Wine-scented Beauty

Chapter 82: Design

As expected, she fainted on the ground, and was caught in Lu Yu's arms around the waist. Ji Meiqing glanced at Lu Yu in a daze and successfully lost consciousness.

Lu Yu looked out the window, placed Ji Meiqing on the bed, and then left the room. There was no one outside, but he could smell the scent of aphrodisiacs.

After looking around outside the door, he went back to his room. He noticed the presence of other people in the room, which made him nervous. He immediately went back to his bed.

The bed was empty. He climbed to the window and saw several dark figures walking on the street.

Without thinking twice, I rushed over.

Those people weren't running very fast, and Lu Yu caught up with them in no time. However, the person they were carrying wasn't Ji Meiqing, but someone else.

His heart, which had been hanging in suspense, immediately sank. Without saying a word, he grabbed the collar of the person next to him and asked in a cold voice, "Where did Ji Meiqing go?"

"I...I don't know."

Those people trembled and didn't say a word.

Lu Yu looked for a long time but couldn't find an answer, so he changed his questioning style and asked, "Who sent you?"

"It's... Jiaoniang..."

Lu Yu released them and immediately went back. Back in the building, he went straight to find Jiao Niang. Jiao Niang was his mother's name, but everyone here called her "Mom," so naturally, not many people remembered her real name.

He searched the whole place but couldn't find her. The area ahead was still bustling with activity. After wandering around for a while, he returned to his room.

Since no one knew where Jiao Niang had gone, he had no choice but to report it to the authorities.

Xunhua was somewhat surprised when she heard his purpose for coming.

"She's been arrested?" Xun Hua yawned casually and said leisurely, "She's been arrested, so it's no use you coming to me for that."

"Now, I'm afraid only the princess can help her. Besides, Ji Meiqing is still useful as long as she's alive, so why wouldn't the princess rescue her?"

Xunhua thought for a moment before giving his honest answer, "That's true."

"That princess..."

"No." She rejected the idea quickly, then countered, "Why should I save her? What would I gain?"

"The princess!"

"Guards, throw him out of here!"

She turned around and walked into the inner room. Several burly men came in and tried to drag him away, but Lu Yu broke free.

Back at the back, the old nanny who had been serving her came over and said worriedly, "Princess, doing this... is probably not a good idea."

“What’s wrong with that?” She raised her chin, her gaze haughty. “I’m a princess, how could I possibly marry that kind of barbarian from the grasslands?”

"But Miss Ji also saved your life."

"Granny, you talk too much." She narrowed her eyes, her imposing aura instantly intimidating, and even the nanny could only resign herself to her fate and take two steps back.

She hummed twice and went back to lie down to rest, not caring what happened next.

I drifted off to sleep peacefully.

Lu Yu hurriedly returned to the building, and was immediately surrounded by a large group of girls as soon as he entered.

"Young Master Lu, have you seen your mother? She seems to have disappeared."

He looked up and saw several figures flash by on the upper floor, so he hurried over. But everyone was gone, even the mother in the building was gone, leaving only a group of girls.

As if something had occurred to him, he immediately went to the post station.

Xun Hua, who had just finished resting, was woken up again. Her face was full of anger as she stormed out, saying, "Lu Yu, how dare you disturb my peaceful rest time and time again!"

"Please release Mei Qing, Your Highness," he said solemnly.

Xun Hua was taken aback, then looked at him in disbelief, "You think I kidnapped Ji Meiqing? Lu Yu, you really don't take me seriously at all!"

"Princess, please calm down." He still didn't refute her, only agreeing with her. Lu Yu didn't refute what she said either.

Xunhua stared at him for a long time before finally saying helplessly, "Fine, do whatever you want. I'm tired, I'm going to rest now."

"Why is the princess doing this?" He tugged at her sleeve and asked in a low voice, "She hasn't done anything wrong, why not let her go?"

"Say what you will, he's not here with me. I have nothing to say. But Lu Yu, if you dare to anger me, I'll make sure you die a horrible death right now. Do you believe me or not?"

Lu Yu said, "This humble subject naturally believes you, but Ji Meiqing... please spare her, Your Highness, after all, she is innocent."

Xunhua choked, flicked her sleeves, and went straight back to the back. Lu Yu stood outside, waiting for her to leave. The old woman beside Xunhua came over and sighed.

"Why does the young master disobey the princess?"

Lu Yu remained silent and did not say another word.

The old woman sighed, "Young master, instead of being so persistent here, you should go out and search. That way, you might still find it."

Lu Yu's eyes lit up, and he quickly bowed to the old woman, saying, "This humble subject thanks you, old woman."

"Go ahead..." She shook her head, watching him leave with a sense of helplessness.

Back in the room, Xunhua was still angry. The nanny poured her a glass of water. "Is the princess still upset?"

"I gave him so much face, yet he still chose Ji Meiqing! How can I not be angry?"

She spoke angrily, then looked at the old woman and questioned her, "Tell me, what's wrong with me? What makes me inferior to that Ji Meiqing!"

“Your Highness is very good.” She smiled faintly, then said, “But has Your Highness ever considered that they are just ordinary people, while you are Your Highness and their lives are entirely in your hands? You are their god… But Your Highness, you, as a god, can only be a god; they are just ordinary people.”

“That’s why I asked Ji Meiqing to marry in my place.” She slightly raised her chin, her face calm and aloof. “It’s a blessing she’s earned over many lifetimes to be my substitute.”

“But they can’t bear such a blessing, Princess. In this world, having a capable assistant is far better than wasting a talent to be your substitute. You can gain temporary peace, but don’t forget, the barbarians will never run out. Your role here will always be limited to marriage alliances.”

Xunhua fell silent for a long time before finally saying hesitantly, "Then what do you think I should do?"

"Why not take this opportunity to make them owe you a favor? Money is easy to repay, but favors are hard to come by."

Xun Hua remained silent, but his heart was filled with restlessness.

The old woman smiled without saying a word, and said kindly, "Princess, please rest well. Everything will be fine by tomorrow."

She didn't object and pulled the blanket over herself. The old woman wasn't entirely wrong; Ji Meiqing was intelligent, and if she could be used, she would surely be very free in the future. But if they gave her away today, where would they find such a useful person again?