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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 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.
"Who bullied you?" After all, she was the daughter he had doted on for many years. Seeing Li Shan cry so heartbrokenly, Li Ming's tone carried a hint of anger.
"It was Granny Liu," Granny Liu was the storehouse manager.
"How did Aunt Liu bully you?" The anger in Li Ming's tone disappeared, replaced by an ambiguous meaning.
When Granny Liu was young, she was the personal maid to Li Ming's birth mother. She had devotedly cared for the old madam for over twenty years and never married. When the old madam passed away, Li Ming had originally wanted to arrange for someone to take care of her so she could enjoy her later years.
Granny Liu refused, insisting on working. Only then did Mrs. Lu put her in charge of managing the storehouse. Granny Liu was the most upright and meticulous person; Li Ming didn't believe she would bully Li Shan.
"Let's not talk about this at the door," Mrs. Lu, who had hurried over, told the father and daughter to go to Wild Goose Pavilion to discuss. She also called all relevant personnel to the pavilion.
Li Xin and Li Xia, who had rushed to Wild Goose Pavilion upon receiving the news, walked into the room. Li Shan's lack of a fuss made Li Xin somewhat puzzled: so this was what she had been waiting for.
Li Shan knelt on the ground, looking utterly wronged and heartbroken. Aunt Wang, who arrived later, saw Li Shan kneeling and knelt down beside her.
When everyone had arrived, Mrs. Lu, sitting in the main seat, spoke up, "Tell us, what exactly happened?"
"Mother..." Li Xin had just begun to speak when Li Xia stepped forward. "Let me explain this matter."
"Very well, you speak," Li Ming nodded for Li Xia to continue. Li Shan wanted to interject but was held back by Aunt Wang.
"Since Third Sister returned to the Li residence on the second day of the New Year until today, five days have passed. She has damaged three vases, two ornaments, and eight sets of tea wares. The vases and ornaments are still available in the storehouse. But we're running low on tea sets, and it's inconvenient to order more during the New Year. So I had someone buy a bamboo tea set, thinking it might last Third Sister a few more days." By the end, Li Xia wore an expression suggesting she had only Li Shan's best interests in mind.
"You're lying! There weren't that many!" Li Shan herself wasn't clear on how many she had broken.
"Every time Luhua Courtyard came to the storehouse to get tea wares or items, it was recorded," Granny Liu spoke up, producing a register and handing it over.
Li Ming opened the register. Everything Li Xia had mentioned was recorded, with the cause of damage clearly noted as "smashed." He noticed one set of Four Gentlemen tea ware, which he often used to entertain guests. Even that had been smashed by Li Shan.
"Father, these tea wares were faulty to begin with. It's not fair to blame me," Li Shan was still trying to defend herself.
"The Four Gentlemen tea set: I just used it to entertain guests on New Year's Eve. Li Shan, who taught you to smash tea wares when you're unhappy?" Li Ming's tone was icy cold, filled with disappointment in Li Shan.
Aunt Wang trembled and knelt forward two steps. "Master, the Third Miss is still young. Please forgive her this once." She then turned back to pull Li Shan, urging her to kowtow to Li Ming and admit her mistake.
Li Shan didn't believe she had done anything wrong and was unwilling to kowtow and admit fault.
"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. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
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.