22
“I once saw Matchmaker Xu enter the Bo Manor through the back gate.”
A voice from among the gathered villagers suddenly called out, drawing much attention.
The speaker, looking slightly nervous from becoming the center of attention, explained further,
“At the time, I was delivering charcoal to the market and noticed that Matchmaker Xu seemed to be acting rather secretive, which struck me as odd.
I remember it clearly because I wondered why she didn’t enter through the front gate.
It must have been some private arrangement.”
Li Yue Haili squinted as she observed the villager.
She wasn’t the type to remember everyone she came across, but there was something familiar about his unremarkable face.
After a moment, her delicate eyebrows lifted as she recalled who he was—one of the shadow guards who often appeared behind Wu Cheng and Da Cheng.
His appearance was deliberately plain and unmemorable, a trait common among shadow guards.
Without having seen him multiple times, she might not have recognized him even from a drawn portrait.
The young girl didn’t glance toward Feng Yongyuan; she kept her eyes lowered.
She couldn’t deny that he was meticulous.
Though she had many ideas herself, lacking a reliable helper would make executing her plans much more challenging.
With his aid, her words carried more weight.
With a matchmaker entering the manor, it was clear there had been a negotiation.
However, since she had publicly stated it wasn’t her elder brother, no matter how suspicious it seemed, no one could implicate Li Zhengqing.
A smirk curled at the corner of her lips.
Su Bo, Su Mengzhen, the mud you dared to throw on my brother—I’ve thrown it right back at you.
Miss Su, no matter how much you might want to flee to your lover, it’s going to be much harder for you now.
Li Yue Haili had deliberately exposed the situation to avoid rumors involving Princess An Yang from reaching the emperor’s ears, thereby preventing the royal decree of marriage involving her elder brother, Li Zhengqing.
She also aimed to make the women of the Su family seem shallow.
By not specifying which Su family daughter was involved, she left it open-ended.
Whether Su Mengzhen stayed or ran away, Su Bo would have no choice but to marry off one of his daughters to quell the rumors.
But one thing was certain—the groom would no longer be her elder brother.
This blow to the second branch of the Li family and the Bo Manor served as a warning: the Li family’s main branch was no pushover.
If they tried to step on them, they’d find themselves bleeding from the thorns.
Old General Li, though typically unconcerned with matters of the household, was not without wisdom.
It took only a moment for him to shift his furious gaze to his wife and second daughter-in-law.
“You…”
“Grandfather,” Li Yue Haili interrupted, tightly holding onto the old man’s arm.
“Ying Ying wants to see the courtyard you’ve prepared for us.”
The hand that had been about to point at He Shi lowered as the old man sighed.
Though in his old age, his mind may no longer be as sharp as it once was, he wasn’t blind to the situation.
The little girl clinging to his arm was astute beyond her years, cunning even.
She sought to expose her grievances but wouldn’t allow them to damage the family’s reputation.
If the Old General had lost his temper and scolded the second daughter-in-law, the situation would have escalated, inevitably involving Zhengqing.
The Old General looked down at his granddaughter, gently patting her head.
For someone so young, she was remarkably capable.
It was a shame she was a girl and couldn’t enter the court to build a foundation for the family.
“In that case, let’s head inside.”
“Yes, Grandfather,” Li Yue Haili responded sweetly.
“I brought some medicinal herbs in the carriage, Grandfather.
I’ll pick out the best ones for you—ginseng, lingzhi mushrooms.
Actually, Father and Mother had been saving them for you, but I’ll sneak them to you first to earn some favor.”
Her bright and innocent demeanor made the Old General even more fond of her.
He watched her skip back to her parents and brother, then turned to his wife.
“Have I indulged you too much?” he asked, his voice laced with frustration, before angrily flicking his sleeve and heading into the manor.
Old Furen Li was so furious that she nearly choked, her grip tightening painfully on her maid’s arm.
She glared daggers at the small girl conversing with her family, but despite the boiling rage within her, she maintained a kind smile as if wearing a mask.
The second branch of the family, now clearly on the losing side, wore grim expressions.
Only Li Han, ever composed, stepped forward to speak with Li Taixuan for a moment before crouching to meet Li Yue Haili at eye level.
His refined and scholarly appearance was gentle and kind, embodying the image of a perfect uncle from a textbook.
“This time, Second Uncle has caused our little Ying Ying some distress.
In a few days, the seamstress from Qingruo Shop will come to measure for new seasonal outfits.
How about Second Aunt adds two more bolts of silver-threaded silk for you?”
Li Yue Haili blinked, feigning hesitation like a young girl would, casting her gaze toward her parents.
In truth, she had no interest in the fabric.
The luxurious silver-threaded silk, which Feng Yongyuan often wore, was designed to shine under sunlight.
Unlike him, she had no desire to stand out in such a manner and had no interest in the fabric’s beauty.
However, she had already embarrassed the second branch harshly.
If she continued to outright reject Li Han’s attempts at friendliness, it would likely be seen as excessive.
Just then, though Li Lingran wasn’t particularly sharp, Li Ling An, the younger sister, quickly caught on to her father’s intent and chimed in,
“Second Sister, you should accept it.
Silver-threaded silk is highly sought after, not because of its price but because it’s so difficult to weave.
Securing even one bolt takes a long time.”
Li Han beamed at his younger daughter, turning back to Li Taixuan and adding, “Elder Brother, Sister-in-law, or is Ying Ying still upset with me?
If my niece doesn’t like the silver-threaded silk, how about I take her to choose some jewelry from the treasury?”
“…” At this, General Li and his wife found themselves momentarily at a loss for how to help their daughter out of this situation.
Li Han played his trump card.
Even though He Shi, who feared her husband, was displeased, she remained silent.
Li Lingran, sharing her mother’s temperament but with less patience, had an expression of deep displeasure.
However, Li Ling An, more composed than her elder sister, maintained a gentle smile as she spoke slowly.
“Father is most generous.
Second Sister is so beautiful that the peach blossom hairpin, snow jade bracelet, and gleaming pearls would suit her perfectly.
Just imagining it makes me want to see her wear them.”
The Second Branch’s flattering exchanges, with everyone speaking kindly and gently, created the illusion of warmth and goodwill to onlookers, as if the previous tensions had never happened.
Li Yue Haili sighed internally.
Li Zhengqing was equally tired of the endless false praise, but he stood by his sister’s side, enduring it in silence.
Suddenly, Li Yue Haili felt something flick her sleeve.
Curiously, she raised her arm to inspect, only to hear a soft thud of something falling to the ground.
She glanced down, unable to maintain her composure any longer.
A deep red jade pendant, intricately carved with peonies, gleamed brightly on the white stone floor, its vivid beauty practically announcing its pricelessness, far surpassing any pearl in value.
The crowd of onlookers gasped in shock.
It wasn’t the beauty or value of the jade that stunned them, but its significance—this was the signature jade of the Second Prince’s heir.
General Li, his wife, and their son exchanged questioning glances as they looked at the deep jade pendant, then at the small girl standing before them.
Old Furen Li, along with the Second and Third Branch families, also stared at the crimson jade on the ground, their expressions growing wary.
Li Yue Haili felt utterly drained.
It seemed he had lingered, waiting for this exact moment.
She stood there, feeling dizzy.
In her past life, she had pressured him with rumors; in this life, it appeared she was now the one trapped by him.
In an instant, someone picked up the troublesome jade.
A hand, neither large nor small, gently stroked the peony design on the pendant.
“Didn’t Brother Yongyuan tell Ying Ying to tie it securely to your waist?
See, you’ve dropped it.
What would you do if it got lost?”
Feng Yongyuan spoke, not just with words but with action.
In the blink of an eye, the little girl found the jade securely fastened to her belt once again.
Its vibrant color stood out so much it practically hurt her eyes.
Taking a deep breath, she raised her eyes to meet the boy in front of her, seeing Feng Yongyuan’s warm smile, as radiant as the morning sun.
But before she could say anything, he spoke again.
“The Li Yun Textile Shop on Wangzhong Street—if Ying Ying wants silver-threaded silk or fragrant brocade, just send for the shopkeeper to come to your manor.
No matter the color or pattern, they’ll find it for you.”
“…” Li Ling An was stunned.
Had she misheard?
“The Jingfeng Auction House and the Muzheng Jewelry Shop on Yang An Street—if you’re fond of exotic treasures, peach blossom hairpins, jade bracelets, ruby rings, or sea pearls, send for them, and they’ll bring the auction goods to your manor.
But if you want something custom-made, I know many skilled craftsmen.”
“…” Li Han was speechless.
“If you don’t want to call them over, you can visit the shops yourself when you’re free.
I’ll send you a list of all my tea houses and shops.
Whatever catches your eye, just take it home.”
“…” Li Yue Haili was at a loss for words.
This Second Prince’s heir was not only shameless beyond compare—he was also astonishingly wealthy beyond measure.