Full House Spring

Chapter 58 The Old Lady's Knock
Xia Li just wanted to get away with it, and she didn't care whether Lu Qinghe was grateful or not.

Whether she stands by and watches or delays what happens tonight, she will end up in trouble. If the princess dies as a result, the responsibility may be entirely placed on her, because she has no human rights.

But if the princess is rescued, Lu Qinghe will be one step closer to his goal, and the old lady will be dissatisfied, and she will have to bear the consequences when she returns home.

It is better to be punished than to lose one's life. Xia Li thought clearly. She kicked the old woman who fell to the ground and confirmed that she would not wake up in a short time. She turned to Lu Qinghe and urged: "Young lady, don't waste time. Don't tell the truth to anyone about this matter. Take the princess away quickly."

Lu Qinghe nodded heavily, and then hesitated to say: "What about you? Do you plan to go back home or continue shopping?"

Xia Li raised his eyebrows and smiled, then said calmly, "I will follow the young lady secretly and send you back home together."

Lu Qinghe breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this, turned around and went into the house to call the princess, while Xia Li walked out of the yard until his figure disappeared into the night.

Lu Qinghe squatted down and hugged Princess Yongxin in his arms, shouting anxiously: "Princess, wake up quickly..."

The old woman was actually a medicine woman. She made the drugs herself at home. They could indeed make people unconscious for a short period of time, but the effect was not long-lasting. After Lu Qinghe shouted a few times, Princess Yongxin opened her eyes in a daze.

Her mind was a little confused, and seeing that Lu Qinghe couldn't come back to his senses for a long time, Lu Qinghe helped her up first, and they walked out slowly. When they reached the door, they saw the old woman lying on the ground tied up. Princess Yongxin's memory suddenly became clear.

She was still in shock and said, "Cousin, what happened? I remember that this old hag knocked me out..."

Lu Qinghe panted and said, "That's right, this old woman is a kidnapper. She brought you here. I followed her and knocked her out when she wasn't paying attention. I don't know if she has any accomplices. Let's leave quickly while she's still asleep."

Princess Yongxin's legs and feet were already weak due to the drug, and when she heard her say that, all the blood disappeared from her face, her lips trembled and she couldn't speak.

Princess Yongxin walked out with difficulty. The two of them were not out of danger yet, so it was not advisable for them to stay here for long. They could send people to raz the place down once it was safe.

The two of them supported each other and walked out of the yard. Lu Qinghe subconsciously searched for Xia Li's figure in the night, but it was too dark outside and she could not see anything.

Princess Yongxin asked tremblingly, "Cousin, which way should we go?"

Lu Qinghe had a good memory and pointed to the left, saying, "I came from that side. Let's go that way."

Anyway, Xia Li just followed behind and watched. She felt at ease. Princess Yongxin had no idea where to go, so she just followed whatever Lu Qinghe said. Under the moonlight, the two of them walked towards the Duke's Mansion with difficulty.

At this moment, the Third Prince and Lu Lingchuan were looking for the people like crazy. They sent all the guards around them to look for them, and also went to the nearest government office to request reinforcements. However, the servants on duty had never seen the two people before, and had no clue where to look.

After the Third Prince and Lu Lingchuan searched in vain, they had to return to the Duke's Mansion and wait. This matter alarmed the old lady and Lu Jianxing and his wife. The palace would be hard to explain if anything happened to the princess, so Lu Jianxing sent all the guards in the mansion out.

The Third Prince had not yet reported the news to the palace. Just as they were anxiously waiting, someone suddenly shouted, "The eldest girl is back..."

Upon hearing this, Lu Lingchuan couldn't wait to run out. When he rushed to the gate of the mansion, he saw Lu Qinghe standing there safe and sound, and his heart finally settled down. When Princess Yongxin saw the plaque of the Duke's Mansion, she could no longer hold back and rushed into the arms of the Third Prince, crying.

The Third Prince had loved his sister since childhood. He was angry and anxious, "Are you injured? What happened? Why are you so disobedient? How many times have I told you not to run around..."

Lu Qinghe looked around inconspicuously, but still couldn't see Xia Li. She quietly exhaled, walked forward slowly and said, "Don't worry, Third Prince. The princess was just frightened, not injured."

Princess Yongxin choked up and said, "Third brother, I was knocked unconscious by the kidnapper. If it weren't for my cousin following behind and waiting for an opportunity to hurt that old hag, the consequences would be disastrous."

The third prince's pupils shrank slightly inadvertently, and a sharp light flashed in his eyes. He looked at Lu Qinghe with a slightly scrutinizing look, and Lu Qinghe looked back without any guilt.

Lu Lingchuan didn't care what the Third Prince thought, and said to Lu Qinghe in a deep voice: "Are you injured?"

Lu Qinghe waved his hands quickly and said obediently: "Brother, don't worry, I'm fine."

Lu Lingchuan looked her up and down, and confirmed that she was really fine. Only then did he feel relieved and turned to the Third Prince and said:
"Your Highness, you should take the princess back to the palace as soon as possible to avoid worrying the queen. I will deal with the kidnapper."

The Third Prince nodded slightly, and looked at Lu Qinghe with deep eyes, and said in a gentle voice: "It was thanks to my cousin's alertness that we were able to resolve this disaster. I will inform my mother after returning to the palace, and then I will thank her properly."

Lu Qinghe's eyes were bright and clear, and she spoke softly, "Your Highness, you are too kind. Saving the princess is our duty. You don't need to worry about it."

Her appropriate response attracted Lu Lingchuan's sidelong glance, and the Third Prince also stared at her with burning eyes. Lu Qinghe blushed with shame before he withdrew his gaze from her and walked away with Princess Yongxin.

Only after the two figures disappeared from sight did the brother and sister turn around and go back home. Lu Lingchuan did not say much, but just asked her to go back and wash up, change into clean clothes and then go report her safety to her grandmother and mother.

Lu Qinghe lowered his head, still worried about Xia Li's safety. When Lu Lingchuan was about to step out of the door, he couldn't help but say:

"Brother, it was actually Xia Li who saved the princess. I was so scared that I lost my mind. It was Xia Li who hit the old woman with a stone."

Lu Lingchuan's breathing stagnated, he turned around and asked with a deep look in his eyes: "Where is Xia Li? Is she okay?"

Lu Qinghe shook his head and said, "I don't know where she is. She is fine and not injured. She wanted to give me the credit for saving the princess, so she didn't show up in front of others. She said she would secretly follow us and escort us. I don't know where she is now. If you have time, go and have a look..."

Lu Lingchuan frowned and said calmly, "I'll go to the back alley right away. Since Xia Li gave you the credit, don't say anything wrong to Concubine Shu."

Lu Qinghe nodded rapidly and said briskly, "I know what's going on, don't worry, brother."

Lu Lingchuan didn't bother to say more to her, and walked out with big strides. He didn't expect that things would be so coincidental. He just hoped that Xia Li would be steady and down-to-earth and not fall into danger. Lu Lingchuan was tall and had long legs. He arrived at the back alley in a short while. Standing at the gate of the courtyard, Lu Lingchuan hesitated. He had not yet completely digested this emotional injury, and he didn't know how to appear in front of Xia Li. He hesitated to knock on the door.

Just as he was hesitating, there was a noise in the courtyard, and Qiao He was heard scolding loudly: "Look at you, we agreed to go home directly if we got separated, but you insisted on hanging around for a while longer, making me think you were kidnapped and almost report you to the police."

Xia Li comforted him softly, "I'm wearing men's clothes, the kidnapper won't have any intentions on me. I was wrong this time, don't be angry, there won't be a next time."

Qiao He continued to complain, and their voices became quieter and quieter. Lu Lingchuan knew that she had returned home safely, and the stone in his heart finally fell to the ground...

On the fourth day of the first lunar month, Xia Li returned to the mansion to work. She entered the mansion through the corner gate, first sent the luggage back to the house, and then went to the upper room. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she met Qiancao. She was very happy to see Xia Li and said with a smile:

"You look so good. Have you been enjoying the days off at home?"

Xia Li walked up to her, took her hand and said, "Thank you for your hard work, sister. Has nothing happened to the old lady these days?"

Qiancao was a very gentle person. She was always kind to Xia Li and said in a low voice:
"Old lady, there is nothing wrong here. It's just that the Consort Shu in the palace just now gave our eldest daughter a lot of gifts. Maybe, there will be another prince's consort in our mansion."

Xia Li's eyes were deep and his face was serious as he said, "Sister, you can't say this carelessly. It's fine if you tell me in private, but if the old lady hears it, you will probably be scolded."

Qiancao's expression slightly restrained, and she said seriously: "You are right, I was not careful enough in speaking without restraint. Thank you for reminding me just now. I will not speak carelessly in the future. Shi Mi and Chan Yi are waiting in front of the old lady, you can go in quickly."

Xia Li nodded slightly, and after separating from Qiancao, she walked towards the main room with light steps. When she stepped into the house, she immediately noticed that the atmosphere was different.

Xia Li cheered up, walked up to the old lady and greeted her respectfully. However, the old lady's attitude was different from before, and she did not immediately ask Xia Li to stand up. She glanced at Aunt Xie, who immediately understood and withdrew with the maid without even looking at Xia Li.

When the door closed, the room was silent. The old lady stared at Xia Li with a sharp gaze like a falcon, and said in a cold voice:
"I thought you were a well-behaved and sensible person, but I didn't expect that I was too lenient with you. I indulged you to the point that you lost your sense of propriety and dared to do anything. Do you know that you are wrong?"

Xia Li sighed inwardly, thinking that the elder girl had really hurt her badly, but she lowered her head even more, and said in fear and trepidation:

"I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have been nosy last night, and I shouldn't have let the young lady stand in front of me. It's all my fault."

Xia Li knew the old lady's temper very well. At this critical moment, if she quibbled and refused to admit it, it would only make the old lady even angrier. Sure enough, as soon as Xia Li admitted her mistake, the old lady's expression eased a little. She snorted coldly:
"You admitted your mistake very quickly. I don't believe you don't understand my feelings. Tell me why you want to help Qing He. Are you deliberately going against me?"

Xia Li hurriedly denied, "I have no such intention. When I met the eldest lady last night, the situation was urgent. If I don't save the princess, the eldest lady and the prince will be implicated. After rescuing them, I am afraid of trouble. What if the concubine wants me to go away and I can't serve the old lady? There is really no other way, so I have to push the eldest lady out to take the blame."

The old lady's eyes flashed with the calmness that only old people have. She said in an ambiguous way, "You are so bold that you even dare to take advantage of a grown girl. With your intelligence, how could you not think that this matter might promote the marriage between the Third Prince and Qing He? I think you did it on purpose."

Xia Li knelt down and kowtowed, saying earnestly:

"Madam, I really didn't think so far ahead at first. It was only on the way back that I realized that I was indeed inconsiderate. If you want to punish me, I will have no complaints."

The old lady's sharp eyes scanned her up and down, with the pressure of a superior and full of inquiry. Xia Li lowered her eyes, knelt steadily, and looked like she was ready to do whatever she wanted.

The old lady's eyes gradually softened. After all, she was the one she had taught personally. She treated her like a half-granddaughter and could not bear to do anything to her.

"You knew who I loved, but you pushed Qing He to make this happen. You really deserve to be beaten."

Xia Li looked up at the old lady, her eyes bright and innocent as she said:
"How dare I interfere in the Third Prince's marriage? I am just trying to please the eldest lady. Besides, the Concubine Shu and the First Madam are sisters. We have to take sides, and there is no way to avoid it."

How could the old lady not understand such a simple truth? She said in a deep voice: "No matter what, you have violated the taboo. Your monthly salary will be deducted and you will be punished to go to the Buddhist temple to reflect on your mistakes. Do you accept this?"

Xia Li said respectfully: "I accept the punishment and will not do it again next time."

The old lady picked up the teacup and said calmly, "You don't need to serve me today. Go to the Buddhist temple and reflect on the past."

Xia Li nodded in agreement, stood up and walked out. When he came out, he saw Aunt Xie standing under the eaves. Xia Li shouted guiltily, "Grandma, I'm in trouble again."

Madam Xie lowered her voice and said, "How can you be so arrogant and dare to do anything? What if that kidnapper has accomplices? Can you escape with your weak arms and legs?"

Xia Li flattered, "I only took action after I had made a clear judgment. At that time, the eldest girl was still hiding outside. If she was really caught by her accomplices, she could go back to the mansion to find someone to save me."

Aunt Xie drooped her face and said unhappily, "You always have good reasons. You don't know the pain unless you fall hard. The old lady should punish you severely."

Xia Li touched her nose and dared not say a word. Aunt Xie was only concerned about her safety and didn't care about anything else. She just scolded her a few words and then let her go.

Xia Li went to the Buddhist temple alone. The temple in the courtyard was decorated very simply. She used to come here to clean the place, so she didn't feel scared when she went in. Kneeling on the cushion, Xia Li folded her hands and chanted scriptures. She never regretted anything she had done.

Because the Buddhist hall was at the back of the Leshou Hall, she could not hear anything happening in front of it. Xia Li was chanting sutras and before she knew it, it was already getting late. If it weren't for her stomach growling with hunger, she would have enjoyed her time alone.

Grandma probably wanted her to learn a lesson, so she didn't come to bring her food, and no other maid came in. Xia Li could only endure the hunger silently. Just as she was staring at the altar, considering whether to take the fruit on it to eat, she heard footsteps outside.

Lu Qinghe said in a gentle voice: "Xia Li, are you in there? I'm here to bring you some food..."

(End of this chapter)