Chapter 222
Niu Shi, looking quite pleased with herself, led a gaggle of aunts and busybodies to knock on the Li family's gate.
Neighbors from the surrounding Xiliu Alley curiously opened their own doors, peering towards the Li residence.
"My goodness, what are these people here for? Doesn't the newly appointed Vice Minister Li live there?"
"Who knows? Vice Minister Li is a man living alone, and this old woman has brought a whole crowd with her. It looks like trouble."
"Lord Li always seemed such a gentle person. I wonder how he managed to offend this lot."
The neighbors all had a favorable impression of Li Tianyou and couldn't help but feel a pang of anxiety for him. After all, Niu Shi didn't look like she was here for anything good.
And now, the knocking was so forceful.
Niu Shi felt smug inside. So what if Li Tianyou was a second-rank official?
After tomorrow, wouldn't he have to obediently call her mother-in-law?
From then on, all the money he earned would have to go to her family.
They certainly couldn't let that worthless girl get the benefit.
That "worthless girl," Li Zhiwei, frowned as she looked towards the gate. She turned a puzzled gaze to Li Tianyou, her expression clearly asking her father, "Where did you manage to offend these old biddies?"
Li Tianyou was also baffled as he looked towards the gate.
He carefully searched his memory, wondering if he had provoked someone he shouldn't have.
But after thinking for a long time, apart from the incident at the Prince An's mansion and that Zheng Qiaoshu, he really couldn't think of anyone else who would come to his door making a scene.
But wasn't Zheng Qiaoshu arrested on Steward Liu's orders?
Meanwhile, Xu Jin'an, who had been sitting on the floor, heard Niu Shi's voice. She immediately shed her previous meekness, stood up excitedly, and shouted towards outside, "Mother, I'm in here!"
Li Zhiwei rolled her eyes. Great, this girl's little drama was more complicated than it seemed.
Hearing this, Lady Yao's face paled.
She shot a glare at Li Tianyou. It was all this old fool's fault for being so troublesome. Where did he attract such a pack of plague carriers? Her precious daughter had just returned home and already had to clean up his mess.
Li Tianyou guiltily rubbed his nose. If he said this matter had nothing to do with him, that wouldn't be entirely true.
After all, this person had followed him home.
"Li Tianyou, you hypocritical beast, let my daughter go this instant!" Outside, hearing her daughter's voice, Niu Shi shouted excitedly.
Li Zhiwei's face darkened with exasperation.
No wonder this girl had been so adamant earlier about not being a concubine.
So her plan was to force a marriage?
If her father had been alone at home today, and those people outside barged in with their crowd, even if he was in the right, given the circumstances, he might have had no choice but to grit his teeth and marry the girl.
What a deep and cunning scheme.
"Father, help Mother inside. Leave the people outside to me," Li Zhiwei sighed, waving a hand at Li Tianyou.
"Go inside? I want to see what they intend to do," Lady Yao had no intention of letting her daughter face this alone.
She might not be able to do much, but her presence meant she could protect her daughter, ensuring those jackals outside couldn't bully her.
"Madam, perhaps we should go inside," Li Tianyou felt it was unseemly for him, a man, to be present for this. Besides, those people were clearly here to extort him; it was better if he went inside.
"If you're scared, go in by yourself," Lady Yao shot Li Tianyou a sidelong glance, thinking to herself, how come this man, now that he's an official, has even less backbone?
Li Tianyou felt wronged. It wasn't about lacking backbone; it was a conflict among women—what was a man supposed to do?
He couldn't exactly hit back.
"Father, you go in. Your presence here actually hampers me. Mother, you too, please go in. Don't worry, your daughter will be fine," Seeing their reluctance to leave, Li Zhiwei hurriedly persuaded them.
"Madam, our presence here might hinder our daughter," Li Tianyou, worried Lady Yao might get too agitated, added his persuasion.
Seeing her daughter's insistence, Lady Yao finally said, "Be careful. If it gets too much, just have Zhou Tong drive them out."
"Don't worry, Mother. I have Qinghua and Qingyue with me. Those people can't harm me!" In fact, Li Zhiwei almost wished they would try to harm her. After all, her status now was not ordinary.
She was the An Princess Consort, personally bestowed by the Emperor. Harming her would bring them plenty of trouble.
Lady Yao gave one last worried glance, but seeing her daughter wave her off, she could only walk helplessly towards the inner rooms.
Li Tianyou followed behind, feeling rather pleased.
He had been separated from his wife for two months. Now, finally able to reunite, his mood was excellent.
With those annoying nuisances outside gone, his mood could be even better.
The bystanders who heard Niu Shi's words all widened their eyes in shock.
That gentle Vice Minister Li had kidnapped this woman's daughter?
No wonder the woman was so angry. Anyone would be furious if their daughter was taken.
"But Lord Li doesn't seem like that kind of lecherous person? This woman doesn't look very old; her child probably isn't either, right?"
Some were highly skeptical of Niu Shi's claim.
"Who knows? Some people appear perfectly proper on the surface but engage in all sorts of depravity behind closed doors. We've never seen Vice Minister Li's wife around; maybe he's started having some wild ideas." After saying this, the person tried to peer into the Li family courtyard again, but unfortunately, the Li's courtyard walls were built high, and they couldn't see a thing.
Niu Shi didn't feel her words would cause any trouble for Li Tianyou at all.
As long as Li Tianyou married her daughter, what did it matter if she used some underhanded tactics?
The more guilt Li Tianyou felt towards her daughter and her family later, the more money they could demand from him.
"Li Tianyou, my daughter is, after all, from an official's family. Aren't you afraid my husband will report you to the Emperor for this?" Seeing the Li family gate remain tightly shut and hearing no more from her daughter, Niu Shi shouted again.
She wondered, why hadn't Li Tianyou come out yet?
And that wretched girl Jin'an, didn't she know to open the door for them?
Creak! The gate slowly opened from the inside. However, once open, no one was visible. The crowd looked at each other, confused about the situation.
"Are you looking for her?" Li Zhiwei suddenly popped her head out and unceremoniously tossed Xu Jin'an, who was trussed up like a chicken, right in front of Niu Shi.
Niu Shi was dumbfounded.
Where was Li Tianyou?
Could this not be Li Tianyou's house after all?
Seeing a young woman emerge from the Li residence, the onlookers grew even more curious.
The woman had been shouting that her daughter was kidnapped by Li Tianyou.
She had been so vocal earlier, so why was she silent now?
"Mmph... mmph... mmph..." Xu Jin'an looked at Niu Shi with a pleading, fearful expression.
For a moment, Niu Shi was at a loss for words.
She hadn't known there were female family members in Li Tianyou's household.
Thinking this, Niu Shi decided it must be Xu Xiangren's fault for not gathering proper information.
"Madam, why aren't you keeping a better eye on your daughter? The moment the door opened, she charged right in. If her mind isn't right, she needs treatment! It wouldn't be good if she went out and hurt someone."
Li Zhiwei looked at Niu Shi, speaking with utter seriousness. Anyone who didn't know better would think Xu Jin'an suffered from some serious affliction.
