Chapter Two Hundred and Forty-Three
Upon hearing Lady Yao's words, Li Tianyou's face darkened. Why did it feel like no matter where he went, the topic always circled back to his daughter getting married? Was it truly unacceptable for a daughter not to marry?
It seemed that throughout the entire kingdom of Lannuo, everyone except him was eagerly anticipating his daughter's marriage.
But he, for one, did not want his daughter to marry at all. What was so good about marriage anyway?
It wasn't as if he couldn't afford to provide for her!
"People can say whatever they wish with their own mouths. What does it have to do with us?" Li Tianyou said unhappily.
Faced with her husband's displeasure, Lady Yao naturally sensed it.
She hadn't wanted to bring this up either, but now, with rumors spreading like wildfire outside and their daughter even having to go to the palace because of it...
"This concubine feels that the matter has now grown too significant. It not only concerns Weier's reputation but also affects your official prestige, Master," Lady Yao sighed, feeling a pang of bitterness in her heart.
Their perfectly fine daughter had faced nothing but twists and turns regarding her marriage prospects, and now, she had to endure these baseless rumors.
Anyone hearing this would be upset.
"Let them talk. The clear-minded remain unsullied. At worst, our daughter simply won't marry. It's not like I can't support her!" Li Tianyou said stubbornly.
Hearing this, Lady Yao's heart sank. Was this really just about marrying or not?
Even if their daughter remained unmarried, she couldn't bear the thought of her being saddled with such a terrible reputation.
"Mother, this matter has already been clarified before His Majesty. It's settled," Li Zhiwei quickly reassured Lady Yao.
As for the marriage proposal, she hadn't made up her mind yet. After all, her father had said that Zheng Qiaoshu, representing the An Prince's household, had falsely accused him of poisoning the Old Princess.
This was something she deeply resented.
Thinking of this, Li Zhiwei decided to go to the An Prince's residence to assess the situation.
"Mother, could you please ask Zhou Tong to prepare some gifts? We shall visit the An Prince's residence later to call on the Old Princess," Li Zhiwei thought. Since her mother was now in the capital, it was only proper, both in sentiment and reason, to visit the An Prince's residence. They might as well go together.
"That is only right," Lady Yao nodded, then suddenly remembered Xu Qingshi, who was still resting in the guest room. She hurriedly added, "Qingshi is in the west wing. He has been waiting for you for quite some time."
"He's looking for me?" Li Zhiwei thought to herself, He really is just a child, bouncing back so quickly.
"He heard you got married and rushed over urgently, demanding an explanation," Lady Yao said, thinking of Xu Qingshi's demeanor when he arrived, finding it both annoying and amusing.
"I'll go see him," Li Zhiwei nodded. Xu Qingshi had saved her life, though she hadn't expected him to come looking for her at the residence at this time.
"Miss Li." When Li Zhiwei arrived, Moyu promptly bowed to her.
"How is Qingshi?" Li Zhiwei looked at Xu Qingshi on the bed; his complexion still didn't look very good.
She didn't understand why this child, not fully recovered, was in such a hurry to see her.
"The Young Master returned and hasn't fully recuperated yet. He rushed all the way here just now and is now exhausted, so he fell asleep," Moyu said, feeling somewhat distressed for his master.
However, this matter wasn't something a mere servant like him could comment on.
"Hmm, let him rest then. I am going to the An Prince's residence to visit the Old Princess. If Qingshi wakes up, let him rest here a while longer and wait for my return," Li Zhiwei carefully instructed.
"Miss Li, won't you be taking the Young Master back with you?" Moyu glanced at the sleeping Xu Qingshi, recalling how urgently he had wanted to see Li Zhiwei.
He wondered inwardly if his master would make a fuss upon waking to find that Miss Li had gone to the An Prince's residence without waiting for him.
"He looks very tired. Let him sleep more," Li Zhiwei shook her head.
If she took Xu Qingshi back now, others might think she was rushing him to leave.
Although Moyu felt Xu Qingshi might cause a scene, he also knew Miss Li had his master's best interests at heart.
"Young Mistress, the Madam has sent this servant to inform you that the gifts are prepared and you may depart," a maid's voice sounded outside the room.
"Take good care of the Young Master," Li Zhiwei finished her instructions and left.
Moyu looked at the sleeping Xu Qingshi, then at the departing Li Zhiwei, and sighed.
Li Zhiwei and Lady Yao soon arrived at the An Prince's residence.
Liu Ming, seeing Li Zhiwei arrive, hurried forward to greet her, saying respectfully, "Miss Li, you've come! And this is...?"
Liu Ming looked at Lady Yao beside Li Zhiwei, who bore a seventy percent resemblance to her, and roughly understood her identity.
"Mother, this is Steward Liu of the An Prince's residence. Steward Liu, this is my mother," Li Zhiwei smiled as she introduced them.
"So it is Lady Li! This old servant's eyes are dull, failing to recognize you!" Liu Ming quickly bowed to Lady Yao.
He thought to himself, This is my Prince's future mother-in-law. I must not show any disrespect.
"Steward Liu," Lady Yao smiled and nodded.
"This old servant will escort you to the Ci'an Hall now!" The smile never left Liu Ming's face.
He thought that seeing Li Zhiwei might lift the Old Princess's spirits and perhaps help her recover faster.
Meanwhile, in Ci'an Hall, the Old Princess was still angry with Xu Qingshi.
"That wretched boy! I, an old woman, think of him every day, and what does he do? He returns, yet he doesn't come to see me!" The thought that Xu Qingshi had gone to the Li household again soured The Old Princess's mood.
What is so lacking about our Anwang Manor?
Why does he run to their estate every day?
"The Young Master will return soon, Your Highness," Nanny Luo quickly soothed.
"The saying goes, 'a son takes a wife and forgets his mother,' but why is he in such a hurry? That's not even his wife!" This thought also left a very bitter taste in The Old Princess's mouth.
After all, she had never seen Xu Heming show such concern for his own son.
"Your Highness, you know the Young Master has always... rather longed for a mother. Miss Li is dignified and courteous. Perhaps she overlaps with the image of a mother in the Young Master's heart, which is why he cannot bear the thought of her marrying someone else. That must be why he rushed to seek an explanation," Nanny Luo considered for a moment and explained.
"So is she more important than this old woman?" The Old Princess said, her heart aching.
"Your Highness, Miss Li and Lady Yao request an audience." Liu Ming's clear voice sounded from outside the room.
The Old Princess choked on her words upon hearing this. Speak of the devil!
"Your Highness, you see, Miss Li and Lady Yao have come to visit you. The Young Master has probably returned as well and will come to see you shortly," Nanny Luo hurriedly reassured.
"Let them in!" Hearing this, The Old Princess's expression improved slightly.
Her eyes kept darting towards the doorway, anticipating that her little grandson would, as usual, come rushing into her arms any moment to act spoiled.
However, when she saw Li Zhiwei and Lady Yao enter, with not a soul following behind them, The Old Princess's face fell.
Lady Yao, who had been somewhat nervous, suddenly saw The Old Princess's fallen expression and momentarily forgot her own anxiety.
She thought, could it be that The Old Princess disapproves of my daughter?
With this in mind, Lady Yao felt relieved that she hadn't discussed with Li Tianyou the idea of arranging an early marriage for her daughter.
