Chapter 219: with translation of chapter title

"You, a liar and scum, since you already knew you are Zhu'er's biological sister, why did you go to the Li family and not say a single word?"

"You deliberately pretended to be Zhu'er's substitute, deliberately luring me into bed, didn't you?"

"The person who originally led me to Prince Yun's private residence—was that you after all?"

"If today you cannot explain clearly, I will take your life—"

Li Kechuan leaned forward, seized Liu Sui'er's hair in one hand, and dragged her back.

Cui Jiuniang, seeing his ferocity now like a wolf ready to devour a person, trembled in terror, feeling extreme disgust.

At this moment her resolve was unshakable: if she truly had to marry such a violent, filthy, depraved man in this life, she would rather hang herself with a white silk rope!

Liu Sui'er let out another wail, tears streaking her face: "Even if I tell, will the young master believe?"

"Back then I sought Liu Qingzhu, wanting to acknowledge her as my elder sister; it was she who had Aunt Liu Jinzhī send me back to the mountains, ruining my face so as not to hinder her future, so I wouldn't appear before you, the ones who love her, and cause trouble."

"She was cruel, but our own aunt Liu Jinzhī was even more greedy and vicious; she sold me… she sold me!"

This was the explanation Liu Sui'er gave her family when she returned to the Liu household on New Year's Eve.

She only said she was sold to a wealthy household as a maid, and only because the master was kind did he release her.

Thus, to this day, aside from Liu Jinzhī, no one in the Liu family knows she was once sold to a brothel; Liu Jinzhī herself dares not speak of it—how could she know that this scum Liu Sui'er could ever escape the brothel in this lifetime!?

Even so, Liu Jinzhī's actions still left the Liu family seething with anger.

They conspired to force Liu Jinzhī to produce the money she had received for selling Sui'er.

Then they completely drove Liu Jinzhī away, forbidding her from ever returning to her natal home.

Liu Jinzhī was furious; she still hoped to exploit the Liu family to skim some profit from Liu Caoer and Liu Qingzhu!

Having been expelled like that, her butcher husband found out and gave her a good beating.

Liu Jinzhī recently couldn't even get any oily meat at home; she was in great distress and grew to resent Liu Sui'er, even threatening her that if she didn't give her a favor, she would expose her past in the brothel to the whole city.

Liu Sui'er today deliberately arranged to meet Liu Jinzhī at Qing Song Temple.

When they met, Sui'er immediately provoked Liu Jinzhī with words.

She told her: "Do you know? The person I hate most in this life is you. Today, you must die without a place to be buried!"

Liu Jinzhī: "Your tone is certainly bold, so I'll first tear your mouth to shreds!"

Liu Jinzhī lunged to seize Liu Sui'er and give her a lesson, but Sui'er bolted away, turning and leading Liu Jinzhī here.

"If she hadn't sold me, how could I have accidentally, by mistake, ended up by the great young master's side?"

"When I learned that Jiangjun Fu was the place where my biological elder sister had lived, I truly hated both of them. How can my elder sister be the master while I am the slave?"

"But if Liu Qingzhu hadn't spurned me and Aunt had sold me, I wouldn't have been jealous, so indeed I originally lured the great young master…"

"This matter, Sui'er admits. But anything Sui'er never did, she absolutely does not admit!"

"What does the young master say about Prince Yun's private residence? As a slave, how could Sui'er know any of that, let alone where that house is? Moreover, why would I lead the young master there?"

"At that time Sui'er was still staying at the slave quarters…"

"Elder sister, was it you who did it? You went back to see the madam and the lord, didn't you? You also wanted to see how Liu Caoer was doing… No matter what, you shouldn't have caused the young master's broken leg…"

"Don't you know? His whole life has been ruined because of you, sob sob…"

If we talk about the skill of feigning innocence, although Liu Qingzhu has long reached the pinnacle, Liu Sui'er now also possesses a high level of mastery.

Liu Qingzhu, standing aside, snarled, "You, full of lies, you scum! I've said it, my brother wasn't harmed by me—"

Liu Sui'er: "Were you not in that mansion at the time? Didn't you hear the young master calling your name over and over? I heard the young master went mad that day searching for you; if you had shown up, the situation surely wouldn't have escalated beyond reversal…"

Liu Qingzhu's whole body went rigid.

She turned her head toward Li Kechuan, a little panicked: "Brother, it's not… this scum wants to harm me, she hates me! You, you also knew that Zhu'er that day was restrained by Your Highness and couldn't break free to rescue brother…"

Li Kechuan wore a gloomy expression and did not look at Liu Qingzhu.

"Enough! Coral… no, Liu Sui'er! You indeed harbored ill intent from the start, approaching me with ulterior motives. You used this face to cloud my feelings for Zhu'er; it was you— it was you who caused me to lose my reputation today, you deserve death!"

Li Kechuan's eyes brimmed with murderous intent, as if Liu Sui'er at that moment were already a dead person in his sight.

Liu Qingzhu looked disgustedly at Liu Sui'er and Liu Jinzhī, both of whom had caused this affair to drag her in as well!

Liu Sui'er must not live!

Otherwise, if this matter reaches Your Highness's ears and creates a rift in his heart, what then?

Now Your Highness is already growing colder toward her; if it spreads that her brother did such a thing, Liu Qingzhu fears she will be even more distressed…

The brother and sister stared fixedly at the Liu aunt and niece on the ground, and even the onlooking Cui family members sensed that Liu Sui'er's fate would not improve.

But Liu Sui'er lifted her head, her eyes casting a mournful gaze at Li Kechuan.

"Young master, Sui'er has long known she was wrong and has long regretted it."

"If Sui'er had not fallen hopelessly in love with you during our time together, she wouldn't have fled out of shame and inability to control herself, not knowing how to face you…"

"It's understandable that you hate me, young master."

"But please, young master, spare Sui'er's life for now… because within Sui'er's womb already lies your flesh and blood. Sui'er may die, but the child is innocent!"

While speaking, Liu Sui'er unfastened her heavy outer robe, loosened the waist belt, and revealed the round belly already visible beneath her clothes.

As soon as she said that, the round belly laid the truth bare before everyone, leaving all of them completely stunned.

Liu Jinzhī: "No, impossible…"

Liu Qingzhu's face was full of disbelief, and immediately a dense torrent of resentment rose in her heart.

Why!

Why can this lowly Liu Sui'er bear my brother's flesh and blood!?

And I, who have clearly been favored for a while, yet my belly shows no sign at all!?

Liu Qingzhu's anger drove her mad; at this moment her jealousy toward Liu Sui'er nearly reached its peak.

Li Kechuan's spirit seemed to soar beyond the heavens; he stared at Liu Sui'er's belly, his whole body chilled, then hurriedly looked toward Cui Jiuniang.

He opened his mouth, only to find he could not utter a single word of defense.

Before the marriage, there is already a bastard son.

If this spreads, not only will the Li family be shamed, but Cui Jiuniang will also be dragged out to be ridiculed.

And how could the entire Cui family be shamed like this!?

Li Kechuan's heart was like dead ash; when he looked again at Liu Sui'er, the murderous intent in his eyes had not lessened.

"You—"

Liu Jinzhi lunged forward and embraced Sui'er: "Sui'er, aunt knows she was wrong; you mustn't think there's no way out!"

Liu Jinzhi's heart, from shock to now, has completely changed and blossomed with joy.

Wonderful, now that Sui'er has a child, can't she rise in status through the child, soar onto the Li family's branch and become a phoenix again?

And the Cui family members are still here; today we'll completely ruin this marriage for them!

She protected Sui'er today; Sui'er should forgive her now, right?

Besides, if it hadn't been for me back then, she wouldn't have this fate today; this counts as a blessing in disguise, doesn't it?

When she later becomes a concubine of Jiangjun Fu, she'll eventually recognize this aunt's kindness!

Liu Jinzhi's thoughts were rather beautiful, but Liu Sui'er shoved her away.

She turned and knelt repeatedly before Cui Jiuniang: "Miss Cui! Please, Miss Cui, accept Sui'er. Sui'er does not ask to become any concubine; she only wishes the child in her womb to be born safely. Please, Miss Cui, grant Sui'er a way to live…"

Cui Jiuniang's face was naturally full of humiliation and anger.

But she wouldn't utter a single word.

Cui Qinshi shielded Cui Jiuniang completely from behind: "You wretched maid! You have today, and it's precisely the result of your own self‑abasing! Stop pulling at our Cui family girls; whether you live or die, become a concubine or the legitimate wife of Jiangjun Fu, what does it have to do with us!?"

"Jiuniang, we have nothing more to discuss with the Li family! Today the Li family has overstepped, we will not forget today's humiliation. Let's go!"

Cui Qinshi grabbed Cui Jiuniang and hurriedly left the bamboo forest.

Li Kechuan said nothing further to stop them, nor did he show any intention to retain them.

Deep down he knew that the outcome of this marriage was irreversible, completely finished.

"Attendants, bind these two wretches tightly!"

The Cui family hurried down the mountain, having had enough of the commotion caused by Ling Fengzi and the other Taoist priests.

Before he left, he gestured and said to Li Kechuan: "Good sir, our Green Pine Sect is not a place that causes deaths. If Young Master Li continues his reckless ways, don't blame us Taoists for reporting this to the authorities!"

Li Kechuan ground his teeth, producing a 'grrr—' sound, his face full of ferocity.

"Set out, descend the mountain!"

The performance was over, and Li Qingluo had naturally seen enough.

She turned to Deng Mama: "Create a distraction and rescue Sui'er."

Deng Mama grinned: "Yes, miss."

Zhang Mama and the others knew the shortcut down the mountain, so they escorted Li Qingluo at top speed, arriving ahead of the Cui family.

Her carriage stopped by the roadside.

When the Cui family passed by, Cui Jiuniang stepped down from the carriage to meet her.

"What happened today is a favor I owe you."

Cui Jiuniang gazed deeply at Li Qingluo, realizing today for the first time just how formidable the true legitimate daughter of Jiangjun Fu, now wandering, truly was!

If that Sui'er from the Liu family was also part of her scheme, how long ago did she begin plotting this game?

However, had her scheming not been so deep and her plan so meticulous, she wouldn't have found a chance to escape this marriage she could not bear.

Thinking of this, Cui Jiuniang once again bowed deeply to Li Qingluo.

"The kindness of today will be repaid in the future."

Soon after Cui Jiuniang left, Deng Mama also brought Liu Sui'er over.

"Miss, the person has arrived."

Liu Sui'er saw Li Qingluo and, excited, threw herself into her arms: "Big sister, sob sob sob, I knew you wouldn't ignore me, wouldn't really watch me go to my death…"

"Big sister, today you almost scared me to death; you must praise my performance, did Sui'er do well today?"