Chapter 32
"Father-in-law!" Xu Heming rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
The situation was simply too coincidental.
Otherwise, how could they have stumbled upon such a scene?
To an outsider, it would seem as though the An Manor was a den of danger, where Li Zhiwei suffered endless bullying.
It was all that damned Zhou Yuying’s fault.
"Your Highness, Prince An, please be careful with your words. This humble Li cannot bear the title of 'father-in-law.' As for the matter between Zhiwei and you, we shall discuss it later. Zhiwei, let’s go." With that, Li Tianyou took his daughter’s hand and prepared to leave.
"Father-in-law, this is all a misunderstanding," Xu Heming said helplessly. It was no wonder his father-in-law was displeased—having just arrived in the capital, he had witnessed someone bullying his daughter right in the prince’s own residence.
"This old man does not blame Your Highness. However, I have much to discuss with my daughter. I hope Your Highness will not stand in our way." Li Tianyou’s expression was stern, his tone leaving no room for argument. Besides, what father wouldn’t want to speak with his daughter?
Xu Heming had no reason to refuse.
"Father-in-law, since you’ve just arrived in the capital, we’ve already prepared a courtyard for you. Why not settle in first and let Zhiwei accompany you for a proper conversation?" Xu Heming quickly suggested.
"There’s no need for Your Highness to trouble yourself. Though I seldom stay in the capital, I still have a place to rest here. Today, I will speak with my daughter first. Tomorrow morning, I will come to accompany Your Highness to the palace for an audience with His Majesty."
Li Tianyou’s words were distant and formal.
Li Zhiwei stood silently beside him, her head lowered.
She wasn’t without anger.
After all, she couldn’t openly complain about Zhou Yuying’s visit to the manor. But if Zhou Yuying dared to humiliate her like this today, who knew what she might do tomorrow?
Moreover, Zhou Yuying was Xu Qingshi’s maternal aunt. In the capital, the marital ties between noble families were always tightly knit.
If Prince An later decided to marry this Third Miss Zhou, what could she, a mere merchant’s daughter, use to compete?
She had wealth, yes—but in the face of power, money meant little.
Rather than wait for the worst, perhaps she should find another way out.
She had already donated her dowry to the imperial court. Surely, given the substantial sum, the court would at least protect the Li family to some extent.
Of course, if she could secure imperial favor, that would be even better. But these were thoughts Li Zhiwei only dared to entertain in secret.
Li Tianyou led his daughter back to West Willow Lane, his face dark the entire way.
This made Li Zhiwei uneasy. Was her father truly angry?
"Father, please don’t be upset," she ventured softly once they were seated.
"Today was just an accident. It was my first time meeting that Third Miss Zhou."
As she spoke, guilt flickered in her heart. If she hadn’t struck Zhou Yuying first, perhaps the woman wouldn’t have pushed her.
Still, she hadn’t expected things to unfold so coincidentally—with both Li Tianyou and Xu Heming witnessing the scene firsthand.
"Enough. It’s this useless father’s fault." Li Tianyou sighed. Since ancient times, merchants had been ranked lowest in society. It was his failure that his daughter had to endure such humiliation.
"Father, I’m actually doing fine. Please don’t be angry," Li Zhiwei reassured him.
"I’m not angry. I just regret ever agreeing to let you come to the capital." Li Tianyou wondered—if he had refused, would none of this have happened?
First, she had been abandoned outside her groom’s residence on her wedding day. Then, she had been forcibly taken as a stepmother by the young heir of a prince’s household. Now, the sister of the prince’s late wife had come to bully her.
Each incident weighed heavily on Li Tianyou’s heart.
If only he were stronger—then he wouldn’t have to fear those who dared to mistreat his family.
"Father, it’s not your fault. I know you only wanted the best for me. But everything will pass." Remembering her parents’ tragic fate in her past life, Li Zhiwei stepped forward and embraced Li Tianyou.
Heaven had given her a second chance. She would not let the Li family repeat its downfall.
"You’ve suffered." Feeling his daughter tremble, Li Tianyou awkwardly patted her back.
"Father, now that you’re in the capital—did you bring everything I mentioned in my letters?" After their brief reunion, Li Zhiwei quickly turned to business.
After all, they would have plenty of time to catch up later. But tomorrow’s imperial audience was critical—it concerned the survival of the Li family.
"Don’t worry, Zhiwei. I’ve prepared everything you asked for." Li Tianyou sighed. After a lifetime of hard work, the wealth he had amassed had only invited envy.
From her letters, he had guessed Li Zhiwei’s intentions.
He didn’t begrudge parting with his possessions—if it meant securing a better future for his daughter. On his journey, Wu San had spoken highly of Prince An.
Originally, Li Tianyou had held a favorable impression of the prince. Though his daughter would be a second wife, given their merchant status, it was still an advantageous match.
Most importantly, when his daughter was in trouble, Prince An had stepped in to help. Without his intervention, who knew how the Ruan Marquis Residence might have tormented her?
Thinking of this, Li Tianyou’s anger toward Prince An lessened slightly.
"Father, when you meet His Majesty tomorrow, don’t hesitate. Compared to material possessions, our family’s safety is what truly matters." Li Zhiwei didn’t know how to explain her rebirth.
She only feared her father’s reluctance to part with their wealth might lead the Li family to ruin once more.
"Don’t worry, Zhiwei." Li Tianyou frowned. He sensed his daughter was keeping something from him.
But she was grown now—he couldn’t press her.
Meanwhile, when the Ruan Marquis, Lin Qihua, heard of Li Tianyou’s arrival in the capital, he grew excited. Perhaps there was still hope.
"Where is the heir? Summon him at once! He must accompany me to meet someone." Lin Qihua believed that if Li Tianyou insisted, the marriage could still proceed.
What did Li Zhiwei’s reluctance matter? Since ancient times, marriages were arranged by parents and matchmakers. So what if she had stayed at Prince An’s residence for a few days? Li Zhiwei could bring the Lin family immeasurable wealth.
For that wealth, Lin Qihua couldn’t care less whether anything had happened between Li Zhiwei and Xu Heming.
Even if it had, they could simply relegate her to the inner courtyard. Once her dowry was secured, how they treated her would be entirely up to the Ruan Marquis Residence.
"Father, you called for me?" Lin Jitong entered reluctantly.
"Where have you been fooling around? Go change into something presentable at once! You’re coming with me to meet your future father-in-law!" Lin Qihua scowled at his son’s disheveled attire and impatiently shooed him away to dress properly.
