Chapter 7 Chapter 7 "It's better to give the power of the family to the daughter-in-law..."
As they were talking, twenty or thirty strong men rushed into the yard and surrounded it inside and outside. When they looked at Zhao Qingyi, Li Susu felt a strong sense of oppression.
"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law..."
Mrs. Luo hurried to the door and shouted, "What are you doing? This is where the women are. I, Susu, am still a virgin, so why don't you all get out of here!"
She wanted to protect Li Susu behind her, but the two strong men stood at the door with their chests puffed out, and Luo Shi did not dare to move.
Perhaps because she felt guilty, Li Susu couldn't help swallowing her saliva when she saw Zhao Qingyi. She wanted to hide the seal behind her when no one was paying attention.
Zhao Qingyi walked up to her and snatched it from her hand. She recognized the card; it was from Sifang Bank. As for the seal, it was carved entirely with tourmaline and felt cold to the touch.
She opened it and saw her name engraved in small seal script at the bottom. It was indeed her private seal that had been lost for three years.
For three years, Luo Shi used her name to transfer all the profits from her dowry shop to Sifang Money House without her knowledge. Now, the property has been returned to its original owner.
Zhao Qingyi put the things away under the horrified gazes of Luo and Li Susu. What she was waiting for was for Luo to be short of money and take out the private seal on her own initiative, so that she could catch him red-handed and save her the trouble of reporting the matter to the police or searching for it privately.
"You bitch..."
Luo pretended to rush out and fight her, because that was her life!
However, as an old woman, she couldn't break through the flesh wall formed by dozens of people.
Zhao Qingyi played with the private seal in her hand and said in a gentle tone, "My mother-in-law said that the shop has not been doing well in the past three years and has suffered losses everywhere. But my dowry used to be made up of the best feng shui shops in Beijing. It's no exaggeration to say that they made a fortune every day. Now it's in my mother-in-law's hands and I haven't made a single cent. This is enough to prove that my mother-in-law is not good at business and can't support the Li family. In my opinion, it is more appropriate for me to hand over the dowry shop and the management of the Li family to my daughter-in-law."
"Go and dream on!"
Luo hung on the arms of two strong men, swinging her arms and kicking her legs, her face ferocious, "Even if I die, I will never hand over the family power to you!"
"I know my mother-in-law doesn't like me, but that doesn't matter."
Zhao Qingyi smiled brightly, "I just want to ask my mother-in-law one question. Over the past three years, she's been socializing and entertaining in Beijing under the pretext of paving the way for her son's official career. She's been spending a lot of money, but what's the result?"
"The Li family is humble, and my mother-in-law has no imperial decree. Which powerful family would be willing to make friends with you? My mother-in-law's efforts will be futile. It's just a waste of money. And my husband's final transfer back to the capital was thanks to my father's connections in the court."
"If the mother-in-law is truly planning for her son, she should know that having me, a daughter of the Zhao family, take charge is the best choice for the Li family, isn't it?"
In the past, Zhao Qingyi had always endured it out of consideration for her mother-in-law's dignity. But now, she spoke out her true feelings in one breath. Looking at Luo's rosy face, she finally let out a sigh of relief.
"Now that the private seal has been returned to its original owner, I, your daughter-in-law, will not argue with my mother-in-law. If you want to make a fuss, you should consider reporting this to the authorities. What will be your punishment?"
Zhao Qingyi smiled softly and reminded her, "Mother-in-law, have you forgotten what it feels like to be whipped by the Nine-Tailed Whip in the Imperial Prison?"
Luo shuddered and immediately stopped. She pointed at Zhao Qingyi and said, "You...you vicious woman! The last time I was tortured in the imperial prison, it must have been you who ordered it!"
When he talked about spending money to get her out, he was basically bribing the Imperial Guards so that they would torture him!
Just when Luo was filled with hatred, a slender figure hurried over. He walked to the door of Qionghua Hall and saw the situation in the courtyard, and stopped.
"Li Heng?" Luo was the first to notice him, her languishing heart instantly warming. "You've arrived just in time! Get these roughnecks out!"
Zhao Qingyi subconsciously turned sideways and looked back, and met a pair of narrow black eyes that showed a hint of surprise.
The man who came was tall and straight, wearing a pale blue robe that had been worn white. He looked about five or six points like Li Che. He was the most inconspicuous illegitimate son of the Li family, Li Che's younger brother Li Heng.
Although thirty-six years of life in the previous life was not long, Zhao Qingyi had almost no impression of this person.
Perhaps Zhao Qingyi was eager to recall something, so his eyes lingered on the other person for a moment longer.
In just a moment, Li Heng's face turned red. He bowed to the people in the yard, and his lowered eyes hid a strange excitement.
"Li Heng...Meet my sister-in-law and mother."
Almost at the moment he finished speaking, Zhao Qingyi remembered that her husband Li Che had a very low-key and introverted half-brother. The two were only three years apart in age. Li Heng had now reached adulthood and obtained the qualification of a scholar, and was preparing to take the imperial examination this autumn.
Luo Shi disliked this illegitimate son and ignored him. Li Heng had no one to take care of him, and it was not easy for him to pass the imperial examination at such an age.
Luo was about to call out to him to come and help, but when she keenly noticed the panic and shyness that flashed across Li Heng's face when he saw Zhao Qingyi, she knew that this boy's heart had already flown away.
Well, the daughter of the Zhao family is indeed a foxy woman who brings disaster. It is not enough for her to marry Che'er, but she also wants to seduce her uncle!
Just as Luo was about to burst into a rage, Li Heng took over. He nodded to the burly man blocking the doorway, then stepped into the courtyard and saluted Luo, "Mother, I'm here for something important."
"What a bullshit..." Luo rushed over and tried to scratch him.
Li Heng deftly dodged half a step and said quickly, "Mother, calm down! It's Big Brother!"
Luo was stunned for a moment, then regained some of her sanity. She looked him up and down with suspicion.
"I unexpectedly heard some news at the prefectural academy today. His Majesty suddenly raised objections to my eldest brother's transfer. The cabinet seems... seems to be intending to replace my eldest brother with the editor position in the Hanlin Academy."
Luo stumbled and nearly fell. She was in disbelief and asked hesitantly after a long while, "What did you say?"
Li Heng frowned and explained, "A few days ago, my mother and sister had just returned from the imperial prison, and rumors were rampant in the capital. My son's classmates happened to overhear my mother's angry words, and the story spread among the scholars and gradually reached the palace..."
Everyone says that the current Majesty is enlightened, open-minded, and not fussy about trivial matters. Logically, His Majesty would not let the cabinet make such a decision just because of rumors.
But Li Heng couldn't figure out where the problem lay.
After hearing this, Luo felt as if the sky had fallen. The dowry, the private seal, and the power over the family were not as important as her son's career. What's more, it was the emperor's idea, which meant that her son had lost the emperor's favor because of the rumors before he even returned to the capital.
Could it be that her son's reputation was affected because she was arrested and imprisoned by the Imperial Guards last time?
Luo regretted it so much that her intestines turned green. For the first time, she realized that rumors were more ferocious than a tiger to people in officialdom.
If I had known earlier...
If she had known it would turn out like this, she would have simply not argued with Zhao.
Yes, it's all that Zhao! That bitch is the unlucky one!
Luo stared at Zhao Qingyi at the gate of the courtyard with her eyes fixed, as if she wanted to stare holes in her.
Li Susu also heard what Li Heng said. With red eyes, she ran over and pointed at his nose, questioning, "Is it you? Did you say something you shouldn't have said at the prefectural school? You're deliberately trying to discredit my brother!"
Li Heng was a bastard, his mother having died young, and he had been living under the oppression of the Luo family. Facing Li Susu's accusations, he simply bowed his head and said, "...I didn't do that."
"No, how could this happen?"
Li Susu reached out and pushed him, "It must be you! It must be you! You are just jealous of my brother!"
Seeing that the situation was getting out of control, Zhao Qingyi had the rare opportunity to watch the show from the sidelines. Anyway, her goal had been achieved and the private seal had been taken back. She was happy to see this family in chaos and waved her hand to signal others to leave first.
Soon, only the Li family members were left in Qionghua Hall. Only Zhao Qingyi's presence was incompatible with the Li family, and her presence was too strong, so strong that Li Heng could not ignore her.
He knew that Zhao Qingyi was looking at him.
Li Heng, who had been lowering his head to endure the blame from Luo's mother and daughter, suddenly raised his head and faced Li Susu, his pair of dark eyes dark and unclear.
"Have you made enough trouble?" His voice suddenly turned cold, completely different from his previous submissive, introverted, and even somewhat cowardly appearance.
Luo and Li Susu were both stunned. They had not expected him to react like this.
Li Heng took a step back and straightened his collar, which had been ripped askew by Li Susu's shove. He said coldly, "I have already achieved fame and honor. I am not a stray dog who will be bullied and humiliated."
He will definitely pass the imperial examination this autumn. From now on, not only the mother and daughter, but even his so-called brother Li Che will have to respect him.
"There may be some changes in your transfer, and I'm sure you'll hear about it soon. I've already asked for leave from the prefectural school, and will head south tomorrow to meet you."
After Li Heng finished speaking, he bowed perfunctorily. When he left Qionghua Hall and was about to pass by Zhao Qingyi, his hurried steps slowed down.
According to etiquette, although Li Heng had achievements, he was not an official, and Zhao Qingyi was a legitimate official's wife. When they met, he could not look up and look her in the face.
But at an inadvertent moment, Li Heng looked up and met those beautiful eyes that showed no emotion. His face suddenly turned red again, and he saluted Zhao Qingyi a little awkwardly.
"Sister-in-law."
Perhaps because he brought "good news", Zhao Qingyi rarely smiled at a member of the Li family, but that was all.
Unexpectedly, Li Heng's neck turned red, his eyes flickered several times, and finally he didn't dare to look anymore and left in a hurry.
Zhao Qingyi quickly withdrew his gaze without thinking too much. He took one last glance at the Luo mother and daughter in the courtyard, then turned around and went back to Lanyue Pavilion.
On the way, I was wondering why the current emperor suddenly became interested in a mere Hanlin editor who was about to take office?
Thinking of His Majesty, some memories that are so old and unfamiliar gradually flooded into my mind.
His Majesty the present, Chu Yuanhe, ascended the throne at the age of thirteen and changed the country's name to Dingxi. He was warlike and murderous, and was always victorious. He galloped on the battlefield at a young age and pacified the northwest at the age of nineteen. He returned to Shangjing only when he came of age. However, he only stayed in Shangjing for half a month before rushing to the border again. It has been almost three years now.
Speaking of this young emperor, all the civil and military officials had only the feeling that he was like a dragon that was hard to find. There were probably only a few cabinet elders in the court who had actually seen the true face of this emperor. When he was away, these cabinet elders would temporarily take charge of the government.
Later, the barbarians in the northwest and the tribes in the southern border all surrendered to Daliang. Chu Yuanhe returned to Shangjing when there was no more war to fight and sat peacefully on the throne of the emperor. The closest Zhao Qingyi had ever been to the emperor in her previous life was probably when she was about to receive an imperial edict and enter the palace to express her gratitude. Unfortunately, she suddenly fell ill before that day came and died of anger.
But even with the memories of two lives, Zhao Qingyi still knew very little about this unconventional and eccentric emperor. However, although she did not understand the emperor, she knew that there was nothing wrong with Li Che's entry into the Hanlin Academy in her previous life.
Why did something unexpected happen in this life? Was it because of her actions after rebirth? Or was it because the rumors spread by the Meng family had reached the emperor, leading to the cabinet's decision?
Zhao Qingyi quickly rejected this idea.
Although she used the help of her cousin Meng to deliberately spread rumors about the Li family, the court was controlled by several elders. Given the cabinet's calm style of doing things, they had to meet Li Che first before making a conclusion.
Zhao Qingyi couldn't figure it out, so she simply stopped thinking about it. No matter where the problem was, Li Che's career was blocked, which was a good thing for her. At least in the short term, Luo and Li Susu would be afraid to cause trouble in her courtyard.
After returning to Lanyue Pavilion, Zhao Qingyi carefully checked the private seal and put it away safely. Then he sent Tan Yue to get the key to the mansion and all the account books for the three years since she entered the mansion.
Luo Shi was struck with a shock and became much more honest. After handing over the key, she coldly watched the maid carry the piles of account books to Lanyue Pavilion. As Tan Yue left, she couldn't help but ask, "My Che'er's career has been blocked. Is it your grandmother's fault?"
Tan Yue bowed and said, "Old lady, you are worrying too much. How could my grandmother have such merits and abilities that she could change the superiors' minds with just a few words?"
Yes, just a few words.
Back then, Zhao Qingyi used her connections and a few words to get Li Che the opportunity to be transferred back to Beijing. Now, with just a few casual words, she ruined her son's path to becoming a Hanlin scholar.
Luo's focus was clearly diverted; the corners of her mouth drooped, and her thin, long, and harsh face was gloomy.
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