Chapter 204

After another heavy snowfall, the whole city was blanketed in white.

Translation: After another heavy snowfall, the whole city was blanketed in white.

After another heavy snowfall, the whole city was covered in white.

Li Qingluo went to Jingci Hall before dawn.

Li Qingluo went to Jingci Tang before dawn.

She hadn't slept all night, so her eyes were bloodshot from staying up.

She hadn't slept all night, so her eyes were red from strain.

Wearing a cloak and a hood, Li Qingluo hurried into the hall and saw her grandmother leaning against the bed.

Wearing a cloak and a hood, Li Qingluo hurried into the hall and saw her grandmother leaning against the bed.

"Grandmother! Could it be that you also didn't sleep all night?"

"Grandmother! Could it be that you... also didn't sleep all night?"

Li Qingluo walked over and sat down beside the old lady Pei.

Li Qingluo walked over and sat beside Pei Lao Furen.

The old lady Pei opened her eyes and sighed, "Lu'er, are you going out?"

Pei Lao Furen opened her eyes and sighed: "Luò'er, are you going out?"

Li Qingluo nodded: "Grandmother, I want to go to the Pei mansion."

Li Qingluo nodded: "Grandmother, I want to go to the Pei residence."

The old lady Pei sprang up: "What are you going to the Pei mansion for!? Since you know something has happened there, why would you go into that den of wolves and tigers? Don't you see the danger?"

Pei Lao Furen sprang up: "What are you going to the Pei residence for!? Since you know something happened there, yet you still want to go into that den of wolves and tigers—do you know the danger?"

"Lu'er, grandmother no longer insists on that promise you made earlier. Just stay at home properly. Since you are close to the twelfth lady, grandmother will send someone to inquire and investigate this matter, and will inform you of the results."

"Luò'er, Grandmother no longer insists on that thing you previously promised her. Just stay at home properly; since you and the twelfth lady are close, Grandmother will send someone to inquire, to investigate this matter, and will tell you the result when there is one..."

Li Qingluo lowered her head: "Grandmother, since I came to Jinling, aside from caring most for you, only Nan Jia and the princess have opened their hearts to me."

Li Qingluo lowered her head: "Grandmother, since coming to Jinling, aside from caring most for you, the only ones I have opened my heart to are Nan Jia and the princess."

"Lu'er wants to see Nan Jia off on her final journey."

"Luò'er wants to see Nan Jia off on her final journey."

The old lady Pei, who also values loyalty and righteousness, knows she cannot stop Li Qingluo from doing this.

Pei Lao Furen is also a person who values loyalty and righteousness, knowing she cannot stop Li Qingluo from doing this.

"But something like this has happened at the Pei mansion... What if it truly is the wicked deed of your great-grandfather?"

"But the Pei residence has had such an incident... what if it really is the wicked deed of your great maternal grandfather..."

Indeed, grandmother still knows some things about your great-grandfather.

As expected, grandmother still knows some things about the great maternal grandfather.

Initially, after Li Qingluo learned the specific recent circumstances of the old Marquis Pei, she never told her grandmother.

Initially, after Li Qingluo found out the specific recent situation of the old Pei guogong, she never told her grandmother.

The last time she visited the Pei mansion, Li Qingluo personally saw a maid who had been nearly driven to death.

The last time she went to the Pei residence, Li Qingluo personally saw a maidservant who had been nearly driven to death.

From that she knew her great-grandfather had completely lost his sanity.

She thus knew that her great maternal grandfather had completely lost his mind.

Although grandmother had deliberately avoided investigating the Pei marquis's household, there are no impenetrable walls in this world; perhaps this information had already leaked out from the Pei mansion itself.

Although grandmother deliberately avoided investigating the Pei guogong's affairs, there is no impenetrable wall under heaven; perhaps these rumors had already leaked out from the Pei guogong residence itself...

Li Qingluo said: "Grandmother, don't overthink and wear yourself out. I've heard that your great-grandfather can't even leave his room now, so Nan Jia's affair may not be his doing."

Li Qingluo: "Grandmother, don't overthink and wear yourself out. I've heard that the great maternal grandfather can't even leave his room now; Nan Jia's affair may not be his doing."

"Let's wait for Uncle De's news."

"Let's wait for Uncle De's news."

After leaving the General's mansion, Li Qingluo saw a young boy crouched in a corner outside the gate, his whole body covered in white snow.

After Li Qingluo left the Jiangjun Fu, a young lad was crouched in a corner outside the gate, his whole body covered in white snow.

Li Qingluo glanced at him, then got into the carriage; after the carriage had driven off for a while, the boy finally climbed onto the front deck.

Li Qingluo glanced at him, then boarded the carriage; after the carriage had driven off for a while, the boy climbed onto the front deck.

"Servant Wu Quan has seen you, miss."

"Servant Wu Quan has seen Miss."

Li Qingluo spoke to him through the curtain: "Are you Uncle De's son?"

Li Qingluo spoke through the curtain: "Are you Uncle De's son?"

Wu Quan: "Yes, miss. I am my father's youngest son. My father hasn't returned to Jinling yet, so the tasks you've recently assigned are being handled by me."

Wu Quan: "Yes, Miss; I am my father's youngest son. My father hasn't returned to Jinling yet, so the errands you've had me run lately are all being handled by me."

Li Qingluo: "Look, he's only about fourteen or fifteen, yet he's quite capable."

Li Qingluo: Looking at him, he's only about fourteen or fifteen, yet he really has some ability.

"Regarding the Pei mansion, have you heard anything?"

"Regarding the Pei residence, have you heard anything?"

Wu Quan: "They say that the second young master of the second branch was possessed last night, grabbed a sword intending to kill the old marquis, but was stopped by the whole family; then he personally went to the Dali Temple to file a report, and it's said several groups have already gone. The entire marquis's mansion was in an uproar all night."

Wu Quan: "They say that the second lord of the second branch seemed possessed last night, grabbed a sword and tried to kill the old guogong lord; after being stopped by the whole family, he personally went to the Dali Temple to file a report, and it's said several groups have already gone. The entire guogong mansion was in an uproar all night."

Li Qingluo clenched her palms.

Li Qingluo pinched her palm.

Having just heard the tragic news last night, she could not accept it at once.

Last night she suddenly heard the tragic news, and she could not accept it at once.

Even when she got out of bed to put on her shoes and socks, she stumbled and fell to the ground.

Even when getting out of bed to put on shoes and socks, she stumbled and fell to the ground.

The image, voice, and smile of Nan Jia kept flooding her mind, along with the happy times they spent together and the affection they shared while eating and sleeping side by side in the Si Garden; hearing such terrible news made Li Qingluo feel a pain sharper than having her heart carved out.

Nan Jia's appearance, voice, and smile kept flooding her mind; the happy times they spent together, and the affection from sharing meals and sleep in the Si Yuan for those few days, made Li Qingluo, upon hearing such dreadful news, feel for a moment more painful than having her heart dug out.

She also took a long time to recover.

She also eased for a long while.

Only when she stood in the courtyard, drenched by the heavy snow, did she finally come to her senses and realize that this was real!

Only when she stood in the courtyard, drenched by the heavy snow, did she sober up and realize this was real!

Nan Jia died so horribly—how cruel!

How cruel that Nan Jia died so miserably!

Even I cannot bear it, let alone Nan Jia's father, her only daughter.

Even she herself can't accept it, let alone Nan Jia's father, who has only this one daughter.

Li Qingluo thought of Aunt Guan; I wonder how she will endure this.

Li Qingluo thought of that Madame Guan; she didn't know how she would bear this.

I have never felt a mother's love, yet Nan Jia grew up bathed in her parents' deepest affection; such a happy family has now been utterly torn apart...

She herself had never felt a mother's love, yet Nan Jia grew up in her parents' deepest affection; such a happy family was thus utterly torn apart...

Li Qingluo feels heartbroken whenever she thinks of it.

Li Qingluo felt heartbroken whenever she thought of it.

"Grandmother, let's go to the Su Prince's mansion."

"Granny, go to the Prince Su's residence."

The carriage turned a corner, took a different route, and did not go straight to the princess's mansion.

The carriage made a turn, took a different road, and did not go straight to the princess's residence.

"Miss, are you going to look for the Su Prince?"

"Miss, are you going to look for Prince Su?"

Li Qingluo knew she had promised her grandmother not to involve herself with the Su Prince, but for this matter, who else could she turn to?

Li Qingluo knew she had promised her grandmother not to involve herself with Prince Su again, but for this matter, who else could she turn to?

Only the Su Prince can allow her to see Nan Jia.

Only Prince Su could allow her to see Nan Jia.

Li Qingluo said: "Today, outsiders are certainly not allowed into the Pei mansion. Even if I bring the Nanping princess along, it might just be a wasted trip."

Li Qingluo: "Today the Pei residence will certainly not admit outsiders. Even if I bring the Nanping princess along... perhaps it would just be a wasted trip."

"But as the Minister of Justice, the Su Prince cannot be barred by the Pei mansion."

"But as the Minister of Justice, Prince Su cannot be barred by their Pei residence."

Outside the Su Prince's mansion, the carriage from the General's mansion was quietly parked in a nearby corner.

Outside Prince Su's residence, the carriage from the Jiangjun Fu quietly stopped in a nearby corner.

Aunt Deng, trembling with fear, went to the Su Prince's gatehouse and returned with a strange expression, reporting: "Miss... the servants of the Su Prince's mansion say... say the Prince is waiting for you inside, and you may... go straight in to see him."

Deng Mama, trembling with fear, went to the gatehouse of Prince Su's residence and returned with a strange expression to report: "Miss... the servants of Prince Su's residence say... say the Prince is waiting for you inside; please... just go in and see him."

Li Qingluo lifted the carriage curtain: "Really?"

Li Qingluo lifted the carriage curtain: "Really?"

Aunt Deng also looked doubtful: "Yes, miss. But could the Su Prince have already known you would come to see him?"

Deng Mama also looked doubtful: "Yes, Miss. But could it be that Prince Su already knew you would come to see him?"

Li Qingluo and Nan Jia's close friendship is not known to everyone in Jinling, yet he knew she would come to him... had he anticipated it?

Li Qingluo and Nan Jia's boudoir relationship is not known to everyone in Jinling City, yet he knows she will come to seek him... has he calculated it?

Li Qingluo also recalled those few words the Su Prince had said just last night.

Li Qingluo also recalled those few words Prince Su had said just last night.

"Let her have whatever matter, go personally to beg him."

"Let her have any matter, go personally to beg him."

Li Qingluo felt bitter inside, never expecting that she would come to beg him so soon.

Li Qingluo felt bitter inside, never expecting that she would come to beg him so soon.

Li Qingluo: "I can't worry about all that anymore, grandmother, let's go!"

Li Qingluo: "Never mind all that, Granny, let's go!"

The little bird behind her hurriedly followed and opened an umbrella.

Que'er hurriedly followed behind and opened an umbrella.

Snowflakes were still drifting; Li Qingluo and her four attendants hurried toward the Su Prince's mansion.

Snowflakes were still drifting; Li Qingluo and her retinue of four hurried toward Prince Su's residence.

The servant at the gate, seeing her approach, hurried forward to meet her.

The servant at the gate saw her coming and hurried forward to meet her.

Grinning: "This servant has seen Miss Li!"

Li Qingluo raised her hand, somewhat startled: "Please rise quickly."

The servants of Prince Su's Manor are nothing like the prince's usual bearing and manner; toward outsiders they are always so harmonious.

Li Qingluo had just finished thinking and was about to lift her foot onto the steps when a shout came from behind: "Li Qingluo! How did you come here!!"

Li Qingluo turned her head and saw Princess Qin Yu.

She then recalled that Prince Su's Manor was right next to Princess Qin Yu's residence.

At this moment, Princess Qin Yu was followed by a group of palace personnel; it appeared they had come personally to escort her to the outer imperial residence as punishment for last night's offense, to confine her there for reflection.

Li Qingluo turned and respectfully paid her respects: "Greetings, Princess Qin Yu."

Princess Qin Yu strode over, face full of anger: "Didn't I warn you not to approach your cousin even half a step? Li Qingluo, you're playing me——"

Li Qingluo rose, neither humble nor arrogant: "Your Highness, as a commoner… as a subject's daughter, whom I wish to see and where I go are my own freedoms; even as a princess, you have no right to interfere in my life, do you?"

Princess Qin Yu wanted to step forward again, but was already blocked by the palace attendants behind her.

The attendant, looking embarrassed, said to Princess Qin Yu: "Your Highness, don't make things difficult for the servants. The time has come; you should leave the city."

Princess Qin Yu clenched her fists, staring fixedly at Li Qingluo.

"Good. Good, you eldest daughter of the Li family..."

How could Princess Qin Yu not be angry?

When she first left the palace to establish her residence, she had wanted to live together with her cousin in Prince Su's Manor, but he flatly refused!

Over these years, even if she wanted to enter Prince Su's Manor at will, she first needed her cousin's consent.

Yet this Li Qingluo is treated as an honored guest by Prince Su's Manor!

That fawning lackey's obsequious demeanor—I've hardly ever seen such a sight!

And yet they reverently lift up that lowly woman, a mere find from the Jiangjun Fu, as if she were precious!

Princess Qin Yu would love to crush that lackey's face underfoot!

However, given that there were still palace people present, Princess Qin Yu thus restrained herself and did not lash out.

Li Qingluo also met her gaze without fear.

She didn't want to cause trouble, but she certainly wouldn't be a pushover.

Seeing her such spirit, Princess Qin Yu couldn't help but coldly curl the corner of her mouth: "This princess will certainly not let you off."

She tossed out those words, then turned and boarded the carriage in a carefree manner.

Li Qingluo: "Seeing the princess off respectfully."

Her mouth was tough, but thinking that in three months Princess Qin Yu would return, and that Li Qingluo would have to face this world-renowned, internationally acclaimed peerless princess, she couldn't help but feel a bit thorny.

Moreover, she herself is currently no match for her.

But when the soldiers come, we'll block them; when the water comes, we'll dam it with earth.

Li Qingluo now has no leisure to think about all that!

She turned and hurried into Prince Su's Manor, following the guide servant through the snow‑white garden to the main hall where the prince resides.

Before Li Qingluo even entered, she saw Prince Su already dressed in the robes of a Minister of Justice, wearing a wholly black fur cloak over them, striding out with a long sword in hand.

"Let's go."

He only glanced at her once, then led Li Qingluo onward outward.

Li Qingluo hurried to follow: "Your Highness, are we perhaps going to Duke Pei's Manor?"

Duan Rongshi: "Otherwise, who am I waiting for?"

Li Qingluo then asked: "Your Highness, is your injury no longer serious?"

At last night's palace banquet, Prince Su never appeared again; it seemed the person Li Qingluo saw in the side chamber was merely her hallucination.

But Li Qingluo knows it was real.

Moreover, the reason given for Prince Su's absence from the banquet was that he had suffered grave injuries in the previous encounter with rebel insurgents, was recuperating in his manor, and even Emperor Liang had expressed concern several times.

Li Qingluo still thought that, if she saw him and said a few words, she might at least obtain a token from Prince Su.

Who would have thought he would actually personally take her out?

Duan Rongshi unconsciously stopped his steps and looked at Li Qingluo: "Miss Li, are you concerned about me?"

Li Qingluo: "?"

"Your Highness, have you misunderstood something?"

She merely found it strange: if he can personally leave the manor, why must she personally come in this trip?

After the two hurriedly left, Eunuch Wu then rushed out from the corner in a fluster.

"Where is she? Where is Miss Li?"

Servant: "Eunuch Wu, Miss Li has already left with the prince."

Eunuch Wu immediately stomped his feet in anger: "Alas, we still haven't even seen that rumored Miss Li once! Every time we hear Leng Dian and the broken Zhui Yu mention her, we're almost dying of envy."

"Is she truly as beautiful as a celestial maiden, more outstanding than any other maiden?"

Servant: "Not exactly. But when standing beside our lord, she indeed looks pleasing."

Eunuch Wu became even angrier.

"Zhui Yu, when does he not seek him, but chooses this moment?"

Duke Pei's Manor.

Li Qingluo, veiled, followed the Prince Su, who is a Minister of Justice, openly into Duke Pei's Manor, causing many to stare wide-eyed.

Beside the cold‑blooded, murderous, ruthless Prince Su, when has he ever been accompanied by a woman?

And this is during his case‑investigations—something never heard of before!

Everyone in Duke Pei's Manor felt it strange, yet dared not ask.

No one dared to stop them, so Li Qingluo followed Prince Su to that dilapidated courtyard.

Sha Lei immediately went up to meet: "Your Highness, we have found six pieces of the severed limbs."