Chapter 315

Li Qingluo had clearly seen that the elderly mute slaves' mouths were empty and pitch black, obviously their tongues had been pulled out.

And the young mute slave women all had intact tongues; if not born deaf-mute, they had become mute later due to medicine.

But why are they all mute?

And who pulled out those tongues?

Was it done by Duan Rongshi?

If it was him, why do these mute slaves, whenever they see him, show not a trace of fear in their eyes, instead being very close to him, respectful and loyal, wholly sincere?

Moreover, it wouldn't be such a coincidence that they would go today to memorialize someone else.

So it can only be to memorialize the Moon Consort!

This Guiyuan's gate is usually kept shut; aside from Li Qingluo coming and going, it seems no one else has ever knocked here.

Li Qingluo had heard people say that the Moon Consort's palace in the imperial harem is named Gui Fu Palace.

Guiyuan, Gui Fu Palace...

Could it be that these mute slaves are all related to the deceased Moon Consort?

Li Qingluo suppressed the heavy doubts in her heart.

But no matter who they are, she can clearly sense that they harbor no hostility toward her.

For those who have been kind and helpful to her, Li Qingluo is also willing to treat them sincerely.

This has nothing to do with who they once were.

Li Qingluo exerted all her strength and prepared twelve dishes.

She also made six plates of desserts.

She heated the dishes in the pot, kept the soup simmering, and personally arranged the desserts together with the mute slaves on the altar.

The mute slaves also shoved a bundle of freshly picked flowers into her hand and had Li Qingluo offer it on the altar.

Li Qingluo was flattered and astonished: "I, I can?"

She merely had some close dealings with Prince Su; what status or qualification does she have to add flowers to this offering table?

Yet the mute slaves still laughed as they pushed her forward.

And made gestures urging her on.

Li Qingluo looked at the altar; there was only a blank memorial tablet without a name.

Her heart suddenly felt heavy; she stepped forward holding the bouquet, gently placed it down, and sincerely bowed deeply before the tablet.

Leaving Guiyuan, Cui Er and Deng Mama had just finished their errands and came back to meet her.

"Miss, it's done."

Li Qingluo got onto the carriage: "Let's go, to the Jinling magistrate's office."

Entering the Jinling magistrate's office again, Li Qingluo was already somewhat familiar with it.

In the dim dungeon, it was dirty and foul.

Everywhere were rats scurrying about and filth on the ground, plus the imprisoned inmates groaning with sighs.

"Please save this humble one..."

"Sir, this lowly one is wronged..."

"Sir, please, do a favor and bring a message to this lowly one's family..."

Deng Mama and Que'er led Li Qingluo to avoid the reaching hands, finally arriving at the prison door where Qu Shi was held.

Once a noble lady of gold and jade, graceful and splendid, she has now fallen to become a prisoner, filthy and disheveled beyond measure.

She sat frightened in a corner, straw scattered over her, hair disheveled, wary and on guard, staring at everyone around her.

Until Li Qingluo arrived.

Que'er shoved a large silver ingot into the jailer's hand, whereupon he immediately smiled and knocked on the door frame: "Qu Saniang! Someone has come to see you!"

Qu Shi lifted her head, saw Li Qingluo, and with an "ah" cry of surprise lunged forward.

"Luo'er! Luo'er—"

"Luo'er, Mother knows she was wrong, Mother truly knows she was wrong, you save Mother, save Mother ah—"

"Luo'er, Mother truly does not want to die, nor does she wish to stay here any longer; if she continues like this, Mother will be driven mad!"

"Luo'er, Mother knows, Mother formerly had many things for which she owed you, Mother caused the deaths of so many people; Mother's present state is wholly deserved, it serves her right..."

"But can't you, for the sake of Mother carrying you for ten months and giving you her blood, save Mother, please..."

Qu Shi wept tears streaking her face, her hands reaching through the bars to clutch Li Qingluo's skirt tightly; her filthy hands instantly left marks on her white skirt.

Que'er wanted to do something, but ultimately held back.

Li Qingluo crouched down, took out a handkerchief, and reached out to wipe the tears from Qu Shi's face.

"Then back when you listened to He Shi's words and intended to have my grandmother killed, why didn't you think of today?"

"You killed Aunt Zheng's child, and when you aborted Lou Shi's already-formed fetus, why didn't you ever think of today?"

"You indulged Li Kechuan in harming me repeatedly; do you know he truly wanted to chop off my hands and feet, cripple me, and send me to be buried with Liu Qiongzhu?"

"You repeatedly wished that what you gave birth to was Liu Qiongzhu rather than me; did you ever consider that I am your own flesh and blood?"

"You even wanted to marry me off to a man inferior to me in stature, just to make your own natal family value you more, or perhaps you think matching me with such a man is already a blessing, never considering that I, Li Qingluo, might deserve a better husband?"

"I could let go of the many things you have done to me, but I cannot forgive what you did to my grandmother!"

If it weren't for the inside-outside collusion between Qu Shi and He Shi, my grandmother would not have fallen victim.

And after my grandmother was poisoned, it was also Qu Shi who colluded with Li Chao Jing to try to drag her to death.

She wanted the Tianfeng Merchant House, she wanted to control her own marriage, she wanted to completely dominate the Jiangjun Fu.

Qu Shi appears foolish, but in reality her ambition and ruthlessness are no less than that of Old Aunt Deng.

Hearing each and every accusation, Qu Shi's heart also completely collapsed.

Mother truly knows she was wrong……

Li Qingluo: "No. You are not truly aware of your mistake."

It's just that you can't endure this prison suffering now, so you have no choice but to bow your head and admit fault.

Qu Shi's flustered explanation: "No! Luo'er, Mother is speaking the truth."

Every time Mother thinks back to when you first returned, and how Mother treated you then, Mother truly regrets it, her heart feels like it's being cut by a knife.

But Mother is also…… just an ordinary mother, having done too many blind things.

Moreover, if it weren't for Zhu'er's self-immolation back then, Mother and your brother wouldn't have had our judgment clouded by anger and grief, nor would we have blamed Zhu'er's death on you.

We have made many mistakes, but they are all understandable!

Mother admits, we indeed favored Liu Qiongzhu, who lived beside us for over ten years, thinking she was also an innocent child; even though she was swapped into our household, she still let us enjoy familial bliss.

But we forgot…… it was her who took over your nest, it was her and her family who let you suffer endless torment and hardship in those mountains; we never considered things from your perspective, never felt pity for you……

Do you know, when you fell off the cliff, Mother wished she herself were the one who fell?

Actually, since then, Mother's heart has already been filled with guilt and blame toward you; Mother just refuses to admit it.

Luo'er, Mother truly knows she was wrong.

Even if you hate Mother and want her dead, Mother begs you…… could you give Mother a decent end?

Mother can die, a cup of poisoned wine, a length of white silk will do……

Mother just doesn't want to die in this filthy prison!

Luo'er——

Li Qingluo: "Then what do you think—will the Qu family still let you walk out of here alive?"

Qu Shi, upon hearing this, had her tears freeze.

You…… what do you mean?

Li Qingluo: "You and Madame He conspired to harm my grandmother; now my grandmother is safe and sound, could live to a hundred without issue—do you think the Qu family would fear that I and my grandmother have evidence and would sue the Qu family in court?"

Qu Shi went limp and sat on the ground, her face deathly pale.

Kill me…… silence me?

Li Qingluo looked toward the darker left side: "Otherwise, do you think they would be so kind today as to lure me here to see you?"

If it were just to hear your confession, I wouldn't have come either.

Li Qingluo rose and swiftly retreated backward.

Que'er and Deng Mama, together with the two guards Li Qingluo had specially brought today, immediately surrounded her in the middle.

Sure enough, as Li Qingluo's words fell, in the darkness several figures gradually revealed their true appearances.

It was precisely the Qu family's matriarch Madame He, her two daughters-in-law, several sturdy servants, and grannies.

Li Qingluo saw Madame He, her eyes openly showing deep disgust and hatred.

This old hypocrite, with a compassionate façade, actually does who knows what wicked, self-serving deeds.

She observes vegetarianism and chants Buddha, yet points to the second branch as a tiger's pawn—truly a Buddha's mouth, a serpent's heart!

She truly believes, having a grandson in the Ministry of Punishments, that today in this prison she could set some trap for Li Qingluo and capture her?

Li Qingluo gave a cold smile; after hearing this morning from the magistrate's office that Qu Shi wanted to see her, she felt something was off.

Qu Shi wanted to see her?

How did this news get out?

She has already entered the prison, penniless, powerless, and influence-less—now merely a lowly prisoner—how could she order the magistrate's office to relay a message for her?

Unless the Qu family is helping her behind the scenes!

So, the person who truly wants to see me is not Qu Shi.

It is the Qu family.

What does the Qu family want to do? That's easy to guess.

As long as I have seen Qu Shi, as long as mother and daughter have a dispute, as long as after I leave with my front foot and Qu Shi dies with my back foot, I cannot escape suspicion of murder.

And they could kill Qu Shi, this hidden danger, and with one stone get two birds—do away with me as well.

It is indeed a good scheme.

But Li Qingluo had long known how shameless the Qu family could be, and how could she possibly not have left a countermove?

However, before Li Qingluo could make her move, Madame He flew into a rage: "Bold wretch! What nonsense are you spouting?"

How dare you stand by and let your birth mother, in a fit of anger, kill your maternal grandmother—what kind of creature are you!!

Ultimately, breaking bones and severing tendons, there is no such beast in this world who would personally send her own birth mother to prison.

Why haven't you been struck by heavenly thunder yet!!

This old one merely wants to hear the truth, to know whether your maternal grandmother was indeed killed by your mother; you, however, are full of resentment toward your mother and still slander my Qu family.

What does your grandmother's poisoning back then have to do with our Qu family?

Stop spouting nonsense here and making groundless accusations, or else I will charge you with the crime of defamation!

Come, someone—don't just stand there, seize this wretch and first give her a proper lesson!

Namo Amitabha, good, good.