Killer Queen + 18

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Taking the clothes from Qingfeng's hands, Huangfu Haotian let out a soft sigh.

Qingfeng looked puzzled. "Master, she's just a little maid from Liufang Pavilion. If you really like her, just say the word to Madam Wang over there and she'll be yours. Isn't that enough?"

Huangfu Haotian raised an eyebrow and suddenly smiled. "You're not wrong. But Qingfeng, have I ever told you what my dream is in this lifetime? Do you still remember?"

Qingfeng bowed his head. "Understood. At a time like this, Master shouldn't be getting tangled up in romance and sentiment."

Haotian smiled faintly. "She's just... interesting. That's all. Calling it romance would be a stretch."

"If you say so, Master, then I get it," Qingfeng said. "You still need to head into the palace early today. As for that girl, leave it to me."

"Mhm." Haotian nodded. "Just be respectful. Tell her that one day, I'll give her an explanation she deserves."

"Yes, sir." Qingfeng bowed.

Haotian turned and went back to the room, gently placing the new clothes by Xiao Li's bedside. Then he sat down beside her and, in the faint morning light, quietly looked her over.

"A'Li… I've remembered your name."

Then he got up and left. "Qingfeng, stay here. Mayi, you're coming with me to the palace."

Half-awake and groggy, Xiao Li slowly opened her eyes. Her head still throbbed a little.

"You're awake, Auntie?" a soft, sweet little voice said before she could even sit up.

Still fuzzy, Xiao Li turned her head and saw a little girl in a bright red dress and her hair in two buns, already standing by the bed.

The girl was holding a black bowl in both hands. "Auntie, drink this medicine before it gets cold, okay?"

"Hmm?" Xiao Li was still dazed. "Who are you?"

The little girl, probably eight or nine years old, looked surprised. "I'm Lan'er! Everyone around here knows me!"

Xiao Li couldn't help but laugh. "Why's that?"

Lan'er grinned. "Because I'm Doctor Mo's granddaughter! My name's Mo Lan." She took a few steps forward with the bowl. "Grandpa told me to bring you this medicine. You should drink it quick."

"Alright," Xiao Li said, feeling oddly comforted by the girl's cuteness. Her headache even seemed to ease a bit. "But you'll have to wait for me to get up first—I haven't even washed my face yet."

She sat up in bed—and instantly felt a chill down her back. Looking down, her chest was... exposed.

Startled, she yanked the blanket up to her chin. "Uh, Lan'er, sweetie, how about you just leave the medicine on the table and I'll drink it later, okay?"

The girl's eyes widened. "Wow, Auntie, you sleep naked? That's so embarrassing—heehee!"

Xiao Li's face turned bright red. "Shoo! You little brat, what do you know? Out you go!"

Lan'er giggled, set the bowl down, made a silly face, and ran off like a shot.

Xiao Li buried her face in her hands. I can't believe I just embarrassed myself in front of a kid.

She groaned. Something definitely wasn't right.

She'd slept so soundly... but where were her clothes?

She started to recall... the dream... that man...

She suddenly sat up straighter.

A gauzy bed canopy, a wide bamboo bed, two thick silk quilts—everything neat and tidy. She'd been asleep this whole time. Aside from the little girl, no one else had been around.

Except for that man in her dream.

Wait—man?

Her head cleared instantly, and everything came flooding back.

The visit to the temple, the ambush on the way back, the man in white who saved them all... no, that jerk of a man.

She vaguely remembered agreeing to go with him. After that, everything had gotten hazy.

Looking at the two thick quilts, she thought—maybe it was because she got soaked in the rain and came down with a fever?

Yeah, that had to be it.

So that guy must've taken her wet clothes off so she wouldn't sleep in them.

Wait... he took her clothes off?

Then he...

The feelings from that dream hit her like a wave, and she yanked the quilt tightly around herself again.

Damn it, she must've been out of her mind!

And that jerk—Haotian or whatever—wasn't satisfied with taking advantage of her once, he had to go the extra mile and...

That bastard! She, Xiao Li, would never forgive him!

But where the hell was he now? Don't tell her he had his way with her and then vanished?

"Arghhh!!" She was so angry her chest felt like it might explode.

She slammed a fist into the blanket. Damn it! Doesn't the saying go, "A monk can run, but the temple stays put"? This must be his place, right? As soon as she got dressed, he'd better pray he had a good hiding spot!

Speaking of clothes... were hers still here?

She glanced around—no sign of her original outfit. But behind her, there was a neatly folded set of violet clothes.

She grabbed it and unfolded it. Hmph, at least he had some conscience. It was a full set, inside and out.

She got dressed quickly, though she didn't know how to do her hair, so she just let it hang loose. Luckily, there was a brand new pair of shoes by the bed too.

Pfft. Did he really think all this made him considerate? What a shameless creep.

Bang! She threw the door open with all her might and shouted, "Hey! You bastard—!"

"You're awake, miss?"

Like a ghost, a man suddenly appeared at the door.

Her angry words caught in her throat.

Looking up, she saw a man in a green robe—tall, handsome, and as calm as a breeze on a sunny day.

She quickly composed herself. She remembered him from yesterday—he was that guy's lackey.

"Where's your master?" she asked coldly.

Qingfeng gave her a polite smile. "He's gone into the palace. Before he left, he told me that once you woke up and were feeling better, I should escort you back to Liufang Pavilion."

Back to Liufang Pavilion? What the hell?

Xiao Li froze, confused—what was he talking about?

Then she remembered how she first met that man. Her face flushed, and she cursed silently. So that jerk really thought she was some brothel girl? How disgusting!

Wait—did this guy just say his master went into the palace? That beast in human skin was some kind of official?

Well... he did look the part.

But still—guess the old saying was true: the bigger the forest, the more kinds of birds.

Now look at her—taken advantage of, and she didn't even manage to grab a corner of his sleeve.

No matter. She would get justice.

Xiao Li narrowed her eyes, her gaze sharp. "Tell me—what's your name?"

Qingfeng bowed. "I am Qingfeng."

Hmm. Not bad-looking, though still not as good as his master. Ugh, what was she even thinking?

Right. Time to get serious.

She straightened her hair and face, then asked, "Qingfeng, just one question: when will your master be back?"

Since she was already here, that man owed her an explanation—and he'd better make it a good one.

Qingfeng didn't rush to answer. He just said politely, "Master said he'll be staying in Lingjiang City for the next few days. He likely won't be returning to this courtyard."

"What?" Xiao Li snapped. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Qingfeng looked up and gave a faint smile—barely noticeable.

But Xiao Li had sharp eyes and caught it immediately. Her expression turned cold. "You got something to say? What the hell are you smiling at?" Damn it, even this little flunky was looking down on her now?

Qingfeng saw her face change and grew uncertain for a second. But since he knew she was just a servant from Liufang Pavilion—and remembering what Huangfu Haotian had told him earlier—he didn't take her too seriously.

Still, he kept his respectful tone. "Before he left, Master told me to tell you to wait patiently at Liufang Pavilion. One day, he'll personally give you the explanation you deserve."

Explanation, my ass!

Xiao Li didn't start yelling—only because she refused to look like a madwoman in front of this lackey.

But that didn't mean she'd let it slide.

Her eyes narrowed sharply. "So you're saying, your master definitely isn't coming back today?"

Under her piercing stare, Qingfeng felt a chill and quickly bowed his head. "That's correct, miss."

Xiao Li gave a cold laugh. "Great. Since he's made up his mind, I'll head back to the capital and wait for him there."

Now that she knew he was someone in the court, and she was the daughter of a top general—there was no way she wouldn't be able to find him again.

And when she did... she'd make damn sure he gave her that 'explanation.'

"....."