Chapter 146: All the Branches

The back door was only just slammed shut by Prince Yun's guard.

Duan Rongshi: "Fourth Prince, are you now angry out of shame?"

"If Father Emperor learns today's truth, Fourth Prince might even go to Southern Mountain Villa to keep company with the Eldest Prince…"

Duan Rongshi deliberately made a cold remark, infuriating Prince Yun to the brink of madness.

He had calculated countless possibilities, yet truly did not foresee being caught up in this by Duan Rongshi!

And those onlookers who came for the spectacle—he can seal the Li family's mouths, but cannot stop the world's gossip!

"You, you stay out of this!"

After spitting out that line, Prince Yun suddenly pushed past Duan Rongshi, and fled hurriedly with his men in a disheveled rush.

If Duan Rongshi weren't there, he would have spoken freely before Father Emperor!

But it so happened that Duan Rongshi heard those words today!

Prince Yun couldn't help feeling uneasy.

If Father Emperor truly gets angry, I'm finished!

Father Emperor may dote on me, but he is far from indulgent toward Duan Rongshi, nor does he value the Third Prince as highly.

Now the court is divided over the new Crown Prince—whether to appoint the legitimate heir, the elder, or the capable—so the Crown Prince's seat is still uncertain, and I have no firm grasp on it!

Prince Yun dared not delay and rushed straight to the imperial palace.

He must strike first, and hurried to seek the Empress Mother's help with this matter!

However, though Prince Yun escaped, the entire Li family was laid bare, their household scandal fully exposed to everyone today!

At this moment, outside the door there were not only Duan Rongshi and his guards, but also countless onlookers!

Li Qingzhu, after Prince Yun opened the door, screamed and rolled onto the mat, continuously piling the scattered clothes on the floor onto herself.

Qu Shi's vision went dark; she knew it was truly over, completely finished!

Li Chao Jing also felt dizzy and nauseous, clutching his face where his beaten teeth were loosening, and he yanked a screen to block Li Qingzhu's figure.

But everything inside the room, even the recent arguments, and the crowd outside had already eavesdropped and seen it all.

Thus, if you want to keep it secret, you must not do it yourself.

Finally, they managed to return to the Li family.

Li Qingzhu was taken to the Ancestral Hall, where inside and out, people filled every space.

Even Pei Lao Furen was summoned here today.

Even members of the second and third branches came upon hearing the news to watch the spectacle.

Li Qingzhu's hair was still disheveled, her clothes now neatly dressed, but seeing such a scene made her uneasy.

She was pressed hard to the ground, unable to rise.

"Y‑you, what are you doing?"

"I—I am a person of Your Highness! Your Highness said that in a month you must send me to Prince Yun's Mansion! And there must be not a single scar on my body!!"

"What exactly are you trying to do?"

"I am the Highness's concubine, I am the one he loves, you cannot touch me—Ah!"

Qu Shi stepped forward and harshly slapped Li Qingzhu across the face.

"Mother—?"

Li Qingzhu stared in horror at Qu Shi, "Mother, have you truly stopped caring for me? Mother, I am your dearest Zhu'er!"

"Mother, although I am not your biological child, I was raised by you single‑handedly; Mother, please have some mercy on me…"

Qu Shi's tears fell in large drops.

Her eyes were filled with deep disappointment and hatred.

"Stop deceiving me! Zhu'er, you truly were raised by my own hands; although you're not of my blood, before I find Luoer again, I have genuinely regarded you as my precious eye!"

"Even if Luoer is recovered, you remain the one I cherish most, the most favored!"

"What did you do!?"

"For wealth and status, to rush and become Prince Yun's concubine, you even self‑immolated and feigned death, burning a dozen maids and servants, and even caused your older brother to lose a leg!"

"He was the legitimate eldest son of Jiangjun Fu!! Now he's crippled; won't you have no support in Jiangjun Fu in the future? Why on earth did you do this!!"

"You deceived us, deceived each one of us!"

"Even back on the cliff, I knew the person I owed the most was Luoer, yet I still chose you!"

"All these years, the food you ate, the clothes you wore, the comforts you enjoyed, should have belonged to Luoer!"

"But Mother thought you were innocent, that you knew nothing, so I forgave your Liu family members, didn't imprison your biological mother!"

"And what about you!? Sweet‑tongued but treacherous, you plotted to completely destroy Jiangjun Fu!!"

"Today you even ran to Ming Lou to lure Your Highness, and in a tavern you offered yourself to him! Now I fear everyone in Jinling City knows!"

"Shameless, you don't want to live; the rest of the Li women still want to live, still want to keep our faces!!"

Qu Shi's resentment burst forth at that moment.

The members of the second and third branches looked at each other in shock.

"What? She actually did these things?"

"Heavens!! We in the second and third branches still have several unmarried girls, what shall we do now—"

"I knew we couldn't return; even if we live in Jiangjun Fu, there's nothing good awaiting us!"

"Li Qingzhu, you prostitute, what will become of my Yuer in the future! If you must die, die, but don't drag us down into the abyss together!"

"I'll kill you—"

Some were so agitated they almost lunged to actually kill Li Qingzhu.

Then Li Chao Jing barked, "Everyone, shut up!"

The scene that was almost out of control was only then firmly pressed back by the servants of each courtyard.

At this moment, the masters of the second and third branches came out and said: "Since it's come to this, today we hope elder brother can give each branch a fair judgment!"

"Otherwise, the young ladies of each branch would all have to be hanged to prove their innocence!"

Upon hearing this, the young ladies and madams of the second and third branches turned deathly pale, their bodies swaying as if about to collapse.

Li Chao Jing glanced at each branch.

He knew this matter couldn't be concealed; it would eventually blow up, so today he simply summoned everyone over.

Hearing these words, he could only walk over with a grim face to kneel before Pei Lao Furen.

"Mother, it is because my son and Qu Shi failed to discipline this rebellious girl, and because we listened only to one side, overly indulging and pampering her, that she has today committed such a heaven‑toppling crime!"

"Please, Mother, take charge of the overall situation, handle this matter, so that peace may return to the household!"

Pei Lao Furen looked toward Li Qingluo.

Li Qingluo stood just to the left, her face still bearing some bruising and swelling, but when her grandmother cast her gaze upon her, she gave a faint smile.

Pei Lao Furen then knew that today's matter was inevitably connected to her!

However, Pei Lao Furen was not angry in her heart.

In her heart, she felt only great relief.

She actually, really did it!

She exposed the true nature of Li Qingzhu, that little wild bastard, announcing her wickedness and malicious intent to the world!

By her own efforts, step by step to reach today, it was truly not easy.

But, must it really be done in such a resolute manner?

Does she know that the reputation Li Qingzhu destroyed will also implicate her?

From now on, not to mention whether the Zhongyi Hou Fu still wishes to continue the marriage engagement without holding past grudges, I fear that not a single respectable family in Jinling City would be willing to marry into their Jiangjun Fu!

Ah!

This is a matter that brings disgrace upon the whole household.

The sons can't find good wives, the daughters can't marry into good families, and the Jiangjun Fu has been ruined to more than half!

When Pei Lao Furen looked at Li Qingzhu again, her eyes were also filled with ruthlessness.

"Wretched beast! Do you know what crime you have actually committed?!"