Chapter 375 The Pei family will be completely wiped out!

A blue line extends straight from the wrist to the elbow.

Upon seeing this, both the Lü family's daughters and the Pei family's daughters' expressions changed.

"You two, get out of here!"

Lady Lü scolded Pei Liu Niang and Pei Shiniang.

Pei Liu Niang was the daughter of the second wife, and Pei Shiniang was the daughter of the third wife.

Although the two girls were also flustered and curious, they dared not hesitate upon hearing their mistress's order.

They immediately helped each other up and quickly retreated.

Once everyone else had left, Madam Lü grabbed Pei Jingzhe's arm and cried out in alarm, "Brother, when did this happen?"

"How could you possibly have one too!?"

"What on earth is going on!?"

Pei Jingzhe calmly explained, "Your son was originally far away on the frontier. According to what you said, Father, this blue thread suddenly appeared on all the sons in the family five years ago. Only your son was not in the manor at the time, so he thought he had escaped this calamity."

"But it's only been a few months since I returned to the manor, you see..."

Lu's legs went weak.

"How...how is this possible?"

Pei Jingzhe helped her up and continued, "Mother, this is witchcraft."

"It would also be the cause of the complete annihilation of our Pei family."

Duke Pei slowly pulled up his sleeve, revealing the blue line on his arm.

"When this thing appeared five years ago, no one knew whether it was a conspiracy or a coincidence."

"It wasn't until the last two years that everyone realized that all the sons of the Pei family had this thing on them."

"Although there is no pain or itching, and no illness, has the Pei family had any new offspring in the past two years?"

"When I realized this, I secretly searched the world for people to take a look, and they finally said that I was probably under the influence of some kind of witchcraft from Miao territory."

"Despite all the precautions, we still couldn't prevent the Awakening of Insects..."

"Dalang, your father and mother are sorry. Even though you came back, we still couldn't protect you!"

Lady Lü's face turned ashen. She embraced her eldest son and wept bitterly.

"How could this happen... Didn't we already escape the Awakening of Insects?"

"Then what should we do? And what did you say? That Li Qingluo might be the one to save our Pei family?"

Pei Jingzhe hesitated for a moment before saying, "Mother, when the news of Grandfather's death came, there was no body at all, and Sanlang was nowhere to be found either."

"Have you never thought about what they went through, or where they went?"

Lady Lü's mouth opened and closed, but she could only look at Pei Bu.

Pei Bu waved his hand dismissively. "All she ever thinks about are the affairs of the inner quarters. Has she ever cared about the fate of the entire Pei family? Has she ever worried about when I will die?"

Pei Jingzhe shook his head: "This matter is too strange, and it's not Mother's fault."

"You may know some clues about what Grandfather has been doing all these years, but haven't you never pursued the truth?"

"Besides fearing that the truth is something the entire Pei family cannot bear, we also want to wait for our grandfather to succeed in his plan and turn the entire Pei State Duke's Mansion upside down again."

"But in this world, can everything be accomplished through scheming alone?"

"Grandfather's plans have probably already fallen into the trap set by others."

"However, back then, my son was tricked by my grandfather and implicated in the Crown Prince's side. Although I felt resentful at the time, now that I think about it... I'm afraid it was just a means for my grandfather to protect me."

Lady Lü was startled and speechless before she finally understood.

"Everything your grandfather did was for the sake of our Duke Pei's mansion?"

Pei Jingzhe: "Yes and no."

"However, just half a month after my son returned to Beijing, he received a secret letter."

"Judging from the handwriting, it was Sanlang who secretly sent it back."

"Sanlang only said that he would no longer be the third son of the Pei family, but would spend his life atoning for the Pei family's sins."

"As for the curse on the Pei family, only the true legitimate daughter of the Li family has a way to break it and perhaps save the family."

"Otherwise, the entire family will be wiped out!"

"In his letter, Sanlang also said in detail that all the sons of the Pei family who are over thirty years old will not live more than seven years from the day they are poisoned."

"Those who live past the age of thirty will not live past thirty."

"None of the Pei family's sons are able to cure this poison, nor can they bear children."

“What Sanlang said must be true.”

"He has been working for his grandfather all these years, and that witch just happened to have disappeared five years ago."

Pei Jingzhe stared at his mother and said earnestly, "Mother, the days of our Pei family are numbered."

Lady Lü collapsed to the ground, completely limp.

Her face showed despair and sorrow.

He could only silently watch Duke Pei and his eldest son.

By this calculation, it has been almost six years since Pei Bu was poisoned by the Gu.

Her eldest son, Pei Jingzhe, is nearly twenty-seven years old!

Lady Lü and her two daughters were ultimately not sent back to Jinling.

However, when she went to the front hall to pay homage to Emperor Yan and the Empress, Lady Lü's eyes were noticeably swollen like two walnuts.

When the ladies around her asked, she could only force a smile and say, "I didn't sleep well last night, and I accidentally drank plum tea today. I just took a nap, but somehow I ended up like this."

"I am afraid that this appearance may offend His Majesty. At this moment, I am very anxious and uneasy."

The ladies laughed and said, "You must be missing your mistress, right? Don't worry, you'll see her soon."

A look of eager anticipation appeared on Madam Lü's face.

If Xuan'er knew about her family's situation... wouldn't there be a way to save her father and brother?

Just based on that Li Qingluo... Thinking of what her son said, Madam Lü couldn't help but feel a cloud of doubt in her heart.

She absolutely refused to believe that Li Qingluo could save her entire Pei clan!

Li Qingluo knelt at the back of the crowd alongside Madam Pei.

Although Madam Pei once held a very high position, she had retired from the court for more than thirty years and now held no official position or had any children or grandchildren in the court. Therefore, according to their status, the two of them, grandmother and granddaughter, could only kneel in the very last and inconspicuous position.

Despite this, Li Qingluo was still quite at ease.

Since she could go along and fish, no one paid any attention to her anymore.

"The Empress Dowager has arrived!"

"The Emperor has arrived!"

"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!"

The Empress Dowager, who is nearly seventy years old and has been living in the Ning Shou Palace for more than ten years, rarely makes public appearances, but she actually came this time.

Moreover, when did the Empress Dowager arrive?

Today, not a single person noticed the imperial carriage and ceremonial procession in front of the palace gate.

Everyone was shocked and hurriedly called him "Long Live the Emperor" and "Long Live the Emperor" several times.

While everyone was looking up, Li Qingluo secretly glanced in the direction of the Empress Dowager.

To the Empress Dowager, she was just an ordinary old lady.

He seemed to have no imposing presence; he had a kind and gentle face and was approachable.

If it weren't for Pei Si Niang, now known as Consort Jing, obediently accompanying the Empress Dowager, Li Qingluo would have almost mistaken her for an ordinary nanny dressed in finery.

As for Emperor Yan, he looked much thinner than at the last palace banquet. Despite still looking sickly, he still insisted on causing trouble for Xia Miao.

Only the Empress retained that most noble and elegant aura in the world.

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess sat to the left of the Empress.

The crown prince was exceptionally handsome and bore a striking resemblance to the empress.

The Crown Princess has an outstanding temperament and is gentle and charming.

Even the former Prince Yun, now the Fourth Prince and his wife, have come!

However, the eldest prince claimed to be ill and did not attend.

The Prince of Jin and his wife were also unable to spare the time.

Two other princes also did not leave the palace this time.

Li Qingluo glanced at everyone and successfully made eye contact with Princess Nanping.

After kneeling for an unknown amount of time, Li Qingluo's legs were almost numb and she could no longer feel them, when the head eunuch finally announced the official start of this year's Xia Miao blessing ceremony.

Everyone, along with Emperor Yan and the Empress, moved to the outside of Chang Le Palace in turn.

Drums were beaten and bells were rung; horns were sounded respectfully.

Waving flags to drive away evil spirits.

Incense is burned during sacrificial rites.

The Imperial Guards also performed a spectacular Fuxi Bagua Drum performance.

After everyone dispersed, Li Qingluo was still immersed in the excitement she had just felt, so much so that she didn't immediately react when Princess Nanping and Pan Li came to find her.

"Luo'er, Luo'er?"

Pan Li shook Li Qingluo.

Li Qingluo was overjoyed to see the two of them.

"You've arrived?"

The three hadn't seen each other for a long time, so they found a quiet place to talk.

Princess Nanping looked at Pan Li and Li Qingluo suspiciously, then complained, "When did you two become so close?"

"Sister, you've started calling Luo'er 'Luo'er' now. Oh my, you're quite cunning!"

Princess Nanping retorted to Pan Li, who was dressed as Pei Shierniang, her words dripping with sourness.

Pan Li hugged Princess Nanping: "Good Ping'er, you're jealous now? I was wrong before, I always went against you."

"But haven't they already turned over a new leaf, reformed themselves, and become your friend from now on?"

"Your friend is naturally my friend too, so I must try to win over Miss Li as soon as possible."

Pan Li managed to appease Princess Nanping with just a few words.

After saying that, she secretly winked at Li Qingluo.

Li Qinglu shook her head with a chuckle.

It seems that Pan Li has put in a lot of effort recently, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to coax Nanping, this little devil, into playing with her now.

Princess Nanping affectionately hugged Li Qingluo first and said coquettishly, "Sister Luo'er, that's wonderful, I really didn't expect you to come too."

"I've been kept at home by my mother to learn etiquette these past few days, and I haven't seen you for a long time. Do you know how much I miss you?"

Pan Li: "It's rare for us to get together, so let's go hunting together tomorrow?"

"I heard there are lots of rabbits and sparrows on Nanshan Mountain, they must be easy to catch!"

Princess Nanping: "Why wait until tomorrow? The Imperial Guards are going to Nanshan to start the event soon, what are we waiting for? Let's join in the fun now!"

After saying that, the two of them didn't wait for Li Qingluo to decide whether she wanted to go or not, and they grabbed her and ran away.

Li Qingluo quickly instructed Ying'er to inform her grandmother.

Que'er, Granny Zheng, and Sha Wu hurriedly followed.

When Madam Pei learned of this, she simply smiled and said, "That's fine. This child is always so old-fashioned, she doesn't act like a young girl at all."

"Let her play and joke around with the Pan family girls and the little princess more often; it will help her become more lively."

No sooner had she finished speaking than an old man came looking for her.

"General Pei, the Empress Dowager invites you to come and have a chat."

"I wonder... where has your eldest daughter gone?"

Nanshan Forest Farm.

The scene of the Royal Guard's opening was truly breathtaking.

With the sound of drums beating, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that ten thousand arrows were being fired simultaneously.

Then, dozens of horses charged into the forest at the same time, and amidst the thunderous roar, the horn of victory rang out.

"It's a hit! It must be Commandant Cui!"

Li Qingluo immediately sensed something unusual and asked Pan Li in a low voice, "Commander Cui?"

Pan Li replied softly, "He is the seventh son of the eldest branch of the Cui family. He is a notorious rebellious son of the Cui family who abandoned his literary pursuits for the military and joined the Imperial Guard."

"She has fair skin and delicate features, but she is very skilled in martial arts."

"The young princess likes him very much."

As soon as Pan Li finished speaking, Princess Nanping excitedly grabbed Li Qingluo and shook her: "Sister Luo'er, let's go to the forest too! Let's go, let's go."

Li Qingluo couldn't persuade her otherwise.

The three of them did not ride horses, but walked to the edge of the forest to scout out the surrounding terrain.

However, they had only been there a moment when a shout came from behind them: "Li Qingluo?"

"You have some nerve!"

"How dare you bring the princess into the forest without permission! If anything happens to the princess, what will your punishment be today?!"

The newcomer was a young man whose face was unfamiliar.

Li Qingluo didn't recognize him at all.

Pan Li immediately whispered, "Zhong Liulang is the second son of the Zhong family. His wife is the third daughter of the Qu family."

"Luo'er, the Qu family is in a terrible state now."

"Zhong Liulang, who loves his wife dearly, also hates you to the core."