Chapter 309

Qu Daoyuan's eyes flashed with a hint of malice.

Under Pei Jingzhe's gaze, Li Qingluo slowly lowered her knife, then retreated backward with her grandmother.

At that moment, Li Kechuan, Liu Qingzhu, and Wu Da, along with all the servants of Lancang Courtyard, were seized and brought out.

Li Kechuan was the most embarrassed, leaning on his cane as he was shoved, walking unsteadily and stumbling to the ground several times, each time quickly helped up by Wu Da.

Wu Da looked down with concern at Li Kechuan in his arms, but once outside Lancang Courtyard, Li Kechuan showed deep disgust toward Wu Da, repeatedly shoving him away harshly: "I don't need your interference, get lost!"

However, Wu Da was as strong as an ox and stubborn; he couldn't be driven away, constantly following Li Kechuan without complaint, always protecting him with a careful demeanor.

The soldiers who had captured them let out a scornful snort.

"You two lords still don't know, but we went to that residence to arrest the eldest son, and on the bed we seized him together with his lover, that is, this lowly slave."

"These two have been up to no good since early morning, disgusting us completely."

"Truly shameless."

"Fortunately, Miss Cui Nine has already broken off her engagement with your mansion; otherwise, marrying into such a filthy family, marrying the eldest son with his peculiar tastes, would have been terrible luck for several generations."

Upon hearing the words "Miss Cui Nine", Pei Jingzhe's expression shifted slightly as he looked at Li Kechuan.

Anyone with eyes could see the unusual relationship between Li Kechuan and Wu Da; moreover, a group that went to Lancang Courtyard saw something unsavory, and immediately everyone's gaze toward Li Kechuan was filled with intense contempt and disdain.

Although in Jinling City, there are not a few elderly masters and sons of noble families who privately indulge in male love.

Even Jinling City has a large-scale Elephant Maiden Pavilion.

But if someone like Li Kechuan kept a male favorite at home, got caught sleeping in the same bed and sharing a room with him, the scandal would inevitably draw public finger-pointing and condemnation of his morals and ethics.

Qu Daoyuan had just been angered, and seizing the opportunity he snapped: "Your mansion's family conduct is really clean, huh?"

Li Kechuan, furious from shame, turned and slapped Wu Da across the face.

"Get lost, you wretch!"

Wu Da covered his swollen face and lowered his head.

Only then did Li Kechuan look around at the crowd, at Pei Jingzhe and Qu Daoyuan, at Li Qingluo and Pei Lao Furen, and even at the second and third branches.

His eyes red, he gave a hollow laugh: "How come our mansion has come to the point of being ransacked and exterminated?"

"Grandmother, aren't you formidable? Can't you even protect the lives and honor of the whole household?"

"And you, Pei Jingzhe, back then you were merely a defeated subordinate of mine; now it's finally your turn to be proud!"

"You, Qu Daoxun, who once swore brotherhood with me, now you kick me when I'm down, disparaging my Li family—you're more ruthless and unjust than anyone!"

"It's just the turning of fate; my Li family has fallen to this state, and I blame no one but myself—I failed to uphold this family, I am ashamed before my Li ancestors, and I deserve death ten thousand times!"

"Ha ha, ha ha ha..."

In the midst of his laughter, Qu Daoyuan, with a dark face, had him pressed to the ground.

Wu Da still wanted to rush forward to save him, but Qu Daoyuan drew his sword and cut him down in one stroke.

Wu Da lay on the ground convulsing, and instantly a pool of blood spread beneath him.

"Even a fawning dog dares to bare its teeth before me."

As he said this, Qu Daoyuan's eyes fell upon Li Kechuan.

Li Kechuan roared in anger, but he was already firmly stepped on the ground, unable to muster the strength to turn over.

His body had long been drained by drink and lust; where was any trace of his former vigor and bearing?

Seeing that he was truly ruined, Qu Daoyuan and Pei Jingzhe couldn't help but shake their heads.

Seeing Qu Daoyuan actually kill someone on the spot, the crowd erupted in startled cries, and everyone's faces finally showed fear.

Pei Lao Furen saw Li Kechuan being so humiliated; her eyes showed reluctance, and her chest held back a deep anger at being bullied and having someone come to the door.

Li Qingluo tightly grasped her grandmother's hand and slightly shook her head at her.

Now both grandmother and granddaughter are in a passive situation; indeed they cannot intervene in this matter.

Liu Qinzhu in the crowd, seeing this, had been honestly following the maids' troupe, but she suddenly rolled her eyes, her eye sockets reddened, and ran forward crying for help: "Older cousin, please help me, help Zhu'er——"

"Older cousin, the Jiangjun Fu are not human; everything they do is beastly. They imprison and beat me, not to mention they don't allow Zhu'er to send letters out, and they won't even let Zhu'er return to Prince Yun's Mansion!"

"Older cousin, I've finally waited for you to come; please plead with me——"

Liu Qinzhu cried with snot and tears, leaving even Qu Daoyuan stunned.

"You are……"

Liu Qinzhu: "It's me, I'm Zhu'er, older cousin——wu wu wu……"

Liu Qinzhu!?

She is Liu Qinzhu!?

That lady who once had both talent and beauty, whose fame echoed throughout Jinling City, the Jiangjun Fu's eldest legitimate daughter Liu Qinzhu, whom everyone flocked to like ducks!?

How did she become like this?

Because Qu Shi used to like taking Liu Qinzhu back to the Qu family, Qu Daoyuan has also seen Liu Qinzhu several times.

Once she was so noble and magnificent, flawless; now she has become so wretched and lowly, utterly vulgar.

Wearing a loose maid's outfit that hung empty on her body, not to mention there were bruises at the corners of her eyes.

Her figure could be described as skin and bones.

Without makeup, her face was no different from that of an ordinary woman.

"You…… how did you become like this?"

"Moreover, you haven't already been driven out of Prince Yun's Mansion? How can I save you?"

Liu Qinzhu quickly knelt, moved forward a few steps, and cried bitterly: "Older cousin, you don't know——"

Qu Daoyuan, with a headache, reached out to stop him quickly: "You'd better not call me older cousin. You now bear the surname Liu, and I have no Liu-named cousin."

Liu Qinzhu's expression froze for a moment.

She knew that she herself was now despised by the world, so all the bitterness in her heart could only be endured and swallowed by herself.

Liu Qiongzhu choked back tears, sobbing again: "Yes, Sir Qu."

"Sir Qu may not know, but I initially only followed His Highness's order to pretend to leave Prince Yun's Mansion."

"In truth, my aim was merely to probe for His Highness whether Li Chao Jing is truly ill or merely feigning sickness."

Although she still wished to claim her own dowry, now escaping with her life is paramount; Liu Qiongzhu dare not utter such thoughts again.

"Who would have thought they, the Li family, are utterly deranged… they actually blamed the whole household's misfortune on me; I have endured endless suffering and much torment at their hands."

Li Kechuan, pinned to the ground, sneered repeatedly: "Liu Qiongzhu, why don't you tell Sir Qu Dao Yuan exactly what torment you've suffered?!"

"You still dream of returning to Prince Yun's Mansion—hahaha, keep dreaming!"

"Unless Prince Yun doesn't mind your defiled body and still wishes to bed you, you harlot!"

"Hahaha, hahaha…"

Li Kechuan had long guessed Liu Qiongzhu might still harbor treacherous thoughts and wish to return to Prince Yun's side, but he never imagined she would even this time come to Jiangjun Fu merely to serve as Prince Yun's dog.

For Prince Yun…

Everything is for Prince Yun!

Li Kechuan's heart burned with hatred, his eyes bloodshot as he glared fiercely at Liu Qiongzhu.

Liu Qiongzhu gasped, her mouth opening then freezing; she lunged forward, clutching Qu Dao Yuan's leg tightly as she continued to weep: "Sir Qu, please don't listen to his nonsense."

"He spends all day cavorting with Wu Da in the room, even trying to drag me onto the bed. I am His Highness's concubine—how could I do anything disloyal to him?"

"I have sworn daily to resist, firmly opposing this."

"Ask every servant in Lanlang Courtyard—does such a thing exist?"

The servants of Lanlang Courtyard exchanged bewildered glances, none daring to speak.

Even Pei Jingzhe's forehead twitched violently.

This Li Kechuan is utterly absurd!

After all, Liu Qiongzhu was once a miss of the mansion; even if she was a swapped‑out daughter, could more than a decade of sibling bond truly allow them to share a bed again?

By airing this publicly, is he not telling the world that Prince Yun is a cuckold?

Does he truly not wish to live?

Dare to place a green hat on a prince!

Yet thinking of Prince Yun's own dire straits, I suspect he cannot spare a hand to deal with this now, and today's affair leaves me wondering whether the Li clan can ever recover…

Pei Jingzhe crossed his arms, once again silent.

Li Qingluo also shook her head silently.

Even if Liu Qiongzhu were to break her lips speaking today, with Li Kechuan himself having spoken these words, the two can never wash clean of this stain.

Only Qu Dao Yuan now feels not only intense disgust but also a pounding headache, and he has no desire to wade into the murky waters tied to Prince Yun's Mansion.

Thus he immediately waved his hand: "Enough!"

"I recall you were long ago expelled from the Jiangjun Fu genealogy, so you are no longer considered a member of the mansion?"

Liu Qiongzhu's eyes lit up instantly.

Knowing Qu Dao Yuan meant to release her, she hurriedly replied: "Yes, I am indeed no longer part of Jiangjun Fu; please, Sir, spare me. I am innocent… sob…"

Qu Dao Yuan at once ordered someone to expel Liu Qiongzhu from Jiangjun Fu.

Once freed, Liu Qiongzhu lifted her skirt and fled, disappearing within moments at the end of Dongyin Alley.

Seeing someone emerge, and it being Liu Qiongzhu, Que'er, who had been peering anxiously around the corner, immediately lunged forward.

Nan Gongdi seized her roughly: "Come back, what do you intend to do?"

Que'er's eyes turned red with urgency: "Mr. Nangong, my lady and the Old Lady are still inside! I must go in to see exactly what's happening; if something occurs, I must stay with my lady!"

Nan Gongdi glared fiercely at Que'er: "Go in! What can you accomplish by going in? Will you save her or merely add chaos?"

"Listen to me!"

"Perhaps things aren't that bad."

Que'er: "But the rumor has already spread throughout the street, saying the master committed some treason, fraudulently claimed military merit—a capital crime punishable by confiscation! On what grounds are our lady and the Old Lady implicated?"

Que'er was as frantic as an ant on a hot pan, spinning in place.

Meanwhile, Li Jingchuan, clad head‑to‑foot in black fur that nearly enveloped his whole body, lifted his head and gazed gloomily at Jiangjun Fu.

He had not yet managed to step inside…

Nor did he know whether he was late by a step or whether heaven had ordained it thus.

He had meant to help Luoluo.

After great effort he had resolved to do so, yet heaven seemed to thwart him…

Just then, a sudden weight settled on Li Jingchuan's shoulder.