"Li Xiangru did indeed save the Poison King of Mount Po, but he doesn't owe her loyalty," Qin Moyuan stated coolly. "If Consort Lan can afford a higher price, he won't care about Li Xiangru's life-saving grace."
Li Yueshu felt a strange sense of inevitability about the situation.
How could someone who refined medicine using live people, sparing even children, be trustworthy?
Li Yueshu pursed her lips. "Keeping this Poison King of Mount Po around will ultimately be a disaster."
Qin Moyuan gently patted her hand. "Don't worry. Since he's in Chongzhou, he won't be able to leave."
Qin Moyuan was confident in that regard.
Seeing the murderous intent in his eyes, Li Yueshu didn't say anything more.
...
Li Yueshu didn't pay much attention to the aftermath of the Emperor's poisoning. Instead, she secretly asked Hong Dai to contact the Chi Yun Tower to investigate the affair between the Emperor and Consort Rong.
Although Li Yueshu wasn't interested in Consort Lan's poisoning, she still heard rumors.
The incident became a major scandal after it was uncovered, making it difficult for Li Yueshu to remain ignorant.
Consort Lan was ordered to commit suicide, the Second Prince was banished from the palace and stripped of his title, and even his maternal clan's power was suppressed.
While the Emperor's rage was a factor, Qin Yexiu's embellishments also played a part.
As these factions engaged in fierce struggles, Li Yueshu received an invitation from Gu Hexuan.
She knew without a doubt that it must be related to the hidden troubles they had planted for Li Xiangru in Fengzhou.
Li Yueshu readily accepted the invitation, but she hadn't expected Meng Junyi to accompany Gu Hexuan.
Li Yueshu was surprised; she really hadn't anticipated him coming to Chongzhou.
Upon seeing her, Meng Junyi rushed over excitedly. "Li girl, I never thought you'd truly be my granddaughter!"
Li Yueshu was momentarily stunned and instinctively looked at Gu Hexuan.
Was this... an act of recognition?
Gu Hexuan, thinking she didn't understand Meng Junyi's meaning, quickly explained, "We found out not long ago that Ru'er isn't actually the lost daughter of the Gu family. You are."
Meng Junyi added, "The Li family parents were greedy and came up with a scheme to swap the prince for a civet cat. They've confessed that the scars on your back were deliberately inflicted by them with boiling water when you were just a month old, to cover up your birthmark."
Li Yueshu had already anticipated something of the sort, but she hadn't expected her father and mother Li to be so cruel.
What she was more curious about, however, was how her parents Li would confess to such a thing.
Gu Hexuan, sensing her doubt, explained, "The Gu family has many methods for extracting confessions."
Li Yueshu: "..."
She felt the developments were too smooth, especially since returning from Da Geng Mountain. It was as if she had become lucky emperor incarnate, with everything going her way.
Li Yueshu looked at the excited Meng Junyi and withdrew her hand.
"I'm sorry, I need a moment to process this."
With that, she turned and left abruptly, seemingly unable to accept the revelation.
Li Yueshu's original intention wasn't to reclaim her place in the Gu family, but merely to cause trouble for Li Xiangru.
The Gu family had learned the truth, but since the Zhenbei General and his wife weren't present today, she couldn't go to the Gu family herself.
This matter was far from settled.
Li Yueshu had expected the Gu family to take a long time to approach her, but the next day, Hong Dai reported that Meng Junyi had moved to Chunyang Street.
"I heard someone knocking at the door, and as soon as I opened it, that old man barged in with two large bags, found a room for himself, and settled in so quickly that I didn't even have time to react," was Hong Dai's exact wording.
Knowing Li Yueshu's background, she hadn't turned Meng Junyi away.
Although Li Yueshu was somewhat surprised, she didn't intend to intervene. To her surprise, Qin Moyuan spoke up and asked her to return to Chunyang Street.
Under her questioning gaze, Qin Moyuan explained, "I can see a difference in how Ah Shu interacts with Meng Junyi. Although you're disappointed with the Gu family, your feelings for Meng Junyi are different."
Although the Zhenbei General and his wife knew Li Xiangru was a fake, they had poured all their years of longing and guilt over their biological child into Li Xiangru.
Combined with Li Xiangru's well-behaved nature over the years, the Zhenbei General and his wife naturally had feelings for her. Therefore, they weren't ready to face their true daughter, Li Yueshu.
However, Meng Junyi had never interacted with Li Xiangru. He had a good impression of Li Yueshu from Fengzhou, and upon learning about her experiences in the Li family since childhood, his sympathy and guilt only grew, making him wholeheartedly devoted to Li Yueshu.
Qin Moyuan, being aware of this, proactively suggested Li Yueshu return and strengthen her bond with Meng Junyi.
Coincidentally, this would also allow him to attend to his own affairs.
And so, Li Yueshu returned to Chunyang Street.
Meng Junyi was overjoyed, constantly finding ways to bring her delicacies.
A month passed. The Zhenbei General and his wife never visited, but Gu Hexuan came every few days, always bringing gifts and frequently asking Li Yueshu to call him 'brother'.
Of course, Li Yueshu never agreed.
Gu Hexuan wasn't disappointed and was slowly beginning to see Li Yueshu as his sister.
As for Li Xiangru, in his words, she gradually transitioned from "Ru'er" to "she" and finally to "Li Xiangru."
According to Hong Dai, Gu Hexuan had been secretly investigating Li Xiangru, and she had "kindly" provided him with much information exposing Li Xiangru's true nature.
The results were obvious.
Li Yueshu was in a good mood, and her attitude towards Gu Hexuan improved.
Just as she was contemplating finding an opportunity to address him as "brother," a knocking sound echoed from outside.
The house was in a relatively secluded location, usually quiet. Why was it suddenly so lively today?
The few of them curiously walked out, only to see a vast expanse of red.
Qin Moyuan stood at the forefront, uncharacterically wearing a dark red robe, making him exceptionally striking.
Beside him stood Shen Yimin, Shen Tingwen, Shen Tingyi, and Shen Zhiyu. Behind them were a group of soldiers in armor, their expressions solemn.
These soldiers had red sashes tied around their waists, and they carried large chests in pairs. The long procession seemed endless.
Li Yueshu's heart skipped a beat. "You're..."
Qin Moyuan smiled gently and stood there, cupping his hands in a bow towards them. "I've come to propose."
Li Yueshu gasped, her heart stirred by something.
Qin Moyuan continued to smile and walked closer. "Meng Junyi, Young Master Gu, you are Ah Shu's family. Today, I come to formally propose. I hope you will both grant me permission to marry Ah Shu."
Gu Hexuan remained silent, his expression unreadable.
Meng Junyi, however, turned grim. "Your Highness, don't stand outside. Come in if you have something to say!"
Li Yueshu wanted to say something, but Meng Junyi turned and walked into the house with a dark expression, seemingly not at all pleased with the rumored Regent.
For some reason, seeing this, Li Yueshu felt a little nervous.
She wanted to follow, but Gu Hexuan directly closed the door.
No one knew what Meng Junyi and Gu Hexuan said to Qin Moyuan, but when the three of them emerged, they all wore smiles.
Li Yueshu curiously asked Qin Moyuan, who replied with a mysterious smile, "They said the wedding date will be set for three months from now."