Killer Queen + 18

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Lingjiang City.

A plain black carriage rolled slowly through the streets, drawing little attention.

They were just about to reach the Liu Fang Pavilion when a clear, calm voice came from inside the carriage:"Stop here."

Qingfeng turned around and saw that the curtain behind him had already been lifted. Xiao Li was looking at him, her expression cool and composed."I've arrived. You can let me off here," she said.

Qingfeng looked a little uneasy."But the master told me to make sure you got back safely."

Xiao Li raised an eyebrow."It's broad daylight, and I'm only a few steps away from the pavilion. You really think anyone would dare snatch someone right under the emperor's nose?"

Qingfeng lowered his head and chuckled."You have a point. Since you insist, I'll follow your orders."

"Mm."Not wanting to waste more words, Xiao Li stood up and headed for the door.

"Careful, miss."Qingfeng pulled the reins tight and steadied the carriage, reaching out to help her down—but Xiao Li ignored him completely. With a light push of her foot, she jumped gracefully to the ground on her own.

Qingfeng watched her walk away and couldn't help but smile and shake his head.Just a maid, huh? Even if she's stunningly beautiful, she really doesn't have the poise or composure of someone from a proper family.

Of course, Xiao Li had no idea what he was thinking. She turned back and gave him a light, courteous bow."Well then, we part ways here."

Qingfeng returned the bow."Safe travels, miss."As he watched her leave, he remembered what Prince Haotian had said and couldn't help but add,"Please don't forget what the master told you—take good care of yourself."

Xiao Li didn't even bother turning back. She just raised a hand and waved dismissively.But in her mind? Pfft—

A bunch of snobs who look at people through a crack in the door.One day, I swear, I'll make each and every one of you eat your words.And that so-called "master" of yours?He's not getting away either!

Now that she was back in familiar territory, Xiao Li wasn't worried at all.Never mind the fact that her family—the General's household—was one of the most well-known in Lingjiang City. Just her own wits alone were more than enough to keep her out of trouble.

Besides, she'd eaten and rested. Why not take a little stroll around Lingjiang and get a taste of how the ancient common folk lived?

By noon, she had wandered her way back to the gates of the General's estate.

A woman in a purple outfit, hair messy and head lowered, headed straight for the gate. The guards didn't recognize her at first.

"Stop right there!"A line of fully armed guards stepped forward, blocking her way."Do you even know where this is? You think you can just barge into the General's estate?"

Xiao Li looked up—and the lead guard nearly jumped out of his skin."Miss! It's you! Oh my—Miss, what happened? Why are you alone? And why do you look like this?!"

He started yelling back toward the estate:"Go! Go report this to the General and Madam right now! They've been worried sick!"

Xiao Li barely remembered how she got dragged back to the inner courtyard.

All she knew was that both her arms were being held in a death grip.

Her mother had a hold of her left arm and was sobbing the entire way.Her father had her right arm and kept sighing and muttering under his breath.

"Father, Mother! What is going on with you two?! Look at me—I'm totally fine! You're acting like I nearly died or something!"

She tried to wriggle free, but no luck.

Turns out, her "frail" father and her "delicate" mother weren't nearly as fragile as they looked.

Of course they weren't. A battle-hardened general and his wife? They were both seasoned martial artists.

"Li'er, what were you trying to do—scare your poor parents to death?!"Her mother finally snapped, yanking her into a tight grip and scolding her right in her ear.

"Mom, what happened?!"Xiao Li was totally confused.

Tears rolled down her mother's cheeks."You tell me! You left for a simple incense-offering trip with the Yu Wen girls, and they came back—but you vanished!And yesterday it rained so hard… Where the hell did you go?!"

Wait, what?So A'Xue and A'Cai made it back safely?Did no one tell her parents that she was taken by that Haotian guy?

Well, whatever. As long as A'Cai and A'Xue were okay.

Still, she needed to confirm it."Father," she asked, "A'Xue and A;Cai… they're alright, right?"

Her father frowned."You still have the nerve to bring them up? They're so shaken up they haven't even recovered yet."

Her mother started crying again."Tell me the truth, Li'er. What exactly happened yesterday? I heard the horses pulling your carriage went wild and dragged you all the way to the edge of a cliff! When the Prime Minister's guards got there, the horses were gone, the reins were snapped, and the carriage was wrecked!"

The more Xiao Li listened, the more confused she got."Wait—then how did A'Xue and A'Cai get back?"

"Those two?" her mother said."I heard someone found them in the wrecked carriage and took them down to the county office. After that, the magistrate himself personally drove them back to the Prime Minister's estate."

"What? The magistrate sent them back?"Xiao Li was baffled.Didn't that guy, Haotian, tell Qingfeng to take them home?How'd it end up being the magistrate?!

Well, that was easy enough to explain—Haotian didn't want anyone knowing where he went every day.

Especially not about that trip to Phoenix Mountain. On the surface, he was there to chat with Master Liaokong. But secretly, he had… other business. Like the hidden courtyard at the foot of the mountain. That place was one of Haotian's secret bases—where he planned, schemed, and plotted his path to power.

So after rescuing Xiao Li and the Yu Wen sisters, he gave strict orders to Qingfeng and Mayi:Keep things quiet. Get the girls home safely. And don't let anyone know the Fourth Prince was involved.

That's why, late that night, two men in black showed up at the county office under Phoenix Mountain.They didn't say much—just that a carriage heading to the Prime Minister's estate had broken down about five miles north of the mountain. There were young ladies inside who needed help.

So the magistrate personally drove them back himself.

Of course, Xiao Li had no clue about any of this.Neither did her father, despite being a war veteran who'd seen all kinds of things. Not even he could sniff out what was really going on.

Which is why, that morning, the entire General's estate had turned into a madhouse.

After all, Xiao Li was their only daughter—the jewel of the family.When they heard the Yu Wen girls had an accident and their daughter had vanished, General An Jiang Wang nearly had a heart attack.

He sent people everywhere to look for her, but came up with nothing.Just when the panic hit its peak, Xiao Li casually walked back home.

She didn't know how to explain what happened—not honestly, anyway.So she decided to spin a tale: a mix of truth and lies, enough to sound believable.

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So what happened with the horse?

Yeah, it really got spooked. It bolted like crazy, and no one could stop it.Luckily, your daughter had her wits about her! Right as they were about to fly off the cliff, she pulled out the little dagger Dad gave her and—bam!—cut the reins.

What?!

Yes! If she hadn't cut the reins, the horse would've taken her straight over the edge.

Oh…

The horse did go over, but she got dragged halfway down with it.She nearly went off the cliff too, but at the last second, she kicked off a rock and saved herself!

Ah?!

Yeah, yeah, but don't worry! See? I'm totally fine.

Right before she blacked out, she tumbled down the slope and landed in a bush.

That's probably why no one saw her and took her back with the others.

And the clothes? What happened to your clothes?

Ah, well… that's because fate was on her side!

While she was passed out, a kind old doctor gathering herbs nearby found her.Dr. Mo, yeah, that's his name. He brought her back, treated her wounds, gave her medicine—and even gave her a change of clothes!

She was super grateful, of course, but she also didn't want her parents to worry.So at dawn, she thanked him and headed straight home.

By the time she finished, Xiao Li saw the stunned looks on her parents' faces and started to feel a little guilty.Sure, 80% of that was total nonsense—but the other 20%? Totally true.So she straightened up and tried to look confident.

"Come on, Dad~~ Mom~~ You guys don't believe me?"She pointed at the bump on her forehead and held out her hands."Look at the bruises. You believe your daughter at least got banged up, right?"

"My poor baby!"Her mom burst into tears again, grabbing her hand and inspecting every inch of it."You really went through hell this time…"

Her father stayed calm, like the battle-hardened man he was."Alright, alright, dear. She's safe, and that's what matters most. No need to cry anymore."He turned to the servants."Go, prepare something to help calm her nerves. Make it nice."

Underneath her fancy clothes, Xiao Li was soaked in cold sweat.

Being the General's pampered daughter?Yeah… not exactly a walk in the park.

"....."