Chapter 28 Li Qingluo was put in a sack and knocked unconscious.
Cui'er turned around to shield Li Qingluo, who quickly drew a dagger from her sleeve and slashed forward!
The black cat let out a miserable scream and quickly disappeared into the yard.
Sparrow happened to return and saw this scene; her expression changed slightly.
She hurried over: "What's wrong? Are you alright, young lady?"
Li Qingluo tucked the dagger into her sleeve and, seeing that Que'er had returned, asked, "Why are you back so soon?"
Que'er sighed, "With the old lady's intervention, the third young master of the Zhuang family was quickly sent back to the Marquis of Zhongyi's residence."
Li Qingluo's temples throbbed wildly.
How could she forget her grandmother?
In her previous life, her grandmother didn't get involved, so she didn't know what her grandmother's attitude was.
But now it seems that Grandmother is happy for this marriage to happen?
Unfortunately, the people in the Marquis of Zhongyi's mansion somehow found out about the real and fake daughters. Even though she was a blood relative of the Li family, they looked down on her, a girl from the countryside, from the bottom of their hearts.
Because of the lingering resentment she felt in her previous life, Li Qingluo would absolutely not want to marry into the Zhuang family.
It seems that the matter of annuling the engagement will have to be addressed through my grandmother.
However, since Zhuang Wei had already left, she didn't need to go and watch the commotion.
Li Qinglu stared at the bloodstains on the ground, wondering, "How did a black cat get there? Which yard keeps it?"
Que'er's face was grim: "Miss, we've been hearing strange noises in Red Maple Courtyard lately. Haven't you heard them?"
Li Qingluo looked at Cui'er, who also shook her head.
Li Qingluo asked the sparrow, "What was that sound? When did you hear it before?"
Knowing that the courtyard was haunted, Li Qingluo had been paying attention to the matter ever since she moved to Red Maple Pavilion, but she had never encountered anything.
How come only the sparrow heard something unusual?
Sparrow glanced around and lowered her voice: "I always hear crying in the middle of the night. Sometimes it sounds like a woman, and sometimes it sounds like a baby."
As she spoke, Que'er rubbed her arms, her face full of anxiety: "Miss, this courtyard seems unclean."
Cui'er seemed to remember something, and her face suddenly turned pale.
"I...I remember now, this Red Maple Pavilion...it seems to be haunted! That's why they say no one has lived here for over ten years..."
Upon hearing this, Que'er exclaimed in surprise, "Then Madam has settled the young lady here?"
After saying that, she looked at Li Qingluo's face, as if afraid that she would be sad.
But Li Qingluo was much calmer than the two of them.
"Unprovoked crying, a black cat of unknown origin. Let's go and see who's behind this!"
Li Qinglu followed the trail of blood. Although Que'er and Cui'er were terrified, they had no choice but to follow after seeing that the girl had left.
The bloodstains led all the way to the southeast corner, where they discovered a small hole at the base of the wall.
The opening was so small that only one cat could squeeze through it, and there was fresh blood on it, indicating that the black cat had escaped through this opening.
The neighboring courtyard was also abandoned, not as large as the Red Maple Pavilion, but even more dilapidated.
The general's mansion is not small.
It was personally bestowed by the late emperor upon Madam Pei and the old general for their outstanding military achievements.
The Li family had a small population and few masters, so it's not surprising that much of the courtyard was abandoned because there wasn't enough space for everyone to live there.
However, the Li family has many secrets.
Just as Li Qingluo was about to go next door to check again, Chunxing, the tea maid from the front yard, came looking for her.
"Second Miss, Master requests your presence in the front courtyard."
That scumbag father of hers?
Li Qingluo was very surprised.
In her previous life, Li Chaojing didn't even want to see her. Since returning to the Li family, Li Qingluo had only seen him three times in total.
This is the third time in this lifetime.
Li Qingluo had to put aside the search for the cat for the time being and took Que'er with her to the front yard with Chunxing.
Upon arriving at the front yard, Li Qingluo first greeted Li Chaojing: "Luo'er greets Father."
Although she was tortured beyond endurance by the nanny sent by Zhuang Wei in her previous life, unable to live or die, she did quickly learn the etiquette and demeanor expected of a noble lady.
In this life, after Li Qingluo returned to the Li family, Old Madam Pei sent a nanny to give her some informal guidance. She pretended to be learning by trial and error, but in reality, she had slowly begun to grasp the proper way to do things.
At this moment, even Li Chaojing, who had not seen her for some time, was secretly taken aback!
She seems to have changed a bit?
Although his attire was still not quite presentable, his etiquette in paying respects was impeccable.
Could it be that her mother's people had already taught her this?
Moreover, she seems to have become a bit paler.
She no longer looked as bad as before; it seems that the wealth and comfort of the General's Mansion had truly restored her health.
Although Li Chaojing felt some aversion and avoidance towards Li Qingluo because of Li Qingzhu, as the head of the family, he had to consider the overall situation more.
Just then, Madam Pei arrived.
Li Qingluo and Li Chaojing got up together and quickly stood up to greet Madam Pei.
At the same time, Li Qingluo's heart suddenly started pounding wildly in panic.
Sure enough, it was difficult for the mother and son to get together. The reason Li Chaojing was willing to see Li Qingluo this time was because of the marriage with the Marquis of Zhongyi's family.
Madam Pei: "Luo'er, you must have heard about Zhuang Sanlang's outburst at our door today, right?"
Li Qingluo lowered her head silently.
Seeing her like this, Li Chaojing felt that she was not presentable.
But since Madam Pei was determined to make the decision, Li Chaojing had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "Why don't you answer your grandmother's questions?"
Li Qingluo turned around and knelt down: "Luo'er doesn't understand what happened yet, so she can't answer."
She had to pretend she knew nothing, so naturally she was completely confused.
Li Chaojing shook his head.
Madam Pei slowly explained: "To put it simply, it was Zhuang Sanlang of the Marquis of Zhongyi's mansion who was betrothed to you two when you were still in your mother's womb."
"Although Li Qingzhu has taken over your marriage all these years, now that you have returned to your position and Li Qingzhu is dead, the marriage should naturally be returned to you."
"Luo'er, this is an excellent marriage. I've heard that Zhuang Sanlang is very good at studying, and he doesn't have to inherit the title of heir, but he will definitely be a very accomplished young man in the future."
"You two will have a much easier and more carefree life without the constraints of the Marquis's mansion."
Do you understand what Grandma means?
Li Qinglu felt bitter inside.
As a woman, she has no say in marriage.
If she were to say no, it would mean she is being very disobedient.
If she were to say anything more, it would be frivolous, disrespectful, and degrading. So, was her grandmother trying to force her to agree?
Although her grandmother wanted to give her a very good marriage, a forced marriage is never sweet. Even if she and Zhuang Wei were to get married, they would only be a resentful couple who tormented each other.
Taking a deep breath, Li Qingluo tried to reply, "Grandmother, Father. I have only been home for a short time. I do not know the intricacies of the relationships among the powerful and wealthy families in the capital."
"Luo'er now wants to spend more time with her family at home to make up for the years she has missed."
"Therefore, Luo'er is afraid that she is marrying above her station, and that if she goes to the Zhuang family, it will only bring shame to her family."
She neither said no nor nodded, but simply stated some facts.
Li Chaojing nodded involuntarily.
They were met with a fierce, warning glare from Old Madam Pei.
Li Chaojing quickly touched the bridge of his nose and cleared his throat: "Your grandmother and I will discuss this matter. You may leave now."
Li Qingluo knew that breaking off the engagement was not an easy task.
If both Grandmother and Li Chaojing are determined to continue the marriage, then Li Qingluo's only way to annul the engagement is through Zhuang Wei.
Li Qingluo never expected that the person who couldn't wait the first time to discuss this matter was neither herself nor Zhuang Sanlang, but Li Kechuan.
On the swaying cart, Li Qingluo was covered with a sack and gagged.
She slowly woke up, only able to see some faint light through the sack.
Li Qing felt a sharp pain in her head. She remembered that when the incident happened, she was in the Chunzaitang of the Qu family.
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