Chapter One Hundred Eighty-Nine
Prince Lanhuai put down the child in his hands and passed Zhu Ruofan to Concubine Mei beside him.
Little Zhu Ruofan's tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed.
That pastry was too sweet; he didn't like it.
But Father was so fierce; he didn't dare to argue.
"Auntie!" Zhu Ruofan hid his face in Concubine Mei's embrace, feeling somewhat afraid.
Concubine Mei, however, mistakenly thought Zhu Ruofan was afraid of Princess Fuan. She quickly stood up, made a curtsey to Prince Lanhuai and Princess Fuan, and said, "Your Highness and Princess, please continue your discussion. This humble concubine will take the Third Young Master to wash his hands."
Princess Fuan did not spare half a glance for Concubine Mei—she was merely one of the many concubines in the manor.
She didn't take her to heart at all.
This concubine wasn't anything special. At most, she was just lucky enough to have borne Father a bastard son. To Princess Fuan, this made no difference anyway; the possessions of Prince Lanhuai's manor would never fall to her.
Her mother had never interfered in such matters. The reason those other concubines failed to bear children for Father was either because Father didn't want them to, or because they simply lacked the fortune.
These things had never been her mother's concern.
"Go on," Prince Lanhuai waved his hand, very satisfied with Concubine Mei's tactfulness.
"What matter has angered our Fuan so?" Prince Lanhuai narrowed his eyes, looking at his daughter with a smile.
"Father, how can you say that? Someone bullied your daughter like that, and you actually dared to speak up for that wretched woman?" Princess Fuan sat discontentedly before Prince Lanhuai.
She poured out her grievances.
"Look at you, getting so angry over an insignificant person. Is it worth it?" Prince Lanhuai continued smiling.
"Father, have you taken a fancy to her?" Princess Fuan asked, looking at Prince Lanhuai with displeasure. The mere thought of Zheng Qiaoshu possibly appearing in Prince Lanhuai's Manor filled her with a thousand refusals.
"Such a temper. This Prince merely happened to be passing by. I was kindly considering your interests, yet you think your father has taken a fancy to her? Haven't you considered who that young lady is?" Prince Lanhuai naturally wouldn't tell his daughter that the person was his pawn.
Moreover, the Li family possessed something he desired.
Legend had it that a Li family ancestor once saved a man of great ability, who left the Li family with immense wealth—rumored to be enough to cover the entire kingdom of Lannuo's expenses for thirty years.
He wanted that position, and thus he wanted that wealth.
Originally, having the Ruan Marquis Residence marry Li Zhiwei was meant to force the Li family to hand over that wealth. Who would have thought the Lin family would be so useless, with everything ruined by a single woman.
"Wasn't your father thinking of you?" Thinking of this, Prince Lanhuai spoke again before Princess Fuan could respond.
"Father, how were you thinking of me? In front of everyone, they all saw her bump into me, yet you urged me to yield to her!" Princess Fuan said indignantly.
"Haven't you considered whose family that young lady is from? She's Prince An's cousin. I was thinking, since you admire Prince An and will likely marry into Prince An's residence sooner or later, if you offend her too severely, what if she goes back and says a few bad words about you to The Old Princess? That wouldn't be good, would it?" Prince Lanhuai soothed his daughter, though the smile in his eyes didn't reach their depths. He thought to himself, Zheng Qiaoshu was truly useless.
Just going out for a meeting, and she could bump into his own daughter. If he had been a step slower, she might have been skinned alive. How could she handle affairs for him then?
"Father, how can you still say such things to me? You watched with your own eyes as the Emperor bestowed marriage upon Prince An and some merchant's daughter. Now it's done, the imperial decree has been issued. Father, you still talk about me marrying into Prince An's residence. Father, could it be you want your daughter to become Prince An's concubine?"
The thought filled Princess Fuan with intense dissatisfaction. To think, a princess of her status would have to be someone's concubine—how could she ever accept such a thing?
"Father, your daughter refuses to be Prince An's concubine. You must think of a way for me. In this lifetime, I will marry no one but Prince An!" Princess Fuan said, looking at Prince Lanhuai with displeasure.
"Don't worry, daughter. This matter... your father has already sent people to handle it!" Prince Lanhuai thought of how he had already dispatched people to Li'an County to hire assassins, planning to have Li Zhiwei killed.
After all, initially, when he arranged for the Ruan Marquis Residence to propose to the Li family, his aim was precisely the Li family's substantial dowry.
Unexpectedly, Lin Qihua's son ruined his plans for the sake of a woman.
And that Li Zhiwei was even more ungrateful, donating all that dowry to that damned Emperor.
It caused him a significant loss all at once.
Currently, raising his private troops required vast sums of money.
In the capital, that damned Zhu Jingchen had Prince An managing everything for him. Even if Prince Lanhuai wanted to make a move, he had to be extremely cautious.
This time, the Liu family affair was uncovered, all thanks to Prince An and that Li Tianyou.
For Prince Lanhuai, he and Xu Heming and Li Tianyou could be said to have fresh grievances added to old hatreds.
The urgent task now was to quickly secure an external ally and obtain more silver.
Otherwise, the people he was supporting would soon run out of provisions.
Thinking of this, Prince Lanhuai also wondered if he should send someone to Li Tianyou's side.
After all, no influence was more effective than pillow talk.
A talent like Prince An would be even better if he could be used.
If not, he wouldn't mind destroying him.
Li Tianyou, though new to the official circles, had amassed such considerable family wealth; the man certainly had some capability.
It was said his work in the Ministry of Revenue was already showing initial success. Such a money tree—how could he not need one?
"Father, what are you thinking about?" Princess Fuan looked at the distracted Prince Lanhuai, very displeased.
"Ah? What?" Prince Lanhuai snapped back to reality and looked at his daughter.
"Father, do you really have a way to prevent that Li family woman from marrying Prince An?" Princess Fuan beside him asked, looking at Prince Lanhuai with excitement.
"Naturally, there is a way. Don't worry, daughter. Within half a month, good news is sure to arrive." Prince Lanhuai didn't believe hiring a couple of assassins couldn't deal with a Li Zhiwei from a minor family.
Li'an County
Li Zhiwei and Xu Heming were unaware that back in the capital, several factions were plotting against them.
However, today, Li Zhiwei had arranged to meet Shen An'an and her father, Shen Shan.
"An'an, are you sure Miss Li has a way to help us?" Shen Shan asked his daughter with a heavy expression.
"Father, I believe Zhiwei definitely has a way to help us. Besides, right now, we cannot produce eight thousand catties of Daughter's Red. If Zhiwei has a way to help us..." Shen An'an bit her lip, thinking that if not, what likely awaited the Shen family was having to compensate until their family fortune was drained.
"Ah." Shen Shan sighed, his heart also filled with unease. The Shen family fortune was the savings he had worked half a lifetime to accumulate.
Now, it seemed likely to be lost in an instant due to this single error in judgment, returning them to their starting point.
He could accept it for himself, but he was afraid his wife and children would have to suffer hardships with him again.
"Uncle Shen, An'an, you've come." Li Zhiwei emerged with Qinghua and Qingyue and saw Shen An'an and Shen Shan seated to the side, greeting them with a smile.
"Miss Li, An'an told me you have a way to help us. I truly feel..." Shen Shan found himself somewhat at a loss for words. That this matter required the assistance of a junior was rather embarrassing.
"Uncle Shen, it's quite alright. If I can be of help to you, it would make me genuinely happy," Li Zhiwei said with a gentle smile.
