Chapter 108

The maidservant only then realized that the master was displeased.

Trembling with fear, she replied: "Yes… there is a semblance of you, miss."

But, is it even proper to ask that?

The elder brother dotes on a concubine who resembles a younger sister—surely that is not a shameful thing?

The maidservant could not help but feel contempt and scorn in her heart, yet she dared not show even a trace of it on her face.

Li Qingzhu was indeed very angry!

But what angered her was that Li Kechuan actually behaved so improperly!

In his eyes, perhaps there is no place for me at all?

Instantly, a feeling of grievance welled up in her heart, and she even began to feel jealous.

She rose angrily, intending to go take a look at Lan Cang Courtyard.

But as soon as she entered the courtyard, Li Kechuan, his expression agitated, called out to her: "Coral! Come quickly, come over!"

Li Qingzhu instantly stiffened her whole body and stood rooted to the spot.

She stammered out: "Elder brother… I, I am Zhu'er…"

Li Qingzhu's tears streamed down.

She actually, was mistaken by her elder brother for someone else?

At this moment, shame, humiliation, and anger all surged upon Li Qingzhu's heart.

A flicker of unease crossed Li Kechuan's face.

"It was elder brother who mistook you. Zhu'er, why have you come so late?"

Li Qingzhu suppressed her anger and countered: "And what about elder brother? I heard you were seeking some beloved maid—do you favor her that much?"

That damned Coral, if she catches her, will surely tear her skin off!

See how she still tries to use her face to seduce the elder brother!

Li Kechuan, however, said: "It's merely a lowly person. Elder brother only does not allow anyone to disappear innocently under my nose; there is no other intention."

Is that so?

Yet the entire Lan Cang Courtyard, inside and out, is filled with servants bustling to find someone, staying up half the night without sleep, each eager to turn the mansion upside down—does that still carry no other meaning?

Li Qingzhu returned, dazed and dispirited, to her own Ziwei Hall, sitting long in the room, her heart's grievance shattered into fragments.

How could she, Grandfather, not understand—she does not know what has happened.

The prince's quarters now have a new person.

Sanlang also seems to have no choice; being betrothed to Li Qingluo is merely a matter of time.

Now, even the one she was most certain of—thinking only of her, believing her brother would never abandon her—has also acquired a bedmate!

Formerly, how lofty and exalted Li Qingzhu was, with honor and distinction!

Among all the noble ladies of Jinling City, she certainly counts as one!

Toward Prince Yun, Zhuang Sanlang, and her elder brother—these three—she likewise handles them with ease, confident she can readily control their hearts.

But now… merely because she is not a biological daughter of the Jiangjun Fu, they have all changed.

Li Qingzhu cried sadly all night, to the point that she could not get up the next day.

She fell slightly ill, and only then did Li Kechuan become anxious, ceasing to loudly proclaim the search for Coral.

On this side, Li Qingluo took Li Qingzhu's affairs as a joke to listen to.

"The good show is still to come."

However, she is not presently in a hurry to contend with Li Qingzhu first.

She today, needs to go out for a trip.

The shop given by her grandmother is located in a place slightly off Zhengyang Street.

Logically, the shop's location is excellent, with one side facing the main street and the other the Qinhuai River; opening a tea house there would not be bad.

However, the last time Li Qingluo went and inspected it, the tea house's business was indeed not very good.

After the Lotus Sect and Prince Yun's guards engaged in this chaotic slaughter, the elegant quarters on the tea house's third floor were almost completely destroyed.

When Li Qingluo came today, the bloodstains had just been completely cleaned away.

Upon entering, a faint scent of blood still lingered in the air.

Que'er almost vomited, and Li Qingluo lightly covered her nose.

The doors and windows remain damaged, with no time yet for repair.

To reopen, one must first renovate; only then can the tea house regain its appearance.

However, Li Qingluo's private coffers now hold only five hundred taels of silver; if renovation is needed, a substantial sum must be produced.

She therefore thought to first examine the tea house's ledger.

Deng Mama produced the token, showed it to the shopkeeper for a glance, then took out the deed and said: "From now on, miss, you are the owner of this tea house. Shopkeeper, go fetch the ledger."

The shopkeeper dared not doubt, and immediately went to fetch the ledger.

Actually, Li Qingluo has never learned how to read a ledger.

Thus, she could only flip through it roughly, and only at the end did she discover that the tea house had long been running at a loss.

She furrowed her brows slightly, knowing one thing: "We cannot continue the tea house business."

Que'er curiously asked: "Then what business does miss wish to pursue?"

Li Qingluo: "Let me think. However, whatever it is, first let us repair the rooms properly. Also, the smell in this building—each day we use incense, open windows for ventilation, and only after three days will the odor dissipate."

"Shopkeeper, hang up the sign that reads 'Closed for repairs, to reopen on an auspicious day.'"

Shopkeeper: "Yes, mistress."

Li Qingluo looked toward Deng Mama: "Have you settled Mei Shuang at Liu Sui'er's place?"

Deng Mama: "Yes, miss, this Meishuang has been waiting for you to arrange work for her. Miss, do you want her to come here?"

Li Qingluo: "Wait a bit, I want to go to my grandmother's to borrow another capable maid to teach her some self-defense moves; if she goes out to work without being able to defend herself, she won't be able to act freely."

Deng Mama laughed: "Miss, you're joking. The maids at the Old Lady's place, you can have as many as you want, no need for you to go borrow them yourself. Once I go back, I'll go straight to Jingci Tang to get people."

"Besides, the token the Old Lady originally gave you wasn't meant for you to toss it in a corner to gather dust. Miss, you should still discover more of its usefulness."

Li Qingluo smiled: "Good."

Before leaving the teahouse, Li Qingluo looked down at the Qinhuai River from the window.

She saw a tall young woman poling a boat, openly selling the winter chrysanthemums and honey tangerines aboard.

"Is it her?" Li Qingluo asked.

Deng Mama: "That's her. She knew you were coming today to look her over, so she changed into a new set of clothes."

However, the hem of her clothing still had one or two patches, showing how straitened her life is.

"Her appearance is indeed quite good. I asked, and she is willing to be a concubine?"

Deng Mama sighed: "Naturally she is willing. Miss, do you still remember what I mentioned, that she had once been engaged? That groom was actually her paternal aunt's son, also the family's only son. After her paternal aunt's son and her parents passed away, she took care of her sick aunt and uncle."

"Originally I heard the family still had some savings. These past years of buying medicine have also drained the family's resources."

"Being a concubine of the Jiangjun Fu would at least keep her in good standing, and she wouldn't have to live so straitened anymore."

Li Qingluo nodded: "Then arrange it so that she and my father have a memorable encounter."

Since she had come out, Li Qingluo prepared to buy some pastries for her grandmother.

But just as the carriage stopped and Que'er was about to get off, a sturdy man suddenly rushed out and blocked them.

"Miss Li Second, our master wishes to see you; would you do us the honor?"