Chapter 38
"Exactly, the Prince An's heir is just a child. Why would Prince An listen to him?"
"Prince An would rather marry a merchant's daughter than the Zhou Family's young lady?"
"What a toad lusting after swan meat!"
Another round of laughter followed.
Li Zhiwei flushed with embarrassment. She had never truly believed Prince An might actually marry her.
She knew her family background was no match for his. Still, she couldn’t help but covet the small measure of protection he had offered her.
Had she been overthinking things after all?
"You’re lying! His Highness Prince An said it himself—my mistress is to be his Princess Consort of An!" Cuiguo, seeing their disbelief, spoke up anxiously.
Yet even she felt a twinge of fear. Could what they said be true?
If so, what would happen to the master and her mistress?
"Oh, so just because you say Prince An said it, we should believe you? Who else heard it? I, for one, refuse to believe Prince An would ever fancy a wench like you!" Lin Jitong stepped forward and slapped Li Zhiwei across the face.
"You filthy bitch! Because of you, I got beaten!" Finding one slap insufficient, he struck her again.
"Young Master of Ruan Marquis Residence, even when beating a dog, one must consider its master. I am now under Prince An’s household. Aren’t you afraid of his retaliation?" Li Zhiwei had never imagined Lin Jitong would dare strike her right at the palace gates.
Terrified, she could only invoke Xu Heming’s name to intimidate him.
"You think you’re some celestial beauty? That Prince An would actually want you? Ha! He was just using you. Now that all your dowry has been seized for the national treasury, what use do you have left?" The thought of Li Zhiwei’s dowry—which he had once considered his—now filling the state coffers enraged Lin Jitong so much that he slapped her twice more.
"How dare you hit her?" Cuiguo was appalled by Lin Jitong’s brutality. Though relieved her mistress hadn’t married him, she couldn’t help but worry.
In the capital, the Ruan Marquis Residence might not hold absolute power, but their Li Family was no match for them.
"Someone, drag this meddling wench away!" Lin Jitong barked impatiently at Cuiguo’s interference.
Several lackeys immediately seized her.
"Let me go!"
"Lin Jitong, what do you think you’re doing? This is the palace gates—the emperor’s very doorstep! Have you no regard for the consequences to your Ruan Marquis Residence?" Li Zhiwei glared at him furiously, stunned by his audacity. Memories of what Lin Jitong and the Ruan Marquis Residence had done to her and the Li Family in her past life flooded her mind.
Her eyes burned with hatred, her heart screaming for vengeance.
For some reason, Lin Jitong felt a chill run down his spine under her gaze.
This was nothing like the meek woman from moments ago.
"Hah! Li Zhiwei, you overestimate yourself. So what if this is the imperial city? Do I need the emperor’s permission to slap you? Know your place—you’re nothing!" Regaining his composure, Lin Jitong ordered his men to restrain her.
"Young Master Qi, didn’t you fancy this wench? I’ll have her delivered to your residence. Enjoy her to your heart’s content." Lin Jitong smirked at the man beside him.
"Hahaha! How generous of you, Young Master." The man addressed as Young Master Qi laughed triumphantly, clearly pleased by the offer.
"Of course. If Young Master Qi desires her, I’ll make sure she’s yours." Lin Jitong fawned obsequiously.
"Men, take her away!" Leng Qi commanded his servants.
"Let me go!" Li Zhiwei’s heart pounded with terror. She didn’t know who this Leng Qi was, but she couldn’t let him take her.
Yet as a frail woman, no amount of struggling could free her.
Not far away, inside a carriage, a woman lowered the curtain with a smug smile.
"Li Zhiwei… How dare you covet my man? Now you’ll suffer the consequences."
"Return to the residence!" Zhou Yuying declared triumphantly.
With Li Zhiwei gone, Prince An would belong to her alone.
Once she entered Prince An’s household, she’d deal with that brat Xu Qingshi properly.
---
Golden Throne Hall
"This humble subject, Li Tianyou, greets Your Majesty. Long live the emperor, long live, long, long live!" Li Tianyou knelt nervously before Zhu Jingchen, performing the grand salute.
"Rise!" Zhu Jingchen smiled warmly. This man was his golden goose.
The emperor had summoned him for a reason.
Rumors claimed Li Tianyou had an unparalleled knack for wealth.
The national treasury’s emptiness was due to the incompetence of the Ministry of Revenue officials.
Now that the Vice Minister of Revenue had retired, here was the perfect candidate for Minister of Revenue.
Zhu Jingchen could already envision it—with Li Tianyou in charge, his treasury would soon overflow with gold.
He’d commission a golden bed, ensuring even his dreams smelled of riches.
Let no one dare mock Lanruo Kingdom’s poverty again.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Li Tianyou felt the emperor’s scorching gaze but dared not look up.
Uneasy, he prayed to leave the palace soon and reunite with his daughter.
"Li Tianyou, on behalf of Lanruo Kingdom’s people, I thank your Li Family for its generosity." Zhu Jingchen cleared his throat.
"To serve Your Majesty and the people is our family’s greatest honor." Li Tianyou replied hastily.
"Rumors say the Li Family is among Lanruo’s wealthiest, no?" Zhu Jingchen had inspected Li Zhiwei’s donated dowry—an astonishing collection of rarities, some even he, the emperor, had never seen.
He couldn’t deny Li Tianyou’s brilliance.
"You flatter me." Cold sweat trickled down Li Tianyou’s back. Had he unknowingly crossed the emperor’s interests?
"Ah, Li Tianyou, don’t be afraid. I mean it as praise—your business acumen is remarkable." Noticing his apprehension, Zhu Jingchen hurried to clarify.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Li Tianyou wiped his brow. This was his first audience, and the emperor’s intentions remained unclear.
"No need for modesty. The Ministry of Revenue has many officials, yet none compare to your capabilities." Zhu Jingchen scowled at the thought of those useless bureaucrats.
Useless leeches, occupying positions without merit.
Feasting on his resources, yet denying him even a new dragon robe without endless calculations.
Li Tianyou wisely stayed silent.
Agreeing would only earn him the Ministry of Revenue’s enmity.
If future dealings soured, he’d pay the price.
"Li Tianyou, have you ever considered serving in court?" Zhu Jingchen asked, eyes gleaming.
Serving in court?
Li Tianyou was stunned.
