Chapter 200: Did the older brother repent for his past?
Zhaohua Hall.
Princess Xiyue had just stepped into Zhaohua Palace when three women from the Li family followed her in.
Everyone greeted Princess Xiyue and began to whisper among themselves: Why did the Li family come with the princess?
However, neither the three members of the Li family nor Princess Xiyue intended to explain anything. Madam Pei even took Li Qingluo to visit various powerful families and clans. Everyone gave her face and was very enthusiastic. Finally, they got to know the true eldest daughter of the Li family properly.
Only the Marquis of Zhongyi's residence and the Duke of Pei's residence kept their distance, as if they were afraid of being tainted by the General's residence again.
Soon, night fell.
The imperial banquet at Zhaohua Palace has officially begun.
The officials and nobles of the previous dynasty, along with their male relatives, filed into Zhaohua Hall and found their female relatives, then took their seats in turn.
As soon as Qu saw Li Chaojing and Li Kechuan, she immediately stepped forward and whispered about how they had been taken to Fengqi Palace that afternoon.
Li Chaojing was greatly surprised.
Li Kechuan quickly looked down at Li Qingluo behind him.
He was now very concerned about how Li Qingluo would react when facing Zhu'er's situation.
Li Qingluo just sat there properly.
After Madam Pei took her seat in front, she went up and leaned against her.
She deliberately ignored the fact that Li Kechuan and the other two were unwilling to get close, which greatly disappointed Li Kechuan.
He knew that she hated him terribly now.
Yes, he has done many inhuman things.
Even in this lifetime, it may be impossible to make up for the pain that Luo'er suffered...
However, if the Empress really intervenes on Zhu'er's behalf, wouldn't that demonstrate Prince Yun's attitude?
Li Chaojing: "Chuan'er, what do you think of this matter?"
After Li Kechuan went mad at Minglou last time, and then Liu Qingzhu was expelled from the General's Mansion, Li Kechuan has now completely changed.
He became quiet and his temperament became much more stable.
Compared to his former arrogance and conceit, he seems to have finally come to his senses and become more sensible. He has put away his sharp edges and has begun to think carefully about the future of the entire Li family.
He finally looked like the eldest son of the legitimate wife.
But this also made Li Chaojing feel heartbroken.
His eldest son will never recover in this lifetime.
How can a head of the family with only one leg achieve anything in the future?
However, it doesn't matter. As long as he marries the daughter of the Cui family and gives birth to a noble eldest grandson, with the support of the Cui family in the future, the Li family will still be able to maintain its prestige.
Today, in the Qiankun Hall of the former dynasty, didn't they encounter Prime Minister Cui, the head of the Cui family?
This Prime Minister Cui was quite kind to Chuan'er.
The Cui family is a long-established and prestigious family that has never broken off an engagement easily.
Chuan'er broke his leg, and the Cui family, who valued their reputation, naturally wouldn't do anything to break off the engagement.
Today's events concerning the Empress have made Li Chaojing very vigilant and he takes them very seriously.
Moreover, in the afternoon at the imperial court, Li Chaojing noticed that His Majesty seemed to be increasingly valuing Prince Yun.
The legitimate son of the former crown prince has been deposed.
The Empress also has Prince Yun, her second son.
This made Li Chaojing's heartstrings tremble.
But Chuan'er lost his leg because of Prince Yun!
Therefore, Li Chaojing must first ascertain Li Kechuan's attitude before considering the future of the Li family...
Li Kechuan: "Fathers need not worry about their sons."
"I acted rashly back then, which led to my downfall. If it was a decision made by Father for the sake of the family's future, it might have hurt his son. There was really no need for that."
"Son, you are no longer the Li Kechuan you once were. From now on, you will only live for the Li family..."
Moved, Madam Qu hugged Li Kechuan tightly: "Chuan'er! You've finally come to your senses! Master, look how sensible Chuan'er is now."
Li Chaojing nodded repeatedly: "That's good, that's good. But Chuan'er, are you saying all this for that Liu..."
Li Kechuan interrupted Li Chaojing: "Father! Just consider the foolish things I did and the foolish things I said in the past as a result of my madness because of my broken leg. Forget about them and don't take them seriously anymore."
Li Chaojing looked at Madam Qu with satisfaction, finally revealing a slight smile.
"Then it's not too late."
Mr. Qu was also very pleased.
She felt that the hard times she had been going on were finally coming to an end.
The three of them were so happy about Li Kechuan's change of heart that they almost forgot they were still in the palace, until Old Madam Pei suddenly spoke up: "Do you all think that Luo'er and I are dead?"
"Stop dreaming. As long as I am here, that lying, vicious woman will never set foot in my General's Mansion again!"
Li Chaojing and the other two then changed their expressions again.
Li Qinglu lowered her eyes and gently tugged at Old Madam Pei.
"Grandmother, don't be angry."
How could Madam Pei not be angry?
Her chest heaved violently with anger.
"These three stupid dogs are spineless, despicable, and dumb! They've been controlled by an old bastard from the Liu family who's already dead and his little bastard, and they actually think it's a great honor and are smug about it?"
"What's most hateful is that they are actually my blood relatives. Why didn't I strangle them first back then?"
Although Madam Pei's voice was very soft, it was enough for Li Chaojing and the other two to hear clearly.
All three of them looked very unwell.
Li Chaojing, in particular, had a deathly pale face, and his clenched fists were trembling slightly.
Yet no one uttered a single rebuttal.
I'm afraid Old Madam Pei would slap them right there and then...
She might actually be capable of doing something like that.
"The Emperor has arrived—The Empress has arrived—"
The two rulers of the realm finally arrived late.
Li Qingluo and everyone else stood up, knelt down and kowtowed.
As he stood up, he secretly glanced at the person above him.
Although they were very far apart, she could still see clearly that the Emperor of Liang was just an ordinary old man.
However, he looked like an older Prince Yun.
No wonder he loves Prince Yun so much; it turns out that Prince Yun is the prince who looks most like him.
Li Qing looked around from the lower end of the highest position and saw Prince Yun and his queen, but did not see Liu Qingzhu.
It seems she is still not qualified to come to Zhaohua Palace tonight.
Li Qingluo also saw the other princes. Although some of them seemed a bit mediocre, none of them were easy to deal with.
She also saw Princess Qinyu, members of the Qu family, and even Pei Si Niang from the Pei family was there today, as well as Cui Shiyi Niang from the Cui family, and Pan Li from the Pan family…
Li Qingluo did not see Prince Su.
Amidst the music and dance, one delicious dish after another was served.
Li Qingluo watched the exquisitely choreographed song and dance performance and gradually became captivated.
Moreover, the food in the palace was indeed exceptionally delicious.
Li Qingluo's shoulder was suddenly patted.
"Sister Luo'er, you've been so hard to find!"
Princess Nanping finally spotted Li Qingluo in the crowd and excitedly hugged her, wishing she could kiss her.
Li Qingluo looked around nervously: "Why are you here?"
No one dared to wander around the entire Zhaohua Palace, yet Nanping still dared to come looking for her.
Nanping chuckled and said, "Don't worry, my grandfather loves me very much now and won't scold me."
Madam Pei pulled Nanping down to sit: "Your Highness, Princess, you must not take this as an excuse to be arrogant."
Nanping quickly greeted Madam Pei: "Yes, Madam is right. Then, to avoid wandering off, I'll stay here?"
Madam Pei smiled and handed her a glass of fruit wine: "So, will you drink it or not?"
Nanping's little face was already flushed, but she still greedily accepted it again: "Thank you, Madam!"
Li Qingluo originally wanted to dissuade her, because she hadn't touched a drop of alcohol that night, but Princess Nanping had already gotten drunk and was in high spirits.
Li Chaojing and the other two waited for a while, but Nanping did not greet them.
They could only awkwardly avoid eye contact, lest they meet and not know who should call out first.
Nanping leaned against Li Qingluo and whispered to her, "On the thirtieth, I begged my mother to take me to visit my fifth uncle's residence. I took the opportunity to secretly ask my fifth uncle for help."
"I never expected that my fifth uncle would actually agree to this!"
"The Fifth Prince sent his most skilled physician, Doctor Du, to the Pei family that very day, saying that he would personally examine and detoxify Sister Nan Jia."
“I received news yesterday that there is hope for Nan Jia’s poison.”
Li Qingluo's face lit up instantly, and she couldn't help but ask Nanping excitedly and with surprise, "Really? Nanping, you're really not lying to me?"
Princess Nanping was overjoyed.
"I was waiting to tell you this in person today, which is why I refrained from writing to you yesterday."
"Sister Luo'er, it's definitely true!"
"I also heard from my mother that my fifth uncle was poisoned some time ago. Anyway, he almost ruined his health. So he hasn't appeared in court or the Dali Temple for some time and has been recuperating at home."
"However, he is now much better, thanks to Doctor Du's miraculous healing skills and unique and powerful detoxification abilities."
"With his promise, Sister Nan Jia is really saved."
Li Qingluo breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as Nan Jia can survive, nothing else matters.
She inexplicably thought of Prince Su as well.
After he returned to the Prince Su's residence that day, the poison in his body had become so severe.
I wonder if it was influenced by the snowball fight that day.
However, Nan Jia's survival is truly thanks to him.
Nanping muttered, "It's strange about my fifth uncle. My mother said he wasn't always so easy to talk to... I wonder who he's doing this for..."
"Perhaps it is Lord Pei?"
"But the Fifth Prince's maternal uncle has never associated with any other court officials..."
Li Qingluo took a handkerchief and wiped away non-existent cold sweat from her forehead.
She really didn't dare to presume to be romantic.
During the banquet, Li Qingluo saw Princess Qinyu suddenly get up and quietly leave the hall.
Immediately afterwards, Pan Li and Pei Si Niang also disappeared without a trace.
There were at least a hundred people in Zhaohua Palace today, and no one noticed that a few maids were missing.
The emperor and empress, seated on the highest throne, were enjoying the song and dance with great interest, while Li Qingluo's buttocks had long since gone numb from kneeling.
Nanping was getting restless when, just then, Que'er was led over from the side by Nanping's maid.
Today, all the servants of the officials' families could only wait outside the palace. Just then, Que'er came over, and Li Qingluo was wondering what was going on when he heard the maid of Princess Nanping whisper, "Your Highness, something has happened."
Nanping's eyes lit up: "What's wrong?"
The sounds of string and wind instruments inside the hall completely masked the noises outside.
The maid said, "It was Princess Qinyu who ordered someone to push Miss Pan into the pond. When Miss Pan was pulled out, she seemed to have already stopped breathing."
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