Chapter 132
Huo Yunxuan watched Li Zhiwei for a moment, then smiled.
He thought to himself, this girl certainly has spirit.
Still, the way she looks when she's angry is quite adorable.
"Miss Li, are you sure you want me to say it now?" Huo Yunxuan asked, raising an eyebrow.
After all, what he was about to say might very well mean Li Zhiwei wouldn't stay to finish the meal with him.
"Speak freely, Master Huo," Li Zhiwei said firmly.
"In that case, I shall," Huo Yunxuan said, looking at Li Zhiwei with a beguiling tone.
"Lord Li said he intends to break off the marriage alliance with the An Prince's household and have you marry me instead. He wants you to spend your time here in Li'an County fostering feelings with me." Having said this, a meaningful, inscrutable smile lifted the corner of Huo Yunxuan's mouth.
"Impossible!" Li Zhiwei stood up without a second thought. She felt her father could never say such a thing.
Yet, remembering Li Tianyou's resistance towards Xu Heming, it didn't seem entirely impossible either.
"Why impossible? Although the An Prince is a prince, he has a child. If you marry him, you'd be a stepmother and a secondary wife. Your father has long been dissatisfied with this," Huo Yunxuan stated with an air of utter seriousness.
Upon hearing this, Li Zhiwei's face turned pale. She knew her father had never truly wanted her to marry Xu Heming.
After all, Xu Heming was an undeniable widower and came with the child, Xu Qingshi.
If Li Tianyou had even spoken such words to this Master Huo, he must genuinely be considering having her marry Huo Yunxuan.
But how could that be?
Her marriage to the An Prince was a decree from the Emperor. Li Zhiwei didn't believe her father would impulsively say such a thing; it was a capital offense.
"My engagement to the An Prince was decreed by His Majesty. My father could never utter such treasonous words," Li Zhiwei stated with certainty.
Huo Yunxuan's expression darkened slightly.
He thought to himself, this Li Zhiwei has some brains, not easily fooled.
But if this reason didn't work, wasn't there another scheme he could use?
"That depends on whether the An Prince is trustworthy, doesn't it? Your father has only you, his one daughter. He's cherished you since you were little, holding you in the palm of his hand. His greatest wish is for you to have a good match. If this An Prince is a man with wolfish ambitions who cannot give you happiness, your father would risk his old life to refuse this marriage alliance, wouldn't he?" Huo Yunxuan thought to himself, the Li family could use their substantial dowry to pave a smooth path for themselves.
He could similarly use silver to beg the Emperor to retract the decree.
Besides, the An Prince's crime of presenting counterfeit wine to his future father-in-law was something he couldn't escape.
"Has something happened to my father in the capital?" Hearing this, Li Zhiwei first frowned, then her eyes fixed intently on Huo Yunxuan as she asked.
Qinghua and Qingyue, standing to the side, also frowned upon hearing this.
What did this man mean by his words?
Were they trying to steal the Prince's intended?
How could that be allowed?
Yet, even though they were anxious, it wasn't their place to speak up now.
They could only think about persuading Li Zhiwei properly later; after all, the Prince was not that kind of man.
"Lord Li is fine now. However, a few days ago, he was nearly poisoned to death by wine sent by the An Prince. Fortunately, Manager Zhou and the physician I sent treated him in time, otherwise Lord Li would have been in grave danger," Huo Yunxuan said with a sorrowful expression.
He deliberately emphasized that the physician was sent by him.
"What?" Li Zhiwei was utterly shocked.
Xu Heming gave her father poisoned wine?
Impossible!
What would Xu Heming gain from that?
"Miss Li, the An Prince's reason for seeking to marry you is entirely ill-intentioned. He only wants your Li family's fortune and for you to take care of his child for him. Look, even when you return to Li'an County to visit your mother, you still have to bring his child along, don't you?" Huo Yunxuan added more indignant words.
"I don't believe a single word you've said! I will clarify this matter with my father myself! Thank you, Master Huo, for informing me of this today. Farewell!"
Having said this, Li Zhiwei turned and left in anger, her sleeves sweeping behind her.
Qinghua and Qingyue, standing nearby, wanted to speak up for Xu Heming.
But looking at Li Zhiwei's currently unpleasant expression, neither dared to say anything.
They only thought they must have someone send a message to the Prince later.
That so-called Master Huo was definitely up to no good, trying to sabotage the relationship between the Prince and Miss Li.
"Young Master, why did Miss Li leave so soon?" Laifu, seeing that Li Zhiwei, who had only just arrived, was already leaving, asked somewhat puzzled.
His young master had ordered such a large table of dishes precisely to please Miss Li, hadn't he?
But from what he saw, Miss Li probably hadn't tasted a single bite.
Wasn't this a waste of his young master's good intentions?
"It's fine." Huo Yunxuan was actually in rather good spirits.
Although Li Zhiwei had just gotten angry, he knew she must have believed at least some of his words.
As for his words being exposed later, he wasn't worried at all.
After all, if Li Tianyou learned that the counterfeit wine he drank was sent by Xu Heming, he would surely be disappointed in him.
Then, he could take advantage of the situation; wouldn't the opportunity present itself?
Thinking this, Huo Yunxuan took a light sip of wine from his cup, feeling quite pleased.
The Li Residence
"Mother, you're back!" Xu Qingshi, who had been looking outside, rushed to Li Zhiwei's side happily upon seeing her return and called out.
"Young Prince, the Prince and I are not yet married. For you to call me mother now is improper," Li Zhiwei said upon seeing Xu Qingshi, her tone stiff, devoid of its usual gentleness.
"Mother, what's wrong?" Xu Qingshi, who had been overjoyed moments before, was now frightened.
After all, Li Zhiwei had always been gentle with him. This sudden change made him somewhat afraid.
Moreover, they were now in Li'an County.
Xu Qingshi suddenly felt wronged, and his eyes couldn't help but redden.
Seeing this, Li Zhiwei felt somewhat uncomfortable, but thinking of Huo Yunxuan's words, her heart was still filled with a sour feeling.
Xu Heming sought to marry her just so someone would take care of Xu Qingshi.
Xu Heming sent counterfeit wine to her father, nearly killing him.
Thinking of this, Li Zhiwei felt extremely upset.
Without paying attention to anyone else, Li Zhiwei went straight back to her room.
Qinghua and Qingyue wanted to follow her in.
"I want to be alone for a while. All of you, leave," Li Zhiwei said, then closed the door.
Qinghua and Qingyue stood outside the door, looking at each other.
"What should we do? Her Ladyship seems truly angry," Qingyue asked, somewhat at a loss.
"What that Master Huo said... it can't be true, can it?" Qinghua glanced at the room, thinking that if what Master Huo said was true, their Prince's actions would be too heartless.
"Should we send someone back to the capital to inquire?" Qingyue suggested uneasily.
After all, for now, they couldn't think of a good solution. The only thing they could think of was to send a message to the Prince.
