Chapter 188: In the Pei Mansion, Eyes Everywhere!

After saying this, Madame Guan covered her face and began to sob softly.

Li Qingluo and Nan Jia both wore looks of disbelief.

"Is-is there no hope left? If we find that woman, maybe we can find the antidote?"

Madame Guan: "This is also my and Jia'er's father's last hope. If we can capture that woman, and if she is willing to give Jia'er the antidote, perhaps Jia'er might still have a chance."

"But she is a person of the martial world, wandering everywhere; would going to her sect really let us find her? She originally seemed to have fled to avoid punishment, and if she hides again in earnest, Jia'er... Jia'er, what should we do?"

Madame Guan saw Li Qingluo and Princess Nanping out to the outer second gate, then, with red eyes, she returned to accompany Pei Nan Jia.

After they left, Princess Nanping collapsed into Li Qingluo's arms and burst into tears.

"Nan Jia elder sister is so pitiful, waa waa waa… pah! That foul Daoist truly isn't human—why must he keep Nan Jia elder sister dangling for so many years, yet refuse to let go? Now it's him who has reduced Nan Jia elder sister to this state…"

"I'm going to kill him!"

"If he were to die unknowingly in prison, probably no one would know, right?"

"Besides, it's just a foul Daoist—no one would care!"

Li Qingluo: "……"

She paused a moment, then immediately advised Nan Jia: "Don't act rashly! Your Fifth Prince's Uncle and that Daoist Qingyang should have had dealings."

Princess Nanping startled: "This… how do you know about my Fifth Prince's Uncle?"

Princess Nanping's eyes went 'gurgle' in a circle, and Li Qingluo looked at her helplessly: "My grandmother lived at Green Pine Temple for thirty years!"

Princess Nanping: "Oh……"

Li Qingluo sighed.

Princess Nanping's eyes suddenly lit up: "Fifth Prince's Uncle! Luo'er elder sister, my mother said that the Fifth Prince's Uncle's residence has many renowned physicians, truly top-notch doctors!"

"The renowned physicians he has sought from all over the world, it is said, he provides them with unlimited places and medicinal ingredients to research various drugs, in exchange for their service; each physician gets three months a year to travel abroad, yet even when they go out, a few always remain at his manor!"

"Luo'er elder sister, should I go beg the Fifth Prince's Uncle to send someone to examine Nan Jia elder sister?"

"But what if… he refuses because of Daoist Qingyang?"

"Moreover, his temperament has always been cold and aloof…"

Li Qingluo: "Yes! Princess, you must speak up! If your Fifth Prince's Uncle agrees, perhaps this truly is Nan Jia's chance to live. We cannot abandon any hope."

If he refuses, Li Qingluo will surely find a way; she must make him agree!

Princess Nanping seemed to have been entrusted with a heavy duty, and she nodded solemnly.

The servant leading the way ahead was still waiting for them; the two were just about to leave the Pei Mansion immediately when the senior maid beside Duchess Pei came running up again.

"Princess, Your Highness! Princess, Your Highness, please stay."

"Your Highness, our madam wishes to invite you to the main hall; today the young ladies of the mansion have offended you through their ignorance, so our duchess wishes to face you and have the maidens make amends."

"Furthermore, our madam owes *** Your Highness some things, and also wishes to ask you to help bring them back to the princess's residence today and hand them over to the princess, Your Highness."

Upon hearing that those few were to apologize to her in person, Princess Nanping had no intention of refusing.

She grabbed Li Qingluo and followed the maid away.

"Luo'er elder sister, let's go take a look!"

Li Qingluo, however, felt doubtful: would the Pei Duke's mansion really, in front of guests, go so far as to lose face over its own young ladies?

Yet she was actually stopped at the main hall's gate.

That maid looked at her with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, yet adopted a respectful attitude: "Miss, please step aside. Our madam still has some private words to say first to the princess, Your Highness, which isn't convenient for others to hear, so please wait here for a summons before entering."

Princess Nanping had already been led away; she turned her head toward Li Qingluo, about to say something, but was already surrounded and pushed in by several maidservants.

Because Li Qingluo had entered the Pei Mansion and, up to now, never revealed her identity, it was clearly intended to keep this person of unknown status out.

Li Qingluo naturally had no desire to go inside to watch those false apologies.

She was merely worried about Princess Nanping.

However, thinking that Princess Nanping's side still had a maid from the princess's residence, Granny, accompanying her, Li Qingluo also looked toward the Que'er following behind.

"There probably won't be anyone else coming to summon us; since that's the case, let's go."

After exchanging a word with the gatekeeper of the main hall, Li Qingluo again politely troubled the guiding maid to escort her out of the Pei Mansion.

On the way again to the second gate, as they passed a garden archway, a disheveled maid with tangled hair and ragged clothes, resembling a madwoman, suddenly burst forth.

She was panic-stricken; upon seeing Li Qingluo, an unfamiliar face, she instantly seemed to have spotted a lifeline, lunging forward to kneel and grab Li Qingluo's skirt, shouting: "Save me, save me…… Miss, please save this servant——"

"I don't want to die——ah!!"

Several fierce maidservants rushed out, seized the maid's hair in one grip, and forcibly pressed it backward.

Even though the maid was dragged until her scalp bled, her hair torn out in clumps, she still refused to release her grip on Li Qingluo's skirt.

The maidservant spat "pah," then came forward and bent the maid's fingers back one by one, heedless of whether they broke, and the whole alley echoed with heart‑rending screams.

"Lowly servant! Still dare to flee— in this household, where could you possibly escape to?"

"Today you have this fortune; it is your own choice, your own fate— resign yourself to it……"

Li Qingluo watched as the woman was dragged away, seeing the hope in her eyes extinguish like a snuffed candle.

The cries faded farther away, and throughout the whole incident, not a single member of the Pei family appeared, nor did anyone care whether it was proper for this to happen before an outsider like herself.

The guiding maid wiped sweat from her forehead, continually glancing at Li Qingluo: "Miss, let's hurry out."

Li Qingluo nodded; she knew she had no standing to interfere in Pei family affairs, so even though she felt sympathy for the maid, she had no intention of intervening.

After walking a few steps, Li Qingluo signaled Que'er, who eagerly stepped forward and, under the pretense of chatting, slipped several taels of broken silver to the plain‑looking woman.

"Granny, what on earth just happened? That scene looked terrifying; it frightened even us young ladies—hopefully tonight we won't have nightmares when we go back."

The granny, upon receiving the silver, panicked and tried to give it back, but Que'er and she pushed a few times, then simply slipped it into her sleeve; only then did the granny, looking around fearfully and fidgeting, manage to keep the silver secure.

"This… I still advise you two not to be curious about this; treat today's events as if you saw nothing and know nothing, otherwise you might not be able to leave the Pei Mansion today……"

Having said that, the granny again nervously looked around in several circles.

Li Qingluo: "Why would we not be able to leave the Pei Mansion? Could it be that if we meddle, you'll detain us?"

Hearing the words, the granny gave a startled jump, lunged forward and was about to directly cover Li Qingluo's mouth.

Que'er flashed forward and shoved her aside in one motion.

""Bold! Don't be rude!""

The granny stamped her foot anxiously: 'You two, stop talking! There are eyes everywhere in this mansion; this old servant truly wishes you two could still walk out alive!'

Que'er also grew a bit nervous: 'Then why don't you hurry up and lead the way?'

The three no longer delayed, hurrying out.

Li Qingluo and Que'er exchanged a glance, and neither spoke again.

Just after exiting the second gate, Li Qingluo bumped into someone head-on.

Pei Sanlang?

She glanced at the other party and quickly lowered her head; Pei Sanlang naturally also saw her.

He blinked slightly, and his originally hurried steps also stopped.

""Miss Li?""

Pei Sanlang called out to her.

His eyes held a hint of surprise and joy.

It was said that during the rebel chaos in the suburbs that day, she was taken by Princess Qinyu to a manor for several days.

Was she injured?

But seeing her today, she seemed perfectly fine, so that person could rest easy.

The maid guiding them saw that the Third Young Master actually knew this young lady, and felt somewhat surprised.

""This old servant has seen the Third Young Master before…""

Pei Sanlang waved his hand: 'You may go.'

The granny hurriedly fled, afraid she might hear something more.

Li Qingluo: 'Thank you, Third Young Master, for bringing us master and servant out of the Pei mansion.'

Pei Sanlang guessed she had come to see Pei Nan Jia.

""Have you gone to see the Twelfth Lady?""

Li Qingluo nodded: 'Yes, Third Young Master should have informed me that Nan Jia is actually so seriously ill.'

If I hadn't come in person today, Li Qingluo truly wouldn't have known about Nan Jia's affairs; if I were to find out later, I would surely regret it deeply.

Pei Sanlang heaved a heavy sigh: 'Sorry, I've also been worried about the Twelfth Lady's condition, wanting to find her a better renowned doctor, or send someone to fetch that poison doctor back to detoxify, but so far there's been no news at all.'

After a few words, Li Qingluo finally left the Pei mansion.

She turned back to look at the imposing, stern gate of the Pei household, and a chill ran through her body.

""Third Young Master, saving a life outweighs building a seven-story pagoda. If you have the time, Third Young Master, please go at once to the old duke's residence and take a look.""

Having said that, Li Qingluo took Que'er and left.

Pei Qinghong watched her carriage depart, only then recalling her earlier words, and suddenly shuddered all over.

Could it be that the great grandfather has gone mad again?

He instantly furrowed his brows, turned and hurried into the mansion.

Once they were on the road, Que'er finally let out a heavy sigh of relief.

""Miss, the Pei household is too terrifying. It feels as if a gloomy pressure hangs over one's head, making it hard to breathe.""

Li Qingluo: 'The Pei household is indeed very strange.'

The granny said, eyes are everywhere.

But, who is watching these people?

She kept her grandmother's wish in mind, not knowing when she could fulfill it for her grandmother.

If she hadn't guessed, that maid would have come running out of the old duke's residence.

If not, her just now meddling remark—even if Pei Sanlang made a wasted trip—would not be a loss to Pei Sanlang as long as that maid wasn't innocently abused to this point.

After Li Qingluo returned to Jiangjun Fu, she immediately went to Jingci Tang.

""Grandmother, do you know a Luo Shen doctor? Luo'er wishes to ask him to treat and detoxify Nan Jia.""

Pei Lao Furen, upon hearing, was not surprised either, merely heaved a deep sigh.

""Luo'er, you know all of this?""