Chapter 6
Xu Heming’s face flushed with embarrassment upon hearing the words. It was his failure in raising his son properly—otherwise, how could Xu Qingshi have done something so absurd?
“Young lady, it is my fault for failing to teach my son well, causing you such trouble. Let me arrange for someone to escort you back to the Ruan Marquis Residence,” Xu Heming said apologetically to Li Zhiwei.
“Father, you can’t be so cruel! Sending her back to endure their scorn? You’re not helping her—you’re harming her!” Xu Qingshi protested, stepping forward with clear dissatisfaction.
“Step aside. What does a child like you know?” Xu Heming was exasperated but restrained himself from scolding Xu Qingshi too harshly in front of Li Zhiwei.
“Father, do you not think she’s beautiful?” Xu Qingshi looked at Li Zhiwei in confusion, thinking to himself that she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
“Your Highness, Prince An, I beg you to grant me a way to survive,” Li Zhiwei pleaded. She knew that if Xu Heming truly sent her back, she would face the same fate as in her past life.
Heaven had given her a second chance at life—it was not meant to be wasted.
Xu Heming was momentarily taken aback. He didn’t understand—if she was the Ruan Marquis Residence’s betrothed, why was her life in danger?
“Your Highness, the Ruan Marquis Residence pretended to arrange a marriage with me, but in truth, three days ago, they already wed the daughter of the Zhou family as the official wife. Today, before I could even step through their gates, they deliberately left me waiting outside. Even if I entered the Lin Family, I would have no future there. Moreover, my family is of humble status. These dowries would not be my protection—they would become my death warrant.”
Seeing Xu Heming’s hesitation, Li Zhiwei knelt without hesitation and spoke her plea.
“How do you wish for me to help you?” Xu Heming asked, though he already knew Li Zhiwei’s words held truth.
Logically, this matter was not his to interfere with, yet he found himself inexplicably drawn to intervene.
Perhaps it was because the Li family’s dowry was so substantial. With the recent floods in the south, the Emperor was in dire need of funds—this might just alleviate His Majesty’s urgent concerns.
“I wish to exchange my dowry for two requests,” Li Zhiwei said, her heart lifting when Xu Heming did not refuse. That meant he was willing to help.
Even Xu Heming, who had initially been drawn by the dowry, was momentarily stunned by her words.
He hadn’t expected this young lady of the Li family to be so far-sighted.
Glancing at the courtyard filled with red-lacquered dowry chests, he thought to himself—she was truly willing to part with it all.
“What are your requests?” Xu Heming asked bluntly, reining in his thoughts.
“First, I ask to annul my engagement with the Lin Family. Second, I beg Your Highness to ensure the safety of my parents.”
“That’s all?” Xu Heming was surprised. He had half-expected her to demand marriage to him as his princess consort. For some reason, he felt a faint twinge of disappointment.
After all, his son liked beautiful women—and so did he.
The reason he had never remarried was simply that none of the women he had met could compare to his late princess consort.
A pity she had been short-lived.
“Your Highness, might my dowry of one thousand three hundred and sixty chests be enough to secure my parents’ safety?” Li Zhiwei emphasized the sheer scale of her dowry once more.
“Heming, what do you think…?” The Old Princess, moved by compassion, spoke up. This girl was willing to trade her entire future security for just two small favors.
Besides, storing so many dowry chests in the An Manor was impractical. As the Old Princess, she was also mindful of the southern flood crisis.
If these resources could save the people, it would be an act of virtue. She wouldn’t mind lending the girl her support in the future.
Moreover, it was clear the Ruan Marquis Residence had no intention of treating her well.
“Mother, I must go to the palace. Have these things stored in a courtyard for now,” Xu Heming said, thinking of the dowry as merely a temporary deposit.
“This old servant will have them moved to the West Xiang Courtyard at once,” Steward Liu promptly replied.
Xu Heming nodded and was about to leave when the clamor outside the manor caught his attention.
“You blind fools! Don’t you even know whom your mistress is marrying? Where are you taking these things?” Lin Jitong had finally caught up to the dowry procession. Staring at the lavish dowry, he was both astonished and regretful.
He had known the Li family’s dowry was substantial, but seeing it in person made him realize his earlier arrogance had been a mistake.
Who would ever refuse wealth?
Yet now, watching as everything was carried into the An Manor, how could he bear it?
The dowry bearers were all Li family servants—why would they listen to Lin Jitong?
After all, they had waited outside the Ruan Marquis Residence for nearly two hours earlier.
If Lin Jitong had truly intended to marry their mistress, why humiliate her so?
Though they didn’t understand why their mistress had come to the An Manor, they were more than happy to spite the Ruan Marquis Residence.
“I said stop! Are you deaf?” Lin Jitong grew frantic as the bearers ignored him.
He dared block the procession at the An Manor gates, but he lacked the courage to barge in and seize the dowry.
After all, Prince An’s reputation preceded him—why else would Xu Qingshi be known as the capital’s little tyrant?
“Oh? What mutt dares bark at the gates of the An Manor?” The little tyrant Xu Qingshi dashed out without hesitation, taunting Lin Jitong mercilessly.
Xu Heming emerged and spared Lin Jitong only a glance, deeming him unworthy of attention.
Right now, he was in a hurry to deliver the good news to the Emperor.
Still, before leaving, Xu Heming instructed Steward Liu to guard the dowry carefully.
Liu Ming happily complied, thinking to himself that his master had finally come to his senses—he must be heading to the palace to request an imperial marriage decree for himself and the new princess consort!
With that in mind, Steward Liu redoubled his efforts.
“Young Master An, surely you jest. I heard you invited my humble wife as a guest. I’ve come to escort her home,” Lin Jitong said, not daring to provoke Xu Qingshi.
“Young Master Lin must be mistaken. Isn’t the Lin Family’s young mistress safely at home? Or are you so young yet already going blind?” Xu Qingshi retorted without mercy.
Lin Jitong’s lips twitched. No matter what he said, it seemed wrong.
But if he didn’t speak up now, once the Li family’s dowry fully entered the An Manor, reclaiming it would be impossible.
“Young Master, is His Highness in residence?” Lin Qihua, who had rushed over in haste, asked impatiently, displeased to see his son arguing with a mere child.
