“Lan Qing!”
Lan Ji’s heart tightened with fear at his words.
“Lan Qing, do you know what you’re saying? If your departure from Lingjiu Hall is discovered, they will immediately come to the imperial city to arrest you!”
The mission of their Lan clan was to protect the Southern Ming Kingdom.
When she left back then, the Lan clan did not issue a kill order because they discovered that Lan Qing was more qualified to inherit than Lan Ji.
His abilities were, in fact, superior to Lan Ji’s.
But Lan Qing was still young at the time, so they sent him directly to Lingjiu Hall to cultivate under his master.
It was also because of this that Lan Ji was able to escape.
If Lan Qing were to leave now, the Lan clan would surely rush to the imperial city immediately.
What Lan Ji feared most was that they would discover her hiding place.
Once discovered, her peaceful days would be over.
She would have to leave her husband and children.
Moreover, she could be executed at any moment for her past crime of desertion!
Lan Qing, however, merely gazed quietly at the starry sky above, ignoring her warning.
Lan Ji was truly starting to panic.
“Lan Qing, why would you suddenly have such an idea? Weren’t things fine before? Did someone in Lingjiu Hall make you angry?”
But Lan Qing still did not speak.
Lan Ji knew in her heart that as the Imperial Advisor, he bore the faith and hope of all the people of Southern Ming. How could anyone dare to bully him?
Then why did he suddenly have the thought of escaping that kind of life?
This thought was too terrifying for Lan Ji!
“Lan Qing…”
She pondered for a moment, then her brow furrowed. “Is it because of Chu Qianli?”
He had even impersonated a mute and followed Chu Qianli to this place. It must be because of Chu Qianli?
When Lan Ji mentioned the name Chu Qianli, a flicker of something different finally appeared in Lan Qing’s eyes.
“Sister, I feel… this girl is very special. She possesses many things that I desire.”
“Lan Qing, do you know what you’re saying?”
Upon hearing this, Lan Ji’s heart tensed, and her face filled with panic. “Lan Qing, you cannot fall in love! If you fall in love, you will bring ruin to many people!”
Lan Qing, however, turned his head to look at her, his expression full of confusion. “Sister, what is falling in love?”
Lan Ji opened her mouth, but dared not answer the question.
He didn’t understand.
All the education he had received since childhood was about how to be the heir of the Lan clan and how to protect Southern Ming with his abilities.
No one had ever taught him about romantic love between men and women.
He didn’t even know the differences between men and women.
“Lan Qing, don’t think about this anymore. The Emperor’s men are looking for you everywhere, and the palace is in chaos. Lan Qing, you should go back.”
“Is Prince Ling also looking for me?” Lan Qing actually understood.
His sister didn’t truly care about the Emperor, the royal family, or even Southern Ming and its people.
Her entire life, she cared only for one person, Chu Lingyang.
No, now, she had a pair of children.
Seeing her thoughts exposed, Lan Ji did not hide them. She nodded. “If you don’t go back soon, I’m afraid Prince Ling will also lose patience and go to the palace to help.”
She didn’t want Chu Lingyang to be involved in the conflict between Prince Yu and the Emperor.
But it seemed that the Prince was already stepping into it, step by step.
If this matter wasn’t resolved soon, it would be difficult for Prince Ling to remain uninvolved.
“Lan Qing, listen to your sister. For Southern Ming, for the people, go back.”