Duke Jing's younger sister

Some other day... Can't we wait until some other day?!

Shen Li lowered her head and searched the ground, but didn't find a crack suitable for her to crawl into. She instantly wanted to cover her face and run away!

God, Bodhisattva, please save her!

How did she answer this?

Luo Cheng, can you use your brain? Would anyone ask a girl like this, "Can I kiss you?"

"Well...it's getting late, I should go back home!"

Shen Li smiled with a fake smile, and quickly picked up the hem of her skirt and fled quickly from this embarrassing place that made her hair stand on end!

Luo Cheng: "Hey, you haven't answered my question yet..."

......

The fifth day of May.

During the annual Dragon Boat Festival, people in Jiangdu city started getting busy early.

Before the sun rises and sets, the children are given five-colored ropes to wear, with girls wearing pomegranate flowers on their heads and boys wearing mugwort leaves.

Pray for the children, and hope they will be immune to all diseases and avoid disasters.

It’s a pity that it’s cloudy during this year’s Dragon Boat Festival.

The sky was very dark when I woke up in the morning, and it became even darker in the afternoon.

A cool breeze blew, dark clouds rolled in, and the gloom covered most of the sky, giving people an inexplicable sense of oppression.

I’m afraid it will rain heavily during the Dragon Boat Festival this year.

The palace held a Dragon Boat Festival banquet, but due to bad weather, the dinner had to be held in Baohedian.

Only legitimate sons and daughters can attend this kind of palace banquet. The last time Shen Li went to attend the flower-viewing banquet, it was because the Queen Mother personally sent her an invitation.

This time, she was not qualified to enter the palace with Yang.

It just so happened that she didn't want to go either.

It is too restrictive in the palace. I can't eat well, I can't sit properly, and I have to worry and exert myself all the time. It would be better to stay in my own Qinghui Courtyard and enjoy the freedom.

Xingping brought over the rice dumplings, which were still steaming from being cooked, and the smell of the rice dumpling leaves was refreshing and fragrant.

Shen Li has always loved sweets, but she still thinks this candied date sweet rice dumpling is not sweet enough and wants to dip it in sugar.

Xingping had already figured out the girl's taste, so when she served the rice dumplings, she added a small dish of sugar.

The master and servant sat around the table, talking and laughing while peeling and eating rice dumplings. Xingping took a bite of the soft and glutinous rice dumpling and suddenly thought of Ziyuan.

"It would be great if Ziyuan was here, the red bean paste dumplings she makes are the most delicious..."

Shen Li paused while peeling the rice dumplings, and said in a low voice, "Yes, the red bean paste she made is sweet but not greasy and soft like sand, better than those made in big kitchens."

Speaking of Ziyuan, she suddenly thought of Ziyuan's younger brother Yao Ziqian. She had not seen him since he came to Cuibaiyuan.

"By the way, is Yao Ziqian doing well in Cuibai Hall these days?"

Xing Ping nodded and replied, "I heard that the Duke specially invited Master Qi back to teach him academically and wanted him to take part in this year's autumn exam."

Shen Li naturally knew Master Qi.

He is not only Shen Beiqi's teacher, but also her and Shen Zhiyan's family tutor.

Since Shen Beiqi had already arranged everything, she had nothing to worry about. After all, she hadn't seen Master Qi for two years, so she should go and pay him a visit.

Speaking of Ziyuan, she thought of Liang Yangrong again.

She thought about it over and over again last night, but still couldn't figure it out, nor could she be sure whether Liang Yangrong was really the owner of Wanhua Tower.

If so, then the person behind him is Duke of Liang, and behind Duke of Liang are the Crown Prince and the Queen?

Would the Crown Prince and the Queen go to so much trouble to deal with a maid just to find out her hidden past with Shen Beiqi?

Would knowing this past be of any benefit to what they were planning?

It seems impossible even when I think about it.

Or maybe, she really made a mistake.

After all, although the black jade pendant is precious, Liang Yangrong is not the only one in Jiangdu City, and it cannot be regarded as real evidence to make a final decision.

Besides, what Ziyuan was talking about was the cuckoo, not the lucky rat.

Her mind was in a mess and she sighed slightly, thinking that the next time she saw Luo Cheng, she could ask him for help to check it out.

Without a direction for investigation, we would inevitably be running around like a headless fly. Now we just need to focus on Liang Yangrong.

If we can find out, he is the real boss behind Wanhua Tower.

Then, all the truth will be revealed!

As a man, Luo Cheng has a wide network of contacts, so it is much easier for him to investigate than for a girl like her.

Suddenly, a strong wind blew up, and the white petals in the yard swayed violently in the wind. The wind blew up and flew into the house through the lattice window and fell silently to the ground.

"It looks like it's going to rain soon," Xingping said, standing up, "I'll go close the window."

Xingping had just put away the bamboo poles that supported the window and closed the window when the doorman came hurriedly to report.

It was a house-born boy who had just turned ten years old, named Zhuowa. Because his voice had not yet changed, his speech was a little childish. He called out, "Sister Xingping, there is someone outside who wants to see the young lady."

Xing Ping frowned and said, "Your concierge is really something. Can anyone come and ask to see the daughter of the Shen family so easily?"

Seeing Xingping's angry face, Zhuowa couldn't help but shrink her neck, "Not really, he gave me something and said that as long as the girl saw it, she would definitely come to see him, and he also said that he had something urgent to do!"

In fact, Zhuowa didn't tell him the whole story. She gave him something and a lot of silver, so his father sent him to Qinghuiyuan.

The money was received and the job was done, so it was no longer the doorman's business whether the third girl saw him or not.

"What is it?" Shen Li had already left the house and asked softly while standing at the door.

When Zhuowa saw the real owner coming out, she hurriedly bent over and walked over, holding her hands high. A red hairband danced in the wind in the child's hands.

Luo Yan?

Has he returned from the night banquet in the palace at this time?

Could something have happened?

Shen Li realized that something was wrong, but at the moment Yang and Shen Beiqi were not at home. She could not rashly introduce a man from outside into the Shen Mansion. Once someone with ulterior motives made up stories and spread rumors, it would ruin the reputation of the Shen family.

She thought for a moment and said in a deep voice, "Tell him to the back door of the alley."

"Yes, Third Miss." Zhuowa received the order and left.

Shen Li immediately walked towards the back door. Xingping was a little worried, so she picked up a lantern and followed him.

"Squeak-"

She opened the wooden door, and Luo Cheng turned around. The lanterns in the corridor swayed in the wind, hitting the stone wall and making bursts of noise.

In the dim light, she found that something was wrong with him. As soon as she stepped out of the door, Luo Yan pulled her into his arms.

Xingping was shocked and immediately turned around, quickly blew out the lantern in her hand, and hid herself in the darkness behind the door.

"Luo Cheng..."

He was so strong that she had trouble breathing. She patted his shoulder and asked softly, "What's wrong with you? Did something happen?"

A rainstorm was about to hit, and the strong wind, like the roar of a wild beast, swept through the alley, lifting the corners of the two people's robes, swaying and fluttering in the night.

She pushed again and finally freed his arms a little, but she was still held in his arms.

"What's going on?" Shen Li looked up at him and asked anxiously, "Speak!"

"Shen Li, let's go!" Luo Yan said in a hoarse voice.

Shen Li was stunned, and looked quietly at the boy in front of her whose outline was blurry but still incredibly beautiful.

His voice was always clear and crisp, just like his bright and handsome appearance, with the youthful vigor that is unique to young people.

This was the first time Shen Li had heard such a low and deep voice since she had known him.

She didn't know what was wrong with him or what had happened, so she could only ask softly, "What do you mean? Where are you going?"

Luo Yan held her wrist tightly, as if he would never be able to hold it again if he let go.

"It doesn't matter where we go. We leave Jiangdu City. To the north, we see endless grasslands. To the south, we see the vast sea of ​​clouds in Cangshan Mountain. The wealth and splendor of Jiangdu City is actually an invisible cage that will trap people tightly inside and make them lose their original selves!"

He was a little excited. Shen Li felt that her wrist was getting tighter and tighter, and there was a slight pain.

"You'll come with me, right? I don't like it here, let's get out of here, let's go now! Right now!"

He spoke incoherently and pulled Shen Li away. At the entrance of the alley stood a tall pony, its chestnut fur becoming darker in the night.

No matter what Shen Li said, Luo Cheng seemed not to hear her. He almost forced her onto the horse, and then he quickly jumped on the horse.

The sound of hurried horse hooves echoed in the night.

There was no one on the main street. The strong wind blew dust in the air. Most of the red lanterns under the corridor were blown out and fluttered wildly in the wind.

Luo Cheng held the reins tightly with one hand, held Shen Li tightly in his arms with the other, and ran towards the city gate at a very fast speed.

Shen Li raised her head and said, "Luo Cheng, even if you want to leave, you have to tell me what happened. Maybe there is a solution. I will work with you to find a solution, okay?"

"No!"

Tears seemed to flash in the boy's eyes, "There is no other way. The only way is for us to leave Jiangdu City!"