Chapter 228

Lu Ying said: "Yes, Madam. I know I was wrong, but the wound is really deep; if I don't let the medicine seep in, I'm afraid Madam will end up with a scar..."

Lu Ying said: "Yes, Madam. I, your servant, know I was wrong, but the wound is really deep; if I, your servant, don't let the medicine seep in, I fear Madam will be left with some scar..."

We'll produce: 【1】 Lu Ying said, "Yes, Madam. I, your servant, know I was wrong, but the wound is really deep; if I, your servant, don't let the medicine seep in, I fear Madam will be left with some scar..."

But need to keep the Chinese punctuation? We'll just use English.

Make sure it's one line.

Yet she struck without holding back, and seeing those scars on Liu Qinzhu's body filled her face with contempt and satisfaction.

Translation: "Yet when she applied the medicine, she still wasn't gentle at all, and upon seeing these scars on Madam Liu Qinzhu's body, her face was full of disdain and glee."

Keep the name Liu Qinzhu.

Liu Qinzhu snatched a pillow and covered her head with it, crying, "So annoying, so annoying, so annoying! Wah wah wah!"

Translation: "Upon hearing this, Liu Qinzhu grabbed a pillow and covered her head with it: 'So annoying, so annoying, so annoying! Wah wah wah!'"

She burst into tears, crying, "Why is my life so miserable? It's all because of that despicable Li Qingluo! She's the one who did this to me!"

Translation: "She burst into tears, crying, 'Why is my life so miserable? It's all Li Qingluo's fault, that lowly wretch! It's all because of her that I've come to this!'"

"If she hadn't shot an arrow into my buttocks, I wouldn't be suffering like this today!"

Translation: "'If she hadn't shot an arrow into my buttocks, I wouldn't be suffering like this today!'"

"And these scars... If I end up with more scars, the Highness will surely despise me sooner or later."

Translation: "'And these scars... If more scars remain, Your Highness will surely despise me sooner or later.'"

Just thinking about this, Liu Qinzhu couldn't help but feel sorrowful.

Translation: "Thinking of this, Liu Qinzhu couldn't help but feel sorrowful."

She hadn't realized before that after being beaten in the Li household, her body was left with so many scars.

Translation: "She hadn't realized before that after being beaten in the Li household, her body was left with so many scars."

Lu Ying didn't mention it, and even Prince Yin had never brought it up.

Translation: "Lu Ying didn't say anything, and even Prince Yun Your Highness never mentioned it."

Liu Qinzhu herself wondered why, whenever Prince Yin shared a room with her these days, he insisted on turning off the lights before being intimate.

Translation: "It was Liu Qinzhu herself wondering why, whenever Prince Yun shared a room with her these days, he insisted on putting out the lamp before being intimate."

Once, she deliberately lit a candle after they were together, while Prince Yin was still there.

Translation: "Once, she deliberately, after their encounter, while Prince Yun had not yet left, got up and lit a candle."

At that time she was completely naked, still undressed, which provoked Prince Yin into a great anger, and he kicked her to the ground.

Translation: "At that time she was completely naked, having not put on clothes, which provoked Prince Yun into a great rage, and he kicked her to the ground with one foot."

"Get out! Don't dirty my eyes!"

Translation: "'Get out! Don't dirty my eyes!'"

Liu Qinzhu sat on the ground at that moment, ignoring the pain in her body, feeling only shock on her face.

Translation: "Liu Qinzhu sat on the ground at that moment, ignoring the pain in her body, feeling only shock on her face."

She looked at Prince Yin with a foolish expression, tears streaming down her face, and said, "Your Highness, what are you saying? How have I dirtied your eyes?"

Translation: "She looked at Prince Yun with a foolish expression, tears streaming: 'Your Highness, what are you saying? How have I, your servant, dirtied Your Highness's eyes?'"

"'I am now your person, Your Highness. Does losing my status as the eldest daughter of the General's Manor mean I am merely a toy to you, no longer precious?'"

Translation: "'I am now Your Highness's person; is it merely because I lost my status as the eldest daughter of the Jiangjun Fu that I have become nothing more than a toy in Your Highness's hands, no longer precious?'"

"'Your Highness, have you forgotten the vows of eternal love you made to Zhu'er back then?'"

Translation: "'Your Highness, have you forgotten the mountain-and-oath vows you once made to Zhu'er?'"

"Prince Yin, provoked by her questioning, flared with anger and shame: 'Don't you see what a sorry state you're in now? I still indulge you only out of old affection—what more do you expect from me?'"

Translation: "Prince Yun, provoked by her questioning, couldn't help but become angry out of embarrassment: 'You don't even look at yourself—what a ghastly state you're in! I still deign to favor you only out of old affection; what more do you expect from me?!'"

Having said that, Prince Yin put on his robes and coldly left Liu Qinzhu's chamber.

Translation: "Having said that, Prince Yun put on his robes and ruthlessly left Liu Qinzhu's room."

Liu Qinzhu sat foolishly on the ground.

Translation: "Liu Qinzhu sat foolishly on the ground."

She couldn't figure it out—aside from her voice becoming a little hoarse, how had she turned into such a frightful sight?

Translation: "She just couldn't figure it out—aside from her voice becoming a bit hoarse, how had she turned into a ghostly apparition?"

No, it must be something on her body that makes the Highness dislike her, to the point of not wanting to see her.

Translation: "No, it must be something on her body that makes Your Highness despise her, to the point of not wanting to see her."

Yes, yes—where exactly?

Translation: "Yes, yes, where?"

But she had examined herself head to toe; her skin remained as fair and delicate as before.

Translation: "But she had examined her whole body; her skin remained as fair and delicate as before, supple enough to be blown apart by a breath."

The only thing... the only thing she couldn't see was her own back!

Translation: "Only... only her back, which she herself could not see!"

Moreover, whenever the weather turned damp and rainy, her lower back and hips would ache unbearably.

Translation: "Moreover, whenever the weather turned damp and rainy, her lower back and hips would ache unbearably."

Upon recalling this, Liu Qinzhu's whole body shuddered.

Translation: "Upon recalling this, Liu Qinzhu's whole body shuddered."

She seemed to grasp something.

Translation: "She seemed to grasp something."

She hurried over to the bronze mirror, turning her back to it, ignoring Lu Ying's attempts to stop her.

Translation: "She hurried over to the bronze mirror, turning her back to it, ignoring Lu Ying's attempts to stop her."

This was the first time she turned to look at her own back.

Translation: "This was the first time she turned her head to look at her own back."

Hideous scars covered her waist and hips in a dense, irregular pattern...

Translation: "Hideous scars were densely scattered across her waist and buttocks..."

Just a single glance made her feel like she might vomit!

Translation: "Just a glance made her nearly vomit!"

What's more, how could the noble and exalted Prince Yin, who had never seen a peerless beauty, tolerate this?

Translation: "What's more, Prince Yun, who is noble and exalted, has never seen a beauty of such surpassing grace?"

At this moment Liu Qinzhu finally understood why, since entering the Prince Yin's manor, the Highness's attitude toward her had changed so dramatically.

Translation: "At this moment Liu Qinzhu finally understood why, since entering Prince Yun's mansion, Your Highness's attitude toward her had changed so drastically!"

She suddenly burst into both tears and laughter, letting out a shrill, anguished scream.

Translation: "She then burst into both tears and laughter, letting out a shrill, anguished scream."

She then vented her fury on Lu Ying, who had never warned her beforehand, pinching, hitting, and brutally kicking her.

Translation: "She naturally vented her fury on Lu Ying, who had not warned her beforehand, pinching, hitting, and kicking her hard."

"'It's all because of you, you wretched servant! In the ancestral hall, how did you look after me? Didn't you promise to give me good ointment and nourishing decoctions so I wouldn't scar? Is this how you deceived me? I, the lady, will kill you—'"

Translation: "'It's all your fault, you lowly servant! In the Ancestral Hall, how did you look after me? You said you'd give me good ointment, good tonic to nurture me, that it wouldn't leave scars—was that how you deceived me? I, Madam, will kill you——'"

Liu Qinzhu nearly lost control, grabbing Lu Ying's throat, while Lu Ying, eyes red with difficulty, replied: "Madam Zhu, it was the Eldest Master who ordered me to bring you this ointment; I truly had no idea what this was about..."

Translation: "Liu Qinzhu nearly lost control and grabbed Lu Ying's neck; Lu Ying, eyes red with difficulty, replied: 'Madam Zhu, it... it was the Eldest Son who ordered me to bring you the ointment; I really don't know what this is about...'"

"'I used to serve in the Eldest Master's household, as you know, and I couldn't defy his orders...'"

Translation: "'I, your servant, used to serve in the Eldest Son's household; you know that, and I, your servant, cannot disobey him...'"

Liu Qinzhu then released her grip and slumped to the ground, her face full of disbelief: "It's my older brother? No, how could it be my older brother?!"

Translation: "Liu Qinzhu then released her grip and slumped onto the ground, sitting helplessly, her face full of disbelief: 'Older Brother? No, how could it be Older Brother?!'"

Lu Ying caught her breath, tears in her eyes, and said earnestly: "I know you feel wronged, Madam, but I didn't dare tell you this, for fear it would hurt you even more."

Translation: "Lu Ying caught her breath, tears in her eyes, sincerely saying: 'I, your servant, know you feel wronged, Madam, but I dare not tell you this, for fear you would be even more heartbroken...'"

"'Perhaps, perhaps there is some misunderstanding after all?'"

Translation: "'Perhaps, perhaps there is some misunderstanding after all...'"

"'The Master used to cherish you so much, treating you even more closely than his own sister; even if the affair between you and the Highness was exposed, and even if he was furious with you then, he wouldn't go so far as to do this, would he?'"

Translation: "'The Young Master used to cherish you so much, treating you even more closely than his own blood‑sister; even if the affair between you and Your Highness was exposed back then, even if he was furious with you, he wouldn't go so far as to do something like this...'"

But Liu Qinzhu recalled that day, when Li Kechuan cursed her repeatedly, even seeming eager to come over and strangle her.

Translation: "But Liu Qinzhu recalled that day, when Li Kechuan cursed her repeatedly, even wishing to come over and strangle her with a vicious expression."

Only then did she shudder violently.

Translation: "She then shuddered violently."

"'It's him!'"

Translation: "'It's him!'"

"'He must have turned love into hatred, hating me to the extreme, which is why he conceived the idea of making me scarred so the Highness would no longer favor me!'"

Translation: "'He must have turned love into hate, hating himself to the extreme, which gave rise to the idea of making me keep scars so that Your Highness would no longer favor me!'"

"'That way, I would have nowhere left to go...'"

Translation: "'That way, I would have nowhere left to go...'"

Li Kechuan, what a vicious heart you have!

Translation: "Li Kechuan, what a vicious heart you have!"

Liu Qinzhu collapsed for several days.

Translation: "Liu Qinzhu collapsed for several days."

Only after great effort did she manage to pull herself together, so that whenever the Prince showed her even a hint of kindness, she was ready to go through fire and water for him.

Translation: "Only after great effort did she manage to pull herself together; thus, whenever Prince Yun showed her a hint of kindness, she was eager to go through fire and water for him, doing anything he asked."

Including this trip to the QingSong Temple, which naturally had the Prince's permission.

Translation: "Including this trip to the Green Pine Temple, which naturally had Prince Yun's permission."

She intended to win over Li Kechuan and bring the entire General's Manor onto the Prince's side!

Translation: "She intended to use this to win over Li Kechuan and bring the entire Jiangjun Fu over to Prince Yun's side!"

But she never expected this expedition to fail again.

Translation: "But she never expected that this expedition would again end in failure."

The Cui family saw her together with Li Kechuan and learned of his petty, scheming thoughts toward her.

Translation: "The Cui family saw her together with Li Kechuan and even learned of his petty, scheming thoughts toward her!"

Thinking of this, Liu Qinzhu grew anxious.

Translation: "Thinking of this, Liu Qinzhu became anxious."

She hoped the Prince hadn't heard any rumors; otherwise, even jumping into the Yellow River wouldn't clear her name.

Translation: "She hoped Your Highness hadn't heard any rumors; otherwise, even jumping into the Yellow River wouldn't clear her name!"

Fortunately, Liu Rui'er died.

Translation: "Fortunately, Liu Sui'er died."

The death of one of her doubles meant there would be less evidence of this in the world.

Translation: "The death of one of her doubles meant there would be less evidence of this matter in the world..."

Liu Qiongzhu was again awakened by pain; she was about to turn her head and loudly scold Luying, but she heard the announcement that Prince Yun had arrived.

Li Qingluo hurriedly, flustered, got up and put on her clothes, she endured the pain, pale-faced, bowed in greeting: "This servant pays respects to Your Highness. Your Highness, how do you have time to come to my quarters today?"

She originally wanted to act coquettish, to say she was injured, but she couldn't mention her buttocks, otherwise when Your Highness glanced, seeing those ugly scars would be bad.

Now she felt ashamed of her appearance, and grew even more inferior.

Prince Yun approached with a grim face.

"Liu Qingzhu, do you think the face you've made me lose isn't enough?"

Liu Qingzhu's heart gave a thump, she hurriedly defended: "Your, Your Highness, those are just rumors, I am innocent..."

Prince Yun raised his hand and slapped Liu Qingzhu's face hard.

"Lowlife! As a concubine, what right do you have to let your lowly family bring your family's dead to the front gate of my Prince Yun's Mansion!!"

"Before, they repeatedly came to the prince's gate to cause trouble and mooch, I, out of pity for your background, was too lazy to argue with you, and just let you drive them away yourself!"

"Now these lowly folk are getting more and more overbearing, oblivious to death, daring to bring coffins to the gate of my Prince Yun's Mansion—do you want to die along with your whole family?"

Prince Yun, gritting his teeth, grabbed Liu Qingzhu's throat again, tightly choking her and pulling her toward him.

Liu Qingzhu's face instantly turned flushed.

She desperately beat at Prince Yun's hand, begging for mercy.

However, only when she was nearly dead did Prince Yun finally fling her away completely.

Liu Qingzhu collapsed limp on the ground, for the first time truly feeling the fear of nearly losing her life.

Prince Yun looked down at her: "Zhu'er, I have tolerated you for a long time. If you remain this useless, don't blame me for abandoning you completely someday."

Having said that, Prince Yun gave her no more glance, stepped over her and strode away.

Liu Qingzhu softly cried and laughed.

"I gave up Sanlang for you… I betrayed and offended the entire Jiangjun Fu… In the end, am I merely a pawn in your hand?"

"A pawn that can be discarded at any moment… trampled at any moment!"

"Then what do all my efforts even amount to!!"

Liu Qingzhu covered her face, tears streaming incessantly from between her fingers.

At this moment, a hint of regret finally arose in her heart.

The path she walked, even with a broken, bloody head, was it wrong?

The next day.

The matter of the natal family of the favored concubine of Prince Yun's Mansion lifting two coffins to the gate of Prince Yun's Mansion under cover of night, even Li Qingluo heard about it.

She paused the pen in her hand, gave a cold smile: "The Liu family really could do something like this."

Que'er was busy packing her luggage, and the more she spoke of this, the more excited she became: "Supposedly the money for the burial is gone, so the cost of those two coffins is still on credit."

"They just want to come knocking for money, but they're truly born stupid—how dare a concubine's natal family call themselves relatives of Prince Yun's Mansion?"

"And they dare to place coffins before a prince's gate, doing such an ill-omened thing—it's no more than they deserve to lose family and fortune!"

Li Qingluo: "How did Prince Yun handle this? Can he tolerate it?"

Deng Mama pushed Que'er aside from the side: "Go on, go on, don't add fuel to the fire here."

"Miss, this matter is true, but it's not to say they really lifted the coffins to the gate of Prince Yun's Mansion; the Liu family, having suffered a loss from causing trouble at the Jiangjun Fu gate before, also learned a bit."

"So they just lifted the coffins to under a tree far from the gate."

"Then Old Man Liu brought Liu Da and his wife to knock on the door, wailing, to inform Liu Qingzhu of the death, and perhaps ask for money as well."

"But this act was also a great offense to Prince Yun. So in his anger, Prince Yun had someone break the legs of Old Man Liu and Liu Da, and also gave Wang Shi a beating."

"As for the other Liu family members, seeing this they dared not go forward to cause trouble anymore, and even allowed the guards to overturn the coffins."

"It's just a pity for Miss Suier… sigh!"

Li Qingluo: "Granny, please trouble yourself to find a way to exchange Suier's corpse, find her a good feng shui spot, and bury her in a fine coffin."

Just consider it a debt Li Qingluo owes her.

Hope she in her next life can be born into a good family and meet a truly caring older sister.

Deng Mama immediately agreed: "All right, Miss!"

After saying that, Que'er and Cui Er in unison said: "Miss, everything is already packed, we can leave."

After bidding farewell to the reluctant mute servants, Li Qingluo and Pei Lao Furen quietly left Osmanthus Garden.

The carriage crept silently along the city outskirts, heading south all the way.

Only when they arrived before a simple, unassuming manor did the carriage finally stop.

"Miss, we have arrived."