Chapter 163

【4】

No names.

It's precisely because they are the direct bloodline that they will inevitably grow closer, no matter what?

No names.

【7】

Names: Li Qingzhu, Jiangjun Fu. Also maybe "they" not a name.

【10】

No names.

Her brother is truly the one in the world who treasures her like a priceless pearl!

No names.

【13】

Name: Li Qingluo.

【15】

Name: Jiangjun Fu.

【18】

No names.

In this household, not a single person can bear to be without even a bit of her.

No names.

【21】

Name: Li Qingluo.

【23】

Names: Li Kechuan, Ancestral Hall.

【25】

Name: Li Qingzhu.

【27】

No explicit names (father and mother, older brother, Little Pearl are kinship terms, not names). Not include.

【29】

Name: Li Chao Jing.

【31】

Name: Li Chao Jing.

【34】

No names.

"Li Qingzhu, no... from now on you don't need to keep the Li surname."

【36】

"Miss Liu, we previously promised you that we would not hold the past swapped-daughter incident against the Liu family. It's because we value you, treating you wholeheartedly; after all, we raised you, so blood relation isn't that important."

【38】

"If you continue to behave properly, you will remain the eldest legitimate daughter of my Li family for your whole life."

【40】

"But repeatedly, you have done things that disgrace our Li family's reputation! This has caused me and your mother to feel hurt and disappointed time and again."

【42】

"And you Liu family have also failed to uphold our earlier promise, stated in our letter, that the Liu clan must not appear before our Li family! Today you even dare to come to the gate of our General's Residence to cause a scene, making the whole city of Jinling aware, trampling and humiliating our Li family to this extent—truly hateful to the extreme!"

【44】

"Since the Liu family is so shameless, don't blame us for going back on our word and showing no mercy!"

Names: Liu family.

【47】

Names: Liu family, Jiangjun Fu.

【49】

Names: Liu Qingzhu, Jiangjun Fu, Li family.

【51】

Names: Jiangjun Fu, Li Qingluo.

【53】

Name: Liu family.

【55】

Names: Li Chao Jing, Deng Mama, Li Qingluo.

【58】

No specific names (grandma is generic). Not include.

And Madame Zhao was beaten until her mouth was full of blood, her face swollen like a pig's head, and many of her teeth were knocked out—seven or eight.

【60】

These grannies are all skilled, and they all know that this old hag in front of them is the one who caused their young ladies to suffer so much over the years, so they will show no mercy in their actions today.

No names.

【63】

Name: Zhao Shi.

【66】

No names.

The onlookers nearby all spat and said, "Old hag, you deserve it!"

No names.

【70】

No names.

"Go die!"

No names.

【74】

No names.

"Mother—"

No names.

【78】

No names.

The Liu family members were all tied up, and could only shout anxiously.

【80】

Li Qingzhu, oh no, Liu Qingzhu silently watched all this; the shame and indignation in her heart made her hate so much that she dug her nails into her palms, trembling all over.

【82】

But things have come to this; even if she could escape with her life, she can only temporarily swallow this anger.

No names.

【85】

Name: Li family.

【88】

No names.

When her gaze turned to Li Kechuan, a sense of sorrow unconsciously welled up in her eyes.

【90】

Li Kechuan turned his head away; this is fine, she will now return to the home she ought to return to, and they will no longer be siblings.

【92】

Isn't this exactly what she wished for?

No names.

【95】

Names: Li Chao Jing, Li Qingluo.

【97】

Names: Luo'er, Liu family.

【99】

Names: Liu family members, Li Qingluo.

【101】

Names: Cao'er, Wang Shi, Liu Qingzhu.

【103】

Name: Liu Da.

【106】

No names.

"Cao'er! How could you be so ruthless? After all, we raised you for over ten years!"

【108】

Li Qingluo remained expressionless, not responding to their arguments at all.

【110】

Whatever the facts, surely everyone can see them clearly.

No names.

【114】

No names.

It's just a waste of breath.

No names.

【117】

Names: Liu clan.

【119】

Names: Zhao Shi, Liu clan, Jinling Prefecture Office.

"Interrogation results, awaiting disposition!"

Li Chao Jing nods: "People! Just do as the eldest miss says, take this official's token and drag this old poisonous woman Zhao Shi and her family all to the Jinling prefectural office, investigate and interrogate strictly!"

The guard stepped forward: "Yes!"

The Liu family members all turned pale, some shouting or resisting, but it was all to no avail.

Zhao Shi had already been beaten unconscious, her eyes rolled back as she was dragged away.

Li Qingzhu could only lie pale-faced on the soft chair, watching the Liu family members being taken away one by one.

"Zhu'er, save us—Zhu'er—"

"Zhu'er, we're doing this all for you, Zhu'er!"

"Zhu'er—"

A farce, and it's over.

Liu Qingzhu was also taken away by Prince Yun's guards, disappearing without a trace.

The gate of Jiangjun Fu was closed tightly again.

Rumors about the Li family quickly spread again to every corner of Jinling City; within half a day, everyone knew them once more.

The Li family's commotion is endless; naturally some sigh, others mock.

*** residence.

Upon hearing the servant talk about this bustle, the noble ladies who had come today to the residence to speak with her all started snickering.

***'s complexion, however, was not good.

"This Li family, how can there be so many matters? So unsettled, it seems not a respectable household!"

Immediately a woman followed up: "Yes, Your Highness. Although Li Qingzhu has been expelled from Jiangjun Fu, she was still raised by them. For these disgraceful acts, they cannot escape responsibility."

*** glared at the woman: "Her disgraceful act, what are you implying, and why?"

Every notorious deed of Li Qingzhu is related to Prince Yun.

Especially the recent biggest scandal, heard to have taken place at Minglou, where Prince Su caught them red-handed in an affair…

Clearly that day, Li Qingzhu was at the princess's residence, causing the death of all the offspring in Prince Yun's concubine's household.

Who would have thought, these two actually have a secret affair!

As for Cao Rou'er's miscarriage, the truth is only more bewildering.

The woman's face changed, she lowered her head tremblingly: "Your Highness, no… no, I was just speaking wildly, I dare not point at anything."

***'s face full of impatience: "Get out!"

Several noble ladies in the hall immediately retreated, ***'s face grim as they picked up the tea and drank it harshly.

"This Fifth… he shouldn't be fond of anyone, yet he's taken with the Li family's daughter! Fourth is the same, also trapped by that Li family impostor—what love potion has this Li family given them!"

The anger hadn't subsided when Nanping Junzhu hopped in just then.

"Mother, look at my own written post—has it improved?"

*** seeing the precious daughter, their complexion improved a bit.

She held Nanping in her arms, opened the post, but her brows furrowed even higher.

"Is this written for the Li family's legitimate daughter?"

Nanping Junzhu: "Yes, Mother. I wrote it for Luò'ěr elder sister, inviting her to go horseback riding in the suburbs on the seventeenth of the twelfth month."

*** hesitated a moment, then said: "Nanping, Mother knows you like that Li family maiden. Not only because she saved your life, but also because your dispositions are compatible."

"But lately the Li family has been in constant turmoil, scandals worse than the last, simply unbearable to hear! Such a family, you should associate with them less!"

Upon hearing the princess's mother say that, Nanping immediately stood up.

"Mother! How can you say that?"

"Luò'ěr elder sister is indeed a victim!"

"The reputation of Jiangjun Fu's maidens is implicated, all because of Li Qingzhu's scandals or because of a quarrel with the Fourth Prince's uncle—how can this world drag even more innocent people into it?"

"On the contrary, the Fourth Prince's uncle bears no involvement."

"Moreover, I know what kind of person Luò'ěr elder sister is. No matter what, no matter what trouble Jiangjun Fu stirs up, I will associate with Luò'ěr elder sister."

"If Mother also interferes in this matter, I might as well go back to the northwest!"

Nanping finished speaking, took the post and was about to leave, but upon reaching the door suddenly turned back, eyes red as they stared at *** and said: "How boring. Since Mother returned, she too has begun to care about these useless things, just like those noble ladies of Jinling City."

Watching Nanping leave, *** felt utterly exhausted.

She rubbed her forehead and sighed: "How would she know, Jinling is not the northwest?"

They want to establish a foothold in Jinling, regain favor, and preserve eternal power and wealth; they don't care about those she deems useless, or are they waiting to be trampled to the bottom of imperial authority?

But this is indeed also Nanping's sincere wish, since returning to Jinling, to devote a genuine affection.

But the Li family's reputation is truly terrible now!

"People! Go inquire, has Princess Qinshui returned? If she has, Nanping will surely change her mind and like her even more!"