Li Chengyuan said these words mainly for those outside to hear; she didn’t truly want her father to pursue the matter.
After all, it was she who had provoked the incident first.
Yan Wanqing always acted in unpredictable ways, and today’s event should serve as a warning to her.
Li Chengyuan dared not confront her directly anymore.
As she was thinking this, she heard soone outside announce that His Highness the Seventh Prince had arrived, and she subconsciously tightened her grip on her father’s robe: "Father..."
Master Li was also extrely nervous.
No matter how you looked at it, this incident had nothing to do with his daughter, but it did indeed take place in her room.
Just yesterday, she was granted a marriage, and today such an incident occurred.
As Master Li saw Xiao Hongshen approaching closer, his heart was filled with trepidation.
The expression on the face of the Seventh Prince was still relatively calm. He nodded at Master Li and looked gently at Li Chengyuan: "You’re not too frightened, are you?"
Li Chengyuan was sowhat unaccustod to the sudden gentleness of Xiao Hongshen, and she hesitated for a mont before shaking her head: "I’m okay."
"My guards caught soone sneaking around during their routine patrol," said Xiao Hongshen with a wave of his hand, and his guards brought forth a man covered in blood, clearly struggling more to inhale than to exhale: "Upon interrogation, it turns out he’s the main culprit."
The Seventh Prince seed to have descended from the heavens, bringing the criminal to justice, providing great reassurance to the Li family’s third daughter.
But Li Chengyuan felt extrely uneasy in her heart.
Nobody present knew the true nature of the situation better than she did.
So when Xiao Hongshen brought in a man covered in blood, she knew he was setting the stage for her.
If word of this incident were to spread, the first to lose face would be him, the Seventh Prince.
But the fact that he arrived so promptly moved Li Chengyuan deeply.
This also proved that Xiao Hongshen held her in his heart.
Just then, Xiao Hongshen took her hand: "I am here now, don’t be afraid."
The touch from his hand made Li Chengyuan’s heart skip a beat.
She shook her head: "...It’s nothing."
"That’s good."
Xiao Hongshen curved his lips into a smile, then turned to Master Li: "Let handle this matter; Master Li need not trouble himself."
Master Li looked very satisfied as Xiao Hongshen composedly resolved the issue before everyone, saving face for him and protecting Li Chengyuan.
At that mont, he felt even more grateful for the Emperor’s arranged marriage.
After the matter was dealt with, Xiao Hongshen and Li Chengyuan said their farewells. It was only then that he couldn’t resist asking Mo Shan for a handkerchief to vigorously scrub his hands until they were marked red.
"Idiot."
Xiao Hongshen cursed to himself.
Indeed, all the gentleness before was just a facade.
He found the Li family very troubleso.
Mo Shan followed closely behind him.
Xiao Hongshen turned around and, without another word, delivered a punch to Mo Shan’s abdon.
Caught off guard, Mo Shan winced in pain.
Xiao Hongshen gave him a cold glance: "Take care of your wound yourself."
This punch, he had exerted eighty percent of his strength, so Mo Shan’s painful cry was to be expected.
As Mo Shan clutched his abdon, in his line of sight was the handkerchief wrapped around Xiao Hongshen’s fist.
An orchid was embroidered on it, stitch by stitch by his own hand.
"...Understood."
Mo Shan heard his own voice, sounding as desolate as if it were being faded by a breeze in the sumr that ripples no waves.
Xiao Hongshen walked forward, unmindful of anything else, his eyes filled with an ink that wouldn’t clear.
The Li family was like a hot potato that the Emperor had thrust upon him.
It was all because of that idiot Li Chengyuan who told the Emperor about the Flaming Stone; otherwise, why would there have been a sudden decree for marriage?
What did it matter if she could compose poems or play the pipa?
The Flaming Stone was key!
The Emperor prized that single trait in Li Chengyuan, which is why he had offered him as a prize to the Li family.
Otherwise, with Li Chengyuan’s background, she wasn’t even worthy to be a concubine for him.
It was an utter humiliation!
His rightful wife should be a lady of noble birth like Yan Wanqing!
Not soone tainted and impure like Li Chengyuan.
The more Xiao Hongshen thought about it, the angrier he beca.
"A re illegitimate daughter, yet again an illegitimate daughter!" he muttered lowly, his steps quickening.
anwhile, after the upheaval, the mbers of the Li family were resting in the main hall.
Master Li’s soul had barely stabilized as he sighed, "We owe a great debt to the Seventh Prince this ti."
Li Chengyuan, harboring secrets in her heart, could only respond perfunctorily to her father’s words, "Indeed."
At this mont, Li Chengxiang walked in slowly from outside, trembling as she entered. Before fully stepping in, a teacup beside her foot smashed to the ground, and the boiling tea instantly soaked her shoes, scalding her into a yelp of pain.
Master Li watched coldly, the teacup he had been holding vanished, clearly having been thrown by him.
Li Chengxiang stood by the door, unsure whether to enter or leave.
She weakly called out, "Father..."
"Do you know what ti it is?! You actually slept until now?!"
Li Chengxiang fell silent, pulling down her sleeves to cover the nurous scars on her hands.
Yesterday, she had told her father about discovering that her third sister was not her real sister, and for that, she had been severely beaten and made to copy the Female Precepts twenty tis. It was almost dawn by the ti she finished copying, and she had barely fallen asleep when the pain woke her up. But from what her father said, it seed sothing else had happened just now.
"What are you here for?"
Master Li felt irritated just by looking at Li Chengxiang.
She had actually claid yesterday that her third sister was a demon.
How could such words co from an elder sister?
Li Chengyuan a demon?!
She was clearly the Li Family’s lucky star!
So yesterday, in a fit of anger, he beat Li Chengxiang harshly with a whip, furious at her wild and irresponsible talk.
Seeing that her father was displeased with her, Li Chengxiang took out the twenty copies of the Female Precepts from her sleeve and said softly, "Father, I’ve finished copying them."
Master Li had not yet spoken when Li Chengyuan on the side beca agitated.
She stood up, walked over, and snatched the stack of paper.
"Father is truly heartless to make elder sister copy it twenty tis."
Master Li said to Li Chengyuan, "She brought it on herself with her nonsense yesterday."
"Oh, Father, elder sister just lost her husband not long ago, and then she saw being granted a marriage by the Emperor yesterday. She beca overly excited for a mont, leading to that nonsense. What’s the harm in that? Father, please do not punish elder sister anymore."
Li Chengxiang bit her lower lip upon hearing this.
Li Chengyuan wasn’t speaking up for her; she was fanning the flas.
Sure enough, after hearing this, Master Li stood up, fuming with rage, "Your sister has beco the Seventh Prince’s wife, which is a supre honor for our Li Family. Without your sister, would you and I have been able to co to the Sumr Resort today, to live in such a fine residence?! I advise you to know your place and not hinder your sister, otherwise, even killing you would not quell my anger."
He raised his hand again, and Li Chengxiang flinched, shrinking her neck.
Seeing her reaction, Master Li snorted, "Do you hear ?"
Li Chengxiang nodded, "I hear you, Father."
Seeing Li Chengxiang finally complying, Master Li’s mood improved sowhat. He turned to Li Chengyuan and said, "Several dignitaries have invited to compose and recite poetry today. Could you help your father prepare a few poems in advance?"
Knowing that Master Li wanted to show off, clearly presenting himself as a father with no unworthy daughter, she handed over the collection of poems she had prepared to Master Li, "These are all my recent works. Father, please choose a few from them."
Master Li took the collection, growing more and more delighted as he read.
He nodded, "Good, very good. Indeed, you are a true talent, my good daughter. You are fit to be called a poetess, hardly inferior to Princess Anping."
The words "Princess Anping" reached Li Chengxiang’s ears, and a flash of light shimred in her numb pupils, but quickly faded again.
Even if she was to beco a maidservant by her side... she would not agree.
How could she possibly involve herself in my trivial matters?
It was all because of herself that the Commandery Princess developed a rift with her third sister.
Li Chengxiang felt heartbroken; she should not trouble the Commandery Princess any further.
Finally, Master Li left.
Li Chengyuan let go of the sheets of paper in her hand, scattering them into the air. Many landed on the tea-stained floor, the writings quickly blotted into clusters of ink spots by the tea.
Li Chengxiang didn’t move.
"What are you trying to do?" She looked up at her third sister.
At that mont, she truly did not recognize the woman before her.
Even though they had grown up together, aside from the still familiar face,
she could find no trace of her third sister in this woman.
Li Chengyuan approached Li Chengxiang and sneered, "I heard, you told our father yesterday that I was a demon?"
Li Chengxiang’s pupils contracted sharply.
Father had told her.
He had told her everything!
Li Chengyuan laughed unrestrained, her voice growing louder and more piercing.
"Yes, that’s right," Li Chengyuan nodded.
Li Chengxiang’s eyes trembled, "You..." She felt a sharp pain in her throat.
"Who would believe the words you say?" Li Chengyuan walked around the room, "I am a living person, your third sister, father’s good daughter, the Emperor’s personally titled Imperial Concubine of the Seventh Prince... I can play any role, but I am definitely not the thing you claim in your mouth."
"Li Chengxiang." Li Chengyuan’s eyes were fierce like a devil’s, "My dear elder sister, I am not the sa as before. You’d better keep your mouth shut, or you should know my thods."
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