In the past few days, Li Youran has often heard the Second Prince and the Second Prince's wife talking about how incompetent and tyrannical the Emperor is.
To be honest, although Li Youran had no interest in vying for imperial power, he was still full of passion.
She did not want the people to live a life of misery under such an emperor.
She wanted the people to live in peace and prosperity, to have enough to eat and clothes to wear, and for more people to be able to read and write.
Therefore, Li Youran also had ambitions. When she thought about people's livelihood, she thought that the most important thing in life was salt.
"Xiaohong, is the salt we use at home coarse salt or fine salt?"
Upon hearing Li Youran's words, Xiao Hong hurriedly went to the kitchen and brought back two salt shakers.
“Miss, ordinary wealthy families use only fine salt, but you are quite frugal, so I bought coarse salt to pickle vegetables.”
Li Youran put her hand into the salt jar, pinched a large, coarse salt bar, and thought that this salt must be sea salt sold privately.
"Thirty coins a pound for the thin ones, fifteen coins a pound for the thick ones."
Li Youran was stunned when she heard the price of salt. A pound of pork only cost a dozen or so coins, but a pound of high-quality fine salt was more expensive than two pounds of pork.
No wonder they say "firewood, rice, oil, and salt"—salt really accounts for a large portion of our daily expenses.
"Xiao Hong, come out with me for a bit."
Li Youran knew how to purify salt, and if this problem could be solved, it would greatly improve the people's salt supply.
However, Li Youran was somewhat conflicted, because ever since Xia's mother spread rumors and caused trouble outside, and Li Youran led soldiers to break into Xia's residence, Xia Xiao had rarely had any contact with her.
Now, Li Youran wants to find a way to buy coarse salt, but she doesn't know if she can still ask Xia Xiao for help.
After much thought, it's best not to go to Xia Xiao, since the relationship between the two is quite awkward.
So, Li Youran decided to take Xiao Hong to find Yun Yingying to see if she knew where to buy coarse salt.
"You shameless little slut, you've already come all the way to the capital, and you're still trying to seduce my grandson. Do you even know what the word 'shame' means?"
Li Youran had just stepped out the door when she ran into Aunt Tian at the entrance.
Originally, Li Youran was quite happy to see Aunt Tian, after all, it had been a long time since they last met. However, Li Youran did not expect Aunt Tian to start cursing.
This left Li Youran somewhat frustrated; she truly didn't know what kind of hatred Aunt Tian harbored.
"Aunt Tian, there must be some misunderstanding here."
"Don't play dumb with me. Don't you know what kind of spell you've cast on my grandson?"
Li Youran frowned slightly, unable to figure out what she had done to Tian Alang.
Ever since Tian Alang arrived in the capital, she has been intentionally or unintentionally keeping her distance from him, and even trying to persuade him to accept Jiang Qianqian's kindness.
“Miss Li, please don’t listen to my grandmother’s nonsense. She’s old and confused.”
Just as Aunt Tian was about to continue cursing at Li Youran, Tian Alang rushed over, forcibly pulling Aunt Tian away while turning to apologize to Li Youran.
Li Youran nodded. After all, this wasn't the first time something like this had happened. She understood Aunt Tian's feelings—she didn't want her grandson to get too close to her—but this really wasn't her fault...
"You've been bewitched by this fox, which is why you don't know what you're saying or doing."
As more and more people gathered to watch, Aunt Tian became increasingly agitated with her rant, continuing her tirade in front of everyone.
"The imperial examination is just around the corner, and you might just become the top scholar. You're giving up such a wonderful girl from the Minister's family, and instead you insist on getting involved with this woman who's been married before. How am I supposed to face your parents?"
Amidst Aunt Tian's cursing, Li Youran finally understood what had happened.
It turned out that after Aunt Tian arrived in the capital, Jiang's mother took the initiative to go to the Tian residence and express her desire to become in-laws with Aunt Tian.
However, before Aunt Tian could even agree, Tian Alang rejected the proposal, saying that he already had someone he liked.
"Madam, you probably don't know who our young lady is."
"Identity? What kind of identity could she have? Just a used woman who's been married before."
Before Xiaohong could finish speaking, Aunt Tian interrupted her.
"Tell me today, is she one of the Seven Fairy Maidens descended to earth, or the Queen Mother of the West?"
Clearly, Aunt Tian didn't know Li Youran's identity, otherwise she wouldn't have said those words.
"Our young lady is..."
When Xiao Hong was about to reveal Li Youran's identity, Li Youran interrupted her, signaling her not to say it.
It wasn't that Li Youran liked being scolded, but rather that she believed that with Aunt Tian intervening, Tian Alang might give up his feelings for her. After all, Li Youran had no romantic feelings for Tian Alang; she genuinely treated him like a younger brother.
The farce ended abruptly, and Li Youran had a terrible headache. Just as she was about to go back to lie down for a while, Jiang Qianqian's carriage arrived.
"Li Youran, I've always treated you like a best friend, I never thought you would be this kind of person."
After Jiang Qianqian got off the carriage, she went straight into the main hall and looked at Li Youran, who was leaning against the main seat, with a disappointed expression.
"You knew Tian Alang was interested in you, so why did you still encourage me to take the initiative and boldly pursue him? Did you find it particularly funny that I was rejected by Tian Alang?!"
Upon hearing Jiang Qianqian's words, Li Youran felt as if her heart had been pierced by needles.
Her best friend, whom she treated with the utmost sincerity, actually misunderstood her like this.
Li Youran wanted to explain, but felt that no matter how she explained, it would be superfluous.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
