Chapter 53: He Doesn't Believe, She Has Nothing to Do with This Matter

Li Qingzhu's heart leapt sharply.

Tears instantly filled her eyes again, as if a blink could make them fall.

"Do not, Your Highness! After all, that was the home where Zhu'er grew up. Though they now have their own biological daughter, the sixteen years of upbringing… Please, Your Highness, consider Zhu'er and spare my brother for this grave mistake!"

Prince Yun saw her on the verge of tears, looking so frail, and couldn't help sighing.

"Zhu'er is so kind‑hearted, what can be done?"

"Fine, I will not exterminate you. But this matter is too suspicious; why did Li Kechuan suddenly conclude that you were in that mansion?"

Li Qingzhu gently bit her lip: "Zhu'er doesn't know either. Could it be… that day Zhu'er went on the pleasure boat, who saw her?"

She had been locked in that mansion for months; that was her only outing, and she encountered the chaos on the performance boat.

Fortunately, nothing major happened.

But now her whereabouts were almost exposed; looking back, it was also perilous.

It's a pity that Li Kechuan's leg was broken…

From now on, won't he be completely crippled?

What hope remains for this Jiangjun Fu in the future?

Li Qingzhu was actually close to exploding with anger.

If the Jiangjun Fu declines, she will no longer easily secure a place in Prince Yun's mansion through the Li family.

Li Chao Jing may still be an official, but he too will grow old someday!

Moreover, his position in the court will inevitably be affected by Li Kechuan's incident.

Li Qingzhu is even contemplating whether to return to the Li family at all.

"Zhu'er, what are you thinking about?"

Prince Yun saw her lost in thought and couldn't help lifting Li Qingzhu's chin.

Seeing her ruby‑red lips surpassing blood, Prince Yun lowered his head, and just as his lips were about to touch Li Qingzhu's, she gently dodged away.

Prince Yun's lips naturally landed only on her cheek.

A hint of disappointment and impatience flickered in his eyes.

Li Qingzhu, still unaware, blushed and leaned into Prince Yun's arm: "Your Highness, Zhu'er was just thinking, the marriage between Zhu'er and Zhuang Third Young Master, I heard it hasn't fully settled onto my younger sister yet."

"If Zhu'er returns home later, she will still not be a free person, how could she be properly together with Your Highness…"

Li Qingzhu looked sorrowful and distressed.

She's not a fool.

If the name isn't proper and the words aren't smooth, then giving her body would be truly worthless.

Prince Yun, now unable to have her, naturally treats her as a treasure, and his feelings become even harder to control.

Indeed, Prince Yun immediately promised, "This matter, just leave it to me… Good Zhu'er, let me give you a proper hug."

That day, the events in the Li family, by evening, had already spread throughout Jinling City.

Li Kechuan forced his way into Prince Yun's private residence; although he broke a leg, he still forced his way in!

He then rampaged through Prince Yun's mansion, attempting to assassinate Prince Yun!

If the charge of assassinating the prince sticks, Li Kechuan won't just lose a leg; he'll likely lose his head!

The Li family may be finished as well.

In an instant, rumors spread; many prominent families and officials who once had close ties with the Li family silently decided to distance themselves…

Prince Su's mansion.

Duan Rongshi, after hearing Po Feng speak of the Li mansion, for some reason thought of that woman.

"Is she involved in this matter?"

Zhui Yu paused, then realized who the master was referring to.

"That Second Young Lady seemed to stay in the courtyard all day, never stepping out. She claimed she had a red rash, so Li Kechuan broke his leg; her mother fainted twice, and she never went to check."

"However, a nanny in her courtyard has been acting rather intensively these days. Moreover…"

Zhui Yu looked up at Duan Rongshi, "Your Highness, this nanny privately met a Colonel of the Imperial Guard. He earned the rank after the Lotus Sect caused chaos on the performance boat, killing many sect members."

"What a coincidence, among the Imperial Guard sent to Prince Yun's mansion today, that person is included!"

"Moreover, I heard he was the one who cut Li Kechuan's leg…"

Duan Rongshi's eyes brightened slightly: "Oh…?"

To claim that this woman had nothing to do with it, Duan Rongshi was actually a bit skeptical.

He rubbed the black jade ring on his left thumb, "Then you, investigate this matter thoroughly!"

The next day, Hongfenguan.

Li Qingluo had already gotten up early.

She stood by the window, intending to write, but couldn't start.

Ink droplets spread on the xuan paper, forming blotches.

Seeing Que'er enter, Li Qingluo asked, "Grandmother, have you returned to Jingci Hall?"

Que'er bowed slightly, "Yes, miss, just returned."

"I heard the Eldest Young Master's life was saved, but his leg wasn't."

Li Qingluo set down her brush: "Even if the Great Luo Immortal came, he couldn't mend his leg; they're just delusional."

"Li Kechuan, even if he lives on, what's the difference to him compared to death?"

She said it without emotion, yet felt extremely relieved inside.

Yet thinking of her grandmother…

"Que'er, accompany me to Jingci Hall to see Grandmother."

Li Qingluo held the mooncake she had made herself yesterday and went to Jingci Tang.

Zhang Mama rarely managed to stop her, saying, "Young lady, the Old Lady kept watch all night without sleep; let her rest a bit first? I'll call you over after she wakes up."

Li Qingluo handed the food box to Zhang Mama, saying, "Please, Zhang Mama, take the mooncake to grandmother first? At least let her have a bite before she goes back to sleep."

"As for me, I'll wait in the little room nearby until grandmother wakes up."

Li Qingluo turned and went to the small room she had slept in before, with an air that if she didn't see anyone today she wouldn't go back.

Zhang Mama sighed and shook her head, then turned and took the mooncake inside the room.

After a moment, she came out again to call Li Qingluo, saying that Pei Lao Furen wanted her to go in first.

Li Qingluo rose and said, "Then grandmother…"

Zhang Mama's expression was half‑smiling: "The Old Lady said she's already stayed up all night and can't sleep now, so it'd be better to hear what you, young lady, have to say by coming to see her this early."

Li Qingluo went in herself, and Zhang Mama, behind her, stopped anyone else from entering to disturb her, then shut the door tightly.

The room was still somewhat dim; Pei Lao Furen sat in the chief seat of the hall, her bearing aloof and dignified.

Li Qingluo walked over and called out, "Grandmother."

Pei Lao Furen lifted her gaze, her eyes dark and inscrutable as they fell on her.

For some reason, at that moment Li Qingluo felt overwhelming sorrow.

She knelt herself, keeping her back straight but lowering her head.

"Grandmother."

She called out again.

Pei Lao Furen closed her eyes briefly and asked her, "Luo er, have you ever regretted it?"