Li Xian rushed forward and grabbed Jiu Cai 'er's shoulder, exclaiming in shock, "It's really you! Guo 'er, you … why are you here? "
Everyone looked at them in shock, and even Gu Zhuting temporarily stopped. However, no one was particularly surprised, including Yang Fan. Because Jiu Cai 'er had been brought out of Huang Zhuling, and the Prince of Luling had been imprisoned there all these years, wasn't it normal for him to know a girl who lived there?
What puzzled Yang Fan was, Guo 'er? Does Jiu Cai have another name?
However, Jiu Cai 'er's next words petrified everyone present.
Jiu Cai 'er's face was also filled with shock and confusion, crying out involuntarily, "Father, why are you here?"
Father? When these words came out, everyone was tongue-tied, unable to speak.
Yang Fan looked at Jiu Cai 'er in shock, his pupils constricting into a line. "She's the Prince of Luling's daughter? Is Li Guo 'er her real name? How did she … just how many lies has she told? "
Yang Fan thought of everything that had happened since the two of them had gotten to know each other. He thought of the things she said about her deceased father and mother, uncle and aunt, and then looked at that flawless face that was as beautiful and pure as a fairy from the heavens. His mind was a mess. He couldn't believe it, but everything that was happening in front of him forced him to believe it.
He didn't understand what this daughter of the Prince of Luling wanted to do. He had done the most intimate thing with her, so how would the two of them get along in the future? What intentions did she have for him? Of all the things she had said, which of them were true and which were false, or perhaps … none of them were true at all?
"Father, why are you here?"
Li Guo 'er didn't answer the Prince of Luling's question, but instead hurriedly asked in return. Her mind was currently in a mess. That day at Huang Zhuling, she and Yang Fan were about the same. Yang Fan had deceived her, and she had also deceived Yang Fan. As a result, when she suddenly saw her father today, Li Guo' er was also filled with doubts.
Li Xian hesitated for a moment. He wanted to tell his daughter the truth, but Yang Fan had repeatedly warned him that because of the importance of this matter, he had to be cautious. Wei Clan had insisted that he should not tell his children about his departure from Huang Zhuling. He was not stupid, how could he not know the pros and cons of this matter? Bao 'er is young and knows his way around. What if he accidentally lets the cat out of the bag when he finds out the truth?
Seeing Li Xian's hesitation, Li Guo 'er ignored Yang Fan's puzzled gaze and the surprised gazes of all the inner guards and cavalrymen. She tugged at Li Xian's sleeve and said coquettishly, "Aiya, Father, I am your daughter. What is it that Father has to hide from me?"
When Li Guo 'er started acting like a spoiled child, Li Xian was at his wit's end. He could only say, "Fine, fine, fine. Father will tell you. Here's the thing … "
Li Xian explained the sequence of events to her before he asked concernedly, "Guo 'er, why are you here? Where are your mother, brothers, and sisters? Are they well? "
Li Guo 'er's beautiful big eyes were misty. They quickly condensed into a pool of tears. She suddenly threw herself forward and hugged Li Xian as she cried loudly.
Li Xian was anxious. After being trapped in the deep mountains for sixteen years, he had nothing left except for his wife and children. In his heart, his family was already more important than anything else in this world. When he saw Li Guo 'er crying, he thought that the news had been leaked and his family had been murdered. His heart couldn't help but sink. He urgently asked, "Guo' er, quickly tell me, what happened to your family?"
Li Guo 'er choked with sobs, "Father, don't worry. Nothing happened at home."
Li Xian was relieved. When he saw his daughter crying like a pear blossom in the rain, his heart ached. He hastily lifted his sleeve and gently wiped away his daughter's tears. He asked, "Then why are you crying?"
Li Guo 'er answered while sobbing, "Guo' er went to the bamboo forest to pick mushrooms and coincidentally met this warrior."
Li Guo 'er glanced at Yang Fan and said to Li Xian, "Your daughter was accidentally bitten by a poisonous snake. It was this warrior who saved your daughter's life."
When Li Xian heard that his most precious seventh daughter had been saved by Yang Fan, he felt indescribably grateful. Although the decision to pardon him and return to the capital was made by his imperial mother, the person responsible for this matter was, after all, Yang Fan. When a person is in danger, he is most grateful to those who lend him a helping hand.
Now that he heard that Yang Fan was not only the great benefactor who saved his entire family, but also the benefactor who saved his daughter, Li Xian hastily straightened his clothes and solemnly bowed to Yang Fan. He gratefully said, "Commandant Yang's kindness to my Li Xian's family is greater than the heavens! Such righteousness, Li Xian … will engrave it in my heart! "
Yang Fan quickly returned the courtesy and said, "Your Highness is too serious. This is this subject's duty!"
At this point, Yang Fan quickly glanced at Li Guo 'er. When their eyes met, Li Guo' er coincidentally withdrew her gaze and lifted her sleeve to wipe away her tears. Li Xian then turned his head to look at Li Guo 'er and asked in confusion, "What happened afterwards? Why did you appear here?"
Li Guo 'er said, "Your daughter did not know that Benefactor Yang had the heavy responsibility of saving my father. I asked Benefactor for my name and origin. Benefactor did not know my identity and naturally would not tell me the truth. He only knew that he came from the capital and came to this mountain to pick medicinal herbs. When your daughter heard this, I was immediately moved … "
Li Guo 'er said, "Father and mother were trapped deep in the mountains, suffering from bullying and intimidation. Their lives were unspeakably bitter. Your daughter thought that in the past, father made a grave mistake and was punished by grandmother. Letting father cultivate and reflect on his mistakes in the Yellow Bamboo Ridge was grandmother's original intention. Father is grandmother's biological son. Grandmother would definitely not harm father, nor would she treat father so harshly. It must have been those officials who falsely spread the emperor's will, like a fox borrowing the tiger's might.
Your daughter thought that if I can let Benefactor Yang take me away, I can go to the capital to see grandmother in the future and report everything that happened here to her. These evil slaves who bullied their master will definitely be punished according to the law. Father and mother's days will definitely be better. Your daughter will also tell grandmother that father has already repented these past few years and misses mother very much. Grandmother is softhearted and may even let father return to the capital to serve her, to fulfill the filial duty of a son. "
"Daughter, father did not dote on you for nothing. You are really father's good daughter …"
Li Xian heard this and tears flowed down his old face. He hugged his daughter, his old chest comforted. Yang Fan looked at Li Guo'er's expression of true feelings, and a chill suddenly rose from his heart. From the top of his head to the bottom of his heart, there was a feeling of coldness all over his body, as if he had entered an icehouse.
Li Xian patted his daughter's back with relief and said to Yang Fan, "Yang Xiaolian is careful and prudent. Although it is for my safety, there is really no need to hide the news that my daughter came with me."
Li Guo 'er hastily said, "Father, you have misunderstood Benefactor Yang. At that time, I did not know Benefactor Yang's original intention of coming up the mountain, so how could I tell the truth to Benefactor Yang? Actually, I made up a set of lies … "
Li Guo 'er repeated what she had told Yang Fan to Li Xian. She blushed and stuck out her tongue. She lowered her head shyly and said, "At that time, I had no choice. I did not know that he came to save father. I was afraid that if I told him the truth, he would be afraid and not dare to help me. So, I wanted to trick him to take me away and leave Huang Zhu Ling first."
At this point, Li Guo 'er leisurely walked towards Yang Fan and curtsied in a charming manner. She said shyly and timidly, "Yang Xiaolian, great benefactor, Guo' er did not know your background. I really did not dare to tell you my real identity, so I used you. I hope benefactor will not take offense."
"Ah … it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter …" Yang Fan returned the bow. He was confused again, "Could it be that what she said was true? If that's the case, it makes sense. But … why would she dedicate herself to me … that's not right! "
Yang Fan's mind suddenly cleared up, "That's not right! I said that I am from Chang 'an. Even if I were to take her away, it would be to Chang' an. She is a weak girl and she is so beautiful. Without my help, how could she go to Luoyang? "
Yang Fan thought again, "Perhaps, as she said, she is taking things one step at a time. She wants to leave Huang Zhu Ling first and find a way to go to Luoyang after arriving in Chang 'an?"
This thought only turned around in Yang Fan's mind. In the end, he did not dare to confirm it. He now looked at Li Guo 'er as if she was floating in the clouds. He really could not figure out her intentions. He had never seen a girl like this before. Princess Taiping who had a broad vision, Shangguan Wan' er who was familiar with the political situation, Dugu Ning Ke who was a female Zhuge. They were all exceptionally intelligent girls. However, those girls displayed their wisdom in the field they were good at. This little girl before him was completely different from those girls.
Yang Fan did not know if she had that kind of great wisdom. What she was displaying now was the ability to adapt to the situation and counter every move as it came. Yang Fan was best at this kind of ability. He had used this ability to stir up internal strife in the Tufan Empire. He had also used this method to make the Tu Jue retreat and send troops for him. He had even helped him avert danger once. However, the girl before him was only a sixteen-year-old girl!
"I see!" Li Xian listened and nodded apologetically towards Yang Fan. Suddenly, he remembered something. His expression changed and he cried out involuntarily, "Aiya! Guo 'er, if you leave like this, your mother will not know where you are going. Won't the family be in a mess? "
Li Guo 'er turned around and held his arm. She said proudly in a sweet and innocent manner, "I am not that stupid. Of course I left a message at home. I carved it on the wall in front of the bed. However, I did not say that I was going to the capital to look for my grandmother. At that time, I did not know that father was going to be rescued. With father's courage, if I told you the truth, wouldn't you be scared to death? "
Li Guo 'er giggled. She looked as if she could not restrain her laughter from her own prank. She said mischievously, "So I left a message saying that I know an otherworldly master who cultivates immortality. I want to follow him to become a monk and cultivate immortality. I will never return to Yellow Bamboo Ridge again."
Li Xian poked the tip of her nose reproachfully and said, "You little girl, you have been mischievous since you were young. You have always been full of ideas! Hmph, look at how unbearable you make father out to be. Is father really that timid? "
Li Guo 'er giggled. She twisted her delicate body and did not say anything. It looked like she was tacitly agreeing with his words.
Yang Fan did not allow this happy scene to continue. His expression slowly changed and became very solemn. "Little Junzhu!"
When Li Guo 'er was born, her father was kicked off the throne. To be more precise, Li Xian was now the Prince of Luling and she was the Junzhu. However, she had lived on the mountain for sixteen years. Ever since she was born, no one had ever called her Junzhu. Therefore, when she heard Yang Fan calling her that, she did not immediately react.
Yang Fan continued, "Since Little Junzhu often walks around the stronghold, then … if Little Junzhu suddenly does not appear, will it arouse the suspicions of the people in the stronghold?"
This time, Li Guo 'er finally understood that he was talking to her. She and Li Xian looked at each other, the smiles on their faces gradually freezing and their expressions becoming serious.
Yang Fan immediately knew that the situation was not good. He immediately said in a deep voice, "Once the news is leaked, it will be as difficult as ascending to the heavens for us to return to the capital safely. The glint of blades and shadow of swords on the road will be unavoidable! Your Highness, please change your appearance immediately. We need to leave as soon as possible! "
Hearing this, Li Xian could not be bothered to speak with his daughter anymore. He quickly went into the forest to relieve himself and then hurried back to have Gu Zhuting help him disguise his appearance. The others hurriedly mounted their horses and packed their luggage, preparing to leave.
Everyone was busy, so Yang Fan and Li Guo 'er were left out in the cold. The two of them glanced at each other and their eyes widened at the same time. "You're lying!"
The two of them froze and then said in unison, "You're lying to me!"
… …
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