TSWPF -Chapter 235 Infuriated

The moment Li Qingling saw Tong Wanrong, she couldn’t help but think sincerely—what a small world, running into her here.

Tong Wanrong froze for a moment when she saw Li Qingling, then quickly put on a polite smile. “Miss Li, what a coincidence! I didn’t expect to meet you here. Seems like we’re quite fated to meet.”

Li Qingling wondered—how did this village girl even come to the capital? Was she here looking for Mr. Luo too?

It really was fate… or rather, a fated complication.

Li Qingling curled the corners of her mouth in a smile. “Miss Tong, your memory is still as poor as ever. I’m already married—please call me Lady Liu, thank you!” When dealing with a rival, you couldn’t be merciful; you had to hit hard enough so she couldn’t harbor any thoughts again.

Hearing this, Tong Wanrong’s smile stiffened, but she quickly composed herself and called her “Lady Liu” without missing a beat.

“Wanrong, and this is?” The gentle-looking lady standing beside Tong Wanrong finally spoke.

“She’s Lady Liu. We’re from the same hometown,” Tong Wanrong said with a smile, then turned to Li Qingling. “Lady Liu, this is Princess Yufei.”

As she introduced her, her chin subtly lifted.

That slight gesture didn’t escape Li Qingling—Tong Wanrong was showing off.

Li Qingling smiled quietly in her heart. Just knowing a princess, what was there to brag about?

Although she thought this, her face still held a trace of respect. She bowed slightly to the princess. “Greetings, Princess.”

Power rules all, and as a commoner, she had no choice but to bow to the nobles.

The princess smiled gently and nodded, her eyes briefly glancing at the children behind Li Qingling before withdrawing her gaze.

Li Qingling could swear by her female intuition that this princess wasn’t as gentle as she appeared.

Most likely, she was another angel-faced woman with a devilish heart.

And her methods were undoubtedly more sophisticated than Tong Wanrong’s.

With people like this, it was best to avoid making enemies if possible.

“Lady Liu, are you here looking for Mr. Luo as well?” Tong Wanrong asked, seemingly kindly.

“Yes, and you?”

“Of course…” Tong Wanrong nodded without hesitation. “Mr. Luo is very difficult to meet. If I hadn’t come with the princess, I probably would never have seen him in my life.”

Her words were well-crafted: first, letting Li Qingling know that Mr. Luo wasn’t easy to meet; second, subtly flattering the princess.

The princess’ smile deepened.

If she hadn’t asked the emperor to put in a good word, she wouldn’t have had such an opportunity to see Mr. Luo either.

Li Qingling gave Tong Wanrong a half-smile. Just as she was about to speak, Liu Zhiyan interrupted.

“Sis, isn’t Mr. Luo eager to see us? What are we standing here for? Why aren’t we going in?”

Daring to bully his sister-in-law—did she take him for a ghost?

Li Qingling suppressed a laugh, but her face remained serious as she apologized to Liu Zhiyan. “Sorry, I was just too happy to see Miss Tong and forgot about that.” She then looked at the stiff-smiling Tong Wanrong. “Miss Tong, sorry, we’ll go in first.”

She patted Li Zhimou lightly on the head—this boy was becoming more and more cunning.

“Princess, we’re going the same way as Lady Liu. Why don’t we go in together?”

The princess glanced at Tong Wanrong, murmured an affirmative, and strode toward the main gate.

Just then, the Luo Manor steward arrived. Seeing the princess, he greeted her politely.

The princess waived the formalities and asked with a smile whether Mr. Luo was available, as she had some matters to consult with him.

“Princess, I’m terribly sorry. The master has guests today and cannot receive you. Please come another day.”

The princess’ eyes briefly flashed displeasure, but her smile remained. “In that case, I’ll visit Mr. Luo another day.”

The steward apologized again and then turned to Li Qingling and the others. “Young ladies and young masters, the master has been waiting for you. This way, please.” He led the way.

He had heard from the old master about Fourth Young Master’s death and about his three children. Thinking about the Fourth Young Master he’d watched grow up, his heart ached.

No wonder the old master cried so bitterly that day.

Even he felt like crying hearing about it.

Once the manor gates closed, the princess returned to her carriage and her expression darkened.

“What’s Lady Liu’s relationship with Mr. Luo?”

Tong Wanrong was shocked as well. She didn’t expect that village girl would even know Mr. Luo.

How could a village girl possibly know Mr. Luo?

“I… I think it’s strange too. How could a countryside girl know Mr. Luo?” To make matters worse, Mr. Luo even refused to meet the princess because of her. That was a direct slap in the face.

The princess cast a faint glance at Tong Wanrong, signaling her to explain Li Qingling’s situation.

Anyone personally received by Mr. Luo could not be ordinary.

A flicker of darkness crossed Tong Wanrong’s eyes. She embellished and spoke ill of Li Qingling, hoping to ruin her impression in the princess’ mind.

Every time she thought of that celestial-like man marrying Li Qingling, the village girl, her heart bled.

Why hadn’t she met Li Zhimou sooner? If she had, he definitely wouldn’t have chosen that village girl, Li Qingling.

“Oh? So you’re saying her reputation in your area is quite bad?”

“Indeed, Princess. Think about it—what kind of girl would go out and interact with men openly?” She nearly said Li Qingling was unchaste.

The princess remained silent for a moment, then asked again, “And her husband? Does he mind her being so public?” She could tell Tong Wanrong hadn’t told the truth.

Tong Wanrong didn’t want to say either. Anyone personally received by Mr. Luo couldn’t be so shabby.

“If Lady Liu were truly disgraceful, Mr. Luo wouldn’t meet her.”

“I’m not very sure about that. I don’t know her husband well.”

The princess glanced at Tong Wanrong again, making her heart skip a beat. She felt as if the princess had seen right through her.

“Return to the manor…”

“Princess, are we going back just like this?” Tong Wanrong was reluctant. She wanted to see Liu Zhimou.

She had been in the capital for over half a year and had met some aristocratic sons, but in her heart, none compared to Liu Zhimou.

Although his family background couldn’t match theirs, he himself was exceptional—talented and handsome.

Unfortunately, he went for that village girl, Li Qingling.

Perhaps it was precisely because he couldn’t have her that he couldn’t forget.

The princess glanced at Tong Wanrong with a smile. “Why go back? Stay here, what for?” She paused. “Wanrong, if you want to catch up with Lady Liu, you may get off the carriage.”

Tong Wanrong chuckled awkwardly. “No, maybe next time.”

Sensing the princess’ mood souring, she hurriedly changed the subject, daring not to continue.

Meanwhile, Li Qingling and the children followed the steward to the pavilion. Looking up, she saw Li Zhimou playing chess with an elderly man with a white beard.

“Master, the young ladies and young masters have arrived.”

Mr. Luo paused his game, waved the steward over, and had him bring some snacks.

His eyes swept over Li Qingling and the children. When he saw Liu Zhiyan and Liu Zhirou, he was visibly moved.

Li Qingling led the children forward, greeted Mr. Luo, and introduced herself.

Mr. Luo greeted them warmly, his eyes slightly red as he reached out to Liu Zhiyan and Liu Zhirou. “Good children, come let your master see you.” Thankfully, that brat had left three children; otherwise, his heart would have truly broken.

But thinking of how much these children had suffered, he couldn’t help feeling heartache.

Liu Zhiyan and Liu Zhirou looked at Li Qingling, and after she nodded, they stepped forward obediently, greeting, “Hello, Master.”

“Well, well…” Mr. Luo reached out, trembling slightly as he patted their heads. “Good children, Master didn’t know you existed, and you suffered. If I had known earlier, I would have brought you to me.”

“Master, we didn’t suffer,” Liu Zhiyan shook his head. “With our sister-in-law here, we didn’t suffer. The hardest part was our sister-in-law.”

Liu Zhirou nodded as well.

Mr. Luo looked at Li Qingling. From Liu Zhimou, he had learned about her. “Child, you’ve worked hard these years.” Without her, Li Zhimou and his siblings wouldn’t have made it. He truly appreciated her sacrifices.

Li Qingling smiled. “We’re family. This is what I should do.” Without mutual support, the family wouldn’t have come this far.

Seeing the genuine humility on her face, Mr. Luo was even more satisfied.

A fine young lady. That brat had good taste in choosing a granddaughter-in-law.

“Yes, we are family,” Mr. Luo laughed heartily. “Quick, don’t just stand there, sit down, all of you.”

Li Qingning stared at Mr. Luo’s beard for a long while. Hearing this, she ran up, eyes wide with curiosity. “Grandpa Luo, is your beard real? Can I touch it?”

“Ningning, that’s rude,” Li Qingling quickly scolded.

Mr. Luo, seeing Li Qingning’s mischievousness, waved her off. “It’s fine, don’t stop a child’s curiosity.” He bent slightly toward her. “Touch it, and you’ll know if it’s real.”

Li Qingning pinched her small hand and couldn’t resist, reaching out to touch the long beard dangling before her.