hotmtlnovel Chapter 170
Chapter 170
Qiu Kui didn't know what to say. She took out a purse from her bosom and said, "Take this money."
"I can't accept it," Cuihong was already grateful for the ointment Qiu Kui had given her.
"Take it. I can't let you use your own wages to run errands for me," Qiu Kui stuffed the purse into Cuihong's hand. Cuihong returned to Luhua Courtyard with a heart full of gratitude. As soon as she entered, she heard the sound of something shattering inside.
Li Xin and Li Xia were listening to the steward's report on various tasks. They heard that three sets of tea wares had been damaged in the storehouse.
"Granny Liu, two sets of tea wares were damaged in the storehouse the day before yesterday. Why were another three sets damaged yesterday?" Li Xin put down her pen.
"Luhua Courtyard came to the storehouse three times yesterday to deliver broken tea wares," Granny Liu, sitting at the lower end, replied. Just as she was speaking, a small maid guarding the storehouse door came to report that Luhua Courtyard had come again to collect tea wares.
Li Xin frowned, clearly displeased, and couldn't help but mock, "Is she drinking tea or eating teacups?"
At this moment, Qiu Ling came in carrying a basket. "Miss, I've bought what you asked for."
Li Xia glanced at it and gestured for Qiu Ling to show it to Li Xin. Li Xin looked at the bamboo tea set placed in the basket.
"Send it to Luhua Courtyard," Li Xia gestured for Qiu Ling to hand the basket to Granny Liu. Granny Liu looked at the bamboo tea set in the basket, then at Li Xin. Li Xin didn't object, so Granny Liu signaled for the little maid to take the basket back to the storehouse.
In the evening, Li Ming returned home from his post at the Ministry of Works to find Li Shan waiting for him at the back courtyard gate.
"Father, now that I'm married, am I no longer part of the Li family?" Li Shan's abrupt question left Li Ming bewildered.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Your surname is Li, you're part of the Li family. That will never change," Li Ming had just finished speaking when Li Shan knelt down. "Please, Father, I beg you to stand up for me."
"Get up quickly," Li Ming was increasingly confused about what Li Shan was up to.
Li Shan remained kneeling and repeated, "I beg you to stand up for me, Father."
"I'll stand up for you, now get up," Li Ming said, just what Li Shan had been waiting to hear. Li Shan stood up.
"What's the matter? Tell me," Li Ming said, rolling up his sleeves.
"Your daughter has been bullied by a servant," Li Shan said, crying sorrowfully.
"You go back to the Wen'an Marquis Mansion," Li Ming was very disappointed in Li Shan.
"Father, are you trying to drive me back into a cage again?" Li Shan looked at Li Ming in disbelief.
Li Ming didn't want to deal with her anymore and ordered someone to take Li Shan back. The next day, Li Ming personally escorted Li Shan back to the Wen'an Marquis Mansion.
Li Xia wasn't concerned about this. She was sitting in Li Hui's study, staring at him.
"These travel journals are quite good," Li Hui pulled out a few prepared travel journals to give to Li Xia, hoping she would leave.
Li Xia accepted the journals and put them aside, remaining seated and staring at Li Hui. Seeing that Li Hui still wouldn't speak, Li Xia stood up. "Big Brother, if you won't tell me, are you planning to tell Mother instead?"
"Come back, sit down," Li Hui called out to Li Xia.
Li Xia turned back to look at Li Hui, waiting for his answer.
"Who taught you to tattle at every turn?" Li Hui stood up and sat in a nearby chair. Li Xia walked over and sat in the chair next to him.
"Never mind who taught me. Why did you break your promise to me?" Li Xia said, poking Li Hui's shoulder.
Li Hui's expression changed slightly as he shifted to avoid her.
"I didn't tell you, but you found out anyway," Li Hui had taken plenty of men with him this time, yet they were still ambushed. Fortunately, two black-clad men appeared later and saved their lives.
There was no need to guess – Li Hui knew these two black-clad men must have been arranged by Li Xia.
"Brother, I won't stop you if you want to investigate thoroughly. But you must promise to ensure your own safety first," Li Xia certainly didn't want someone to come reporting one day that they had found Li Hui's corpse.
Seeing Li Xia's rare seriousness, Li Hui also straightened his expression. "Don't worry, I value my life very much. It won't happen again."
"You're thinking of a next time?" Li Xia was unsatisfied with Li Hui's response.
"There won't be a next time," The first time was due to his carelessness. This time, even with thorough preparation, he still got hurt. Li Hui understood that the waters here ran deep. He needed to adjust his approach and find someone to collaborate with.
At night, Li Xia arrived at Tian Yi Pavilion. Before she could speak, Zhou Heng handed her the information he had found. The first attack on Li Hui was carried out by people sent by Liu Yuanchang. The missing jade pendant was also a potential threat to Liu Yuanchang. Privately, he had also been sending people to search for it, and discovered that Li Hui was still investigating the matter.
Liu Yuanchang had harbored a grudge against Li Hui for a long time. If it weren't for his father Liu Jie forbidding him to take action, he would have dealt with Li Hui long ago. He took advantage of Li Hui finding his hunter friend, intending to kill Li Hui.