Chapter 133
"I'll go discuss this with Qingchuan. You stay and keep watch here." Qinghua thought for a moment and said.
"You go on ahead." Qingyue was already used to following Qinghua's lead in everything.
In her heart, she only hoped that His Highness would give them instructions as soon as possible.
Li Zhiwei sat inside the room, feeling increasingly uncomfortable the more she thought about things.
Although she, Li Zhiwei, came from a merchant family, her status wasn't that lowly. Why did she have to be toyed with repeatedly?
She thought of when she first arrived in the capital, and how the mansion of Marquis Ru'an left her outside the gates.
She thought of her previous life, where the Lin family deceived her, humiliated her, spent her silver, slept in her bed, and even murdered her parents.
She thought of the scene when Xu Qingshi picked her up and brought her back to the Prince An's mansion.
She thought of the time she saved Xu Qingshi, who was protecting her at all costs.
She thought of the scene in the capital where that imperial consort made things difficult for her.
Each and every one of these memories pressed down on Li Zhiwei, making it hard to breathe.
How could Xu Heming's feelings for her be merely about using her?
Cian Hall
"Madam, the young mistress has returned. She seems to be in a rather poor mood," Chuntao whispered as she leaned close to Lady Yao.
"What's wrong?" Lady Yao asked, her heart immediately filled with alarm upon hearing this.
"This servant noticed that she seemed to scold the young master," Chuntao thought it over and decided to report what she had seen.
"Wei'er is right. She and Prince An are not yet married. By reason or by propriety, that child should not call Wei'er 'mother' in public." Although Lady Yao was surprised inwardly, she felt the reminder itself was not unreasonable.
"But, Madam, the young mistress never objected to it before," Chuntao said, puzzled.
"Go summon Steward Zhou," Lady Yao frowned and said.
The Magistrate's Office
"Master, how could you be so heartless?" Concubine Liu looked at County Magistrate Cao with disbelief.
That was her own cousin!
How could he be so cruel as to sentence him to death?
"Enough, what are you making such a fuss about here?" County Magistrate Cao initially felt somewhat guilty, but seeing his concubine making such a scene instantly made him irritable.
This concubine had no idea how to be considerate of him.
If he didn't issue the decree to execute Liu Mazi, his own name would definitely be on the death list too.
Not to mention the entire Liu family—it would be a crime warranting the extermination of the whole clan.
Yet this Concubine Liu still didn't know when to be satisfied.
"Master, please have some pity on your humble concubine. Third Brother grew up with me since childhood. How can I just stand by and watch him die now?" Concubine Liu secretly seethed with hatred. It was all that wretch Li Zhiwei's fault. If she hadn't said something to the Master, how could the Master possibly want to kill Liu Mazi?
"Enough! This is the official hall. What kind of spectacle is it for a woman to be weeping and wailing here? Go back if you have nothing else to do." County Magistrate Cao was truly annoyed by the commotion.
Liu Mazi's sentence could not be changed.
After all, those were the royal secret guards. If the sentence were truly lightened, he could forget about keeping the official hat on his head.
This wasn't something where a woman's tears could soften his heart. County Magistrate Cao was perfectly clear about that at this moment.
Concubine Liu couldn't believe it. In the past, no matter what she asked of the Master, he would grant her every request.
Now that Li Zhiwei had returned, everything was different.
"Are you not going to escort the concubine back?" Looking at Concubine Liu who stood there dumbfounded, County Magistrate Cao impatiently urged the maid, Zhi'er.
"Yes!" Zhi'er's heart was also in a flurry. This time, the Master had actually refused the concubine. Did that mean the concubine was also going to fall out of favor?
Thinking of the life of a concubine who had lost favor in the mansion, Zhi'er grew anxious. She did not want to serve a concubine who had fallen from grace.
Concubine Liu left the magistrate's office in a daze.
"Concubine, you mustn't be like this. Third Master is still waiting for you to avenge him," Zhi'er said cautiously, looking at the stunned Concubine Liu.
"Avenge him? Who can I take revenge on? Could I kill the Master?" At this thought, a certain idea began to form in Concubine Liu's mind.
Could she perhaps...
"Concubine, the reason Third Master was sentenced to death is all because of that Miss Li. You saw the Master's attitude towards Miss Li today. Given Miss Li's family background, the Master couldn't possibly take her as a concubine, could he? Do you think... the Master might divorce the Madam and marry Miss Li as his principal wife?" Zhi'er whispered.
"Oh dear, this servant has spoken out of turn. I shouldn't speculate about the Master and Madam." Having said that, and taking advantage of Concubine Liu's momentary lack of reaction, Zhi'er quickly added.
"Let's return to the mansion!" Upon hearing this, Concubine Liu merely pondered for a moment before saying coldly.
Since Li Zhiwei wanted the position of principal wife, she would not let her have her way.
Thinking of the Madam's methods in the mansion, no matter how favored a concubine in the Cao family's rear courtyard was, none dared to overstep the Madam. Why? Not only because the Master respected the Madam, but also because the Madam, née Chang, was formidable in her methods.
They could compete for favor, but they dared not tread on the Madam's head.
After all, the Madam's methods were severe, and her natal family was also very powerful.
Thinking of this, a flash of triumph crossed Concubine Liu's eyes. Li Zhiwei, if you want to enter the Cao family, then I shall help you do so.
The Huo Family
"I heard you went to see the Li family's young lady today?" Father Huo sat in the seat of honor, looking at his son beside him and asking.
Over the years, he hadn't been idle in urging him to marry early, but Huo Yunxuan always found reasons to refuse.
Now, hearing that his son had actually met with the young lady of the neighboring Li family—a family comparable in status to their Huo family—he couldn't contain his excitement.
Was his son finally willing to marry?
"Yes, I met her." Huo Yunxuan naturally knew what his father was thinking. However, he didn't mind his father putting in some effort regarding this matter.
It was just that Li Tianyou was currently in the capital, which presented some complications.
"Excellent! Another day, invite Master Li to the mansion for a visit," Father Huo said with a smile upon hearing this.
"Official Li is currently serving as an official in the capital. I'm afraid it won't be easy for him to return. However, mother could invite Madam Li to the mansion more often," Huo Yunxuan suggested.
"Alright, I'll discuss this with your mother," Father Huo nodded in agreement.
The Cao Family
"Is what you're saying true?" Mrs. Tang glared fiercely at Concubine Liu beside her and asked.
Although she doubted Concubine Liu's claim that the Master wanted to marry the Li family's young lady as his principal wife...
Now, she was already old and her beauty had faded. The Master preferred fresh, young faces.
She had indulged these concubines in making a scene within the mansion, but that didn't mean she would tolerate anyone coveting her position as the principal wife.
"Madam, this humble concubine wouldn't dare deceive you. That Miss Li from the Li family seems to be aiming for your position as principal wife. This humble concubine noticed that the Master seems rather different towards her. I didn't dare ask the Master directly. If Miss Li were merely to become the Master's concubine, that would be one thing. After all, bringing her wealth into the Cao family could help the Master rise swiftly in his career. What I fear is..."
Concubine Liu stopped here, putting on an act of being too afraid to continue.
"Hmph! The gates of our Cao family are not something a mere merchant's daughter can enter as she pleases!" Upon hearing this, Mrs. Tang angrily slapped the table.
