Chapter 105

I heard he has struggled several times already, but now that old lady has no intention of changing her mind; she still intends to give the marriage to Li Qingluo. However, the mother of the third son, hearing that they now share the same mind, values even more you, this girl who grew up in our mansion since childhood.

In the end, how will it be? It's estimated that it will take a few more days to be settled.

Li Qingzhu felt a momentary daze in her heart.

The old lady doesn't intend to change her mind?

Not wanting it oneself is one thing, but others not wanting her is quite another!

Li Qingzhu could not hide her disappointment on her face.

Just then, a maid from Lan Cang Courtyard entered and said, 'Eldest Young Master, someone from the *** mansion has arrived.'

Li Kechuan's expression shifted slightly; he glanced at Li Qingzhu and then ordered the maid to get lost at once.

Li Qingzhu, however, called out to the maid, asking strangely, '*** mansion? What kind of person came? What are they doing?'

The maid, seeing the young master's expression, stammered in reply: 'Miss, they say they heard that our mansion's young lady has been found safe and sound, so they came to bring gifts and pay a visit…'

Li Qingzhu's eyes brightened a little; from her return these past two days, one could easily imagine the shockwaves she had stirred in Jinling City.

Yet none of her former close friends from the boudoir have yet come to see her.

Li Qingzhu felt most displeased, holding in a breath of anger, thinking that once she marries Prince Yun, she will make those lowly people regret it one by one!

So, upon hearing that someone from the *** mansion had arrived, she was overjoyed beyond expectation.

'Elder brother, the Princess Consort's niece Pan Li is my closest confidante, but did she come under the pretense of the Princess mansion?'

Li Qingzhu, excited, lifted her skirt and rose, saying, 'Then I'll go take a look!'

Li Kechuan, however, grabbed her arm urgently, his expression dark as he shook his head at Li Qingzhu.

'Zhu'er, you may be mistaken.'

Having said that, Li Kechuan raised his hand and slapped the maid hard.

'Servant girl! If you don't speak clearly, what are you shouting about here? Speak—who exactly did the people from the *** mansion come to bring gifts to?'

As soon as Li Kechuan spoke those words, Li Qingzhu's face turned pale.

The maid immediately dropped to her knees, covering her swollen face, too afraid to even cry: 'Yes, yes, they were going to bring gifts to the Second Young Lady of Hongfenguan…'

Li Kechuan lifted his cane and struck the maid hard: 'Damn it! What are you coming back to gossip about Hongfenguan? You damned servant, get out!'

Only then did the maid, wounded, crawl away while sobbing.

When they reached a deserted spot, Liu Sui'er finally came out with the ointment.

'I told you earlier not to provoke her. Don't you understand my face yet?'

Liu Sui'er sighed and gently sat down beside the maid.

Since Li Qingzhu returned, Liu Sui'er has been like a shadow, completely disappearing from all bright places.

Thus, Li Qingzhu has yet to notice her existence to this day.

And Li Kechuan, too, seems to have completely forgotten that Liu Sui'er even exists.

The maid sobbed, whimpering, yet layers of hatred welled up in her eyes.

'It was she who burned my older sister to death; I hate her! One day I will make Li Qingzhu pay blood for blood!'

Li Qingzhu, dazed and dispirited, sat down again.

Again, Li Qingluo?

How is it her again!?

She clenched her palms tightly, the hatred in her heart spreading like an uncontrollable vine.

Seeing her expression, Li Kechuan felt his heart wrenched as if in a vise.

He reached out and pried open her fingers one by one: 'Elder brother will back you up. Your marriage, your honor and status—everything that is yours belongs only to you.'

'If anyone blocks your path, elder brother will destroy them.'

Hongfenguan.

'Are you the Southern Ping Princess?'

Li Qingluo stared at the young lady before her.

That day she had jumped into the water to save someone, but she hadn't seen the Southern Ping Princess's appearance; only now did she realize that the Southern Ping Princess was precisely the young lady who, that day at the Zhongyi Hou Fu, had sat beside her and asked whether she slept with pigs and dogs, a girl of youthful looks adorned with pearls and jade.

Was it her?

Li Qingzhu should have thought of that earlier.

She was young, without elders accompanying her, yet that day no one present had a higher status than hers.

Li Qingluo lowered herself in greeting: 'Commoner Li Qingluo pays respects to the Southern Ping Princess. I don't know if your health has fully recovered.'

The Southern Ping Princess blushed, stepped forward and took Li Qingluo's hand: 'I'm already well! Elder sister, you need not be so polite; just don't be angry with me.'

Li Qingluo: 'Why would I be angry with you?'

Southern Ping Princess: 'After you saved me, I delayed coming to your mansion to personally thank you for saving my life; although I fell slightly ill after returning, I actually recovered long ago.'

'It's my mother who said your mansion has been in constant turmoil lately, so she told me not to disturb your peace, and thus forbade me from coming.'

'But yesterday my fifth royal uncle spoke a fair word, saying that since you saved my life, if our Princess mansion does not hurry over while the gratitude is still warm to express thanks, once it cools there will be no sincerity left; the whole of Jinling City would rightly call us arrogant.'

'Furthermore, if it weren't for your timely rescue that day, I would have suffered more than just a minor illness!'

Fifth royal uncle?

Li Qingluo instantly knew who it was.

He is the Fifth Prince of DaLiang, Prince Su.

His relationship with the *** mansion seems rather close.

That day, when the Southern Ping Princess was at the Zhongyi Hou Fu, Prince Su also went there; now it seems he was there for her.

However, what was his purpose in visiting the Princess mansion yesterday?

Now the room is filled with gifts sent by the Princess mansion, and even the Southern Ping Princess has sneaked over; although it is an honor, Li Qingluo does not want anyone to discover what private dealings she may have had with Prince Su.

Just as Princess Nanping was about to ask for the way out, Li Qingluo quickly seized her: "Do you want some osmanthus cake? I picked the blossoms myself, the osmanthus honey is already steeped and fragrant."

Princess Nanping visibly swallowed hard: "I want it."

Li Qingluo smiled gently: "I'll have them make it for you. Since you're here, spend today enjoying my Red Maple Hall."

Princess Nanping's eyes lit up instantly: "Sister Li, I saw there are archery targets in the courtyard; are you practicing archery?"

Although Princess Nanping came quietly with the gift‑bringers, Jingci Tang learned of it quickly.

When it was time for lunch, Jingci Tang sent over a lavish spread.

"The Old Lady said she won't bother the distinguished guest any further. So she only sent some food. Next time, we'll have the princess visit Jingci Tang."

Princess Nanping has recently been taught some etiquette, and she promptly replied with a few graceful words.

When afternoon came, the accompanying servant urged several times, and Princess Nanping reluctantly left.

When Qu Shi and Li Chao Jing learned the news, it was already night.

Li Chao Jing, knowing that Li Qingluo and the princess had spent the whole day together and had great fun, nodded repeatedly in approval: "I didn't expect Sister Li to befriend *** mansion. I heard that although the princess visits many families, she isn't a noble lady of any particular house, yet she gets along with them all. Clearly the two of them share some destiny."

"I was originally worried that, having grown up in the countryside, she would act without propriety and be embarrassing, but her social skill is by no means inferior to that of Zhu, who grew up in Jinling City."

Qu Shi wore a sorrowful expression.

Regarding Li Qingzhu and Prince Yun, she naturally kept them hidden.

Now there are already many affairs in the mansion.

She hopes for fewer worries.

The last time Sister Li was bound, Li Chao Jing was extremely angry with her.

When Sister Li fell off a cliff, Li Chao Jing seemed even more like he wanted to devour her.

It seems that, as a father, he still cares deeply for his biological daughter.

However, as a mother, she naturally wishes both to be well, especially Zhu, whose blood ties already made her somewhat lowly in this family; now that she's returned, she may still not be able to accept that Sister Li is more illustrious than her.

Qu Shi sighed: "Zhu just returned; Sister Li should take her to see the princess together—how wonderful would that be?"