CHAPTER 103: CHAPTER 103: STOP MAKING TROUBLE—LEAVE SOME GRATITUDE

Just you?

Long Yue’s words were steeped in deep malice, making Zhou Zhiqin wish she could strangle this bitch with her own hands!

Moreover, it seemed like the final straw that broke the camel’s back. After a moment of silence, Zhou Zhiqin suddenly went berserk, laughing out loud: "Hahaha, Pang Longyue! Yes, I’m not worthy, I truly am not, but I know your good days are numbered. You’ll certainly have a more miserable death than me! At least I’ve had my fun, but you... will be executed by slicing, quartered by horses! You won’t die peacefully! Ah ah ah—"

Long Yue paused in her steps, turned around and looked at her coldly: "You mean Pang Shuangyue, right? Rest assured, slicing and quartering by horses will happen, but not for me, it’s for her!"

After speaking, she ignored the nearly deranged Zhou Zhiqin and directly headed to Mrs. Li Zhou’s prison cell.

There weren’t many female prisoners inside, and she was placed alone in a cell.

At that moment, she was huddled in a corner, mind hazy, right as Zhou Zhiqin shouted, she jolted awake.

She opened her bleary eyes, saw who had come, and burst into tears upon recognizing them, rushing towards the bars, grabbing and banging on them desperately.

"Old Third, old Third’s wife, Mother was wrong, Mother truly was wrong, Mother will never dare again, please, let me out, would you?"

Mrs. Li Zhou was different from Zhou Zhiqin; after all, Zhou Zhiqin was determined to kill Long Yue, whereas Mrs. Li Zhou, despite her flaws, had raised Li Qingmu for seventeen years.

In those seventeen years, she was indeed a qualified and responsible mother, it was just at the critical moment that her mind blanked, she made the wrong decision, leading from one mistake to another, culminating in disaster.

But regardless of anything, they fulfilled their promise back then, treating him well and letting him attend school, learn to read and write, and understand the importance of things.

Therefore, Li Qingmu, though angry at her actions, truly couldn’t just decisively harm her; he was tangled by this ethical dilemma.

In this era, reputation was extremely important, especially for officials, where reputation was of high demand. If someone had a bad reputation, even the court wouldn’t dare use them.

"We will let you out, but from now on, truly no more ties between us!"

Li Qingmu spoke calmly, his demeanor aloof, which made Mrs. Li Zhou feel both guilty and panicky, sobbing, "Son, Mother knows she was wrong, can’t you forgive Mother?"

"Mother, in this matter, I can forgive and forget, but to say ’forgive’ and be the same as before is impossible, spilled water can’t be gathered again, a broken mirror can’t be mended, Mother should understand this principle."

"No, old Third..."

Mrs. Li Zhou truly regretted, she had pondered for long in this cell, thinking surely her third son is destined for great success, otherwise why would Lord Cai specifically come to help him?

Yes, she mulled over it and believed that Lord Cai came to assist him!

That was a considerable favor indeed! People went to great lengths to help Li Qingmu, indicating they esteemed him greatly, perhaps he might become a high official in the future, leading them all to glory...

Yet now this dream is about to shatter!

Mrs. Li Zhou really wished to curse herself, she truly had a mental lapse to choose such decisions back then, and moreover made two foolish decisions.

"Once out... be a good person! Don’t do anything against your conscience anymore, you’ve given me upbringing grace, I can let you go, but others will not, this is all I will say!"

When a person has bad intentions, it’s easy to stray farther down the wrong path, Mrs. Li Zhou was willing to perjure herself for money, nearly ruining them and if they hadn’t been clever, anticipating enemies, they’d probably be languishing in prison now with his young wife suffering abuse and he could only watch helplessly...

Even though they’ve escaped the crisis now, his back still feels a chill.

"Mother, you raised the Prime Minister for seventeen years, we acknowledge this kindness in our hearts; if you behave yourself henceforth, maybe someday there might be gratitude, but should you continue irrationally bringing trouble, then don’t blame us for being ruthless!"

This was Long Yue’s last words to her, within which the phrase "gratitude" was mentioned, allowing her some hope, yet also implied that should she act up again, they would show no mercy!

Mrs. Li Zhou shivered slightly, gazing at Long Yue’s fierce expression, instinctively nodded; Long Yue did not speak harshly, offering her some comfort.

She watched the couple leave her behind, feeling like she’d lost something, suddenly, the bitterness within her was unbearable, bursting into tears.

"Dear Heavens, what on earth was I thinking back then..."

Exiting the prison, Long Yue could still hear Mrs. Li Zhou’s woeful wailing, she softly frowned, sighed: "Why bring this upon oneself?"

She simply couldn’t understand, in her past life the Li Family wasn’t capable of such chaos!

Perhaps because this lifetime she wanted to live peacefully with Li Qingmu, she was slightly more congenial with the Li Family, which resulted in them becoming conceited and starting all kinds of mischief?

Tsk, it seems one should really maintain a reputation as the "Evil Woman Li", otherwise they might think she’s easy to bully, brooding over her instead!

"Mr. Zhang, release Mrs. Li Zhou, we’ll vouch for her."

While Long Yue mused for a moment, Li Qingmu had already found Zhang Bingwen to request the release.

Zhang Bingwen was straightforward too; actually whether anyone is released from prison doesn’t matter, having more people wastes food, rather they’d be eager to leave!

He promptly ordered, and shortly, Mrs. Li Zhou was brought out.

Long Yue looked at the disheveled Mrs. Li Zhou, slightly shook her head, turned and gave a little government official ten Copper Coins: "Go to the Li family in Qingshui Village, let them come to fetch her!"

She initially thought releasing would involve some complications, but Zhang Bingwen was petrified by their previous encounter with Cai Xiu, feared them like meeting King Yan, and releasing was as easy as saying so without hassle...

With the Li family’s issue wrapped up, Long Yue dared not relax at all, for the end of one problem signifies another’s looming arrival.

How could her ’good sister’ so easily let her off? And she herself wouldn’t let her go either!

With memories from her past life, she and her are destined for endless fighting!

"I’m exhausted today, I’ll visit Qingshui Village tomorrow to see Qiao’er."

"Alright, I’ll accompany you then!"

...

Capital City!

This is Dazhou’s lifeline, Dazhou’s Imperial City, here lies the noble Empress and important ministers wielding great power, the economy is thriving, with music and dancing, people are well fed and clothed...

Pang Mansion.

It was already late at night.

Within a quaint, elegant courtyard, a shadow suddenly appeared, kneeling outside a brightly lit boudoir.

"Master, this time... it failed again..."