Chapter 47: The older brother discovers the fake heiress's whereabouts and is brought back to life.
Li Kechuan felt that today was the worst day ever.
He heard that Li Qingluo had boarded a ship, so he wanted to come and see what kind of shady business she was up to!
Unexpectedly, they encountered members of the Lotus Sect causing trouble there.
Once his identity was recognized, he naturally had to step in to quell the chaos.
I never expected to run into a madman!
The madman was clearly targeting the Lotus Cult members, yet he stabbed him in the arm.
If Li Kechuan hadn't dodged quickly, he would have suffered far more than just these superficial injuries today.
Just as Li Kechuan suspected that the man had done it on purpose, he actually knelt down and said, "Young General Li, please forgive me. I am Yang Dalang of the Imperial Guard. I came here to watch a play during my day off, but I did not expect to encounter this disaster. I was blinded by rage and accidentally injured the Young General. It was truly beyond my control."
"This humble servant is willing to take full responsibility to apologize and provide medical treatment for the young general!"
After saying that, the madman actually took out a silver ingot in front of everyone.
Li Kechuan almost lost face.
Who wants his few taels of silver? He'd rather have his life!
However, the surrounding area was full of onlookers, including many familiar noblemen who were also watching the spectacle, so Li Kechuan naturally couldn't lash out.
All he could say was, "It's alright, it's all for the people."
Then he turned around and quickly left the theater boat.
After getting ashore, Li Kechuan realized that he probably wouldn't be able to find Li Qingluo today.
The attendant covered his face and lowered his head, "Please forgive me, young master, it was my dereliction of duty."
There was a mess at the opera boat, the whole street was in chaos, and no one could be found.
In his rage, Li Kechuan inadvertently glanced at a small boat moored in the river.
The boat had a small window open, and a face he had been longing for flashed by.
"Zhu'er?"
Li Kechuan felt as if his breath had stopped for a moment.
How could he see ghosts in broad daylight?
However, that was indeed Pearl!
Li Kechuan couldn't help but walk forward, wanting to explore further, but the window had already been slammed shut.
Just then, a familiar figure boarded the ship—it was Prince Yun!
Li Kechuan stood frozen in place as if struck by lightning, his mind a complete mess. Before he could figure out what was going on, the ship had already sailed away.
Li Kechuan desperately wanted to rush forward and find out the truth, but his feet felt like they were made of lead and he couldn't lift them.
He looked completely lost and muttered to himself, "No, that can't be Pearl, I must be seeing things..."
But my mind was in turmoil; once the doubt took root, it could never be shaken off.
"Miss, Aunt Lou and her daughter are going to the city tomorrow. Should we arrange for them to stay at an inn?"
After arriving at the Red Maple Pavilion, the first thing Granny Deng did for Li Qingluo was to find the two concubines who had left the General's Mansion at the same time six years ago.
It is said that this Aunt Lou was Qu's head maidservant during her dowry.
Back then, when Lady Qu was pregnant with Li Qingluo, she had the chance to climb into Li Chaojing's bed.
Afterwards, Aunt Lou also became pregnant, and in order to show her magnanimity, Madam Qu promoted her to the rank of concubine.
However, it is said that she died before giving birth, and afterwards, Aunt Lou was not favored much, and it took several years before she became pregnant again.
However, six years ago, before Aunt Lou's child was born, Aunt Lou and Aunt Zheng were expelled from the General's Mansion for some unknown reason.
I heard that the two of them were driven together to a village in Sichuan, a thousand miles away.
This is tantamount to exile, meaning they are never allowed to return in this lifetime.
Moreover, Aunt Zheng suddenly disappeared on the way, and her fate remains unknown.
Even Granny Deng has yet to find a trace of her.
Therefore, Li Qingluo asked Granny Deng to send someone to Sichuan to bring them back. Granny Deng could only bring back Aunt Lou and her daughter first.
Li Qingluo: "There are too many people and too many eyes in Jinling City. It's better to let them stay at Qingsong Temple instead of entering the city for now."
"Granny, please make sure they are settled in properly and don't suffer any grievances."
Granny Deng: "This old servant understands the matter. But young lady, you... won't you see them?"
Li Qing sat down and picked up a brush to practice calligraphy: "When the time comes, we will meet again."
Mid-Autumn Festival was also Qu's birthday.
Hopefully, they will all like the wonderful gifts she has prepared in this lifetime.
In the blink of an eye, time flies, and the Mid-Autumn Festival is here soon.
The area in front of the General's Mansion was bustling with activity, with carriages and horses coming and going in an endless stream, and guests arriving one after another.
Li Chaojing and Madam Qu had invited Old Madam Pei a few days earlier, saying that on the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Qu family and all the prominent families in Jinling City would be visiting the General's Mansion, and they hoped that Old Madam Pei could go out and take charge of the event.
Having no other choice, Madam Pei had to step out of seclusion.
It wasn't to save face for her foolish son, but rather because she didn't want people talking about her behind her back, saying that even though she had returned to the mortal world, she was still putting on airs.
Pei Xiuzhen wanted everyone in Jinling City to know that the General's Mansion was now in her hands.
Li Qingluo went to Jingci Hall to pay her respects as soon as she got up early in the morning.
After having breakfast with my grandmother, I returned to the Red Maple Pavilion.
She lied and said she had a rash on her body, and that she wouldn't be going out that day.
Li Chaojing and Madam Qu were more than happy with her appearance, because the thought of her being dark-skinned and withered, and not presentable at all, made them wish they could lock her up.
In their previous life, they did indeed act in the same way; that day, they didn't even send anyone to deliver a single bite of food to Li Qingluo.
Li Qingluo voluntarily stayed home today, which actually saved them a lot of trouble.
However, the couple had not seen Li Qingluo for more than two months.
So they were unaware that her appearance and demeanor were now completely different from what they used to be.
Even though Madam Pei knew she was lying, she still spoiled her.
“If you don’t want to go, Grandma won’t force you. Just stay in the Red Maple Pavilion by yourself and don’t wander around.”
"Grandma will come and eat mooncakes with you later!"
Li Qingluo had just returned and sat down when Granny Deng came to report, "Miss, as you instructed, I brought Consort Lou and her daughter into the city last night."
"Wait another half an hour, when the entrance is bustling, the two of them will appear to wish Madam a happy birthday."
Li Qingluo: "Have you arranged manpower at the back gate?"
Granny Deng: "Yes. The young lady has been released into the manor, and good news will arrive soon."
Li Qingluo: "Then I'll trouble Granny Deng to keep a close eye on things up ahead. If there's anything exciting, please let us know."
Granny Deng smiled and quickly withdrew.
But I was a little apprehensive.
The old lady is unaware of these plans the young lady has made today. I hope they won't frighten her!
As soon as Granny Deng left, Li Qingluo asked Cui'er to take some of the ingredients she had prepared the day before to the courtyard.
The three of them then began making mooncakes together.
"Today I've prepared meat filling, flower filling, fruit filling, jujube paste filling, red bean filling, and mung bean filling. What would you like to eat?"
Upon hearing that there were so many flavors, Que'er unconsciously swallowed hard.
"Miss, I'd like to eat mung bean and minced meat!"
Cui'er came out carrying the ingredients and, upon hearing this, smiled and said, "Miss, you've also prepared osmanthus-flavored rice wine. Would you like some?"
Li Qingluo enjoys researching food.
So, I've done quite a bit of cooking in the small kitchen at the Red Maple Pavilion over the past two months.
This has made the birds' appetites quite discerning.
Upon hearing about Osmanthus Fermented Rice Wine, their eyes lit up instantly.
"Miss, I want the original juice!"
Li Qinglu slapped her forehead: "I'm going to make sweet fermented rice balls, so you're not allowed to drink too much!"
While the three of them, master and servant, were laughing and joking, on the other side, at the main gate of the Li family, guests were numerous and the atmosphere was lively.
There wasn't enough room for carriages and horses to stop in front of the gate, and the servants were so busy that they quickly moved the carriages to the back alley.
However, at that moment, a mother and daughter, who seemed out of place and looked travel-worn and simply dressed, suddenly appeared.
Before the steward and servants could chase them away, the mother and daughter had already knelt down facing the gate.
"I am Lou, and I have brought the young lady back from Shu to pay my respects to the master and mistress of the household, and wish the mistress a happy birthday!"
As she spoke, she unfolded the only bundle she was carrying on the ground and took out the gift she had prepared: a long gown embroidered with the character "寿" (longevity).
And hold it high above your head.
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