The couple could not accept this outcome. Liu Wenwen had initially hoped that once life settled down, they could have another child and live a simple, ordinary life. But fate had played a cruel joke on them, denying them even this wish.
Feeling that life held no hope, they began to completely give up. Li Changqing watched her sighing endlessly, his mood unconsciously affected. The thought that he would never have children filled him with immense hatred.
He knew without a doubt that Wu Lian'er was behind him being given certain medications; she had cut off his future.
A few days later, he quit his job and sold their small courtyard. Soon, the city's annual lantern festival began. Wu Caiwei, naturally, went to join the festivities. Huang Shijie had gone to the capital to take his imperial examinations, leaving her feeling bored. With some martial arts skills, she was bold and unafraid of being jostled. Su Dan Fiction Network.
Wu Lian'er brought a sufficient number of servants to ensure her safety and set out. Primarily, she felt that nothing had gone smoothly for her recently. She heard that every year at the lantern festival, many people lit flower lanterns by the river, stating their wishes. With enough lanterns lit and sincere hearts, their wishes would be granted.
The streets that night were bustling with activity. All sorts of lanterns attracted everyone's attention, including Wu Lian'er's. She walked, stopping here and there, unable to resist buying a few more.
Then, she slowly made her way towards the river. As she passed an alley entrance, a small courtyard suddenly caught fire. Some people rushed to watch, while others went to extinguish the flames. The crowd began to stir into chaos.
At this moment, a group of people emerged from nowhere, rapidly approaching them. Wu Lian'er tried to stay close to her servants, but they were quickly separated. Seeing others fleeing, even without knowing what was happening, people hurried away, causing the scene to become chaotic.
In the confusion, Wu Lian'er found herself surrounded by strangers. She tried to find her servants but couldn't. Pushed and jostled by the crowd, she was unknowingly led into the alley. By the time she realized something was wrong, it was too late. Her mouth had already been covered, and she was silently bound and abducted.
The crowd dispersed as quickly as they had arrived. When people realized there was no danger, they happily continued their lantern festival stroll. Only Wu Lian'er's servants milled around the alley entrance, searching for their mistress. They searched the vicinity thoroughly but found no sign of her.
The servants were on the verge of tears. It wasn't their negligence, but the ferocity and suddenness of the crowd that had pushed them away from their mistress. When they tried to push back, they found even more people surging in, rendering them helpless.
Clinging to a sliver of hope, they rushed to the Li family's home, hoping their mistress would return on her own, thus reducing their responsibility. They couldn't imagine the consequences if something happened to their mistress.
Meanwhile, Wu Lian'er was thrown into a dilapidated carriage. Her hands and feet were bound, and a rag was stuffed in her mouth. She tried many times to escape but failed.
She could feel the carriage rattling along a country road, the ride incredibly bumpy. There were no such roads in the city. If it were any other time, the city gates would have been closed by now. But tonight was the lantern festival, and the gates were to remain open all night for everyone's enjoyment. Nearby villagers could also come into the city to play, which facilitated the group's actions.
After an unknown period, the carriage finally stopped. Without any gentleness, a few people dragged Wu Lian'er into a ruined temple, threw her on the ground, and left nonchalantly.
As soon as they departed, Li Changqing and Liu Wenwen, holding a lantern, entered from the back courtyard.
The moment they saw each other, enemies met with fiery eyes. While Wu Lian'er was furious, she couldn't help but feel fear. She knew without a doubt that this couple harbored malicious intentions.
"Never expected this, did you? It's all because you were too cruel," Li Changqing said, stepping forward and removing the hairpin from her head and the jewelry from her hands. Wu Lian'er tried to resist, but Li Changqing held her hand tightly, not caring if it hurt, and forcefully pulled the bracelet off her wrist. When the bracelet came off, her hand was red and raw, bleeding in places.
"You took my things. Will you let me go now?" Wu Lian'er asked tentatively.
Li Changqing felt as though he were listening to a joke. "You think I went to all this trouble to bring you here just to take these trinkets?"
"What do you want?" Wu Lian'er's heart tightened. She knew things wouldn't be that simple.
"You harmed me so terribly; of course, you will never return," Li Changqing said, looking at her malevolently.
"Think carefully. Murder is punishable by death. It's not worth losing your lives for me. Don't you want the Li family's property? As long as you let me go, I'll return to the Wu family with my dowry, and the Li family will be yours immediately." Wu Lian'er, suppressing her fear, tried to persuade him.
Liu Wenwen nudged Li Changqing's arm. She felt this offer was quite good. Li Changqing hesitated for a moment, but then his mind cleared. He had dealt with Wu Lian'er so many times, always at a disadvantage. If he let her go, she might immediately report them, claiming they kidnapped her. These ruffians were all from the city, and they would be found quickly. Not only would they get no money, but they would also end up in jail.
"Do you think I would believe you?"
Seeing he wasn't falling for it, Wu Lian'er became truly panicked. "If you kill me, how will you survive? Stop now; there's still time to turn back."
"You don't need to worry about that. After you're gone, we'll flee far away, to a remote village where no one knows our past," Li Changqing said mockingly. His own life was ruined anyway, and he wouldn't be able to rest easy without taking revenge.
Without further words with Wu Lian'er, he untied the rope on her legs, dragged her to the edge of a pond, picked up a stone from the ground, and struck her on the back of the neck. Wu Lian'er quickly fainted and fell to the ground. The two quickly untied her hands and together pushed her into the pond.
After a long time, certain she was beyond saving, they helped each other leave.
They had no worries about the future. Wu Lian'er's gold and silver jewelry was worth at least two hundred taels of silver. Li Changqing possessed the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level imperial examination), and scholars held a high status, allowing them to settle anywhere smoothly.
Their plans were well-laid, but they hadn't gone far before encountering approaching yamen runners. Seeing them, the Li Changqing couple knew they were finished.