City Lord Li was truly a man of remarkable composure. Despite the incident that had just occurred at his own birthday banquet, he turned around and happily continued the festivities, enjoying the songs and dances.
Seeing her father staring intently at the dancers below the stage, Li Zhaohua grew anxious and kept signaling to her mother.
Noticing her daughter’s gaze, the City Lord’s Madam also turned to look at City Lord Li. Seeing how absorbed he was, she gently nudged him.
City Lord Li turned at the movement and, noticing the looks from both mother and daughter, seemed to suddenly remember something.
He turned cheerfully toward Uncle Gu and the others. “Brother Gu, your Xuanjing is no longer young. As the saying goes, ‘Establish a family, then build a career.'”
“One must first settle down, then focus on one’s work.”
“Brother Gu, do you have any plans for when to arrange a match for him, so Xuanjing can start a family soon?”
Hearing City Lord Li’s words, the three members of the Gu family fell silent in unison.
Uncle Gu was quite speechless. A perfectly good banquet had somehow turned into a matchmaking event for his family, one after another.
However, Uncle Gu was no stranger to maintaining appearances. Not a trace of his true feelings showed on his face; he merely twitched the corner of his mouth.
“There’s no hurry for that. As everyone knows, our Gu family has never imposed restrictions on the children. As for when to arrange a marriage, that depends on when he finds a girl he fancies.”
“If he doesn’t fancy anyone, then I naturally won’t force him. Everything depends on fate, just fate, hahaha…”
Listening to Uncle Gu’s hearty laughter, the City Lord’s Madam and her daughter exchanged glances. Li Zhaohua tightened her grip on the handkerchief in her hand.
Luo Li noticed this scene and frowned.
She turned to glance in Gu Xuanjing’s direction but found him already looking at her. She was momentarily stunned and instinctively lifted her chin, but then, realizing something, she lowered her head again.
Gu Xuanjing took in her reaction, watching her lively expressions, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously lifted into a smile.
But when his peripheral vision caught sight of Li Zhaohua not far away, his expression instantly turned to one of disgust and coldness.
“Ah, Brother Gu, I must disagree. If there is a girl of good character—gentle, virtuous, well-mannered, and considerate—then marrying early and having a virtuous wife to assist him is surely a good thing.”
Hearing Uncle Gu’s words, City Lord Li also laughed. As he spoke, his gaze fell on Li Zhaohua, as if implying something.
Uncle Gu was almost at his limit; he wanted to roll his eyes.
Why don’t you just say outright that you want to pawn your daughter off on us?
Tsk, tsk. And without even considering what your daughter is really like—’gentle and virtuous,’ indeed.
“Brother Li makes a valid point. But a life is ultimately lived by two people. It still comes down to mutual affection. I respect my child’s feelings.”
So you’re pretending not to understand plain speech? Then I’ll pretend not to understand, too.
“Now, the time is about right. Thank you again, Brother Li, for your generous hospitality today, and once more, congratulations on your birthday.
Another day, when you have the chance, please come visit our residence. I have two elderly folks at home to attend to, so I won’t linger any longer. Farewell, everyone.”
Without waiting for City Lord Li to start rambling again, Uncle Gu directly stood up to take his leave. After all, the gifts had been presented, congratulations offered, the songs and dances had ended, and the meal was mostly finished.
Your incessant chatter is truly annoying, so we won’t stay any longer.
“Congratulations, City Lord Li.”
Seeing this, Gu Xuanjing and the others also stood up one after another, offered their congratulations, and then took their leave.
By the time everyone reacted, the group had already exited the manor gates.Seeing them so bold, City Lord Li’s face darkened, but considering all the guests were present, he did not show anything.
Li Zhaohua was stunned, and after coming to her senses, she was truly furious, grinding her teeth in anger.
She had originally intended to use this opportunity to have her father propose an engagement with the Gu family, but she never expected Uncle Gu would refuse?
Not only did he refuse, but he also completely disregarded her father’s face and left just like that.
And what she had prepared for Luo Li…
That fox spirit, truly deserves to die!
……..
Meanwhile.
As soon as the father and son returned to the Gu residence, they both summoned their men and ordered them to investigate today’s events.
After obtaining the results, both father and son’s faces darkened.
The next day, news spread throughout the city.
City Lord Li’s daughter, Li Zhaohua, had indulged in too much wine at the banquet the previous night and had actually called three male escorts back with her. When discovered, her clothes were disheveled, and her virtue had been ruined.
As for that cat, it had also eaten something wrong and met its end.
As for the Li family’s relative, Xu Tutu of the Xu family, she had become delirious from a fever, stumbled while walking, and fell into the water again, falling seriously ill for several days.
“It was all done by Uncle Gu and Gu Xuanjing. Yesterday’s events were arranged by Li Zhaohua. Besides wanting Xu Tutu to harm you, Host, by making you fall into the water and be seen by outsiders, losing your reputation.”
“She also wanted those three men to take advantage of you, Host, to completely ruin you.”
“She was originally fine, but because you, Host, returned early and her first plan failed, she came up with another scheme. She actually tried to bribe a servant of the Gu family to send men to your room.”
Little Cabbage spoke, grinding her teeth in anger, and was even more horrified by this woman’s malicious intentions.
Thinking Luo Li was in her way, she wanted to eliminate her—truly vicious.
“Hmm.” Luo Li nodded upon hearing this. The Gu family acted decisively, saving her the trouble of taking action herself.
The kind are bullied, but she had never been a kind person.
How others treat me, I repay them doubly.
Whether it is kindness or malice repaid depends entirely on them.
…This incident caused a huge uproar, and City Lord Li’s face was slapped resoundingly, yet it seemed as if someone had a hold over him.
Like a duck with its neck wrung, he dared not utter a word.
Even Li Zhaohua, whose reputation was ruined, was sent out of the city overnight by City Lord Li and abandoned in a remote estate.