Over the Iron Gallantry Marquisate, it was as if dark clouds hung low, pressing down on the entire estate, making it difficult to breathe.
Li Shu's body had only just recovered when he suddenly heard about Li Zhao'er and Xiao Yu. His face turned even paler, as if the lingering poison had not yet cleared.
"Did you hear correctly? Not Man'er, but Zhao'er?"
The servant quickly replied, "Marquis, I heard very clearly, it is indeed the second young lady."
Li Shu gritted his teeth, ignoring everything else, and turned his horse back to the manor.
As soon as Li Shu entered, he was summoned to the Songhe Hall. Cui Shi had a warm compress on her forehead and was lying on the lounger, her eyes closed in rest.
"Mother, what is wrong? Are you angered?" Li Shu knew Cui Shi was not sleeping; the situation was dire, how could anyone sleep? Furthermore, he understood his mother; Cui Shi had always been strong-willed. With such a major family crisis, how could she possibly sleep?
Cui Shi yanked the compress off and threw it at Li Shu's face, "This is all because of your good daughter, you useless thing. If I had known, I should have drowned her in a tub from the start."
Li Shu lowered his head awkwardly, "Mother, Zhao'er has always been obedient and would never do something so outrageous. Is there perhaps a misunderstanding here?"
"Misunderstanding?" Cui Shi scoffed, "According to you, what kind of misunderstanding could it be?"
Li Shu completely missed the sarcastic tone of his own mother and earnestly explained, "Could it be a case of mistaken identity? Perhaps it wasn't Zhao'er, but Man'er? Zhao'er has always been sensible and proper, how could she do such a thing? On the other hand, Man'er has always been lawless; it wouldn't be strange for her to do such a thing."
Cui Shi's eyes widened. Even Granny Wang, who was serving by her side, quickly lowered her head. The eldest young lady was right here, and the Marquis seemed not to notice her at all, even suggesting that the one involved with Xiao Yu was the eldest young lady. This was awkward.
Oh, it's being shifted onto me now? Quite a quick reaction!
Perhaps Li Man'er had taken the blame for her good sister many times before. Seeing how smoothly Li Shu handled this, it was clearly not the first time he had done this.
"Father is crossing the river and then destroying the bridge!" Li Man'er, who had been hiding behind the screen, gave up pretending. She decided to confront Li Shu.
When Li Shu saw Li Man'er suddenly walk out, his brow was darkened.
"Why are you here?"
"If I weren't here, I wouldn't know that my good father is truly extremely biased. Everyone else's heart grows on the left, but your heart seems to have grown entirely onto Li Zhao'er's! How could you even think of such a thing, let alone say it? In your heart, does only I, Li Man'er, have to bear the burdens of the Li family?"
Cui Shi said nothing. This kind of thing had indeed happened before. She had always turned a blind eye, entrusting the family to Madam Guo's management. Now, thinking about it, it was truly a bit unfair to Li Man'er.
"You are insolent. Is this how you speak to your own father?"
Li Man'er smiled, "Father, you have exhausted your own authority. With just that sentence you uttered moments ago, you no longer deserve the title of father."
Li Shu was both ashamed and angry, shouting, "Insolent!" As he spoke, he raised his hand to strike Li Zhao'er across the face.
Li Shu was a martial artist. If this blow landed, it would surely knock out several of Li Man'er's teeth. Unfortunately, Li Man'er would not let him have his way. She fiercely grabbed Li Shu's arm, her fingers constricting, making Li Shu's bones crackle.
This terrified Li Shu. He was a military man, possessing great strength. Not just anyone could grab these hands of his.
Now, Li Man'er not only held his arm but also made his bones ache terribly. This was truly bizarre no matter how you looked at it. Who could have imagined a young girl possessing such immense strength?
"Father, I cannot control your favoritism towards my second sister. At least I also have the surname Li, and I have always remembered Grandmother's words that harmony in the family brings prosperity. But your actions today have truly chilled my heart. To protect Li Zhao'er, you have gone to great lengths, even sacrificing another daughter's reputation." Li Man'er took a deep breath and pretended to be heartbroken, "The events in the manor today have already saddened Grandmother enough. I do not wish to argue with you at this juncture. Even after this matter is settled, I will seek justice from Father."
After speaking, Li Man'er released Li Shu's hand and turned to leave the main room.
As soon as she left, Cui Shi finally erupted, "You scoundrel, get down on your knees!"
Li Shu quickly knelt on the ground, "Mother, please do not be angry. Your son was wrong." It had to be said, though Li Shu was not a good husband or a good father, he was undoubtedly a filial son.
"Do you know that today at the temple, it was Man'er who saved me?"
Li Shu looked bewildered, "Your son did not know."
"I fainted, and it was this daughter of yours who pricked me with a needle and healed me."
Li Shu said resentfully, "For a woman of the inner chambers to study medicine is to lower her status. How can the daughter of my Iron Gallantry Marquisate become a medical practitioner?"
This scoundrel.
Cui Shi casually picked up a palace silk fan from the lounger and threw it at him, "I see you have read too many military books and have become foolish. Man'er is right; you are simply stubborn and unreasonable."
"That wicked girl, who gave her the courage to speak such nonsense?" Li Shu thought, it seemed he needed to have a word with Madam Guo, telling her to pay more attention to Li Man'er's words and actions.
"When Zhao'er and Xiao Yu were embracing, many eyes were watching! You say to change people, and you can change them? Can you shut everyone's mouths? If an imperial censor impeaches you, saying you acted recklessly and pulled a trick, how will you defend yourself? Even if it reaches the Emperor, you will have nothing to say."
Li Shu was unconcerned, "Those old censors have nothing to do, they are all idle."
Cui Shi grew even more furious and simply grabbed a shoe from the table and flung it at Li Shu.
"Mother, please don't be angry. We still need to find a solution. This matter cannot be delayed any longer. The longer it drags on, the more unfavorable it will become for us."
Cui Shi was also truly tired and could not fight anymore. She said, "There is no room for negotiation in this matter. You will go to the palace and beg for an imperial decree. Ask the Emperor to grant a marriage."
"What?" Li Shu exclaimed in shock, "But I never intended to marry Zhao'er to Xiao Yu!"
"At this point in time, is it a matter of whether you intend to or not? If you obtain an imperial decree, our marquisate's reputation will be somewhat salvaged, after all, it is an imperial marriage, which can silence gossip. Otherwise, you will be laughed at by your colleagues!"
Li Shu sat dejectedly on the ground.
"How could this have happened."
In the Chaohui Courtyard, Li Zhao'er was crying in Madam Guo's arms, "Mother, what should I do? I don't want to marry Xiao Yu." The young master of the Xiao family was only outwardly glorious; in reality, his life was difficult. Marrying him would mean the ruin of my life.