Chapter 102

If I didn't die, are you very disappointed, elder brother?

With these words, Li Qingluo's figure also appeared at the entrance of Lan Cang Courtyard.

Ah——! Ghost!!

Li Qingzhu let out a startled cry, her face full of fear as she stumbled backward heavily, crashing into Li Kechuan.

Li Kechuan, wanting to appear still hale and hearty in front of Li Qingzhu, was standing leaning on his cane; Li Qingzhu's bump sent him toppling backward, and together they fell hard to the ground.

Seeing them like that, Li Qingluo's face broke into intermittent cold smiles.

She was merely passing by Lan Cang Courtyard.

But she never expected to hear these words.

This is all Li Kechuan's sincere words!

If she were still her past self, she would surely be heartbroken to the point of tearing her liver and intestines, her eyes red from crying.

But in this life, she no longer cares about this elder brother.

Moreover, she will repay him in full for all the suffering he has inflicted upon her.

Scoundrel! Is this how you always treat your own sister? Her veins carry the exact same blood as yours—you two are truly blood-related siblings! When something happened to her, you showed not a shred of sorrow, yet behind her back you spew these vicious words—shame on you for being the eldest son of this house!

You lack even a trace of magnanimity; you are utterly unfit to be an elder brother!

Following behind Li Qingluo, Li Chao Jing also today witnessed firsthand the eldest son's vicious treatment of his own daughter.

Originally he had only heard rumors, never taking them to heart, thinking that since they were born of the same mother, even if they broke bones and severed tendons they were still close siblings—any everyday quarrel couldn't be that bad.

But only by standing here today and hearing those vicious words did he realize what kind of days Li Qingluo has endured since returning to the Jiangjun Fu.

Even her own brother acts this way—one can imagine how the household servants must behave!

Since yesterday, after losing his beloved daughter and searching for Li Qingluo all day, many of Li Chao Jing's inner thoughts have changed.

Thus he fiercely rebuked Li Kechuan.

Li Qingluo heard her father's defense, yet felt nothing at all.

Because her heart had long grown cold.

And though Li Chao Jing now values her somewhat, in her eyes it's merely because she still has use value for the Jiangjun Fu.

She did not wish to linger; she turned and hurried toward Jingci Tang.

Li Chao Jing intended to go to Jingci Tang together, so he hastily added: "Chuan'er, don't act on a moment's sharp tongue and do something you'll regret forever—haven't you suffered enough from your painful lesson?"

Having said that, he hurried after Li Qingluo.

"Luoluo! Wait for Father; Father has something to ask you—what exactly happened to you last night…"

The voice faded away, and only then did Li Kechuan, embarrassed, rise to his feet with the help of the servants.

Li Qingzhu, eyes red, rushed over to support him, asking: "Elder brother, are you alright? I didn't mean to do that just now—I was startled when Little Sister Luoluo suddenly appeared."

Li Kechuan nearly burst out cursing!

Since breaking his leg, his temperament has grown even more gloomy.

If it were an ordinary servant, he would have already smashed their head with his cane; but seeing it was his beloved younger sister, he restrained himself.

"Elder brother, I'm fine."

Li Qingzhu kept shedding tears: "Elder brother, did you just see… Father actually didn't glance at me even once… Is he angry with me?"

Li Qingzhu kept crying, truly feeling wronged.

Li Kechuan reached out to pat her head: "It's fine. Didn't he also scold me soundly? Since Li Qingluo returned, Father's heart has grown ever more partial…"

"It's okay; you still have Mother and me. We will always put you first."

Li Qingzhu waved her hand, explaining: "No, elder brother, I don't mean that. It's only natural they dote on Little Sister Luoluo—after all she's suffered so many grievances these years, and surviving that cliff fall to return alive is a great joy!"

Moreover, she endured great hardship this time. You didn't see—her skirt is all blood; I truly don't know what she went through.

Li Qingzhu cried while watching Li Kechuan's facial expression.

"I only hope she didn't encounter any bad people… After all, she's just a lone, helpless young lady… I truly don't know how she managed to come back."

Li Kechuan's face darkened completely.

"If she dares to do anything that would disgrace the Jiangjun Fu's reputation, even if Father shields her, I will certainly not spare her!"

"Truly a life of little worth—falling off a zhang-high cliff, yet she actually managed to return alive."

"People! Go investigate how the Second Miss came back!"

Liu Sui'er, hearing these words in the dark, wore a gloomy expression and hid herself further in the shadows.

"Grandmother, fortunately Luoluo landed in a big tree. Though her leg suffered a minor injury, the wound was treated promptly, so Luoluo is now fine."

"Luoluo crawled into a mountain cave, walked a long while inside before emerging from another opening. Fortunately, she encountered no poisonous snakes or fierce beasts."

"I walked all night; halfway I met a caravan, among whom were women with whom I gave Luoluo's valuable ornaments; they helped treat her injuries. I had originally planned to join them to enter the city, but by chance I met Father outside the city who was coming to look for me."

"That's how it happened."

Outside the door, Qu Shi listened to these words, tears in her eyes, and finally her heart settled.

"Madam, please go in and take a look; you've been crying for nearly two days, your eyes are all swollen… You truly grieved for the Second Miss, didn't you?" Granny Chang urged Qu Shi, who had rushed over upon hearing the news.

But Qu Shi shook her head: "No, forget it. She surely doesn't want to see me now. Let her have a good reunion with her grandmother. Knowing she's alive and safe puts my heart at ease."

Having said that, Qu Shi truly turned and walked outward.

Granny Chang hurried after her, supporting Qu Shi with a pained expression: "Madam, you too have had it hard. But fortunately, both the Second Miss and the Eldest Miss are still alive—that is a great joy!"

"Now everyone in Jinling City is spreading the rumor that our two misses are blessed by a Great Luo Bodhisattva, so they can turn misfortune into fortune and death into rebirth each time!"

But Qu Shi's face darkened: "This is no good thing! Well, since Luoluo has returned alive, I ought to properly inquire about Zhu'er's affairs."

"Go fetch her and bring her to Spring Presence Hall!"

"From the day Zhu'er came to her side, she has truly been a pearl cherished in the palm of her hand!"

"Yesterday Zhu'er survived; although Luoluo's own fall caused Qu Shi heart-wrenching pain, the final outcome left Qu Shi with no regret."

Both are her daughters; whose palm or back of hand isn't flesh?

It's all the fault of those damned Lotus Sect!

However, she wants to ask properly: what exactly is going on between Zhu'er and that Prince Yun?

Fortunately, everyone in the mansion now—only she alone witnessed that scene… If Zhu'er really gets entangled with Prince Yun, then Chuan'er's leg—she would bear the blame, no amount of death could absolve her!