Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince
Chapter 218 That girl is quite clever

Chapter 218: Chapter 218 That girl is quite clever

Ever since the news of Prince Qiu’s critical illness spread to the capital city, the ladies from prominent families who were secretly hoping to be chosen to marry into Prince Qiu Residence were thrown into panic.

Originally, marrying into Prince Qiu Residence was considered a great fortune for them, but now, it was uncertain whether the prince was dead or alive, and they were unwilling to gamble their futures on it.

The people who used to curry favor with the Princess by frequent visits began to dwindle, opportunistically shifting their attentions to Jingyang Palace instead.

As for this, the Princess paid no mind, her true concern was Li Mingjue’s illness.

Though a message from Gusu had come, claiming that rest and recuperation would suffice, she couldn’t help but worry incessantly.

She even grew colder towards Li Tianze, spending her days in fasting and prayer, transcribing scriptures.

Li Tianze, having been given the cold shoulder for several days, felt some dissatisfaction and gradually distanced himself from the Princess, sending only the Imperial Physician to inquire after her health and continuing his stay at Xuanruo Pavilion as before.

That day, Qi Yu was idly flipping through a storybook in her room when Shiqi knocked on the door and entered, delivering a secret letter to her.

Before closing the door, she glanced at the Prince, who appeared frail and "as if on his deathbed," a slight twitch visible at the corner of her mouth.

As long as the two of you are happy.

He softly closed the door, checked his surroundings to ensure no one was approaching, and then left feeling relieved.

Inside the room, Qi Yu unfolded the secret letter, skimmed through it, and turned her head to address Li Mingjue, who was still resting with his eyes closed, "Prince, stop pretending, there’s news from the palace."

Li Mingjue suddenly opened his eyes and sat up, smiling as he looked at her, "What news now?"

Qi Yu shook the secret letter in her hand and tossed it over to him, "It’s just those ladies from prominent families who can’t enter Prince Qiu Residence and are now fawning over the Empress instead."

She paused, then spoke with some worry, "Mother still doesn’t know the truth. What if she becomes overly anxious and falls ill?"

Li Mingjue quickly read through the letter, crumpled it, "I’ve already sent someone to tell Mother that I’ll be returning with my maternal grandfather next month. She will understand."

Seeing that he had everything under control, Qi Yu nodded and stopped dwelling on it.

Outside the city, a formidable military procession was making its slow approach.

Atop the horse was an old General who, despite his advanced age, showed no signs of fatigue, accompanied by a handsome thirteen-year-old boy by his side.

Spying the city gates from a distance, Song Ting’s clear eyes brightened slightly as he said to his grandfather, "Grandfather, we’re almost there!"

Song Feng nodded solemnly. His voice was a bit hoarse from days of travel, and his eyes revealed a trace of concern, "I wonder how Mingjue’s illness is faring?"

Song Ting also lowered his head, his earlier cheerfulness gone. The dust-covered face of the young boy fell immediately.

"It’s all that assassin’s fault. If I catch him, I will give him a good thrashing!"

He gripped his spear in a different direction, wishing he could capture that person immediately and give him a good thrashing.

On normal days, Song Feng always taught him not to harbour too much anger or show his sharpness too openly, but at that moment, his feelings were the same as Song Ting’s.

Half a year ago, when he heard the news of Prince Qiu’s death while at the frontier, he almost fainted.

Luckily, they managed to revive him, and Li Mingjue had personally written a letter to explain the situation, allowing him to ease his mind.

Unexpectedly, when he arrived in Gusu, there was another assassination attempt and Li Mingjue had been poisoned, which put him in critical condition.

Upon hearing the news, Song Feng immediately quickened his pace and even went so far as to bring Li Mingjue’s unpredictable mentor, Mo Qingshan, along with him.

This old fellow was elusive, but he surely carried life-saving medicines.

With him around, Li Mingjue would definitely be alright.

Song Ting turned back to look at Mo Qingshan, who was riding a donkey at a leisurely pace on the road, and began to doubt his real identity.

Was this man truly his cousin’s mentor?

Making out Song Ting’s doubtful gaze, Mo Qingshan, displeased, stroked his beard and grumbled irritably, "Young whelp, what are you staring at!"

Song Ting made a ghost face at him and turned his head back.

Mo Qingshan was still fuming, his mustache all bristly.

He thought of how he was just fine gathering herbs in the mountains when he ran into that old coot Song Feng. What a stroke of terrible luck, to be bound and forced to match their pace on the journey.

He hadn’t slept well for several days.

He had said before, with Qi Yu, that girl around, Li Mingjue would be fine.

She could bring the dead back to life; what were mere arrow poisons to her?

But that old coot Song Feng wouldn’t listen to his explanation, thinking he was boasting, and Song Ting, that brat, even threatened to settle accounts with Princess Qiu upon reaching Gusu.

Having been on the frontier, he was behind on news and had always thought Princess Qiu was a fool.

Mo Qingshan poured a few drinks from his gourd and silently shook his head.

That girl was quite astute.

The city guards saw the army and immediately sent a message to the Prince Qiu Residence.

When Qi Yu heard the news, she was so frightened that she dropped the book in her hands, "They... they’ve arrived?"

Li Mingjue looked at her dazed appearance and reminded her amusedly, "Your grandfather will take a while longer to enter the city. Don’t panic."

Qi Yu glared at him, always knowing he’d crack jokes.

She quickly summoned a maid to fix her hair and changed into presentable clothes, appearing elegant and graceful, a stark contrast to her usual slothful look.

Li Mingjue couldn’t help but take a few more glances.

However, he was still a man gravely ill, only able to lie stiffly in bed.

Shen Xiheng wasn’t there, so Zhou Hong took people to meet them outside the city.

She sat in the front hall with a cup of tea in her hands, feeling somewhat nervous.

An hour later, Zhou Hong led the people into the residence.

Qi Yu immediately stood up and greeted the old general with a shout, "Grandfather!"

Song Feng had taken off his armor, looking less fierce, but as a man battle-hardened, his presence was still so formidable that people struggled to lift their heads.

Qi Yu led everyone to the front hall to sit down, presenting a cup of tea with determination, "Grandfather, please have some tea."

Song Feng glanced at her and waved to stop her gesture, "No need."

Song Ting, unable to contain himself, interjected, "Where’s cousin? I want to see cousin!"

Mo Qingshan, looking at this impatient father and son, reached out to take the tea from Qi Yu’s hand and raised an eyebrow at her, "Girl, lead them over first."

Without seeing Li Mingjue, the two of them wouldn’t be reassured.

Mo Qingshan’s leisurely attitude greatly irked Song Feng; after all, he was Mingjue’s master. At such a critical time, he wasn’t rushing to save him but idly drinking tea here.

Qi Yu led Song Feng and Song Ting over while Mo Qingshan followed behind at a leisurely pace.

Entering the room and seeing Li Mingjue lying on the bed, colorless, Song Feng, agitated, grabbed Mo Qingshan, urging, "Hurry and examine him!"

Song Ting’s heart also rose in his chest as he rushed to the bedside and began to cry.

Qi Yu, witnessing this chaotic scene, also felt her head growing large.

She couldn’t very well say that this was all her idea, could she?