Chapter 141
"Miss Li, I have already given you a chance. You refused the easy way and now you've chosen the hard way. Whoever my lord sets his eyes on, he always gets!" Madam Cao said with a smug face.
Upon hearing this, Lady Qin, who was standing nearby, frowned, thinking to herself, isn't this sister being too overbearing?
One must remember, there were many other ladies and young misses from Li'an County present.
Was her sister truly not afraid that they would spread her words from today?
"Hah, Madam Cao, do you overestimate the Cao family? Or do you think your insignificant Cao family can control me?" Li Zhiwei thought this Madam Cao was truly foolish, and moreover, Magistrate Cao actually dared to have designs on her.
The problem was, he even sent his foolish wife to try and force her?
In her opinion, Magistrate Cao's comfortable days were probably numbered.
"Hmph, save your grand talk. Once you're in my Cao household, won't I have the final say? What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and take her to the inner courtyard!" Mrs. Tang glared at the stunned maidservants and servants and scolded unhappily.
The wives and daughters from merchant families attending the banquet had all turned pale by now.
They never imagined Madam Cao would be so brazen.
It was simply lawless.
Thinking of this, everyone also remembered that in Li'an County, it could be said Magistrate Cao held absolute power.
However, with the Li family's status, wasn't it something Magistrate Cao couldn't easily afford to offend?
But now, Madam Cao showed no restraint at all. Could it be that the Li family had fallen?
Everyone stepped back one after another, not wanting to be overly involved in this matter.
They were even more worried that if they said something inappropriate today, Magistrate Cao might hold a grudge later, something their husbands couldn't withstand.
After all, their family backgrounds were nothing compared to the Cao family's.
"How dare you!" Qinghua never expected people in this small place would dare to lay hands on their princess.
"What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and take Concubine Li away!" Madam Cao glared at the servants who hadn't yet made a move and shouted.
"To think Magistrate Cao is involved in abducting common women!" Li Zhiwei took a deep breath, feeling grateful that she hadn't put on airs today and had brought Qinghua and Qingyue with her.
This way, at least these Cao family servants shouldn't be able to do anything to her.
"Miss! I'll protect you as we leave!" Qinghua quickly exchanged a glance with Qingyue, and the two made a decision: one would take Li Zhiwei away, and the other would stay behind to deal with these people.
"Where do you think you're going? Are you all fools? Why haven't you seized her yet?" Madam Cao was extremely dissatisfied that the servants from their manor hadn't captured her yet.
Unfortunately, with Qinghua and Qingyue present, they couldn't even get close to Li Zhiwei, let alone capture her.
"Madam Cao, convey this to your lord: regarding today's matter, my Li family will definitely not let it slide lightly! You'd better prepare to face the wrath of the Li family!" After saying this, Li Zhiwei left the Cao residence under Qinghua's protection.
Shen An'an was also terrified by the Cao family's aggressive stance.
She never thought Madam Cao would actually try to force Li Zhiwei to stay and become a secondary wife for Magistrate Cao, who was old enough to be her father?
What was she thinking?
That Magistrate Cao was truly disgusting, actually coveting Zhiwei.
Seeing the situation, the other guests also took their leave one after another.
Having witnessed this scene, they probably wouldn't sleep well for several days after returning home.
"Zhiwei!" Shen An'an chased after her and only breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Li Zhiwei was safe.
Because of what had just happened, Qinghua stepped forward and didn't let Shen An'an get too close.
"An'an, I must go back now. We'll catch up another time when we're free." Li Zhiwei also didn't dare to linger long at the Cao residence entrance.
After speaking, she hurriedly tried to leave.
"Miss Li, please wait!" Magistrate Cao, who had rushed over after receiving the news, stopped Li Zhiwei again, this time with government soldiers.
"Magistrate Cao, do you also intend to detain me privately in your residence?" Li Zhiwei asked, looking at Magistrate Cao with disdain.
"Miss Li, there's no need to put it so harshly. I, Cao, am offering you the position of secondary wife with great sincerity." Cao Yunpeng looked at Li Zhiwei with a greasy gaze.
After all, in this Li'an County, no one had better prospects than him.
It's just that this Li Zhiwei didn't appreciate it and was playing hard to get with him.
However, considering Li Zhiwei had returned alone now, Cao Yunpeng didn't think her resistance meant anything.
Anyway, Li Tianyou wasn't here. As long as he accomplished his goal with her, afterwards, for the sake of his only daughter, Li Tianyou would have no choice but to support his rise to power.
Thinking of gaining both the person and the wealth, Cao Yunpeng's smile became even more lecherous.
"Magistrate Cao, even if your household lacks a mirror, surely you have urine? Why don't you take a piss and look at your reflection? You want me to marry you as a secondary wife? Are you even worthy?" Li Zhiwei had never seen such a disgusting person.
Should she be grateful for being allowed to marry him as a secondary wife?
A secondary wife, put nicely, is still just a wife!
He doesn't even see that he's old enough to be her father, yet he still dares to lust after her!
By now, the anger in Li Zhiwei's eyes had reached its peak.
If before she still had some reservations, now, to hell with reservations! She'd deal with this eyesore first!
Li Zhiwei actually had a suspicion that there were more than just Qinghua and Qingyue by her side.
There must be other guards in the shadows.
On this point, although Xu Heming could be a real dog sometimes, he was very thorough when it came to arranging personnel.
It's just that thinking about how he bought wine to poison her father, Li Zhiwei was still very angry.
She had no intention of forgiving him.
"Aren't you coming out? Are you waiting to watch your master be snatched away to become a concubine?" Li Zhiwei shouted angrily.
The guards hiding in the shadows no longer concealed themselves and jumped out directly.
Otherwise, if the princess later complained to the prince about their shortcomings, they might be beaten to death by the prince.
The sudden appearance of these people gave Cao Yunpeng a fright.
Originally, he thought Li Zhiwei only had two maidservants with her, which was why he felt emboldened to try and force the issue.
Now, it turned out she also had attendants.
And each one of them looked like trained fighters.
This couldn't help but make Cao Yunpeng's heart waver with thoughts of retreat. But then he thought, since he had already gone this far, how could he give up?
If he let Li Zhiwei go back today, Li Tianyou probably wouldn't let him off easily either.
Might as well go all in.
Capital City, An Prince's Manor
Xu Heming was in his study, reading an urgent report sent from below.
"Miss Cousin, no one is allowed inside the prince's study!" The servant at the study door quickly stopped Zheng Qiaoshu when he saw her approaching.
“It's late. I was specially ordered by my aunt to bring some soup for my cousin. Young man, could you please make an exception?” Zheng Qiaoshu wasn't angry at the servant's obstruction; instead, she looked at him gently and pleaded.
"This..." The servant looked somewhat embarrassed at Zheng Qiaoshu, then glanced towards the study, thinking: In the past, no one dared to deliver things. Could it be because there were no other female masters in the manor, so the prince didn't allow anyone to deliver?
The cousin said this was the old madam's wish. Should he go and try?
