“Li Luo, are you alright?” Lu Qing’er asked with concern.
“Just a little exhausted after treating His Majesty.” Li Luo waved it off.
Lu Qing’er pursed her lips doubtfully. She had been drained of resonant power before, but she had never looked as ill as Li Luo did right now.
Still, he was on his own two feet.
“President Yu, Li Luo has been worked hard today. We’ll be taking our leave now,” Jiang Qing’e said courteously.
“Rest well.” Yu Hongxi nodded kindly.
Jiang Qing’e helped her silver-haired fiance out, Lu Qing’er’s worried look escorting every staggering step.
Not long after the pair left, the First Princess and the little emperor said their goodbyes and left as well.
With the departure of the First Princess and the little emperor, the presences that had been lurking in the shadows left, their unseen bubble of protection moving with their charges.
“Mom, do you think Li Luo’s healing worked?” Lu Qing’er whispered.
“Nonsense… The emperor’s condition has stumped even Duke healers. Li Luo’s dual resonances are poor imitations of the real deal.” Yu Hongxi shook her head, all too used to her daughter’s flights of fancy.
And yet…
Her Duke sensitivities had noted a lightness in the First Princess’ steps when she departed.
The little emperor even more so—his body language practically screamed with happiness.
One did not rise up to lead the Golden Dragon Bank without developing a keen read of every situation. She felt that something extraordinary must have happened in the last few hours.
But what could it be? Li Luo, the proxy for closer ties with Jiang Qing’e? Had he actually healed…
…
The royal carriage made its stately way down the broad expanse of the street, the route secured and cleared ahead by a swarm of bodyguards.
Inside, the little emperor’s babyish face shone with excitement and eagerness. “Sis, am I really going to be healed?!” He tugged happily at her hand. “Can he really heal me?”
His little head felt a little woozy from the excitement.
It felt like a pizza had just fallen out of the sky.
The First Princess’ expression mirrored his own delight. She patted his head fondly. “We confirmed it, didn’t we?”
Back when Li Luo had given the little emperor his spirit liquid, she had been mildly surprised that it had the same effect as the little emperor’s medicine, but she had not thought too much about it, thinking it was just a water resonance’s effects. How wrong she had been.
“But how did he do it?” The little emperor persisted.
Her hand on his head paused thoughtfully. “Well… I find it strange as well. How indeed?”
She directed the last two words at the grey-cloaked man next to them.
“Young Lord Li Luo must be special… The condition should be difficult for ordinary dual resonances to resolve, and yet his can. There must be something unique about his powers that we have yet to discover.
“If Your Highness has doubts, I can probe his resonant powers deeply next time for any strangeness.”
She considered it, then she shook her head. “No need. Li Luo’s parents were extraordinary in many ways. Their methods were always differently inspired. It only makes sense that they left Li Luo something special.
“Right now, we’re on good terms with Jiang Qing’e and Li Luo, and we will need his strength to heal the emperor. We will not break this hard-won connection for privacy.
“What’s special about Li Luo’s resonant power doesn’t concern us too much. His ability to heal the king is the key here.”
The old man nodded.
“Your Highness, are you intending to declare friendship with House Luolan?” the old man asked again.
“Jiang Qing’e’s potential will eclipse all… By my estimation, she will reach Duke in less than three years. She will be the youngest Duke in all of the Xia Kingdom.
“Is what I thought before tonight. Now I see that the sun’s golden brilliance has blinded me to the moon’s silver glamor. Ah, Li Luo, how you surprise me.
“House Luolan might be in a rough patch now, but those two are holding things down. They are inexorable. With time, there is nothing that House Luolan cannot overcome. House Luolan is worth declaring friendship with.”
The old man was silent for a beat. “Still… There are many powers set against them. Many Dukes are interested in the King realm secrets that Li Taixuan and Tan Tailan have left behind. House Luolan’s defensive wards have been weakening over the years. Last Ghost Festival, an intruder’s energy clone invaded…
“It could be dangerous for us to cross them, Your Highness. Will you truly extend the hand of aid to them when they are overshadowed by their enemies?”
She looked out of the carriage window, at the dark backdrop of night, watching only the stars. “We move as always, decisively. Sitting on the fence only invites more trouble later.”
The old man looked at her in surprise. “And if they don’t live up to your expectations?”
She sighed as the star she was watching ducked behind a wisp of cloud.
“Then House Luolan is doomed regardless. My helping hand will only shore up their defenses. Whether their boat makes it through the storm is still up to them…”