Chapter 45: Lu Xuanxuan's Stubbornness!

Severing ties with the family! From now on, she and the Luo Estate will be complete strangers? Has she been away from the capital for too long, growing too wild, or is she truly fearless of everything?

In this Fengyue Kingdom, no matter how exceptional one's talent might be, without the backing of a family, how is a frail woman supposed to stand her ground?

Besides, with her temperament, it is likely that before a single day passes, her enemies could circle her doorstep twice!

Lu Xuanxuan looked at the girl standing gracefully in the wind. She was so unrestrained and untamed, her actions invariably shocking the world. For the very first time, she felt the urge to truly understand what was in that mind.

People always called the two of them the Southern Lu and the Northern Luo, a pair of tyrannical demoness overlords.

Yet she knew deep down that only Luo Qianfan truly deserved to be called untamed and free. Proud and unbound, she lived out a life the rest of the world could never even imagine. She was the only one truly being herself!

Luo Yuhuan snapped out of her shock, her instincts telling her that what Luo Qianfan said was the truth! But her reason argued otherwise: how could Luo Qianfan possibly abandon the Luo Estate and casually cut all ties?

"How is that possible?" Luo Yuhuan's face was painted with disbelief.

Not only Luo Yuhuan, but also Lu Xuanxuan, Cui Qianqian who was watching the commotion from the side, and even an ordinary passerby on the street all threw questions at Luo Qianfan: Has this young woman in front of us really broken away from her family?

"If you don't believe it, you can simply go home and ask your hypocritical parents, or His Highness the Crown Prince—he was there at the time and can serve as a witness."

What a joke! She didn't even hold the Fengyue Kingdom in high regard, let alone care about a minor concubine-born daughter's position in the Prime Minister's Estate! Luo Qianfan sneered inwardly at the narrow-mindedness of these people.

Luo Qianfan's words were logical and well-founded, leaving no room for disbelief.

Everyone's gaze instantly landed on Luo Qianfan's slender, diminutive figure.

It was this person, this very face, who dared to do what others dared not!

……

……

She actually severed ties with her family!

Luo Yuhuan turned and walked back in haste; she was determined to get to the bottom of this matter! Cui Qianqian followed closely behind her.

As the crowd dispersed, Luo Qianfan also intended to leave. The moment she lifted her foot, someone called out to her.

"Did you really break ties with the Luo Estate?"

Luo Qianfan nodded.

That person said anxiously, "Are you out of your mind? Do you have any idea how many enemies you have? Without the protection of the Luo Estate, you might not even survive until tomorrow!"

Hearing the mention of the Luo Estate, a flicker of disdain crossed Luo Qianfan's eyes.

Interesting!

Luo Qianfan curled her lips into a smile, staring unblinkingly at the flustered and exasperated Lu Xuanxuan, and after a moment said, "Are you worried about me? I recall that we always bicker the moment we meet!"

Lu Xuanxuan's face flushed red as she retorted, "I am not! I just haven't finished playing with you yet, and I don't want you getting killed by someone else!" she argued feebly.

Luo Qianfan chuckled, "Oh~ Is that so? Then Miss Lu can rest easy. Before you manage to get me killed, I will certainly protect myself well and wash my neck clean, waiting for you to come and do me in."

Luo Qianfan laughed with carefree abandon, completely unconcerned for her own safety.

Lu Xuanxuan was left speechless, then abruptly changed the subject: "Actually, if you really don't want to stay in the Luo Estate, the Grand Prime Minister's Estate can arrange a job for you..."

Luo Qianfan marveled at Lu Xuanxuan's bizarre train of thought, wondering why on earth she wanted to arrange a job for her at her own home! Did she really look that unwanted?

Who on earth called these two sworn enemies? Based on this trajectory, could they really be enemies?

Luo Mo and Luo Yi both twitched the corners of their mouths: Did their Young Master really look like nobody wanted her?

"You just said I'm in grave danger, yet you still invite me to your house. What, aren't you afraid of being implicated by me?" Luo Qianfan's lips curved into a playful smile; this Lu Xuanxuan still possessed a shred of loyalty.

"My father is the Grand Prime Minister, my aunt holds the noble rank of Imperial Noble Consort, and my cousin is an imperial prince. Who would dare bully me? Who could bully me? If they dare to come, I'll beat down one for every one that arrives." At this moment, Lu Xuanxuan spoke with forceful conviction, radiating an overwhelmingly imposing aura.

Luo Qianfan pressed her lips together.

"Hey, are you coming or not? You aren't scared, are you? The worst-case scenario is I'll arrange an easy job for you! Or else you could..."

"Stop walking away..." Lu Xuanxuan chattered endlessly. Luo Qianfan had no choice but to leave her behind and walk away first; if she kept listening, her ears would surely grow calluses.

The distant voices of two people drifted closer and closer. Leng Qing'er wore snow-white robes, the flower-shaped birthmark at the edge of her eye drawing idle imaginations.

"Such impressive methods indeed, to be able to tame even Lu Xuanxuan!"

All the way up, Luo Qianfan had a lingering sensation of being watched by a pair of eyes. Raising her head, her view was blocked by a distant private parlor. Turning her head, she asked, "Is there anyone in that parlor?"

Luo Yi looked over, seeing an inconspicuous room, and replied, "I asked the waiter earlier; that parlor seems to have been rented long-term by a young woman who frequently visits. As for whether she's here today, I'm not entirely certain."

Lu Xuanxuan caught up and, hearing Luo Qianfan's words, a flash of light suddenly appeared in the depths of her eyes: "Are you talking about that one?"

The parlor Lu Xuanxuan pointed at was precisely the one Luo Qianfan had just asked about. She continued, "That's where Leng Qing'er is. You'd better not provoke her!"

Hearing that it was Leng Qing'er, Luo Qianfan was astonished. Ever since her return to the Fengyue Kingdom, she had heard this name countless times, and they even shared quite a bit of history.

What surprised her most, however, was that Lu Xuanxuan actually feared her! This was hardly her usual style!

"Are you... afraid of her?" She hadn't expected that the fearless Lu Xuanxuan would actually fear Leng Qing'er to this extent, even advising her not to provoke her.

Hearing someone doubt her, Lu Xuanxuan stamped her feet in frustration and snapped defensively, "How is that possible? Why would I be afraid of her!"

Lu Xuanxuan tugged at Luo Qianfan's sleeve, leaned in closer, and muttered, "I told you to be careful of her because she is extremely scheming. Weren't you the one who was framed by her and driven out of the family back then?"

The incident from back then? Wasn't the verdict on that matter settled long ago? Moreover, everyone unanimously believed that she was the one who had harmed Leng Qing'er.

"You believe that what happened back then wasn't my doing?" Luo Qianfan asked in surprise.

The incident from back then? Leng Qing'er?

Luo Mo suddenly came to her senses. No wonder the name Leng Qing'er sounded so familiar; she was the mastermind who had framed the Young Master back then, driving her out of the family at such a young age!

No, that household wasn't even the Young Master's true family! But still, she was the one who made the Young Master take the blame.

"Of course! I can't speak for other things, but framing people—that is something you, Luo Qianfan, could never possibly do. I refuse to believe those absurd rumors of theirs."

Hearing this, a warm current swept through Luo Qianfan's heart. It seemed someone had once trusted her just as unconditionally.

Dongfang Yuyue's enchanting peach-blossom eyes surfaced in her mind once more. That day, his resolute declaration of 'I believe you!' had been just like this.

Luo Qianfan was momentarily dazed.

"Oh!" Her tone was flat, without a single ripple, yet her heart was churning with waves.

"Is that it? Just 'oh' and nothing else?"

Lu Xuanxuan seemed to gain momentum and hurriedly asked, "What actually happened back then? Why did Leng Qing'er suddenly fall into the water? And why did she claim it had to do with you?" Lu Xuanxuan was filled with questions.

Luo Qianfan looked at her with a smile and blinked, asking, "Want to know?"

Lu Xuanxuan nodded.

"If I told you that back then, Leng Qing'er jumped into the water herself, injured herself of her own accord, and screamed for help just to frame me, would you believe it?" Her demeanor was completely relaxed, as though she were discussing someone else's affairs.

"I never imagined she actually did it to herself! But why would she do that? Surely not just because she can't stand the sight of you? That makes no sense!" Lu Xuanxuan was flooded with questions.

"Those answers are probably known only to herself." Luo Qianfan clicked her tongue inwardly; this Leng Qing'er was truly the most venomous scorpion in the upper capital.

Lu Xuanxuan nodded half-understandingly, then shook her head: "So, are you coming to my house or not?"

Luo Qianfan massaged her temples, wondering why this girl couldn't let go of this single obsession.

"Fine, fine, my dear lady! I'll go drop you off at home, alright!" she sighed helplessly.

In the end, Luo Qianfan still did not go to Lu Xuanxuan's residence, merely stating that she would often come look for her to play! Of course, that was just to humor her. How could the Grand Prime Minister's Estate ever easily permit the daughter of a political rival to step inside? How delightfully naive she was!

Seeing that Luo Qianfan remained steadfast in her refusal, Lu Xuanxuan had no choice but to drop the matter. In any case, they were both in the Fengyue Kingdom; if she truly wanted to see her, she could always come looking for her anytime.

Meanwhile, the corner parlor was chillingly quiet.

Leng Qing'er sat alone in a rocking chair, sitting quietly there, her face beneath the veil cold, beautiful, and ruthless. A maid in black stood quietly to her right. The room was deathly quiet, occasionally pierced by faint sounds of laughter drifting from outside.

Leng Qing'er's expression remained serene, a pair of arrogant, sharp, eagle-like black eyes gleaming brightly. Her eyes were piercing, and a stray lock of hair draped across her brow in just the right way. As she blinked, her gaze sent a chill straight through anyone who looked at her.

"She has returned! Tell me, will the capital be stirred into turmoil once again?" The mere mention of Luo Qianfan caused the restless factors within Leng Qing'er to act up.

Yet she concealed it exceptionally well!

Qinghan remained detachedly by the side, her gaze hollow and devoid of any emotion, though her heart skipped a beat.

Leng Qing'er's cultivation had actually reached such a formidable level as well!

Even from a distance, Qinghan could clearly sense the fleeting murderous intent radiating from Leng Qing'er. Though it lasted merely a split second, it was clear that Leng Qing'er's internal energy cultivation had advanced significantly.

"Whatever the Mistress contemplates, this servant cannot fathom," Qinghan replied casually.

"Investigate her for me. I want to know every single detail of Luo Qianfan's life over the past seven years—whom she met, what she did—down to the finest detail. Understood?"

To know oneself and one's enemy is to be invincible; she refused to believe that someone who had fallen from the clouds into the mud could emerge entirely unchanged! A person is bound to change!

Seven years had passed; it was time for change.

"Understood!" A trace of warmth flashed across Qinghan's cold, emotionless eyes.

The Imperial Palace, Guangde Hall.

A man draped in a bright yellow robe embroidered with golden threads and wearing an imperial crown sat high upon the dais. Facial hair hovered faintly about his lower face, and deep furrows lined his brow in the shape of the Chinese character for "three." Years of wielding power and control lent him an even greater majesty.

This was the supreme ruler of the Fengyue Kingdom—Dongfang Zhenghong.

Seated below him was Dongfang Ao, who had just been summoned.

When Chief Eunuch He had delivered the summons earlier, Dongfang Yuyue had been present as well, but he had simply returned straight to his own estate without uttering a single word—a phenomenon that had long since become routine.

"Do you know why I summoned you here?" A solemn, imposing voice slowly descended.

Dongfang Ao shuddered violently all over.

"This subject does not know."

"Still playing dumb! Weren't those assassins in Prince Yu's estate sent by you?!" Dongfang Zhenghong bellowed.