Chapter 141

Pei Lao Furen's heart softened all at once.

She thought of her own marital fate in this life.

Back then, she single-mindedly wanted to marry that young man, but did that young man truly have her in his heart?

She charged into battle, risking life and death to assist him, even going to the frontier to bring back his life.

Yet in the whole Li family, has anyone ever thanked her?

When she left the Jiangjun Fu back then, she was disheartened, but not only because her only son made her heart cold.

Moreover, the entire Li family, even her husband, made her utterly weary.

They once were affectionate, whether genuine or feigned, but in the end he betrayed her sincere heart back then…

She had been at Qing Song Guan for many years; before his death, how many times had he visited her?

Although he always asked her to come down the mountain each time, over time he grew impatient, didn't he?

Even later, as a couple, they sometimes went a whole year without seeing each other.

Her third older brother, back then, also got deep into enemy territory because she wanted to save her husband first…

All of this is because she misjudged people back then and married the wrong person.

Could it be that she really wants to let Lu'er marry someone who has no place for her in his heart?

"Good child, but your marriage… can't be delayed any longer! According to DaLiang law, unmarried women over twenty, except those postponing due to mourning, will be forcibly matched by the authorities!"

"Then, are you going to just marry anyone at random?"

She is already seventeen this year.

In Jinling City, which family's seventeen‑year‑old maiden hasn't settled her marriage yet?

Li Qingluo: "Grandmother, there are still three years left! Before then, I will certainly find a satisfactory husband for myself! If I can't, I'll even twist my hair up and become a nun—would that not do?"

Pei Lao Furen gave her a sideways glance: "You dare!"

Whether it's a Daoist temple or a Buddhist nunnery, the austere life is truly too long!

Pei Lao Furen could not bear to let her flower‑like, delicate granddaughter become a female Daoist or a little nun.

She sighed: "Forget it! Since you truly don't want to, Grandmother won't force you. It's just a marriage—why should we take what Li Qingzhu rejects and eat her leftovers?"

"You're right; there are still three years, and Grandmother will carefully pick a good husband for you again!"

Li Qingluo, hearing Grandmother say that, was delighted to the point of almost jumping up.

"Grandmother, you're wonderful! You're truly a good grandmother to Lu'er!"

Li Qingluo happily rested her head on Pei Lao Furen's shoulder, acting coquettishly, which brought a smile to Pei Lao Furen's face as well.

But she soon thought of something else: "Grandmother, I fear my parents will surely be angered by my actions this time and jump about. Granddaughter begs Grandmother to help…"

Pei Lao Furen snorted: "Now you know fear? Your father now likely places half of his hopes for the family's glory and future on you."

"Whatever good things there are in the manor, he always thinks of your share at Hongfenguan."

"After your brother was ruined, the Jiangjun Fu's prospects are half‑destroyed. If you could marry into a good family, then when Li Kechuan bears a legitimate eldest grandson, this house might have a chance to rise again… but you have ruined his plans."

After your older brother was crippled, the Jiangjun Fu's prospects are half-ruined. If you could marry into a good family, then when Li Kechuan fathers a legitimate eldest grandson, this family might have a chance to rise again… but you have ruined his careful plans.

"But this impulsive act of yours, Lu'er, you must bear his wrath yourself and learn that one cannot act so willfully and recklessly!"

Pei Lao Furen still hardened her heart, intending to let Li Qingluo learn a lesson and pay the price, and ruthlessly sent her back to Hongfenguan.

Li Qingluo also did not feel disappointed that Pei Lao Furen no longer protected her.

She had today thrown caution to the wind in offending the Zhongyi Hou Fu, and had already prepared herself to bear the corresponding price.

So, that Grandmother could agree to let her birth parents stop interfering in her marriage later was already a result she was quite satisfied with.

So, grandmother being able to promise to let her biological parents not interfere in her marriage anymore is already a very satisfactory result for her.

Li Qingluo had just entered the courtyard when she saw Li Chao Jing already standing under a tree waiting for her.

This courtyard was the first time he had set foot in it.

Upon seeing Li Qingluo return, Li Chao Jing turned and walked over, raising his hand and giving her a hard slap!

Turning around and seeing Li Qingluo return, Li Chao Jing turned and walked over, raised his hand and gave Li Qingluo a hard slap!

"Sir— you, how could you strike a maiden?"

Deng Mama and Que'er, both panic‑stricken, rushed forward and tightly embraced Li Qingluo.

Li Chao Jing: "She is my flesh and blood; as the commander, I can strike if I wish—do I need a reason!?"

Li Qingluo raised her hand and wiped away the blood slowly trickling from the corner of her mouth.

Father and daughter stared at each other, eyes full of ruthless coldness.

She stubbornly refused to yield.

He wanted to use his paternal authority to subdue her.

Yet he had never shown her even a shred of affection, so how could she now feel respect or love for him?

Father is not fatherly.

Daughter is not daughterly.

Li Qingluo gave a cold smile: "Father, what mighty authority you have. I don't know what I have done wrong to make you so angry."

Li Chao Jing pointed at Li Qingluo and shouted: "You unfilial, unkind rebel girl! Don't think you can sabotage this marriage with your own hands—there's no way!"

"The Zhongyi Hou Fu—you will marry whether you like it or not! Hmph!"

He flicked his sleeve and strode away; Li Qingluo looked back at his retreating figure, narrowing her eyes deeply.

What he said doesn't count.

By nightfall, half of Li Qingluo's face was swollen like a steaming bun.

Que'er and Cui Er both felt heart‑broken and cried until their eyes turned red.

(Note: The original list ended at line 59; there is no line 60 provided.)

Applied ice, then applied medicine.

Applied ice again...

Applied medicine again...

Li Qingluo didn't let Deng Mama go to Jingci Tang to speak; anyway, Grandma had long anticipated that this would happen.

"Miss, I heard the master sent a notice to Zhongyi Hou Fu, saying he would personally visit tomorrow—but he won't go; he wants to go himself to ask for your hand in marriage?"

Li Qingluo clenched her fists: "He wants to go, but Zhongyi Hou Fu may not necessarily want to see him."

Originally, Zhongyi Hou Fu wasn't very keen on this marriage alliance.

Since she returned, and until Li Qingzhu returned, Zhongyi Hou Fu has been wavering, undecided— isn't that just hesitation?

Jiangjun Fu itself, meanwhile, is still grovelling, trying to keep currying favor.

Li Qingluo: "Any movement in Ziwei Tang these two days?"

Cui Er: "Luying said, Li Qingzhu had been crying all day, but after you, Miss, saw the wife of Zhongyi Hou, she suddenly calmed down."

Li Qingluo: "Watch her. After this blow, she will surely be unable to restrain herself from taking some action."

The marriage she didn't want, Li Qingluo likewise discarded like worn-out sandals.

She had planned this for so long; in her previous life she obtained it easily, but this life Li Qingluo has completely disrupted it, and now even Prince Yun has utterly despised her.

But will Li Qingzhu really give up so easily, after all the painstaking effort and even self-immolation feigned death she endured for everything she wanted?

Indeed, later, Luying brought another message.

"Miss, Li Qingzhu sent a letter to Old Madame Deng's hands, and then her people sent it out overnight."

Sent it out overnight?

How impatient!

Li Qingluo asked Deng Mama: "Where did she send the letter so late at night?"

Deng Mama: "I've had people watching. It's already midnight, Miss—don't wait; if any news comes, I'll tell you."

Li Qingluo then fell asleep.

The next day, at dawn, Deng Mama came over and said: "Miss, the letter was sent to Prince Yun's Mansion."

Deng Mama: "Our people intercepted the old wet nurse Deng's people, knocked them out, copied the content, and brought it back—Miss, please have a look!"

Li Qingluo quickly took it; the letter said how Li Qingzhu was heartbroken, how she regretted and missed Prince Yun, Your Highness, and repeatedly apologized, saying she had been punished, and if Your Highness had already despised her, but still please grant her one more chance to meet and explain clearly.

If there is no fate left, she will sever her feelings and entangle no further.

The time was set for this afternoon in the Minglou Elegant Chamber.

Li Qingluo confirmed the letter had indeed been sent to the Yun Prince's mansion, and she couldn't help smiling: "This is the day I've been waiting for!"

She threw off the covers, hurriedly got out of bed, picked up her pen, hesitated a moment, then quickly wrote several letters.

"Granny, one letter is for my father. He's going to Zhongyi Hou Fu today, but will surely return disappointed. This letter, I'm using this matter to lure him to Minglou."

"Also this letter is for my mother, Qu Shi."

"This letter is for Li Kechuan."

"This letter is for Zhuang Sanlang."

"The letters must be delivered to them without anyone knowing."

Deng Mama excitedly stretched out both hands to take them all: "Yes, Miss!"

Que'er couldn't help but be curious: "Miss, what do you want to do?"

Li Qingluo: "It's time to clear my own name."