just arrived at the medical hall. Xing’er told us you were with a patient, so we didn’t want to disturb you,” Leng Jinyu explained with a smile.
“I’m done now. Father, shall we go to the rest hall next door for a bit?” Leng Ruo Li suggested.
Upon her words, both Leng Jinyu and Jun Mohan nodded.
The three then walked towards the rest hall of An Ji Tang.
Actually, this rest hall in An Ji Tang was not originally part of her design. She had it specially arranged a few days before An Ji Tang opened its doors, as a private space for An Ji Tang’s staff to meet with friends.
“Li’er, your father and I heard about what happened at the entrance of An Ji Tang today while we were in the palace. Prince Qing is not a good person. You’ve had conflicts with him multiple times; you must be wary of him retaliating against you,” Leng Jinyu reminded her in a low voice.
“Father, I know. But your daughter is no longer someone who allows others to bully her. He won’t be able to harm me so easily,” Leng Ruo Li chuckled.
“Alas, your father knows this, but there is a saying: a shining sword is easy to dodge, but a hidden dart is hard to guard against. You should still be cautious when you go out,” Leng Jinyu said, still not at ease.
“Father-in-law, please rest assured. I will protect Li’er,” Jun Mohan guaranteed Leng Jinyu.
“That’s more like it. If even a single strand of Li’er’s hair is harmed, I will hold you accountable immediately,” Leng Jinyu said sternly, his dark eyes sweeping over Jun Mohan.
Jun Mohan: “……”
As the three of them had just sat down to chat for a while, Leng Ruo Rui and Ming Jiu Xiao, along with Mo Yi, walked into the rest hall from outside.
Leng Ruo Rui’s handsome face held a slight smile. He was dressed in a moon-white robe with bamboo embroidery, cinched at the waist with wide sleeves. His ink-black hair cascaded over his white attire, merely tied back with a black silk ribbon at the front. Holding a folding fan, his bearing was as upright as a bamboo, exuding an ethereal aura as he slowly approached the trio.
Ming Jiu Xiao, on the other hand, was still clad in a striking crimson robe with wide sleeves. His dark, ink-like hair, unbound, flowed freely over his shoulders, smooth and lustrous like the finest silk. His handsome, arrogant, yet roguish face was adorned with a mischievous smirk.
“Big Brother, you’re here too!” Leng Ruo Li called out to Leng Ruo Rui with a beaming smile.
“Ninth Xiao and I were out enjoying ourselves outside the city this afternoon. As soon as we returned to the city, we heard passersby talking about you beating up Prince Qing, so we rushed to An Ji Tang to check on you. How are you? Did that Prince Qing injure you at all?” Leng Ruo Rui asked, lowering his gaze to examine Leng Ruo Li carefully with concern.
“Big Brother, please don’t worry. I’m not someone who gets injured so easily now,” Leng Ruo Li said, winking mischievously at Leng Ruo Rui.
“Ai, Brother Leng, I told you on the way just now, this girl Li’er definitely wouldn’t suffer any losses. I wonder what incredible encounters she’s had on her travels. In just half a year, she’s acquired such formidable internal energy and learned martial arts,” Ming Jiu Xiao said with a roguish air. He was truly astonished by the tremendous changes in Leng Ruo Li. However, he felt it was good that the girl had become stronger, making her less susceptible to being bullied, and reducing his constant worry for her safety.
“She is my only sister; how could I not worry?” Leng Ruo Rui replied with a serious expression.
Hearing this, Ming Jiu Xiao and everyone else in the rest hall fell silent. In truth, they were all worried about Leng Ruo Li.
“Big Brother, I’m really fine.” To prove she wasn’t injured, Leng Ruo Li immediately stood up and spun around once.
“Mm-hmm, it’s good that you’re alright,” Leng Ruo Rui finally nodded with relief.
Then, he turned to Leng Jinyu and said, “Father, I received a letter from my adoptive father today. There’s been some trouble within the clan, and I will be leaving the capital tomorrow morning to return to the Xie family. I won’t be returning to the Leng General’s residence tonight.”
Everyone listened, stunned.
Immediately, Leng Jinyu asked with concern, “Rui’er, are you returning to the Xie family in such a hurry because the Xie family is facing some difficulties?”
“Father, it’s nothing major, just a bit tricky to handle,” Leng Ruo Rui replied, not revealing the truth of the Xie family’s affairs to avoid worrying Leng Jinyu.
“Then, does Big Brother need our help?” Leng Ruo Li asked him with a hint of unease, as she felt the situation was not as simple as Leng Ruo Rui made it out to be.
“No need, Li’er. Once I’ve sorted things out, I will return to the capital to accompany you all to Cloud Mist Island to find Mother,” Leng Ruo Rui refused Leng Ruo Li.
“Alright then, Big Brother. Please be careful when you go back. If you encounter any difficulties, remember to write to us. Once we receive your letter, we will do our utmost to rush to the Xie family to help you,” Leng Ruo Li earnestly cautioned him.
“Li’er is right. You must be extremely careful upon your return. If you encounter any trouble, you must write to us, and we will rush to your aid as quickly as possible,” Leng Jinyu also looked at his son, with whom he had recently reconnected, with a worried expression. Despite a hundred feelings of helplessness and countless moments of sorrow, he could do nothing.
Following that, Jun Mohan also raised his hand and gently patted Leng Ruo Rui’s shoulder, saying softly, “Brother-in-law, if you need anything from this King, please do not hesitate to ask.”
Hearing this, Leng Ruo Rui gave him a faint smile.
“Thank you! Your Highness’s generous promise, Brother-in-law. My sister’s safety will be entrusted to your protection from now on,” Leng Ruo Rui said, cupping his hands towards Jun Mohan.
Everyone showed a reluctant expression towards Leng Ruo Rui.
Just then, Ming Jiu Xiao unexpectedly announced to everyone, “Since Brother Leng is returning to the Xie family tomorrow, I will also be leaving the capital tomorrow.”
Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at Ming Jiu Xiao.
“Ming Jiu Xiao, has your Crescent Moon Pavilion also run into trouble?” Leng Ruo Li casually asked.
“No, but it likely will soon. However, my main purpose in returning this time is to relocate my father’s grave,” Ming Jiu Xiao truthfully informed them.
“Is there truly nothing else?” Leng Jinyu asked him with concern.
“No, it’s just that my father’s death anniversary is approaching, and I wish to exhume his remains and bury them alongside my mother’s bones.” Ming Jiu Xiao’s expression turned somewhat sorrowful as he spoke of this.