Chapter 42: A Game of Risky Chess

  Yang Liuqing took the tea from Yan Yan and gulped it down, Yan Yan hastily refilled his cup. Yang Liuqing drank again, "No bad news, I heard that she was favored by Lan Jie, entered the Orchid Palace, and is preparing to compete for the title of Flower Queen on the upcoming Jiuzhi Festival."

  Want to be the flower queen? How easy is it! Not to mention that there are still 130 brothels who want to seize the flower queen, and there are 15-year-old girls nationwide who have just come of age. Even if they don't count, there are still people from the Ninety-Nine Palaces of Huahua Building. Yanyan has been following Yangliuqing for a long time, and she has heard him talk about strange stories in the country of Huanhai before, so she understood the situation of this coming-of-age ceremony early on.

  "She must have heard that the treatment of the Huajun Flower is very good, and she wants to get the token of the Hanhai Kingdom, enjoy the benefits of the Hanhai Kingdom, and become a princess of the Hanhai Kingdom. However, she doesn't know the inside story. As a flower girl, the most likely outcome is not to be pampered as a princess, but to marry a foreign king, minister or rich merchant, becoming a pawn in the Hanhai Kingdom's political diplomacy." Yang Liuqing said with some worry.

  "There are so many people, Miss doesn't necessarily become the flower queen, and there's no possibility of blind marriage. However, Miss's fate is indeed bumpy. When she was at the Liu family, she replaced Qinglian Miss to marry Hu Shao. Although Hu Shao liked Miss, he was forced by Old Madam to write a divorce letter, and had no choice. And that Yue Qianshan, it seems he didn't truly like Miss either. If he did, why would he lose her on the way to Kyoto and not even come looking for her? Brother Shaoye, you must save her! Considering Yan Yan's dedication to serving you, you must think of a way to rescue her!"

  "Alright, I also like Qingqing, but now that we've been driven out of the Hu manor and can barely protect ourselves, how can we possibly take care of her? Besides, the Double Seventh Festival is approaching soon, and the Smoke Flower House won't be receiving guests. Even if we wanted to see her, it would be difficult, let alone rescue her. I had to use all my strength to gather information this time, and even then, I only managed to get it from an old acquaintance. From now on, she won't be coming out again either."

  The fact is that the entire brothel district has been closed down. Firstly, it's to give foreign tourists a fresh impression and secondly, all the people in the brothels are busy preparing for the upcoming festival. Outsiders are strictly not allowed to enter and the entire alley is off-limits to foreigners. The people inside are also not allowed to leave, and daily necessities are being uniformly supplied. Outside the alley, soldiers are standing guard, each one with their bow at the ready, waiting in strict formation.

  No matter how anxious the willows and swallows outside were, Liu Qing continued with her own plan. It was a risky move. She knew it herself, but taking a risk was better than waiting for death. So, after she woke up in the car of Yun Po Po and Feng Gong Gong, a plan formed in her mind after hearing their conversation.

  She saw the three-pronged fork on Xiaolian's head. It can untie the rope that binds itself.

  She had in her bosom the latest concoction of Hu Zhongren's aphrodisiac, which could knock out an entire house. So Feng Gonggong and Yun Popo easily let him fall down. The aftereffect of this medicine was very strong, so Yun Popo kept smiling, and Feng Gonggong seemed to have changed his nature.

  Have we all noticed something strange about these two? Is there something going on here? Look over here...

  It's said that Lord Wind had an accident, so Cloud Granny and Blue Maiden rushed out of the Smoke Flower Pavilion to the Peony Palace. Cloud Granny claimed her head was splitting with pain, returned to the Smoke Flower Pavilion, ordered a maid to fetch a basin of clear water, dismissed everyone, and wanted to switch back identities with Liu Qingqing.

  At this time, the real Liu Qingqing, also known as fake Yun Popo, took out a packet of medicine powder and put it in the water basin. Then, she used a handkerchief to wet her face, and with one stroke, a lotus-like face appeared in the water basin. She lightly stroked the fake Liu Qingqing's face, revealing a true face: with some wrinkles and age spots. Who else could it be but Yun Popo?

  So that's how it is! A person flashed out from behind the chair, and the real Liu Qingqing jumped down. My god, how could there be another one hidden here? I was really too careless.

  It's Jane.

  What she wanted to do was to tie up Liu Qing and let the real Liu Qing escape. Luckily, luckily, almost released the wrong person! The clever mind turned around quickly, immediately understanding the general situation, "You are the real Liu Qing, right? You may have deceived Lady Lan's eyes, but you can't deceive me!"

  Liu Qingqing was choked by the dark and powerful waves of the Yangtze River, but she managed to escape with her life. Her big eyes sparkled as she thought of a plan, and with a swift movement, she and another person joined forces to take down their opponent. Liu Qingqing's hands moved swiftly, grabbing onto the other person's throat, while the other person also reached for hers. Just as they were about to clash, a burst of green light shot up into the air, releasing an enormous force that sent them flying apart. They crashed into the wall opposite each other, and after a moment of dizziness, Liu Qingqing regained her composure.

  Bi Yu Buddha, a destined person, it's really exhausting to search for something that can't be found. Look at the little kid in front of me, she is actually the destined person of Bi Yu Buddha. According to the records on the harmonious bell, only the destined person can wear Bi Yu Buddha. If it emits a strong light, it means the person has a deep and true connection with Bi Yu Buddha. I really didn't expect this, I thought the destined person would definitely be a man! But it's actually a little girl! Liu Qingqing excitedly picked up Zhenzhen, "Thank you, my lifesaver!" and kissed her red little face vigorously.

  Overjoyed beyond words, I thought I only had one or two years of life left, but unexpectedly I was given a second chance at life. Suddenly, I feel that life is so lovely and living is truly exhilarating!

  No matter how silly Zhenzhen was being. Liu Qingqing's mind was a jumble of memories, her past experiences flashing before her eyes. She remembered her grandmother teaching her martial arts and swimming when she was young, her mother forcing her to attend all sorts of extracurricular classes, her grandmother taking her on trips during holidays, her mother tearfully reading her university acceptance letter. Her grandmother had given her a jade Buddha pendant, telling her that she would have amazing encounters. After graduating from university, she joined the Northern Drifters and participated in Starlight Avenue, then crossed over into another time and space to become a bride-to-be, surviving in the Hu household, ending up in the country of Hanhai, and standing here, at the Smoke Flower Pavilion, facing a girl named Zhenzhen.

  Flawless memory, it's too perfect. Liu Qingqing was so excited that she wanted to worship the heavens, Boss, you're too good to me, right?

  "Hey, put me down! I want to be the boss when I grow up, but I'm still little now. Don't just call out like that, or people will hear and it'll be the end of me - they'll suffocate me in my crib!"

  Liu Qingqing was like a dream come true, and she put down Zhenzhen: "Sorry, I got too excited."

  "I can see it, excited like a madman, must be calm! Must be calm, as a leader, one's emotions should not be revealed, the more tense, the calmer one should be, don't show weakness to others!"

  "Older brother, you're being taught a lesson!" Liu Qingqing mischievously smiled: "Little girl, with a nose so high up in the air, even a camel wouldn't dare to blow its nose."

  Two people sat cross-legged on the ground, and as soon as they met, they became allies.

  Liu Qingqing said: "Boss, tell us about your plan!"

  "I want you to help me escape, find Hu Zhongren, I want to ask him in person why he doesn't like my mom but got her pregnant and had me?" Zhenzhen whispered into Liu Qingqing's ear.

  Liu Qingqing wanted to ask Zhenzhen how she was so sure that she was Hu Zhongren's child, and not Yang Liuying's. It was said that Hu Zhongren's wife, apart from Xiulian and Liu Qingqing herself, also included Xiaolian, had all been seduced by Yang Liuying. But thinking again, there was no need to doubt, she should trust Lao Da. The child in front of her, although not yet ten years old, had an IQ exceeding one hundred years old. What a clever kid! "But I haven't escaped yet, what if I can't help you?" She whispered into Zhenzhen's ear.

  "Of course I'll save you, but are you going to take me to Tianchao to find your dad too?" Zhenzhen said with a tone that looked down on foolish people.

  "Ugh," thought Liu Qingqing silently: "Please go ahead and speak."

  "We're like this and that." Zhen whispered in her ear.

  Two people can take action. Before long, Liu Qingqing was also tied up tightly on the stool like a rice dumpling. Zhenzhen winked at him mischievously and mouthed: "I'm leaving, be careful!"

  Liu Qingqing suddenly thought, if Lan Ji didn't follow our plan and came to kill herself to sacrifice her master's spirit, what would happen? She hastily called out to Zhenzhen with her mouth, but Zhenzhen had already disappeared without a trace. She could only resign herself to fate and watch the situation unfold.

  Zhen Zhen returned to the Orchid Palace, saw Second Mother and Mother, dismissed everyone, told them about the plan in a low voice, then set up a trap.

  Lan Ji really followed Zhen Zhen's plan and agreed to send Liu Qingqing to Lan Ju Palace for Gui Chunlan and Qiu Ju to use.

  At this time, I realized the harm of raising a tiger and leaving it to cause trouble. If you don't eradicate the root of the problem, it will come back with the spring breeze. Logically speaking, Blue Lady was actually quite good to Zhenzhen, treating her like her own granddaughter. She had nothing to gain from this relationship, and even thought about giving all her wealth to Zhenzhen in her later years, relying on Zhenzhen to support her until the end of her days. If Zhenzhen knew that Blue Lady was genuinely kind to her, would she regret deceiving her? Unfortunately, people's hearts are hidden behind their faces, and in this living environment, everyone is scheming against each other, speaking only superficial words, with no one willing to speak from the heart. Everyone has their own purpose.

  Lan Juan led Zhen Zhen out of the Lanju Pavilion, with a maid and servant following behind carrying various tools that Zhen Zhen used daily. Zhen Zhen was overjoyed, no longer having to suffer under her mother's rule, feeling an indescribable happiness, like a fish entering the ocean or a bird entering the forest, happily running alongside Lan Juan, seemingly completely unaware of the sorrowful emotions of her mothers.

  Lan Ji returned to the fireworks pavilion and saw Liu Qingqing still tightly bound to a chair. She hastily ordered her attendants, "Loosen it a bit, do you want his life?"

  I quickly untied the ropes binding Liu Qingqing, and Liu Qingqing loosened the ropes, exercising her limbs. This guy had tied them really tightly, although I had told him to tie them tighter so they would look more realistic, but not this tight.

  After circling around the house twice, Liu Qingqing said: "Quickly bring me a cup of hot tea, no one has taken care of me for half a day, do they think I'm air?"

  Everyone was silent, and no one dared to mention the death of Feng Gonggong. Because she had witnessed Feng Gonggong's death with her own eyes and heard the news, she vomited blood and fainted. Lan Ji also looked puzzled, "How can there be such a big difference between before and after?"

  Zhen Zhen didn't care what the adults thought, and said: "Who has the time to bother with you? That wind official was killed by Mudan, everyone is busy going there, who has the spare time to bother with you! I'm telling you, this Liu Qingqing is stupid. Mom and them will definitely fail."

  Lan Ji asked: "Just now, you heard the news of Feng Gonggong's accident, why did you spit blood and faint?"

  "He's my lifesaver, I haven't even thanked him yet, and he's gone just like that. How can I not be emotional?"

  "He's your lifesaver, where did that come from?" Lan Ji was puzzled, could someone who had been sold out and given a ransom be considered a lifesaver? Probably only Liu Qingqing would say something like that.

  Liu Qingqing said: "Of course, I'm grateful to them. Because I didn't want to stay in the Hu Mansion at all, and I don't know if I have a relationship with Yue Qianshan or not, nor do I know if I am Liu Fengchun's daughter. In this situation, it's not suitable for me to go anywhere, right? But he smuggled me here, so now I can be free, isn't that right?"

  Lan Ji smiled and said, "You're quite clever, but in the vast ocean country, it's not that easy to get by. As a woman, you either sell your art or sell your body. Of course, if you can do both, that would be even better. We could make a fortune together."

  "No problem, I'm very open-minded. If we succeed, you can have 70% of the wealth and I'll take 30%." Liu Qingqing said generously.

  "Great, it's a deal! I'll send someone to take you to the Orchid Palace right away for training. Although time is a bit tight, with your qualifications, you should be able to succeed!"

  "Zhen said with a smile: 'If you succeed, don't forget about Blue Sister and me.'"

  Liu Qingqing said: "That's natural. However, I have a condition, which is that you can't harm Xiao Lian, she's my good friend."

  Lan Ji smiled and said: "Don't worry, I will take good care of him. I believe she can also bring us wealth. If Hu Zhongren knew that she was here and had his child..."

  Liu Qing cursed secretly: "He's really a sly old fox, weighing everyone's pros and cons clearly." However, it's better to understand things than being muddle-headed. Competing with someone who thinks clearly is also refreshing.

  As Lan Ji arrived at the Ice Palace, she saw Xiao Lian but didn't bind her. Instead, she sat normally in the house. Liu Qingqing was delighted to see this.

  "It seems that Lan Ji really means what she says. If I don't work hard to earn the title of Huakui for you, it would be ungrateful of me towards your hospitality. So, when should we start training?"

  Zhen Zhen quickly replied: "You're going back to your mom's place for training, Grandma doesn't have the leisure time to train you, right? Grandma?"

  Lan Jin burst out laughing: "You're really my good granddaughter, always hitting grandma's soft spot. Someone, accompany Liu Qingqing to Lanju Palace and start training from now on."