Chapter 267: The miss has become the person held dearest in Your Highness's heart!

The two glanced at each other.

Duan Rongshi: ……

Li Qingluo: ……

They both saw the word "speechless" in each other's eyes.

Zhui Yu behind them frowned and snapped: "Where did this ugly thing come from? Get lost at once!"

"How dare you describe it like that and obstruct the view here? Do you know what crime it is to offend a noble?"

Zhui Yu roared and lunged forward to draw his sword, but Leng Dian quickly grabbed him and pulled him back.

Leng Dian glanced at Prince Su standing at the front, sweat beading on his forehead, and said: "Is your backside all healed? Hurry up and see who's following her behind!"

Only then did Zhui Yu see that behind the ugly girl stood the little maid named Que'er.

And there was a crowd of grannies who had gathered to watch the commotion.

And the ugly girl, despite his low shout, showed no fear at all, her face holding back a smile.

Zhui Yu then realized that, just now, aside from the miss, there seemed to be no other woman in the world who, upon seeing their Highness's eyes, could still meet his gaze without changing expression…

Zhui Yu's heart gave a thump.

Then his whole body shuddered.

Good heavens, this—this ugly girl couldn't possibly be… could it be the miss!!?

Zhui Yu felt an inner roar, not yet having time to go mad, when Prince Su already turned his head halfway to look at him.

Zhui Yu shuddered all over, it's over…

Li Qingluo let out a "puchi" laugh: "It seems the commoner girl's makeup today is perfect; even Lord Zhui Yu doesn't recognize who I am."

"Commoner girl Li Qingluo greets Your Highness."

The people behind then all followed suit to pay respects to Prince Su.

Because this is on the manor, they didn't dare to be too loud; those behind all just knelt and shouted "Your Highness".

Zhui Yu even wanted to cry.

Who would have thought Prince Su completely ignored him.

He merely gave an indescribable expression while looking at Li Qingluo.

He had her paint a makeup that no one could recognize, yet she went all out to make herself ugly.

If this were in the past, such an ugly thing daring to approach him would surely have been ground to ashes already.

It's her…… Prince Su couldn't help shaking his head.

"Indeed, very ugly."

After saying that, he stepped into the courtyard.

Li Qingluo, however, wore a self-satisfied smile.

"But how did Your Highness recognize the commoner girl? You seemed to recognize her at a glance, truly without any doubt?"

Duan Rongshi did not answer.

Li Qingluo, however, pursued: "Your Highness, you are dressed so beautifully today, while the commoner girl is ugly to the point of being unbearable to look at—truly unfair."

Duan Rongshi involuntarily curled his palm, his thumb unconsciously rubbing his palm.

Leng Dian watched as the Prince's brows and eyes gradually relaxed, with a hint of joy hidden in his gaze.

"Tsk……"

Leng Dian thought: The Prince is becoming more and more openly pleased; just one word "beautiful" from the miss and he's coaxed into such happiness.

It seems the miss truly is, as Zhui Yu said, now the person held dearest in the Prince's heart.

It's just a pity…… the Prince's situation is difficult now, and given the miss's background and circumstances, if she were to become the Prince Su's consort, she clearly isn't qualified yet.

If she were merely a concubine…… that wouldn't be difficult at all.

Zhui Yu came up, wailing: "Thanks to the miss's remark just now, otherwise my backside would be in jeopardy again, waa waa waa……"

Leng Dian gave Zhui Yu a sideways glance: "I want to stay away from you. Next time partner with Po Feng."

Zhui Yu exclaimed in shock: "Why? Little Dian, you're also despising him? waa waa waa……"

Leng Dian looked up speechlessly: "Who made you a dog that drags others down?"

Zhui Yu angrily retorted: "You're the dog! You follow this old man, and only then will you get a seat to eat—don't you get it?"

Leng Dian: "Understand what?"

Zhui Yu gave a "heh heh" laugh: "The miss clearly intended to help me get off the hook just now. When she becomes queen someday, I'll be the attendant closest to the miss by the Prince's side—won't I then deserve a seat at the table? hehehe……"

Leng Dian: "You're dreaming."

Having said that, he didn't wait for Zhui Yu to nag further, and hurriedly chased after him.

Zhui Yu: "Tch, what do you know?"

Everyone walked inside, and only then could they see the full layout of the courtyard.

Everywhere was orderly, moreover refined and elegant, even so clean that it felt like a secluded paradise.

Pei Lao Furen's manor in the suburbs, though she usually doesn't manage it personally, is also overseen by the close relative's son who is a trusted attendant of the nearby grannies' family.

Previously, when living at Qingmao Temple grew tiresome, Pei Lao Furen would come here to stay for a year or so.

Over time, this place has been repaired and made increasingly luxurious.

But this year, due to lax management, when the vegetables on the manor had a problem, that gave the Qu family an opportunity to slip in and tamper with the vegetables and meat in Pei Lao Furen's daily meals.

After Pei Lao Furen and Li Qingluo left the Li household, Pei Lao Furen was still unconscious, and that granny dragged her own son to the Guiyuan to apologize.

"Miss, no matter how you punish this beast today, even if you take his life, this old servant accepts the punishment."

Originally, the manor's steward was the granny's husband; after he died, this young son named Gu Qingcai, who had just turned nineteen, took over as steward.

It is said that earlier this year, a family of refugees suddenly arrived at the manor, having fled from the east—a couple with their newly widowed daughter-in-law and grandson.

This old man's family were skilled carpenters, so when they pleaded to stay and settle on the manor, the minor steward Gu Qing readily agreed without much thought.

That young widow was good-looking, knew how to handle things, and her parents-in-law were kind.

Before long, this family got along well with the people on the manor, and the young widow and Gu Qing even developed some ambiguous feelings.

Perhaps Gu Qing was still too young; even when such a major incident occurred on the manor, it did not draw his attention.

In a single night, the melons, fruits, vegetables, chickens, ducks, fish, and geese were all destroyed.

Later it was determined to be the work of thieves and bandits, so they merely sent someone to file a report with the authorities; thereafter, the only items the manor could still send daily to the Jiangjun Fu were a few special provisions for Pei Lao Furen.

Originally they thought their own manor was the purest, so even during the Spring Festival Li Qingluo ate ingredients sent from the Li family manor.

Unexpectedly, Pei Lao Furen was the one who got poisoned.

After the matter came to light, Gu Qing investigated thoroughly from the start and finally traced it to that young widow.

That young widow's family had originally wanted to flee, but Gu Qing wasn't really foolish; he immediately, in a clear-headed midnight, brought people to block the family of four at their doorstep.

After Li Qingluo learned the truth, she asked Gu Qing: "Just who are they, and why did they poison my grandmother? Have you found out?"

Gu Qing was filled with regret.

Although he was already nineteen, he had never married due to a hidden ailment in his body.

Who would have thought that he only tasted a bit of the sweetness of being a man with this young widow, and then she turned the tables on him.

He said, weeping and mourning: "Miss, they indeed came from the east, no mistake, and they really are a family. But after I interrogated them, I found they are not refugees at all; they deliberately infiltrated our manor to cause trouble..."

"I used a bit of pressure, and they finally confessed honestly, saying they are distant relatives of the Minister of Justice Qiu in the court."

"The Qiu family wanted them to act as informants on Old Lady's manor, ready to do something when the time is ripe."

"It's all my fault for being lustful; I was wrong!"

"I will never again dare to take in people of unknown origin."

"Miss, punish me; even if you let me pay with my life for Old Lady, I will accept..."

Li Qingluo: "If my grandmother truly faced a threat to her life this time, I would never spare you. But since she has been saved, I will temporarily spare your life; from now on, you must serve my grandmother more diligently. Otherwise, what would become of your mother?"

"She will never be able to hold her head up before grandmother again."

As she spoke, Li Qingluo glanced at that granny.

The granny's eyes were filled with tears.

"Miss, Granny... Granny really only has this one son."

Li Qingluo: "What's going on?"

That granny, surnamed Chen, with tears streaming, said: "Granny's husband, eldest son and second son... they all... they all died!"

Beside her, Zhang Mama explained: "Miss, those three father and son were, last year, transporting goods for Old Lady to Fujian when they were killed by bandits on the road..."

"Although the bandits were all apprehended and executed, in the end... the people are gone, alas."

"Now Gu Qing lives with his two brothers' widows and children on the manor, taking care of both sisters-in-law's households, which is also hard work."

Li Qingluo felt a heavy weight in her heart as well.

"Get up."

"If that's the case, why doesn't Granny Chen live on the manor?"

Granny Chen: "It's because Granny doesn't want to leave Old Lady. From now on... Granny also has no face... it's Gu Qing who messed up, nearly costing Old Lady her life; Granny... Granny from now on, alas!"

Li Qingluo comforted her: "It's fine. Grandmother knows your loyalty. Even if Gu Qing was used this time, it's a lesson learned; from now on it won't happen again, right, Gu Qing?"

Gu Qing knelt on the ground, ashamed and unable to face himself.

"Miss, if I offend again, I will take my own life to apologize!"

Li Qingluo: "Your family's sacrifice is known to grandmother. Since that's the case, Granny Chen, I punish you to go to the manor and from now on keep an eye on Gu Qing's work; are you willing?"

"Is this leaving a net open, i. e., sparing Gu Qing's life?"

"How could Granny Chen be unwilling?"

She hurriedly knelt to give thanks: "Thank you, Miss, wuwu... when Old Lady awakens, Granny will bring Gu Qing before her again to confess another fault!"

Li Qingluo knew she did not want to leave.

"But there's no choice; this already counts as the lightest punishment."

"Moreover, letting her go to the manor to be with her sons and grandsons also counts as supporting her in her old age."

Li Qingluo: "Gu Qing, lock up that family; the Qiu side should already have sensed something. Then go to the courthouse to confront them; the Qiu family won't admit it. Moreover, the Qiu family won't leave evidence in their hands."

Gu Qing felt awful: "What should we do? Are we just going to accept this loss? They were trying to poison Old Lady!"

Li Qingluo: "Of course we can't admit it! For now, first lock up that family of four. As for the rest, you will first make them work day and night as slaves."

"If the Qiu family can't hold back, perhaps they will send someone to look for them; then we can arrest them together."

"If the Qiu family turns a deaf ear, won't this family themselves be anxious and suffering?"

"Waiting for the right moment, I will also give the Qiu family a deadly counterstrike!"

"The Qiu family acting so blatantly is not because they are stupid."

"But because they have something to rely on, they are absolutely vicious."

"Moreover, they think that Li Qingluo and Pei Lao Furen, this orphaned grandmother-granddaughter pair in Jinling City, have no support, so they are easy to manipulate."

"They think Pei Lao Furen is old, and having withdrawn from the court battlefield for over thirty years, her natal family doesn't want her, and in her husband's family she has no status; even if she died, who would care?"

"That's why they dare even to want to kill the former female general."