Chapter 534

Old Lady Jiang will die, and Lord Li Qing won't be surprised at all.

- Entities: Old Lady Jiang (Old Lady Jiang? Actually "Old Lady Jiang" = Old Lady of the Jiang family). This is a title + surname. Should we translate as "Old Lady Jiang"? According to rules, we translate official titles and ranks by meaning. "Old Lady" is an honorific for elderly lady, not a rank. But it's a specific person: the old lady of the Jiang family. Could treat as "Old Lady Jiang". Since it's a named entity (character). We'll list as "Old Lady Jiang". However, we have glossary for Old Lady → Old Lady (without surname). But here it's Old Lady Jiang. The glossary only gave Old Lady → Old Lady. But we need to use exact English forms from glossary for terms already listed. For Old Lady we have Old Lady. For Old Lady Jiang, we need to combine surname? The glossary didn't give a combined form. We could treat as "Old Lady Jiang". But we must follow glossary: they gave Old Lady → Old Lady. So we should use "Old Lady" for Old Lady part, and keep surname as pinyin? Actually the surname is part of the name. The rule: For person names, we keep pinyin. So "Jiang Old Lady"? That sounds weird. Better to treat as "Old Lady Jiang" translating the title and keeping surname as pinyin? But the surname is a Chinese surname, we should keep pinyin: Jiang. So "Old Lady Jiang". However, the glossary gave Old Lady → Old Lady (no surname). So we can use "Old Lady" for the title, and then add surname Jiang as pinyin. That seems acceptable.

But we need to be consistent: For other similar constructs like "Jiang Qiniang", we will treat as "Jiang Qiniang". For "Minister Jiang", we will treat as "Minister Jiang". For "Jiang family", we treat as "Jiang family". For "Jiang mansion", "Jiang mansion". For "Jiang Qiniang" again.

We also have "Duan Rongshi" -> Duan Rongshi (glossary). "Zheng Mama" -> Zheng Mama. "Old Lady" -> Old Lady (glossary). Also "Lady Yang" -> Lady Yang. "Yang Qilang" -> Yang Qilang. "Duan Rongshi" also appears with title "Imperial Forest Army General". We'll list that title.

Also "imperial edict" (imperial edict) maybe not needed.

Also "palace-bestowed gifts" - "palace-bestowed gifts" generic.

Also "reliable coroner" - "reliable coroner" generic.

Also "great prison" - "great prison" generic.

Also "messy affair" - "messy affair" generic.

We need to list each named entity only once in glossary? The instruction: List every NAMED entity / coined term in these lines. So we should list each distinct entity that appears. We'll produce a JSON-like list: 【{"raw_term":"EnglishName","original_term":"ChineseChars"},...】. We need to output exactly that format after

She thought of the bowl of medicine that Minister Jiang held in his hands, and she lightly shook her head.

It's just my bad luck, I happened to run into the Jiang family's nastiness. I've also told Jiang Qiniang what needed to be said.

If she were smart, she wouldn't come looking for trouble with me.

However, before her words had even finished, Zheng Mama came rushing to report.

Young lady, a Madame Yang has come, saying she has an urgent matter to discuss.

Li Qingluo's temples throbbed violently.

She had originally not slept all night the previous night.

At this point she was already dizzy and swollen-headed, and yet Jiang Qiniang actually came running to find her?

Yet she could not avoid seeing her.

Li Qingluo could only let her in.

Who would have thought that upon seeing her, Jiang Qiniang would kneel on the ground in one motion: 'Madam Nangong, please save my father!'

Only you can step forward to save my father; please, I beg you!

As she spoke, Jiang Qiniang was about to kowtow, but Li Qingluo hurried forward and grabbed her up.

What are you doing?

What exactly happened? Why would I be able to save your father?

The seventh young lady kneels as soon as she comes up, truly killing this common woman; I am merely a modest merchant's wife, with no heavenly abilities, so even if your father encountered something, how could I possibly save him?

Are you not muddle-headed from panic?

Jiang Qiniang's expression flickered in a daze.

But she quickly grabbed Li Qingluo tightly, her face full of pleading and certainty: 'You said that last night, my great-uncle came bearing a bowl of prepared medicine to see my grandmother.'

It's that bowl of medicine, it must be that bowl of medicine, right?

But after you left last night, my father also went to see my grandmother.

He... he never came back.

At the time dawn was breaking, my grandmother was found dead.

And my father was right in my grandmother's courtyard, he never left all night!

My father, although he went to confront my grandmother for my sake, he absolutely could not have committed matricide!

You saw the truth, didn't you?

As long as you can step forward to prove this, my father will be innocent...

The more Li Qingluo listened, the higher her brows furrowed.

Qiniang, are you muddle-headed?

How did I get to the Jiang mansion? I followed you in.

Why would I go to the Jiang mansion?

Originally I intended to pull some strings so that your grandmother would no longer interfere in this matter.

Although I actually hadn't had the chance to act yet, I definitely sneaked over to the Jiang household with ill intent.

Moreover, I merely suspected that bowl of medicine had a problem, and I had no solid evidence.

In your panic, are you trying to drag me into jail as well, to be implicated together in your Jiang family's mess?

If she goes to testify, what capacity would she testify in?

She simply cannot testify; she would be arrested immediately— isn't that just bringing trouble upon herself?

Li Qingluo naturally would not wade into this muddy water.

Even if Jiang Qiniang exposed herself, she has no evidence, so Li Qingluo does not worry that she will suddenly turn hostile.

After hearing Li Qingluo's words, Jiang Qiniang was struck hard and fell back violently.

Her husband's fate is unknown.

Her father is also trapped in the wrongful accusation of matricide, unable to clear his name.

She only felt darkness before her eyes, nearly fainting on the spot.

Li Qingluo went over and pinched her tiger's mouth: 'If you believe your father's innocence, then pull yourself together.'

The first step: hire a reliable coroner to find your grandmother's true cause of death!

If it's that medicine's fault, then your father would be innocent, right?

Jiang Qiniang's eyes lit up.

It was as if, in total darkness, she finally felt a glimmer of light and found her direction.

She excitedly gripped Li Qingluo's hand tightly.

I understand.

Thank, thank you!

Jiang Qiniang turned and hurried away, and Li Qingluo didn't even have time to mention Yang Qilang to her.

Never mind; if they can all escape safely, Yang Qilang will naturally return home smoothly.

Jiang Qiniang can at least count on having a reliable person.

However, Li Qingluo waited left and right, for three days, before Duan Rongshi finally returned home.

Along with him came an imperial edict bestowing an official post.

He wore the full armor of a general of the Imperial Forest Army.

His bearing was majestic and his spirit radiant as he appeared before Li Qingluo.

After the edict was finished being read, the courtyard already held many gifts bestowed from the palace.

Although Li Qingluo was dying of curiosity in her heart, she still put on an appearance of being unmoved by honor or disgrace, followed along and gave thanks. When everyone in the palace had left, she rushed over and asked: "What on earth is going on?"

"I've been worried sick these past few days!"

"Yet you became a general of the Imperial Forest Army!"

"A Shi, quickly tell me, what else have you done?"

Duan Rongshi was afraid the armor would bump into her.

He then lightly pushed Li Qingluo aside, and merely took her hand, saying: "No rush, let's go back to our room and talk slowly."

The reward items behind them were all directed by Zheng Mama to be hurriedly moved into the storehouse.

Everyone closed the manor gate.

Inside and out, everyone became busy again.

Duan Rongshi took Li Qingluo's hand and hurried back to their Tangdi Residence.

He first took off his armor, then took a hot bath.

Li Qingluo could no longer sit still.

She simply ran into the bathing room, pretending she wanted to help him scrub his back.

"A Shi, while I scrub your back, you tell me."

Duan Rongshi knew she must have been anxiously waiting at home these past few days.

The guilt in his heart grew deeper and deeper.

He turned, raised his damp hand, and gently stroked her already somewhat thin little face.

"Luo'er, you've worked hard waiting for me at home these past few days."

"Do you know how much I've missed you?"

Li Qingluo couldn't help but move forward and kiss him heavily.

"I know."

"Because I also miss you immensely."

"A Shi, it's wonderful that you've returned safely."

"I know Yang Jiu Lang had already returned home three days ago."

"But you haven't had any news for a long time."

"I sent Sha Yi into the palace to inquire about your news."

"But you seemed to have disappeared; there was no one of yours in the palace."

"Although I firmly believe you'll be fine, this feeling of anxious desperation is truly unbearable."

"Next time, could you send me some news?"

Her eyes reddened with grievance.

Duan Rongshi kissed her eyes lovingly.

"Good."

"This time it's my fault. Next time, I will definitely send you back news first."

"You don't want to know how I became a general of the Imperial Forest Army, do you?"

"Because these past few days, I accompanied Zongzheng Langri secretly on a trip to the Zongzheng family's imperial mausoleum!"

After entering the palace that day, the Chu Emperor, who had already calmed down, immediately recognized Duan Rongshi as the young man who had saved his life in the forest that day.

He was very surprised.

"Again, you?"

"You really do manage to surprise me."

"I heard you personally cut off Shangguan Zhong's head?"

Duan Rongshi naturally also had to put on a look of shock.

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I, a commoner, did not know your identity that day and offended you."

The Chu Emperor felt an inexplicable fondness for him.

Everyone under heaven, upon seeing him, displays a fearful, trembling appearance.

Even his own sons and daughters have eyes filled with an undisguisable fear.

Only he, at this very moment, can face him calmly and without fear.

If he can hide well, that too is his ability.

The Chu Emperor curled the corner of his mouth: "Those who know no wrong are innocent; rise."

"I do not blame you."

"But you killed a court official; this matter cannot simply be let go! How do you intend to answer to me?"