Wu Caiwei thought that no lives were lost, and at most, their household would be confiscated. She hadn't expected that Master Li valued wealth so much.
This made Wu Caiwei ponder. If a person saw no hope and felt there was no way to turn things around, they would surely confess. However, if enduring a beating could buy time and lead to assistance, then the beating would be worthwhile. With this thought, she quickly dispatched Qiushuang to keep an eye on Madam Li.
Qiushuang followed Madam Li all the way, only to arrive outside the prefectural governor's yamen. As far as she knew, the governor had no connection with the Li family.
What Qiushuang and Dongzhi did not tell Wu Caiwei was that while they were ostensibly protecting the Liu family, their primary mission was to investigate who had manipulated the events when Prince Qin had his accident. Otherwise, how could two hidden guards from Prince Qin's mansion stay in such a small place for months?
For these past months, they had maintained frequent contact with Prince Qin's mansion. The mastermind was well-hidden, and after months of investigation, they had found nothing.
During this time, they had thoroughly investigated all the officials, big and small, in this area, and had found no leads. Yet, today's events had surpassed their understanding.
Qiushuang became extremely alert. She hadn't expected that the humble Li residence would have ties to the governor. This led her to wonder if the county magistrate of Yangshan County was also involved.
Two seemingly unrelated individuals: one, the county magistrate at the scene of Prince Qin's accident; the other, the holder of the highest military authority in the prefecture. Perhaps the matter could be broken through here.
Madam Li had initially believed that the governor's rank was much higher than the prefect's, and that the matter would be easily resolved. However, to her surprise, the governor refused to help.
"I really cannot help with this matter. The witness and evidence are all present. Just let him confess. Is it just about property? I can secretly provide financial assistance later, and you can make a comeback," the governor said impatiently, frowning.
"But my husband has already endured twenty heavy strokes for this. You didn't see him, lying on the ground motionless, covered in blood. Since he has already suffered the punishment, can't you come forward and settle this matter?" Madam Li pleaded, lowering her stance as much as possible.
"If it were any other time, I would be willing to be accommodating, but these are troubled times. If I were to vouch for him, it would absolutely ruin important matters. It's difficult to explain to a woman like you. In any case, tell him to confess obediently. You should leave through the back door later and not let anyone discover our connection," the governor said, unwilling to elaborate further, and instructed the steward to see her out.
Qiushuang waited and waited, but no one emerged. At first, she found it strange. Later, she reasoned that perhaps the governor did not want anyone to discover his connection with the Li family.
Upon inquiring, she indeed learned that Madam Li had already returned to her residence. The more they tried to avoid suspicion, the more it suggested a problem. Qiushuang immediately sent a message via carrier pigeon and contacted other hidden guards from the prince's mansion to keep a close watch on the governor and investigate his dealings with the Li family.
Madam Li visited the prison again and recounted to Master Li exactly how they had met and what they had discussed. Master Li remained silent for a long time. Madam Li did not urge him, knowing her husband was deep in thought. Eventually, a jailer, unable to bear it any longer, said, "Hurry up if you have anything to say. Time is almost up."
Master Li then sighed slowly, "You should go back. I know everything."
Madam Li left quietly. It was impossible not to feel sad. Ever since their marriage, she had always felt like an outsider. In his heart, only Li Qingrou was his daughter.
The next morning, Wu Caiwei still thought Master Li might have some backing to try and turn the tables, but to her disappointment, when they reached the hall, Master Li directly confessed. The prefect ruled that the Li family's property was to be confiscated.
Following that, bailiffs from the yamen arrived and evicted everyone from the Li mansion. Even the women's hair ornaments were not spared.
Madam Li, leaning on her wet nurse's arm, stood on the street, watching the sealed Li mansion behind her with mixed emotions.
A while later, Master Li was also sent back.
"Let's go to Rou'er's place," Master Li choked out to his wife. Although he had mentally prepared himself, the pain of not being able to return home was something no one could truly understand.
Madam Li nodded submissively. Thinking of her stepdaughter's attitude towards her, Madam Li felt a headache coming on. Fortunately, she had been prepared.
That morning, Li Qingrou had another argument with Mother Liu. Disregarding the objections of Liu Yixuan and the Liu family, she took her dowry and servants and returned to their residence in town.
When the Li family arrived, she was eating grapes, with her legs crossed and a maid fanning her.
The gatekeeper said that when the Li family arrived, she was especially happy and rushed out to greet them, thinking that her father, after all, was still her father and was worried about her, coming to her support.
However, when she saw her father being carried in, followed by her stepmother with her younger siblings, all wearing silk but without any adornments, even she, foolish as she might have been, realized something had happened.
"What happened to Father?" Li Qingrou habitually ignored her stepmother and asked the steward directly.
"Our Li family is ruined. We've been raided," the steward couldn't help but lament, tears streaming down his face. He was one of the first people to follow Master Li and had witnessed how the Li family prospered. He had thought he could live out his old age in peace, but in his twilight years, such a thing had happened.
"What does 'raided' mean?" Li Qingrou asked, her voice trembling.
"What does it mean? You might as well ask what you, the eldest young lady, have done," the second young lady, Li Qingxuan, couldn't help but retort.
She had been living a good life. Although Li Qingrou was quite annoying, she was married, and all the family wealth would go to her brother in the future. But now, there was nothing.
"Li Qingxuan, what do you mean? What have I done? I just got married, and I haven't even left that village recently," Li Qingrou said indignantly, looking at her younger sister who always liked to oppose her.
"You're still pretending to be ignorant. You speak so lightly. You just got married. Who else could you have married but a poor scholar who already had a fiancée? Just because he's good-looking, does that put food on the table?" Li Qingxuan was not going to indulge her, her face full of disdain.
"What's wrong with me marrying my husband? Does it concern you? I think you're just jealous and can't stand to see me doing well," Li Qingrou's anger was ignited by her disdainful expression. She hated it the most when people brought up Liu Yixuan's previous engagement.
"You truly don't know, do you? Liu Yixuan broke off his engagement, and now they're taking revenge on the Li family. Otherwise, do you think we would have ended up like this? You are the sinner of the Li family." Li Qingxuan knew that saying more was useless, but she didn't want Li Qingrou, the culprit, to have an easy time without any guilt.
Li Qingxuan thought that although she had been engaged for a long time, the Li family had nothing left. It was inevitable that the other party would come to break off the engagement. In the future, when she remarried, where would her dowry come from?
Thinking of her future, Li Qingxuan felt a bit dejected. Although she wouldn't admit it, she knew that Li Qingrou was better than her, at least she had a house, land, and money.