Although most of them knew little about love, it didn't mean they were unable to observe people's expressions.
It was obvious to everyone that the manor lord had feelings for Princess Anning beyond mere respect.
So, even though they didn't have a determination to pledge their lives to the princess, out of deference to the manor lord, they treated her with the utmost respect and dared not show the slightest disrespect.
"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and open the door and get the person out."
Their original intention was just to make her plead with the manor lord and see if there was any hope of changing his mind. They never expected that Liu Qingyun would take matters into her own hands.
The people kneeling on the ground were so frightened that they were in a daze for a long time.
"I'll take full responsibility for your manor lord. If you don't save him quickly, he'll die."
Liu Qingyun's words were like a reassuring pill. Someone took the lead and used internal energy to open the iron gate that weighed a thousand jun.
A nauseating smell wafted out gently, and one could even see that the air had turned dark green.
The maids guarding Liu Qingyun quickly pulled her away.
She didn't know martial arts. If the poisonous gas accidentally entered her precious body, they would lose their heads even if they had ten of them.
When Sima Yi was carried out of the dungeon, everyone was shocked.
His clothes were soaked in blood, and he had been tortured beyond recognition in just a few days.
His eye sockets were deeply sunken, and fresh blood was flowing from the corners of his mouth and eyes. It was extremely shocking just to look at him.
Not to mention the stench on his body.
Thankfully, he had managed to survive for three days in such a harsh environment. After taking his pulse, everyone present breathed a sigh of relief.
Everyone didn't dare to delay and quickly carried him to the pharmacy.
Liu Qingyun turned cold - faced and walked towards Sima Feng's residence.
In her impression, Sima Feng was gentle and elegant and wouldn't do such cruel things!
Not long after Liu Qingyun entered Sima Feng's room, all the maids were driven out.
Before they could even leave the courtyard, there came the sound of porcelain shattering inside the room.
They could only mourn for those priceless celadon wares while praying for Liu Qingyun, the only person in the world who dared to challenge the manor lord.
Before long, the fierce quarrel between the two came from the room.
They weren't so stupid as to eavesdrop on their master's secrets. They could only wait outside the courtyard.
Since the establishment of Sima Manor for so many years, such a situation had occurred for the first time.
Not only was the manor lord the supreme authority in the manor and no one dared to challenge him, but he was also a man who was neither easily happy nor sad. He always had a cold face all year round and would only snort when angry.
It was really rare to see him so out of control like today, smashing things and roaring.
Finally, this one - hour - long quarrel ended with Princess Anning's complete victory.
However, the manor lord wore a cold face for a month.
Thankfully, everyone was already used to the manor lord's icy face, so it didn't have much of an impact.
Sima Yi's life was finally saved. Although he needed to recuperate for a long time to fully recover, it was still a blessing in disguise that he could survive after three days in the dungeon.
Sima Manor had suffered successive setbacks, and with Sima Yi's injury, it had really lost some of its vitality.
The plan to restore the country had to be temporarily put on hold.
Although it was the calm before the storm, both sides seized this rare opportunity to recuperate.
The tranquility of Sima Manor was undoubtedly a good thing for Ji Shisu.
It gave him time to look for Zhao Luoning.
Zhao Luoning's portraits were posted all over the city, but there was still no news of her.
It was as if she had never existed in the world.
Caixue stayed in the military camp and declared that she wouldn't return to the palace until she saw Zhao Luoning.
Poor General Lian.
This outstanding pillar of the country now had to gather his elites to discuss how to find this woman who had driven everyone to the verge of collapse.
Meanwhile, the trouble - maker was hiding in Taohuawu, teaching a few kids to read word by word, completely unaware of how chaotic the world outside had become because of her.
Although life in Taohuawu was comfortable and care - free, it wasn't really happy.
Now that Caixue had returned to the country, she didn't have to worry about her.
What she missed was Ji Shisu.
Ji Shisu must have known that she was missing. She wondered if he was very worried.
But Zhao Luoning had no way of getting news from the outside world, and due to her leg injury, she couldn't go out.
After getting familiar with the villagers and understanding their temperaments, Zhao Luoning once asked Brother Li, the male host of the family she was staying with, to deliver a letter to Ji Shisu. But the news Brother Li brought back disappointed her.
He was of low status and couldn't even enter the military camp.
Of course, Zhao Luoning wasn't so stupid as to say that she was Ji Shisu's wife, who was also known as Bai Shaoqing. She only said that she was a distant relative of Bai Shaoqing, and the content of the letter she gave to Brother Li was just casual chat without revealing her identity.
Of course, Ji Shisu would understand at a glance.
But unexpectedly, Ji Shisu couldn't even receive the letter.
As time passed, Zhao Luoning became more and more worried.
Should she go back or stay? This question would torture her and keep her awake all night again.
The sound insulation in the peasant household wasn't very good. Just as Zhao Luoning put on her clothes and was about to go out for a walk, she heard Brother Li and Sister - in - law Li talking in bed.
"When I went out of the mountain this time, I saw the government posting notices. The person on the notice looked a lot like Miss Zhao."
"Miss Zhao?"
"I can't read, but I heard that the general's wife was missing. Miss Zhao isn't the general's wife. She's just a distant relative of the general. I think I must have misrecognized."
Sister - in - law Li was a sensible person and quickly understood.
"You fool. Miss Zhao must be the general's wife for sure."
"Ah?! But Miss Zhao clearly said..."
"She has an important identity. How could she tell others casually!"
"Since her husband is looking for her, we shouldn't delay the young couple. We should find an opportunity to send her out as soon as possible. I'll go find Miss Zhao now."
As soon as Brother Li said this, he was interrupted by Sister - in - law Li.
"Are you crazy? It's the middle of the night. Don't disturb Miss Zhao's sleep. We'll talk about it tomorrow!"
Hearing this, Brother Li then lay down.
After a long while, he sighed.
"Our small place has never had a scholar. It's rare that Miss Zhao can read, and now she's about to leave. I don't know who will teach Yunhua and Yunbo in the future."
Sister - in - law Li advised, "We can't stop people's marriage. Miss Zhao doesn't belong here in the first place."
"You're right. Go to sleep. We'll talk about it tomorrow."
The couple didn't discuss it anymore after that.
Zhao Luoning also had no mood to take a walk.
She returned to her room and couldn't calm down for a long time.
Her longing for Ji Shisu came in like a tide at this moment.
She definitely had to go.
But she also had to repay the kindness.
Thinking of this, she took out a kerosene lamp, spread out the rice paper, and started writing quickly.