Chapter 138 The real daughter takes a concubine for her scumbag father

Pei Qinghong's body stiffened violently.

He snorted, turned around, and strode away.

On her way back to the general's mansion, Li Qinglu kept thinking about one thing.

As they approached, she asked Sparrow, "When we left today, did you see a tall, thin man just lingering behind the door?"

Sparrow 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 is that blacksmith..."

But how did a blacksmith end up at the Pei family's villa?

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

Li Qingluo certainly wouldn't be foolish enough to follow him.

At the time, she suspected that the blacksmith shop was connected with the Lotus Sect.

She had never met that person, but it was clear that once he learned she was from the Li family, he no longer intended to have anything to do with her.

Why would someone suddenly say they want to see her again? What good intention could they possibly have?

Fortunately, she didn't have any further dealings with that blacksmith shop, otherwise how would she explain herself to Prince Su now?

Moreover, Prince Su is now making a big deal out of her.

Putting aside the issue of the design, is there really any connection between that blacksmith shop and the Lotus Sect?

I heard that after Prince Su returned from Qishan, the blacksmith shop was already deserted, which clearly showed that he had taken precautions in advance.

But if one is innocent, why would one need to run away?

If the blacksmith shop is related to the Lotus Sect, then what is the reason for the blacksmith's appearance at the Pei family's villa?

When Pei Sanlang appeared at the mortuary, Li Qinglu guessed it was related to the former crown prince's power.

I thought this would involve two opposing forces, but now...

If all these seemingly intricate details are connected...

Li Qingluo couldn't help but shiver.

She had a gut feeling that the relationship between Pei Sanlang and that blacksmith shop was definitely not that simple.

At this moment, he began to regret asking him to handle the old Duke's matter.

"Young lady, look! There's someone at the door!"

Just as they were about to reach the gate of the General's Mansion, the carriage suddenly stopped.

Que'er pushed the carriage door open a crack and looked out, "It's Liu Mian'er."

Liu Mian'er was the new concubine that Li Qingluo had chosen for her father, Li Chaojing, to take as a concubine.

She comes from a respectable family, is young and beautiful, and is fresh and unmarried.

Although she was already twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, her beauty was no less than that of young girls. On the contrary, because she had experienced many trials of the world, she remained aloof and proud, thus possessing a unique and refined charm.

At this moment, Liu Mian'er, dressed in plain clothes, was standing not far from the gate of the General's Mansion, holding an umbrella. Her temperament was aloof and elegant, and she was as beautiful as a painting.

"Miss, shall we go over there?"

The old woman, Deng, who was driving the carriage ahead, asked.

Li Qingluo: "No rush, let's see what she's going to do."

A few days ago, after Li Qingluo had seen Liu Mian'er from afar, she asked Granny Deng to secretly create opportunities for her and Li Chaojing to meet.

Li Qingluo hadn't paid attention to this matter these past few days, but since she happened to run into it, she decided to take a look.

It seems these two have already met?

Just then, a servant boy ran out of the mansion.

"Miss Liu, our master is not home. Please come another day."

On this bitterly cold day with snow still falling, Liu Mian'er had clearly come specifically to see Li Chaojing.

Granny Deng: "Miss, if the master is really not here, why would this servant bother to search the entire mansion?"

The doorman knows best whether his master is home or not.

If they weren't there from the beginning, they would have been dealt with long ago.

Therefore, Li Chaojing deliberately made excuses to avoid seeing Liu Mian'er.

Moreover, I'm afraid everyone in Jinling City knows now that Li Chaojing was carried out of the palace yesterday.

Who would go out again in the heavy snow after only one night's rest?

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

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

Granny Deng: "..."

Young lady, you really are the master's own daughter.

Seeing Liu Mian'er shivering from the cold, Granny Deng felt a pang of pity: "Shouldn't we lend her a hand?"

Li Qingluo: "Help? Can I help her for life? Whether she succeeds or not depends on her own abilities."

"If even he can't win her over, even if he brings her directly into the mansion, how long can she survive in the secluded courtyard? Let alone compete for favor and bear children."

Granny Deng felt that what the young lady said made a lot of sense, so she stopped arguing.

Li Qingluo reached out and caught the fine snowflakes: "My father only seems like a gentleman. Do you really think he can resist? With such a beautiful young woman suddenly barging into his dull and boring life, he will only get a taste of the sweetness and go through countless twists and turns. How could he really give her up?"

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

No sooner had she finished speaking than Que'er caught a glimpse of a garment flitting past behind the door.

"Miss, I've seen the master!"

Li Qingluo also saw it.

Li Chaojing was helped to stand inside the door, with half of his body showing, clearly looking at Liu Mian'er.

Liu Mian'er wasn't stupid; she knew that the person simply didn't want to see her.

He reached into his sleeve and pulled out a bag of silver, handing it to the servant.

"Actually, I have no other intention in coming to see General Li today. A few days ago, I was harassed and humiliated by some scoundrels, and it was you, General, who saved me."

"However, that day, I soiled the general's robes and shoes. Therefore, I have always felt bad about it."

"This money... is my humble offering. I hope you can help me return it to the general as compensation for the loss you suffered that day."

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

Granny Deng said, "In this cold weather, Liu Mian'er is only wearing a thin cotton coat with patches, yet she still managed to take out money to compensate the master. Which young man wouldn't feel sorry for her after seeing this?"

It seems she does have some tricks up her sleeve; she knows what men are most susceptible to.

Sure enough, Li Qingluo saw Li Chaojing clench his fist tightly.

The servant looked troubled.

He glanced back almost imperceptibly into the room, but then refused to accept the bag of silver even if it meant dying.

He forcefully shoved the object back into Liu Mian'er's hand: "Miss, please don't make things difficult for me. Our master won't mind this matter. If you have the chance, you should thank the master yourself."

After saying that, the servant dared not linger any longer and turned to run back.

Liu Mian'er looked visibly disappointed.

She stared at the bag of silver in her hand, looking utterly dejected. Just as she turned to leave, the servant suddenly turned back and called her back.

“Young lady, this is a token from our master. He says he is really unable to see you, but he knows your feelings. Please take good care of yourself, young lady. It's winter now, so please wear more warm clothes. Otherwise, your family will be worried if you get sick.”

With red eyes, Liu Mian'er reached out and took a jade pendant.

"This humble woman...has no family left..."

After speaking, she bowed slightly, her loneliness and desolation dissipating into the snowy landscape...

When Li Qingluo looked back into the room, Li Chaojing was nowhere to be seen.

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