Chapter 131
"Young Master Huo? I have no acquaintance with Young Master Huo. Uncle Zhou, please decline this invitation on my behalf," Li Zhiwei said with a frown.
After all, what business did a woman already betrothed have meeting an unrelated man?
Moreover, after the incident with Yao Shuheng, she was even more unwilling to go out.
Who knew if another madman like a 'second Yao Shuheng' might appear?
"But, the messenger said Young Master Huo has returned from the capital, and that Master has words for him to pass on to you," Steward Zhou quickly added.
"Father?" Li Zhiwei frowned. If Li Tianyou knew Huo Yunxuan had returned to Li'an County, would he really have asked him to bring a message?
"Alright, accept it for me first," Li Zhiwei thought to herself that she would just bring Qinghua and Qingyue along.
If anything happened, they could return immediately.
"Mother, accept what?" Xu Qingshi, who happened to be bored and had come looking for Li Zhiwei, asked somewhat puzzled.
"Hmm, a small matter. I need to go out for dinner tonight, so you shall dine with your grandmother," Li Zhiwei did not intend to explain to Xu Qingshi where she was going.
"No, if you go out, I'm coming too. I need to protect you," Xu Qingshi would never agree to let Li Zhiwei go out alone.
Capital
Li Tianyou rested for a full three days before going to the Ministry of Revenue to handle official duties.
Only, Li Tianyou's complexion wasn't great, and Zhou Tong was in worse shape, having just recently been able to get out of bed.
Li Tianyou even began to wonder if he usually mistreated Zhou Tong; otherwise, how could one bout of drunkenness leave him so frail?
Originally, he felt somewhat embarrassed, as it was the busiest time at the Ministry of Revenue, yet he had been resting at home for three days.
However, when he saw Xiao Guozhi, who looked even more haggard than himself, he was completely stunned.
"Xi... Minister Xiao, what happened to you?" Li Tianyou asked with a look of horror.
"It's... it's nothing!" Xiao Guozhi somewhat awkwardly averted his gaze, afraid Li Tianyou would discover the truth.
Ever since he brought that Lin Qiao'er back to the Xiao residence, his usually gentle wife had been quarreling endlessly with this Lin Qiao'er.
Every time he tried to mediate, it ended badly.
They even kept track daily, comparing how long he stayed with whom.
They even compared whose bedroom affairs lasted longer!
Neither would admit defeat; otherwise, they would scratch him.
He didn't understand why he was always the one getting hurt?
Everything was fine before.
He wanted to send Lin Qiao'er away, but she would wail and lament, saying she was already his person, where could he send her?
Minister Liu certainly wouldn't take her back!
This was because Lin Qiao'er discovered that compared to fighting with a group of women over one man at the Liu household, teaming up with Madam Chang to torment Xiao Guozhi at the Xiao residence was actually quite enjoyable.
"Sister, are you sure it's your turn tonight?" Lin Qiao'er asked while spitting out melon seed shells.
"Of course, but today we must have the cook prepare some good tonics for our husband," Madam Chang raised an eyebrow. After all, in the past, playing the role of a respectful couple with that fool Xiao Guozhi was utterly boring.
Now, she found that changing the approach made life much more delightful.
"Sister, you have to arrange the contraceptive decoction for me!" Thinking of this, Lin Qiao'er looked at Madam Chang with some resentment. She had to prepare it every time, and it was quite costly.
"If you have the ability to get pregnant before me, that would be your fortune. What's there to avoid? I'm not the type who can't tolerate concubine's children," Madam Chang, however, didn't take it to heart.
"Stop it, I don't want to have a child yet!" Lin Qiao'er said insincerely. After all, at the Liu household, she had never been able to conceive. Who wouldn't hope to have a child? But none of the wives or concubines in the Liu family had children, which was why she had resorted to that desperate, foolish plan.
Now, at the Xiao household, where the family was simpler, she couldn't truly be without propriety and have a child before the principal wife gave birth to an heir.
"Alright, I know you understand propriety," Madam Chang said. When she first saw Xiao Guozhi bring Lin Qiao'er home, she was actually somewhat resistant.
Only after Lin Qiao'er knelt before her and explained the reason for everything did Madam Chang, recalling how life had been bland and boring like plain broth since marrying the block of wood that was Xiao Guozhi, agree to this scheme.
And so, life indeed became different.
Now, with Lin Qiao'er being so sensible,
Madam Chang actually felt that this was what life should be like.
Moonview Pavilion
As soon as Li Zhiwei arrived at Moonview Pavilion, Huo Yunxuan's servant came forward to greet her.
"Miss Li, my young master is waiting for you in the Celestial private room," Laifu said carefully.
Laifu also carefully observed Li Zhiwei, thinking to himself that this Miss Li was as beautiful as a flower and the moon, no wonder his young master was so intent on marrying her.
Thinking that Li Zhiwei might become his mistress in the future, Laifu became even more respectful.
When entering the private room, Qinghua and Qingyue tried to go in together but were stopped by Laifu.
"My young master has words to say to Miss Li," Laifu felt these two maidservants really had no sense of propriety.
Qinghua and Qingyue exchanged a glance.
They indeed had no intention of backing down.
"If it's inconvenient for Young Master Huo, then I shall take my leave today," Li Zhiwei frowned, saying somewhat displeased.
After all, it was improper for her, an unrelated man, and Huo Yunxuan to be alone in a room together.
"Laifu, let Miss Li and her attendants in," Huo Yunxuan had already heard the footsteps of Li Zhiwei and the others.
Now, hearing Li Zhiwei say she was leaving, he had no choice but to speak up.
"Miss Li, please come in," Laifu had no choice but to invite them inside.
"Young Master Huo," Li Zhiwei first nodded in acknowledgment to Huo Yunxuan.
But seeing that Huo Yunxuan had already had the waiter serve a table full of dishes, she frowned.
"I didn't know what Miss Li likes to eat, so I ordered a few dishes at random. I hope Miss Li will honor me," Huo Yunxuan, seeing Li Zhiwei had come, was in a good mood and smiled as he invited her.
"Young Master Huo has gone to too much expense," Li Zhiwei didn't know what medicine Huo Yunxuan was selling in his gourd.
She just felt this person seemed excessively enthusiastic.
It made her somewhat uncomfortable.
"I heard my father has words for you to bring to me?" Li Zhiwei asked directly after sitting down.
Li Zhiwei did not intend to engage in excessive conversation with Huo Yunxuan.
After all, having suffered a loss just yesterday, she shouldn't need to suffer the same loss twice.
Now, whenever she saw a man, she worried she might be kidnapped.
"What's the hurry? Let's sit down and have the meal first," Huo Yunxuan said with a smile.
"Miss Li, rest assured, Lord Li is doing quite well now," Huo Yunxuan said smiling.
In his heart, he wondered if Li Tianyou had drunk that pot of wine. If he had, he probably would still be lying in bed.
He also didn't know if Li Tianyou had asked the Emperor to annul the marriage arrangement with Prince An.
But no matter what, he was determined to have Li Zhiwei!
"Young Master Huo, I have an impatient nature. Why don't you first tell me what my father asked you to convey? Otherwise, I won't be able to eat!" Li Zhiwei frowned, feeling that this Young Master Huo seemed to be deliberately stalling for time.
