Chapter 34
"Miss, don’t worry. The master will handle this properly." Seeing Li Zhiwei’s trembling hands, Cuiguo quickly stepped forward to comfort her.
"I’m fine." Li Zhiwei knew her father would never push her back into the fiery pit of the Ruan Marquis Residence.
However, what surprised her was how Lin Qihua and his son could still have the audacity to seek her father’s forgiveness.
If they claimed to have no ulterior motives, she wouldn’t believe it for a second.
Recalling her past life, the Lin family had thrived by leeching off the Li Family’s wealth.
Now, the sudden reappearance of Lin Qihua and his son made perfect sense.
"Marquis Ruan, as a mere merchant, I cannot possibly accept the young master’s kneeling." Though Li Tianyou spoke humbly, he remained seated in the place of honor, deliberately allowing Lin Jitong to kneel before him.
They had arrogantly assumed that their higher status gave them the right to bully his daughter.
Li Tianyou might not be a man of great influence, but even if it meant losing everything, he would protect his daughter.
If he didn’t settle this score, he would never find peace.
Hadn’t his daughter donated her dowry precisely to prevent the Ruan Marquis Residence from oppressing the Li Family?
And hadn’t she sought refuge in Prince An’s household for the same reason?
At this thought, Li Tianyou straightened his back even more.
He couldn’t afford to be a burden to his daughter.
Besides, wasn’t the Marquis of Ruan here today solely for his money?
If he refused to give it, could they simply take it by force?
His daughter had already handed him the means to retaliate. If the Marquis dared to act recklessly today, tomorrow he would take his grievances straight to the Emperor!
He might not be able to touch the Marquis, but even they had to bow before the Emperor’s authority.
"Brother Li, you speak too modestly. A son-in-law is like half a son. Since Jitong is your son-in-law, it’s only right for him to kneel before his father-in-law," Lin Qihua said with a forced smile.
"Marquis Ruan, do you think news doesn’t reach Li'an County? You swore oaths when proposing marriage to my daughter, yet on the wedding day, you shut your doors in her face. Is this the attitude of your noble household?" Li Tianyou lashed out angrily.
"I admit I failed in disciplining my son," Lin Qihua could only offer an apologetic smile.
Inwardly, he cursed Li Tianyou and blamed Zhou Yutang—if she hadn’t seduced his son, he wouldn’t be groveling before a mere merchant today.
"If the Marquis knows he failed as a father, why bring your son here? Do you expect me to succeed where you failed?" Li Tianyou sneered.
"You—!" Lin Qihua hadn’t expected Li Tianyou to be so blunt.
"Marquis Ruan, please leave." Li Tianyou turned his back, showing no intention of sparing their dignity.
Moreover, he knew Lin Qihua wouldn’t have come without a purpose.
As the wronged party, why should he bow and scrape to them?
"Li Tianyou, are you sure you want to do this?" Lin Qihua finally dropped his pretense.
His earlier politeness had been a courtesy.
But since Li Tianyou refused to cooperate, he wouldn’t hold back.
"Marquis Ruan, do I need your guidance on how to act?" Li Tianyou smirked coldly as Lin Qihua revealed his true colors.
He prided himself on his judgment, yet he had nearly pushed his daughter into a den of wolves.
"Li Tianyou, you’re nothing but a merchant. Do you really think you can stand against the Ruan Marquis Residence? Or do you actually believe Prince An would take a fancy to your daughter? Don’t delude yourself—even my son looks down on a merchant’s daughter, let alone Prince An, the Emperor’s most trusted confidant!" Lin Qihua scoffed.
"Hmph, Marquis Ruan’s schemes run deep. If your son despises my daughter, why come here with false pretenses today?" Li Tianyou glared, furious at Lin Qihua’s hypocrisy—and at himself for his poor judgment.
How blind had he been to arrange such a marriage?
"Li Tianyou, I advise you to be sensible. My son marrying your daughter would be a blessing your Li Family doesn’t deserve!" Lin Qihua snapped, growing impatient.
"Spare us such 'blessings.' The Li Family wants no part of it!" Li Tianyou declared firmly.
"Father, let’s go! Why beg someone with such an attitude?" Lin Jitong felt his earlier kneeling had been in vain.
He regretted listening to his father in the first place.
"Besides, what can a mere merchant like the Li Family do for us? Hmph!" Lin Jitong shot a disdainful look at Li Tianyou.
"The young master speaks wisely. Marquis and young master, please leave." Li Tianyou dismissed them coldly.
"Li Tianyou, don’t think that just because you’ve met the Emperor in the capital, you can defy me! In this city, while my Lin Family may not control everything, crushing a small merchant clan like yours is child’s play!" Lin Qihua snarled.
"Oh? Then this 'small' merchant would like to see how the Marquis plans to crush us!" Li Tianyou’s heart turned icy.
He had laid everything bare—yet the Lin Family still insisted on this marriage. Their motives were obvious.
No wonder they had traveled all the way to Li'an County to target his daughter.
It had all been a scheme from the start.
Thankfully, Prince An’s son had rescued her.
Otherwise, if she had truly entered the Lin household, she might have vanished without a trace.
"Li Tianyou!" Lin Qihua raised his hand to strike.
"Marquis Ruan, what do you think you’re doing?" A cold voice cut through the air.
"P-Prince An! What brings you here?" Lin Qihua paled, quickly forcing a smile as he turned to Xu Heming.
"Had I not come, I wouldn’t have known the Marquis possessed such power—daring to threaten my future father-in-law?" Xu Heming’s expression darkened.
Despite the Emperor’s approval to annul the engagement, Lin Qihua still had the gall to intimidate Li Tianyou.
It seemed he needed to investigate the Marquis’ recent activities thoroughly.
"Your Highness, this is a misunderstanding! I merely brought Jitong to apologize. Isn’t that right, Brother Li?" Lin Qihua shot Li Tianyou a warning glare.
"Hmph, I was unaware that the Emperor’s decree annulling this marriage meant nothing to the Marquis. Or have you forgotten what you just said to me?" Though Li Tianyou disliked Xu Heming, he recognized who stood by his side.
