Chapter 12: Oh no, the eldest daughter has self-immolated!

Li Qingluo: "Luo Er... I still can't explain to grandmother now, but please grandmother believe Luo Er. If nothing happens, that's better; but if something unexpected occurs, please grandmother's people help Luo Er notice any suspicious abnormalities."

Pei Lao Furen stared deeply at Li Qingluo, looking at her gaze, which grew ever more profound.

This lass, could she truly have just grown up in that mountain hollow?

If she truly grew up in the mountains, a young lady who has never seen the world, how could she know what the Jiangjun Fu is like, and even predict beforehand that something unexpected would happen?

However, Li Qingluo merely gave a slight nod in the face of Pei Lao Furen's probing gaze, seeming truly not intending to explain anything now.

Pei Lao Furen granted her wish, letting Zhang Mama immediately arrange the manpower to go out.

Li family, in front of the Jiangjun Fu gate.

As the carriage slowly approached, all members of the Li family had made preparations to welcome respectfully.

However, the crowd was still missing one person.

This person is none other than the Li family's false young miss, yet she still outwardly declares herself the eldest legitimate daughter, Li Qingzhu.

Li Chao Jing saw that his daughter, whom he usually treasured like a jewel held in his palm, had still not appeared by now; he frowned and asked his wife softly: "What's wrong with Zhu Er? If it were just her younger sister returning, that would be fine enough, but knowing grandmother is coming back, why is she throwing a tantrum and not coming out to greet her?"

General's wife Qu Shi explained urgently: "Husband, Zhu Er truly did not mean to disrespect her grandmother. It's because recently she has felt guilty and uneasy toward... toward Cao Er, worrying excessively, so she suddenly fell ill last night. Even now she remains dazed and unable to get up."

As she spoke, Qu Shi also wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye, feeling heartbroken.

Li Kechuan snorted coldly beside her: "What a jinx! If anything happens to Zhu Er, I won't spare her!"

Li Chao Jing did not agree with his eldest son's remark.

What nonsense are you spouting? Your sister hasn't even entered the family gate yet!

Li Kechuan: "She hasn't even entered the household and already made Zhu Er fall ill—she isn't a jinx, who is? Father, if she clashes with Zhu Er, I will certainly drive her out of the house!"

Qu Shi also never expected her son to be so antagonistic toward his own biological daughter.

She couldn't help but advise: "Chuan Er, after all, Cao Er is also your sister; you must not act like this!"

As they spoke, the carriage had already slowly come to a stop.

Li Qingluo supported Pei Lao Furen as she alighted from the carriage.

Li Chao Jing stared fixedly at his own mother, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

After a long while, his gaze shifted to the side, to that thin, dark-skinned young lady.

His eyes trembled slightly.

That is... his own flesh and blood?

Two months ago, when they learned the truth, he and Qu Shi could not accept it at once.

After all, they had raised a daughter beside them for over a decade, cherishing her as if she were a pearl and jade, only to be told one day that she was not their biological child.

And yet their own flesh and blood turned out to be like this.

Li Chao Jing saw Li Qingluo's appearance and felt utterly disappointed.

Qu Shi was no better off, thinking to herself: "Good heavens, no wonder Chuan Er has such strong opinions about Cao Er... how could she be so coarse and ordinary?"

Compared to Zhu Er, it's simply worlds apart!

If Zhu Er is the moon in the heavens, then she is truly just a little weed by the roadside.

Such a demeanor, even serving as a rough maid in Zhu Er's quarters, she wouldn't be fit for.

Regarding this, Qu Shi felt greatly disappointed, her heart aching as if being wrung.

Why isn't Zhu Er her biological child?

She would rather none of this had ever happened!

Li Qingluo saw their gazes and couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

Such barely concealed disappointment—she hadn't noticed it in her previous life.

No, perhaps she had noticed, but in her previous life she also felt inferior and ashamed of her appearance, so she chose to ignore their gazes.

But her current appearance is not innate!

Could all this not be caused by the wet nurse who is the biological relative of Li Qingzhu, due to her own selfish malice?

That old woman from the Liu family swapped their lives.

It made Li Qingluo take Li Qingzhu's place, enduring all the world's suffering.

If not for years of labor, if not for serving the Liu family like an ox or horse for over a decade, while she had never eaten a full meal nor slept a whole night, how could she be in this state now?

If Li Qingzhu were made to live her original life, she certainly would not now be this golden-resplendent, pampered, flawless noble bearing.

Nor would she have ice-skin jade-bone, a lovely, captivating floral beauty.

Li Qingluo hid her sneer in her heart, waiting for Li Chao Jing and the others to step forward first to greet Pei Lao Furen.

Son, greet your mother. Mother, you have labored through travel; you've endured hardship all the way.

Daughter-in-law Qu Shi, greet your mother; respectfully welcome mother back home.

Grandson Li Kechuan, greet your grandmother.

In her previous life, when Li Qingluo returned, only Li Chao Jing and Qu Shi waited for her at the gate; Li Kechuan never appeared.

Moreover, the household servants this time also all came out to welcome.

This must be because of the grandmother's change.

Pei Lao Furen merely gave a cold nod, not even glancing at Li Chao Jing.

Li Chao Jing's heart sank involuntarily; before he could speak again, Pei Lao Furen gave Li Qingluo a push.

Go on, go see your birth parents and family.

Li Qingluo slowly stepped forward: "Luo Er greets father, mother, eldest son."

Qu Shi forced a smile and took half a step forward: "Luo Er? Is that the name your grandmother gave you? Come back, coming back is good."

"Luo Er, you call Chuan Er 'older brother'..."

Before her words finished, a commotion came from the inner courtyard.

Li Chao Jing lowered his voice, furrowed his brows, and rebuked: "Go see, what happened? Today is the Old Lady returning to the manor; no commotion, what trouble is this!"

After saying that, Li Chao Jing turned his head to Pei Lao Furen and respectfully invited: "Mother, let's go inside to continue talking."

But before Pei Lao Furen could lift her foot, people came running out in a panic from the inner court.

Sir, Madam, Young Master, something's wrong! It's the eldest daughter, the eldest daughter left a letter and then, then she self-immolated!!!