Chapter 194

Deng Mama smiled: "She has no money in her hand, and she has lost the status of the Jiangjun Fu's legitimate daughter; how could she be well off in a prince's inner quarters?"

Apart from Cao Rou'er targeting her everywhere, the other concubines and side consorts all do not get along with her.

Luying said, she was still punished by the princess consort to kneel in the courtyard for two hours just yesterday, and when she got up her legs were swollen.

Li Qingluo: "Prince Yun isn't protecting her?"

Deng Mama: "They said they pretended not to see, but after Liu Qingzhu went back she still burst into tears. Prince Yun had originally turned his steps toward her courtyard, but hearing the sobbing he hastily turned away."

Moreover, Luying said those people from the Liu family went to Prince Yun's Mansion several times looking for Liu Qingzhu, but Liu Qingzhu ignored them entirely, only having the mansion's soldiers drive them away with menacing threats, after which the Liu family people became honest again for a while.

Li Qingluo: "She thinks that having Prince Yun pull those Liu family people out of prison was already going above and beyond. But the Liu family are leeches; she is also their blood relative, and in their eyes entering the mansion of a solemn prince is like falling into a golden pit—how could they let her go easily?"

Just, for now they can't suck blood from her, so they might turn their attention back to me.

Deng Mama's eyes widened in shock, then she filled with anger: "How could they be so shameless? What should we do, miss?"

Li Qingluo picked up a chess piece nearby and accurately flicked it at the crow that had somehow flown to stop outside the window: "Su'er, it's time to go home."

Deng Mama pondered, then nodded slightly.

Que'er came in holding the crow: "Miss, someone actually sent you a flying message."

Li Qingluo:???

She merely felt the crow was an eyesore, yet it turned out to be a flying message?

Que'er took the paper tied to the crow's leg and handed it to Li Qingluo: "Miss, please take a look."

Li Qingluo unfolded it and read: "Looking for your older brother? Why not come ask me?"

Li Qingluo clenched the paper tightly.

She instantly guessed who had sent this paper.

Who else could it be?

The one who plays tricks in their Jiangjun Fu, who pretends to be a daughter to enter the Jiangjun Fu's young ladies' quarters to impersonate identity, is the Lotus Sect's incense master and moreover the chief of the four Dharma Protectors, and moreover knows that she still has an older brother in this world—Zheng Lingzhou!

Does he know that he was the child his grandmother entrusted to find to see if Aunt Zheng's child was still alive?

Deng Mama: "Miss, are you alright?"

Li Qingluo looked at the crow, thought for a moment, then only said: "Lock it up."

She will not go see Zheng Lingzhou.

As for that so-called 'older brother' of hers, if she can find him she will; if she can't, then if he never returns in this lifetime, so be it.

Li Qingluo burned the paper, then turned the conversation back to Liu Qingzhu: "Luying brought back a message—what exactly is the matter?"

Deng Mama: "She says Liu Qingzhu wants to see the eldest son, or perhaps the lady herself. She also asked Luying to think of a way to contact an old acquaintance in the mansion."

Li Qingluo immediately guessed what Liu Qingzhu wanted to do.

"Back when she was hastily taken into Prince Yun's Mansion, she didn't even bring the wealth she had accumulated in the Jiangjun Fu, so could it be that she wants to come back to ask for her dowry?"

Deng Mama: "You guessed right, miss! She thinks it's all because she has no money on hand, so now she is trying every way to come back, secretly to see those she still cares about."

Li Qingluo: "Since Liu Qingzhu was expelled from the Jiangjun Fu, Li Kechuan has never set foot outside Lan Cang Courtyard. Whether he wants to reflect or live peacefully, I don't care."

"But if he thinks he can just drop this and end our grudge, that's not going to happen."

Deng Mama: "What do you mean, miss?"

Li Qingluo: "If she wants to see, let her see. Please arrange it, and for now make sure no one else notices."

Deng Mama couldn't quite figure out the miss's thoughts.

"Miss, are you really going to let her take the money away again?"

Li Qingluo: "Wanting to see people and wanting to take away the Li family's wealth are two different matters."

Deng Mama then smiled: "Yes, I understand, old servant."

Li Qingluo's eyes fell on the notice, and she suddenly paused: "Wait!"

Li Qingluo picked up the notice and flipped it over: "On the fifth day of the first lunar month, the palace night banquet, inviting all officials of rank three and above and their families to enter the palace to jointly celebrate the New Year. In past years, could Liu Qingzhu have accompanied them into the palace?"

Deng Mama shook her head: "It seems that in past years, only marquis families, royal nobles and the like were eligible to receive this notice."

Li Qingluo, having never experienced these things, was still a little surprised upon hearing this.

"So the Jiangjun Fu is also receiving this notice for the first time?"

Deng Mama: "Yes. But miss, don't be afraid—the Old Lady, when she was a miss, and later when she became the world's sole female general, had entered the palace several times; with the Old Lady present, even if you go to the palace you won't easily make a mistake."

Li Qingluo's worry was not about this.

She was merely curious: if Liu Qingzhu learned of this, what would her reaction be?

As a concubine, even if she were a prince's concubine, by ritual she would not have the qualification to enter the palace that day, right?

But Li Qingluo now has a feeling that perhaps this time Liu Qingzhu will not be absent from this night banquet.

"Let Luying not rush, and keep pressing Liu Qingzhu."

"When people are driven to a certain desperate situation, they always end up doing something that is surprising and delighting."

Li Qingluo has already begun to anticipate what Liu Qingzhu will do next.

"One morning the bright moon falls into the mundane world, and it's not even as good as dung. But after all, dung can still be soaked to fertilize a field, and it still has some use."

"It just remains to see what attitude those nobles in the palace will now have toward our Jiangjun Fu."

Upon hearing this news, Liu Qingzhu naturally would be furious.

But now all the ornaments and jade wares in her room are gifts from Prince Yun, and she is short of funds, so she dare not lightly lose her temper and smash everything as she used to.

Thus she pinches Luying, the person closest to her, with all her strength to vent her anger.

"Li Qingluo, you wretch! Was it that in a past life you held a grudge against me, so in this life you've come specifically to thwart me?"

"Because of her I've ended up in this state! Am I not pitiful enough? Heaven actually treats me so unfairly!"

"I've spent a full sixteen years in the Jiangjun Fu—sixteen years! I've never received any notice to go to the palace, yet she, upon returning, actually obtains such an honor and even gets to pay respects to the Empress!"

"How exalted is the Empress? Even I, as a concubine of her son, have never seen her, yet Li Qingluo can go!"

"Why, why!?"

"It's all her fault, she took everything from me—"

"You bitch, you bitch, it's all her, I hate her to death!!"

Liu Qingzhu pinched Lu Ying, who collapsed on the ground, sobbing helplessly.

Only when a voice from outside said 'Presenting to Your Highness', she hurriedly grabbed Lu Ying again.

"Come now, Lu Ying, I didn't mean it, wipe your tears quickly."

Lu Ying lowered her head, a vague hatred flashing in her eyes: "Yes, miss, Lu Ying does not blame you…"

Liu Qingzhu was convinced that Lu Ying was the most devoted to her, after all Lu Ying was the only 'thing' she had taken from Jiangjun Fu, she had brought her to the Prince's residence to enjoy a life, already becoming the chief maid there, what more could she want?

Of course, Liu Qingzhu thought that for Lu Ying, the present days were still far from the greatest honor.

When she herself attains greater destiny in the future, Lu Ying will still be able to serve in the palace, and then Lu Ying will be even more grateful to her master.

Now she has no one else she can trust in the Prince's residence, so it's only fitting that Lu Ying suffers some grievances.

When Prince Yun stepped in, indeed Lu Ying had already composed herself, her face showing the usual attentiveness to the two of them.

Liu Qingzhu, with a docile demeanor, leaned into Prince Yun's arms, her face bearing a pitiful look of both grievance and timidity.

"Prince, you haven't visited me for several days… why think of me today? I thought you were already tired of me."

Liu Qingzhu didn't even dare to bring up the midnight banquet in the Fifth Palace.

She feared this would again incur Prince Yun's annoyance, thinking she was being thoughtless.

In fact, she has now reined in her temperament considerably.

Realizing she is no longer the legitimate eldest daughter of Jiangjun Fu, with no backing in this world, she has become hesitant in her actions.

Prince Yun pinched Liu Qingzhu's chin: "I came today, of course, because of something good for you. Qingzhu, you are the first concubine in my residence who can enter the palace to pay respects to my mother, the Empress. Do you know what an honor that is? And how it came about?"

"It was I who secured it for you. How will you thank me?"

Liu Qingzhu was stunned for a moment, then her face lit up with uncontrollable joy: "Your Highness!! Is this… is it real? When? I can truly go with you to pay respects to the Empress?"

Prince Yun: "On the fifth day of the new year, the palace will hold a traditional night banquet to celebrate. This time, besides the noble lords of the royal family, Jiangjun Fu is also invited."

"When the time comes, I will assign you an important task. Remember to perform well before the Empress, understand? When you return, I will reward you greatly!"

Hearing the words Jiangjun Fu, Liu Qingzhu's expression darkened: "Jiangjun Fu? I do indeed miss my father, mother, and elder brother, but they no longer recognize me as their false daughter…"

"Now I am the disgrace of Jiangjun Fu; even sixteen years of kinship is worth nothing in their eyes."

As she spoke, her tears fell with a 'tap tap' sound.

Prince Yun sighed: "I understand, it was because of me that you fell out with them. I will see to this matter myself."

Liu Qingzhu felt her heart pounding wildly.

"Your Highness, what exactly does this mean?"

"Could he perhaps reconcile Jiangjun Fu and herself, turning swords into silk, restoring harmony?"

"If this were possible, she could reclaim her rightful dowry, wouldn't that be just?"

Liu Qingzhu's heart surged with intense excitement.

"This truly is a lifeline in a desperate spot; heaven will not close off her path!"