Chapter 138

Pei Qinghong's body stiffened violently.

He humphed, turned and stepped away.

Li Qingluo, on her way back to the Jiangjun Fu, kept thinking about one thing.

Only when they were about to arrive did she ask Que'er: "When we left today, did you see a tall, thin man flicker behind the door?"

Que'er shook her head: "Miss, I really didn't see him. What's wrong? Do you know this person?"

Li Qingluo: "If I'm not seeing things, he's that blacksmith..."

But a blacksmith, how could he appear in Pei family's separate residence?

Last time, he stopped her on the street, saying his master wanted to see her.

Li Qingluo certainly wouldn't foolishly follow him.

At that time, she suspected that the iron shop and the Lotus Sect were colluding.

She had never seen that person, but when he first learned she was from the Li family, he clearly had no intention of continuing to associate with her.

Suddenly saying he wants to see her again—what good intention could there be?

Later, fortunately she didn't continue dealing with that iron shop; otherwise, how would she explain things to Prince Su now?

Moreover, Prince Su now regards her as a big deal.

Leaving aside the matter of the blueprint, are the iron shop and the Lotus Sect really connected?

I heard that when Prince Su returned from Qishan that time, the iron shop had already been emptied, clearly a precaution taken in advance.

But if they were innocent, why would they need to flee?

If the iron shop and the Lotus Sect are connected, then why is the blacksmith appearing at Pei family's separate residence now?

Pei Sanlang's appearance at the charity estate that time, Li Qingluo guessed it was related to the former crown prince's faction.

I originally thought these would be two separate factions, but now...

If all these myriad threads are connected...

Li Qingluo couldn't help but shiver.

She instinctively felt that Pei Sanlang and that blacksmith were definitely not that simple.

At this moment she actually began to regret having entrusted him with the affair of the late Duke Guo.

"Miss, look, there's someone at the gate!"

Just as they were about to reach the gate of the Jiangjun Fu, the carriage suddenly stopped.

Que'er pushed open a crack in the carriage door and peered out: "It's Liu Mian'er."

Liu Mian'er is the woman Li Qingluo selected for her father Li Chao Jing, intending to take her as a concubine.

Her family background is clean, she is young and beautiful, and unmarried.

Although she is already in her late twenties, her beauty is not inferior to those young maidens; on the contrary, having endured many worldly trials, she remains solitary and proud, thus possessing a unique, unworldly charm.

At this moment, Liu Mian'er, dressed in plain colors, holds an umbrella and stands not far from the gate of the Jiangjun Fu, her demeanor cool, aloof, and proud, beautiful as a painting.

"Miss, shall we go over?"

Deng Mama, who was driving the carriage ahead, asked.

Li Qingluo: "Not urgent, let's see what she wants to do."

A few days ago, after Li Qingluo had glanced at Liu Mian'er from afar, she had Deng Mama privately start creating opportunities for her to meet Li Chao Jing.

These past few days Li Qingluo hasn't paid attention to this matter; now happening to encounter her, she wanted to take a look.

It seems these two have already met?

Just as she was thinking, a little servant ran out from the mansion.

"Miss Liu, our master is not at home; please come another day."

On this snowy, bitterly cold day, Liu Mian'er had clearly come specially to seek an audience with Li Chao Jing.

Deng Mama: "Miss, if the master truly isn't home, why would this servant still go searching inside the manor?"

The gatekeeper knows best whether the master is in or out.

If he wasn't there from the start, they would have sent her away already.

Thus, Li Chao Jing is deliberately making excuses to avoid seeing Liu Mian'er.

Moreover, it's likely that everyone in Jinling City now knows that Li Chao Jing was carried out of the palace yesterday.

Who would rest only one night and then go out again in the heavy snow?

Even though he is a military officer, his age is no longer young nowadays.

Li Qingluo couldn't help but laugh: "He's even playing hard to get."

Deng Mama: "……"

"Miss, you truly are your father's dear daughter."

Seeing Liu Mian'er shivering from the cold, Deng Mama felt unwilling: "Should we help her out?"

Li Qingluo: "Help? I can't support her for a lifetime; success or failure depends on her own abilities."

"If she can't even win him over, even if we bring her directly into the mansion, how long could she survive in the deep inner courtyard? Let alone vie for favor and bear children."

Deng Mama felt Li Qingluo's words made perfect sense, so she stopped objecting.

Li Qingluo reached out to catch the falling snowflakes: "My father merely puts on the act of a virtuous gentleman; do you really think he can restrain himself? With such a lively maiden suddenly bursting into his dull, miserable life, he'll only savor the flavor, turn it over and over—how could he truly give her up?"

"Don't worry, he'll come out."

No sooner had she spoken than Que'er caught a glimpse of a sleeve flashing behind the door.

"Miss, the servant saw the master!"

Li Qingluo also saw him.

Li Chao Jing was helped to stand inside the door, half his body showing, clearly he was looking at Liu Mian'er.

Liu Mian'er isn't stupid either; she knows people just don't want to see her.

She then felt around in her sleeve, pulled out a bag of silver, and handed it to the servant.

"Actually, this commoner girl came today to see General Li with no other intention. A few days ago, this commoner girl was harassed and humiliated by a few scoundrels, and it was the general who rescued her."

"However, that day she dirtied the general's clothes, shoes, and socks, so this commoner girl has felt uneasy about it all along."

"This money… is this commoner girl's heartfelt gesture; I hope the young man can help her return it to the general, as compensation for washing and making good the loss the general suffered that day."

From afar, Liu Mian'er's faint voice drifted over.

Deng Mama: "In such cold weather, Liu Mian'er wears only a patched thin cotton coat, yet she can still produce silver to compensate the master. Which young man wouldn't feel pity and affection seeing that?"

It seems she still has some tricks, knowing exactly what men fall for.

Sure enough, Li Qingluo saw Li Chao Jing clench his fist tightly.

The servant looked troubled.

He glanced back toward the inside, barely looking, and then he absolutely dared not accept the bag of silver.

He shoved the bag back into Liu Mian'er's hand: "Miss, don't make things difficult for this humble servant. Our master doesn't care about this; miss, you, if you have the chance, you should personally thank the master."

Having said that, the servant dared not linger, turned and ran back.

Liu Mian'er obviously looked disappointed.

She stared at the bag of silver in her hand, looking lost and dazed; just as she was about to turn and leave, the servant suddenly turned back and called out to her.

"Miss, this is our master's token. The master says he really isn't convenient to see you, but he knows your heartfelt gesture. Please, miss, take care of yourself; in this winter, add more warm clothing. Otherwise, if you fall ill, your family will worry."

Liu Mian'er, with reddened eye sockets, reached out and took a jade pendant.

"This commoner girl… has no family left..."

Having said that, she bowed slightly, and her forlorn, solitary figure faded away in the heavy snow.

When Li Qingluo looked toward the inside again, Li Chao Jing's figure had already disappeared.

Li Qingluo: "This father of mine is even pretending to be a good person. It seems I, as his daughter, need to give him a push."