Transmigrated Female Official

Someone like Longkui, who stands at the top of the food chain, naturally understands the principle of sacrificing pawns to save the king. She can abandon even a key pawn like Ji Jie without hesitation, let alone a mere executive officer like Li Yan.

Unable to recognize her own position and blindly confident... Chu Qingluo couldn't help but feel sorry for Li Yan.

After watching Li Yan being taken into the prison, Chu Qingluo said, "Let's go."

Ji Qiran asked, "Where to?" He wasn't sure whether she wanted to go back to Guangrentang or the Chu family as soon as she was released from prison.

Chu Qingluo's eyes shone with determination as she answered, "Flying Rainbow Palace."

Although she has been released from prison, Shaoyao is still being held as a suspect. Now that Li Yan is also in jail, Longkui will definitely make a move. She must seize every second to devise a plan and gain the upper hand.

When Ji Qiran heard that she was going to Feihong Palace, he knew she was eager for revenge, but he was more worried about her health. "Qingluo, you should go back and rest for a few days. There's no rush."

Chu Qingluo understood his good intentions, but she had some thoughts that she needed to discuss with the Sixth Princess immediately. "Don't worry, I've rested long enough."

"Okay." Since I can't go against her wishes, I'll play along to the end.

……

Meanwhile, on the other side, after receiving news that Chu Qingluo had been reinstated and Li Yan had been imprisoned, Long Kui immediately rushed to the palace.

When the Empress entrusted Long Kui with investigating the case alone, Li Yan's bribery of Du Yuan would certainly not have been exposed. However, even if it has been exposed now, Long Kui has already come up with a way to deal with it.

……

Ji Qiran escorted Chu Qingluo back to the Chu residence, and it was already past 9 AM.

He knew she must have a lot to say to her family, so he didn't linger. He simply told her to rest well before leaving.

When Butler Li saw Chu Qingluo return safely, he was so excited that he didn't know what to say. After regaining his composure, he quickly called out to the inner courtyard, "Miss is back! Miss is back!"

At Steward Li's shout, the Chu household instantly erupted in excitement, with servants rushing around to spread the joyous news. Meanwhile, Chu's mother, still devoutly burning incense and praying to Buddha, quickly got up and ran out upon hearing the servants' calls.

"Mother!" Chu Qingluo hadn't seen her family for many days, and as soon as she saw her mother, she immediately rushed into her arms. "Your daughter is unfilial and has made Mother worry."

Overwhelmed with emotion, Chu's mother finally managed to say in a choked voice, "You are unfilial!" She slapped Chu Qingluo's back hard with her palm and gritted her teeth, saying, "You are my only daughter. If something happens to you, how can your mother live?!" As she spoke, tears streamed down her face.

"Daughter knows her mistake." Chu Qingluo hugged her mother tightly, vowing from the bottom of her heart that she would live to the end!

The mother and daughter hugged for a long time before Chu's mother finally pushed her away, complaining, "You smell like the prison all over you, it's suffocating me!"

"Pfft!" Seeing that even her mother could laugh, Chu Qingluo's mood also improved, and she quickly said in a coquettish tone, "I'm going to take a bath right now! I won't come out until I've washed myself raw!"

"Hurry up! I'll have the kitchen prepare some good food for you."

"Yes, Mother!"

After Chu's mother left, Nine-Tailed Fox and Kirito, who had been waiting nearby, finally had a chance to surround her.

Kirito: "Miss, you're finally back!"

Nine-Tails: "We were all so worried!"

The two of them started talking all at once, but Chu Qingluo interrupted them with a smile: "Could you two prepare some hot water for me first? We can catch up properly after I get rid of this stench, okay?"

Kirimoto: "I'll go prepare some hot water!"

Nine-Tailed Fox: "Then I'll go prepare a brazier so that Miss can get rid of the bad luck!"

Seeing how well they worked together, Chu Qinglu praised them with great satisfaction: "You two are both so capable!"

After the two left happily, she turned to Wu Yang, who had been silently watching her, and said, "I'm sorry to have worried you."

Chu Qingluo knew that Wuyang could enter and leave the palace from time to time. Although he was the closest to her, he was not even qualified to enter the imperial prison to visit her. He must be extremely anxious.

"No...no, it's not that nothing...I mean, it's good that Qingluo is back." Wuyang hadn't been able to get a word in edgewise until now, but now that he was alone with her, he started to ramble on.

Seeing Chu Qingluo lower her eyes and smile gently, he mustered up his courage and spoke out his self-reproach: "Besides worrying, I can't do anything for you... I'm really useless."

Since they met, it seems that he has always been the one receiving her help, while he can't do anything to help her when she is in trouble.

"It's not your fault." Chu Qingluo could certainly understand this feeling of insignificance and powerlessness. "Within these vast palace walls, we are all like dust."

"..." It is undeniable that he is unharmed.

Seeing his silence, she stared into his clear eyes and suddenly asked, "If you were asked to leave that place, would you feel reluctant to leave?"

“Absolutely no regrets,” Wu Yang said decisively. “But…”

"Just what?"

"I'm free, but Qingluo is still here."

"..." Chu Qingluo sighed softly.

Yes, there will be no peace until she escapes this cage. But she cannot retreat now; the counterattack has only just begun!

……

As night deepened, Long Xiaohan emerged from Miaoyin Pavilion with three attendants.

She was slightly tipsy, but still quite lucid. "Ugh! This is so boring!"

"Why do you say that, Miss?" the attendants asked, puzzled.

"This Miaoyin Pavilion is so boring now. They just tell us to go east or west, it's so pointless! Especially that flute player now, when we tell him to step down, he runs away faster than anyone else! It's so boring!" It's not as good as the fair-skinned, delicate flute player from before, who stood up to her silently. It was somewhat satisfying to bully him.

"It's only because Miss is of noble status that they dare not act rashly."

"That's why I said it was boring!" Now she doesn't even have an excuse to smash her teacup.

Just as the attendants were helping Long Xiaohan onto the carriage, a disheveled man suddenly darted out from a dark corner.

Caught completely off guard, he moved swiftly, first kicking away the attendant supporting Long Xiaohan, then forcefully pulling Long Xiaohan down and holding a small knife to her neck!

"Hand over all the silver right now!"

The moment the slovenly man opened his mouth, Long Xiaohan was overwhelmed by a stench that made her nauseous. "Hurry up and give it to him!" She had plenty of money; all she wanted was to get rid of this filthy hand!

Upon hearing this, the attendants quickly took out their money bags and handed them all to the man.

The slovenly man weighed the object in his hand; it was quite heavy. Then he shoved Long Xiaohan to the ground and ran away!