Chapter Eighteen
"Li Zhiwei, you truly come from a petty household. Don’t you know that a virtuous woman does not marry twice?" Consort Lin, seeing that Xu Heming remained unmoved, turned to reprimand Li Zhiwei instead.
"This humble woman knows her status is lowly and unworthy of the Ruan Marquis Residence. However, at the time, it was the Ruan Marquis Residence who sought marriage with the Li Family. We brought a generous dowry to the capital, only to find the Lin Family’s doors closed to us. It was Prince An's Heir who took pity on me and brought me into Prince An's estate," Li Zhiwei knelt before Zhu Jingchen and explained truthfully.
"Zhiwei, this matter was Jitong’s fault. We have already reprimanded him. Let us discuss this further after we return," Lin Qihua said with a forced smile directed at Li Zhiwei.
He then shot a glare at Lin Jitong—had he not been so arrogant, they wouldn’t be in this predicament today.
Li Zhiwei curled her lips slightly. She knew full well that Lin Qihua only spoke this way because he coveted the Li Family’s wealth.
In her past life, all of the Li Family’s assets had been devoured by these ungrateful wolves of the Lin Family.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to donate my entire dowry to the imperial court," Li Zhiwei ignored Lin Qihua and instead spoke earnestly and openly to Zhu Jingchen.
Xu Heming was momentarily stunned but quickly understood Li Zhiwei’s intentions.
"Your Majesty, with the floods in the south and the urgent military needs at the borders, the court is indeed in dire need of funds. The Li Family’s noble gesture could alleviate the court’s pressing difficulties," Xu Heming declared solemnly to Zhu Jingchen.
Zhu Jingchen was pleased by this. As emperor, he prided himself on being just, but even he was powerless without sufficient treasury funds.
The Li Family—he knew them well. They lacked nothing but silver, and the dowry for their only daughter certainly wouldn’t be meager.
With that wealth at his disposal, Zhu Jingchen felt he could finally sleep soundly at night.
"Beyond my dowry, the Li Family is also willing to contribute five hundred thousand taels of silver and three hundred thousand bushels of grain to aid the southern flood victims," Li Zhiwei added, addressing Zhu Jingchen once more.
Zhu Jingchen, who had been somewhat troubled earlier, swallowed hard. Good heavens, this Li Family young lady truly knew how to lift his spirits.
"Since Miss Li is so generous, We are deeply gratified. On behalf of the court, We express Our gratitude for the Li Family’s righteousness," Zhu Jingchen said, unable to suppress the smile on his lips.
Lin Qihua’s heart sank. The Li Family’s dowry was now beyond their reach. However, Li Zhiwei was still the Li Family’s sole heir. As the saying went, a starved camel was still larger than a horse—as long as Li Zhiwei remained tied to the Lin Family, they would never lack for silver.
Moreover, such a donation wouldn’t go unrewarded. The emperor would surely bestow honors in return.
"To share Your Majesty’s burdens is the Ruan Marquis Residence’s good fortune," Lin Qihua quickly knelt and said.
Xu Heming frowned at this. What did the Ruan Marquis Residence have to do with any of this?
Consort Lin was initially displeased, but then she considered that if her family gained the emperor’s favor, she too would benefit. She was currently pregnant, but her rank was too low.
If her family rose in status, she could secure a higher position and keep her child by her side.
The thought excited her.
Ahem! Zhu Jingchen coughed lightly, nearly laughing at Lin Qihua’s shamelessness.
"Miss Li, is there any reward you desire?" Zhu Jingchen asked Li Zhiwei directly, unwilling to indulge Lin Qihua.
What did the Li Family’s wealth have to do with the Ruan Marquis Residence?
She hadn’t even stepped through their doors.
"This humble woman begs Your Majesty to dissolve the betrothal between myself and the Lin Family. Although Young Master Lin had already completed the formal betrothal rites, I have yet to enter the Lin Family’s gates, perform the wedding ceremony, or consummate the marriage. Thus, it should not be binding. Moreover, Young Master Lin has already married Miss Zhou. I refuse to become his concubine!" Li Zhiwei seized the opportunity to plead.
"Your Majesty, it is true that my son erred in taking a concubine first. However, Jitong and Miss Li have already exchanged betrothal documents," Lin Qihua protested, displeased that Li Zhiwei would dare reject them so boldly.
"Father, Yutang is not a concubine!" Lin Jitong interjected indignantly.
"Silence!" Lin Qihua hadn’t expected his son to fixate on Zhou Yutang’s status at such a critical moment.
In Lin Qihua’s view, they could simply tell outsiders that Zhou Yutang was a concubine.
Yet here he was, fighting for their interests, while his own son acted like a fool, undermining him.
"Mother!" Lin Jitong tugged at Madam Luo’s sleeve, unwilling to part with his cousin.
Madam Zhou, though equally displeased with Lin Qihua’s words, dared not speak up before the emperor.
"Very well. We hereby decree that the betrothal between the Lin and Li Families is annulled," Zhu Jingchen said, ignoring the Lin Family’s squabbles and instead casting a knowing glance at Xu Heming.
This old fox ought to marry soon.
Come to think of it, it was Xu Qingshi who had brought her home—that boy had an eye for talent.
"Your Majesty!" Lin Qihua frowned. This was not the outcome he wanted.
Without the Li Family’s support, his master’s plans would collapse.
Moreover, with the Li Family now in the emperor’s favor, any further schemes would be difficult to execute.
"Minister Xu, issue Our decree: summon Li Tianyou for an audience," Zhu Jingchen said. He greatly admired Li Tianyou’s business acumen. If such a man could be persuaded to serve the court, perhaps his own coffers would no longer be so strained.
"Your Majesty, Li Tianyou is currently in Li'an County and cannot arrive in the capital immediately," Xu Heming replied.
"No matter. Have him come to the palace once he reaches the capital," Zhu Jingchen said, his mood greatly improved by the windfall.
"As you command."
"This humble woman thanks Your Majesty for your benevolence!" Li Zhiwei promptly kowtowed in gratitude.
"Minister Xu, until Li Tianyou arrives, Miss Li shall reside temporarily at Prince An's estate. You are to host her on Our behalf and ensure she is treated with utmost respect. Minister Lin, since the betrothal has been dissolved, you are not to trouble Miss Li further," Zhu Jingchen instructed both men.
"Your Majesty, some of my dowry has already been delivered to the Lin Family. Now that the betrothal is void, those items..." Li Zhiwei looked pleadingly at Zhu Jingchen.
Those larger items had been painstakingly acquired by her parents. She couldn’t let the Lin Family keep them.
"Li Zhiwei, those things belong to the Lin Family now!" Lin Jitong protested.
He had already given them to his cousin.
"Your Majesty, rest assured. This official will ensure all dowry items are returned to Miss Li in full," Lin Qihua said through gritted teeth.
