Chapter 70: Substitute Enters the Mansion

Li Qingluo is teaching Huan Jieer the basics of writing; although she herself wrote uglily at first, at least her grip on the brush was strong enough.

Now Huan Jieer is only six years old, and she just realized that the grip on the brush also requires practice first.

Hearing Que'er chatter back and forth, Li Qingluo didn't even lift her head and said, "Take a grandma to the entrance of LanCang Courtyard and cause a ruckus. Say they are bullying people, and be sure to bring all the people over to me!"

Que'er went.

Li Qinghuan, seeing her sister so calm and composed while directing people, yet still able to hold her own hand and write seriously, instantly looked up with an admiring expression and stared at her.

"Big sister, am I very stupid?"

Huan Jieer thought that big sister was very clever.

Moreover, she truly liked this sister of hers a lot.

Now that she also had a sister, that alone was enough to make her happy for a long time; her sister was so gentle, a heroine who had rescued herself and her mother from fire and water, so how could Huan Jieer not feel special admiration for her?

The little girl stared at Li Qingluo's eyes, which were overly bright and watery, making Li Qingluo feel very uncomfortable.

She raised her hand to cover Huan Jieer's eyes, "You must not look at big sister like that!"

Li Qinghuan: "Why? Big sister, I want to look at you. Big sister is really beautiful!"

Li Qingluo: "Flattery. Don't think that because you coax me, I'll stop letting you write. Look at this stroke…"

The two sisters sat by the window, chatting softly.

When Qu Shi hurried over, she saw this scene.

Some of the anxiety in her eyes gradually faded, and as she looked at her increasingly radiant daughter, her eyes, for some unknown reason, began to grow a little moist…

When Qingzhu was young, she disliked writing and even more disliked practicing martial arts.

She was born with a love for jewels, for bright, sparkling things.

Qu Shi spoiled her; besides teaching her to read, write her name a little, and read ledgers, she refused nothing else for her.

She liked jewelry, so Qu Shi gave her piles of it as gifts.

Now looking at it, it turns out her own daughter actually has this temperament…

She seems always steady, neither arrogant nor impatient, neither hurried nor sluggish, capable of endurance as well as decisive action.

Born with the bearing of a lady of a great family.

If she could also grow up in front of me, Chuan'er would surely, like this, hold her hand and write each stroke together, right?

The siblings wouldn't have ended up in this mess!

"Madam, aren't you going in?" Chang Mama asked.

Qu Shi hesitated, "Can I… can I go in?"

It seems she has never entered this Hongfenguan before.

And Qingluo, too, has never invited her inside…

Chang Mama didn't dare to speak.

After all, the second young lady had harshly dealt with herself last time; her aura was so intimidating that even Chang Mama avoided and feared her.

"Fine, as long as she isn't angry, I'm relieved. Let's go, we'll first check on Chuan'er, and make him hurry to bring everyone to Qingluo!"

Qu Shi turned and left, with Chang Mama following, sincerely saying, "Madam, you are becoming more and more attentive to the second young lady now."

Qu Shi: "She is truly a part of me; how could I possibly not take care of her?"

Chang Mama laughed, "Indeed. She is, after all, your own child. Between a mother and daughter, as long as you put in a little effort for the second young lady, there will be no barrier; she will certainly feel your sincerity."

Qu Shi wiped her eye corner with a handkerchief: "If only Qingzhu were still alive… In truth, Qingzhu had become despondent because Qingluo returned. Grandma, deep down I always… always think it's Qingluo's fault."

Although she now sees some of Qingluo's virtues and believes she truly is the Jiangjun Fu, her own bloodline.

But Qingzhu remains the one she cannot let go of in her heart.

【9】 Deng Mama came in and said that Qu Shi had been here.

Deng Mama came in and said, Qu Shi had been here.

She only glanced at the courtyard gate and left again.

Li Qingluo didn't mind and asked Deng Mama, "Is there any problem with Liu Sui'er?"

Deng Mama: "Madam, rest assured, after she made up her mind, I sent someone to instruct her. She has already learned a lot at the original place; we only gave some pointers, correcting some overly seductive methods."

"This Liu Sui'er is someone who has some tricks against men; I believe in a few months…"

Li Qingluo raised her finger and whispered, "Shh."

Only then did Deng Mama notice that Huan Jieer was still here.

After Li Qinghuan was taken away, Que'er also led people back.

In this group of slaves, Liu Sui'er was indeed nowhere to be seen.

Li Qingluo pretended not to know, letting Deng Mama freely select a few to stay, then paid, and had the people quickly take the rest away.

"Miss, two sweeping maids, two second‑rank maids, and one in charge of the Small Kitchen. I've settled the old servants, and they'll come back later to see you."

This Hongfenguan finally has enough people now; although compared to other courtyards the number is still not large, it's what Li Qingluo can accept.

She doesn't like being surrounded by too many people; it always makes her feel like there are ears everywhere.

Li Qingluo: "No need to come see me; let them each do their duties. When I'm present, don't let them enter my room."

Deng Mama: "Yes. I, the old servant, will keep the restless and honest ones away. Usually, I also give them a good beating, so you can rest assured."

That evening, it was heard that Liu Sui'er was given the name "Coral."

"I heard the big lady used to love coral the most."

Li Qingluo: "Coral is just coral; she was meant to be Li Qingzhu's substitute. As long as she does it well, she'll be the most precious coral."

Deng Mama nodded.

"Miss, should we spread this news…?"

Li Qingluo: "Spread it. Ideally make it known throughout Jinling City."

"The crippled eldest son of Jiangjun Fu now has in his room someone who looks exactly like his deceased legitimate sister. The maid is doting on her."

Li Qingluo faced the courtyard and drew a maple leaf.

At first, even a plum snow made Li Qingzhu unable to bear it; she stirred up trouble and caused a death.

Now something extremely like her 'coral' — I don't know whether she should feel pleased or furious.

Li Qingzhu, don't let her down.

The next day, Jinling City was abuzz with this lively matter.

"This Li Eldest Master, is he really gone mad? I heard that before, it was just because his eyes were flowery, he mistook a person, mistakenly taking a young woman for his already deceased sister, and thus rashly entered Prince Yun's residence; now his legs are broken, yet he still wants to find a similar substitute."

"This isn't a sister at all; she's simply the moonlight held in one's palm that can't be forgotten."

"I've heard that the Li family's deceased eldest daughter is not actually Li family's bloodline at all. The true eldest daughter is that second young lady who was just brought back to the manor a few months ago! I don't know whether this is true or false."

"No way? There's also talk of a true and false miss, how could I not know?"

"Otherwise, the Pei Old Lady who has been secluded for decades — why would she come down the mountain? I heard it's just to escort and protect the true bloodline."

"You even know such a secret matter? Where did you hear it from?"

"It's none other than the daughter of my maternal second uncle's third aunt's cousin's younger brother — I heard she's working in the Li manor! Everyone in the Jiangjun Fu knows; just ask around and you'll find out."

"If it's true, this is quite a fresh matter. The true miss's return drove the false miss to death, and this false miss has become the moonlight that the family can't forget. The elder brothers, missing the deceased, have privately intruded into the prince's residence — tsk tsk tsk tsk…"

"If I may say, if it's really like that, then Li Eldest Master's feelings toward his sister might not be harboring some improper affection, right?"