Chapter 377 My grandmother married the wrong person!
The old woman was very happy to know her identity.
He patted Li Qingluo's hand repeatedly and said, "Miss, it's been a long search for this old servant, but we've finally found you."
Li Qingluo looked embarrassed: "Granny, shall we go over there quickly?"
As the two were heading to the palace where the Empress Dowager resided, the old nanny took the opportunity to introduce herself, saying that everyone in the palace called her Aunt Fang.
Li Qingluo also greeted her affectionately: "Aunt Fang, is my grandmother drunk?"
"She has never lost control because of drinking before, so why is she like this?"
Aunt Fang: "Miss Li, don't worry. General Xiuli just hasn't seen the Empress Dowager in a long time. The two of them caught up in the old days and drank a couple more cups."
I just had a couple more drinks, that's all?
Li Qingluo had witnessed her grandmother's drinking capacity firsthand.
Even Prince Su, Duan Rongshi, couldn't outdrink her.
For Grandma to get so drunk, either the liquor must be really strong, or she must have been completely absorbed in it.
What surprised Li Qingluo even more was that her grandmother and the Empress Dowager were actually so close.
"Miss Li, there's no need to be nervous."
"When the Empress Dowager entered the Eastern Palace as the Crown Princess, General Xiuli was still a child."
"But at that time, your grandmother was already the most unique young lady in the entire city of Jinling."
"At that time, your grandmother was deeply loved by Emperor Taizu and Empress Dowager Taizu, and they often invited her to the palace to play."
"I heard that when your grandmother was a child, she used to run around in the palace and often went up to the roof to steal birds' nests."
"He often caused trouble, giving your grandmother's parents, the first Duke of Pei's family, a huge headache, and they often had to go to the palace to apologize."
"But ultimately, no one really had the heart to punish your grandmother."
"Later, as your grandmother grew older, she became much more composed."
"Although she still had a free and unrestrained personality, her ease and magnanimity were truly eye-catching in the entire city of Jinling back then."
"This old servant still remembers that when I entered the Eastern Palace late, when I was the same age as your grandmother, His Majesty had already been born in the Eastern Palace."
“Your grandmother even went to the Eastern Palace to hold His Majesty.”
"Therefore, the Empress Dowager can be said to have watched General Xiuli grow up."
"The Empress Dowager used to say that your grandmother loved swordsmanship since childhood, and who would have thought she would actually go and defend the country. She was the best role model among women, but unfortunately she got married and..."
Aunt Fang smiled but didn't finish her sentence.
Li Qingluo knew the second half of the sentence in her heart: "Once again, she married the wrong person."
My grandmother was incredibly radiant back then.
Unfortunately, she married into the Li family, a run-down place.
I heard from Granny Deng that when my grandfather was a young man, he was indeed the most handsome of all the young men in the entire city of Jinling.
Back then, he would blush whenever he saw his grandmother.
He even stutters when he speaks.
At first, his grandmother only thought he was good-looking.
After all, the two were not a good match; the Li family was just a small family, and the grandfather's father was only a captain until his death.
Later, after they went to the battlefield together, they experienced many trials and tribulations together.
Later, before the grandfather could even speak, the grandmother asked him: "Are you going to marry me or not?"
Grandmother was straightforward and easygoing; most young men couldn't resist her direct enthusiasm.
Although the Pei family initially opposed the marriage, they couldn't persuade the stubborn grandmother.
Later, Grandma lost miserably.
The punishment for him was to never see his grandfather again for the rest of his life, and to make it impossible for him to forgive him.
pity.
This is nothing more than her inner pride and regret over her choices, a form of self-torture.
She herself knew perfectly well that she had been utterly defeated, losing only her pride.
In the blink of an eye, they arrived at the palace where the Empress Dowager lived.
Li Qingluo followed Aunt Fang into the palace.
She walked forward with her head down, keeping her eyes straight ahead, and knelt down to pay her respects.
"This humble woman, Li Qingluo, greets the Empress Dowager. Your Majesty, may you live a thousand years! May you live a thousand years!"
"Greetings, Your Highness! Long live Your Highness!"
Princess Xiyue is also here.
Upon seeing Li Qingluo arrive, his eyes darkened.
"Grandmother, look how beautiful this girl from the Li family is!"
"As expected, General Xiuli knows how to raise people. In just one year, she has raised this girl to be like a fairy."
A kind voice came: "Indeed. I remember that when Xiuxiu was young, she was always rough and tough, and she loved to fight and kill all day long without any manners."
"She also doesn't like the rouge and face powder that ordinary girls like."
"Back then, Emperor Taizu wanted to marry you into the Kang Prince's household. You and the Kang Prince's heir were quite the bickering couple."
"Unfortunately, that kid from the Li family snatched it away later."
"otherwise……"
Madam Pei replied in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, it's been decades. Please don't bring it up again."
The Empress Dowager laughed heartily.
"What are you afraid of?"
“The Kang family went to their fiefdom and have rarely returned in recent years.”
"The Kang family's children and grandchildren are not in the court, so no one can hear them."
Madam Pei was ashamed.
"The old minister's granddaughter is still here."
The Empress Dowager seemed to remember then: "Yes, yes, yes. Come, raise your head and let me see you."
Li Qingluo slowly raised her head, her gaze lowered, not daring to meet the Empress Dowager's eyes directly.
The Empress Dowager nodded slightly: "He looks like you, and also like that boy from the Li family."
Madam Pei: "Can't you just not mention him?"
The Empress Dowager smiled again: "Yes, I have spoiled the mood. How about I punish myself with a cup of wine?"
Li Qingluo came to Madam Pei's side, seeing that the drinking party was not going to end anytime soon.
He intended to offer a drink, but instead, a palace maid from the Empress Dowager's side came over and filled the wine cup in front of him.
Madam Pei knew that her precious son had a limited alcohol tolerance.
One cup and he's out.
Unable to wake up even when struck by lightning.
They looked up, intending to beg for mercy, but saw the Empress Dowager staring at them with a half-smile.
This wine was bestowed by the Empress Dowager, and Li Qingluo had no choice but to drink it.
Madam Pei squeezed Li Qingluo's small hand under the table: "Drink up, with your grandmother here, just take a small sip."
Li Qingluo had no choice but to bite the bullet and actually only took a small sip.
The Empress Dowager then stopped looking at the grandmother and granddaughter and turned to speak with Princess Xiyue.
A short while later, the Empress Dowager said she was tired and dismissed everyone in the hall.
Li Qingluo, feeling a bit dizzy, got up and bid farewell to the Empress Dowager. She clearly sensed a venomous gaze upon her, seemingly scrutinizing her without restraint.
Looking up, he saw a deep chill in the Empress Dowager's eyes, which were originally kind.
In the blink of an eye, the Empress Dowager reverted to her usual kind and gentle demeanor.
It was as if the gaze she had just received was merely an illusion created by Li Qingluo's eyes.
With the help of Granny Zheng, Li Qingluo followed her grandmother out of the hall.
Before the grandfather and grandson had even left the garden of the Empress Dowager's palace, they ran into Consort Jing and her two cousins who were coming towards them.
Pei Liu Niang, Pei Shi Niang.
Li Qingluo and her grandmother knelt down to greet her: "Greetings, Noble Lady Jing. May you be blessed with good fortune and peace."
Pei Zixuan slowly walked up to Li Qingluo and Madam Pei.
She remained silent, only staring coldly at the old man and the young man on the ground.
Pei Liu Niang's eyes revealed a look of gleeful smugness.
He thought coldly to himself: Weren't you two, grandfather and grandson, so arrogant? This afternoon in the courtyard where you stayed, you were practically ready to trample and humiliate the entire Pei family under your feet!
When they arrive before a distinguished person or master, don't they still have to kneel obediently like a dog?
Pei Liuniang immediately stirred up trouble: "Fourth Sister, it's her."
"First they humiliated my aunt in the courtyard, then they ignored your orders and showed no regard for you or the entire Pei family."
Madam Pei looked up and coldly stared at Pei Liu Niang.
Pei Liuniang couldn't help but flinch.
Pei Zixuan: "Did she say something wrong?"
"I have heard that today, Madam Pei and Miss Li, you two, grandmother and granddaughter, not only verbally abused my father and mother, but also physically assaulted them?"
"Madam, is this how you raise your granddaughter?"
"Your General Xiuli's family has such fine family traditions and good rules!"
"In that case, I will punish you two, grandfather and grandson, to kneel here for one hour today as punishment for the serious crime of disrespecting me!"
Li Qingluo slowly raised her head: "Does Your Highness mean that your Pei family can use your status to humiliate others first, and those others have no choice but to not fight back or retaliate?"
"Or does Consort Jing herself think that the people around the Empress Dowager are not as noble as your sixth sister, so this commoner should disobey the Empress Dowager's order and go to see you first as a sign of respect?"
"So, in the eyes of the young lady, the Empress Dowager is not as noble as you."
A flicker of panic crossed Pei Zixuan's eyes.
She had no idea how this matter was related to the Empress Dowager.
She glanced at Pei Liuniang first.
Pei Liuniang waved her hands to indicate that this was not true.
Although Pei Zixuan sensed that something was wrong, she was even more convinced that it was all just Li Qingluo's sophistry.
What kind of good person could this woman be, having survived the Pei family's dungeon and been entangled with Prince Su?
Her eyes immediately hardened, and she shouted sharply, "What nonsense are you spouting? When have I ever acted as disrespectful and defiant as you claim towards the Empress Dowager?!"
"How dare you slander me! I'll tear your mouth apart!"
"And when I gave you a lecture, you dared to use sophistry and deceit to suppress me!"
"Guards, go and slap her!"
"Beat them hard—"
The old woman behind Pei Zixuan rolled up her sleeves and was about to step forward.
The smugness in Pei Liu Niang and Pei Shiniang's eyes was now tinged with intense excitement.
Li Qingluo was the first to straighten up and block her grandmother behind her.
Then he stared into Pei Zixuan's eyes, his gaze as sharp as icy blades.
This gave the ruthless Jing Guiren a huge shock.
However, before Madam Pei could finish her cry of "Stop—",
Another shout came from behind: "Consort Jing, you really have quite the airs!"
"This is the Empress Dowager's palace; you are not allowed to act so presumptuously here!"
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