Chapter 16: Going to strangle Li Qingluo to death?

No matter who this person is, we must first drag him out!

In her previous life, after Li Qingluo died, she heard Li Qingzhu personally say that when the big fire first broke out, she had already felt some regret.

She had intended to run out, but unexpectedly she was overcome by smoke and fainted at the base of the wall.

When she woke up, she discovered that the entire Li family had already concluded she was dead; feeling ashamed and guilty, she dug a tunnel out of the mansion, intending to disappear into the vast world, but fortunately, due to her injuries, she happened to be rescued by Prince Yun.

Li Qingluo gave a cold smile.

These words are enough to fool those people of the Li family.

Who with any sense would believe that?

Now that we have Grandmother as a witness, if Li Qingzhu tries to jump out again with this excuse, just wait to be slapped in the face!

However, in this life Li Qingluo will not just sit and wait for death.

She must uncover the truth of Li Qingzhu's fake death ahead of everyone else!

It was already late, so Li Qingluo stayed today in Grandmother's small courtyard.

Unlike in her previous life, when she was abandoned in a remote, damp, cold shack, this life, upon returning to the General's mansion tonight, she finally ate a full meal, properly covered herself with a soft blanket, and slept comfortably.

On the second day, Li Qingluo woke amid the noise.

Although Li Qingzhu's death left the Li family grief-stricken and unwilling to accept it, they could not avoid facing the fact and thus held the funeral overnight.

Although everyone was heartbroken, the funeral arrangements were still hurriedly put in place.

So today, white hangings are up everywhere in the house, including all the servants, who have changed into plain clothes and tied white sashes.

Li Qingluo also received a set of plain clothes.

Cui Er came in from outside, looking embarrassed, and said to Li Qingluo: "Miss... it is, it is the eldest son, he has come. He is waiting in the courtyard, urging you to come out quickly."

Li Qingluo: "I understand, go wait for me outside first."

Cui Er went to guard the door outside, and then Li Qingluo got up.

She naturally would not wear the mourning clothes given by the Li family.

The Li family gave a set of pure-white hemp mourning clothes; what right does Li Qingzhu have to make me wear mourning for her?

In her previous life, she observed mourning for Li Qingzhu.

She knelt before the spirit tablet for a full seven days, drinking only a little water to sustain herself, not a grain of rice passing her lips.

Moreover, her own parents not only felt nothing wrong about this, they also showed her not a shred of pity.

Now each of them, because of Li Qingzhu's death, is like they've lost their souls; Li Kechuan has been hit especially hard, losing weight to the point of being almost unrecognizable.

Even if Li Qingzhu was merely toying with them, and then suddenly came back to life after feigning death, they would only feel ecstatic at having her back, never blaming her in the slightest.

Hah, Li Qingluo will not expect anything anymore in this life.

They dare not think of continuing to torment her to balance their inner anguish over losing Li Qingzhu!

Let alone the fact that Li Qingzhu wasn't really dead; even if she had truly died, it would be absolutely impossible!

Li Qingluo quickly changed into her own clothes.

Her clothes are all simple and plain, made of plain fabric in subdued colors, so even wearing her own clothes during this mourning period would not invite any criticism.

Li Qingluo was about to go out when she heard Cui Er shouting anxiously outside the door: "Eldest son, our miss is still washing up, eldest son——"

Ah!

Cui Er let out a miserable scream, and Li Qingluo immediately flung the door open.

Li Kechuan's foot was raised high; if Li Qingluo had not opened the door herself, he would surely have kicked it down.

Cui Er rolled on the ground, her face deathly pale; seeing Li Qingluo come out, her eyes filled with worry.

Li Qingluo nodded at her: "I'm fine, you may go down."

Cui Er climbed to her feet, intending to go call for help, but was stopped by Li Kechuan's men.

If you want to have this lowly servant go inform Grandmother, I advise you not to waste your effort today.

Grandmother is not in the mansion today!

Liu Caoer, today no one will back you up again!

Li Kechuan's eyes gleamed with malice as he lifted his foot and stepped step by step toward Li Qingluo's room.

Li Qingluo's brows knitted tightly.

No wonder he dared to cause trouble so early, even here in Jingci Tang; it turns out he was relying on Grandmother's absence.

Li Qingluo saying she isn't afraid is also impossible.

Given the disparity in strength between men and women, and Li Kechuan being a martial artist, one hand of his could strangle her to death.

Moreover, because of me, he has suffered several embarrassments in front of Grandmother; surely he now hates me even more than in my previous life.

At this moment, trying to close the door would surely be too late.

Li Qingluo could only turn and run straight out the door.

But as soon as she had one foot out the door, Li Kechuan grabbed her throat with one hand and slammed her hard against the door panel.

With a loud "Bang!", Li Qingluo's head struck the door heavily; the memories of the pain she endured in her previous life flooded back all at once.

She grimaced in pain, her lips trembling, yet she did not utter a single groan.

Li Kechuan lowered his head, one hand still tightly choking her throat so she couldn't breathe, while his eyes blazed with hatred as he stared at her and said: "I told you to wear the mourning hemp, why didn't you?"

"What exactly is your grudge against Zhu'er?"

"She's already dead; what more do you want?"

"Isn't it enough to just keep a vigil for her, kneel and burn paper and chant sutras? Isn't that what you should be doing?!"

"Zhu'er is dead, yet you still live well! You want to take her place in the General's mansion, enjoying wealth and honor, health and ease, stealing our affection and care for her—don't dream about it!"

"In this lifetime, you are not worthy!"

"You should be Liu Caoer; you shouldn't have come back!"

"It was you who killed her. If you hadn't come back, how could she have been so afraid of losing us? It was you—"

Thinking of his sister's tragic death, Li Kechuan's murderous intent surged in his eyes like a ferocious beast that wants to devour darkness, and Li Qingluo at this moment was nothing but a prey at his lips.

Just as his wicked thought rose, intending to simply strangle Li Qingluo alive, his movement suddenly froze hard.

Li Kechuan was stunned.

He lowered his head and looked at his waist and abdomen, only to find a pair of scissors pressed there.