TSWPF -Chapter 330 Speechless

There were rumors of wolves on Ninghua Mountain, which made the villagers of Ninghua County afraid to go up there. No one dared to disturb the wildlife on the mountain, so Li Qingling and Master Luo didn’t take long before filling a basket with a haul of mao wowo (a kind of wild edible fur-covered plant or fruit).

Master Luo wiped the sweat from his forehead, still feeling unsatisfied. “If I had known there were so many good things on the mountain, I should’ve brought a few more baskets.” He felt frustrated that they couldn’t carry all the good stuff home.

Li Qingling twitched the corner of her mouth, about to speak, when she heard Master Luo tell the head of the guards to go home and bring two more baskets.

The head of the guards suppressed the urge to facepalm and turned to send another guard to fetch them. His main responsibility was protecting Master Luo—he couldn’t leave his side.

“Xiaoling, come on, let’s keep picking. These wild vegetables look tender; we can take them home and stir-fry them,” Master Luo muttered while picking, “No one comes up here for food—lucky for us.”

Seeing such a down-to-earth side of Master Luo, Li Qingling silently averted her gaze. The aloof, untouchable Master Luo of the past was long gone.

If people in the capital saw him like this, their jaws would probably drop.

“Master, will you be able to eat all these wild vegetables?” Li Qingling asked with a smile, looking at the nearly full basket.

Master Luo said that if they couldn’t finish it, they could give some to others—maintaining good relations with the neighbors was important.

“Yes, you’re right. As long as you’re happy, that’s what matters.”

Li Qingling was speechless. She silently handed the full basket of wild vegetables to Guard Eleven standing beside her to carry.

Master Luo stood and rubbed his slightly sore waist. Seeing there were still so many vegetables on the ground, he instructed Li Qingling to quickly pick them up. Even if they couldn’t finish eating them all, they could dry them and give them to Old Man Xue and others.

Li Qingling responded with a nod and told him to rest—she would handle the rest.

At this point, Master Luo had to admit his age. His waist soon couldn’t handle it anymore. He truly envied these young ones for their energy.

“Master, master, look what we picked for you!” Li Qingning’s excited voice called out.

Master Luo turned and saw Li Qingning and the others returning, smiling brightly. He stepped forward and asked what good things they had picked.

Li Qingning ran over, standing on tiptoe, and handed him a small cluster of wild lychees. “Try them, they’re very sweet.”

Master Luo took one and the clear, sweet taste spread across his mouth.

The wild lychees were small but delicious.

“Where did you pick these? Are there more? What else did you get besides lychees?”

Li Qingning pointed with her little finger. “Over there. There are still many on the tree, but the basket couldn’t hold them all, so we came back.” She had the guard carrying the basket put it down. “Master, look, we also picked some loquats. They’re just a tiny bit sour.” She handed a few bright yellow-orange loquats to Master Luo.

Master Luo accepted whatever Li Qingning gave him.

He ate one loquat and immediately shivered, his face scrunching up. “So sour!” He couldn’t handle sour tastes.

Seeing Master Luo’s comical expression, Li Qingning burst into laughter.

“You guys!” Li Qingling tapped their foreheads in mock exasperation, took the loquat from Master Luo, peeled it, and tasted it herself. It wasn’t very sour.

Master Luo pretended to be angry and tickled Li Qingning’s ribs. She laughed uncontrollably, almost rolling on the ground.

“Let’s see if you dare laugh at Master now.”

“I won’t, I won’t!” Li Qingning laughed so hard that tears came to her eyes. She held up her hands, repeatedly saying she wouldn’t.

Master Luo stopped at just the right moment, lightly flicked her little head, and shook his head with a helpless smile. This little girl really was…

Li Qingling glanced at the time and urged everyone to head back down the mountain.

This trip up the mountain had been very fruitful: the guards had hunted ten wild chickens and five wild rabbits, and they had two baskets, one of wild vegetables, and one of fruits.

Very satisfying…

Li Qingning held Master Luo’s hand with one hand and Li Zhirou’s with the other. She whispered, “Can we come up the mountain again in a few days? There are still so many places we haven’t been. I’m sure there’s more delicious food there.” This time she hadn’t played enough, but her sister had forced them to leave.

Master Luo, still unwilling to leave, nodded repeatedly. He also wanted to come back.

He felt that eating roasted wild chickens and rabbits on the mountain was more meaningful than at home. Picking wild vegetables by hand gave a strong sense of accomplishment.

Seeing Master Luo agree, Li Qingning cheered happily, then turned to Li Qingling. “Sister, can we come back to the mountain in a few days? Master wants to pick wild food.” With Master Luo’s approval, it was easier to persuade her.

Oh no, the little troublemaker was being led astray.

Li Qingling sighed helplessly in her heart. She said they could check if they were free in a few days—if not, then too bad.

Li Qingning, not discouraged, said it was fine even if Li Qingling wasn’t free; she would come with Master Luo anyway.

“No…” Li Qingling immediately refused. “If I’m not coming, you’re not coming either. What if there’s danger?”

The guards: “…?”

Are they just for show? Does their lady really not trust their skills?

“Sister, can you beat the guards?”

“…!”

Li Qingling was speechless. She couldn’t fight the guards—how could she possibly win?

Before she could answer, Li Qingning nodded her head, answering herself: “I know sister can’t beat the guards. With them protecting us, we won’t be in danger. Don’t worry, sister!” Then she looked at Master Luo. “Master, right?”

Master Luo nodded in agreement.

“…!”

Li Qingling smacked her forehead, exasperated by the little one.

“I said no, and that’s final.” She didn’t want the child to run wild on the mountain and never come home. “No arguments.”

Li Qingning pouted. Her sister was so domineering, not allowing her to argue.

She looked at Master Luo for help, hoping he would persuade her sister—otherwise, their trip to Ninghua Mountain would be ruined.

Master Luo looked at Li Qingling, cleared his throat, and was about to speak—but Li Qingling beat him to it.

“No pleading.”

“…!”

Master Luo lowered his head and blinked at Li Qingning, signaling he was powerless too.

Li Qingning’s little shoulders drooped instantly. Poor thing, stuck at home again.

Li Qingling saw her pitiful expression, smiled faintly, but remained unmoved.

Little rascal, trying to challenge me? No chance.

When they returned home, Xichun came to tell them that Madam Cui had arrived and had been waiting for almost an hour.

Li Qingling raised an eyebrow. What could Cui Cuicui possibly want from her this time?

“Let her wait a bit more. I’ll take a shower and change before seeing her.” Sweating and dirty from the mountain, she couldn’t meet a guest without washing.

Xichun said yes, arranged for hot water for Li Qingling, and went back to the flower hall.

As soon as she entered the flower hall, Cui Cuicui asked if Madam had returned.

“Yes, she just came back. She’ll come over later.”

Cui Cuicui suppressed her anger and gave a faint “hm.” If she hadn’t come to apologize, she would have left long ago—she wouldn’t have waited here so patiently.

By the time Li Qingling finished showering, changed clothes, and arrived at the flower hall, another forty-five minutes had passed.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Madam Cui,” Li Qingling said first. “Next time, let me know in advance if you plan to visit. Otherwise, we might miss each other.”

Was she blaming her for not sending a notice? Is that what Li Qingling meant?

Cui Cuicui pinched her palm, forced a smile, and said it was her oversight this time. Next time, she would send a notice in advance.

Li Qingling smiled. “Please, sit.” She gestured politely, and when Cui Cuicui sat, she asked, “What brings you here today?”

She studied her subtly, guessing the reason for her visit.

Cui Cuicui awkwardly touched her hair. “Madam, didn’t you want to try the tea I brewed? I happened to have some free time today, so I thought I’d make a pot for you.” This was the first time she had offered to brew tea for someone on her own—annoying as it was.

Li Qingling looked surprised. Was the sun rising from the west today? Cui Cuicui had come specifically to brew tea for her?

“How considerate of you,” she thought. A few days ago, she said she wasn’t qualified to drink Cui Cuicui’s tea. Now she came to brew it herself… What was her intention?

Was she planning to poison her?

Li Qingling immediately went into conspiracy mode.

Cui Cuicui pinched her fingers again, forcing down her discomfort, and asked if there was any teaware at Li Qingling’s home.

“Yes, but it belongs to my Master.”

Master?

Meaning Master Luo, right?

“I wonder if Master Luo would mind if I used it?”

Li Qingling shook her head slightly. “Probably not. That teaware was gifted by the Emperor; he treasures it and rarely lends it to anyone.”

Imperially bestowed items indeed shouldn’t be used lightly by others.

Cui Cuicui hesitated and asked if there was no other teaware. How had they brewed the tea they were drinking?

“I’m not quite sure. You’d have to ask my maid.” Li Qingling smiled at Xichun. “Xichun, can you tell Madam Cui how we brew our tea?”

Xichun stepped forward, nodded, and explained simply how the tea was brewed.

Wait… they can make tea using only two cups?

Cui Cuicui was left speechless.