Chapter 31: When Archrivals Meet, the Doorman Is Stunned

"Don't let their youth fool you; their talent is truly remarkable. Many academies have already extended offers to them, and I believe it won't be long before they have access to a wealth of resources."

"As for you, you've just returned with nothing. They will surely become even more arrogant. I only hope you won't be easily driven out of the house like you were back then. But if you..." Lu Xuanyuan prattled on, detailing the current situation in the capital.

Luo Qianfan sighed inwardly. Lu Xuanyuan had many virtues, but she simply could not keep her thoughts to herself. Her words were so transparent; she was clearly trying to warn her that the Luo family had ulterior motives for bringing her back. She truly had no fear of others knowing she intended to help.

"Don't worry," Luo Qianfan interrupted, a lazy smile playing on her lips. "If I didn't collapse under the pressure of the esteemed Miss Lu, how could those small-fry possibly trap me?"

"Besides, I didn't come back this time to be a soft persimmon for them to squeeze! Hah! It’s high time to settle the accounts from those years!" Her cyan skirt swished through the air, carrying a hint of coldness. Yes, the final reckoning for the framing of years past was long overdue.

Seeing Luo Qianfan like this, Lu Xuanyuan was struck with awe. Her arrogance and pride had never faded! Whether seven years ago or now, she remained a brilliant, dazzling streak of light—a presence that could never be ignored. If only they weren't enemies, but friends—bound by life and death, confidantes for a lifetime! Lu Xuanyuan smiled bitterly. But their family backgrounds and their allegiances would never permit such a thing, would they?

It was common knowledge that the Prime Minister’s residence supported the Empress’s son, the current Crown Prince. If nothing went awry, the Prime Minister’s legitimate daughter, Luo Yuhuan, would marry the Prince and become the Crown Princess. Meanwhile, the Lu family supported the Third Prince, Dongfang Jue, son of Imperial Concubine Feng. The two families were like fire and water; no matter who ascended the throne in the end, the other side would surely face a dead end. Lu Xuanyuan knew this well. Thus, despite her admiration for Luo Qianfan, they remained enemies on the surface—not just for herself, but for the sake of the families standing behind them.

The two peerless young women stood in the midst of the crowd, one in cyan, one in blue, each radiating her own brilliance. The commoners around them could not fathom their thoughts, merely discussing them from an aesthetic perspective; after all, it was rare to see two such great beauties together.

Cai'er stood at the back of the group, peering forward, her eyes filled with confusion. "Eh, why haven't they started fighting yet? That shouldn't be right?" She looked baffled, yet she dared not take a single step forward.

Before long, the carriage moved again, and everything returned to normal. Luo Qianfan slowly lifted the curtain and, as her foot stepped out, she suddenly turned to look at the restaurant nearby. Her beautiful eyes shifted, a flash of suspicion crossing them.

Luo Yi followed her gaze but saw nothing. "Young Master?"

"Let's go." Luo Qianfan’s eyes darkened as she looked away.

Watching the departing carriage, Lu Xuanyuan was in high spirits. "Let's go to the Treasure Pavilion!"

The Treasure Pavilion, as the name suggested, was a place that gathered all kinds of treasures. There was nothing you couldn't imagine, and nothing they couldn't provide. Everything was available; even stars from the sky or beauties from the Southern Kingdom could be brought home, provided one’s purse was heavy enough. It was a place where noble families and young ladies of status lingered, and Lu Xuanyuan was a three-star member. In a great mood, she figured she would likely spend tens of thousands of coins today.

...

Inside the restaurant, Dongfang Yuyue had not expected this little wildcat to react so quickly. Had he not been agile, he would have been discovered. But in his rush to hide, he seemed to have bumped into something! Dongfang Yuyue scanned the room, seeing only a few overturned tables and chairs; nothing else seemed amiss.

But just a moment ago—

At that moment, a rustling sound came from nearby. "Master... Master, I'm here," Guifang struggled to climb up from the floor. His eye, which had struck the table during his fall, was a vivid red; the sunlight hitting it made it look even more inflamed.

"You... are you alright?" Seeing Guifang’s state, Dongfang Yuyue’s face flushed slightly. He turned his head away in embarrassment and let out a rather unprincipled laugh. Inside, however, he was secretly rejoicing that he hadn't been discovered.

Just as Luo Qianfan had looked up, Dongfang Yuyue had panicked and dived for cover. In that split second of turning, he had bumped into Guifang. Between the strong and the weak, Guifang was naturally the unlucky one. He had finally escaped from being forced to live alongside poisonous creatures, and he had thought his master was bringing him to the restaurant to reward him with a good meal. Instead, he hadn't eaten a scrap of meat and had been beaten up instead. At that moment, he truly wanted to hug Chiming and have a good cry.

"..." Guifang. Why was his life so bitter?

This time, Luo Qianfan’s carriage proceeded smoothly. She, however, hung her head, frowning in thought. "What was that gaze just now? Could I have been mistaken?" After pondering for a long time without finding any clues, she set the matter aside.

The carriage traveled slowly and finally stopped at the Prime Minister’s residence. Looking up, the estate was grand and magnificent, and the stone statues before the gate stood tall and imposing, yet the main gate was tightly shut. In the broad daylight, under the clear sky, a closed gate was hardly a good sign—unless one had something to hide! Luo Qianfan naturally knew what they were hiding! It was her! Prime Minister Luo, how imposing you are!

Back at the residence, Cai'er signaled to go and knock on the door. After a short while, the door opened a crack, and a gatekeeper emerged, whispering into Cai'er’s ear. Luo Yi couldn't hear what they were saying, but judging by the growing smirk on Cai'er’s face, it certainly wasn't anything good.

As expected. Cai'er turned and walked toward Luo Qianfan, curtsying with a touch of feigned respect before drawling, "Third Miss, the Mistress has ordered that as there are distinguished guests in the house today, the main gate should not be opened. Please proceed to the West Gate." Back at the residence, Cai'er immediately puffed out her chest, looking at them with a haughty air, as if she were the mistress of the manor.

What a snobbish little wretch! Yan Mojue sneered. The West Gate—she might as well go through the servant's entrance. Had he not been following Luo Qianfan, he would never have known there were so many schemes and entanglements among these noble houses.

As time passed, the wicked smile at the corner of Luo Qianfan’s mouth grew more unbridled. "Hmph!" Luo Qianfan let out a scoff.

The gatekeeper was stunned by her beauty. Was this... really their Third Miss? Luo Qianfan, in her cyan robes, looked ethereal and breathtaking, stirring his heart. Even Yan Mojue was momentarily distracted. The gatekeeper remained lost in her beauty, failing to notice the flash of ruthlessness in Luo Qianfan’s eyes.

"And if I insist on entering through here, what can you do about it?" As she spoke, Luo Qianfan walked to the main gate. Looking at this hypocritical entrance and the lecherous gaze of the gatekeeper, she felt only disgust.

The gatekeeper snapped out of his trance, his expression of awe replaced by malice. He hadn't expected the Third Miss to be as unbearable as before, despite her pretty face. He had already told her she couldn't enter, yet she was still barging in. If this were Miss Yuhuan, she certainly wouldn't act like this. Thinking of Luo Yuhuan, a cunning smile appeared on the gatekeeper's face. If the Third Miss didn't fare well in the house, perhaps he could "take care" of her himself. Glancing at Luo Qianfan’s curvaceous figure, the gatekeeper felt a spark of lust igniting in his heart.

Truly, like master, like servant.

"Move aside. I am entering this gate today!"

Seeing the gatekeeper’s lecherous look, Luo Yi made a sudden move. With a flick of her right hand, the gatekeeper was sent flying down the steps, tracing a perfect arc through the air. Seeing Luo Yi’s skills, Luo Qianfan gave her a look of approval. As expected of her own, Luo Yi knew exactly what she wanted to do without needing a word.

The gatekeeper coughed heavily, his mouth full of viscous blood. He lay on the ground, clutching his chest, glaring at Luo Yi with his small eyes, cursing, "The Mistress will never let you off for this!"

Luo Qianfan ignored him as if she hadn't heard, pushed open the door, and walked in without looking back. Only Cai'er remained standing at the gate, dumbstruck and unable to recover for a long time. She had been terrified by the scene and, forgetting the injured and unconscious gatekeeper, she scurried away in another direction, trembling.

In a corner, a few figures poked their heads out. Suddenly, the leading woman let out a cry, only to be struck by a fierce, murderous aura, disappearing into the crowd.

On the other side, without any guidance from the household, Luo Yi followed Luo Qianfan into a courtyard. With every step, this desolate courtyard felt like a fresh sight; its small corridors were picturesque, and its design had a unique charm, with two willow trees planted in front. However, the house itself was in shambles, as if abandoned for ages, a stark contrast to the rest of the Prime Minister’s residence. It had likely been forgotten long ago.

Luo Yi suppressed her temper. "Young Master, where is this?" Seeing how familiar her master’s pace was, could this be where she lived as a child? These people were truly heartless to let it fall into such ruin.

Luo Qianfan noticed Luo Yi’s unease and knew what she was thinking. She gave a faint smile. "This wasn't my childhood home. This was simply my mother’s courtyard."

Luo Yi had just breathed a sigh of relief at the first part, wondering why her master had come here, but the second part left her stunned. She said this was the residence of her mother. Seeing how dilapidated the courtyard was, she gathered that her mother was long gone. Luo Yi assumed Luo Qianfan was touched by the sight and didn't know what to do. If Bai Yu were here, she would surely know how to cheer her up. Luo Yi regretted that she only possessed martial strength and could do nothing in a moment of need.

Luo Qianfan had found this place based on fragments of memory. From the moment she entered until now, her expression remained unchanged, looking at everything with detachment. Seeing the scene of ruin, she reflected on the impermanence of the world. She had come to this world and borrowed Luo Qianfan’s body to live again; she had to see her mother, yet she hadn't expected to find it in this state. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly: It seems you and your child didn't have a very good life here.