Chapter 48
"Ah, what did you say, Young Master?" Li Zhiwei asked Xu Qingshi, looking somewhat embarrassed.
Good heavens, just moments ago, she had been picturing Xu Heming running naked through the streets.
She had been so lost in thought that she had completely zoned out.
"Hmph, Li Zhiwei, do you think just because you’re about to become my stepmother, you can ignore me? When I speak, you should listen," Xu Qingshi said with clear dissatisfaction.
Remembering the tactics the Fourth Prince had taught him, he adopted a haughty tone as he addressed her.
"The Young Master’s moods are as changeable as the weather—sunny one moment, stormy the next. But..." Li Zhiwei thought of her father, who had recently been appointed by the Emperor as the Minister of Revenue. As for her marriage to Prince An, the Emperor had yet to give his approval. Whether it would happen at all remained uncertain.
"But what?" Xu Qingshi was taken aback. Had Li Zhiwei’s attitude shifted?
Did she not fear that his father might reject her now?
"Young Master, it seems the marriage between your father and me... may not happen after all," Li Zhiwei said, smiling faintly at the thought.
After all, with the Lin family dealt with, she had nothing left to worry about.
It wasn’t that she considered Xu Heming unworthy of her.
Rather, she felt she wasn’t good enough for him.
Back then, if not for desperate circumstances, she would never have dared to dream of marrying the most sought-after bachelor in the capital.
"You’re lying!" Xu Qingshi protested, his face scrunching up in displeasure. He had just bragged to Wei Herui that Li Zhiwei was going to be his mother.
How could it not happen now?
"Young Master, I’m not lying. The Emperor has never approved of this match." In truth, Li Zhiwei was well aware of the awkward position her family was in. Even with her father’s new title, Xu Heming was the Emperor’s most trusted confidant. The Emperor likely wouldn’t want him too closely tied to her family.
"Nonsense! Why would His Majesty refuse? Unless... you still want to marry that Lin Jitong? Have you forgotten how he wouldn’t even let you through his door back then?" Xu Qingshi glared at her, frustration written all over his face.
He was absolutely furious.
Was Li Zhiwei an idiot?
"I have no intention of marrying Lin Jitong," she quickly clarified, seeing the distress on Xu Qingshi’s face.
"Then do you think my father is ugly?" Xu Qingshi asked, his brows furrowed in confusion.
If she thought his father was unattractive, what could he do? He couldn’t exactly give him a new face.
The thought made the little boy’s frown deepen.
"Your father is tall and handsome—far from ugly," Li Zhiwei replied, both amused and exasperated by his persistence.
"Then do you think he’s too poor?" Xu Qingshi pressed, recalling the mountains of belongings Li Zhiwei once had.
Now that they were all gone, was she still upset that his father hadn’t managed to save them for her?
His small face crumpled further in bewilderment. "Then why do you say the marriage won’t happen?"
He truly couldn’t think of any other reason she wouldn’t want to marry his father.
Li Zhiwei sighed softly. "Young Master, His Highness is of noble birth and enjoys the Emperor’s deepest favor. My family... is different."
She paused, her voice gentle yet distant. "Some things aren’t within our control, no matter how much we wish otherwise."
"Father listens to me! I only want you as my stepmother—if I tell him, he’ll make it happen!" Xu Qingshi declared, jumping off his stool and planting his hands on his hips. "I’ll go talk to him right now and have him beg His Majesty for approval! Just wait!"
With that, he turned to dash out, already planning how to impress upon his father the urgency of the matter. He had boasted to Wei Herui, after all—if this stepmother fell through, where would his pride go?
Just then, steady footsteps echoed from outside.
Xu Heming strode in, his expression thunderous.
He had just returned from the palace, where he had endured more stares in one afternoon than in his entire life. Worse still, he had overheard bold whispers among the commoners—"Is that Prince An?" "He looks strong, no wonder he’s got stamina..."
All thanks to his beloved son!
His gaze first landed on Li Zhiwei, flickering briefly with something unreadable—perhaps a hint of awkwardness or resignation—before locking onto Xu Qingshi, who was already trying to slink away.
The moment Xu Qingshi saw his father’s face, his heart sank. His earlier foreboding had come true. All his bravado vanished, and he instinctively ducked behind Li Zhiwei.
"F-Father... you’re back..." he stammered.
Li Zhiwei quickly rose and curtsied. "Your Highness."
Xu Heming took a deep breath, forcing his tone to remain even, though his glare at Xu Qingshi could have cut steel. "Yes. I’m back."
He paused, then added through gritted teeth, "I heard you made quite a spectacle at the Treasure Pavilion the other day?"
Xu Qingshi trembled, shaking his head vigorously. "N-No, I didn’t..."
"No?" Xu Heming’s voice rose slightly. "'My father is incredibly strong,' 'He could run laps around the capital shirtless,' 'He could even carry me and my stepmother around the courtyard'—who, pray tell, spread such nonsense?"
Li Zhiwei covered her mouth with her sleeve, barely suppressing a laugh, though her shoulders shook slightly at the mental image.
Xu Qingshi hung his head, mumbling, "I... I just wanted to beat Wei Herui... He said his father could run three laps..."
"And you thought that justified it?!" Xu Heming’s temple throbbed. "Do you have any idea what your 'heroic claims' have cost me?!"
He nearly blurted out his punishment—three days of hauling timber in the palace—but stopped himself just in time. With Li Zhiwei present, he couldn’t possibly admit to such an undignified sentence!
With a heavy snort, he declared, "You will copy the Book of Rites ten times! No leaving your courtyard until it’s done!"
Xu Qingshi’s face fell. The Book of Rites was enormous! Ten copies? His hand would fall off!
He shot a pleading look at Li Zhiwei.
Though she agreed he needed discipline, his pitiful expression softened her resolve. Just as she opened her mouth to intercede, Xu Heming spoke first, his tone slightly gentler but firm—directed at her:
"Also, His Majesty has approved our marriage. The imperial decree will be issued tomorrow."
"What?" Li Zhiwei froze, momentarily stunned.
Xu Qingshi, however, instantly forgot about his punishment, leaping up in delight. "Really?! His Majesty agreed? Wonderful! Stepmother! Did you hear that? You’re not getting away now!"
