Chapter 57: Older Brother Is About to Be Driven Mad by Her

If you still want to keep your life, then lie down properly on the bed! Do you know pain now? Do you know how I and your mother have gotten through these past few days?

Chuan'er, you are our only legitimate son!! You are our only son!

How is this not taking my and your mother's lives?

But the deed is done, all this has become fact. As the junior general of the East Qiying Camp, you probably can't hold that position anymore. I still have to go before the Majesty, seeking mercy for your death sentence using the reward of military merit.

Chuan'er, don't go mad again because of Zhu'er's death, don't go crazy everywhere because of her!

Li Chao Jing finished speaking, turned and strode away.

Qu Shi held Li Kechuan, bitterly begging: "Mother begs you not to move, your wound is bleeding again... Chuan'er, Mother now only wishes for you to live, to survive!"

Li Kechuan finally lay still, his eyes lifelessly staring at the canopy, the depths filled with endless desolation and emptiness.

The loss of his leg will inevitably be a fatal blow to Li Kechuan.

He once had limitless prospects, a bright and open future, a spirited junior general.

But in just one night, he became a cripple who could never turn over again.

Ha...

Hahaha...

How ridiculous?

Naturally ridiculous.

Li Qingluo came to Lancang Courtyard today; on one hand to put on a show, on the other, to see just what kind of wreck Li Kechuan has become.

As she followed Qu Shi into Li Kechuan's room, she indeed saw in his eyes a surging madness of anger and humiliation.

Why let her come? What good intentions could she have? She's the one in this family who most wants me to become like this lowly person! Get her out, get her out——

Li Kechuan picked up the jade vessel by the bed and hurled it toward the door.

Qu Shi gasped, hastily dodged, and her hand instinctively moved to block Li Qingluo.

Li Qingluo merely glanced at her, having already avoided the projectile together with Que'er.

The jade vessel smashed onto the floor, shattering everywhere.

Li Kechuan continued to grab everything within reach and fling it all toward the door.

Qu Shi could do nothing but shout "Chuan'er!" while dodging.

Lu'er truly came today to visit you, calm down a bit, Chuan'er—ah!

Qu Shi suffered misfortune, only able to cover her forehead as Qingyi protected her, hastily leaving the room.

After Qu Shi left, Li Qingluo and Que'er still dodged a few more times.

Seeing that Li Kechuan had nothing left to grab and throw, she curled the corner of her mouth and gave him a faint smile.

You're right, older brother.

Look at you, tsk tsk. Truly a waste.

It seems that's all you're capable of—just lying in bed bullying those who earnestly care for you in this room.

What sort of husband/gentleman is that.

She rolled her eyes widely, and in Li Kechuan's shocked and extremely angry gaze, she turned and strode away with Que'er.

Li Kechuan naturally would be driven mad with anger.

My Lancang Courtyard shall from now on forbid Li Qingluo from setting foot inside!!!

Get out, all of you get out——!!!

Li Qingluo was in a great mood.

Before leaving, she also bowed again to Qu Shi, having performed full propriety before departing.

Qu Shi gazed wistfully at her retreating back: "Why is my life so bitter? To have given birth to such two wicked obstacles!!"

Returning to Spring Present Hall, Qingyi held the box in her hands and asked Qu Shi: "Madam, the item the Second Miss sent—should I put it away?"

Qu Shi rubbed her forehead, only then recalling this matter.

She waved her hand, originally thinking to let her toss it anywhere, but suddenly an image of Li Qingluo's appearance today flashed unbidden in her mind.

Well-read and reasonable, graceful and poised, and her appearance and complexion have become strikingly outstanding.

Qu Shi paused, then raised her hand: "Then let's open it and see what exactly is inside."

But she also knew deep down that Li Qingluo would certainly not send anything good, so Qu Shi had no expectations.

Qingyi opened it and exclaimed in surprise: "Madam, it seems to be a hand-copied scripture!"

Qu Shi was greatly startled: "What did you say?"

She took it in her hands, flipped it open, and wondered strangely: "She isn't, she hasn't even read books, let alone know how to write?"

Yet the characters on it, though not beautiful or fluent, were each stroke made with utmost sincerity and care.

Moreover, the tip of the brush hid a hint of sharpness.

Qingyi: "But I've heard that Hongfenguan recently hired a female teacher. And from what I've gathered, the Second Miss seems to have been practicing calligraphy nonstop every day since she returned."

If she could achieve this in such a short time, the Second Miss truly has considerable talent.

Qu Shi stared blankly at the stack of scriptures in her hands—this is the Sutra of Earth Store Bodhisattva's Fundamental Vows; since Earth Store Bodhisattva attained accomplishment through filial piety, if she personally copied and sent it to her, it would indeed show some thoughtfulness.

The complex feeling in Qu Shi's chest seemed to grow ever stronger.

It felt as if a ball of fire burned in her chest, scorching her so that she ached and could hardly breathe.

At that moment, Li Chao Jing walked in.

After the household servants paid their respects, he waved them all out.

Having toiled all day outside, Li Chao Jing was likewise utterly exhausted.

After he sat down, Qu Shi personally served him, pouring a cup of hot tea and gently massaging his head.

Sir, you've worked hard these past few days. Your Majesty... has he reprimanded you again?

On the fifteenth, Li Chao Jing kept watch all night by Li Kechuan's bedside.

He held Li Kechuan's broken leg, watching the blood continuously seep from the bald, raw stump, as if the flesh were about to rot; his heart filled with grief and pain, and an uncontrollable nausea.

That was his son… In his life, this was his only hope!

So that night, his hair turned half white from staying up.

Although the eldest legitimate son has become a cripple, we cannot let him lose his life, nor can we implicate the entire Li family.

So Li Chao Jing spent these days entering the palace to kneel before the emperor and beg for forgiveness.

Although the emperor said that Prince Yun had come to no harm, and Prince Yun himself said it was all a misunderstanding, Li Kechuan losing a leg was considered his punishment.

The emperor knew that what the Li family lost was not just this leg, but the hope of the entire Jiangjun Fu.

Therefore, he still recalled some past merits of the Li family, so he did not really blame them excessively.

Thus, the matter was dropped; there was no need to bring it up before the emperor anymore, and the Li family could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

But clearly it was Chuan'er who lost a leg, yet Li Chao Jing still had to kowtow in gratitude, painfully swallowing this anger.

Li Chao Jing, exhausted, waved his hand and said, 'From now on, no need to mention this. By the way, has the Cui family sent any word?'

Although Cui Shi'er Niang is in Fujian, the Cui family also has many relatives in the capital, especially her father and uncle, who are now serving in the court.

Li Kechuan lost a leg, and from then on his official career path was doomed.

So Li Chao Jing worried that the Cui family might call off the engagement because of this.

After all, who would let their daughter, especially the Cui family's legitimate daughter, marry a cripple with no prospects?