Chapter Two Hundred and Forty-One
However, after hearing Prince Lanhuai's words, Huo Yunxuan still felt a sour taste in his heart. After all, this attitude was completely different from before.
As for the reason, Huo Yunxuan understood it clearly. This man probably thought he had lost his usefulness.
Because today, the Emperor had ruled that all his family property was to be confiscated by the state.
Truly, when a man leaves, the tea turns cold. He hadn't even left yet, but this man had already changed his face.
"Your Highness, have you ever heard the saying, 'A starved camel is still bigger than a horse'?" Huo Yunxuan suppressed the dissatisfaction in his heart and said.
He knew this was his only chance. Otherwise, once he was exiled three thousand li away, there would be no time to decide these matters, and this man would not see him again.
By then, although the Huo family could still make a comeback, it would be different. He, a mere merchant, understood what this man needed such a large sum of silver for.
It was nothing more than wanting that throne.
Originally, he hadn't agreed, simply because he also wanted to strive, like Li Tianyou, to secure an official position. Unfortunately, that Emperor didn't know how to cherish this opportunity.
So, it was no wonder he sought another path.
"Oh?" Seeing Huo Yunxuan's confident demeanor, Prince Lanhuai felt a flicker of hesitation again. After all, since this man could possess the vast family business of Jiyun Manor, it was hard to guarantee he didn't have some unknown assets hidden away.
If that were truly the case, then he indeed needed to reconsider whether this man could still be kept around.
"I can help you stage a comeback, but I have one condition," Huo Yunxuan said, looking at Prince Lanhuai.
"What condition?" Prince Lanhuai looked at Huo Yunxuan. If he could truly help him and become his money bag, even ten conditions would be acceptable, let alone one.
"I have three elder sisters. I hope Your Highness will arrange for their well-being. You need to marry my third sister." Huo Yunxuan knew the man before him was of extraordinary status. If he ascended the throne, his third sister would become a palace consort, and then the Huo family could climb higher and further.
As for Huo Yunzhi, the Chen family she originally wanted to marry was simply insignificant compared to power and influence.
"You should understand that with my status, it's impossible for me not to have taken a principal wife." Prince Lanhuai didn't expect Huo Yunxuan to make such a request. As for marrying his sister, Prince Lanhuai didn't take it to heart. He had many women in his rear courtyard; marrying one, or even all three together, was not out of the question.
However, they could only be concubines.
"Then I beg for the position of an honored concubine!" Huo Yunxuan never expected this man to marry his third sister as the principal wife anyway. But a position as an honored concubine shouldn't be too much to ask, right?
Prince Lanhuai didn't expect Huo Yunxuan's appetite to be so big, asking outright for a side consort position.
He did have one side consort position left under his name, but it depended on whether the chips this man offered were sufficient.
"Then it depends on whether Young Master Huo's sincerity is enough for this old man to marry Miss Huo the Third as an honored concubine!" Since Prince Lanhuai thought this way, he spoke it out truthfully.
"This is a gambling house I own in the capital, to be considered as part of my third sister's dowry." Huo Yunxuan deliberately emphasized "part of the dowry."
This was to indicate that anything given to him in the future could only be given through the method of Huo Yunzhi's dowry.
"Yuanxin Gambling House?" Prince Lanhuai didn't expect that the largest gambling house in the capital actually belonged to Huo Yunxuan.
Considering this man had no background in the capital yet could run the largest gambling house there, he did have some capability.
Because of this, Prince Lanhuai began to believe Huo Yunxuan's words a little more.
"In that case, I agree. I will choose a day to marry the Huo woman into my household." Prince Lanhuai thought to himself, since he wanted his sister to stay by his side, he would grant him that.
After all, the sincerity of the Yuanxin Gambling House was quite substantial.
Imperial Study
Zhu Jingchen looked at Li Tianyou, Xu Heming, and Li Zhiwei, whom he had asked to stay behind alone, and sighed.
Although today's matter was just a rumor, its impact was still extremely unfavorable.
Especially since he heard outside that everyone was saying Li Zhiwei had returned to Li'an County to get married.
"Regarding today's events, although I know they are rumors, such talk is ultimately unpleasant to hear. I wonder if Minister Xu and Official Li have considered how to silence the gossip of the masses?"
Zhu Jingchen asked solemnly, thinking in his heart that the best way would be for the two of them to hold their wedding quickly, which would also shut everyone up.
However, since the marriage was decreed, neither family had mentioned setting a wedding date to him, which left him somewhat puzzled. Had the matter of their marriage been put on the agenda yet?
In principle, a marriage decreed by him should be handled by the Ministry of Rites.
But now, for various reasons, the Imperial Astronomers had not yet selected an auspicious date, so he hadn't paid much attention to the matter.
Xu Heming was taken aback for a moment, then looked at Li Zhiwei.
He understood clearly that the best method was to announce their wedding date.
But he hadn't discussed this with Li Zhiwei and didn't know if she was willing.
Li Zhiwei kept her head down, not looking at Xu Heming. This matter shouldn't be asked of a young lady, right?
Besides, her father was right here.
Seeing Li Zhiwei with her head down, Xu Heming thought she might be shy and quickly turned to look at Li Tianyou beside him.
Li Tianyou gave a light hum. He was still thinking about how to ruin this marriage arrangement.
Asking him to agree first? Not a chance.
However, the Emperor was still waiting for their answer. Not saying anything at all didn't seem right either.
"Your Majesty, this humble official believes the marriage between the two families still requires further consideration. Last time, when I intended to visit the Prince of An's residence to inquire about my daughter's affairs in Li'an County, the residence already had a young mistress in charge—a cousin. She even falsely accused this official of poisoning the old princess." Li Tianyou said with clear displeasure.
Li Tianyou was genuinely unhappy. The old princess's poisoning had nothing to do with him, and he greatly disliked the behavior of that cousin.
"Oh? There was such a matter? How is the old princess now?" Upon hearing about the old princess being poisoned, Zhu Jingchen first inquired with concern.
"How is it that I didn't know when the Prince of An's residence acquired an extra cousin?"
After asking, Zhu Jingchen thought of that so-called cousin and asked, puzzled.
"Replying to Your Majesty, my mother's health has already improved. As for the matter of falsely accusing Official Li, that was purely that person's private scheme. That cousin is precisely the one who poisoned my mother. Currently, this official has detained that person for investigation." Xu Heming sighed inwardly. He didn't expect this matter would still weigh on his future father-in-law's mind. He felt somewhat uncomfortable that Li Tianyou had been wronged because of it.
If he had a daughter in the future,
and there were other women in her intended's household accusing him, he would probably also turn and leave in anger.
"That must be investigated thoroughly. Find out why your cousin would poison the old princess." Zhu Jingchen said with a frown. His thoughts were evidently more far-reaching. Xu Heming was his right-hand man; someone targeting his family members?
They must have ulterior motives.
