Chapter 311

What is the purpose of his sudden appearance?

What is the purpose of his sudden appearance?

He even dressed down this official of mine, who is at least a vice minister of the Ministry of Punishments.

He even dressed down this official of mine, who is at least a vice minister of the Ministry of Punishments.

He's relying on Prince Su's backing, but there's no need to needlessly make enemies over a doomed commander's manor, is there?

Translation: "He relies on Prince Su's backing, but there's no need to offend people for nothing over a doomed manor." Let's translate: "He leans on Prince Su's support, yet there's no point in needlessly offending anyone over a manor that's about to be utterly defeated." Keep single line.

More importantly, when did this commander's manor begin having dealings with Prince Su's manor?

Translation: "More importantly, when did this manor have any dealings with Prince Su's mansion?" Keep single line.

Besides, there's another person who came along with Prince Su's guard Zhui Yu.

Translation: "Besides, there's another person who came together with Prince Su's guard Zhui Yu!" Keep single line.

A person wearing the same guard uniform, but unusually tall and conspicuous, wearing a silver-white mask.

Translation: "A person wearing the same guard uniform, unusually conspicuous in stature, with a silver-white mask on his face." Keep single line.

Who is this person?

Translation: "Who is this person?" Keep single line.

Thinking of these formidable matters, Qu Dao Yuan's face slowly turned pale.

Translation: "Just thinking about these formidable people, Qu Dao Yuan's face turned pale again." Keep single line.

Or perhaps Pei Jingzhe, this clever fellow, has already realized the danger, unlike me, who may have already offended someone in my impulsiveness...

Translation: "Or perhaps Pei Jingzhe is the sharp one, already sensing the danger—unlike me, who, in my impulsiveness, may have already offended someone……" Keep single line.

Now look at the person who entered together with Zhui Yu.

Translation: "Now look at that person who entered together with Zhui Yu." Keep single line.

This person never revealed his true face, remained silent, yet walked straight behind Li Qingluo.

Translation: "This person never showed his true face, remained silent, yet walked straight up behind Li Qingluo." Keep single line.

Then, in front of everyone, he cupped his hands and said softly, 'Miss, your subordinate is late.'

Translation: "Then, in front of everyone, he cupped his hands and said softly, 'Miss, I am late.'" Keep single line.

'With your subordinate present, miss and old lady, no one will harm you two in the slightest today.'

Translation: "'With me here, miss and Old Lady, no one will harm you in the slightest today.'" Keep single line.

Li Qingluo: (silent)

Translation: "Li Qingluo: ……" Keep the ellipsis.

Madam Pei: (questioning)

Translation: "Pei Lao Furen:?" Keep question mark.

Everyone else looked bewildered, even the grannies didn't know when a guard had appeared beside the miss.

Translation: "Everyone else looked bewildered, even the grannies didn't know when a guard had appeared beside the miss." Keep single line.

Although this person came yesterday as well, but he isn't one of Prince Su's guards who came with Guard Zhui Yu, is he?

Translation: "Although this person came yesterday as well, wasn't he a guard from Prince Su's mansion who came with Guard Zhui Yu?" Keep single line.

How did he become the miss's guard?

Translation: "How did he become the miss's guard?" Keep single line.

Only Li Qingluo knows that this is not just any guard of hers—it's actually Prince Su Duan Rongshi.

Translation: "Only Li Qingluo knows—this isn't just any guard of hers; it's Prince Su Duan Rongshi himself!" Keep single line.

He should have been reflecting in seclusion at Prince Su's manor, yet now he's running all over the world wearing a mask.

Translation: "He should be reflecting in seclusion at Prince Su's mansion, yet now he runs all over the world wearing a mask……" Keep single line.

Up ahead is Yue Wu Ye.

Up ahead is Yue Wu Ye.

Now he has become the guard of her fallen, soon-to-be-imprisoned commander's manor young lady.

Translation: "Now he has become the guard of this impoverished miss, who is about to be imprisoned, from the manor." Keep single line.

Does he know what he's actually doing?

Translation: "Does he know what he's actually doing?" Keep single line.

Or does he intend to follow me into prison?

Translation: "Or does he intend to follow me into prison?" Keep single line.

Li Qingluo couldn't help but secretly break into a sweat.

Translation: "Li Qingluo couldn't help but secretly break into a sweat." Keep single line.

Having a prince serve as her guard, she really can't bear the responsibility.

Translation: "Having a prince serve as her guard is more than she can bear." Keep single line.

Qu Dao Yuan beside him saw that the situation was not good.

Qu Dao Yuan beside him saw that the situation was not good.

After bitterly enduring countless humiliations, he forced a smile, respectfully changed his expression, and approached Zhui Yu again, asking: 'I don't know why Guard Zhui Yu has come here today; do you have any instructions?'

Translation: "After bitterly enduring all kinds of humiliation, he then forced a smile, changed his expression respectfully, and approached Zhui Yu again, asking, 'Guard Zhui Yu, may I ask what brings you here today?'" Keep single line.

'But just now it was really a misunderstanding.'

Translation: "'But just now it was really a misunderstanding.'" Keep single line.

'How could I, as an official, do such a thing?'

Translation: "'How could I, an official, do such a thing?'" Keep single line.

'Really, it's because this old lady and Miss Li refuse to be arrested obediently; you can see that they have a group of crafty old grannies under them, each armed with weapons, which is all a serious crime of defying imperial orders!'

Translation: "'It's really because this Old Lady and Miss Li refuse to be taken quietly; you can see they have a bunch of cunning grannies under them, each armed with weapons—this is a serious crime of defying imperial orders!'" Keep single line.

'So, I, the lower official, merely wanted to scare them a bit.'

Translation: "'So I, the lower official, merely wanted to scare them a bit.'" Keep single line.

'Since Guard Zhui Yu has arrived, please instruct me and Lord Pei on whether we should directly apprehend them, or...'

Translation: "'Since Guard Zhui Yu is here, please tell me and Official Pei whether we should take them directly, or……'" Keep single line.

Zhui Yu: 'Seize what? seize what?'

Translation: "Zhui Yu: 'Seize what? Seize what?!'" Keep single line.

He angrily threw a stack of things heavily onto Qu Dao Yuan's face.

Translation: "He angrily slammed a stack of something onto Qu Dao Yuan's face." Keep single line.

'What qualifications do you have to arrest General Pei the Elder and the eldest granddaughter of the Xiuli Commander's Manor, Miss Li?'

Translation: "'What qualifications do you have to arrest Old General Pei and the eldest granddaughter of the Xiuli Manor, Miss Li?!'" Keep single line.

'Open your dog eyes wide and take a good look!'

Translation: "'Open your dog eyes wide and take a good look!'" Keep single line.

'They have long since severed ties with their clan and are no longer members of the Xiuli Commander's Manor household!'

Translation: "'They have long since severed ties with the sect and clan, and are no longer dependents of the Piaoji Great General's Manor!'" Keep single line.

'Who do you want to seize?'

Translation: "'Who do you intend to seize?'" Keep single line.

Severing ties with the clan!!

Translation: "Sever ties with sect and clan!?" Keep single line.

Li Qingluo quickly glanced at Duan Rongshi.

Translation: "Li Qingluo quickly glanced at Duan Rongshi." Keep single line.

Was it him who did it?

Translation: "Was it him who did this?" Keep single line.

Yesterday, after watching the excitement, he and Zhui Yu hurriedly left.

Translation: "Yesterday, after watching the commotion, he and Zhui Yu hurriedly left." Keep single line.

Li Qingluo didn't even have time to exchange a few words with him before they disappeared.

Translation: "Li Qingluo didn't even have time to exchange a few words with him before they vanished." Keep single line.

But it turns out they went ahead to handle this matter for her and her grandmother?

Translation: "But it turns out they went ahead to handle this matter for her and her grandmother?" Keep single line.

Could he have already gotten the news, knowing that today the commander's manor would face this disaster?

Translation: "Could he have gotten the news early, knowing that today the manor would face this calamity?" Keep single line.

But how could he not have given even a hint beforehand?

Translation: "Yet he never gave even a hint beforehand?" Keep single line.

Although this matter caught her and her grandmother off guard, at least Prince Su handled it for her, and Li Qingluo's heart involuntarily relaxed.

Translation: "Although this matter caught her and her grandmother off guard, at least Prince Su handled it for her, and Li Qingluo couldn't help but feel relieved." Keep single line.

Li Qingluo quickly gripped her grandmother's hand tightly, and Madam Pei shook her head at her.

Translation: "Li Qingluo quickly grasped her grandmother's hand tightly, while Pei Lao Furen shook her head at her." Keep single line.

She also understood in her heart who had done this.

Translation: "She also understood in her heart who had done this." Keep single line.

But even without this, I would not surrender meekly with Luo'er.

Translation: "Even if this hadn't happened, I would not let myself and Lu'er be captured without a fight." Keep single line.

She will personally go to the palace to audience the sovereign, beg for grace, using the reward the emperor still owes her from years ago to exchange freedom for her and her grandmother...

Translation: "She would personally go to the palace to audience the sovereign, beg for grace, and use the reward the emperor still owed her from years ago to exchange for her and her grandmother's freedom……" Keep single line.

Thus, this reward can be used elsewhere.

Translation: "That way, this reward could be used elsewhere." Keep single line.

Madam Pei's gaze swept over the entire household of the commander's manor and the dozens or hundreds of servants.

Translation: "Pei Lao Furen's gaze swept over the manor's dependents and the dozens or hundreds of servants." Keep single line.

It even lingered momentarily on her ill-fated son Li Chao Jing beside her.

Translation: "It even lingered for a moment on her wayward son Li Chao Jing beside her." Keep single line.

After Qu Dao Yuan and Pei Jingzhe picked up those documents from the ground and examined them, confirming they were genuine, they naturally would not make things difficult for Madam Pei and Li Qingluo anymore.

Translation: "After Qu Dao Yuan and Pei Jingzhe picked up those documents from the ground and examined them, confirming they were genuine, they naturally would not make things difficult for Pei Lao Furen and Li Qingluo." Keep single line.

But what shocked them most was still the relationship between the Xiuli Commander's Manor and Prince Su!

Translation: "But what shocked them most was still the relationship between the Xiuli Manor and Prince Su!" Keep single line.

Prince Su is currently confined to closed-door reflection.

Translation: "Prince Su is now confined to his mansion for reflection." Keep single line.

Not to mention himself, even his guards have recently almost vanished without a trace, with hardly any movement or sound throughout Jinling City.

Translation: "Not to mention himself, even his guards have virtually vanished from sight and sound throughout Jinling City in recent days." Keep single line.

It was as if the entire Prince Su's mansion had suddenly hidden away.

But they suddenly appeared, and obviously they were there to back up Pei Lao Furen and this grandmother-granddaughter pair!

But, why?

Although Pei Lao Furen used to be a female general with glorious military achievements.

But she is now old and cannot be of any help to Prince Su's mansion.

A group of strong, sturdy old grannies?

The Xiuli Army of those days no longer exists at all, and cannot stir up any waves whatsoever.

Could it be… for the sake of this true miss of the Jiangjun Fu who has been wandering outside for many years!?

Qu Dao Yuan and Pei Jingzhe both denied this speculation at the fastest speed.

Prince Su's standards are extraordinarily high—even a commandery princess, a princess, or even a minister's residence miss wouldn't catch his eye, so how could he take a fancy to this country bumpkin miss of the Jiangjun Fu?

Although she has been raised by Pei Lao Furen for almost a year, and her appearance and demeanor are not something an ordinary miss could match, nevertheless the environment in which she grew up from childhood is too wretched, and now her family background is wholly implicated by the Jiangjun Fu.

The marriage talks with the Zhongyi Hou Fu and the Qu family both fell through again; there must be some flaw in her that caused it, otherwise how could they all have failed?

How could such a lady possibly catch Prince Su's eye?

Even if she were to become a concubine…

Heh, if Prince Su were willing to take a concubine, the number of noble ladies from prestigious families flocking to him in Jinling City would be countless, and his rear residence would not be empty either.

Moreover, why would Prince Su need to go to such trouble, even specially sending his personal guards to back her up?

As for Prince Su, saying he's waiting for Princess Qin Yu would be better said as Prince Su naturally prefers men.

Therefore, Prince Su's intervention to help Pei Lao Furen must be for some ulterior motive!

Qu Dao Yuan suppressed his shock and doubts, not daring to delay any longer, and quickly together with Pei Jingzhe hurriedly brought the rest of the people away.

Li Qingluo and Pei Lao Furen could only watch helplessly as all this unfolded.

Liu Men'er was still pregnant, while Huan Jieer sobbed as she leaned into Lou Yiniang's embrace, being shoved and dragged away.

Everyone in the second and third branches was in a sorry state, all enviously gazing at Li Qingluo and Pei Lao Furen.

Li Kechuan was dragged away like a dog.

Li Chao Jing struggled and resisted the most fiercely, as if facing a life-and-death separation, and was literally torn away from Pei Lao Furen's side.

"Mother——Mother——"

"Wuu wuu wuu, I don't want to be separated from Mother, I want Mother——"

"Mother, take Jing'er's hand, hold Jing'er's hand——"

Li Chao Jing is the chief culprit of today.

Even if he were mad, he was still shackled with heavy irons.

The entire Jiangjun Fu instantly became empty and deserted.

In the front courtyard, only the corpse of Wu Da still lay on the ground, not yet cooled.

Qu Shi and her mother Yu Shi, whom she had strangled with her own hands, were both sent to the Jinling City magistrate's office early that morning.

Inside the residence, there was also Deng Lao Yiniang, who had hanged herself to death.

Pei Lao Furen looked at the utter ruin, and in a moment it seemed like a deserted, overgrown estate; grief instantly welled up in her heart.

This manor was earned by her and Luo'er's grandfather through bloody battle, exchanging their lives for military merit.

She also spent here the most beautiful years of her life.

She and Luo'er's grandfather had once been deeply in love, and even in hopeful anticipation they had Li Chao Jing as their son.

But it was also here that she experienced her husband's betrayal of his promises, his alienation and loss of virtue.

And she became completely estranged from her son.

And she turned against her in-laws.

Disheartened and resentful, she left home far away……

It was also here that her son wanted to kill her to exchange for the benefits he desired more.

This time, after leaving, she would never come back, right?

"Someone, bury Deng Lao Yiniang and this one on the ground."

"Don't let them rot inside this residence."

The signboard of the Jiangjun Fu was taken down.

The thick gate creaked shut heavily.

Li Qingluo looked back at the residence behind her.

In her previous life she perished here; in this life she can finally truly leave this place.

From now on, she is no longer listed in the Li clan genealogy.

She is simply herself, Li Qingluo.

Xiuli Jiangjun Fu.

Pei Lao Furen donned a suit of armor.

Then, accompanied by Zhang Mama, she hurriedly took the treasure sword bestowed by Emperor Yan years ago and rushed into the palace.

Li Qingluo could only wait at the Jiangjun Fu.

After seeing her grandmother off, she immediately turned back to Free Abode.

Que'er saw her and, overcome with joy, immediately lunged at her.

"Miss, wuu wuu, you've scared the servant to death. Seeing you unharmed is good enough, miss, but what on earth is going on?"

Li Qingluo: "It's just the Jiang family affair; it's happening faster than I anticipated exposing it."

"Fortunately, with Prince Su, Your Highness's intervention, my grandmother and I could temporarily escape."

"By the way, have De Shu come see me right away."

Que'er wiped away her tears, not daring to linger: "Yes, miss!"

Li Qingluo stepped into the room and saw the masked Duan Rongshi still there.

She startled, quickly bowed and saluted: "Your Highness Prince Su's great kindness today, Li Qingluo will never forget. I, a common girl, now owe Your Highness once more."

Prince Su turned and looked at her, "Rise, no need to tell me these. Your grandmother entered the palace? Who does she intend to exchange for the military merit the late emperor still owes her?"

Li Qingluo was startled: "Your Highness, how did you know?"

Li Qingluo had only just learned it, while on the way back to Xiuli Jiangjun Fu, Pei Lao Furen herself said that the last time she went to battle she earned so many great military merits that Emperor Yan didn't know what reward to give her, so he said he owed her a merit reward.

She only needs to think of what she wants in the future, then go in to request the favor.

Pei Lao Furen, having suffered the pain of brothers dying in battle one after another, took the opportunity to resign her post.

"Grandmother has never thought of using this opportunity over these years."

"But today she watches the Li Residence collapse before her eyes; even though that whole family has wronged her, I'm afraid her heart also suffers greatly."

"However, exchanging the entire Li Clan for a sinless peace may not be possible… so the common girl speculates that Grandmother will rescue the entire Li Clan, all the female members."

Although Pei Lao Furen did not say so, Li Qingluo also guessed the same.

Duan Rongshi rubbed the black jade toggle on his thumb, removed his mask and coldly said: "As long as it's not a waste of opportunity, go exchange for your biological father Li Chao Jing."

"Li Chao Jing this time, I'm afraid, is certainly doomed to die!"