Cang Lan Dao - Chapter 37.1

Chapter 37.1 

Don’t touch her; give her to me — 

When these words came out, everyone was stunned. Luo Wanqing seemed to be scared by him and shivering a bit. She panicked and grabbed Zhang Yiran’s sleeve. 

Zhang Yiran noticed and rushed to comfort her, saying softly, “Don’t be afraid. His Highness is scolding the outlaws.” 

Hearing this, Li Guiyu finally reacted. The person in front of her was highly similar to Luo Wanqing, but she was a bit different on closer inspection. Luo Wanqing had warm almond-shaped eyes that carried a noble girl’s gracefulness, and the person before him had thinner eyes than Luo Wanqing’s. When she lowered her eyes, she looked cold, and her expression was timid. One could tell at a glance that she came from a humble origin. However, this face was too similar to Luo Wanqing; looking at her timidly next to Zhang Yiran, Li Guiyu felt some restrained anger. 

Uncle Zhang was also stunned at the sight of Luo Wanqing’s face. He knew Li Guiyu’s temper too well and hurriedly spoke to Li Guiyu: “Your Highness, I’m afraid there is a trap.” 

Li Guiyu didn’t make a sound. He brushed away Uncle Zhang, who stopped him, got down from the carriage, swept a glance at the people who were stunned by him, and came in front of Luo Wanqing. As soon as he approached, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but retreated towards Zhang Yiran. 

Li Guiyu moved and raised his eyes to look at Luo Wanqing coldly. Luo Wanqing seemed stunned and looked up at Zhang Yiran, trembling for help. “My lord…” 

“Don’t be afraid,” Zhang Yiran also noticed that Li Guiyu’s mood was wrong. The woman in front of him seemed to treat him as the only support, and he was not accustomed to it. But he thought that this woman had just been kidnapped by someone and was saved by him, and now she regarded him as a lifesaver, which was expected. He softly pacified, “This is the Third Prince. He is a good person and won’t do anything to you.” 

Zhang Yiran looked at the crowd and coldly said, “You guys still do not leave quickly? Do you guys have to wait for this official to tie you up before you know the implication?” 

The crowd did not speak and looked at each other. Zhang Yiran’s entire body was tense, vigorously holding Luo Wanqing’s arm, protecting her to the death. The traffickers were carrying knives and stared at Li Guiyu. 

Knowing that they were waiting for his attitude, Li Guiyu moved his gaze away from Luo Wanqing, pointing towards the old lady standing on the carriage, and said gently, “This Highness doesn’t want to cause trouble. These two are my guests. You guys go back.” 

The old lady knew what Li Guiyu meant. She unwillingly glanced at the corpse on the ground, clenched her teeth, and respectfully saluted, “I don’t know that it’s Your Highness’s carriage, and I disturbed Your Highness. This old slave will take them to leave. I hope that Your Highness will forgive me for that one’s sake.” 

“If that one doesn’t pursue, I won’t mind.” Li Guiyu’s expression was calm: “Farewell.” 

The old lady heard this and hurriedly called on her own people, turning around to leave. 

Luo Wanqing hurriedly said, “There are still people in the carriage.” 

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yiran shouted, “Leave the carriage!” 

The old lady turned around and glared viciously at Zhang Yiran. She then glanced at Li Guiyu, gritted her teeth, and told her people to leave the carriage before they left. 

After the carriage left, Zhang Yiran breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly turned his head to look at Luo Wanqing, looking up and down, “Is Miss alright?” 

Luo Wanqing nodded, seemingly terrified, and softly said, “Thank you for saving my life. The grace of saving my life, there is no way to repay it, I …” 

“Miss,” Li Guiyu interrupted her as he listened to her words. Luo Wanqing and Zhang Yiran looked up and saw Li Guiyu standing aside, smiling gently, “Are you alright?” 

Hearing Li Guiyu’s voice, Zhang Yiran remembered and hurriedly said to Luo Wanqing, “Miss, you thanked the wrong person. It’s not me who saved you this night. If it was only me, I’m afraid that both of us will die here.” Saying that, Zhang Yiran looked at Li Guiyu and introduced him, “You should thank His Highness.” 

Luo Wanqing turned her eyes to look. Her pair of eyes filled with tears, and the slightly upturned corners of her eyes carried charms. Sizing up Li Guiyu for a moment before warmly bowed her head and respectfully said, “Thank you, Your Highness.” 

“When you thanked him, you said you could not repay him.” Li Guiyu seemed joking, but his voice was slightly cold. “But you only say thanks to me like that?” 

Luo Wanqing stiffened. Zhang Yiran did not pay much attention to them, only saying to Luo Wanqing, “Are there others? I’ll go take a look.” 

“There’s more.” Luo Wanqing didn’t seem to dare to meet Li Guiyu’s eyes and moved away in a panic, hurriedly speaking to Zhang Yiran, “This way, please, my lord.” 

Luo Wanqing pulled Zhang Yiran’s sleeve away, leading Zhang Yiran to the side of the carriage. Li Guiyu coldly looked at Luo Wanqing’s hand, pulling Zhang Yiran’s sleeve and following them forward. 

Zhang Yiran opened the carriage and saw the sleeping carload of people. He frowned and said in dissatisfaction, “To think that they would do such a thing! Miss,” Zhang Yiran turned his head to look at Luo Wanqing, “Can you go with me to report to the officials?” 

Luo Wanqing looked troubled and hesitantly said, “Lord, my mother is sick. I went to Dongdu to get medicine, and now I miss my mother. I can’t afford to wait even for a moment longer.” 

Speaking of Mother, Zhang Yiran remembered his own at home, and he quickly said, “Then you go back first. But this is in the middle of the night ……” 

“How about this?” Luo Wanqing looked at Zhang Yiran expectantly and immediately said, “Let Your Highness go and report to the officials. How about you send me back?” 

When this word came out, everyone present was stunned. Zhang Yiran raised his eyes to Li Guiyu beside him. Li Guiyu saw Zhang Yiran’s gaze and smiled gently, “Lord Zhang, I can only handle it until here.” 

Zhang Yiran knew Li Guiyu’s meaning. These traffickers must have a backer behind them. Li Guiyu saving them was already a favor. He had just returned to the palace, and being unwilling to offend people was natural. 

“Then ……” Zhang Yiran glanced at Luo Wanqing next to him, thought for a moment, and hesitantly said, “Can Your Highness send someone to escort this girl home? She has a sick old mother at home, so she can’t be delayed. It’s the middle of the night, and I’m not at ease.” 

“Your Highness.” As soon as Uncle Zhang beside him heard this, he rushed forward and tried to remind him, “Your Highness, you are still in a hurry to return to the palace.” 

Li Guiyu didn’t say anything as he quietly looked at Luo Wanqing. He knew that in the middle of the night, a woman so similar to her appeared, the odds were that it was a setup. However, for some reason, looking at this woman’s face, looking at her pulling on Zhang Yiran’s sleeve, he couldn’t move his gaze. He was so anxious and restless that he couldn’t wait to cut off that hand. How dare she? How dare she use that face and touch another man? 

Li Guiyu restrained himself from looking at Luo Wanqing, turned his head towards Zhang Yiran, and smiled, saying gently, “It’s fine. You go report to the government, I’ll personally send this girl off.” 

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing felt surprised. She did not expect Li Guiyu to agree quickly. This matter was obviously a trap. Li Guiyu has taken the bait? 

Uncle Zhang felt uneasy and hurriedly said, “Your Highness ……” 

“Escort Lord Zhang back.” Li Guiyu raised his hand, stopping Uncle Zhang from opening his mouth. Under Uncle Zhang’s shocked eyes, he calmly said, “Go to the East Palace entrance and wait.” 

Uncle Zhang froze, then seemed to understand something and respectfully said, “Yes.” 

After everything was done, Li Guiyu turned his head to ask for a lamp from the attendant and looked towards Luo Wanqing. “Miss, where is your home? I’ll send you there.” 

Luo Wanqing hesitantly glanced at Zhang Yiran. Li Guiyu seemed unable to endure that glance and laughed, “Miss, it’s me who’s sending you there, so don’t look at Lord Zhang, okay?” 

“Your Highness is right,” Zhang Yiran also felt inappropriate, hurriedly pacifying Luo Wanqing: “Miss, you can follow Your Highness. It’s fine.” 

Having come into contact this long, although Zhang Yiran couldn’t figure out Li Guiyu’s bottom, he knew he was a man who aspired to the court, and this kind of ambitious person wouldn’t let a woman stain himself.

Zhang Yiran looked at Li Guiyu unnoticeably before adding: “Where does Miss live? Tomorrow, I’ll come back to see Miss.” 

Having him return to visit would guarantee Luo Wanqing’s safety. If Li Guiyu had done something to Luo Wanqing, he would have pursued the matter. These words were a silent warning. Luo Wanqing heard it and couldn’t help but bring gratitude into her eyes. She said gently, “I live at the foot of the mountain in the Liu Family Village. Only my family lives there.“ 

“Okay, I’ll come over tomorrow.” Zhang Yiran answered. 

Li Guiyu smiled lightly and said, “Don’t worry, Lord Zhang, I will escort this Miss safely.” 

When Zhang Yiran heard this, he felt embarrassed and respectfully said, “Thank you, Your Highness, for your understanding.” 

Zhang Yiran said goodbye to the two and led the way, driving the carriage and leading the people away. Li Guiyu took a lamp from the guards, turned his head to look at Luo Wanqing, and said gently, “Miss, let’s go now?“ 

Luo Wanqing heard this, bowed towards Li Guiyu, and showed Li Guiyu the way. Li Guiyu carried his lamp forward and led her into the forest. Luo Wanqing followed behind him, moving forward with him. There were many weeds in the forest. Li Guiyu folded a branch and walked ahead, clearing the weeds for Luo Wanqing. He walked to one side and said, “What’s your name?“ 

“Qingqing.” Luo Wanqing looked at his back and couldn’t help but stroke the Thousand Machines on her hand. She knew she couldn’t kill him. After coming to Dongdu and studying at the Inspection Department, she had intentionally learned about him. Li Guiyu learned from the Sword Sage since childhood, innately skillful in sword arts, and before he left for Beirong that year, he was already a first-class expert in the jianghu. She did not know how good his skills were in the past, but now that she practiced martial arts, she understood that it was already good that she could save her life. However, she had no chance of winning with a sneak attack.

Moreover, he was now the son of the emperor. If she killed him, she must die. Her family was still in the hands of Xiang Sizi, and she couldn’t be so rash. But looking at his back, she couldn’t help but think of the past. Those pasts gnawed at her, boiling her blood. She wanted to rush up and use the dagger he had given her, stabbing him and making him beg for her, making him apologize, making him kneel on the ground, begging for forgiveness from her father in the nine springs. Her killing intent was a bit restrained, and she didn’t dare to look any further and lowered her head to look at her feet. Fortunately, she faced Li Guiyu’s back, and he seemingly did not notice. He only said gently, “Qingqing? It’s a good name. It’s somewhat similar to my late friend.“ 

“Late friend?”