Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Nine
"You really don't know him?" Now it was Shen An'an's turn to be surprised.
Given how fantastically the rumors had spread back then, she had thought they were true.
"I don't. The Duan family never made a marriage proposal to the Li family," Li Zhiwei stated with certainty.
"Good heavens! Could those rumors have been spread by that hypocrite Duan Qingyan himself?" Shen An'an exclaimed in shock.
"Who knows? But he's going to marry the young lady from the Jiang family now, so he won't have anything to do with me anymore anyway," Li Zhiwei said, utterly indifferent.
"That's true. But today, no matter what those ladies say, Zhiwei, don't take it to heart." Shen An'an was worried that the ladies' words might embarrass Li Zhiwei later, which is why she came out to warn her.
"What words?" Li Zhiwei looked at Shen An'an, puzzled.
Since Madam Cao had invited her to today's banquet, she didn't believe that Magistrate Cao wouldn't have told his wife that her father was now an official in the court.
Could it be that Madam Cao still intended to make things difficult for her?
"Just some unpleasant talk." Shen An'an's lips moved hesitantly; she wanted to speak but didn't know where to start. Besides, she couldn't bring herself to repeat those women's sharp and sarcastic words.
"It's fine. Those people really can't do anything to me," Li Zhiwei said dismissively.
Li Zhiwei entered the flower hall and first went to find Madam Cao.
"Greetings, Madam Cao!" Li Zhiwei merely bowed slightly as a greeting.
She now held the status of the An Princess Consort, bestowed by the Emperor himself. According to etiquette, even the wives of ninth-rank officials should bow to her.
Although she was currently concealing her identity, she wouldn't let herself lose her dignity.
Regardless of whether Xu Heming had wronged her father or not, at this moment, Li Zhiwei felt she must not compromise her standing.
However, Li Zhiwei's action displeased Mrs. Tang.
She cursed inwardly, That little wretch, not even married into the family yet, and she already dares to look down on me.
If she really enters our household and ends up bewitching the master completely, what place will I and my children have in the Cao family?
"Miss Li, everyone was just saying they'd like you to tell us about the sights of the capital. Everyone is so envious that you got to go and broaden your horizons in the capital," Mrs. Tang said to Li Zhiwei with a smile.
"Madam Cao flatters me. Although I went to the capital, I didn't dare to wander around recklessly. After all, what kind of place is the capital? A brick falling from the sky might hit a family member of a second or third-rank official. Those are not people one can easily afford to offend," Li Zhiwei replied with a smile.
She was even less inclined to engage in idle chatter with these people.
Among the ladies present, apart from Madam Cao, Mrs. Tang, only her sister-in-law, Lady Qin, was from an official's family.
The others were either local gentry, wealthy families from around Li'an County, or the wives and daughters of families trying to curry favor with Magistrate Cao.
The courtyard was decorated with many chrysanthemums, but they were all common varieties. Even Li Zhiwei only gave them a brief glance and paid them no further mind.
Shen An'an, standing to the side, secretly gave Li Zhiwei a thumbs-up.
"Miss Li, I heard you were jilted by that nobleman from the capital. Is it true?"
Someone suddenly raised her voice, looking at Li Zhiwei and asking loudly.
Li Zhiwei was taken aback for a moment, then a faint, almost imperceptible sneer tugged at the corner of her mouth.
She thought, Could it be that Madam Cao's banquet today was specifically arranged to mock me?
Remembering the concubine from yesterday, Li Zhiwei chuckled softly.
She hadn't realized the Cao Magistrate's household was so united—the concubine suffers a grievance at my hands, and the principal wife seeks to get justice for her?
"You are mistaken. It wasn't that he broke off the engagement; it was I who petitioned the Emperor to have the engagement annulled," Li Zhiwei said, putting down her teacup and enunciating each word clearly.
Upon hearing that Li Zhiwei had actually met the Emperor, the ladies were all astonished.
Their looks towards Li Zhiwei changed immediately.
Mrs. Cao clenched her fists.
She hadn't expected Li Zhiwei to be so shrewd, deflecting the situation with just a few words.
She truly couldn't be underestimated.
"Isn't it all the same? You were still jilted," that woman said disdainfully.
"Madam, could it be that you have strong opinions about my engagement?" Li Zhiwei raised an eyebrow. This person kept bringing up her engagement; could it be she had designs on it herself?
"Who would have designs on a girl who's been jilted? In my opinion, you'll probably just grow old and die in the Li household from now on. I think you should tell your mother to quickly find a concubine for your father, so he can have a son soon to inherit the family property!"
As the woman spoke, her eyes gleamed brightly.
Li Zhiwei was almost amused by the anger. So that was it? This was what she was waiting for?
Finding a concubine for her father?
Li Zhiwei deliberately looked at the rather dull-looking girl standing beside the woman.
Goods like these, wanting to be my father's concubine?
"There's no need for Mrs. Zhang to trouble herself with that. My father is now a third-rank official. While that rank might not be considered much in the capital, here in Li'an County, it's quite respectable. For Mrs. Zhang to want Miss Zhang to be my father's concubine... I'm afraid she still falls somewhat short," Li Zhiwei said while sipping her tea.
When the others heard that Li Tianyou was now a third-rank senior official, they all widened their eyes, full of disbelief.
What kind of family was the Li family? How did they suddenly become officials?
How could this not shock everyone?
Madam Cao hadn't expected Li Zhiwei to not just retreat into a corner and avoid attention after hearing such talk, but to state outright that the engagement was annulled, and now even reveal that Li Tianyou had become an official.
"I heard from my husband yesterday that Lord Li is now serving in the court. I was also quite surprised, but it is a good thing," Madam Cao said with a smile.
"These two young ladies beside Miss Li, they look unfamiliar?" Suddenly, Mrs. Tang's sister-in-law, Lady Qin, looked at Qinghua and Qingyue and asked curiously.
"Mrs. Tang, you have a good eye," Li Zhiwei replied with a smile and a nod but didn't elaborate further.
Seeing that Li Zhiwei wasn't going to say more, Lady Qin had to suppress her curiosity.
Lady Qin still didn't know whether the claim about the third-rank official was true or false, but the fact that the Li family was wealthy was common knowledge.
For the rest of the banquet, no one dared to trouble Li Zhiwei further. When the banquet ended, Mrs. Cao asked Li Zhiwei to stay behind.
"Does Madam Cao have other matters?" Li Zhiwei asked, looking at Madam Cao with confusion.
"Today, upon hearing about Miss Li's broken engagement, I felt deeply regretful," Madam Cao said, putting on a sorrowful expression. Li Zhiwei frowned. What performance is this?
"It's fine," Li Zhiwei had no choice but to respond.
"For a young lady to have her engagement broken so suddenly is truly unfortunate. I do have a suggestion. I wonder if Miss Li would consider it?" Madam Cao asked with a look of sincere concern.
Lady Qin, standing nearby, also looked at her sister-in-law with curiosity.
"Please speak, Madam."
"Miss Li, my master is a man of striking appearance and exceptional talent, now in the very prime of his life. He is willing to welcome you into the household with the status of a co-wife, to be a sister to the primary wife. Don't you think this is an excellent proposal, Miss Li?" Mrs. Cao said with a look of smug satisfaction.
