kingnovel Chapter 292 Bombshell
Chapter 292 Bombshell
Faced with the apologetic Old Master Qi and the Qi couple, Madam Su and Father Li displayed an unprecedented calmness and politeness.
Although they accepted the Qi family's apology and said they wouldn't hold it against them, they both remained perfunctory when Old Master Qi and Madam Qi repeatedly said that the two families should get closer.
Of course, the Qi family members also saw Su Shi and Li's resistance to the Qi family and their wariness of the Qi clan members, so they did not pay attention to Su Shi and Li's attitude.
After leaving the Qi residence, the family felt as if they had survived a calamity.
This sense of relief was far stronger than the experience of being locked in the hay shed in Uncle Qing's courtyard.
Why?
Because Uncle Qing's ordeal was a form of persecution that he knew all too well.
In the Qi family mansion, this was a clandestine method used by the underworld. Such a method could render unsuspecting people like them completely annihilated.
This is precisely why people fear enemies who lurk in the shadows and wait for an opportunity to strike.
When the whole family returned to Prince Jing's Mansion, their desire to go back to the village became even stronger.
Just think, the Qi family was merely a family of imperial physicians, yet it had already descended into such chaos. Those women were willing to commit ruthless acts and take lives simply for control of the inner quarters.
How could there be no infighting in such a large mansion as the Prince Jing's residence?
Although Prince Jing only had one queen consort, he never had a concubine.
However, it's hard to guarantee that some particularly clever servants won't have the idea of climbing into someone's bed.
Who knows what methods they might use to successfully climb into someone's bed?
Li Xiaonuan's family were the least prestigious and least disciplined members of the household. People like them were the easiest to manipulate.
If those individuals actually extend a helping hand of "care" to them, their entire family will have no choice but to wait for their doom.
To be honest, Princess Jing didn't like their family at all, especially Li Xiaonuan.
After thinking about it for a moment, Li Xiaonuan realized that Princess Jing probably regarded her as a potential enemy.
When they first arrived in the capital, they didn't go anywhere else but went straight to Prince Jing's villa.
Afterwards, Prince Jing paid special attention to all matters concerning the villa and made perfect arrangements.
Even the proud and arrogant little princess liked to go to the other courtyard.
Not to mention Prince Jing. During that period, Prince Jing visited the villa quite often.
Although he went to the other courtyard mostly to discuss matters with Wei Yu.
But Princess Jing didn't know that. All she knew was that Li Xiaonuan's family lived in a separate courtyard and enjoyed all sorts of high-standard treatment.
Furthermore, ever since Li Xiaonuan and her family moved into Prince Jing's residence, Prince Jing has met with Li Xiaonuan privately on several occasions.
Even when Prince Jing met with Li Xiaonuan, it was always for official business. But many of those matters couldn't be discussed with outsiders.
Presumably, Prince Jing wouldn't tell Princess Jing about those upsetting things or academic matters.
What Li Xiaonuan didn't know was that Prince Jing had praised her highly in front of Princess Jing many times.
The young princess also always acted as if she liked Li Xiaonuan quite a bit.
It was precisely because of this that Princess Jing felt a sense of crisis. She thought that Prince Jing was hinting to her to take Li Xiaonuan as a concubine for him.
Of course, there are also those who can guess what their masters are thinking, either trying to please Li Xiaonuan's family or distancing themselves from and being wary of them.
And so, Li Xiaonuan's status in the Prince Jing's mansion became quite awkward.
However, even so, Li Xiaonuan had no intention of moving out of the Prince's Mansion immediately.
Since they only have three or four days left before returning to the village, why bother making the trip?
Two days after Su returned to the Prince's residence, her scalded leg had improved considerably. The minor burns had subsided and the burning sensation had disappeared.
Also, the red skin started to turn dark red and was turning into a brown scab.
On this day, Li Xiaonuan was discussing the specific time to return to the village with her father when someone came to announce that the Second Prince invited Miss Li and her family to come over for a talk.
The second prince is naturally Zhao Wangchuan. No, his real name is Zhao Ruichen.
Although the emperor had previously issued an edict to officially name Wei Lu as empress, the actual coronation ceremony had not yet taken place, and Wei Lu and Zhao Ruichen's status remained unchanged.
In other words, on the surface, Wei Lu is still the same Consort Lu who died many years ago.
However, out of respect for the imperial edict, everyone still politely addressed them as the Empress and the Second Prince.
Although the court officials were more cautious than before after the upheaval, the current political leaders were not.
However, there were other princes in the court. And those princes weren't truly ruined by the Empress. One or two of them were quite capable.
Therefore, Wei Lu and her son, who returned to the capital halfway, only had the support of the Wei clan and some officials who had married into the Wei clan.
In fact, many veteran officials were resistant to Wei Lu and her son.
Having learned from the example of the Wang family, they believed that Wei Lu and her son would take the opportunity to retaliate against those who had followed the emperor in ostracizing the Wei family, thereby disrupting the court.
However, the emperor gave Zhao Wangchuan a chance to turn his life around. The reason why Zhao Wangchuan led troops outside the city to resist General Wang's rebel army was precisely because of this opportunity provided by the emperor.
It must be said that the emperor was a shrewd and cunning old fox. He not only removed the malignant tumor of the Wang family, but also made Zhao Wangchuan a meritorious official.
Thus, the officials' attempts to stop the emperor from bestowing titles upon Zhao Wangchuan and his mother seemed less forceful.
But didn't Zhao Wangchuan lead his troops to pursue General Wang's remnants and the First Prince? Why did he suddenly decide to send his family to see him now?
When Li Xiaonuan and her family saw the emperor and his two companions waiting in the main hall of the Prince Jing's mansion, they were all dumbfounded.
Because of her leg injury, Su Shi did not come. However, Li's father had met the emperor, although he did not know the emperor's true identity.
Accompanying them was the old Taoist priest. When he saw Li Xiaonuan, his expression was somewhat strange.
Looking at the three emperors sitting calmly in the hall, Li Xiaonuan really wanted to ask them what they wanted to do.
Fortunately, Wei Lu didn't keep Li Xiaonuan guessing for long before dropping a bombshell.
“Miss Li, I heard that you broke off your engagement. So, the Emperor and I have come specifically to propose marriage for the Prince. Although you cannot become the principal wife, you can certainly become a concubine. I wonder if Miss Li would be willing?” Wei Lu’s expression under her veil was not very good.
Her feelings towards Li Xiaonuan were somewhat complicated. First of all, given Li Xiaonuan's status and reputation, the emperor shouldn't have lowered himself to ask for her.
Furthermore, although Li Xiaonuan is a good person, she is not suited for life in the palace.
Finally, Wei Lu believes that Li Xiaonuan is too calculating and might not be able to help Zhao Wangchuan. She might even bring him trouble.
Wei Lu's words were like a heavy hammer blow to Li Xiaonuan and her father's hearts.
As for what Xiaogang was thinking, Li Xiaonuan had no idea. Ever since Xiaogang met the emperor, he had been acting rather dazed and simple-minded.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I'm afraid this matter is impossible. The Second Prince is such a noble person; how could someone like me possibly aspire to such a high position? I am well aware of my own limitations and dare not presume upon it," Li Xiaonuan replied while kowtowing.
“Oh dear, we don’t want to climb the social ladder. We just want to go back to the village and be peaceful farmers,” Father Li said, kowtowing as he spoke.