Chapter 99

Li Qingzhu felt wild joy the instant she saw Zhuang Wei.

Although she has now chosen Prince Yun, deep down she still loves Zhuang Wei the most.

He is the third son of the Zhongyi Hou Fu!

In all of Jinling, how many could match his background, looks, status, and learning?

If he were the heir, it would have been fine; I wouldn't have had to go through all this trouble, thinking how to painfully push him away!

But now even he…!

Thinking of her father's coldness when they reunited today.

Her mother also fainted outright from excessive grief.

Moreover, even Zhuang Sanlang, her childhood sweetheart with whom she had long been mutually affectionate, at this reunion actually asked her Li Qingluo!

Li Qingzhu's heart was already filled with resentment over this matter.

What exactly does Li Qingluo have that makes everyone so worried about her?!

She has only been back at the Jiangjun Fu for a few months, whereas Li Qingzhu has been there for sixteen years—could sixteen years really not compare to four or five months?

Li Qingzhu pinched her palm, eyes red, and said with a sorrowful face: "Yes. Little sister Luoluo indeed…"

Li Qingzhu choked up, not speaking the result, but who doesn't already know what the result is?

"It's all my fault! If I hadn't put Mother in a difficult position there, and if Luoluo hadn't momentarily lost hope and, in her agitation, cut the rope first, we could have waited for Father and them to come rescue us!"

Li Kechuan: "All right, Zhu'er! Even if she really died, that's just her fate!"

"Besides, I'd really rather only you lived, Zhu'er. Do you know? After your accident, Elder Brother hated her! Even though she is my blood‑related sister, in my heart my only sister is you!"

Li Kechuan finished speaking and let out a sigh.

Though saying those words should have felt relieving, his chest now felt as heavy as a pile of stones, almost making him unable to breathe.

Li Qingzhu's face instantly broke into a smile through tears; she earnestly looked at Li Kechuan and then hugged him tightly again.

Zhuang Wei, who was about to walk over, saw this scene and abruptly stopped in his tracks.

The three of them had grown up together since childhood, and the siblings' bond had always been very close; they used to be utterly unconcerned about gender distinctions, always clinging to each other in affection, either hugging or carrying one another.

Zhuang Wei had long grown accustomed to this.

Although he had sometimes taken offense, whenever he voiced a slight objection Zhu'er would pout and say: "Sanlang, why are you so petty and pedantic? I and my brother are literally from the same womb! In this world, there is no one closer than we siblings—I am my brother, and my brother is me; do you really need to make an issue of this?"

From then on, Zhuang Wei also regarded this as normal.

But today, a strange feeling welled up from deep within that he could not suppress.

They are not actually blood siblings!

They certainly did not crawl out of the same womb!

What further unsettled Zhuang Wei was the rumor that Li Kechuan's quarters had recently gained a maid who looks extremely like Zhu'er…

He also heard that Li Kechuan had already taken that maid as a concubine…

"Sanlang, what are you thinking? I've heard, I've heard that you and Luoluo are already engaged—is it true?"

"That would be fine. I was afraid I'd held you back, Sanlang. Originally this marriage ought to have been yours and Luoluo's; it should rightfully return to its proper place."

"Sanlang, we two have fate but no destiny. In the next life, we…"

Li Qingzhu walked up to Zhuang Wei, holding a handkerchief, her eyes brimming with tears.

What she said was all sincere.

Li Kechuan, listening behind them, felt heartbroken and was about to speak, but Zhuang Wei cut him off: "Zhu'er! Where does this come from?!"

"Although my family indeed intended to renew the marriage alliance with the Jiangjun Fu, I have never been able to let go of you and refuse to marry that…"

Zhuang Wei had wanted to say "poisonous woman," but seeing that Zhu'er was not really dead, he paused and immediately changed his words.

"Zhu'er, in this life I, Zhuang Sanlang, will marry no one but you!"

Zhuang Wei smiled and reached out to grasp Li Qingzhu's shoulder.

His inner joy and delight were naturally hard to restrain.

Originally, his family was indeed planning to come to the Jiangjun Fu in the next two days to finalize the engagement.

And because he resisted, he was confined to the courtyard, not allowed to go anywhere.

But Zhu'er has returned, and all of this has changed!

Zhuang Wei couldn't help but gaze at Li Qingzhu before him with uncontainable joy, yet at the same time another strange feeling rose in his heart.

Moreover, a voice seemingly from nowhere echoed in his ear as if it had once said: "You idiot! Being played around and still unaware."

"…Perhaps you should properly investigate what your beloved fiancée has been up to…"

So, Zhu'er, why exactly did she self‑immolate and fake her death back then?

Qishan.

The mountain forest was pitch black.

Amid the howling wind, Li Qingluo hid behind a massive boulder.

She listened to the fighting behind her, knowing her current skills could only protect herself, so she honestly stayed where she was and had no intention of going out.

Suddenly, a dark shadow flew from behind and landed on the boulder.

Li Qingluo heard the sound and looked up; the shadow had already jumped down and seized her wrist: "Quick, come with me!"

Li Qingluo broke free: "No."

She calmly looked at the astonished Zheng Lingzhou and said: "I want to return to Jinling. Our paths differ; we cannot plot together."

She quickly glanced at the shadow chasing from behind: "You hurry on!"

Zheng Lingzhou was furious: "You! You're tearing down the bridge after crossing the river?"

Li Qingluo: "Even if you win today, I will still return to the Jiangjun Fu."

Zheng Lingzhou snarled low: "What's so good about the Jiangjun Fu? It ruined my sister's life and made you suffer endless grievances, yet you still want to go back?"

Between the farthest south and north, the heavens and earth are vast; isn't it better to live freely out there? You insist on being trapped in a square house for your whole life?

Out there you can do whatever you want. You can be whoever you wish to be!

Luo'er, follow me, I will protect you myself!

After they finished saying that, a cold laugh came from the boulder: "You Lotus Evil Cult, are nothing but fugitives; just by you still wanting to protect her?"

You will only ruin her life; she can never again openly be her true self.

Li Qingluo looked up, seeing Prince Su draw his long sword and lunge toward Zheng Lingzhou.

This time, Zheng Lingzhou had no chance to dodge!

Their left shoulder was pierced through.

Li Qingluo did not want them to die because of her, so she reached out and flung the wristband's thin cord, tightly wrapping it around Prince Su's sword, then shouted loudly: "The debt I owe you is severed today—go!"

Zheng Lingzhou gritted their teeth and retreated swiftly, pulling themselves free from the sword's tip, blood spattering across the ground, and their face turned deathly pale.

They could not even spare a thought for Li Qingluo, and could only turn and rush into the night.

Zhui Yu and Leng Dian, who had come chasing from behind, immediately gave pursuit...

Prince Su coldly gazed at Li Qingluo, only to see his sword blade twist, and even the supposedly unbreakable fine thread was easily cut—Li Qingluo's wristband snapped in two at once.