Chapter 193

When they brought up the silver, every Liu family member's eyes lit up with greed, their excited saliva almost spilling out.

It seemed as if that silver were already within reach, as good as already in their pockets!

Liu Er: "A restaurant, that's a restaurant. I even went far away just to catch a glimpse today— that restaurant is incredibly grand and luxurious, nothing like anything in our hometown's town!"

Liu San: "That would be great— she's always been more conscientious than that heartless girl Zhu'er. Now that Mother's dead anyway, she probably won't hold a grudge against us, right?"

Liu Er's wife couldn't help but whisper: "That's not certain. That day at the gate of Jiangjun Fu, she treated us so cold‑heartedly; now we still want to rush over to see her… will we even get a pleasant face from her?"

I think we'd better not think about her; maybe we can have a few peaceful days.

Liu Er jumped up excitedly and smacked his wife.

"What do you know? You stupid woman! It's not because you were the most vicious to little Cao'er when she was a child? Now you're scared yourself—don't drag the whole family down with you!"

"Hmph, that Cao'er girl—I've watched her grow up; she's not an iron‑hearted person, how could I not know?"

Liu Da also rubbed his hands in agreement with his brother: "Back then, it was all Mother's doing; aren't we also innocent victims caught up in it?"

"She's called me 'Father' for sixteen years—can we really just say we don't acknowledge her and be done with it?"

Old Master Liu was taking big puffs of his leaf tobacco; hearing this, he gave a heavy snort: "When it comes down to it, isn't it all the fault of Liu Qiongzhu?"

"Now she's married into the prince's mansion, and yet we haven't even gotten a scrap of blessing!"

"We went to her door to ask for an audience, and she actually had people drive us out! It's utterly inhuman."

Liu Er and Liu San quickly chimed in: "Yeah, if it weren't for her wet‑nurse risking life and death to swap her into the Jiangjun Fu, she wouldn't have today's fortune."

"Heh, we originally came to Jinling to enjoy blessings, but now we can barely afford the rent for this place. Father, do you think the main branch should bear responsibility for this?"

Liu Qiongzhu's biological father, Liu Da, changed expression instantly upon hearing this.

"But… but Zhu'er never grew up in front of us, and now she won't listen to me and her mother either!"

Liu Da's wife, Wang Shi, wiped the corners of her eyes: "Yes, Father, Zhu'er never suffered anything before; since coming back home she's also endured many grievances. Now that she's gone to Prince Yun's Mansion, nothing is easy for her—she won't see us, and as her daughter‑in‑law I can't do anything."

Liu San's wife said, gloating: "Even if one's own flesh and blood feels no affection and refuses to acknowledge them, they're not truly kin; at least we should cherish old ties for those who aren't blood‑related."

Old Master Liu: "Eldest brother, eldest sister‑in‑law, bottom line is this is all your fault for not properly disciplining Zhu'er; otherwise we wouldn't be turning our thoughts to Cao'er."

Besides, last time the people from the Jiangjun Fu all wanted to put us to death; going straight to the door to look for Cao'er is impossible now. You still need to think of a way—did you hear that, eldest brother and eldest sister‑in‑law?

Wang Shi: "But… but Cao'er has already drawn a clear line with us; she, she won't even pay us any heed…"

Old Master Liu flung his pipe at them: "You idiot! Do you think saying you've drawn a line makes it so?!"

"Your mother lost her life because of her ruthlessness; now we don't even dare to retrieve her corpse, left to be devoured by wild dogs and wolves—shouldn't she bear responsibility for this?"

"If she won't remember old ties, we'll pester her! We'll spread her name as heartless and unrighteous all over the city—won't that affect her restaurant? Won't she have to give in?"

"Besides, her restaurant makes so much money that even a little bit leaking from between her fingers would be enough for us to eat and drink without worry; to keep us quiet, she'll surely give in."

"If we push them too far, we barefoot folk won't fear those wearing shoes—worst case, we'll just lose our lowly lives!"

Wang Shi covered her forehead, tears welling up.

Liu Er's wife, who had just been struck, hurriedly urged: "Eldest sister‑in‑law, go see her; she'll surely agree to this."

Wang Shi: "I… I…?"

Liu Er's wife: "You're her mother! Back when we were in this household, although we weren't very warm or friendly toward her, you did have some genuine feeling for her!"

Liu San's wife: "Yes, eldest sister‑in‑law. I heard that when she was little and first came to our household, you fed her day and night, which is how she survived."

"Afterwards, weren't you always secretly sneaking her food, even getting up at night to cover her with blankets? When she had a serious illness, weren't you the one who stayed up day and night, loosening your clothes and tirelessly caring for her?"

"She's just jealous of us; she certainly won't be completely heartless toward you."

Liu Jinzhi, who had been listening nearby, kept rolling her eyes with a gurgling sound.

At this point, hearing this, she also hurriedly chimed in: "Yes, eldest sister‑in‑law, what the second and third sisters‑in‑law said is all right! If we don't crowd around and only you go, Cao'er might actually soften her heart."

"Just don't forget me, eldest sister‑in‑law, after you get the benefits. My family's pig‑butchering business is all yours now…"

The night was deep, the whole Liu family crammed into one room, whispering and plotting their next beautiful dream…

Li Qingluo was asleep until midnight when the window was lightly tapped.

She rolled over, sat up, and reached for the long sword at the head of the bed.

"Who?"

Unexpectedly, she heard Zhui Yu's voice: "Miss Li, it's me, Zhui Yu. I heard you wanted to see me? Oh dear——"

Li Qingluo: "……"

"He just got fifty lashes, didn't he?"

Although she indeed had something she wanted to discuss with him, there was really no need to be so urgent.

In the dead of night, Li Qingluo was startled, thinking she'd have to go cook again.

When she put on her cloak and went to open the window, she saw Zhui Yu deathly pale, crouching below like a ghost.

Seeing Li Qingluo poke her head out, Zhui Yu gave a hehe laugh.

Li Qingluo: "Ah, even more like a ghost."

"You… you alright?"

Young Master Leng Dian had said, he really did receive fifty lashes!!

Fifty lashes—ten strikes would usually cripple an ordinary woman, and few survive fifty.

Although they all look like martial arts experts, getting up and moving about so quickly probably isn't easy either.

Zhui Yu drew circles on the ground: "Our prince knows you wanted to see me, and feared I'd delay your business, so he had Doctor Du give me a qilin pill and mafei powder. Hehe, I'm already much better!"

Li Qingluo looked at him sympathetically: "You don't really think our prince is that considerate, do you?"

After Zhui Yu supported his buttocks, held his breath, and returned to Prince Su's Mansion, just as he was about to enter his room and lie down, he was again called out by Gonggong Wu.

"Zhui Yu, Your Highness is still waiting for you—where are you off to?"

Zhui Yu pulled a bitter‑gourd face, turned and pleaded: "Gonggong Wu, I really know I was wrong—I'll never again scheme against Miss Li, please let the prince spare me…… I can't go on, I must lie down, my buttocks are bleeding, waa… waa… waa……"

Gonggong Wu wore a look of disdain: "……"

However, he also has no way.

Pack up and come over quickly. Prince Su recently took Doctor Du's medicine to counteract the poison; the clash of his internal energy is severe, and he hasn't been able to sleep all night.

You know, if you go out tonight and don't give Prince Su an explanation, our whole prince's manor might suffer disaster today.

Including you.

Zhui Yu: Wuu wuu wuu.

Zhui Yu didn't even bother to change his clothes, stubbornly reeking of blood, full of courage as he came to Prince Su's quarters.

Your Highness, the young lady has come to see you today, actually just for a small matter.

Duan Rongshi was leaning against the windowsill, reading a book.

Upon hearing this, he didn't lift his head, only slightly wrinkling his nose in disdain.

A small matter?

Zhui Yu: "The young lady says that if the Southern Screen Commandery Princess comes to our Prince Su's manor to borrow a few physicians, she hopes you can persuade Your Highness to reluctantly agree."

Just consider it as repaying for the day you framed Miss Li and owed her.

Duan Rongshi's hand paused as he turned the page: "For the twelfth daughter of the Pei manor?"

Zhui Yu gathered his spirits: "Probably. I heard that day the young lady went together with the Southern Screen Commandery Princess to the Pei manor, so she must know about the twelfth daughter of the Pei family."

Duan Rongshi: "She actually cares about that concubine daughter of the Pei family, thus using up the opportunity you owed her—does she know what she's wasting?"

The guard beside the dignified Prince Su!

An opportunity to scale blades and plunge into fire, even to die for her, would be wasted by her on such trivial matters.

Duan Rongshi gripped the book, his hand slender and long like a bamboo joint, vigorous and strong, exerting slight force.

Clearly, it's just a matter of saying a sentence to him, yet she refuses to come find him, to ask him in person about this trivial matter!

Instead, she goes to find the people around him, the guard who owes her a favor!

What else does Duan Rongshi not understand?

She is avoiding him!

Clearly, those two days in the mountains, they endured hardship together, shared life and death—could it now mean nothing to her?

Is Duan Rongshi really such a hard-to-approach person?

Duan Rongshi was so angry he didn't want to read anymore.

Zhui Yu glanced at Prince Su's expression, and in order to quickly retreat and rest, he had to summon his courage to continue: "Didn't Qingyangzi also ask Your Highness to send your people to the Pei manor… to help detoxify the twelfth daughter?"

Your Highness, why not go with the flow and help the young lady this time?

Look at how the young lady is; she still quite worries about the twelfth daughter of the Pei family.

Duan Rongshi: "Qingyangzi can't let go of the twelfth daughter, so he's been staying in prison and refuses to come out. However, if the Southern Screen comes to borrow people, just let Doctor Du make a trip."

A little maiden won't ruin my great affairs.

Zhui Yu's face showed a smile that was both painful and excited.

He just knew that Your Highness would not deny him this little face.

From now on, in front of the young lady, he at least can straighten the joystick again!

Eunuch Wu beside him showed a look of disdain, truly not knowing what Zhui Yu has to be happy about.

He probably doesn't think that Your Highness is really doing this for his sake, right?

Pah, shameless.

Duan Rongshi impatiently threw down the book: "Enough, get out! Before you heal, don't appear in my courtyard again."

Zhui Yu gratefully kowtowed and retreated.

In the blink of an eye, it was the twenty-eighth of the twelfth month.

Li Qingluo was looking at the notice on the table when Deng Mama walked in.

Miss, Luying has brought news from over there.

Li Qingluo: "How has Liu Qiongzhu been lately?"