Chapter 229: Grandmother Wants to Kill the Son to Purge the House!

Li Qingluo was helped down from the carriage, she raised her head to look at the house before her, and heard Deng Mama beside her say: "This is the residence that the Old Lady, by her own strength alone, fought an impossible turnaround victory, then returned to Jinling, where the emperor bestowed it solely upon her."

It belongs neither to the Li family nor to the Pei family, but solely to Pei Lao Furen Pei Xiuzhen, the residence granted by the present emperor.

Such honor, only Pei Lao Furen would be so indifferent as to leave it vacant for decades.

The two mamas stepped forward and pulled down the dust‑covered, filthy curtain; on the black plaque shone several large vermilion characters: Xiuli Jiangjun Fu.

Pei Lao Furen turned back and said: "Luo'er, come over."

Li Qingluo quickened her steps, walked to Pei Lao Furen's side, and together with her grandmother gazed at the house before them.

"Good child, from now on this place will be the home of just us grandmother and granddaughter."

"Come, follow grandmother inside to have a look."

Although the residence had remained vacant all this time, being a gift from the imperial house, Pei Lao Furen has had people stationed here all these years.

A few days ago, upon knowing we would move in, Zhang Mama had already arranged for people to come and clean the place inside and out.

Aside from that plaque, everything else had long been spotless.

Moreover, they have been continuously adding furnishings day and night.

At this moment, the household members filled the courtyard, kneeling on the ground to welcome Li Qingluo and Pei Lao Furen's return.

"Servants, pay respects to the Old Lady and the young lady."

Pei Lao Furen took Li Qingluo around to tour the new residence.

This new residence is truly excellent in every way.

Although it is not as large as the Jiangjun Fu on East Chant Lane, from now on only the two of them, grandmother and granddaughter, will live here—more than enough, in fact leaving some empty space.

Moreover, pavilions, towers, small bridges, lakes, bamboo groves, and flower gardens—everything one could wish for is present.

Although the courtyards are not large, each is exquisitely crafted.

Furthermore, to make Li Qingluo's living more comfortable, Pei Lao Furen let her choose a courtyard and then ordered the adjacent courtyard to be opened up, leaving only an archway.

Then she designated that adjacent courtyard exclusively for Li Qingluo's future study and martial practice, while this side became Li Qingluo's private living quarters, from which all outsider males are forbidden.

Including the master she is about to formally take as her teacher, Nan Gongdi.

Pei Lao Furen also personally gave Li Qingluo's new courtyard the name: Free Abode.

"Luo'er, grandmother hopes that in your future life you may be free to follow your heart, at ease following yourself, no longer entangled by worldly worries and troubles, nor be restrained by anyone against your will."

"Grandmother's Luo'er, you are to become the most carefree young woman in the world."

Li Qingluo tightly embraced her grandmother, overwhelmed with emotion.

"Grandmother, Luo'er wishes to live with you here for the rest of her life."

Pei Lao Furen chuckled: "Silly child. You're not going to marry? If you don't marry, how will grandmother ever hold a great‑grandson?"

But grandmother is not in a hurry; you still have several years to keep her company, and even if you marry someday, this place will always remain your home.

"You only need to remember: wherever grandmother is, it will forever be your shelter from wind and rain, Luo'er."

Li Qingluo said solemnly: "Grandmother! Why not, Luo'er take in a live‑in son‑in‑law? That way Luo'er can always stay with you."

Upon hearing this, Pei Lao Furen laughed "haha" and said: "Grandmother thinks it's feasible."

But suddenly, an image of Prince Su's extraordinarily handsome and beautiful face flashed unbidden in her mind.

Pei Lao Furen: "Heh, pah, how inauspicious."

After Pei Lao Furen returned to her main courtyard, she summoned Zhang Mama and asked: "Luo'er, what have you been up to lately? Do you know?"

Zhang Mama started: "You've never cared what the young lady does these days—why are you suddenly asking? Don't you trust the young lady's affairs?"

Pei Lao Furen sighed: "Although I escaped death this time, I know I have suffered some loss. Shouldn't I make more plans for her?"

"Has she done anything to Li Chao Jing?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Mama's eyes reddened involuntarily.

She came over and sat at Pei Lao Furen's feet: "Old Lady, don't overthink it. The young lady hasn't really done anything; these past few days she merely sabotaged the marriage between the Cui family and the Jiangjun Fu."

Pei Lao Furen's eyes widened.

"Just sabotaged it, and that's all?"

When did Zhang Mama's tone become so bold?

Does she know that this marriage with the Cui family was Li Chao Jing's last hope in his rebellious heart?

Faced with Pei Lao Furen's questioning gaze, Zhang Mama chuckled "hehe" and then gave a full account of what happened that day at the Green Pine Temple.

Pei Lao Furen: "You only said you encountered an ambush by the Lotus Sect, but you didn't mention that you actually went to the Daoist temple to sabotage the marriage between the Cui and Li families. Now I see… and there's also the Liu family matter involved here."

Zhang Mama, somewhat nervous, looked at Pei Lao Furen: "Old Lady, don't be anxious. When the young lady first saw you, she was… truly furious; that night she drew her sword, ready to fight the entire Jiangjun Fu to the death, and swore to sacrifice her life to bring you out of the Jiangjun Fu."

"Otherwise… you would truly have been dragged to death by that heartless person!"

Recalling that night's situation, Zhang Mama's emotions surged again.

Pei Lao Furen: "Is it me who's anxious, or you?"

"I know Luo'er this time has made up her mind to take revenge for me, and with new and old grudges… she likely won't rest until she's dealt with her beastly parents and that brother, and won't give up."

Zhang Mama: "Then what do you mean…?"

Pei Lao Furen: "Can I let her commit patricide and matricide?"

"How will she face the world's condemnation and vilification thereafter?"

Zhang Mama's heart sank fiercely.

Could it be… that this matter is just dropped, really not to be mentioned?

Must the Old Lady continue to endure?

She's already endured over thirty years!

And yet she is still so soft‑hearted!

Zhang Mama also feels somewhat unwilling.

Pei Lao Furen gave Zhang Mama a thump, saying, "What are you thinking? That wolf-hearted, dog-lunged beast shouldn't be killed by Luo'er."

Now translate the line:

"Pei Lao Furen hammered Zhang Mama a lump: 'What are you thinking? That wolf-hearted, dog-lunged beast shouldn't be killed by Luo'er.'"

But we need to keep the Chinese punctuation? We'll translate to English naturally.

Pei Lao Furen gave Zhang Mama a thump, saying, "What are you thinking? That wolf-hearted, dog-lunged beast shouldn't be killed by Luo'er."

Pei Lao Furen gave Zhang Mama a thump.

What are you thinking? That wolf-hearted, dog-lunged beast shouldn't be killed by Luo'er.

We'll output: 【61】 Pei Lao Furen gave Zhang Mama a thump: "What are you thinking? That wolf-hearted, dog-lunged beast shouldn't be killed by Luo'er."

Check: we used Pei Lao Furen, Zhang Mama, Luo'er.

Zhang Mama:

This is just Zhang Mama:? (a question mark). We'll translate as "Zhang Mama:?" Keep the question mark.

Zhang Mama:?

Pei Lao Furen looked stern: "Since I didn't strangle him at birth, from now on I, this old woman, will personally clean up the household."

Translate: Pei Lao Furen with a stern face: "Since I didn't strangle him at birth, then from now on I, old lady, will personally clean up the household."

Let this old woman personally clean up the household.

Now 【63】 Pei Lao Furen with a stern face: "Since I didn't strangle him at birth, then from now on I, this old woman, will personally clean up the household."

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

Killing my son is still better than Luo'er killing her father.

Translate: "Killing my son is still better than Luo'er killing her father."

Killing my son is also better than Luo'er killing her father.

Pei Lao Furen clasped her hands and said, "I hope my sins won't implicate my Luo'er."

Translate: Pei Lao Furen, clasping her hands, said: "I hope my sins won't implicate my Luo'er."

Luo'er

Thus: Pei Lao Furen, clasping her hands, said: "I hope my sins won't implicate my Luo'er."

Shen hour, at the Ministry of Justice.

Time: Shen hour (3-5pm), Ministry of Justice.

Translate: "Shen hour, Ministry of Justice."

Shen hour

Thus: Shen hour, Ministry of Justice.

This was Li Qingluo's first visit to the Ministry of Justice.

Translate: "This is Li Qingluo's first time coming to the Ministry of Justice."

Lofty halls, solemn statues, and even from the city gate one could see the bell tower.

Translate: "Towering halls, imposing statues, the bell tower visible from the city gate."

We need to keep meaning: "Towering halls, imposing statues, the bell tower already visible from the city gate." We'll output: "Towering halls, imposing statues, the bell tower visible from the city gate."

As soon as she stepped into the Ministry of Justice, a chilling sensation swept over Li Qingluo's entire body.

Translate: "Upon stepping into the Ministry of Justice, a chilling sensation instantly swept over Li Qingluo's entire body."

She instinctively wrapped her arms around herself.

Translate: "She involuntarily wrapped herself tighter."

The coming and going officials were all solemn in demeanor, careful in speech, and never smiled lightly.

Translate: "Coming and going officials all bore solemn deportations, spoke cautiously, and did not smile lightly."

We need to keep meaning: "Coming and going officials, each with solemn bearing, cautious speech, and no light smiles." We'll output: "Coming and going officials all bore solemn bearing, spoke cautiously, and did not smile lightly."

A stern, lethal aura that could not be violated permeated the place……

Translate: "Throughout permeated an austere, murderous aura that was inviolable..."

We need to keep the ellipsis? The Chinese ends with …… (ellipsis). We'll keep ellipsis.

Thus: "Throughout permeated an austere, murderous aura that was inviolable..."

Looking up, the four large characters on the plaque read: "Uphold the law and be impartial."

Translate: "Looking up, one could see the four large characters on the plaque: 'Uphold the Law and Be Impartial'."

Looking up, one could see the four large characters on the plaque: 'Uphold the Law and Be Impartial'.

It seemed as if any demons and monsters that came here would have nowhere to hide.

Translate: "It seemed that even all demons and monsters, upon arriving here, would have nowhere to hide."

Li Qingluo thought of herself as a reborn person, and for no reason she felt a sudden shiver.

Translate: "Li Qingluo thought of herself as a reborn person, and for some reason her heart also gave a sudden shiver."

Zhui Yu guided her, saying, "Young master, please come this way."

Translate: "Zhui Yu led her from the side: 'Young master, please this way.'"

Young master

Li Qingluo dressed as a man today, and the little sparrow following her became a servant.

Translate: "Li Qingluo today dressed in male attire, and Que'er following her became a servant boy."

Zhui Yu kept glancing at the sparrow, trying not to laugh.

Translate: "Zhui Yu stared at Que'er several times, looking as if trying hard not to laugh."

The sparrow glared, eyes wide, cursing Zhui Yu in her heart: "What's so funny, you stinking guard? Is it really that hilarious?"

Translate: "Que'er glared, eyes wide, and cursed Zhui Yu in her heart a hundred times: 'What are you laughing at, you stinky guard? Is it really that funny?'"

Huffing, she followed her young mistress as they turned a corner and unexpectedly arrived at the entrance to the Ministry of Justice's prison.

Translate: "Huffing, she followed her young mistress turning her head, and without realizing it arrived at the gate of the Ministry of Justice's prison."

her young mistress

The sparrow's legs instantly went weak.

Translate: "Que'er's legs instantly went weak."

It was said that the Ministry of Justice's prison was far more terrifying and bloody than even the deepest pits of hell……

Translate: "The prison of the Ministry of Justice, it is said, is several times more terrifying and bloody than the hell's purgatory..."

We need to keep ellipsis.

Thus: "The prison of the Ministry of Justice, it is said, is several times more terrifying and bloody than the hell's purgatory..."

But seeing her young mistress stride straight inside, the sparrow could only summon her courage and rush after her.

Translate: "But seeing her young mistress stride straight in, Que'er could only muster her courage and rush to follow."

As they went down, the sparrow tightly clung to Li Qingluo, saying, "Miss, don't be afraid!"

Translate: "As they went down, Que'er hurriedly clung tightly to Li Qingluo: 'Miss, don't be afraid!'"

Li Qingluo glanced at her and, suppressing a smile, replied, "All right."

Translate: "Li Qingluo glanced at her, suppressing a smile: 'Okay.'"

Li Qingluo said she wasn't afraid at all, which was impossible.

Translate: "Li Qingluo saying she wasn't at all afraid was also impossible."

She only felt a little less wary upon thinking that this was Prince Su's territory.

Translate: "Only thinking that this was Prince Su's territory did her heart feel a bit less wary."

The long staircase twisted and turned, growing damper and colder the deeper they went.

Translate: "The long staircase wound and twisted; the further in, the damper and colder it became."

Faint wails echoed, and the smell of blood began to drift in the air……

Translate: "Faint wails drifted in, and the smell of blood began to spread in the breath..."

Turning a corner, Zhui Yu did not take them deeper into the prison but instead led them to a side passage.

Translate: "At a turn, Zhui Yu did not bring them deeper into the prison, but went straight to a fork in the road."

Going further in, it became surprisingly quiet.

Translate: "Going inward, it became much quieter."

But soon a faint light shone through.

Translate: "But soon a faint light shone through."

Zhui Yu stopped and blocked Li Qingluo and her servant.

Translate: "Zhui Yu stopped and blocked Li Qingluo and her servant."

"Shh—just wait here, miss, and look over there; guess who it is."

Translate: "\"Shh—Miss, just wait here, look over there, guess who it is? \""

Li Qingluo saw Prince Su Duan Rongshi.

Translate: "Li Qingluo saw Prince Su Duan Rongshi."

He was dressed in official robes, seated upright on a high platform.

Translate: "He was dressed in official robes, seated upright on a high place."

His face, already bearing a hint of divine light and pity, took on an uncanny, eerie handsomeness in this dark, damp, deathly place……

Translate: "That face, already bearing a hint of divine light and pity, in this dark, damp, cold, death-filled place actually had an oddly strange handsomeness..."

We need to keep ellipsis.

Thus: "That face, already bearing a hint of divine light and pity, in this dark, damp, cold, death-filled place actually had an oddly strange handsomeness..."

Li Qingluo quickly shook her head, then looked at the woman kneeling before Prince Su.

Translate: "Li Qingluo quickly shook her head, then looked toward the ground before Prince Su, where a woman knelt."

Around the woman's neck was an iron chain thicker than Li Qingluo's arm.

Translate: "This woman wore an iron chain around her neck thicker than Li Qingluo's arm."

It forced her to keep her head straight, unable to bow or lift it, painfully compelled to stare straight ahead at Prince Su.

Translate: "It forced her unable to lower or raise her head, only painfully forced to stare straight ahead, staring at Prince Su."

Her prison garb beneath was soaked in blood and covered in bloodstains.

Translate: "And the prison garb beneath her was already soaked in blood, covered in bloodstains."

Her feet were already mangled flesh.

Translate: "Her feet were already a bloody mess."

Her hands hung limp, powerless.

Translate: "Her hands also hung limp and powerless."

Zhui Yu said, "The tendons in her hands and feet have been severed; if they aren't reattached, she'll remain an invalid for life."

Translate: "Zhui Yu said: 'The tendons in her hands and feet have all been severed; if not treated, she will be a cripple for life.'"

Li Qingluo looked at the woman, and her heart gave a sudden jolt.

Translate: "Li Qingluo looked at that woman, and her heart suddenly gave a hard jolt."

Could she be the poisoner who poisoned Nan Jia?

Translate: "Could she be the poisonous woman who gave Nanjia poison?"

Have you caught her?

Translate: "Have you caught her?"

When did you catch her?

Translate: "When did you catch her?"

Is the Maitreya poison that killed Nan Jia also related to her?

Translate: "Is the Maitreya poison that Nanjia took before her death also related to her?"

Li Qingluo, emotionally agitated, wanted to grab Zhui Yu and demand answers right away, but Zhui Yu chuckled and said, "Miss, don't rush; first take a look."

Translate: "Li Qingluo, emotionally agitated, almost wanted to grab Zhui Yu and ask immediately, but Zhui Yu smiled and said: 'Miss, don't rush, first take a look.'"

As soon as Zhui Yu finished speaking, the woman on the ground indeed moved.

Translate: "As Zhui Yu's words fell, the woman on the ground indeed moved."

She let out a strange laugh from her mouth.

Translate: "She let out a strange laugh from her mouth."

"Hee hee hee... I said it, I know nothing, this has nothing to do with me... Prince Su, as Minister of the Ministry of Justice, is this how you judge cases? Extracting confessions by torture, using private punishment to extort testimony, and closing cases on false grounds?"

Translate: "\"Hehehe... I said, I know nothing, all this has nothing to do with me...... Prince Su, as the Minister of Justice, is this how you judge cases? Extorting confessions by torture, using private punishment to extract testimony, closing cases with injustice? \""

Prince Su, Your Highness, as Minister of the Ministry of Justice, is this how you judge cases?

Thus: "\"Hehehe... I said, I know nothing, all this has nothing to do with me...... Prince Su, Your Highness, as Minister of the Ministry of Justice, is this how you judge cases? Extorting confessions by torture, using private punishment to extract testimony, closing cases with injustice? \""

"How did Pei Shier Niang get poisoned, how did she die, and what does that have to do with me?"

Translate: "\"How did the Pei family's Twelfth Lady get poisoned, how did she die, and what does that have to do with me? \""

Pei Shier Niang

Thus: "\"How did Pei Shier Niang get poisoned, how did she die, and what does that have to do with me? \""

"They actually sent the entire Ministry of Justice's guard to seize people from my master's sect; if I don't show up, they'll wipe out my master's sect—you're utterly inhumane!"

Translate: "\"You actually sent the entire Ministry of Justice's guards to seize people from my master's sect. If I don't show up, you'll destroy my master's sect—you're utterly inhumane! \""

my master's sect

"Moreover, what crime have I committed? Is it simply because I am Qingyangzi's fiancée not yet wed, while she, Pei Shier Niang, was his betrothed before he took monastic vows?"

Translate: "\"Furthermore, what crime have I committed? Is it merely because I am the fiancée not yet wed of Qingyangzi, while she, Pei Shier Niang, was his betrothed before he took monastic vows? \""

Qingyangzi, Pei Shier Niang, fiancée not yet wed, betrothed before he took monastic vows

Thus: "\"Furthermore, what crime have I committed? Is it merely because I am the fiancée not yet wed of Qingyangzi, while she, Pei Shier Niang, was his betrothed before he took monastic vows? \""

"I, Ku Lianqiao, may not be a saint, but I'm not a jealous wife who envies Pei Shier Niang for no reason……"

Translate: "\"I, Ku Lianqiao, may not be a saint, but I am not a jealous wife who envies Pei Shier Niang for no reason...... \""

Ku Lianqiao, jealous wife

Thus: "\"I, Ku Lianqiao, may not be a saint, but I am not a jealous wife who envies Pei Shier Niang for no reason...... \""

As she spoke, the woman suddenly began to sob.

Translate: "Speaking, the woman actually began to sob hesitantly."

It turned out that the poisoner's name was Ku Lianqiao.

Translate: "As it turned out, this poisonous woman's name was Ku Lianqiao."

Li Qingluo heard her say such words, her face turned ashen with anger: "She's lying!"

Although there was no direct evidence, listening to Nan Jia's account from when she was alive of all the details that happened before her poisoning, Li Qingluo could completely determine that the one who poisoned the chestnut cake the first time was absolutely this poisonous woman!