Chapter 137: You Are Her Real Second Brother

Li Qingluo was indeed frightened by those words!

The blood‑drinking disease?

Just hearing that name is terribly terrifying!

I can't imagine what the old Grand Duke would actually do.

Could it be that there truly is no way out?

Pei Qinghong also did not completely reject Li Qingluo: "For this matter, let me think of a way; I'll give you an answer."

Li Qingluo rose and bowed: "Then I'll trouble cousin brother Pei."

That night, Jinling City saw a light snowfall.

A charcoal fire was added inside the house; Li Qingluo, wrapped in a cloak, sat by the window, staring blankly at the snowy scene.

This snow won't last long.

Then, soon, it will melt away.

The next blizzard will be the moment she died in her previous life…

Yet the next blizzard is only a little over ten days away.

In this life, because of her choice, many things have already changed.

In this life, she will certainly not die again.

Nan Jia cheerfully came to Li Qingluo for hot‑pot.

"Today we'll have chicken hot‑pot, steaming hot, the meat soft, falling off the bone—how does that sound?"

Snowy days and hot‑pot really do go together.

That day at the Princess's residence, Li Qingluo had also eaten hot‑pot.

Today she got to eat it again.

She thought hot‑pot truly is a wonderful thing; whatever craving you have, you can make that flavor.

You cook whatever ingredients you desire, and eating it in autumn and winter makes the body very warm.

More importantly, hot‑pot is genuinely delicious, and, as now, if you don't mind, sharing a pot can bring people closer.

Li Qingluo suddenly thought: "Nan Jia, do you know which restaurant in Jinling City specializes in hot‑pot?"

Nan Jia replied: "There isn't a place that makes hot‑pot exclusively. I do know many restaurants have small hot‑pot dishes, but they're prepared first and then served in earthenware, not like us, cooking and eating simultaneously."

"After all, if it's just hot‑pot, in spring and summer no restaurant could have patrons sitting around a fire to eat it."

Li Qingluo's eyes brightened: "In business, you need to be novel and distinctive to be noticed. If I run an ordinary restaurant in Jinling City, I'm afraid nothing will succeed unless it's sufficiently unique!"

"Moreover, where there's a road, there's a way. In spring and summer we can just switch to fresh, exotic dishes, right?"

"In autumn and winter, we'll sell only this hot‑pot!"

Li Qingluo had already decided in her heart: she would open a hot‑pot shop with the stall her grandmother gave her!

With that idea, Li Qingluo ate even more deliciously.

After eating her fill and drinking, Nan Jia returned to her room.

Li Qingluo felt warm and went back to the window to watch the falling snow.

Que'er walked in, saw the window open, hurried over with a worried face and said, "Miss, be careful not to catch a cold."

Li Qingluo saw snow on Que'er's shoulder, reached out to brush it off and asked, "Where have you been?"

Que'er: "Grandma just came by."

Li Qingluo: "She came despite the snow—what happened in the residence?"

Que'er: "They say the Lord was carried back from the palace."

Li Qingluo then recalled her father: "He's been kneeling before the throne for several days now?"

Que'er: "Exactly. A few days ago, because of Li Qingzhu's matter, the Lord went to the Emperor himself to kneel and admit fault. I heard the Emperor was quite angry but couldn't openly punish the Lord."

Li Qingluo: "Li Kechuan's leg was officially broken at Prince Yun's private residence, but it was the Emperor's Imperial Guard who did it. Now Prince Yun's concubine miscarried; even if the Emperor is angry, he can't truly punish the Li family because of that."

"It's a pity; originally the royal family still owed Jiangjun Fu a favor, and this matter finally settled the score."

"From now on, before His Majesty, if Jiangjun Fu commits any mistake again… it won't be easily forgiven here."

Li Qingluo shook her head.

But that's fine; after this, Li Chao Jing's paternal affection for Li Qingzhu should soon be completely worn away.

"Que'er, tidy up; we'll return to the residence tomorrow."

The days of leisure should also end.

When they said goodbye the next day, Si Garden was already covered with a layer of snow.

Pei Nanjia felt reluctant to part.

Li Qingluo: "You can come to Jiangjun Fu to find me. My grandmother will be very happy to see you."

Pei Nanjia: "Really? Aunt‑grandmother… won't look down on my mother's background?"

Li Qingluo smiled: "Don't worry, my grandmother is the most compassionate person. Besides, you do have the surname Pei!"

Li Qingluo got into the carriage, waved to Pei Nanjia, and soon vanished into the snow‑colored world.

A massive bundle, like a black silhouette the size of a blanket, quietly watched her departing figure from the corner.

Pei Qinghong appeared behind the dark silhouette, chuckling with a 'chi': "How rare. In this world, is it only she who can make you take such a risk, even to step out and see her for a moment?"

"If that's the case, why not step forward and meet her?"

The dark silhouette gave no answer to Pei Qinghong's question.

Instead, after inhaling a gust of blowing snow, it let out a violently harsh cough.

Only when the cloth in its mouth was stained with blood did Pei Qinghong become anxious.

"You! You! How should I speak of you? If you insist on seeing her, I could devise a way to bring her before you, that's not impossible; but to go through such trouble, you really aren't taking your own life seriously!"

With all this turmoil, how can I face your mother?

The black shadow waved his hand.

The subordinate behind him hurriedly pushed the wheelchair, taking him back to the courtyard and into the house as hot as summer.

After another gulp of hot tea, his pale face finally regained a hint of color.

Pei Qinghong, feeling hot, refused to go inside and just stood at the doorway.

The black shadow threw a blanket into the brazier, watching the roaring fire and murmuring, "She doesn't want to see me; why frighten her?"

His people, after repeatedly going to ask her, still didn't bring her.

She is clearly not a lady who likes to be controlled—a trait he actually quite likes.

By a twist of fate, they ended up living in the same mansion; and since he could catch a glimpse of her from afar, he had no regrets.

Pei Qinghong leaned against the door, arms crossed, sighing, "You also need to let her know you are her close second brother, only then will you know her true feelings!"

I think Li Cousin is not as you imagine, rejecting you from afar. Being cautious is true, but she has nothing to do with being timid.

Even though I heard his family's old gentleman has that temperament, I still want to go see him in person.

Moreover, last time, the person she shielded him from was none other than Prince Su!

She is probably the boldest lady in all of Jinling City.

The black shadow, hearing Pei Qinghong's words, lowered his head and coughed violently again.

Cousin?

He slightly furrowed his brows; on his bloodless face, his expression turned solemn.

Pei Sanlang, I don't despise you; you should understand that you are now living a life of licking blood from the blade's edge.

So, don't provoke Luo'er!