Chapter 40

Today's matter is not something Pei Lao Furen takes lightly.

Rather, she wants to hear what attitude Li Qingluo actually has.

Li Qingluo rose and first sat down beside Pei Lao Furen's feet.

Then she lowered her head and obediently lay on Pei Lao Furen's lap.

"Grandmother, I'm sorry. Luo'er, relying on your influence, today really... properly let out some anger..."

Although, her heart didn't feel much better.

But every word Grandmother scolded with was sincere, all for Li Qingluo's sake.

Although she used Grandmother, relying on Grandmother's influence to get this far, she felt extremely ashamed, so she wanted Grandmother to know how truly narrow-minded she was.

Pei Lao Furen, however, did not blame her.

Instead, she gently stroked her head.

"Good child, Grandmother knows you are also at your wit's end."

"How alike we grandmother and granddaughter are!"

"Only I once had a powerful natal family, and Grandmother herself had confidence, so I could flick my sleeves and leave the mortal world. But you?"

"Your blood also carries mine. How could Grandmother not feel heartache over your plight? Not care for you?"

"Grandmother is willing to let you borrow her influence; from the day Grandmother agreed to come down the mountain with you, Grandmother has been willing!"

As it turns out, Grandmother understands everything?

Only then did Li Qingluo realize how despicable she was!

Unexpectedly, after her rebirth, she could still reap genuine familial affection.

That is the grandmother she missed in her previous life!

She truly felt Grandmother's sincerity.

At this moment, grandmother and granddaughter held each other's hands; all the missing feelings seemed to find sweet dew at this moment, irrigating their long-dried hearts.

From now on, they will no longer be alone.

Grandmother and granddaughter exchanged a smile; in this instant, all previous gloom and misunderstanding seemed to vanish like smoke.

Pei Lao Furen's mood improved greatly: "Grandmother will no longer force you to go to them to mend whatever damnable parent-child, mother-daughter, sibling ties. They have no heart; Grandmother does!"

"Our Luo'er will have someone to dote on her; our Luo'er will then follow Grandmother, all right?"

Li Qingluo smiled: "All right. Grandmother, may I follow you to Green Pine Temple? Luo'er is willing to tend the green lamp for a lifetime."

Pei Lao Furen poked her forehead: "Silly child, you'd better get married. Going up the mountain, although it leaves the mortal world, is too bitter."

Bitter?

How could that be?

There's Grandmother.

Li Qingluo still didn't understand.

Pei Lao Furen didn't tell her that, and asked again what she ultimately intended to do to Li Kechuan.

Li Qingluo: "Grandmother, my heart indeed already has its own plan."

Pei Lao Furen: "Speak, Grandmother will listen. If it's feasible, Grandmother can help you!"

Li Qingluo shook her head: "Grandmother, let me handle this myself; after all, you are his grandmother, you can't bring yourself to do it."

Pei Lao Furen gave a cold snort: "Who do you look down on? My heart is hard!"

Li Qingluo laughed: "No, Grandmother is the softest-hearted grandmother in the world."

Pei Lao Furen embraced her, delighted: "Little monkey. All right, I'll send Deng Mama to you; from now on she'll stay by your side, and with Que'er, the two of them will work together more tacitly to help you."

"Grandmother will give you something else: this token is Grandmother's token of trust. If you need any manpower, take the token and have Deng Mama arrange it for you; in all of Jinling City, there's almost nothing she can't accomplish!"

A plaque fell into Li Qingluo's hands.

Li Qingluo held it, overwhelmed with favor.

Grandmother came from the founding marquis Pei family, and she herself was the sole female general of DaLiang back then.

The weight of this plaque needs no explanation.

Li Qingluo immediately put it away: "Then Luo'er thanks Grandmother."

Seeing her unreserved and generous demeanor, Pei Lao Furen's heart still couldn't help feeling sour.

Such a fine child—how could they fail to notice her?

However, Pei Lao Furen kept a solemn expression and solemnly told Li Qingluo: "Luo'er, promise Grandmother. You may scheme against your elder brother as you wish, but you must spare his life!"

Li Qingluo lowered her head, and after a moment nodded: "Yes, Grandmother. Luo'er promises you."

Did she really harbor murderous intent?

Pei Lao Furen originally knew she was a woman with her own calculations in her heart, certainly not a soft persimmon to be manipulated.

Never mind, let her go.

This time, she had indeed suffered enough grievance.

Then Li Kechuan ought to taste some bitterness.

Otherwise, the Li family would sooner or later decline.

After resting two days at Jingci Tang, Li Qingluo returned to Hongfenguan.

Although Hongfenguan is haunted, Li Qingluo is not afraid.

She thought, what ghosts in this world could be scarier than people?

Moreover, whether the haunting of Hongfenguan is caused by a person or a ghost must be ferreted out to know.

Upon returning to Hongfenguan, Li Chao Jing had someone deliver a thousand taels of silver to Li Qingluo.

Pei Lao Furen sent several capable wet nurses to guard outside Hongfenguan, saying Li Kechuan may not come within ten zhang.

From now on, Li Qingluo no longer needs to go pay respects to her parents, nor does she need to greet anyone in the front courtyard for any matter; she only needs to inform the Jingci Tang side.

Even her idea of going out to earn money was no longer something Pei Lao Furen strongly opposed.

They only wanted her to first recuperate.

Li Qingluo was happier about this than receiving a thousand taels of silver!

However, she now had some savings, so she immediately had Que'er put away those thousand taels.

Then she took another five taels of silver from her previous private stash, had Que'er arrange a fine banquet, and tonight everyone would eat and drink together in celebration at Hongfenguan.

Seeing her private stash, Que'er was stunned.

"Miss, where did all this silver come from?"

Li Qingluo blinked: "Wasn't I secretly sneaking out earlier to do a bit of business? Plus, by a lucky coincidence I got two windfalls of silver, which is what I had saved up then."

Que'er's mouth fell open in astonishment, her face full of disbelief.

When this reached Pei Lao Furen's ears, she too was greatly surprised.

"Really? She herself already has a hundred taels of private money? Just from sneaking out through the dog hole twice, she earned that back?"

Deng Mama nodded, saying it was absolutely true.

Pei Lao Furen couldn't help but smile: "Somewhat interesting. Indeed, I am the descendant of Pei Xiuzhen!"

"By the way, has she recently had any movements?"

Pei Lao Furen had been waiting a long time; she also wanted to know how Li Qingluo would take revenge on Li Kechuan.

Li Kechuan himself was fully aware, knowing his sister would likely retaliate, and lately he had been unusually quiet.

Like a beast lurking in the dark, waiting to strike back at Li Qingluo, the one who took the initiative.

These two siblings have thus become completely estranged and turned into enemies.

Thinking of this, Pei Lao Furen still sighed.

Deng Mama: "Miss had the old servant do three things."