Chapter 1188: Chapter 1161: Cannon Fodder in the Demon Hunting Novel 25

Chunniang’s face turned pale, filled with terror, yet she kept yelling: "Mother, I’m not Chunniang, I’m Anqing..."

Mrs. Luo pointed at a few rough old women: "You, catch her, and take a good look at who she is." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Only then did Chunniang realize that a few rough old women were hiding in the corners of the room.

She understood in her heart that today’s events were no simple matter.

"No need to look."

A voice came from outside.

Soon, Luo Anqing stepped into the room.

She walked straight to Chunniang upon entering.

A few rough old women had already caught Chunniang, and Luo Anqing went over directly to slap her, viciously throwing a dozen slaps until Chunniang’s face became swollen.

Luo Anqing’s eyes were filled with tears and hatred as she beat and kicked: "Wretch, wretch, I thought I treated you well, but you still calculated and humiliated me like this..."

After Luo Anqing had beaten enough, all her strength seemed to be gone.

Her legs weakened and she almost fell.

Anning quickly supported her: "Sister."

Luo Anqing hugged Anning and cried: "Sister, Mother, I almost couldn’t see you again."

Mrs. Luo walked over and embraced Luo Anqing: "My child, you almost killed me with worry."

Sixi had already brought a rope to tie Chunniang up by this time.

After crying, Luo Anqing ordered Mrs. Luo to send someone outside the city to arrest those people Chunniang had left in the inn.

Naturally, the servants Chunniang brought back to the Luo Family were tied up as soon as they entered by Mrs. Luo and house servants sent by the Yao Family.

Mrs. Luo repeatedly instructed the steward to quickly bring back those who betrayed them.

Once these matters were all arranged, Mrs. Luo spoke with Luo Anqing.

"Let me see, you’ve lost weight, lost a lot of weight, you’ve suffered a lot, haven’t you."

Luo Anqing wiped her tears and said: "I have suffered a lot, but fortunately, I was rescued, so I didn’t spend a lifetime in ignorance, nor let that pair of wretches succeed."

Mrs. Luo held Luo Anqing’s hand tightly: "It’s okay, it’s okay, now that you’re back, that’s what matters."

Anning chimed in with a smile: "Sister, now that you’re back, you should stay home for a long time. I’ve been thinking that it’s best for our family to never be apart again."

Luo Anqing also smiled: "That would be the best."

She suddenly thought of Anning’s marriage, and asked: "Second Sister, what’s the matter with your marriage?"

Mrs. Luo detailed how Anning fell ill, only Xiao Yuan’s intervention could save her, but Xiao Yuan was a man and had to be in close contact with Anning. If Anning didn’t marry Xiao Yuan, her reputation would be ruined: "It’s all because your sister was greedy, Daoist Xiao told me if your sister continues eating like that, she might explode and die."

Luo Anqing listened in shock: "Sister, you mustn’t do this again."

Anning dismissed it with a wave: "It’s fine, anyway, I’ve agreed to Xiao Yuan, we’ll marry soon, and once we’re married, I can eat whatever I want."

Luo Anqing had thought Anning wouldn’t want to marry a Taoist and might resist this marriage, but unexpectedly, she seemed quite happy, almost eager to marry, which surprised Luo Anqing.

Mrs. Luo laughed: "Your sister is greedy, always thinking about that demon meat, so now she’s eager to marry Daoist Xiao so she can eat freely."

Luo Anqing also laughed.

Anning said: "I’ve saved some for you, sister. Be sure to try it; I’m not bragging, it’s extraordinarily delicious, you’ll crave it once you’ve had it."

Luo Anqing was startled: "I dare not eat it."

Mrs. Luo waved: "It’s alright, a bit is nourishing, my child has suffered, lost Qi, she should replenish her energy."

Anning promptly had Yue Niang bring a bowl of meat soup: "Sister, try it quickly."

Though it was called a bowl of meat soup, the bowl was actually quite small, only slightly larger than a teacup, with just a little meat inside.

Luo Anqing took the bowl and immediately smelled an indescribable tempting aroma. She bowed her head and drank some soup, and indeed, it was extremely fragrant.

When Luo Anqing finished the meat and soup, her whole body felt warm and comfortable, even her abdomen had a flowing warm sensation.

She realized Anning was right; the meat was quite nourishing, even alleviating the cold she developed in the palace from being pushed by Chunniang into the lake a few years ago.

"Sister can’t eat much, have this first, wait ten days or half a month before having it again."

Anning smiled and told Luo Anqing: "I saved quite a lot for you, sister. I guarantee you can replenish your energy and cure all ailments."

After a while, the steward returned saying those left outside the city had also been captured.

Mrs. Luo ordered the steward to send these servants to the government.

Luo Anqing quickly stopped Mrs. Luo: "Mother, they were also forced, Chunniang cast them with poison... Mother, please spare them."

The steward laughed with Mrs. Luo: "Madam, Miss speaks the truth, when we were capturing those people, we happened to meet the second uncle. He said they were poisoned and even helped cure them; now second uncle is curing another batch outside."

"Ask him to come in once he’s finished."

Mrs. Luo thought it over and instructed.

The steward then withdrew.

At the same time, Old Master Yao began taking action.

Old Master Yao and Yu Tongzhi collaborated to set up a trap, and gathered evidence of Li Pengcheng’s earlier illegal acts when he was a county magistrate, using it to lure Li Pengcheng into the trap.

In Ding City, many scholars were dissatisfied with Li Pengcheng, constantly opposing him.

Groups of citizens formed to accuse Li Pengcheng.

Earlier, when Li Pengcheng was a county magistrate in Liu County, the people there also accused him, leaving him overwhelmed.

In the capital, someone even filed a lawsuit accusing Li Pengcheng of causing deaths during exams.

Longevity showed great anger and ordered the imperial envoy to investigate.

It turns out, today’s Longevity was once a student of Prime Minister Luo.

Prime Minister Luo became top scorer at a young age, and after joining the Hanlin Academy as a compiler, the late Emperor, impressed by his talents, had him teach the Crown Prince, today’s Longevity. They were close in age, quite congenial.

Prime Minister Luo taught Longevity for three years, and they maintained a good relationship.

After the late Emperor passed away, Longevity ascended, and at that time, Longevity was young, many old ministers were dissatisfied, causing chaos in the court.

Prime Minister Luo linked hands everywhere, helping Longevity stabilize the court.

It’s said Prime Minister Luo both was a teacher to Longevity and also helped him solidify his reign. When Prime Minister Luo passed, Longevity wept bitterly, halted court for three days, and personally expressed condolences to the Luo Family.

This Li Pengcheng is Prime Minister Luo’s son-in-law, so Longevity showed some favor.

Fearing others would frame Li Pengcheng, the envoy dispatched was Rong Yan, Prime Minister Luo’s disciple.

After receiving the decree, Rong Yan started investigating in Liu County and Ding City.

Before heading to Liu County and Ding City, he first visited Yang City.

Ding City being close to Yang City, Rong Yan intended to see Mrs. Luo, to ask about the developments.

Rong Yan knew that with Ding City so near Yang City, Mrs. Luo or the Yao Family wouldn’t allow the situation to escalate unchecked if they wanted to protect Li Pengcheng.

Having served in office for many years, Rong Yan understood many things well—the events surrounding Li Pengcheng must have someone behind the scenes manipulating them, pushing developments step by step; otherwise, how could so many people accuse him simultaneously?

Rong Yan wanted to ask Mrs. Luo if Li Pengcheng truly committed some horrendous acts or if it was Mrs. Luo’s intention to mete out a lesson.

When he entered Yang City, influential figure Mrs. Luo naturally knew.

As soon as Rong Yan entered Yang City, Mrs. Luo received the message.

She dressed in Imperial Decree Clothing and, with a group of people, magnificently intercepted Rong Yan.

Mrs. Luo personally held a petition blocking Rong Yan’s carriage: "Lord Rong, I have grievances to express, I ask you to uphold justice and investigate the truth."

Rong Yan didn’t expect Mrs. Luo to intercept and submit a complaint.

He promptly emerged from the carriage, personally greeting Mrs. Luo: "Greetings, Lady, what grievance do you have?"

Mrs. Luo presented the written petition: "Greetings to the imperial envoy, this woman respectfully wishes Your Majesty’s peace."

Rong Yan replied quickly: "His Majesty is in good health, Lady please rise."

Upon reviewing the petition, Rong Yan grew increasingly furious and agitated: "Good, Li Pengcheng, what a treacherous beast..."