Within the Tongling Water Mansion, the Mansion Lord was berating his ministers.
"Useless! A bunch of useless fools!"
"Are you all blind? Huh?"
"Mansion Lord, we truly did not sense the Princess leaving!"
"All of you, go find her! If you cannot bring her back, do not return to the Water Prefecture—get out!"
After saying this, the officials bowed and withdrew, vanishing in flashes as the entire Water Prefecture began busily searching for Li Qing.
After the officials left, ripples swayed through the main hall of the Tongling Water Mansion. Moments later, a crystalline light screen suddenly appeared, displaying an elderly face with a sinister air from above.
"Greetings, Your Excellency!" Upon seeing that face, the Mansion Lord hurriedly bowed.
"Mm. How has the matter been handled?"
"This... this... reporting to Your Excellency, Li Qing, she... Li Qing has run away." The Mansion Lord did not dare look directly at the old face as he stammered.
"What did you say?" The old face frowned in anger.
"However, Your Excellency, this subordinate has already sent people to search for her. I believe they will capture her and bring her back soon." The Mansion Lord hurriedly explained.
"Hmph! If you cannot find her, there will be no need for you to remain alive." With that, the crystalline light screen shattered and vanished.
The Mansion Lord collapsed to the ground in terror, shaking his head with a sigh.
He was the dignified ruler of the Tongling Water Mansion. How imposing had he once been? Yet now, he could only submit to another, even using his own biological daughter as the price to preserve the countless living beings of the Water Prefecture.
He sat sprawled on the ground for a long time before getting up and vanishing from the hall, heading toward the Back