Chapter 195

More importantly, my current background and natal family are simply too embarrassing to show!

Even that lowly Cao Rouer has repeatedly brought this up to mock me, making Liu Qiongzhu so angry she wishes to tear that mouth apart!

Toward the Liu family, Liu Qiongzhu also feels deep resentment.

These useless leeches originally swapped me into the Jiangjun Fu just so they could now cling to me and suck my blood; Liu Qiongzhu has long seen through this despicable, lowly family, and naturally she doesn't want to submit to being used by them.

So, she is thinking of ways to throw this whole family back into those mountains!

At this moment, facing the great blessing Prince Yun has arranged for her, Liu Qiongzhu feels sweet inside.

Her cheeks flushed crimson, her eyes hazy as she gazed at Prince Yun: "Your Highness..."

Luying, fearing to dirty her eyes, sensibly retreated quickly.

Just as she closed the door, she heard Prince Yun say: "It's not dark yet; why are you in a hurry?"

Liu Qiongzhu: "Your Highness, if you don't come again tonight, won't I have to guard the empty chamber alone again?"

"Your Highness, you are no longer solely Zhu'er's..."

"Zhu'er still wishes to conceive Your Highness's flesh and blood as soon as possible, to continue your lineage, to compensate for what Zhu'er once owed Your Highness..."

A flash of mocking disgust crossed Luying's face.

What a wanton harlot!

It's a pity she doesn't realize that Prince Yun's refusal to touch her in daylight is not due to self-restraint.

It's merely because he has seen those ugly scars still on Liu Qiongzhu's waist and hips!

Thus, even when they engage in intimacy at night, Prince Yun still puts out the lamp.

Because he actually loathes them, and indeed cannot bear to even glance at those scars on her body that he left behind!

Luying is so certain because she clearly saw from the window crack that Prince Yun's face had once shown an expression of disgust and disdain.

But perhaps he still finds her somewhat novel, so he remains somewhat obsessively infatuated with Liu Qiongzhu.

This pair truly are both base to the same degree!

They deserve to be a born pair of lowlings!

As expected, Prince Yun still rebuffed Liu Qiongzhu's advance; after saying a few words, he hurried away as if fleeing.

Although Liu Qiongzhu was very disappointed, she did not take it out on Luying again.

In the blink of an eye, the bustling New Year's Eve and the new year arrived.

Li Chao Jing and Qu Shi came early to Jingci Tang to pay respects to Pei Lao Furen; by the time they arrived, Li Qingluo was already there.

Li Chao Jing glanced at the immobile Li Qingluo, suppressing his anger as he said to Pei Lao Furen: "Mother, when Luo'er first came home, there were many misunderstandings among us; my son and her mother also indeed caused her some grievance."

"Now everything is in the past; she and Liu Qiongzhu have both returned to their rightful places; from now on, let our family get along well, shall we?"

"My son and her mother also truly wish to make it up to her."

"But this child, her resentment toward me and her mother in her heart is likely still deep; usually not seeing each other is fine, and she does anything without telling us, which we don't mind, but after all... our family ought to share a reunion dinner, and then we can talk properly afterward."

Qu Shi gazed at Li Qingluo, her eyes full of gentleness.

"Luo'er, tonight is New Year's Eve; would you be willing to dine together with your parents and your elder brother, of course also with your mother-in-law, so our family can have a good meal together?"

Li Qingluo: "Unwilling."

Li Chao Jing: ……

Qu Shi also instantly felt awkward, her eye sockets reddening.

"Luo'er, you really still resent your mother..."

Li Chao Jing gritted his teeth: "Li Qingluo, don't push your luck——"

"Father and Mother are joking. It's not that Luo'er is spoiling the fun, but rather the manor now has many people; after all, the second and third branches have returned, so even lacking one insignificant me, it will still be lively."

Until Pei Lao Furen gave a light cough.

"Enough!"

She glared at Li Chao Jing and Qu Shi.

"You two came early to my Jingci Tang to pressure Luo'er; are you trying to cause trouble here?"

"Li Chao Jing, do you truly wish to treat Luo'er well, or merely put on the act of being a father? Your words are half-hearted and snide; do you think Luo'er is some other maiden who will submit after you threaten her?"

"If you truly want her to call you 'Father,' then treat her with sincerity! Otherwise, don't come before my eyes to be an eyesore!"

"And you, Qu Shi, why are you coming to me with red eyes early in the morning? Did you turn into a rabbit or just not sleep well last night? On this great New Year, why are you looking for bad luck in my Jingci Tang?"

After being scolded by Pei Lao Furen, the two finally lowered their heads honestly.

Pei Lao Furen gave that heartless couple a disdainful look, then turned her gaze to Li Qingluo.

"Luo'er, tonight you will accompany Grandmother to attend this family banquet."

"After all, you are now the eldest legitimate daughter of the Jiangjun Fu, not some insignificant orphan. We grandparents will go together; no need to feel that anyone is an eyesore—just eat and then leave."

Grandmother had spoken, and Li Qingluo respectfully agreed.

She actually had long known that tonight's meal could not be avoided.

Originally, Grandmother came down from the mountain precisely to retake the Jiangjun Fu and regain full authority over life and death in this household!

Now, Grandmother has already reestablished her intimidation over everyone in the Jiangjun Fu; as the person of highest status and power in this household for this New Year's Eve banquet, she naturally must attend.

How could Li Qingluo possibly not go to accompany her?

Her refusal of Li Chao Jing and his wife was indeed merely to save face for them.

Seeing them flustered and exasperated, she felt delighted in her heart.

The couple departed with sullen faces, and then Pei Lao Furen poked Li Qingluo's head helplessly, saying: "You! Luo'er, they are now willing to lower themselves to coax you; do you truly refuse to get along well with them?"

Li Qingluo: "Grandmother, if Grandfather had been willing to properly coax you back then, would you have been willing to return home?"

Pei Lao Furen uttered a 'tsk': "Does he even deserve it? I've long seen through him—he's a virtue-less, selfish, faithless, unrighteous dog! As for your father and mother... ah! Forget it, why should I bother saying this to you? Everything cannot be forced."

Li Qingluo smiled and stepped forward to link arms with Pei Lao Furen.

"Grandmother, they only sing for you to see, so Li Qingluo doesn't believe they have any genuine feeling for her. Look for yourself."

Here, Li Chao Jing and Qu Shi reach a fork in the road; he, annoyed, tosses out a line: "What a fine daughter you gave birth to! Hmph!"

Then he directly turned toward Liu Mian'er's courtyard, apparently not wanting to say another word to Qu Shi.

Qu Shi pinched herself until the palm skin broke and bled, her face pale and full of sorrow.

"Now, he and I have come to despise each other to this extent? Ha, ha…"

Granny Chang, feeling sorry, advised Qu Shi: "Madam, try to see it more openly. You, you now also cannot stop the Lord… Ah!"

Qu Shi wiped the tear at the corner of her eye.

"He will come back looking for me."

"Granny, has my mother sent another letter?"

Granny Chang glanced around, her face wary: "Yes, when we return, the old servant Chun Zaitang will give it to you."

Chun Zaitang.

Granny Chang pulled out the letter and handed it to Qu Shi, who hurriedly opened it and read it several times.

"My mother… wants Li Qingluo to marry Xun Ge'er!"

Granny Chang was startled: "It's the main house's legitimate second son, Fourth Lord Xun Ge'er!? Madam, this is a very good match!"

Qu Shi sighed.

"Yes, indeed it is a very good match."

"Although Xun Ge'er is a younger son, his studies have been better than the eldest since childhood. He is well‑proportioned, albeit a bit short, and beyond that his temperament is flawless."

"He knows etiquette, is witty, friendly and considerate, and his household is spotless; I heard he hasn't even taken a concubine yet."

"Moreover, I heard Xun Ge'er will also take part in the Spring Examination. If he passes, those who propose marriage to him will have to break even higher thresholds; if we can settle the marriage before his exam, Li Qingluo will have gotten a bargain."

Granny Chang became excited: "Big Miss, this is such a good turn of events!"

Qu Shi sighed again: "Xun Ge'er truly is an excellent young master, and the elder uncle is now Minister of Revenue, making his family a perfect match for Jiangjun Fu."

"Given Jiangjun Fu's current circumstances, if Xun Ge'er later passes the exam, Li Qingluo will also be regarded as a high‑status marriage."

Granny Chang: "With such a good match, Madam, what are you still worrying about? Fear that the Old Lady won't consent?"

Now the marriage of Jiangjun Fu's legitimate eldest daughter cannot be arbitrarily intervened by the Madam and the Lord, the biological parents, so even if Qu Shi is willing, she must first obtain the Old Lady's nod of approval.

Qu Shi: "I find it strange… why would the main house agree to let Xun Ge'er propose this match to Li Qingluo?"

"Li Qingluo grew up outside Jinling and never accompanied me back to my maternal home; the main house has never even seen Li Qingluo."

"Now our Jiangjun Fu's reputation isn't great; even Zhongyi Hou Fu no longer mentions the marriage between the two families… why would they be willing? I originally thought Mother would mention my elder brother's illegitimate fourth son; I wasn't very happy about it, since Li Qingluo is my biological child, and I know the mother‑in‑law wouldn't agree…"

"But I never expected it to be their main house's Xun Ge'er! I always thought their main house would have some strange scheme…"

Granny Chang: "Madam, don't overthink. Perhaps, although our Jiangjun Fu has declined a bit, they value the big miss because she is being personally raised under the Old Lady's care, so they regard her even more highly."

"Moreover, since we no longer bring up the marriage with Zhongyi Hou Fu, if the Qu family becomes proactive again, it's the Minister of Revenue's second son, and the Old Lady might not refuse."

Qu Shi nodded: "Perhaps I'm overthinking. If this marriage can happen, the Lord will certainly value the three of us—mother and children—more."

"Ah, if he treats Li Qingluo that way, he won't be so impatient every day."

"Granny Chang, tell me, what kind of sins have I given birth to?"

"Actually, deep down… I still can't help but occasionally think of Zhu'er; although she deceived us, she was truly caring to me before…"

Granny Chang continued to counsel Qu Shi for a while.

Then they spoke of the palace night banquet on the fifth day of the new year; the main house of the Qu family all have to go to the palace.

So that day they made sure Li Qingluo was heavily made up, so that the main house's Old Lady, Tai Tai, and Xun Ge'er could all lay eyes on Li Qingluo.

Thus the main house of the Qu family would have some certainty, depending on whether they can favor Li Qingluo.