Chapter 149: The Old Concubine and the Fake Heiress

Besides, even though I felt guilty toward her back then, can't I just make it up later?

She, on the other hand, knowing the current state of the household, still took it upon herself to ruin the marriage arrangement with Zhongyi Hou Fu!

After the matter with Qingzhu, I'm afraid this marriage is even more hopeless…

Li Chao Jing: "Mother, regarding Qingluo's matter, let's discuss it later. Today, first…"

"How I speak or act, how can it be up to you to arrange?"

Pei Lao Furen sneered, turning Li Chao Jing's face a blazing red.

Seeing his demeanor, Pei Lao Furen let out a disdainful 'hmph': "I never expected you to improve to being a proper person. And you, Qu Shi!"

"You're always just wailing and crying! When you start scheming, you're both stupid and clumsy! Having a matriarch like you is the greatest misfortune of Jiangjun Fu!"

Qu Shi also took the scolding, standing beside Li Chao Jing, shrinking her neck and not daring to lift her head.

As for Li Kechuan, Pei Lao Furen didn't even want to look at him.

Someone who is supposed to be a brotherly figure is utterly unfit to be a person; mentioning him only spoils the mood!

The members of the second and third branches watched the spectacle, especially seeing Li Chao Jing, the eldest legitimate head of the main house, being scolded like this, each feeling a glee at the misfortune.

But unexpectedly, Pei Lao Furen suddenly changed tone: "Bring the person up!"

The old Auntie Deng, who had been hunched in the crowd with her head drooping like a quail, was suddenly seized and dragged to the front.

"I have said it before. Today I intend to purge not only Li Qingzhu, but the entire inner residence of Jiangjun Fu!"

"Deng Lao Yiniang, do you know your mistake?"

The members of the second and third branches were all stunned.

"M-mother, what's going on? Is there some misunderstanding?"

"After all, the auntie is already of advanced age. Though she once erred, she has been punished over the years, and she is now old. Why must she endure this humiliation in public?"

The speaker is Li Chao Jing's younger half‑brother, Li Chao Huai, the illegitimate son of Deng Lao Yiniang.

He is also the master of the second branch, Li Qingluo's paternal second uncle.

"Yes, Mother, our auntie at least gave birth to children for the Li family and raised us. These years she contributed labor without credit, so why must she, now old, be repeatedly humiliated by you as a mere raft?"

"If Mother does not wish to see us, we can just move to the village!"

"We would never disturb Mother's purity, nor obstruct your sight!"

The next speaker is the master of the third branch, Li Chao An.

Li Chao Huai is relatively honest, while Li Chao An's eyes reveal cunning.

Li Qingluo can endure matters concerning herself, but she will never allow anyone to provoke Grandmother.

She stood up: "Grandmother hasn't said what the matter is, so why do second uncle and third uncle rush forward to speak these words? My Grandmother would never wrong her!"

Li Chao An instantly raised an eyebrow: "When I speak with your second uncle, how can you be so presumptuous? You truly are a wild phoenix rescued from the mountains, utterly uncultured!"

Just as Pei Lao Furen was about to speak, Li Qingluo suddenly seized her grandmother's hand.

"I was never raised by Jiangjun Fu. Yet compared with third uncle, Qingluo is still willing to admit defeat. Your legitimate mother has not spoken yet; aren't you also committing insubordination?"

Li Chao An, taken aback, clenched his teeth: "You…!"

Pei Lao Furen impatiently barked, "All of you, shut up!"

"Sure enough, they're all good sons taught by Deng Lao Yiniang! They disrespect elders, fail to protect the younger! Their greatest skill is to put on airs!"

"What kind of thing is that? Since Qingluo returned to the mansion, I have personally raised her!"

"She only spoke a fair word, and you all showed the temperament of elders. Or do you think Qingluo's upbringing is entirely my fault?"

Li Chao Huai and Li Chao An then both lowered their heads in fear.

"The sons do not dare."

Pei Lao Furen: "I see your whole family are very bold! In this world, is there anything you dare not do?"

"Deng Lao Yiniang, you have passed your mantle onto these few wicked offspring you gave birth to!"

Deng Lao Yiniang's body trembled slightly.

"Old Lady, I— I, your servant, dare not…"

Pei Lao Furen: "I won't wrong you either. Tell me yourself, when did you start colluding with Li Qingzhu? If it weren't for you helping her deliver a letter to Prince Yun's Mansion yesterday, or helping her leave the mansion, would these scandals be known to the world today?"

Upon hearing that Li Qingzhu's matter was linked to Deng Lao Yiniang, everyone involuntarily gasped.

Li Chao Jing quickly lifted his head and squinted at Deng Lao Yiniang.

"It's you? You intend to destroy my Jiangjun Fu before you'll be satisfied!!"

Tears instantly rolled down Deng Lao Yiniang's cheeks.

"Jing'er, the auntie didn't… the auntie isn't… not like that!"

Li Chao Jing: "Then what exactly happened?! I will never believe a single word of yours again!"

Deng Lao Yiniang, with a pained expression, "I… I have always missed you, Jing'er… but I know you hate me…"

"Back then, there really was a misunderstanding…"

Li Chao Jing: "I'm no longer a child! I won't be fooled by your foolish words and clumsy acting any longer!"

"Just now Mother asked a question; will you answer or not?"

"If you refuse to answer, family law will attend to you."

Having said that, the nearby house servants wielding the family‑law rods struck the ground heavily with their sticks.

Deng Lao Yiniang was instantly terrified, her face turning as white as snow; two sons behind her rushed forward to protect her.

Pei Lao Furen: "Since I dare question you like this, there is naturally evidence in my hand!"

"Li Qingzhu grew up in Jiangjun Fu, while you were in the village outside the city! How did you meet her? How have you been secretly interacting with her all this time? Explain clearly!"

"If you utter even a single false word, I will not spare your aged body; ten wooden boards and your life will be forfeit!"

Deng Lao Yiniang, staring at the pitch‑black family‑law rod, shivered all over.

I say, I say! It was five years ago when I came into the city to buy things, but I didn't expect to run into the big miss, who was tangled up by a fat woman. That woman was the big miss's own aunt, named Liu Jinzhi.

At that time the big miss didn't recognize the servant, but the servant recognized her. So the servant helped her break free, and since then the two of us have been in contact…

Old Lady, spare me! I truly didn't know the miss would do such a thing; otherwise I wouldn't have helped her commit the absurd act that harmed other misses!

I really thought it was just delivering a letter…

I truly realize my mistake!

When Deng Lao Yi Niang thought of the day in the Buddha hall, her heart was more bitter than the bitter herb.

If I were to suffer family punishment again, I'm afraid I would truly be gone!

It's all that wretched Li Qingzhu's fault!!

Li Qingluo understood.

Five years ago, Liu Jinzhi married into Jinling, and she immediately found Li Qingzhu!

Because Li Qingzhu was extremely annoyed, she had Deng Lao Yi Niang feed that insatiably greedy Liu Jinzhi.

"So, Li Qingzhu already knew five years ago that she was not a daughter of the Li family at all!?"