CHAPTER 359: CHAPTER 159: HER ORIGINS

Mrs. Li had her doubts about Miss He’s identity.

But as she said earlier, she could only rely on luck to confirm it; she couldn’t just approach someone who looked a bit similar and inspect them by forcibly removing their clothing.

There are quite a few people who look somewhat alike in this world, and she has encountered them over the years, attempting various methods to find out if they possessed a jade pendant or had a birthmark on them.

Her efforts in terms of time and energy go without saying.

If she could find them, any amount of time and effort would be worthwhile.

Unfortunately, none of them ended up being the right person.

Later on, she saw Miss He, who resembled her sister the most. Regrettably, she had only met the girl a few times and couldn’t directly ask, so she thought of taking a long-term approach.

Unexpectedly, she made a significant discovery today.

In the room.

Mrs. Li looked at the pattern on He Hua’s shoulder and immediately covered her face in tears.

When someone persists in doing something for such a long time, year after year, and then suddenly succeeds, it’s hard not to get emotional.

"This is the birthmark I remember clearly, along with the jade pendant, which is my sister’s. Back then, when my sister and I were unmarried, our elders each gave us one, saying it was a family heirloom to protect us. This is definitely it."

After speaking, Mrs. Li took out a jade pendant from her bosom, which although not carved, matched the shape and style of the other—it was the pair to her sister’s jade pendant.

"Surely, this is a child of the Li Family, my sister’s child. I have finally found you..." Mrs. Li cried while holding He Hua.

Touched by the emotion, He Hua cried as well.

Has she finally found her family? Yet her parents are no longer alive.

She hadn’t even had the chance to fulfill her filial duties.

Qu Fulan watched them hugging each other, silently stepped out of the room, and left the space for them.

He Hua’s identity was confirmed, the identity of this body, however, remained unknown.

There was still a need to investigate, whether it was intentional abandonment or an accident; clarity was necessary.

Ultimately, He Hua stayed with Mrs. Li, and before leaving, Qu Fulan told her she had been investigating the Li Family’s matter.

"But currently, the evidence collected is insufficient to prove the Li Family’s innocence, though I will continue searching for new evidence, don’t worry."

After all, the Li Family raised the original owner for many years, doing something for them seemed necessary.

Even Qu Fulan didn’t expect the matter concerning the Li Family’s case to be resolved so quickly.

It was Pei Ji’an who returned home and informed her of the interrogation results.

It turns out that the flood in Yunzhou back then was orchestrated by King Jie.

King Jie had some subordinates who were the instigators of the Yunzhou flood, as they intentionally opened the sluice gates and left most of Yunzhou submerged.

Mr. Li was the first to discover it and tried to stop them, but was knocked out by those people, which led to him being the last to appear for disaster relief.

Alongside, was Mr. Feng, the father of the original owner’s friend, Feng Mei’er, who was also managing the reservoir.

The truly negligent person was him; he was supposed to guard the reservoir with Mr. Li, yet the day before the incident, he took the guards to indulge in leisure activities.

Mr. Feng rushed to assist only post-flood, merely for appearances. At the time, he was with other officials, so after the incident, they all covered for each other, leaving Mr. Li as the sole scapegoat.

In a world where corruption is normal, innocence becomes a kind of blame.

Mr. Li died wrongfully, and the entire Li Family was implicated.

Qu Fulan’s heart felt stifled upon hearing this; the Li Family was too tragic, too tragic.

"Why did King Jie do this? Did Mr. Li have a feud with him?" Qu Fulan questioned.

Pei Ji’an shook his head, "That we don’t know. King Jie is saying nothing now, and these things were all confessed by his men; however, they only followed orders and are unaware of many truths."

This might have been just an episode in King Jie’s larger scheme.

"Does the Emperor know?"

"The Emperor said he would find a chance to announce to the public, returning the Li Family’s innocence."

The flood incident’s damage was devastating, and Mr. Li being the only one absent, bore a grave negligence charge, and the investigation then only gathered evidence against Mr. Li.

In the political arena, officials protected each other, Mr. Li being different, was bound to die.

Such occurrences are too common in bureaucracy.

But common occurrences don’t justify them; the Emperor also realized the wrongful treatment of the Li Family, hence willing to proclaim their innocence to the world.

If honest officials aren’t supported, then no one would be willing to be a decent official in the future.

Moreover, those officials who defended each other back then shall not escape punishment.

Including the Feng Family, though Mr. Feng evaded the family’s downfall back then and was demoted to serve in destitute areas—he couldn’t kick his bad habits and was imprisoned again, unfortunately, the charges then didn’t lead to Mr. Feng’s death—now, with the Li Family’s case cleared, the Feng Family awaits their family’s downfall as well.

Qu Fulan knew, as of now, the clearing of the Li Family’s case was the best outcome.

Though delayed justice is not justice, it is preferable over none.

Too many cases remain in obscurity; not only in ancient times, but even now, few ultimately see justice.

"Did King Jie reveal the whereabouts of the real princess?" Qu Fulan asked.

Pei Ji’an hesitated, reluctant to speak certain words.

The Emperor was bedridden because of this.

The wife had died, and the daughter as well...

King Jie insisted on not revealing the real princess’s whereabouts, only said she’s suffering, leaving the Emperor in perpetual unrest.

Everyone knew King Jie’s infamous nature; the true princess in his hands was bound to face a grim fate.

"King Jie spoke of He Hua being Li Family; no one knows if that’s true." Heir Pei was continually busy, unable to verify much information.

"It’s true," Qu Fulan stated.

Pei Ji’an was curious, "Then she’s your real sister?"

"No, she’s the genuine Miss Li; I am not."

Pei Ji’an paused, "What do you mean by that?"

Qu Fulan narrated the moment between He Hua and her aunt.

Upon hearing she was abandoned at the temple entrance, Pei Ji’an was furious; how could someone desert a newborn like that—not worthy of being parents.

In his view, they should be found and properly punished.

No wonder King Jie kept the real Li Family’s daughter for future manipulation.

And as for Qu Fulan—a child picked up randomly, without roots—how could she be of use?

The Emperor was correct in stating King Jie was ruthless and unscrupulous in achieving his goals; he took away the Li Family’s daughter and harmed the Li Family, yet years later used this daughter against the Emperor—truly hitting two targets at once.

"Has the Emperor decided on He Hua’s placement?" Qu Fulan still cared about He Hua, not rushing about her own situation for now.

Pei Ji’an replied, "The Lord said if it’s confirmed she’s indeed Miss Li, given her lengthy separation from the Li Family, never having seen her parents’ final moments, he plans to bestow upon her the title of County Princess as a tribute to the departed souls."

As for Qu Fulan, the Emperor still considered her the Li Family’s other daughter, combined with the foundation’s merits, intended to bestow upon her an honorary title.

Now with her identity unclear, the honorary title seems unlikely.

The Emperor couldn’t bestow an honorary title on someone with an unclear identity—what if it turns out she’s the daughter of a criminal family?

Qu Fulan understood the outcome and wasn’t bothered. She was more intent on finding the original owner’s family.

If it was deliberate, then there was no need for recognition; if accidental, perhaps the family had been searching for her as well?

In the absence of truth, focus on unraveling the truth, then making decisions.

On one side, they were entangled with her origin.

On the other side, Xiao Shiqing was still staring blankly at a purse.