Chapter 48

Pfft!

Li Qingluo heard the little maid sent back by Deng Mama describing this scene, and couldn't help laughing out loud.

Que'er beside her even laughed so hard tears almost came out.

Cui Er: "The lady will surely be furious."

Qu Shi is only thirty-seven this year, still a young woman with lingering charm.

Yet she was given so many 'shou' characters by the concubine.

Not to mention she can't even suppress it; who would admit they're old?

Li Qingluo: "This Lou Shi really didn't disappoint me."

Que'er wiped the tears from her eyes, looked at Cui Er: "Right, you used to be in the madam's quarters; have you ever seen this Lou Shi?"

Cui Er nodded: "I have."

Li Qingluo looked at Cui Er.

She had previously forgotten about Cui Er.

Just as she wanted to ask a couple more questions, another little maid came at the door.

The one inside hurried out again to take over, continuing to inquire about the liveliness in the front courtyard.

These little maids were all trained by the grandmother, so Li Qingluo wasn't worried they'd betray Hongfenguan.

"Miss, that Lou concubine is still kneeling at the gate. Moreover, the matter has already caused a commotion in the back courtyard, and even the old lady knows about it."

Just as she finished speaking, in broad daylight, a cannon blast suddenly sounded outside.

Li Qingluo glanced at the sky; this was the signal from Yang Qinwu, indicating everything was ready.

At that moment, in the rear garden.

The Jiangjun Fu has a beautiful lake; today all male and female guests are separated by this lake.

At that moment, on the male guests' shore, those who were writing poems wrote poems, those painting painted, those sparring sparred—it was really lively.

Suddenly a low call came from nearby: "Miss, you've taken the wrong turn. This is the gentlemen's resting place!"

"Sorry, sorry! I just arrived and got separated from my maid, which led me to wander in here by mistake."

A clear, lovely voice rang out, full of panic.

Many young gentlemen heard it, naturally their hearts fluttered, and they all craned their necks to glance over.

Only Li Kechuan and Zhuang Wei trembled all over.

Their eyes showed an incredulous expression, and together they lifted the curtain to look toward the source of the sound.

Upon seeing, both were utterly captivated.

"Zhu'er?!"

The surroundings instantly erupted in clamor: "What Zhu'er?"

"It sounds like the name of the eldest daughter of the Jiangjun Fu."

"Wasn't the eldest daughter already dead by self-immolation a few months ago?"

"Exactly, I just went to look. The burnt-out courtyard still lies there unrepaired, which shows it's true..."

"Then what's going on with those two?"

While the crowd was discussing heatedly, Li Kechuan and Zhuang Wei had already rushed over together.

But that young woman was even faster.

Seeing someone approach, she let out a startled cry, immediately covered her chest and ran.

That young woman ran very fast, as if panicked and heedless of direction, zigzagging wildly.

Just as Li Kechuan and Zhuang Wei were about to catch up, a group of maids and mamas carrying tea and snacks suddenly appeared, colliding with Li Kechuan and Zhuang Wei.

Their outer robes and socks got soaked.

"Young master, third lord, we servants have no eyes; please forgive us!"

Li Kechuan kicked aside the maid who was wiping his shoes, shouting, "All of you, get lost!"

Then he lifted his leg and continued the pursuit.

Zhuang Wei originally also wanted to hurry after them, but was grabbed by his own servant who had come running.

"Third lord! The old lady is looking for you; where are you going?"

Yet at that very moment, Li Kechuan had already vanished from sight.

Li Kechuan had consumed some alcohol, so his mind isn't very clear right now.

However, upon seeing Li Qingzhu at that moment, he couldn't help recalling the scene he had bumped into a month ago by the Qinhuai River.

Could it really be his Zhu'er?

Has Zhu'er really not died?

Li Kechuan wanted to get to the bottom of it, so naturally he wanted to rush forward and seize that young woman to examine closely whether she was human or ghost!

But that young woman seemed to know someone was chasing her from behind, dodging all the way, and actually ran out of the Jiangjun Fu through the rear corner gate.

On the street, amidst the noisy chaos, that young woman's figure would flicker into view then disappear again.

Until Li Kechuan followed and arrived before a residence.

That young woman's figure flickered at the residence's rear corner gate, then vanished again.

This time, Li Kechuan searched everywhere to no avail, and involuntarily turned his gaze to the residence before him.

Could it be that she went inside?

Today, he will certainly not let it rest!

Li Kechuan arrived at the gate: "I am Li Kechuan, the eldest son of the Jiangjun Fu on Dongyin Lane; I presume to wish to visit the master of this household, please announce me."

This residence is precisely the one where Prince Yun secretly hides Li Qingzhu.

At that moment, Prince Yun happened to step away to keep Li Qingzhu company for a little while, but then he heard that Li Kechuan had actually come here, and both of them were startled.

Li Qingzhu immediately looked frightened and at a loss: "Prince, what are we to do? My marriage hasn't yet been fully settled on Li Qingluo; if my brother discovers now that I never died and drags me back to the Li family, then I and the Prince could never be together for the rest of our lives! Wu-wu-wu..."

She had tears in her eyes, a look of being on the verge of tears, and Prince Yun's heart was instantly crushed.

"Zhuer, please set your mind at ease; I, the Prince, will absolutely not allow this to happen!"

Li Kechuan was driven off, and he was not permitted to advance another step.

How could he give up?

Moreover, he boasted of his high martial prowess and immediately tried to force his way inside.

Yet Prince Yun's attendants were no ordinary lot.

Each had received orders to the death; no matter what, they must stop this person today and absolutely not let him break into the inner residence.

But Li Kechuan indeed had some skill; he seized a sword, his eyes went red with killing intent, and he charged straight to the second courtyard.

While his eyes were bloodshot from killing, he hoarsely shouted: "Zhuer! Zhuer—is it really you?"

"Zhuer, big brother has come to find you; come out, Zhuer—"

Li Qingzhu was truly terrified in her heart.

She could only hide in Prince Yun's embrace, trembling, even harboring the vicious wish that someone would kill Li Kechuan and it wouldn't matter!

She absolutely must not expose herself now, or all her previous efforts would be wasted.

Just then, a detachment of the imperial guards happened to come looking for Prince Yun and encountered this melee.

"Who goes there? Dare to trespass on Prince Yun's private residence—you have a death wish!"

"Take his life—"

Li Kechuan's body was already covered in bloodstains, and his face was smeared so that his features were indistinguishable.

These imperial guards drew their swords and rushed at him, giving him no chance to explain; each was highly skilled, even surpassing Prince Yun's attendants.

Under their combined encirclement and suppression, the tide began to turn.

Li Kechuan was gradually forced back, retreating step by step.

Moreover, every move they made was a deadly, vicious strike!

Seeing the situation turn bad, Li Kechuan panted and then shouted: "I am the Junior General of the East Qi Camp, Li Kechuan—halt!"

However, in that split second, a sword came down like chopping a winter melon, cleanly severing one of Li Kechuan's legs!