Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Four
"Goodness, Lord Li was right there earlier, how could I have spoken?" Yang Zuo thought of the look Li Tianyou had given him and felt cold sweat running down his back. It was as if Li Tianyou already knew what he was about to say.
And then, in the next moment, his own prince would be in trouble.
"Why couldn't you speak with Lord Li there?" Qingsong looked at Yang Zuo, puzzled. He thought, Lord Li is the future princess consort's father, what couldn't he hear?
Could it be that his prince wanted to do good deeds without leaving his name?
Didn't he want Lord Li to know about all the things his prince had done for the future princess consort?
That didn't seem right either.
"If Lord Li knew that Miss Li was already aware that the prince bought fake wine for him to drink, nearly costing him his life, do you think he would let it go easily?" Yang Zuo looked at Qingsong as if he were an idiot.
He thought, this Qingsong usually seemed quite sharp, so why was he being less perceptive than himself at this moment?
"How did Miss Li find out?" Qingsong's eyes widened. He thought, this matter was serious. If Miss Li knew, didn't that mean Lord Li knew as well?
Thinking of Lord Li knowing that his prince had bought fake wine for him to drink, nearly costing him his life...
Hmm...
Qingsong felt his prince would truly have a hard time cleaning up this mess.
This problem was severe.
"Young Master Huo has returned to Li'an County. He told Miss Li. Miss Li was very angry upon hearing it and has even become much colder towards the young prince. Tell the prince to quickly think of a solution. These past few days, Miss Li hasn't been paying attention to Qinghua or Qingyue either." Yang Zuo said anxiously.
"Alright, I'll go and tell the prince about this." Qingsong frowned and hurried into the inner chamber.
Both of them, however, had been too engrossed in their conversation and failed to notice Li Tianyou, who had been standing nearby the whole time.
Li Tianyou could hardly believe his ears.
That scoundrel Xu Heming actually bought him fake wine!
He had wondered how that wine could have weakened Zhou Tong to such a state.
So it turns out it was poisonous?
Thinking about it, he had felt extremely fatigued the next day too.
So that was the problem!
Hmph! What a fine son-in-law he had!
Buying him fake wine!
Was he not worthy of the real stuff?
Thinking of this, Li Tianyou was furious.
If not for the last shred of reason reminding him that this was neither the Li residence nor the An Prince's manor, he truly wanted to charge in and give Xu Heming a good beating.
On one hand, he wants to marry his precious daughter, and on the other, he's so stingy as to buy him fake wine! Buying fake wine is bad enough!
But he nearly cost him his life!
Thank goodness he only has one daughter!
Otherwise, with a few more sons-in-law like this, Li Tianyou felt he probably wouldn't be able to withstand it!
However, he had no intention of letting Xu Heming off the hook either.
When Qingsong finally found Xu Heming and was about to relay Yang Zuo's words to him,
he spotted Li Tianyou not far away, staring at him with a mocking smile.
Qingsong could only offer Li Tianyou an awkward smile and a nod.
He thought, the look in Lord Li's eyes today seemed to carry a hint of murderous intent?
Thinking this, Qingsong didn't dare tell Xu Heming.
He only hoped to find an opportunity later to explain the situation to the prince.
Li Tianyou naturally noticed Qingsong's somewhat stiff expression just now.
He thought, this person probably wanted to secretly inform Xu Heming, right?
But he was determined not to let him have his way!
Xu Heming only felt that Li Tianyou had been looking at him more often today.
Thinking this, Xu Heming nodded at Li Tianyou as a greeting.
He thought, perhaps his future father-in-law also missed Zhiwei.
After the matter of confiscating The He Family's property concluded, Qingsong still couldn't find an opportunity to speak with Xu Heming. Qingsong had a feeling Li Tianyou was constantly watching him. He wanted to talk to the prince but was worried Li Tianyou might overhear.
Finally, when it was time to return to the manor, Qingsong breathed a sigh of relief.
"Qingsong, escorting your prince back to the manor?" Li Tianyou looked at Qingsong's relieved expression, his face wearing a smile that didn't reach his eyes, and stared at Qingsong as he asked.
"Lord Li, yes." Qingsong replied with an awkward smile.
"And where is your prince?" Li Tianyou actually knew Xu Heming was in the carriage.
"Father-in-law, do you have something to discuss with your son-in-law?" Xu Heming directly lifted the carriage curtain, looking at Li Tianyou as he asked.
After all, Li Tianyou had looked at him many more times today than usual.
"Aren't you going to invite me to the prince's manor for a visit?" Li Tianyou merely looked at Xu Heming with a thin, insincere smile.
"Lord Li, my prince has important business today and needs to enter the palace. Perhaps you could come another day?" Qingsong, hearing this, hurriedly said.
"Is that your meaning as well?" Li Tianyou ignored Qingsong and instead looked displeased at Xu Heming. Heaven knew he had been holding back for a long time.
If Xu Heming dared utter half a word of refusal, he was definitely going to point at his nose and give him a thorough scolding to vent his anger.
"Qingsong, stop talking nonsense. Father-in-law, your son-in-law has no business today. If you wish to visit the An Prince's manor, please board the carriage." Xu Heming jumped down from the carriage and bowed to Li Tianyou as he spoke.
Qingsong was hopping with anxiety but didn't dare say anything.
"Hmph!" Li Tianyou didn't stand on ceremony either. Holding onto Xu Heming's hand, he boarded the carriage.
"What are you standing there for?" Xu Heming got into the carriage and, seeing Qingsong still standing there dumbfounded, scolded him unhappily.
Qingsong felt miserable but didn't dare speak.
He found Li Tianyou's behavior very strange, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly what was odd.
Naturally, the sight of Xu Heming inviting Li Tianyou onto the carriage fell into the eyes of others.
Everyone felt this Li Tianyou was putting on too many airs.
The An Prince wasn't even his son-in-law yet, and he was already putting on the airs of a father-in-law.
"That Lord Li is only a fourth-rank official, yet he dares to treat the An Prince like this."
"What do you know? In court, the An Prince is the head of the ministers, but privately, Lord Li is the An Prince's future father-in-law. There's nothing wrong with the An Prince acting this way."
"You said it yourself, future father-in-law. He isn't one yet, is he?"
Some who saw this still felt a flicker of covetousness for the position of An Princess Consort. After all, whose family didn't have a daughter?
If the An Prince married their daughter, how would he treat them...
Besides, Li Tianyou had no foundation or connections. Why should his daughter be the An Prince's principal consort?
Thinking this, everyone's minds became even more active.
Li Tianyou sat in the main hall of the An Prince's manor, facing Xu Heming in silence.
After finishing a cup of tea, Li Tianyou finally looked coldly at Xu Heming and asked, "Xu Heming, do you still want to marry my daughter or not?"
Xu Heming, upon hearing this, was stunned, not understanding why Li Tianyou would suddenly ask such a thing?
Naturally, he wanted to marry Li Zhiwei. Otherwise, he wouldn't have stooped to performing that dance in the palace for her.
"Father-in-law, have you heard something that has caused you some misunderstanding?" Xu Heming thought to himself that he must investigate thoroughly to find out who dared gossip behind his back.
"Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding could I possibly have? If you have any dissatisfaction with me, just say it. There's no need for you to buy fake wine to endanger my life!" Li Tianyou stood up angrily, pointing at Xu Heming's nose and scolding him.
