Chapter 5762: Peculiar Education
Princess Huaizhu fiercely pulled her gaze back, dropped the bead curtain, and sat back in the carriage, feeling as if something was lodged in her chest, making it hard to breathe.
Qingluo knelt meekly beside her, cautiously glancing at Princess Huaizhu's expression, and whispered, "Princess, it seems that this Miss Qiao's identity is quite extraordinary."
"We know very little about the Beimo royal family. Why don't I send someone to inquire about that Miss Qiao's background first?"
Huaizhu couldn't help but sneer. "No need. What's there to investigate? You can't possibly truly believe her story, can you?"
"The通道 (passage) between the Upper Three Continents and the Lower Star Domain has long been sealed. Unless one ascends the Heaven Stairway to the Six Prefecture Continent, how can one enter and exit freely?"
Qingluo thought for a moment and whispered, "Could it be that the other party possesses some powerful mystic artifact or something that allows them to travel freely between the Three Continents, Six Prefectures, and the Lower Star Domain?"
Princess Huaizhu glared at her, annoyed. "Impossible. You've cultivated for so long; have you ever heard of such a peculiar person?"
"I haven't, but judging by that little girl's incredibly powerful mount, it doesn't seem like a pretense."
Qingluo gently reminded her, "Actually, sending a few people to inquire among the common folk wouldn't take much time. Princess, 'know yourself and your enemy, and you can fight a hundred battles without danger.'"
Princess Huaizhu thought about it and felt there was some truth to that. So, she nodded. "Then go and do it. Remember not to let anyone else know." She didn't want others to know that she, a dignified Princess of Tundong, actually feared a little girl with no apparent background.
She wasn't agreeing to Qingluo's suggestion to investigate the girl's background because she felt flustered or unsure. Huaizhu squeezed the handkerchief in her hand and beckoned Qingluo closer, whispering, "Should we tell Chen Yan about the plan and postpone it?"
"That's fine," Qingluo nodded. "To be safe, let's investigate thoroughly first." Although Princess Huaizhu was a bit displeased, Qiao Lin's display earlier was undeniably shocking and had a significant psychological impact on her. This girl Qingluo was meticulous and had always offered her advice on many matters, big and small. Huaizhu trusted her greatly and felt it was perfectly fine to listen to Qingluo's suggestions on this matter.
Li Siniu's Predicament
Qiao Mu and her group stayed in Qiaotou Village for several days and then decided to set off for Xijiu City.
Yesterday, there was a small interlude. Li Siniu, the girl they had previously rescued, came back, crying out for help to Qiao Mu. At that time, many villagers from Li Family Village were chasing her.
Li Siniu saw Qiao Mu and her group and immediately knelt before them with a thud, wailing and demanding their help. She claimed that the villagers of Li Family Village were forcing her into a marriage against her will, insisting she marry the village's simpleton. Li Siniu absolutely refused to marry the simpleton, no matter what, and ran all the way back to Qiao Mu, determined to have her make the decision for her.
Qiao Mu found it quite amusing. They were merely strangers who had helped her out of convenience, yet it had created so much trouble for them. She looked at the menacing group of Li Family Village villagers, pursing her lips speechlessly.
The Li Family Village villagers, for a moment, truly didn't dare to rush forward and cause trouble. After all, in their eyes, these young men and women in front of them were like deities descended from heaven, with extraordinary appearances and temperaments, completely unlike anyone from their village. In their minds, the furthest they could imagine was that Qiao Mu and her group were important figures from some major city. Before clarifying their identities, the Li Family Village villagers naturally wouldn't easily offend Qiao Mu and her group.
The village chief of Li Family Village came forward to speak with Qiao Mu and her group. To be honest, Qiao Mu didn't want to get involved in such matters at all, especially with Li Siniu, who was always causing trouble.
Peculiar Education
Troublesome!Qiao Mu already understood what kind of person Li Siniu was, so naturally, she didn't want to meddle in her affairs. Therefore, she said to the village chief, "We are not familiar with this girl, and it's not convenient for us outsiders to interfere in your village's matters. Please handle it yourselves."
At that time, the village chief was stunned. In his eyes, this noble person in front of him was simply too cultured, reasonable, and understanding. He quickly humbled himself, knelt, and repeatedly agreed.
Li Siniu immediately refused to comply. She shrieked, rolled around, and threw a public tantrum, insisting that Qiao Mu make the decision and save her. How could Qiao Mu be so easily swayed? She simply turned around and led her people back into the house.
The house they had previously stayed in at Qiaotou Village had been renovated and guarded after the corpse puppet tide incident was largely resolved. The Qiao family was accustomed to habitually buying land and houses wherever they went... Although these properties and lands in the Lower Star Domain were mostly useless now, primarily serving as residences for loyal old servants, due to her obsession with property—ahem—since it was a rare trip back, the little poker face (Qiao Mu) would still urge her younger sister to check on their family properties on the way back to the capital. Take whatever little bits you can get...
Li Siniu looked terrified. She hadn't expected Madam Mo to be so strange. She actually meant it when she said she wouldn't help her! Now, she was counting on these powerful figures to save her life. If they just moved a finger, wouldn't these Li Family Village people immediately fall to their knees and beg for mercy? It was clearly such a simple gesture, yet no one was willing to help Li Siniu.
Li Siniu was furious. She roared and wailed outside the house, until her villagers finally gagged her and dragged her back.
Not long after, several old caretakers guarding the Qiao residence inquired about the news outside and returned to tell Qiao Mu. That Li Siniu had taken a betrothal gift of five hundred mystic coins from the simpleton's family at the village head, secretly pocketed it, and then ran away overnight. This time, they finally caught her and brought her back. The village chief ordered her to be taken to her wedding; whether she wanted to marry or not, she had to.
After hearing Li Siniu's elopement story, An Wushuang looked utterly bewildered and glanced out the door. "Why would she accept the betrothal gift if she didn't want to marry? And then, after taking the money, she just says she won't marry? She even called others forced marriage villains. She's clearly just greedy and trying to scam a marriage and money."
This is truly outrageous!
Fu San nodded and said, "Luckily, we didn't get involved in her mess, or we'd just be asking for trouble again."
Qiao Mu expressionlessly turned to look at the stunned little Qiao Sen. "Do you understand?"
Qiao Sen nodded vigorously.
"Sister, you're right. Meddling in other people's business never ends well!" Qiao Sen looked up at the sky, speaking like he was reciting poetry. "I swear to heaven, I must put away my saintly heart and from now on, mind my own business and stop worrying about others."
Everyone couldn't help but twitch their lips.
The little poker face's (Qiao Mu's) teaching methods had always been quite peculiar...
Everyone packed their belongings and set off for Xijiu City. With their current strength, they could reach it within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. However, everyone was on a leisure trip, so they stopped frequently to look around, only arriving at the gates of Xijiu City around dusk.