Chapter 29: Seized at the False Young Lady's Grave, Forced to Atone

Qu Shi's senior maid Qingyi suddenly came to Hongfenguan, saying Qu Shi wanted to see her.

Li Qingluo brought Que'er along, but Que'er was stopped outside by Qingyi, who said only that Qu Shi had some intimate words she wanted to say alone to the second young lady, so everyone else was sent away.

Li Qingluo immediately felt suspicious.

Qu Shi found even glancing at her annoying—how could she possibly say any bullshit heart-to-heart talk to her?

There must be a trap inside!

Li Qingluo had intended to make an excuse and leave first, but Qu Shi seemed to know her thoughts, shouting from behind the door: "Lu'er, is that you? Mother is unwell; come in quickly and bring Mother a cup of tea."

The word "filial piety" outweighs heaven; if she turned and left again, these matrons would surely find an excuse to come up and lecture her.

Outside the door, matrons and maidservants filled the courtyard.

Li Qingluo thought: In broad daylight, she surely wouldn't dare to take her life in front of so many people? As for the rest, she could only meet each move as it came.

She glanced at Que'er, then pushed the door and stepped inside.

Greetings, Mother.

Qu Shi leaned against the headboard and waved at her.

Although it was broad daylight, the room was very dim.

Qu Shi explained: "My eye condition can't tolerate strong light, so I've hung curtains over all the windows."

Come over and let Mother have a look.

Since you returned, Mother still hasn't properly looked at you. My eyes are failing now; I'm afraid that if I don't get a good look at you now, I may never have another chance...

Li Qingluo stood where she was, quietly watching her put on an act, and did not immediately step forward.

She warily glanced to both sides, but also saw no shadows on the ground.

She didn't believe a single word of what Qu Shi said.

Whether Qu Shi truly had an eye ailment, she herself knew clearly.

And now she had lured her here again—what scheme was she plotting?

Before Li Qingluo could figure it out, a heavy blow struck the back of her head!

She was knocked unconscious by a blow from a stick and fell to the ground.

Before losing consciousness, in a dazed haze she saw Li Kechuan's silhouette, his eyes as cold as ice, gazing down at her coldly.

It was as if he were looking at a corpse.

Qu Shi's voice, which had just been weak and feeble, instantly returned to normal.

Chuan'er, don't strike too hard—after all, she is your sister.

But this time I helped you lure her here; if Grandmother found out… how would Mother explain it?

Li Kechuan: "Mother, rest assured. I'm only giving her a little bit of hardship; I won't cause a big disturbance, and I'll control the force myself."

As for Grandmother, Mother will just say she's keeping her nearby to attend to her illness, unable to leave, and that will suffice.

If the truth really comes out, Mother only needs to push all the blame onto the son. After all, I am the Li family's sole legitimate grandson; Grandmother wouldn't really do anything to me...

Li Qingluo completely lost consciousness, and when she woke again, she found herself already bound in a sack.

She bit hard on her own tongue tip, a metallic taste spreading in her mouth, and her consciousness became fully clear.

In her mind, the events that had transpired quickly sorted themselves out.

It was Qu Shi who helped Li Kechuan lure her to the Hall of Lingering Spring, while Li Kechuan had already been hiding in the room and personally struck her unconscious.

Li Qingluo felt waves of silent cold laughter.

Tears slid down the corners of her eyes.

As expected, she had still underestimated the ruthlessness of this mother-son pair.

As for Li Kechuan, it was no surprise—she had already seen through him in her previous life: he was an obstinate, violent madman, utterly devoid of any brotherly feeling toward this sister of hers.

But Qu Shi… Qu Shi!!

After all, I am also her child, carried for ten months; as a mother, even if she never nurtured me a single day, can she truly not see that I am her own flesh and blood?

Even if she wouldn't glance at me, even if she threw me into some deserted place and ignored me, at least… don't join forces with that ruthless, heartless son of hers to harm this daughter of hers.

Never having fulfilled even a day of parental duty would be bad enough, yet she teamed up with others, repeatedly putting her in danger.

Heh, hehe, hehehe…

Li Qingluo had thought she no longer cared, but at this moment her heart still couldn't help feeling bitter.

But weakness has always been useless.

She buried her head, rubbing her tears away on the sack.

It seems this time she has truly become a fish on Li Kechuan's chopping block.

However, having been reborn once, she did not return to resign herself to fate.

Although she was confined in a sack, Li Qingluo could sense that she was now on a flatbed cart.

A slight cool breeze seeped in, the underside was hard, and the wheels made a gurgling sound.

If she guessed correctly, she must have already been taken out of the Jiangjun Fu.

Inside the mansion lives the grandmother; Li Kechuan has tried to act several times, but each time the grandmother stopped him.

So he would take her to a place beyond the grandmother's reach.

Where could that be?

Li Qingluo knew she could not sit and wait for death.

She first lightly shook her sleeve, waiting for the small dagger hidden inside to slide into her hand; then, using both hands, she pulled out the sheath and smoothly cut the ropes binding her wrists.

She then hid the small dagger back in her sleeve and gripped its hilt.

Perhaps because the cart was constantly jostling, and no one expected her to wake up without making a fuss or struggling, so no one had noticed any movement in the sack.

After an unknown amount of time, the carriage suddenly stopped.

Li Qingluo was suddenly hoisted onto someone's shoulder; as they rose and fell, jostling, she was finally thrown hard onto the ground.

Li Qingluo stubbornly made no sound, clenching her teeth and holding back any cry.

The sack was opened, and as it fell away Li Qingluo also saw clearly the scene before her.

It was actually the Li family's ancestral tomb forest!

On a small hill graced with beautiful scenery, clear waters and lush mountains.

At the foot of the hill flows the Qinhuai River, and indeed she had already been taken out of Jinling City.

Li Qingluo lifted her head; a gust of wind blew, scattering the disheveled strands of hair across her forehead and blowing them all away.

Actually, although she had become somewhat thin and dark-skinned, at a glance she occasionally bore a resemblance to Li Kechuan in appearance and demeanor.

Li Kechuan is a man who once spent several years in a military camp; his features are merely somewhat harder and colder than Li Qingluo's, yet he is truly a handsome young gentleman.

Li Qingluo, just how ugly could she possibly be?

If she had grown up in the Li family from childhood, able to become a pampered, delicate young lady who never touched spring water with her fingers nor did farm work, her beauty would certainly not fall short of Li Qingzhu's by even a fraction.

Li Qingluo's gaze quietly met Li Kechuan's, as if she had already seen through him; in the depths of that silent look lay endless sorrow, heartache, and bewilderment.

"Older brother… no, Young Master, what do you mean?"

Her face showed no panic, yet as Li Kechuan stared at her face, he inexplicably felt a flicker of panic.

But he quickly suppressed that improper emotion.

He stepped forward, dragging Li Qingluo before a fresh grave.

"Look carefully—who is buried here!"

"Li Qingluo, this is exactly what you owe her! Today, how will you repay it?"