Seeing Ling Chuxi’s face change ever so slightly, Wen Qing joked with a smile, “My dear Chuxi, do you now suddenly feel that the thing in your hand is like a hot potato?”
“What is there to be afraid of?” replied Ling Chuxi as she regained her senses and chuckled as she put away the goatskin. “If I can use the treasure, that would be a good thing naturally. If I can’t, then like you said, I can use it as a weapon and cleverly give it to my enemies as my revenge against them.” This was what one called revenge in disguise!
Ling Chuxi put away the goatskin and planned to slowly study the map on it when she was free before making a decision. After checking in on Wen Qing once again, she instructed Cao Zhibai to carefully take care of her before deciding to return to the capital.
Besides giving the Thousand Pearl Orchid to Ling Chuxi, Cao Zhibai also gave her many other types of herbs that he had planted. He also indicated that whenever she did not have enough, she could come by and pick some more. Wen Qing and Ling Chuxi reluctantly bid each other farewell. Wen Qing expressed her hope that Ling Chuxi could come and visit her when she was free and that if her legs were fully recovered, she would also go and visit Ling Chuxi in the capital.
“If you have any problems, just come to the capital and seek me out,” instructed Ling Chuxi to Cao Zhibai. “However, logically speaking, there should not be any problems. But still, you must stringently care for her as per my instructions to you.”
“I understand, I understand,” replied Cao Zhibai as he nodded like a chick pecking on a grain. Wen Qing’s legs were actually treatable, and she actually could stand up once again! Cao Zhibai still had a feeling as if he was in a sweet dream even till now.
…
After leaving the small town, Ling Chuxi, Fu Chengyu and Luo Li returned to the capital. The first spring of the year was drawing near and there was still a slight chill in the air. However, there was also the scent of fresh soil upon the wind as the cold thawed. All living creatures were about to be awakened once again.
The carriage carrying Ling Chuxi and the rest slowly entered through the capital’s city gates and went towards Fu Chengyu’s residence. The carriage had just come to stop when they saw the fifth princess galloping on a horse from the west as she approached them while happily shouting, “Master, master! Oh, you have all finally returned!”
“What are you shouting for? Can you please pay a little attention to your image? You are a princess after all!” barked Ling Chuxi curtly as she stepped down from the carriage and looked at the fifth princess who was rushing over with an excited look. She needed to help the fifth princess thoroughly get rid of this bad habit of always shouting the moment she saw her!
“Master, let me tell you, something really big happened… Oh my, Master Luo, why are you here too?” said the fifth princess in enthusiasm and then confusion after she speedily rode over on her horse to Ling Chuxi’s side. Just as she was about to say something excitedly, she saw Luo Li stepping down from the other carriage and then leisurely strolling over and standing by Ling Chuxi’s other side. Thus, she couldn’t help but ask why he was here in wonder.
Luo Li raised his head to look at the fifth princess. After staring at her for some time, he leisurely spat out two words, “Senior Sister…”
The fifth princess swayed and almost fell off her horse’s back. With much difficulty, she disembarked her horse and after steadying herself on her feet, she looked at Luo Li with widened eyes. “Master Luo, you, what did you just say just now?”
“Senior Sister,” said Luo Li simply as he touched his chin and raised his head to look at the sky before continuing, “Oh, that’s not right, master had said that this arrangement of hierarchy cannot be decided just like that. We need to arrange it according to our abilities. I will just reluctantly call you Junior Sister then.”
“You, you, you acknowledged my master as your master?” exclaimed the fifth princess with a face full of disbelief. After the fifth princess had verified the fact of the matter, she then started making a ruckus. She burst out into uproarious laughter and started bragging, “I already told you at the start, didn’t I, that my master is the master of all trades? See! You have personally witnessed it now and you have become worshipful of her, right? It’s just too amazing, right?”
Seeing how the fifth princess got so carried away, Ling Chuxi became speechless and smacked her on the back of her head. “Don’t shout so loudly and shame me like this. You better keep this matter a secret, otherwise, I will clean up the house!” threatened Ling Chuxi.