0p0 Chapter 76 Wounded
Chapter 76 Wounded
"Your mother has already prepared enough for you; she's almost emptied the entire storeroom. Those are your sister's own things; how can she just give them to you like that?"
“My sister’s things don’t belong to the Marquis’s mansion, but what belongs to the Marquis’s mansion is yours, Father. Why can’t you give your daughter things, Father?”
"That won't do!" Xia Deqing's face flushed red as he refused outright. Then, realizing his tone hadn't been good, he softened it: "I'll have your mother prepare some more things for you, even more than that 'Golden Jade Abundance' thing, okay?"
Xia Wanwan pursed her lips. Jin Yu Man Tang was at its zenith, and its future would only get better and better. It was incomparable to ordinary shops.
"But Father, this is what I want~ Father, you've agreed to this last little request of yours before I get married~ After all, we've only just reunited, and I won't be able to come back to serve you often in the future..." As she spoke, she seemed extremely sad, and lowered her head to wipe away her tears.
Even so, Xia Deqing did not agree: "Let's not talk about this anymore."
After saying that, he left.
Xia Wanwan pouted. She didn't understand why her mother could be moved by the same words, while her father absolutely refused.
However, she didn't know that in Xia Deqing's eyes, touching his daughter's things was just as despicable and shameful as touching his wife's dowry, something only a cowardly and incompetent man would do!
If this gets out, what face will he have left? How will he maintain his standing in the imperial court?
Furthermore, he didn't understand Jin Yumantang and thought it was just his two daughters arguing over who was the best. Besides, he needed Xia Li to do something important, so it was really not a good time to cause any trouble.
Thinking of that momentous event, Xia Deqing's eyes flashed with greed and madness.
That day is just around the corner.
As for my daughter? No daughter is as important as my own long and healthy life!
Moreover, although his daughter will lose her cultivation, she will become a holy maiden of the sect, which can be considered a blessing in disguise.
She should thank herself.
Not long after Xia Deqing left, Wen Chanyi arrived: "How was it?"
Xia Wanwan bit her lip, her aggrieved expression tinged with anger: "Father doesn't agree... Mother, tell me, does Father not love me anymore?"
"Nonsense! The Marquis loves you the most, but he's too proud to take action against his daughter's business. Manxianglou has only been open for two months, yet it has already established itself in the capital, where land is incredibly valuable, and its profits and reputation are both good. Besides, you made a promise to the Gu family that this Jinyu Mantang must be in your hands... This matter still depends on us."
"But Mother, Father, Mother... Mother won't agree, what can we do?"
"Since he's having trouble choosing between his two daughters, shall we help him make the choice?"
"How can I help..."
"The Marquis is very concerned about his reputation. If Xia Li makes him lose face..."
Wen Chanyi didn't finish her sentence, but the mother and daughter exchanged a smile, both seeing a calculating glint in each other's eyes.
"Mother, I not only want Father to hate her, I also want her to be utterly disgraced and trampled under my feet from now on, never to rise again!"
"Alright." Wen Chanyi affectionately patted her head and then said, "The day after tomorrow is the birthday banquet of the youngest daughter of the Earl of Dongping. Most of the children of officials of the fourth rank and above in the capital will be there. Go find your stepmother and find a way to get you all to attend the banquet. I will make the arrangements myself. As for you, framing Xia Li is secondary. The main thing is to make good connections with the dignitaries present. If you can get along well with the youngest daughter of the Earl of Dongping, it will be a great help to you."
"Yes, Mother."
"..."
Ali still couldn't leave tonight because Yu Yang came and knocked on her door.
The escape plan was delayed, and Ali was full of impatience, but she was shocked when she saw Yu Yang covered in bruises: "What happened?"
"Who knew that I would be chased on the way back? I barely managed to shake off my pursuers, but I'm afraid there might be an ambush somewhere else, so I can only trouble you."
Ali helped the person to the side room and then brought out some wine.
After taking off his outer clothes, he discovered that his body was covered with wounds.
"Tsk, you're really in a bad situation."
"..." Yu Yang seemed too weak to speak due to the pain.
Seeing that there wasn't a single spot on his back that was intact, Ali thought for a moment and then simply poured a whole bottle of wine onto his back.
"Hiss—" Yu Yang couldn't help but gasp.
Tears welled up in my eyes from the pain.
Ali then rather roughly grabbed a large wad of cotton cloth and rubbed it all over his back. Yu Yang couldn't help but cry out in pain, "Ah!"
Ali hurriedly asked, "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, I just suddenly thought of something very sad, and then I got sand in my eye. Please take a look."
"Okay, I'll take a look."
Ali walked around to Yu Yang's side and stared at him with wide eyes.
I have to say, he's got a pretty face, like a cute puppy. He's usually as docile as a rabbit in front of me, so adorable. He even has a delicate, refined look. If he dressed up as a girl, I doubt anyone would recognize him, right?
Looking at Ali's face so close to his, Yu Yang couldn't help but feel his heart flutter, and his ears turned slightly red.
He suddenly blurted out, "I...I love you."
"You!" Ali, who was lost in thought, came to her senses, her face turning bright red, but she didn't know what to say and just turned her face away.
"I'll go and call someone in to serve you."
After saying this, he summoned a male servant and went back to his room.
Lying in bed, Ali couldn't understand it at all.
Did he mean he likes himself?
How could he fall in love with himself?
When did this happen?
How long have we known each other?
Ali considers herself to be fairly intelligent, but not the kind of intelligent person with an IQ of 100 and an EQ of 0. She does know what she needs to know about matters between men and women.
She hadn't thought about this aspect before, but today...
But when did he fall in love with her? They'd only known each other for two months, so where did the feelings come from?
Does he even know what it means to like someone?
Does he not know what liking or loving is?
Even Ali herself didn't realize that she had become somewhat worried about Yu Yang. Unconsciously, she had begun to accept Yu Yang in her heart.
There are always some people who believe in love less than anyone else, yet fall in love more deeply than anyone else.
Just as Ali was lost in thought, Yu Yang came to find her.
"I've come to apologize to you. I was impolite just now, please don't be angry."
Ali: "!!!"
It seems this guy isn't a typical straight man; he knows this is abrupt.
But why, even though he knows he will be sad and angry, doesn't he immediately try to comfort her?
Ali pretended to be angry and said, "Why are you coming to apologize now? I've already finished crying."
“This…” Yu Yang was clearly at a loss. He hadn’t expected his usually strong boss to cry over this.
"You're trying to coax me now, but it makes me feel like all the time I spent before was wasted."
Yu Yang: "I was wrong, I deeply realize my mistake. Please forgive me?"
Looking at his pitiful expression, Ah Li couldn't bring herself to say the words of forgiveness.
I wasn't even angry, so why the forgiveness?
Yu Yang took Ali's hand, placed it on her head, and petted it like a puppy, then said in a sweet, coquettish voice, "I'm sorry, I won't joke like that again. Please forgive me~"