Chapter 262: The Fake Young Lady Kicked Out of the Prince's Mansion, Homeless?

Li Qingluo: "Being kicked out of Prince Yun's Mansion? Really? Prince Yun always dotes on beauties; even if she lost favor, it's impossible she'd be kicked out, right?"

Zheng Mama: "It's true. I heard that the things she brought with her, including a box of jewelry she brought from the Li Family, were thrown out; many people witnessed this personally."

Li Qingluo: "Hurry up and tell me, what did you find out?"

Zheng Mama: "Indeed, I managed to dig up some information. It is said that after Liu Qingzhu returned from the ruined temple that day, she originally wanted to use money to silence the servants who followed her to the temple, but perhaps because the payment was uneven, those servants started arguing in her courtyard."

"This rumor quickly reached Princess Yun's ears."

"Princess Yun usually doesn't bother with the inner courtyard's pretty girls; as long as their jealousy and quarrels don't reach her, she turns a blind eye and lets these concubines fuss and fight."

"But this time, Princess Yun heard words related to 'bewitching incense' and 'illicit relations in the ruined temple', so she immediately summoned those servants, gave them a beating, and then learned the truth."

"Then Princess Yun immediately had someone bring Liu Qingzhu before her. Although Liu Qingzhu cried, saying she had preserved her purity and escaped in time, who would believe that?"

"Those servants all claimed they heard that sound coming from Guanyin Hall, and it was fierce and wild; upon hearing the commotion, they thought it was serious, so none of them dared to guarantee Liu Qingzhu's purity."

"Seeing the seriousness of the matter, Princess Yun had Prince Yun summoned."

"As soon as Prince Yun arrived, hearing the matter, he immediately slapped Liu Qingzhu a few times before the truth was clear."

"Then he had a midwife examine her body, saying there were no traces of intercourse, and only then did he let her go."

"However, Liu Qingzhu hadn't even caught her breath when she said that that night Prince Yun went to her room, intending to sleep together after putting out the lights, but she suddenly clutched her stomach and wailed like a ghost, claiming she had a stomachache."

"Prince Yun felt it was a buzzkill, so he left with a dark face."

Li Qingluo: "How did you find out all this so clearly?"

Zheng Mama gave a hehe smile: "Because this matter has become common knowledge throughout Prince Yun's Mansion. As long as I give a little money, finding out anything is easy."

"Originally, everyone in Prince Yun's Mansion was already saying that Liu Qingzhu could no longer engage in intercourse, so Prince Yun hadn't visited her room these past two days; now everyone in the mansion is laughing at her."

Que'er: "It's really strange. Liu Qingzhu used to be quite popular in the Jiangjun Fu, so why is she so hated after going to Prince Yun's Mansion, like a street rat that everyone shouts at when she appears?"

Zheng Mama: "Because she used to put on an act!"

"Since she knew her origins at eleven, all these years she's tried every way to win people's hearts— isn't that easy?"

"Winning people's hearts so that, if her background were ever exposed, she would be more beloved and respected by the household than our young lady; then, even though she wouldn't be the household's direct bloodline, no one would despise her."

"It's a pity she was too impatient and too ruthless."

"Earlier she burned down a house full of her own servants in a self-immolation; originally dying could have settled everything, and later coming back to stage an accident would probably not draw much blame."

"But when the young lady returned, she ruined her plans, letting both servants and masters of the Jiangjun Fu see her true colors."

"Knowing she did it on purpose, look— how many people in the Jiangjun Fu still mention her without shaking their heads?"

"She rushed to Prince Yun's Mansion without any scheme, penniless, and now has no backing— how could the people of Prince Yun's Mansion not treat her as easy prey?"

Que'er seemed to understand.

"In short, Liu Qingzhu leaving the Jiangjun Fu truly amounts to nothing."

"She couldn't help but admire and look toward her own family's young lady."

"Back then, the young lady spared Liu Qingzhu's life precisely for today, right?"

"Seeing her painstakingly scheme to finally get what she wanted, only to have everything she sought wear her down more and more— now she's actually been kicked out of Prince Yun's Mansion."

Li Qingluo: "She was kicked out of Prince Yun's Mansion— could it be related to Li Chao Jing's insanity?"

"After all, even the ruined temple affair, Prince Yun could ignore."

"What Prince Yun cares about most now might only be the Jiangjun Fu."

"But Li Chao Jing has gone insane, and Prince Yun may have lost all hope in the Jiangjun Fu."

"Yet if she were just driven out like this, Li Qingluo still feels it's too absurd."

"Perhaps Prince Yun and Liu Qingzhu are plotting something else?"

"Go, have someone watch Liu Qingzhu."

"Also, earlier I had Deng Mama investigate the Jiang Family; now there's no movement— could it be that Prince Yun helped Li Chao Jing with something? Go check again."

Deng Mama happily agreed: "Yes."

"Finally, I have something to keep busy— these days are getting more and more fulfilling!"

"The Liu Family."

Liu Qingzhu looked at the Liu Family's now empty little courtyard, her face full of surprise.

She lifted her foot, suppressing nausea, and stepped inside.

She called out: "Father? Mother? Grandfather? Are you, you all still here?"

"But the little courtyard was desolate everywhere— not a ghost in sight."

"Suddenly, two loitering ruffians lunged out of the gate, eyes fixed on Liu Qingzhu standing in the courtyard, grinning with ill intent: 'Hey? Who is this beauty?'"

"Tsk tsk, looking so delicate and lovely, could she be the daughter the Liu Family speaks of who became a concubine in Prince Yun's Mansion?"

"Pfft— but nowadays everyone in Jinling City is saying this beauty has already been kicked out of Prince Yun's Mansion, right?"

"She's actually the first concubine to be kicked out of Prince Yun's Mansion— that's some skill."

"Hahaha... beauty, why not come with us? Otherwise, where else will you have anywhere to go in the future?"

"Exactly, you Liu Family are supporting two coffins, and now the whole clan has returned to their hometown, leaving Jinling. You're here with no support— you'd better plan for the future."

Saying that, the two ruffians slipped inside.

Liu Qingzhu clutched the bundle in her arms tightly and shouted in terror: "What do you want? Tell you, Your Highness merely allowed this lady to return to her natal home to visit family; you dare speak nonsense, I'll have you all arrested!"

"Heh heh heh, still talking tough? If you really were a lady, why don't you have a single maid or servant by your side?"

"Exactly, and your natal family have all gone back to the countryside, yet not even one of them notified you— I think you've been abandoned by them."

Liu Qingzhu's eyes turned red as she bellowed: "What are you lot, daring to gossip about this lady's affairs!? I'll smash your mouths!"

The two ruffians immediately covered their ears.

"Her voice is just too unpleasant."

"Who would have thought Prince Yun's taste is so heavy, he'd even take a concubine like this?"

Even with a good-looking face, this voice makes people unable to get aroused.

Liu Qinzhu heard it and her face flushed red then turned pale.

She pointed at them, both humiliated and angry, about to lash out, when two people rushed in from the door: "Madam Zhu, we finally found you. We've come to take you back to Jiangjun Fu."

Seeing the Jiangjun Fu servants appear before her, Liu Qinzhu's face turned deathly pale.

While Li Qingluo was eating dinner, Zheng Mama came to say that Liu Qinzhu had returned to Jiangjun Fu.

Li Qingluo: "Qu Shi dotes on her so much—how could she bear to let her wander outside? Did Liu Qinzhu just go back with them?"

Zheng Mama: "After the Liu family's incident at the ruined temple, they left under cover of night that very evening. When Liu Qinzhu went back to look for the Liu family, who was left there to wait for her?"

"If she doesn't return to Jiangjun Fu, what good end could a delicate woman with money possibly have?"

"I heard that when the two Jiangjun Fu servants found her, she was being harassed by two idle ruffians, and she had the servants beat them up before leaving."

Li Qingluo: "Hmph, going back is fine too. I'm actually curious how she'll face Li Kechuan."

Zheng Mama: "Right. Liu Mian'er refuses to come out."

Li Qingluo didn't know what Liu Mian'er was thinking, but she didn't press her.

"Any news on the Jiang family matter? Li Chao Jing keeps failing to come up with the money, even though he's been using Prince Yun's connections to mediate. But if Prince Yun sees that Li Chao Jing is useless and decides not to handle this anymore, and if the Jiang family then reports to the imperial court, the entire Jiangjun Fu might be completely…"

Li Qingluo suddenly realized: "Could Prince Yun be colluding with Liu Qinzhu, having her return to Jiangjun Fu to test Li Chao Jing?"

Zheng Mama: "It's not impossible."

After all, without the pretense of being homeless, Liu Qinzhu couldn't stay long at Jiangjun Fu—how else could she investigate?

Li Qingluo couldn't be bothered: "Let them fight it out among themselves."

However, the Jiang family affair must not be stirred up.

Even if I and my grandmother have moved out of Jiangjun Fu to set up our own household, without a letter of severing ties, if Jiangjun Fu is raided and exterminated, we would still be implicated.

Zheng Mama: "Miss, regarding the Jiang family… De Shu recently uncovered something."

Li Qingluo: "What is it? Speak quickly."

Noticing Li Qingluo's suddenly sharp gaze, Zheng Mama hurriedly said: "The Jiang family appears ordinary on the surface, but in fact that Deputy General Jiang had an illegitimate son before his death, who now seems to be working at the Southern Mountain Villa where the Crown Prince is confined."

Li Qingluo only felt a headache.

How is it the Crown Prince again?

She felt as if tangled by a mess of chaotic clues, unable to make sense of them.

The Pei family, the Qu family, the Jiang family, Princess Qinyu, and even the emperor and empress in the palace.

What exactly do all these people want?

Li Qingluo pulled out the jade pendant from her bosom; it seemed she must see Prince Su as soon as possible.

The next day.

Li Qingluo got up and received a reply from Que'er: "Miss, this was sent from the Osmanthus Garden."

Li Qingluo hurriedly unfolded it to look.

I didn't expect the Osmanthus Garden to handle things so quickly.

I didn't expect the Osmanthus Garden to handle things so quickly.

Li Qingluo unfolded the paper and saw it was indeed Prince Su's handwriting.

But there were only a few characters: "At the third watch of the You hour, West Mountain Pavilion."

Li Qingluo looked at Zheng Mama: "Where is the West Mountain Pavilion? Do you know?"

Zheng Mama: "It's a pavilion on West Mountain outside the city. Miss, are you going?"

Zheng Mama also now vaguely guessed that Miss was still in contact with Prince Su.

She didn't know whether she should tell the Old Lady about this.

Li Qingluo folded the paper: "Let's go. I'll go tell my grandmother."

Zheng Mama: "That's it?"