Chapter 274 Father and Daughter Fall Out

Li Man'er sneered, her eyes almost bleeding. "Since my fate cannot be changed, why was it said that I was an ill omen for her when she was unwell, and then she got better? Could it be that the old Daoist priest was hired by Madam Guo to trick you?"

"What are you talking about?" Li Shu slammed his fist on the table, his emotions at their peak. The truth of the matter was not important to him; what mattered most was that his authority as the head of the household could not be challenged.

Li Man'er's defiant questioning enraged Li Shu.

"Do you mean to say I'm angry because I'm being exposed?"

Li Shu reached out and swung his hand fiercely towards Li Man'er's face. He seemed to have forgotten her martial arts prowess, only wanting to vent his anger by beating her.

Li Man'er, quick as lightning, grabbed Li Shu's wrist and squeezed it tightly, leaving him unable to move an inch.

Li Shu was stunned at first, then quickly recovered and immediately said, "Are you being disobedient and unfilial?" His eyes also reddened; he felt Li Man'er was an ungrateful wretch, and he had lost all dignity in front of her.

"It seems easy for you to fight with me, Father. But have you forgotten that you simply cannot defeat me?" Last time at the Marquis's mansion, Li Shu had also tried to slap her, only to have his wrist caught.

"This is disobedience." Li Shu trembled with anger. He could not wrench his wrist free despite using all his strength. That wretch was crushing his bones as if trying to shatter his wrist.

"Disobedient?" Li Man'er's eyes were ice-cold, and she let out a disdainful sneer. "Only when a father is loving can a child be filial. When have you ever fulfilled your responsibility as a father? For so many years, your concern, your fatherly love, your care have all been given to the children of Madam Guo. As a child who lost her mother, when have I ever felt even a sliver of affection from you?"

Li Shu dismissed her words and said angrily, "My Li family has served His Majesty, been loyal to the country, and pleaded for the common people for generations. We have no time to concern ourselves with matters of the inner chambers! Besides, has the Li family ever treated you poorly in these years? Your food and clothing are the best in your courtyard; you are simply ungrateful."

Li Shu's words utterly infuriated Li Man'er. With a forceful shove, Li Shu stumbled back two steps and plopped down onto a chair.

"You..."

Before he could utter another word, Li Man'er launched a kick at him.

Li Shu was stunned by the sudden turn of events. He had never expected Li Man'er to dare to lay a hand on him.

Li Man'er placed her foot on Li Shu's chest and said in a low voice, "Father, how can you say such a thing, constantly claiming that the Li family raised me and that my food and clothing are the best in the household."

"Isn't it?"

"Yes! Li Man'er lives in the largest courtyard and wears the finest fabrics. The porcelain and ornaments in my room are all exquisite. For hair ornaments and jewelry, I always wear the most expensive and best. Brocade is rare, but I have so much in my storeroom that I can never wear it all out in a year."

Just as Li Shu was about to speak, Li Man'er interrupted him urgently, "Not only that, but I also have estates, land, shops, and over a hundred servants and farmhands. But what does all this have to do with the Li family? All these things were given to me by the Ning family, my mother's dowry before she died. My maternal grandparents, feeling sorry for me as a motherless child, gave them to me. My uncles and aunts were generous enough to watch Ning family's wealth pour into Li Man'er's hands without a word of complaint."

In the last sentence, Li Man'er almost roared, the sound echoing in Li Shu's ears, buzzing and sharp. It instantly stripped away the disguise Li Shu had worn for many years.

Li Shu stared blankly, as if finally remembering something.

Memories flashed before his eyes. He finally recalled that everything Li Man'er ate and wore, and what was used to cover her, was sent by the Ning family. Every New Year and festival, the Ning family's gift-laden carriages would arrive at the manor one after another...

Seeing Li Shu stunned into silence, Li Man'er snorted, "My good father, have you finally remembered something?"

Li Shu pushed Li Man'er's foot away, brushed some dust off his clothes, and said coldly, "So what? Our Li family can afford to raise a child. It's the Ning family that is willing to send money your way; I haven't spent a single cent."

How shameless could a person be? Li Man'er had witnessed it today. What was even more infuriating was that this man was the original body's father, and now, effectively, her father.

At that very moment, Li Man'er harbored murderous intent.

Li Shu, being from a military background, instantly sensed the change in Li Man'er's demeanor. His pupils contracted, and he shouted, "Wretch! What are you trying to do?"

Li Man'er kicked a chair up and sent it flying towards Li Shu with great force.

Li Shu reacted quickly enough to shield his head with his arms, narrowly escaping. The chair shattered upon impact, splintering into pieces and scattering wood chips everywhere.

The father and daughter glared at each other, neither willing to back down.

Outside the door, Old Sun and the other two heard the commotion but dared not enter the room. All three thought they should not go in, lest they displease the young lady and bear the brunt of her anger. Besides, did the Marquis have no dignity? If they saw the Marquis being beaten, they might be silenced.

"Wretch!" Li Shu's eyes were bloodshot. He seemed deeply displeased with Li Man'er's various expressions. He could not understand why other people's daughters were obedient and sensible, yet he had given birth to such a thing that dared to harm her father.

Just moments ago, Li Shu had sensed Li Man'er's killing intent; she truly intended to attack him.

"Li Zha'er tried to kill me time and again, yet you didn't call her a wretch, but rather 'sisterly squabbles.' Madam Guo tried to ruin my reputation several times, yet you believed her implicitly and turned a blind eye. If I am a wretch, then what are you, Madam Guo's shield? Even if she committed murder and arson, even if her crimes were heinous, would you still protect her completely?"

Li Shu pointed at Li Man'er and yelled, "Are you trying to slander a dead person? Are you picking on Madam Guo because she cannot confront you?"

"Confront? When have I ever been afraid? Do you know why I was so rude and unruly in previous years, acting recklessly and shamelessly chasing after Tong Qiao as a woman? Do you know why I often spoke wildly and offended many ladies and young ladies from noble families in the capital?"

"You have always been like this, spoiled by the Ning family, lacking upbringing."

Li Man'er sneered repeatedly, "As expected of my good father, even at this point, you haven't forgotten to blame the Ning family. I grew up in the Li family. Although I spent a few years with the Ning family, I was already ten years old when I went to them. What, are the Ning family teeming with spirits and demons, teaching me to be lawless in just four years?"