Chapter 128: She Already Has an Engagement, Stop Thinking About Her

She fears that if she draws poorly later, he will regret it.

So, quickly make this pact!

Duan Rongshi looked at the pale, tender little hand reaching out before him and curled his lips.

He raised his hand, one large and one small, two beautifully colored palms, and slammed them together heavily.

"Then it's settled."

Li Qingluo quickly withdrew her palm, and at that moment a knock came from outside the door, interrupting their conversation: "Miss, the eldest son knows you haven't left and is searching for you throughout the Princess's Residence."

Li Qingluo rose: "Your Highness, this commoner will now take her leave."

Prince Su lifted his tea and took a sip: "Still want to argue?"

Li Qingluo smiled slowly: "He won't let me go. Everything I do is merely self‑preservation."

Duan Rongshi: "Do you need my assistance?"

Li Qingluo: "Thank you, Prince, for your kindness. No need; I can handle it myself."

Duan Rongshi: "Remember. If your tracks are exposed and *** discovers them, I will not protect you. Leave now!"

Li Qingluo, not even having collected the silver, with both hands empty, stepped back down.

As soon as she stepped out, she hurriedly took Que'er downstairs and left in a rush.

After the mistress and servant departed, *** came slowly again.

She stood by the railing, watched Li Qingluo's silhouette for a while, then entered the room.

"Fifth brother, this Li family's second miss has quite the nerve. Such a girl who worries about herself more than the heavens—do you really fancy her?"

Duan Rongshi poured *** a fresh cup of tea.

"Elder sister, what are you saying? I merely value her; she does possess some talent and ability."

*** snorted: "You lie to elder sister, hoping she'll believe you, right? You're twenty‑two now, yet still solitary. A couple of days ago, Father the Emperor summoned me to the palace and ordered me to urge you to marry."

Duan Rongshi paused, holding his teacup, and asked, "Then elder sister, how did she respond?"

*** sighed: "What else could I do? I dare offend Father the Emperor, but I wouldn't dare offend you. I would say you went mad, even daring to kill my princess's consort, and beg Father the Emperor for mercy."

Duan Rongshi curled his lips in a smile: "Elder sister, you're joking. I won't kill the senior consort."

***'s eyes flashed, yet Duan Rongshi continued: "Unless he truly committed a grave crime."

*** pursed her lips: "No need for you to say that; this princess herself won't spare him! But Little Fourth, you should also consider marriage."

"When Mother Empress passed away back then, although she begged Father the Emperor for grace, saying she would not dictate your affairs in this life, yet… if Father the Emperor truly became angry and insisted on granting you a marriage, you couldn't refuse."

Duan Rongshi: "He can discard me, and I can discard his father."

***'s expression changed; she slapped the table: "You'd give up your life!? If it truly doesn't work, the Jiangjun Fu one isn't impossible either; see for yourself!"

Duan Rongshi: "She already has an engagement; elder sister, stop worrying about her."

*** sneered: "Once she's married, I can arrange a divorce for her, and this is only an engagement, after all."

Duan Rongshi rose, as if unwilling to continue this discussion.

He simply left a remark: "If elder sister insists on meddling in this matter, shall I first tell you about Nanping's marriage arrangement?"

*** finally glared: "Are you mad? Nanping is only fourteen!"

Duan Rongshi gave a strange smile: "One must always find something for elder sister to do."

*** finally, dejected, relaxed her shoulders.

"Alright, alright, elder sister admits fault. I truly don't know what you're thinking."

Duan Rongshi clasped his hands and turned to leave.

The twilight‑moon *** sipped tea, and a trusted aide reported: "Your Highness, Prince Su has left with Lady Rou."

*** exhaled, "It's good he's gone; otherwise, if he kept causing trouble for my Princess's Residence, I'd have a headache."

Immediately, she recalled something and slammed the teacup onto the table heavily: "These people treat me like a fool!?"

"These years I haven't been in Jinling City, and they truly think my former glory has faded away? I shall show them some color!"

The aide: "Shall I, your servant, go capture them all?"

*** glared at the aide again.

"Today's scheme was arranged by Little Five for me. Look, why does he muster such a grand display? It's only to see that Li second miss once!"

"His mouth is stubborn, but I can see clearly. The matter already involves Little Five; can I truly deal with his people?"

"Moreover, this woman, though she exploited my Princess's Residence, acted so cleanly! If we truly take her, I still have no evidence!"

"Enough, go wake Li Qingzhu for me, administer the twenty‑slap punishment, then make them leave at once!"

Li Qingluo at the doorway encountered Li Qingya and Li Qingyu, who had not yet left.

The two were delighted to see her return in full.

"Second sister, you're fine—how wonderful!"

Li Qingluo: "Why haven't you left yet? Didn't I arrange carriages for you?"

Before going to ***'s main hall, Li Qingluo indeed arranged for the two.

Yet they remained standing foolishly at the doorway.

Meanwhile, the Princess's Residence's entourage had almost all departed.

Li Qingya: "Second sister, seeing you're safe lets us relax; now that you've come out, let's hurry home!"

Today's ***'s display still frightened the two of them.

Especially Li Qingyu, whose heart suffered a huge setback.

The original lofty ambition was nearly extinguished entirely.

Especially Li Qingzhu offended *** and Prince Yun's queen; the few people she had just befriended now wouldn't even speak to her.

She almost hated Li Qingzhu to death in her heart.

Besides, she is also confused and frightened, so she can only rely on Li Qingluo.

Chinese: Moreover she is also a confused and frightened one, so she can only rely on Li Qingluo.

We need to keep meaning: "Moreover, she is also confused and frightened, so she can only rely on Li Qingluo."

We'll output: 【61】 Moreover, she is also confused and frightened, so she can only rely on Li Qingluo.

Before the three could even leave, someone else came rushing to look for them.

Translation: "The three hadn't left yet when someone else came rushing to find them."

We'll output: 【62】 The three hadn't left yet when someone else came rushing to find them.

Second Miss! Wonderful, you're here. The eldest young master is looking for you and wants you to come over.

We need to keep quotes? The Chinese includes quotation marks. We should keep them as part of translation? Usually we keep the quotes. We'll translate: "Second Miss! Great, you're here. The eldest young master is looking for you; he wants you to come over."

We'll output: 【63】 "Second Miss! Great, you're here. The eldest young master is looking for you; he wants you to come over."

Li Qingluo glanced at Li Qingya and Li Qingyu, then smiled: "Do you want to go see how your eldest sister is doing?"

Translation: Li Qingluo looked at Li Qingya and Li Qingyu, then suddenly smiled: "Do you want to go see how your eldest sister is doing?"

We'll output: 【64】 Li Qingluo looked at Li Qingya and Li Qingyu, then suddenly smiled: "Do you want to go see how your eldest sister is doing?"

Li Qingyu immediately answered: "Go! Elder sister, I'll go with you."

Translation: Li Qingyu immediately replied: "Go! Big Sis, I'll go with you."

We'll output: 【65】 Li Qingyu immediately replied: "Go! Big Sis, I'll go with you."

Li Qingyu felt a burning anger inside; she naturally wanted to see Li Qingzhu's present disgrace and bad luck.

Translation: Li Qingyu felt a surge of anger inside; she naturally wanted to see Li Qingzhu's current embarrassment and misfortune.

We'll output: 【66】 Li Qingyu felt a surge of anger inside; she naturally wanted to see Li Qingzhu's current embarrassment and misfortune.

When they were children, Li Qingzhu was the haughty legitimate eldest daughter; whenever they met, she acted aloof and disdainful, refusing even to look at these concubine-born cousins.

Translation: When they were young, Li Qingzhu was always the high-and-mighty eldest daughter of the main line; whenever they met, she acted haughty and disdainful of even looking at these concubine-born cousins.

We'll output: 【67】 When they were young, Li Qingzhu was always the high-and-mighty eldest daughter of the main line; whenever they met, she acted haughty and disdainful of even looking at these concubine-born cousins.

What about now?

Translation: "How is it now?"

We'll output: 【68】 How is it now?

Li Qingzhu is clearly a bastard, the lowest of the family, yet even after the sisters returned, she still acts high and mighty.

Translation: "She, Li Qingzhu, is clearly a bastard, the lowest status in this family, yet after our sisters returned, she still acts high and mighty."

We'll output: 【69】 She, Li Qingzhu, is clearly a bastard, the lowest status in this family, yet after our sisters returned, she still acts high and mighty.

And what makes her the eldest sister?

Translation: "And what right does she have to call herself the eldest sister?"

We'll output: 【70】 And what right does she have to call herself the eldest sister?

A bastard dares to call herself the eldest sister of the Jiangjun Fu!

Translation: "A bastard dares to call herself the eldest young master of the Jiangjun Fu!"

A bastard dares to call herself the eldest sister of the Jiangjun Fu!

We'll output: 【71】 A bastard dares to call herself the eldest sister of the Jiangjun Fu!

Today, she finally fell from grace!

Translation: "Today, she finally fell from grace!"

We translate the idiom "rise high and fall heavily" as "Today, she finally fell from grace!"

We'll output: 【72】 Today, she finally fell from grace!

It's her own fault that she has also lost face in Jinling City.

Translation: "It's her fault that I've lost face even in Jinling City!"

We'll output: 【73】 It's her fault that I've lost face even in Jinling City!

Li Qingyu, how could she not go to see the spectacle?

Translation: "Li Qingyu, how could she not go watch the spectacle?"

We'll output: 【74】 Li Qingyu, how could she not go watch the spectacle?

She has to see Li Qingzhu's joke!

Translation: "I must see Li Qingzhu's joke!"

We'll output: 【75】 I must see Li Qingzhu's joke!

Li Qingya had wanted to dissuade Li Qingyu from joining the main house's commotion, but Li Qingyu was already walking ahead, impossible to hold back.

Translation: "Li Qingya had originally wanted to persuade Li Qingyu not to join the bustle of the main house, but Li Qingyu had already walked ahead, impossible to hold back."

We'll output: 【76】 Li Qingya had originally wanted to persuade Li Qingyu not to join the bustle of the main house, but Li Qingyu had already walked ahead, impossible to hold back.

Yu'er, wait for me! Listen to me...

Translation: "\"Yu'er, wait for me! Listen to me..."

We'll keep the quotes and ellipsis. We'll output: 【77】 "Yu'er, wait for me! Listen to me..."

Li Qingluo walked at the rear, waiting for Aunt Deng to catch up.

Translation: "Li Qingluo walked at the rear, waiting for Deng Mama beside her to catch up."

We'll output: 【78】 Li Qingluo walked at the rear, waiting for Deng Mama beside her to catch up.

Deng Mama whispered, "Miss, be careful with the tea."