“Ah—!”
Seeing Luo Li like this, Luo Qingqing suddenly let out a sharp cry and charged toward Luo Li.
Her appearance was as if she had completely lost her senses, wanting nothing more than to strangle Luo Li to death.
“Thud!” Before she could reach her, Father Luo had already acted first, kicking Luo Qingqing to the ground.
Because he understood better than anyone the consequences of letting Luo Qingqing actually touch Luo Li.
Whether it was because Father Luo used too much force or because Luo Qingqing simply couldn’t hold on any longer, this kick directly knocked Luo Qingqing unconscious.
“Qingqing!” Stepmother cried out in alarm, rushing over to Luo Qingqing’s side.
Gu Xuanjing silently withdrew the longsword he had already extended.
Luo Li’s body also shifted slightly. Gu Xuanjing turned his head just in time to see the faint trace of cunning in her eyes as the fear faded away.
Seeing this, he was momentarily stunned.
Luo Li seemed to sense something and looked up, meeting his gaze. She paused briefly before calmly revealing a smile.
Gu Xuanjing was taken aback, then gently curved the corners of his mouth.
He thought she was a timid, delicate little rabbit? Turns out she’s a cunning Little Fox.
[Ding, Favorability Value +10.]
“Is this what you call an apology?” Uncle Gu also withdrew his hand and sneered coldly.
“Then we truly cannot accept it. However, we will take back these items you’ve returned for now. The rest will be collected shortly.”
Pointing at the items behind Father Luo and the others, people immediately stepped forward to move everything over.
Apology gifts? What valuable items in the Luo household didn’t originally come from the Gu family?
Under the stunned gazes of Father Luo and the others, Uncle Gu directly led Luo Li away from the scene.
Watching the retreating figures of the Gu family, Stepmother finally panicked.
“Master… what, what should we do now?”
“Slap!” As soon as she finished speaking, she received a solid slap across the face.
“What should we do? You tell me what to do about the foolish things you’ve done!”
With that, Father Luo hurried back to the mansion.
Once something had entered the Luo residence, how could it be so easy to take back?
But when he returned and saw the courtyard filled with hired thugs and the Gu family steward standing there with account books and a fake smile, that thought vanished.
He could only watch helplessly as the Gu family took everything away.
“Lord Luo, this is what my master has for you. Please sign it quickly.”
Following the steward’s hand, he saw it was a severance document—a voluntary agreement to sever ties and hand Luo Li over to the Gu family for upbringing.
From then on, Luo Li would have no further connection to the Luo family.
“No, I won’t sign! Li’er would never agree to this. I am her father!”
“Whether our young miss agrees or not is no longer Lord Luo’s concern. For now, you only need to sign…”
“Otherwise, the matter of you bribing higher officials might not stay hidden for much longer…” The steward said with a smile, completely ignoring Father Luo’s instantly pale face.
The Gu family, merchants for generations, were naturally scheming. The only two kind-hearted and promising members of the family had met unfortunate ends.
Using items from the Gu family to bribe others—how could the Gu family not find out?
Taking Luo Li back to the Gu family had been an idea the Gu family had entertained for many years.
Now that the opportunity had arisen, Uncle Gu would not let it slip away.
In the end, under this threat, Father Luo could only reluctantly sign the document.Meanwhile, Luo Li had returned to the Gu family with Uncle Gu and the others.
Seeing Luo Li’s injuries, her maternal grandfather and grandmother were heartbroken.
“Those damned people, how could they be so brutal? My poor girl.” Grandmother’s voice trembled slightly as she gently touched Luo Li’s face.
“Don’t be afraid. From now on, you’ll stay here with your grandparents. No one will dare bully you.”
“Mhm.”
Listening to the elders’ words, Luo Li showed a faint smile and nodded gently.
They had arrived in the evening. As it was late and the elderly needed to rest early, after the family finished dinner and ensured Luo Li was settled, the grandparents returned to their quarters first.
Uncle Gu also gave Luo Li a few instructions before preparing to leave.
“Uncle.”
“Mother’s death… is related to Li.” Li referred to Stepmother.
Hearing Luo Li call out to him, Uncle Gu was initially puzzled, but upon hearing her words, he froze.
“What!?”
“My mother didn’t die from illness. She was poisoned by Li.” Meeting his shocked gaze, Luo Li raised her head.
“I heard it myself from Luo Qingqing and her maid.”
Indeed, in her previous life, after the original host died, her soul drifted to the Luo residence and happened to encounter Luo Qingqing returning for a visit. She personally overheard them discussing the truth.
“Father… Luo Shaoyan, he knew!”
Looking into Luo Li’s reddened eyes filled with hatred, Uncle Gu opened his mouth but couldn’t speak.
So, was this another reason why the girl was so terrified when she saw Luo Qingqing and the others?
And his own sister, she actually…
“Uncle, we must avenge Mother.” Her voice was firm, her eyes cold.
“Alright!” Uncle Gu clenched his fists tightly.
The Luo family! Damn them!
He didn’t doubt Luo Li’s words in the slightest, as there was no reason for her to lie about this.
And precisely because of that, he felt even more heartbroken!
He hated the Luo family for their cruelty and pitied Luo Li for enduring such a long time alone in that dangerous den of vipers.
Just then, Steward Gu returned with the severance document for Luo Li.
This time, Uncle Gu didn’t hesitate and directly handed the document to Luo Li.
Seeing her dazed expression, he patted her shoulder.
“Leave everything to Uncle.”
“Mhm.”
…….. Unlike in her previous life, where it was already too late.
In her previous life, after the Luo family successfully rose in rank, they immediately aligned themselves with the Crown Prince, who was the son of the current Empress.
Thus, the Luo family gained two powerful backers: the Crown Prince and the Empress.
At that time, Luo Shaoyan had also embarked on a path of commerce.
Back then, the Luo family was indeed at the peak of their glory, untouchable.
But now, Luo Li had directly cut off Father Luo’s path to promotion.
To the current Gu family, they were nothing.
… Uncle Gu acted swiftly. Father Luo’s bribery of officials was exposed after someone reported it.
Simultaneously, many wrongful cases mishandled by Father Luo during his tenure as county magistrate were also listed.
Including his acceptance of bribes from local wealthy merchants.
In the end, Father Luo was stripped of his official position, and the Luo family’s residence was confiscated by the authorities.
The Luo family became homeless strays, forced to live in a dilapidated temple, enduring daily beatings and curses from the families of those wronged.
After extracting the truth about the past from the maid, Uncle Gu administered the same poison to Li.
However, the dosage was significantly increased. Li wouldn’t live much longer.
As for Luo Qingqing, she had already gone mad. After fainting that day, she had a long, long dream.”I am the Crown Prince’s savior, I am the consort… I am the imperial concubine… How dare you! Guards! Guards, drag them out and behead them!”
“Vile commoners! Vile commoners!”
Every day, she muttered these words.
Father Luo had long since abandoned them. He took Luo Shaoyan and fled, leaving only the mother and daughter in the dilapidated temple to suffer beatings day after day.
Why did he take Luo Shaoyan? Because only a son could carry on the family line, only a son was his true root.
Wasn’t the reason he despised the original host’s birth mother precisely because, after giving birth to the original host, she had injured her body and could no longer bear him a son?
And Li Shi had given him a son—that was why he always indulged Li Shi and her kin.
She was the mother of his son.
…But they didn’t get far. The next news came when a band of mountain bandits descended and harmed the commoners.
Unfortunately, the Luo father and son died at the hands of these vicious bandits.
…Not long after, Li Shi also succumbed to poison and died.
The deranged Luo Qingqing, with no one to care for her, eventually starved to death in the dilapidated temple.