Lingge was about to ask when she heard Su Jinli continue, "Go, send someone to the slums in the west of the city and invite Wang Banxian, who always sets up a stall in front of the dilapidated temple. Just say... the daughter of the prime minister wants to have her marriage arranged." As she spoke, sunlight happened to shine gently into the main room through the carved window lattices, reflecting tiny rays of light on the red gold and kingfisher feather hairpin, like stars, making her almond-shaped eyes look especially bright, revealing a wisdom and determination that should not be underestimated.
Upon hearing this, Young Marquis Su hurried to her side, the handle of his broadsword accidentally knocking against her skirt, causing it to sway. "Sister, that Wang Banxian is a drunkard. Last time, he even called my wooden sword the 'Blue Dragon Crescent Blade'! Is it okay to invite him over?"
"It's precisely because he's a drunk that no one believes what he says." Su Jinli put the abacus back on the antique shelf, lightly running his fingertips over the row of storybook manuscripts on the shelf, a confident smile curling up at the corner of his mouth. "If no one believes it, then it's best used to slap him in the face."
Upon hearing this, Su Qingyao suddenly burst out laughing, and the purple glazed incense burner in her hand spun lightly in a circle: "Interesting. Calculating marriage? I want to see how you can make this dead end game come alive." As she turned around, her wide sleeves lightly swept across the account book on the desk. The page with the ink writing that recorded the debt owed by Wang Jia Erlang in the gambling house gleamed with a glossy luster in the sunlight, as if hinting at something.
Prime Minister Su gazed at the glittering light in his daughter's eyes, and in a trance, he felt as if he had returned to many years ago. Back then, her biological mother had been like this too—a gentle face, yet possessing a resilient and courageous heart. On the polo field, she dared to grab the prince's club and crush the opponent. His hand, stroking his beard, paused slightly, a flood of emotion filling his heart. Then, he pulled a banknote from his sleeve pocket and gently slipped it into Su Jinli's hand: "This is a 30% stake in the time-honored 'Wenxin Bookstore' in the south of the city. If you need money... don't be too hard on yourself."
The edges of the banknotes still carried the warmth of Prime Minister Su's body. Su Jinli gently pinched the stack of mulberry paper, a warm current flowing through her heart, and her nose couldn't help but feel a slight tingling. She remembered that at her coming-of-age banquet in her previous life, it was this man who chose to remain silent when Liu proposed a marriage alliance, allowing her to be ruthlessly pushed into the bridal sedan. It was an indelible pain in her heart. But now, looking at the Buddhist beads gently swaying at his sleeve, and then meeting his eyes full of love, Su Jinli knew that everything was different.
"I understand, Dad." She carefully put the banknotes into her dressing box, turned to Lingge and said firmly, "What are you still standing there for? Go and invite Wang Banxian. Remember to bring plenty of change, so he doesn't act rogue when he sobers up."
Lingge responded crisply and left in a hurry. But Young Marquis Su suddenly pointed out the window and shouted, "Sister! Look!"
Everyone looked in the direction of his finger and saw a gray-haired raccoon squatting on the wall, holding half a piece of paper in its mouth. Upon closer inspection, they saw it was the rumor circulating on the streets about her bringing bad luck to her husband. The raccoon seemed to sense the gazes and flicked its tail, sending the paper shreds carelessly tumbling into the lotus pond in the courtyard, where they were instantly chopped to pieces by a school of cheerfully swimming fish.
Su Jinli watched the amusing scene and suddenly smiled softly. She walked to the window, bent down, picked up a small stone, and gently threw it at the cat slave. The beast was so startled that it quickly scurried onto the roof, holding the paper ball in its mouth. "Want some stinky tofu? Chew up these dirty words for me first."
Prime Minister Su gazed at his daughter's back, a surge of relief and pride welling up in his heart. He suddenly felt that the sunlight in the west wing seemed much brighter than usual. In her eyes, those so-called "husband-killing" rumors were probably just ripples in a calm pond, easily dispelled by a single pebble. And his daughter was no longer the pitiful pawn at the mercy of others in her previous life. She was now Su Jinli, a woman with a cool abacus in hand, daring to treat rumors like candy. Her tenacity and intelligence were truly remarkable.
Su Jinli knew that the battle against the Wang family and the Liu clan had only just begun. Yet, she felt no fear, instead filled with fighting spirit. She began carefully plotting her next move, considering how to use Wang Banxian, a seemingly insignificant pawn, to completely shatter their carefully orchestrated conspiracy.
Meanwhile, the Wang and Liu clans, their in-laws, were secretly gloating over the spread of rumors, believing victory was assured. They frequently discussed how to further pressure the Minister of Rites and force the Emperor to rescind his decree of marriage. However, they were unaware that Su Jinli had quietly laid out her plan, waiting for them to step into her trap.
While waiting for Wang Banxian's arrival, Su Jinli wasn't idle. She tasked Lingge with gathering more evidence regarding Wang Jiaerlang's gambling debts and other scandals concerning Liu's cousins. She knew that if she wanted to completely defeat her opponent, relying solely on Wang Banxian's words wouldn't be enough; she needed concrete evidence to leave them speechless.
Su Qingyao also assisted with counsel and strategy. Leveraging her connections among the noblewomen of the capital, she secretly inquired about the activities of the Wang and Liu clans, providing Su Jinli with valuable information. Young Marquis Su, like a loyal guard, always stood by Su Jinli's side. Although impulsive, he understood that his sister needed to think calmly and avoid rash actions. He would occasionally serve her tea and water, expressing his support.
Finally, amid everyone's anxious wait, Lingge hurried back to the Prime Minister's residence with Wang Banxian. Wang Banxian was dressed in a tattered Taoist robe, his hair disheveled, his eyes blurry, and he reeked of alcohol, clearly having just been awakened from a drunken dream. Su Jinli, observing him in this state, felt secretly delighted, for this was exactly the "drunken state" she needed.
"Wang Banxian, I invited you here today to help me calculate my marriage." Su Jinli said solemnly while sitting in the main seat in the main hall.
Wang Banxian rubbed his sleepy eyes, burped, and said vaguely: "Oh? The marriage of the prime minister's daughter? That needs to be calculated carefully." As he spoke, he took out a pair of tattered fortune sticks from his arms and pretended to fiddle with them.
Su Jinli watched his movements, already devising a strategy. She knew that the ensuing scene had to be not only convincing but also completely believable to everyone present, thereby turning the tide and making the Wang and Liu clans shoot themselves in the foot. And this spectacular counterattack was about to begin within Zhixia Hall...
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