Chapter 18

Five finger marks, not like they were drawn as a fake.

Moreover, the bruised purplish marks almost covered the entire neck!

One can imagine that at that time her entire neck must have been firmly choked by someone; if she had not resisted, she would truly have been in mortal danger!

However, Qu Shi did not believe that Li Kechuan would really be so ruthless as to do such a thing.

So she spoke up to explain: "Could you be misunderstanding your elder brother? These past two days he has been overly grief-stricken; surely he only wanted to give you a lesson. After all, Zhu'er would ……"

Qu Shi could not continue speaking, as she again wiped away tears in sorrow.

Li Chao Jing glanced at the lady, then at Li Qingluo, and the harshness in his eyes gradually faded by half.

He is a martial practitioner; how could he not see the truth of this wound?

At a glance, his complexion grew ever darker.

However, he said nothing, merely clenching his fists; evidently he believed deep down that all of this was indeed what Li Qingluo deserved.

Li Qingluo sneered in her heart; she had never expected them to uphold justice for her.

She simply stated the facts calmly: "What my elder brother did today, the several grannies of Jingci Tang witnessed with their own eyes; I would not fabricate anything."

"I also know that, because of Elder Sister Zhu'er's matter, everyone in the household is grief-stricken, so my elder brother and I had a temporary disagreement and a clash; I do not blame him either."

"I know I cannot compare with Elder Sister Zhu'er; it is fate's trick that lets her enjoy her parents' affection, and though I envy her greatly, I also know it is not her fault."

"Now that she is dead, I feel anguished to the extreme, wishing I could take her place once more!"

"Moreover, afterward I truly regret it; if I had really harmed my elder brother to any extent, this life of mine could not possibly accompany him."

Speaking, Li Qingluo lowered her head and began to sob softly, occasionally wiping the tears from her eyes.

So, Li Kechuan had better not come looking for trouble over that minor injury!

She, as a younger sister, can be so broad-minded, even showing consideration and forgiveness toward him; as his elder brother, must he still cling to this matter?

Li Chao Jing understood the meaning behind Li Qingluo's words.

He had someone investigate this matter; upon returning to confirm, it was indeed as Li Qingluo said: Li Kechuan first flew into rage and struck, being in the wrong.

Li Chao Jing suppressed his anger, looked at Li Qingluo still kneeling below, and said: "Since that is the case, let this matter end here; no one shall mention it again—are you willing?"

Li Qingluo immediately bowed her head, appearing obedient: "Yes, I will obey my father."

In Li Qingluo's heart, this matter was naturally not over.

But she is currently weak in position, so she can only endure for now and later slowly plot.

Li Chao Jing took a deep breath: "These days the mansion will hold mourning for Zhu'er; we also have no heart to give you a welcome feast. It's fine—just stay out of sight for now! Go away."

Li Qingluo lowered her head and quickly disappeared before the hall.

Qu Shi puzzledly asked her husband: "Wasn't it agreed that she would go to Zhu'er's spirit tablet to kneel and see her off?"

"That way Zhu'er can see we are not partial; our deepest concern is still her!"

Li Chao Jing, however, lowly barked: "Nonsense! Her neck is injured like that; if those coming to mourn saw it, what would our family become?"

"That Liu… this Luo'er, Chuan'er only gave her a slight harsh hand, yet she dares to wield a knife in retaliation, and she even went to Qingmeng Guan to fetch her mother back home to back her up—do you think she is really a simple fool?"

"Mother has not returned home for thirty years; even when we married, I brought you to pay respects to her, yet she did not appear. But Luo'er went to Qingmeng Guan for only a few days and easily coaxed the mother down the mountain—do you truly think she is just a clumsy country girl?"

Qu Shi froze.

She had not thought of so much, merely assuming the mother-in-law simply wanted to come down the mountain by chance!

Could it really be that this girl, by her own strength, persuaded the mother-in-law?

"Why exactly did the mother-in-law come down the mountain on this trip…?"

Li Chao Jing furrowed his brows tightly; he also could not say for sure now.

Qu Shi hesitated and then added: "I've heard that the mother-in-law's Tianfeng Trading House…"

Li Chao Jing rebuked Qu Shi, not allowing her to bring it up again.

Yet Qu Shi wore a look of grievance: "Husband, it's not that I want to mention it, but that Tianfeng Trading House is now ranked third in wealth among all businesses in DaLiang, and it's said to be even more abundantly stocked than the national treasury!"

"The mother-in-law has only you as her child; could she possibly not give you anything after her passing?"

"These past years we have almost every year gone to Qingmeng Guan, yet the mother-in-law never saw us. That day Chuan'er returned saying the mother-in-law would come down with him; I originally did not believe it, but never expected it to be true."

"Although your relationship with the mother-in-law has grown distant these years, if we these days attend to her well and show filial piety, perhaps she, in her happiness…"

Li Chao Jing did not want to hear more, and again completely cut off Qu Shi.

"I have said it—this matter must not be mentioned again!"

"My relationship with my mother… is not as you imagine; the good things you think of probably will not fall upon me."

Thirty years without seeing her, the mother in my memory has changed from a fiery, vigorous woman into a fiery, vigorous old woman.

Li Chao Jing's inner feelings were a mixture of many emotions.

Moreover, he has never truly gotten along peacefully with his mother; now, if he were to act obedient and submissive before her for the sake of money, he would also find it very difficult.

Li Chao Jing also did not expect that, at his age, he would still have to ponder how to get along with his mother—truly it puts him in a quandary as well.

In order to avoid some conflicts with Pei Lao Furen, Li Chao Jing thus sent Li Qingluo back.

Zhu'er died horribly, but venting all anger upon Luo'er is also certainly not appropriate.

However, out of sight, out of mind; she had best keep herself hidden, otherwise, if another incident like today's were to occur, he would not spare her even for his mother's sake.

Upon returning to Jingci Tang, Li Qingluo learned that Cui Er had already been taken away by Li Kechuan's people.

Today Cui Er protected her; surely in Li Kechuan's hands she will not meet a good end.

In her previous life she had completely lost news of Cui Er; in this life, no matter what, she must also preserve Cui Er's life!

Li Qingluo could only anxiously wait in her room; when night fell, she finally waited for Pei Lao Furen to return.

Pei Lao Furen knew that this morning Li Kechuan had come and caused a great disturbance; naturally she flew into a rage.

"Is he even human!? He actually dared to lay hands on his own sister! What does he intend to do!? For the sake of that little bastard, must he really cause a loss of life?"