Chapter 670: Chapter 667: Unaware_1 Chapter 670: Chapter 667: Unaware_1 Not long after, the light pitter-patter of rain gradually intensified, pouring down in torrents.

Chun Tao patted the raindrops off her shoulder and stood under the flickering light, craning her neck to search for Xiao Rongyan in the Qinghui Courtyard. But she saw no one, as if the Xiao Rongyan who had been standing with her just moments ago had been a mere illusion.

She stood dazed for a moment before lifting a hand to brush off the rainwater on her body. She then lifted the curtain, entered the room, and cautiously called out, “Young Lady…”

“Xiao Rongyan has left?” Bai Qingyan asked softly as she pulled aside the bed curtains.

“He’s already gone. I had just opened the gate of Qinghui Courtyard, but when I turned back, Mr. Xiao was nowhere to be seen…” Chun Tao still couldn’t quite believe it. If not for Bai Qingyan asking about Xiao Rongyan, she would have thought she had been dreaming earlier.

“Then it’s good he left!” Bai Qingyan released the bed curtains, stretched her body, and leaned back against the cushion. The sound of rain outside tapped erratically against the window lattice, disrupting Bai Qingyan’s thoughts. She gently touched her lips, still tinged with the slight pain of Xiao Rongyan’s kiss, yet a mixture of sweet anticipation and unease welled up inside her.

From her previous life, Bai Qingyan’s feelings towards Xiao Rongyan had been complicated… mixed with both wariness and gratitude. Perhaps because they had always been on opposing sides, she never thought there would be a day when she and Xiao Rongyan would feel mutually affectionate.

The previous life…

Bai Qingyan rarely reminisced about her previous life anymore. Since she woke up last December, realizing that the heavens had given her another chance at life, she had lived each day diligently, never daring to take it easy, never expecting to have feelings again.

Though in her previous life she and Xiao Rongyan weren’t enemies from the start, Bai Qingyan had always admired… and respected Xiao Rongyan.

Perhaps she had harbored feelings for him back then but hadn’t realized it.

Six days ago, a heavy rain had washed Dadu City clean. After a brief spell of clear, crisp autumn days, another rain fell overnight, continuing until dawn. Dark clouds loomed once again over Dadu City, suffocating those who looked upon them, reminiscent of the tumultuous day on October fifteenth.

Lu Ping wished to avoid attracting attention, so he brought only one guard to the entrance of Jiuchuan Alley.

He dismounted and observed the house before him, which had two weathered lanterns with the word “Du” inscribed on them, before stepping forward to knock on the door.

The door opened to reveal a silver-haired elder in a gray-brown robe and black cloth shoes.

Before Lu Ping could speak, the elder bowed deeply and, stepping aside, said, “Please, my lord…”

Inside the courtyard, a maple tree, transplanted from Qiushan, stood with its leaves turned a deep red. When the wind passed through, the fallen leaves resembled sunset hues scattered on the ground.

Li Mingrui, in a pine-green brocade robe and a cloak, sat reading at a stone table. His scholarly demeanor and refined features bore a faint resemblance to Li Mao in his youth, presenting a composed and dignified appearance.

On the stone table, a three-legged bronze incense burner emitted wisps of smoke, giving the impression from afar that the young master reading might ascend to immortality.

Beside him, a young boy knelt by a roaring red clay stove, brewing tea.

The young boy glanced at Lu Ping at the entrance and respectfully announced, “Young Master, the guest has arrived.”

“I know,” Li Mingrui replied, setting his book aside without getting up. With a smile, he addressed Lu Ping, “Minister Lu, won’t you come in for a cup of tea?”

Lu Ping turned and instructed the Bai Mansion guard to tie the horse to a tree outside the courtyard and wait by the gate. He then entered the courtyard alone and sat opposite Li Mingrui.

Li Mingrui ordered the boy to serve tea and, seeing Lu Ping staring at the fallen maple leaves, smiled and said, “I’ve always loved the autumn scenery of Qiushan’s maple leaves, glowing red in the sunlight. Sadly, after transplanting this tree from Qiushan, it seems to have lost its charm.”

Lu Ping, being a straightforward man, found Li Mingrui’s delicacy unappealing, thinking that despite his scholarly demeanor, this man seemed rather effeminate compared to the heroic women of his own family.

Suddenly, an idea occurred to Lu Ping, making his eyebrows knit together as he looked at Li Mingrui, who was gently waving his hand over the incense burner to inhale its fragrance.

Could it be that Li Mingrui thought their young lady would come today and intended to use his charm on her?

Hah!

Lu Ping’s disdain was evident on his face. This Li Mingrui didn’t even hold a candle to the young masters of the Bai family, let alone Mr. Xiao. How could he think he stood a chance with their young lady?

Seeing Lu Ping’s mocking gaze, Li Mingrui smiled as he poured tea from the small teapot handed to him by the young boy. “Forgive my indulgence, Minister Lu. This is just a daily hobby of mine.”

Li Mingrui had received news last night that Bai Qingyan had personally visited the prison to meet King Jianghai, the rebel general from Nandu. This morning, another message arrived informing him that the Bai family had requested a meeting. He deduced that it wasn’t Bai Qingyan herself who would come but most likely Guard Lu, so he hadn’t prepared formally and instead arranged the reception according to his usual habits, unafraid of offending anyone.

Whether it was genuine interest or not didn’t matter to Lu Ping, who got straight to the point. “My young lady said that if Minister Li is sincere in pledging allegiance, she would entrust a task to you. Within the prison, Nandu’s rebel general Wang Jianghai’s son… Wang Qiulu, must be rescued and properly settled. This will show our young lady’s acceptance of your sincerity.”

Li Mingrui paused in his tea pouring and lifted his gaze to Lu Ping. Rescue Wang Qiulu and settle him properly?

Last night, Bai Qingyan had just met Wang Jianghai, and now she wanted him to rescue Wang Jianghai’s son. Could it be that she had made some agreement with Wang Jianghai?

Understanding what not to ask, Li Mingrui recognized that rescuing Wang Jianghai’s son and entrusting him to his care was a small leverage given to him by the Princess of Zhen.

However, was the Princess of Zhen genuinely so careless to entrust a rebel’s rescue to him, or was she using this to harm the Li family under the guise of goodwill?

Li Mingrui lowered his gaze. He thought it more likely that Bai Qingyan, having possession of both his father’s and the prince’s handwritten letters, was indeed leveraging a scheme.

He placed the teapot down and nodded, saying, “Please inform the Princess of Zhen that Mingrui will definitely accomplish the task. However, I’m unclear on what counts as a proper settlement for Wang Qiulu. To avoid any misunderstanding and ensure the task is done correctly, I must ask for clarification.”

“Is Minister Li truly uncertain of our young lady’s intentions? In short… she has agreed to Wang Jianghai’s request to rescue his son,” Lu Ping replied ambiguously.

Pondering for a moment, Li Mingrui nodded. “Very well. Please inform the Princess of Zhen that I will ensure it is done properly.”