Chapter 155

Pei Lao Furen shook her head: "My Luo'er, you are the most filial to your grandmother; how could grandmother think such a thing of you?"

You are bolder than grandmother.

Back then, grandmother was too proud, disdainful of those tactics to deal with people, so she let herself suffer injustice for nothing. But now, thinking back, it really wasn't worth it.

Grandmother also feels sorry for you, carrying so much in her heart.

Just a child—did your parents and siblings really hurt you this deeply?

Li Qingluo had unspeakable bitterness.

Grandmother doesn't know about the previous life; if we only look at this lifetime's self, she truly acted heartlessly and with deep scheming.

But in the previous life, I truly endured such painful torment, unbearable grief, etched deep into bone marrow and soul, never to be forgotten.

So she could not tell grandmother, this is a grudge spanning two lives, this is revenge for her own life.

She could only smile: "Grandmother, just regard Luo'er as making plans for us grandmother and granddaughter from now on. Grandmother, just trust Luo'er."

Li Qingluo casually had a couple bites at Jingci Tang, then returned to Hongfenguan; the room was already pitch black.

She stepped inside, took off her outer garment, and, exhausted, asked Cui Er to brew some red date tea.

Cui Er crouched at the doorway with a strange expression, wanting to speak but hesitating: "Miss..."

She hadn't spoken it out, but Li Qingluo herself had already sensed it.

"Someone's inside!"

"Who?!"

Although the main hall of Hongfenguan is Li Qingluo's living quarters,

but she had made a partition.

Thus the outer area is where she goes about her day, eats, and writes; behind a sliding door lies the bedroom.

At this moment she sensed someone in the outer room; she immediately pulled her outer garment back on and flicked open the sleeve-arrow hidden in her cuff toward the darkness—

"With a whoosh—"

The sleeve-arrow sliced the night air, making a sound.

But it did not hit anything solid.

Her sleeve-arrow was caught by someone!

Li Qingluo's heart pounded, yet she grew steadier, striding straight toward where she kept her sword.

She drew her sword in one motion, pointing it at the darkness.

"Who is it? Come out!"

The weak candlelight swayed slightly.

The pitch-black room instantly brightened.

A tall, dark figure stood by the window.

His face bore the compassionate light of a deity, yet his body was draped in dark, solemn chill.

"Was it him?"

Li Qingluo's heart lurched; she hastily threw down her sidearm, knelt, and paid respects: "Commoner greets Prince Su, Your Highness. I did not expect your visit; just now I may have offended—please forgive me, Your Highness."

Li Qingluo, still unsettled, muttered to herself: "How did Prince Su come here? At this late hour? This is her boudoir; though he is a prince and his nature may disregard such etiquette, she still felt somewhat offended."

Duan Rongshi turned and sat down.

"No need for formalities, rise. I happened to be idle today, coming to deliver the silver I still owe you, Miss Li."

"Here, take a look—is this enough?"

Saying this, he tapped the tabletop.

Only then did Li Qingluo see a stack of banknotes on the table!

Her eyes lit up instantly!

"Then, commoner, I shall boldly offend."

Li Qingluo rose, approached, glanced at Prince Su, then picked up the stack of banknotes.

He was thoughtful, intentionally giving her a stack of small-denomination ten-tael notes, a few fifty-tael, a few hundred-tael, and three large-denomination one-thousand-tael notes!

Li Qingluo roughly counted—more than five thousand taels?

She quickly counted it out, then pushed back the excess seven hundred taels.

"Your Highness, you gave too much."

Duan Rongshi looked at her fingertips pressing the extra notes, curled his lips: "Just consider it a deposit; keep them."

Li Qingluo quickly gathered them, replying cheerfully: "Yes, commoner will respectfully obey your command."

Duan Rongshi: his motion of taking money was faster than ever.

Li Qingluo's heart was indeed about to burst with joy!

She was currently in dire need of silver.

Her hotpot restaurant needed to reopen, naturally requiring a large sum for renovation and furnishings; this silver would come in handy.

Seeing Prince Su had no intention to leave, Li Qingluo hurriedly turned to the door and had Cui Er boil a pot of hot tea.

She looked up and saw two guards' shadows standing in the dark corridor.

They looked like Po Feng and Zhui Yu.

Li Qingluo glanced at Que'er; Que'er was anxious to death, but still managed: "They are the prince's guards. They arrived earlier; Cui Er was the first to return, and the prince didn't let her come look for you."

"Cui Er had sent everyone in the compound away, and had people guard the entrance tightly; so far no one knows the prince is here."

Li Qingluo breathed a sigh of relief.

"All right then. Go inform your granny, have her keep tight watch inside and out, allowing no one to approach this place!"

Que'er wanted to speak but hesitated, ultimately not daring to ask more; she hurriedly turned to attend to her duties.

Deng Mama was startled too when she learned Prince Su had arrived.

She couldn't understand how the young ladies could have such audacity to stay with a Prince as dreadful as Yama.

Moreover, Prince Su ran to the Jiangjun Fu to see the young lady—could there be some urgent matter?

The previous meeting at the tavern had already frightened Deng Mama and the others, and she hadn't expected the young lady to continue associating with this Prince.

When exactly did those two start interacting?

Back at the Qing Song Guan, they hadn't even spoken to each other!

Que'er whispered to Deng Mama: "Granny, what does this Prince mean? Such talk about the young lady's reputation..."

Deng Mama raised a finger: "Be careful, walls have ears. Don't mention important words."

Que'er quickly covered her mouth.

Deng Mama sighed: "The young lady has her own judgment. Her association with the Prince isn't what we think about male-female matters—rest assured. The young lady isn't Li Qingzhu; nowadays her eyes… probably have no room for any suitor."

Que'er also thought so.

The young lady spends all day busy managing people, practicing writing and swordplay, painting, and thinking about the tavern affairs, so she won't get tangled in romantic entanglements.

The young lady and that Prince will keep things purely proper!

Moreover, the young lady seems to have been entrusted by Prince Su, Your Highness!

Just thinking of how everyone in DaLiang fears Prince Su deeply—his killing methods are like those of an Asura demon, his judgments like Yama reborn, and no one in the court can plead for mercy with him—yet here he is in their Hongfenguan…

Moreover, the young lady doesn't even seem to fear him!!

Que'er even felt a bit excited.

"Right, Granny. The young lady said Your Highness might not have had dinner yet, so she wants us to send over some plain porridge and side dishes…"

Deng Mama's eyes widened instantly, almost jumping up: "Oh dear, you silly child, why aren't you hurrying to prepare it?"

Li Qingluo took the hot tea and new glass tea set that Cui Er brought over.

This tea set was a fresh novelty sent by Qu Shi a few days ago, said to have been transmitted from the Western Regions.

Li Qingluo had intended to toss it into a corner to gather dust, but Cui Er dug it out and used it to entertain this Prince of Yama—still not impolite.

She couldn't help praising: "You did a great job today; later I'll reward you handsomely!"

Flattered, Cui Er blushed and closed the door again, while Li Qingluo turned, carrying the tray back to the table.

She knew the Prince wouldn't be used to having others attend to him, so she simply did it herself.

Who made him her biggest patron now?

Li Qingluo doesn't mind doing such small tasks; she does them willingly.

"Your Highness, please have some tea."

Li Qingluo presented it with both hands, treating him as an honored guest.

Duan Rongshi reached out, took it, and gave her another few glances.

Perhaps she was a bit displeased when she first saw him appear?

Now she's behaving honestly.

As expected, only money can move her heart.

Duan Rongshi sipped the hot tea, then kept playing with the sleeve arrow Li Qingluo had just shot, asking casually: "Is this something you drew yourself?"

Li Qingluo stood aside and quickly replied: "Yes. It's just a little trinket; just now, the commoner girl acted rashly and startled Your Highness."

Actually, it's not just a little trinket.

Duan Rongshi just noticed that this object's switch seems to be linked with the fine silk bracelet he gave her last time.

Thus, she now carries two concealed weapons when she goes out.

Moreover, they are light and convenient, capable of killing without warning.

Even her archery accuracy is somewhat astonishing to him.

Evidently, compared to the inconspicuous young lady who had just returned to Jinling five months ago, she is now completely different.

Even the change surprises him somewhat.

Duan Rongshi: "What can you do now?"

Li Qingluo thought he was merely curious, and replied: "I only know archery and a bit of swordsmanship."

Duan Rongshi: "Not bad."

He praised her, but Li Qingluo didn't take it to heart, thinking it was just an offhand remark.

Moreover, what she knows isn't what ordinary noblewomen know.

Li Qingluo had no idea this was the first time Duan Rongshi had ever sincerely praised a young lady in his life!

Li Qingluo had wanted to reach out to take back the arrow, but Duan Rongshi instead shoved it into his own pocket right in front of her!!

Li Qingluo:!!!

She widened her eyes, showing her incomprehension.

Duan Rongshi's face didn't flush or his heart race, and he added: "Your manor is quite lively today. As a token of sincerity, I personally brought you silver, not expecting to also witness a good show."

His words made Li Qingluo blush instantly.

He today watched all the liveliness in their manor!!?

Doesn't that mean he also saw her acting high-and-mighty, even cutting her hair?

Her usual modest composure seemed to collapse at this moment……

Moreover, where was he hiding to watch the liveliness?

Not a single person in the Jiangjun Fu, including the grandmother, noticed!

Realizing this fact, Li Qingluo felt a creepy sensation in her heart.

Li Qingluo: "Prince, although the Jiangjun Fu's family scandals have spread throughout Jinling, please… pretend you saw nothing today."

Duan Rongshi turned the teacup and took another sip.

He didn't speak, and the atmosphere grew a little strange.

Just then, Que'er finally brought the plain congee and side dishes.

Li Qingluo went out to get the food box, and muttered a couple of words to Que'er.

When all the dishes were set before Duan Rongshi, Li Qingluo deliberately placed a plate of pickled crisp bamboo shoots before Prince Su.

"Your Highness, please try this. These are the crisp winter bamboo shoots I pickled a couple of days ago; they've just reached the right flavor. I don't know if they suit your taste."

The side dish she had just sent Que'er to fetch again is this very plate.

Indeed, after trying several side dishes, Duan Rongshi ate notably more of the pickled bamboo shoots.

Li Qingluo was somewhat surprised.

Only then did she realize she had finally uncovered a truth about Prince Su!