CHAPTER 358: CHAPTER 358: THE TRUTH ACCORDING TO MRS. LI

Aunt saw her coming and smiled, "I saw a magpie calling in the tree early this morning, and knew there would be good news today. Sure enough, you came by."

Qu Fulan laughed, "I’m here to bother you again, Aunt."

Mrs. Li wasn’t pleased, "Saying it like that makes us seem like strangers."

She then welcomed her inside and served her tea.

Qu Fulan held the teacup, pondering how to start.

"What’s the matter? Have you encountered any trouble lately? You look so worried."

The older ginger is spicier; Aunt could tell at a glance that Qu Fulan was troubled.

Qu Fulan hesitated to speak.

This made Aunt curious. Since she’d known her, she’d never seen her like this, as if something very difficult was hard to express.

Mrs. Li had her own secrets, closely related to her niece, always worried her niece would suffer because of it. If so, she would feel she had failed her sister’s trust.

Even before Qu Fulan spoke, Mrs. Li had already let her imagination run wild. She couldn’t ask directly and had to indirectly inquire, "Has someone been gossiping about you or making things difficult?"

Qu Fulan quickly waved her hand, "No such thing, Aunt, don’t overthink it."

Mrs. Li didn’t believe it. If nothing was wrong, why wouldn’t she return home but come here looking worried? It was clear she faced difficulties and came here for solace.

After all, a husband’s family isn’t the same as one’s own family.

"Aunt knows your temperament. If it weren’t something really difficult, you wouldn’t be like this. Is someone using your identity to cause trouble?"

Qu Fulan: "..." She hadn’t said anything, yet Aunt had led the conversation to this topic. So, actually, Aunt knew?

Thinking this, Qu Fulan vaguely replied, "Something like that~"

Mrs. Li immediately stood up, excited, "I knew it! I knew this day would come! Others seeing your good life are bound to get jealous and look for trouble to make themselves happy!"

Aunt’s excitement caught Qu Fulan off guard, and her stunned look appeared as confirmation in Aunt’s eyes.

Aunt sat down again, holding Qu Fulan’s hand, "Don’t be afraid, dear child. You don’t need to worry about someone using your identity. Take me to see the Princely Heir, I’ll tell him the truth so others won’t misunderstand you or use your identity against you."

Evidently, Aunt was thorough in her thinking. She knew her words alone wouldn’t be believed, but if the Heir Pei took action to investigate, they could clear her niece’s name.

Qu Fulan: "What truth?"

Aunt saw her confused face and knew she didn’t know anything. These years had been tough for her; perhaps she should have never hid it.

Thinking of this, Aunt decided to tell her niece everything frankly.

After hearing it all, Qu Fulan was dumbfounded.

She had her suspicions, and they turned out to be true, leaving a feeling beyond words.

It turned out she wasn’t a Li Family child.

When she was still an infant, she was left at the temple’s doorstep.

Coincidentally, at the time, Mrs. Li gave birth to a daughter at the temple, and upon finding the baby at the door, her maternal instinct compelled her to take her home to raise.

Several days later, as Mrs. Li was preparing to return to the Li Family, that night, criminals broke into the house and kidnapped a child—the real Li Family heiress with a birthmark.

Mrs. Li, kind-hearted, didn’t resent the other child; instead, she raised her lovingly as her own while secretly searching for her biological daughter.

This matter was known only by Mrs. Li, Mr. Li, and a few trusted servants around Mrs. Li.

The elderly Li elders wouldn’t be told the truth to spare their grief.

Even after the incident in the Li Family, her biological daughter was never found.

So, when Mrs. Li met Mrs. Li, she entrusted her with two things on her deathbed.

The first was to find Li Jirou, who was sold off. She wasn’t part of the Li Family and shouldn’t be implicated in the Li Family case.

The second was to ask Mrs. Li to continue searching for her biological daughter so she could rest in peace.

No wonder Mrs. Li, upon finding her, repeatedly checked if she was living well. If not, she’d reveal the truth, but seeing her well, she kept quiet to avoid more troubles.

This was the entire truth Aunt knew.

After hearing it, Qu Fulan couldn’t recover for a long while. Eventually, she found her voice.

"Do you know who took the child?"

Perhaps what couldn’t be learned from He Hua could be found out from Mrs. Li.

Sadly, Mrs. Li shook her head, "The Li Family had many enemies, but investigations showed they weren’t involved. Specifically who stole the child, no one knows."

"But so many years have passed, how will you find that child, Aunt? She was only a baby then," Qu Fulan pointed out the key issue.

Mrs. Li said, "I saw the child back then. She had a birthmark on her shoulder, and my sister had the family heirloom Jade Pendant carved with the same pattern by the temple master. If she still carries it, great; if not, it’s all up to fate."

Qu Fulan understood what she meant. Women at that time dressed conservatively, so Aunt wouldn’t have the chance to check shoulders randomly unless luck led her eye.

"Now isn’t the time to focus on that. I’ll keep looking for her, but let’s resolve your issue first. Quickly, take me to see the Heir," Aunt urged.

Aunt was anxious to find her niece, but after so many years, a little more time didn’t matter. Solving the immediate problem was crucial.

Although Young Lady Pei wasn’t a Li Family child, Mrs. Li treated her like her own daughter for years, and Mrs. Li cared for her niece dearly, with deep feelings unchanged by blood ties.

Qu Fulan felt an indescribable gratitude for the family’s kindness.

Mrs. Li lost her own child yet could love this one like her own.

Mrs. Li traveled far and wide for a promise, searching for her just to tell her the truth and free her from complications.

There are many bad people in this world, but there are also many good people.

Unfortunately, the good seldom live longer than the wicked.

Hence people often say that the world is unjust.

"No need to search, she’s outside," Qu Fulan said.

Mrs. Li thought she was referring to the Heir Pei and was surprised, "Why leave the Heir outside? Let me invite him in."

When they went out, Qu Fulan called to someone in the carriage, "Come out."

Aunt was ready to greet the Heir, but when the curtain was lifted, it was a girl’s face.

"Miss He?"