Chapter 52
"Ah? Father didn’t know?" Li Zhiwei quickly covered her mouth with a handkerchief. Oh no, it seemed her good intentions had backfired.
"Hmm? I’ll have Zhou Tong look into it." Li Tianyou frowned. This was something he absolutely should not be unaware of.
"Father, let’s not. It’s just childish talk among youngsters, nothing serious." Blushing, Li Zhiwei tugged at her father’s sleeve sheepishly.
"Ah, fine, I won’t pry." Li Tianyou sighed as he looked at his daughter, thinking to himself, Indeed, a grown daughter is no longer one’s own.
"Since you’re to marry Prince An, we must prepare your dowry properly. We can’t let others look down on you." After a moment of silence, Li Tianyou spoke again.
"Father, everyone already knows my dowry was donated to the court. There’s no need to trouble yourself, is there?" Li Zhiwei didn’t want her father to spend excessively and quickly interjected.
"How is it trouble? When Li Tianyou marries off his daughter, how could he let her suffer? Don’t worry—not only will I prepare a lavish dowry for you, it’ll be even grander than before!" Li Tianyou declared earnestly.
Though the previous dowry had taken years to assemble, the Li family’s wealth was far beyond what outsiders could imagine. Some assets were visible, while others remained hidden.
Originally, Li Tianyou had planned to gradually transfer those hidden assets to his daughter. Who could have guessed that before he could do so, disaster would strike?
Though those assets had been donated to the court, it hadn’t crippled the Li family’s foundations. Preparing an even more extravagant dowry wasn’t impossible.
"Father, this absolutely must not happen!" Li Zhiwei was horrified by the suggestion.
Her previous dowry had already drawn enough envy. If they flaunted their wealth again, who knew how others would view the Li family?
Moreover, Li Tianyou was now the Ministry of Revenue’s Vice Minister, personally appointed by the Emperor. If word got out that he had excessive wealth, it would only invite trouble.
"Don’t worry, my dear. Your father can afford your dowry." Misunderstanding her concern, Li Tianyou reassured her, thinking she feared he lacked the means.
"Father, have you forgotten why the Lin family targeted us before? Wasn’t it because wealth stirs greed? This incident has taught us a lesson—we must remain low-key." Li Zhiwei pressed urgently.
"Father, think about it. Now that you’re the Emperor’s appointed Vice Minister, if others learn of your wealth, what if the Emperor asks to borrow money? Would you lend it or refuse?" Seeing Li Tianyou’s silence, she pressed further.
The words struck Li Tianyou like a bolt of lightning, sending a cold sweat down his back.
He had been so focused on ensuring his daughter’s grand marriage and shielding her from mistreatment that he had overlooked the most critical issue.
If things went wrong, not only would his daughter suffer, but he himself would face dire consequences.
"But if your dowry is too meager..." Li Tianyou frowned, still reluctant. His daughter’s status was already modest, and marrying into Prince An’s household with a sparse dowry would only invite ridicule.
"Father, the entire capital knows my dowry was donated to the court. If you suddenly produce another lavish one in such a short time, it would only invite disaster. Just prepare a dowry befitting an ordinary noble family’s daughter. If questioned, simply say the previous dowry had already exhausted the family’s savings, and this is all we can afford now." Li Zhiwei spoke firmly.
"You’ve grown so thoughtful, Weiwei." Li Tianyou nodded, his heart swelling with pride. His daughter had indeed matured through hardship.
"Still, I hate to see you shortchanged." Guilt lingered in his voice.
"I’m not shortchanged. As long as you and Mother are well, I am content." Li Zhiwei replied softly.
After exchanging a few more words, Li Tianyou left to find the steward, Zhou Tong, to arrange matters for the imperial edict’s reception the next day. Meanwhile, Li Zhiwei returned to her room, gazing at the darkening sky outside, her heart a tumult of emotions.
The sudden betrothal to Prince An was unexpected, its future uncertain. Yet, inexplicably, the thought of Xu Heming’s deep, steady gaze brought an odd sense of calm to her restless heart.
Ruan Marquis Residence
Slap!
Lin Qihua struck Zhou Yutang across the face, his eyes burning with fury.
Every misfortune that had befallen the Ruan Marquis Residence had begun with this wretched woman’s arrival.
Had his son not married her, he wouldn’t have fallen out of the Emperor’s favor, and the Li family’s wealth would have been theirs for the taking.
"Father!" Zhou Yutang clutched her stinging cheek, staring at the enraged Lin Qihua in disbelief. Tears welled instantly. "Why did you hit me?"
"Why?" Lin Qihua trembled with rage, jabbing a finger at her. "If not for you, this harbinger of doom, how could the Lin family have come to this? Now, the Emperor despises our household, and that little wench Li Zhiwei has climbed to greater heights—tomorrow, the Emperor will decree her marriage to Prince An! Prince An! Do you understand who we’ve offended? If not for you egging Jitong on to manipulate Li Zhiwei and keep her out of our household, her dowry, the Li family’s wealth and connections, would all be ours! Instead, we’ve lost everything and made an enemy of Prince An!"
At the word "betrothal," Zhou Yutang froze as if struck by lightning. The pain in her face faded beneath a flood of shock and bitter envy.
Li Zhiwei?
That merchant’s daughter she had schemed to keep outside the household?
She was to marry Prince An and become his princess consort?
Impossible!
"N-no… that can’t be…" Zhou Yutang muttered, dazed. "A merchant’s daughter abandoned by her husband—how could Prince An possibly…"
"Impossible? The news is confirmed!" Lin Qihua’s anger flared at her denial. "This is all your fault! You ruin everything! If not for you inciting Jitong to use such underhanded methods, none of this would have happened! Now, Li Zhiwei has turned disaster into fortune—the Li family has won the Emperor’s favor and Prince An’s regard, while our household has become the laughingstock of the capital! Even my position at court is precarious!"
Remembering the Emperor’s command to "settle his household affairs" before returning to court, and the mocking smirks of his colleagues, Lin Qihua felt fury surge through him.
Generations of the Lin family’s dignity had been trampled into the dust!
"Father, how is this my fault?" Zhou Yutang wept, her voice thick with grievance. "Back then, it was Jitong who—"
She signaled a maid to fetch Lin Jitong immediately. Judging by her father-in-law’s rage, she might not survive this otherwise.
Prince An’s Residence
Xu Qingshi lounged in the courtyard, legs crossed, popping grapes into his mouth as he idly watched Moyu copy The Book of Rites for him. Life couldn’t be better.
The thought of Li Zhiwei soon becoming his stepmother only added to his smug satisfaction.
"Xu Qingshi, how can you just sit there like nothing’s happening?"
