Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty-Five
In the imperial court, the atmosphere remained tense and confrontational. Censor Cao stood behind Huo Yunxuan and pointed an accusing finger at Li Tianyou. "Minister Li, you are, after all, from a small place. The capital is not like Li'an County. The upbringing of young ladies from noble families is extremely strict," Censor Cao said, looking at Li Tianyou with a mocking expression.
"Now, your daughter's reputation is already ruined. You should be secretly delighted that Young Master Huo is still willing to marry her," Censor Cao continued, glancing at Huo Yunxuan beside him and then back at Li Tianyou.
Censor Cao was deeply jealous of Li Tianyou. Just moments ago, Li Tianyou had offered to donate one hundred thousand taels of gold to the imperial court, making it sound as if he were the only one with money.
Always showing off.
Nothing but a few stinking coins.
Even wearing an official's robe couldn't conceal the base, mercantile vulgarity that clung to him.
He still reeked of the cheap stench of copper.
Thinking of this, Censor Cao's eyes even began to redden as he looked at Li Tianyou.
That spendthrift fool... if only that one hundred thousand taels of gold were his!
However, Censor Cao dared not voice these thoughts in front of the Emperor.
After all, the Emperor surely wouldn't object to such silver filling the imperial coffers.
Zhu Jingchen was unaware that Censor Cao below was scheming over his silver. However, as he observed the court officials below, each harboring their own secret plots, he noticed many were eyeing their own official robes. Those with particularly splendid and luxurious attire had likely lined their pockets quite well.
As for those with patched official robes, they either held positions with little opportunity for graft or were truly upright and incorruptible officials.
Considering this, Zhu Jingchen thought to himself that from now on, he must observe carefully before assigning tasks to these officials.
Yet, looking again at Li Tianyou and Huo Yunxuan—who had openly offered ten thousand taels of gold to request the dissolution of a marriage contract—Zhu Jingchen couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Merchants truly had sharp minds and fast ways of making money.
Those officials, even when embezzling, probably wouldn't dare to speak in units of ten thousand, would they?
Thinking of this, Zhu Jingchen's mind returned to the ten thousand taels of gold Huo Yunxuan was offering. He needed to devise a good plan to ensure that gold, once it arrived, would never leave.
Since Huo Yunxuan was delivering it to him, it wouldn't be right to make him take it back. Wouldn't that make him, the Emperor, seem too unreasonable?
Still, he pondered what reason he could use to make Huo Yunxuan willingly leave the gold behind.
Although it wasn't as much as Li Tianyou's one hundred thousand, even a mosquito's flesh is still meat.
"Since each of you insists on your own version of events, Eunuch Liu, have Miss Li enter and speak for herself." Zhu Jingchen paid no heed to Censor Cao's provocation, nor to Xu Heming's gloomy expression.
This matter still needed to be resolved.
However, Zhu Jingchen was also very curious: whom would Li Zhiwei choose?
If Li Zhiwei truly chose this Huo Yunxuan, should he grant her wish?
This thought also troubled Zhu Jingchen.
If he truly allowed Li Zhiwei and Huo Yunxuan to be together, what would Xu Heming do?
The very idea made Zhu Jingchen feel restless and agitated.
Upon receiving Zhu Jingchen's command, Eunuch Liu hurried out of the hall and escorted Li Zhiwei inside.
When Li Zhiwei entered, the court officials who had never seen her before collectively drew a sharp breath. They hadn't expected Li Tianyou's daughter to possess such celestial beauty.
Seeing Li Zhiwei's stunning looks, the officials thought to themselves, no wonder Prince An had been so enraged for her sake, a classic case of a hero's fury sparked by a beauty.
And no wonder a mere merchant dared to come to court to contend with Prince An for her.
With Miss Li's flower-like countenance and moon-like beauty, it was no surprise even Prince An was captivated.
Xu Heming watched as Li Zhiwei walked slowly in. He pursed his lips, looking at her with clear displeasure, his eyes holding a trace of grievance none had ever seen before.
Xie Jincheng, observing Xu Heming's expression, sneered inwardly. When had this ruthless prince ever shown such an expression?
Yet, he had to admit Li Zhiwei was beautiful.
He cursed inwardly again: Xu Heming was just a shallow man. He had wondered why so many attempted marriage alliances had failed—turns out he just liked pretty faces.
Huo Yunxuan looked at Li Zhiwei, who seemed even more beautiful than before. His heart swelled with both joy and excitement. As long as the Emperor agreed to dissolve her engagement with Prince An, there would be no more obstacles between Li Zhiwei and himself. She would surely be willing to marry him.
He had missed his chance once; he absolutely would not miss it a second time.
Li Tianyou looked at his daughter with heartache. After all, if this matter spread, it would be Li Zhiwei's reputation that suffered. This was what he, as a father, least wished to see.
"Your subject, Li Zhiwei, pays respects to Your Majesty. May the Emperor live ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"
Li Zhiwei did not look at anyone. Instead, with dignified propriety, she performed a deep bow towards Zhu Jingchen at the head of the hall.
Zhu Jingchen nodded slightly in approval at her composure.
Although Li Tianyou came from a merchant background, one had to admit he had raised his daughter very well.
She showed not a hint of stage fright, even in the Golden Luan Hall.
In fact, she carried herself with more grace than the daughters of some minor officials.
No wonder Xu Heming was moved by Li Zhiwei.
"Rise," Zhu Jingchen said, then glanced at the court officials again.
After Li Zhiwei arrived, Huo Yunxuan's demeanor became even more arrogant, as if certain she would choose to leave with him.
In contrast, Xu Heming, standing nearby, looked rather pale.
After all, he himself wasn't entirely sure if Li Zhiwei held any affection for him.
Upon hearing the command, Li Zhiwei stood up and obediently took her place beside her father. This made several officials who had no daughters grit their teeth in envy. Damn it, they wanted such a beautiful and well-behaved daughter too! What could they do?
Huo Yunxuan, however, looked at Li Zhiwei with displeasure. Shouldn't she be standing by his side at a time like this?
Although Li Zhiwei sensed the strange atmosphere in the hall, she didn't connect it to herself. She was merely puzzled: why had the Emperor summoned her to the palace at this time? What matter could he have with her?
Still, with her father here, she wasn't too worried. Her father would surely protect her. Moreover, Xu Heming was also present, so presumably nothing too serious would happen to her.
At this moment, everyone observed Li Zhiwei's chosen position, and their gazes grew subtle. They were all intensely curious: in the end, would Li Zhiwei choose Prince An, or the young lover who so confidently claimed they were mutually devoted?
It was difficult for Li Zhiwei to ignore the scrutinizing looks, but she forced herself to remain calm and silent.
Although, at this moment, she very much wanted to ask Li Tianyou what was happening.
Li Zhiwei suddenly recalled the rumors Cuiguo had overheard that morning, the ones about her being married. She ventured a bold guess: could the Emperor's summons be related to those rumors?
Thinking of those rumors, Li Zhiwei was also confused about where they had originated.
She had no idea when she had supposedly gotten married.
