Chapter 106
"Greetings, Aunt. I hope you have been well?" Yao Shuheng bowed respectfully to Lady Yao with a warm smile.
"I am! Seeing you, my dear nephew, makes everything better," Lady Yao replied cheerfully upon seeing her nephew from her maternal family.
The last time she had seen Yao Shuheng, he was still a child. Now, he had grown into a young man.
"Why don’t I see Uncle or Cousin Zhiwei?" Yao Shuheng asked curiously.
He had met his cousin when she was little—adorable and lively.
He wondered what Li Zhiwei looked like now—perhaps as graceful and beautiful as an immortal.
Remembering his mother’s words before his departure, Yao Shuheng felt an even greater anticipation toward Li Zhiwei.
"Ah, you’ve come at an unfortunate time. They’ve gone to the capital," Lady Yao replied after a brief pause, forcing a smile.
Her heart felt heavy. She didn’t want her family to know about the troubles the Li family had faced. Back then, she had even written to her brother and sister-in-law, hoping to arrange a match between Yao Shuheng and Li Zhiwei—preferably keeping Yao Shuheng in Li'an County.
But they never replied. Then, the Ruan Marquis House came with a marriage proposal, their sincerity undeniable, so she and her husband agreed.
Little did she know, she had nearly pushed her daughter into a pit of fire.
"It’s my fault for not sending word ahead. What bad timing," Yao Shuheng said, disappointed, but he still chatted amiably with Lady Yao about affairs in Qujing.
His stories made Lady Yao laugh heartily.
She insisted that Yao Shuheng stay in Li'an County longer to keep her company.
---
Imperial Clan Court
The heavy prison door creaked open, allowing a sliver of sunlight to pierce the darkness.
Madam Lou greedily stared at the light, convinced her daughter had come to rescue her.
"Get in!" A guard shoved a disheveled woman in palace attire into the cell, her mouth gagged and hands bound behind her back.
It was none other than Liu Ruyan.
"Yan'er?" Madam Lou squinted before recognizing her daughter, the once-glorious Concubine Liu.
"Mm—mm!" Liu Ruyan tried to speak, but the gag muffled her cries.
Seeing her mother in prison garb, shackled at the wrists and ankles, Liu Ruyan writhed in distress. But she was no longer the lofty Concubine Liu—just another prisoner.
"What’s the rush?" The guard sneered, unlocking Madam Lou’s cell and shoving Liu Ruyan inside before relocking it.
"From now on, you’ll stay with the Liu family," the guard declared before leaving.
With trembling hands, Madam Lou removed her daughter’s gag. Tears streamed down her face as she asked, "Why are you here too? Did the Emperor refuse to spare our family?"
A sliver of hope lingered—perhaps the Emperor would show mercy for her daughter’s sake.
"Mother, why were you imprisoned?" Liu Ruyan had been puzzling over this during the journey. If it were just her own crime, her parents wouldn’t be here.
She regretted not listening carefully to the imperial decree.
"Your father…" Madam Lou choked up. Liu Zongcheng’s grave mistake had doomed not just the Liu family but her maternal relatives as well—all within the nine familial exterminations.
This time, the Emperor showed no mercy, imposing the harshest punishment.
Madam Lou sobbed uncontrollably.
"What did Father do?" Liu Ruyan demanded coldly.
"He embezzled a fortune—Prince An exposed him!" Madam Lou wailed.
"How much?"
"A room full of gold! I don’t even know how much!" Madam Lou shook her head helplessly. She had no idea how the gold ended up in their estate, yet she was suffering for it.
Liu Ruyan staggered. Years in the palace had taught her the severity of embezzlement—the greater the sum, the worse the punishment.
A room full of gold? Their family was doomed.
"Who exposed him?" Liu Ruyan pressed.
"Prince An! And your father even sent men to kidnap Prince An’s son!"
Liu Ruyan laughed bitterly. Like father, like son—both had resorted to the same tactics.
Now, it was simply a matter of victor and vanquished.
---
Li Zhiwei returned from the Wei Family in a foul mood, ignoring Xu Qingshi no matter how much he called after her.
"Mother, what’s wrong? Are you upset?" Xu Qingshi asked nervously, unsettled by her anger.
He didn’t want Li Zhiwei to be angry.
"Stand straight!" Li Zhiwei’s stern expression was intimidating.
Xu Qingshi obeyed, surprised that his stepmother could be so stern.
It was terrifying.
"Tell me the truth—did Young Master Wei really like the stationery and books?" Li Zhiwei glared at him.
"No…" Xu Qingshi hadn’t expected her to find out so quickly.
He recalled Wei Herui speaking privately with Li Zhiwei earlier—that tattletale must have ratted him out.
"Then why did you lie?" Li Zhiwei wasn’t upset about the money but about the dishonesty.
Xu Qingshi wasn’t her child, but since he was under her care—and might one day be her stepson—she felt responsible for guiding him.
She didn’t want him to grow into a deceitful person.
"Mother, I’m sorry. I just wanted to prank Wei Herui. I didn’t mean to waste your money." Xu Qingshi feared she was upset about the expense.
"Do I look like I care about money?" Li Zhiwei sighed. Raising a child wasn’t easy, especially in her awkward position.
Even if she married Xu Heming, disciplining Xu Qingshi shouldn’t fall solely on her.
"Lying is a bad habit. Only bad children lie. You’re not a bad child, are you?" Seeing his fear, Li Zhiwei softened her tone.
"Mother, I won’t do it again. Will you still like me?" Xu Qingshi desperately wanted a mother’s love. Li Zhiwei had protected him multiple times, making him feel cherished.
Now, he was terrified she’d abandon him.
"Of course. Admitting your mistakes makes you a good child." Li Zhiwei was relieved he owned up to it.
Just as she was about to say more, Li Tianyou and Xu Heming returned, their expressions grim.
"Did something happen?" Li Zhiwei asked, puzzled.
