Chapter 37: with translation of chapter title

Li Kechuan saw that Li Qingluo was indeed still alive and well; his gaze lightly fell on her, then, as if nothing were wrong, he lightly shifted it away.

Qu Shi's eyes darted away; she dared not lift her head to look directly.

Only Li Chao Jing remained completely unaware.

Seeing Li Qingluo being brought by Pei Lao Furen to sit beside her, upon seeing them arrive they did not rise to greet, and he frowned, saying: "Son pays respects to mother. Mother, you dote on Luo'er so much that in the future you will spoil her to the point of not knowing the heights of heaven or earth, nor propriety. When she marries into the Zhongyi Hou Fu, she will lose all face, and we..."

"Shut up!"

Pei Lao Furen slammed her palm heavily onto the nearby table; the table shook and wobbled, nearly collapsing on the spot.

Li Chao Jing was rebuked in public, and his face immediately changed.

He also pressed his lips together, enduring and daring not to speak again.

Pei Lao Furen glared at him fiercely: "Since childhood you have not been close to me, and I have never personally taught you. Nowadays, the thing I regret most is that when I went to the battlefield years ago, I did not bring you by my side, but left you in the care of that wicked woman of the Deng clan!"

"'It is the concubine's teaching that has made you so selfish and self-interested, naturally cold-hearted, lacking righteousness, failing as a son and as a father, devoid of benevolence and filial kindness!'"

Pei Lao Furen flew into a rage; as Li Chao Jing listened to her scolding, his face grew darker and darker, and only when she accused him of unfilial conduct did he hastily kneel.

If this reputation for unfilial conduct were to spread, how could he still serve as an official in the court?

"'Mother, I do not know where I have gone wrong; please instruct me. As for the Deng concubine… let's not mention it.'"

Qu Shi and Li Kechuan naturally also immediately followed suit and knelt, not daring to stand.

Li Qingluo, seeing this, also rose, turned, and knelt down.

Pei Lao Furen, feeling distressed, took hold of her: "Luo'er, get up and listen to your grandmother. Your wounds have not yet healed, so today we will not speak of those proprieties."

Li Qingluo: "Yes, thank you, grandmother."

Li Qingluo did not refuse Pei Lao Furen's favor; this time she rose and sat down completely, never lifting her buttocks again.

Pei Lao Furen continued to scold: "Why do you not mention that lowly woman? Since you were one year old, she raised you herself. You grew close to her, treating her as your own mother; even though I saved your father and brought him back from the battlefield for the Daliang Chao, you still do not acknowledge me?"

"'Then what happened? You all drove me away; without this mother blocking the way, did she treat you well?'"

"'She plotted for her own son, aiming to seize your family property and to have you killed; only then did you remember me.'"

Li Chao Jing's face looked as awful as if he had eaten feces.

He muttered softly: "Afterward… you never saw me again, did you? I went to the Qing Song Guan to beg you, and you were so ruthless and heartless…"

Pei Lao Furen snatched up the tea cup beside her and hurled it hard at Li Chao Jing: "How have you treated me? Do you not allow me to grow cold-hearted and unfeeling?"

Li Chao Jing said nothing; his face showed only indifferent noncommittal.

Pei Lao Furen's chest heaved with anger, and she could not be bothered to continue arguing with him.

She merely said: "You once suffered hardship, and now you are willing to let your own flesh and blood endure it again! When I scold you, could I possibly be wrong?"

"'I want you to raise your head; today first properly look at my side, at our own flesh and blood! First look at her injuries today—since you entered the room, have you even glanced at her once?'"

"'Or perhaps you saw it, yet deep down you simply do not care at all?'"

Only then did Li Chao Jing raise his head again, and carefully examine Li Qingluo from head to toe.

Seeing the bruises on Li Qingluo's face, he still was not very concerned: "Mother, is it not just a few wounds on her face? On our way to the Cijing Hall, my wife, I, and Chuan'er, Chuan'er had already voluntarily told us about it."

"'He said that he and Luo'er went to Zhu'er's tomb to make offerings, but because of a disagreement in words, the siblings quarrelled. Although Luo'er only suffered a slight facial injury, she actually had a dagger concealed on her person, and with it she slashed Chuan'er's neck!'"

"'Mother, Chuan'er's injury is also quite severe. I have examined it; it is deep enough to see the bone! If it were off by even a hair, Chuan'er's life might be lost!'"

"'Chuan'er even pleaded for her, saying that since both siblings were at fault, this matter should be dropped, and we as a couple should not pursue it further. I and Qu Shi have just entered, and that is why I have not disciplined her.'"

"'But Mother, your obvious favoritism—saying I do not care for Luo'er—should also be applied fairly to Chuan'er!'"

Upon hearing Li Chao Jing's words, Pei Lao Furen was so angry she could not even manage a bitter smile.

She merely gave a cold snort, turned her gaze to Qu Shi, and said: "Then what do you say, Qu Shi?"

Qu Shi's shoulders trembled slightly; she lifted her head to glance in Li Qingluo's direction, then quickly turned her head away: "Mother. Son, daughter-in-law, we think… this matter should just… be let go…… Chuan'er does not hold a grudge either; Luo'er is his sister, so she should not be held against his brother with a tit-for-tat attitude. After all, Chuan'er has not gained anything good either……"

Upon hearing Qu Shi say that, Pei Lao Furen flew into a rage again, seized the teapot and hurled it at her: "You too, shut up!"

Li Kechuan turned his body and threw himself onto Qu Shi.

"Mother!"

The teapot naturally landed entirely on Li Kechuan's body.

Qu Shi was deeply moved, and, feeling distressed for Li Kechuan, she burst into tears.

Yet she still forced her voice down, saying: "Chuan'er, are you all right? Chuan'er, don't be angry, don't upset your grandmother. Listen to mother……"

Li Kechuan lifted his head, his eyes blood-red as he suppressed his anger, and truly did not erupt.

Mother had once mentioned to him that Grandmother ran a formidable business.

Although Mother never specified which one, from her expression it was clear that this business was indeed formidable; otherwise, a mother from a Ministry of Revenue official's family would not have kept it in mind.

Grandmother held vast wealth and honor, so even though they had not seen each other for years, his parents still exerted themselves to be filial and pay her respect.

Mother also repeatedly reminded him to be extra filial before Grandmother, after all he too is her bloodline and the Li family's sole legitimate eldest grandson.

In the end, will not all of Grandmother's possessions be left to him?

Li Kechuan thus, time and again in Pei Lao Furen's presence, even when beaten, would spit out broken teeth and swallow them, never daring to defy her to her face.

But this time, Grandmother really went too far.

If she truly harmed Mother, he would never forgive her……

Li Kechuan secretly clenched his fists; when he lifted his head again, his eyes already held a feeling of resentment.

Pei Lao Furen never regarded Li Kechuan at all, not even bothering to ask him anything.

She also did not wish to give them another chance.

Looking down at the three people below, her heart was truly disappointed to the utmost.

"'Qu Shi, since you are of this mind, I will speak plainly.'"

"'Li Chao Jing, have you heard that your wife recently suffered from some eye ailment?'"