Chapter 28: with translation of chapter title

Cui Er turned to shield Li Qingluo, Li Qingluo quickly drew a dagger from her sleeve and slashed forward!

The black cat let out a miserable cry and quickly vanished into the courtyard.

Que'er happened to return, saw this scene, and her expression changed slightly.

She hurried over: "What's wrong? Miss, are you alright?"

Li Qingluo put the dagger back into her sleeve, seeing Que'er already returned, she asked: "How did you come back so quickly?"

Que'er sighed: "The Old Lady intervened, and soon sent that Third Young Master Zhuang back to the Zhongyi Hou Fu."

Li Qingluo's forehead twitched violently.

How could she have forgotten her grandmother?

In her previous life, her grandmother had not interfered, so she also did not know what attitude her grandmother held.

But now it seems her grandmother is pleased to see this marriage succeed?

Unfortunately, those people from the Zhongyi Hou Fu later somehow found out about the true and false miss affair; even though she is Li family's own flesh and blood, they still look down on her from the countryside.

And Li Qingluo, because of her past grievances, would absolutely not want to marry into the Zhuang family.

It seems the matter of breaking off the engagement must be handled through her grandmother.

However, since Zhuang Wei has already left, she doesn't need to go watch the commotion.

Li Qingluo stared at the bloodstain on the ground, curious: "How could there be a black cat? Which courtyard keeps it?"

Que'er's face looked bad: "Miss, lately we've been hearing strange sounds in the Red Maple Court; haven't you heard them?"

Li Qingluo looked at Cui Er, and Cui Er also shook her head.

Li Qingluo asked Que'er: "What kind of sound? When did you hear it?"

Because she knew the courtyard was haunted, Li Qingluo has been paying attention to this since moving into the Hongfenguan, yet she has never encountered it.

How is it that Que'er heard the abnormality?

Que'er glanced around, lowered her voice: "I always hear crying at midnight; sometimes it sounds like a woman's, sometimes like an infant's."

As she spoke, Que'er rubbed her arms, face full of tension: "Miss, this courtyard seems unclean."

Cui Er seemed to recall something, and her face turned pale all at once.

"I, I remember now, this Hongfenguan seems to be haunted! That's why they say no one has lived here for over ten years..."

Que'er exclaimed in shock: "Then the Lady still placed Miss here?"

After saying that, she glanced at Li Qingluo's expression, seeming afraid she would be upset.

But Li Qingluo was far calmer than the two of them.

"Groundless weeping, a black cat of unknown origin. Let's go see who's behind this!"

Li Qingluo followed the bloodstain forward; although Que'er and Cui Er were terrified, seeing Miss go ahead, they had to grit their teeth and follow.

The bloodstain led all the way to the southeast corner, where they discovered a small hole at the base of the wall.

The hole was small enough only for a cat to squeeze through, and fresh blood still clung to its edge—clearly the black cat had escaped from here.

Next door is likewise a deserted courtyard, not as large as the Hongfenguan, but even more dilapidated.

This residence of the Jiangjun Fu is not small.

It was granted by the former emperor personally for the outstanding military achievements of Pei Lao Furen and the old general.

The Li family has few members and not many masters, so the residences cannot be fully occupied; it's not strange that many lie abandoned.

However, the Li family has many secrets.

Li Qingluo was about to go next door to check when the front-yard tea maid Chunxing came over.

"Second Miss, the master requests your presence in the front courtyard."

Her scumbag father?

Li Qingluo was quite surprised.

In her previous life, Li Chao Jing didn't even want to see her; since returning to the Li family, Li Qingluo has met him only three times total.

In this life, this is already the third time.

Li Qingluo had to put the cat search aside, taking Que'er and following Chunxing to the front courtyard.

Arriving at the front courtyard, Li Qingluo first paid respects to Li Chao Jing: "Luo'er greets Father."

In her previous life, although she was tormented to the point of barely living by the maid sent by Zhuang Wei, she did indeed quickly learn the etiquette and bearing expected of a noble lady.

In this life, after returning to the Li family, Pei Lao Furen again sent an unconventional maid to instruct her; she pretended to be exploring her studies, but in fact she has gradually acquired the proper bearing.

At this moment, seeing her again after some time, Li Chao Jing couldn't help but feel a secret shock!

How... she seems to have changed somewhat?

Although her attire is still not quite proper, the courtesy she just performed is unmistakable.

Could it be that her mother's people have already instructed her?

Moreover, looking at her, she actually seems to have grown paler?

Everything about her no longer looks as unsightly as before; it seems the wealth and comfort of the Jiangjun Fu have restored her vitality.

Li Chao Jing harbors some dislike and avoidance toward Li Qingluo because of Li Qingzhu, but as the head of the household he must consider the bigger picture.

Just then, Pei Lao Furen also arrived.

Li Qingluo rose together with Li Chao Jing, both hastily standing to pay respects to Pei Lao Furen.

At the same time, Li Qingluo's heart suddenly began to pound anxiously.

Indeed, mother and son are hard to get along, and this time Li Chao Jing's willingness to see Li Qingluo is also due to the marriage with the Zhongyi Hou Fu.

Pei Lao Furen: "Luo'er, today Zhuang Sanlang came to cause a ruckus—you must have heard about it, right?"

Li Qingluo remained silent and lowered her head.

Li Chao Jing seeing her like this felt it was quite embarrassing.

But Pei Lao Furen had decided to take charge of this matter, and Li Chao Jing also had to steel himself and say: 'Your grandmother is asking you a question, why aren't you answering?'

Li Qingluo turned and knelt down: 'Qingluo still doesn't understand what exactly happened, so she cannot answer.'

She wanted to pretend to know nothing, naturally being clueless.

Li Chao Jing shook his head.

Pei Lao Furen said slowly: 'Simply put, it is Zhuang Sanlang of the Zhongyi Hou Fu; while you were still in your mother's womb, the two of you had already been betrothed by pressing thumbs.'

'Although these years the marriage was taken by Li Qingzhu, but now you have returned to your position, and Li Qingzhu is dead, so the marriage naturally should be returned to you.'

'Qingluo, this is an excellent marriage. It is said that Zhuang Sanlang studies well, and he does not need to inherit the heir apparent's position, but he will surely become a young man who will accomplish much.'

'If you two live together, without the entanglements of the Hou Fu, you will be much more relaxed and at ease.'

'Do you understand your grandmother's meaning?'

Li Qingluo felt bitter in her heart.

As a young woman, she cannot decide on the marriage.

If she truly said a word of refusal, that would be a great act of defiance.

If she really were to say a couple more sentences, it would be even more frivolous, lacking self-respect, and self-abasing; so the grandmother probably also wants to force her to nod.

Although the grandmother wanted to give her an excellent marriage, a forced melon is not sweet; her union with Zhuang Wei would merely be a resentful couple tormenting each other.

Taking a deep breath, Li Qingluo tried to speak: 'Grandmother, Father. Qingluo has just returned home, and not much time has passed. Qingluo also does not understand the connections and depth of these noble families in the capital.'

'Qingluo still wishes to spend more time accompanying her family at their knees, to make up for the years lost.'

'Therefore, regarding the marriage, Qingluo fears she would be reaching too high; if she went to the Zhuang household, she would only bring shame to her family.'

She did not say no, nor did she nod; she merely stated some facts.

Li Chao Jing involuntarily followed with a nod.

He was met with a fierce warning glare from Pei Lao Furen.

Li Chao Jing hurriedly rubbed his nose bridge, cleared his throat, and said: 'This matter, I have settled with your grandmother; you may withdraw first.'

Li Qingluo knew that breaking off the engagement was not easy.

If the grandmother and Li Chao Jing had both decided to continue the marriage alliance, then Li Qingluo's path to break off the engagement would have to go through Zhuang Wei.

But Li Qingluo did not expect that the person who could not wait the most for this matter was neither herself nor Zhuang Sanlang, but Li Kechuan.

On a shaky cart, Li Qingluo was put in a sack and her mouth was stuffed.

She faintly came to, and could only see some vague light through the sack.

Li Qingluo felt a sharp pain in the back of her head, and she recalled that when the incident occurred, she had been in Qu Shi's Chunzai Hall.