Chapter 16 Businessman
After the banquet, Yi Nanqiao invited Yi Shao to the waterside pavilion in the backyard, saying it was to have a private chat, while Ling Wei was arranged to rest and have tea in the nearby flower hall.
Once the back door is closed, the warm atmosphere vanishes completely.
Eldest sister Yilin, second sister Yiyue, and third sister Yishan were all present, and their gazes toward Yishao varied, but none of them showed any affection.
“Shao’er,” Yinanqiao said bluntly, “I see that the Fifth Prince is treating you fairly well today. Now that you are married, it’s time to settle the affairs of those businesses that were entrusted to you before. Since you are currently unable to manage them, your mother and your sisters have been handling them for you. Some shops have not been managed well and have lost money; some are in poor locations, so we have sold them. The rest will be converted into silver notes for you to take with you, which will complete your dowry.”
She spoke of it casually, as if she had only dealt with a few insignificant odds and ends.
Yi Shao's hand tightened slightly, but a bright smile slowly bloomed on his face: "I am very grateful for Mother's concern for me. However, if Mother does not trust me, she should trust His Highness's judgment."
“It is precisely because Your Highness values it that I thought… if my family could take this opportunity to return some of the properties that I used to manage most easily to me, I would have more confidence by Your Highness’s side, and my voice on behalf of my family would naturally carry more weight.”
This is beneficial for both the family and me. What do you think, Mother?
The eldest sister, Yilin, spoke gently, her expression concerned: "Brother, your status is different; you should cherish your reputation. Being too obsessed may displease His Highness."
Her words were sincere, but the first person to decisively take over most of his efforts and resources after the fall from the horse was none other than his elder sister, whom he had once relied on.
“My elder sister always thinks of me.” Yi Shao’s smile faded as she looked at Yi Nanqiao. “But in-laws are a matter of reputation. My reputation is my reputation, and only then can the Yi family have a reputation. My position in the Prince’s mansion is essential for the stability of this family. If I can’t even stand firm in my own family, what will happen when word gets to His Highness…”
"Don't try to intimidate me with your princely status!" Second Sister Yi Yue suddenly stood up, her jealousy and hatred burning away her reason. She pointed at Yi Shao and cursed, "You think you're something just because you're crippled! Your worthless rags..."
Yi Shao's smile remained unchanged, but instead deepened. He gently raised his hand and instructed the person behind him, "Go and help Second Sister to wake up. It would be bad if such unrestrained speech reached His Highness's ears."
Upon hearing this, the servant stepped forward and slapped the servant several times across the face with crisp, clean strokes.
Yi Yue was knocked to the side, her ears ringing, and she didn't react for a moment.
The servant continued his work, but—
"Enough!"
With a low shout, accompanied by a sudden surge of spiritual power, Yi Nanqiao's expression turned solemn as she blocked the subsequent slap.
She closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again, her tone shifting from that of a deputy head of the family, trying to appease the situation, to a stern rebuke of Yi Yue: "You unruly brat! Your words are disrespectful, and you have offended the concubine. Step back and reflect on your actions!"
These words already placed the blame on Yi Yue and tacitly approved of Yi Shao's slaps.
Yi Yue covered her face, feeling extremely ashamed and indignant, but she dared not disobey her mother. She could only glare at Yi Shao hatefully and stagger to the side.
Yi Nanqiao stopped looking at Yi Yue and gestured to her trusted aide to bring a brocade box. "Fine, since you insist, here are the contracts for those important properties you previously handled."
The brocade box was pushed in front of Yi Shao. "But Shao'er, times have changed. Jinxiu Silk Shop suffered a lawsuit last year and lost a lot of money; the Linhe Grain Depot Wharf has changed owners and business is not as good as before... You should keep that in mind."
Yi Shao opened the brocade box, revealing cold, hard numbers and a diminished valuation; these returns had been drained of their value.
He looked up, a grateful smile spreading across his face: "Mother, it's not easy for you to manage all this, yet you still remember to leave these things for me. I understand, thank you for your consideration, Mother."
He understood that these were the selected remains, a test, and that what he wanted was the entire Yi family, so he had to endure it for now.
After the gifts were given out, Yi Yue, who had been suppressing her humiliation and anger, finally realized what had happened.
If she can't deal with Yi Shao, that cripple, can't she at least handle the dog beside him who's always getting physical?
A fierce glint flashed in her eyes, and her spiritual power, no longer concealed, condensed into a sharp thorn, which she thrust fiercely at the servant.
However, before that spiritual force could reach its target, it was like hitting a vast, still body of water, and was silently dissolved.
Outside the waterside pavilion, Ling Wei's personal guard commander, Qing Shu, had already appeared in the shadows, his expression cold and indifferent.
Yi Yue's attack missed its mark, and she was subtly shaken by the force, her face turning pale and her eyes filled with horror.
Ling Wei stepped into the waterside pavilion from behind Qing Shu, "Oh, it seems I've come at just the right time."
Her gaze swept across the room, taking in the varied expressions on everyone's faces.
She clicked her tongue inwardly. The man her mother had chosen came from a good family, but one unpleasant thing after another happened in that family.
This gift needs to be carefully cleaned before it can be used.
"What's wrong?" she asked, looking at Yi Shao.
Yi Nanqiao quickly stepped forward, a smile plastered on his face: "Your Highness, please don't be offended. It was just a few words between the children, a minor squabble. I apologize for making you laugh."
Ling Wei said "Oh," and stood next to Yi Shao again, asking, "What about you? Is something wrong?"
Yi Shao's mind was racing. Taking advantage of Ling Wei's influence, being able to reclaim some assets was already an unexpected bonus. The plan was progressing more smoothly than expected, and now it was time to take the plunge.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. It's nothing."
Ling Wei nodded, seemingly believing her, and turned to leave.
In that instant, Yi Shao's mind inexplicably flashed back to their wedding night, to the night she tied him to the bed and said those words casually yet with a hint of mockery.
He dismissed her words as mere whispers in the wind, even secretly mocking her arrogance.
He suddenly reached out and gently tugged at Ling Wei's hem. The movement was small, but it made Ling Wei stop.
Yi Shao raised his head.
The calmness, calculation, and coldness he had shown when facing his mother and sister had all vanished. He looked up at her, his excessively beautiful face revealing a broken sense of grievance.
"My wife..."
"Someone is bullying me."
"Help."
......
Yi Yue was pushed back to the waterside pavilion.
The dull thud of the stick striking echoed one after another.
Ling Wei had already sat down next to her, tapping the armrest with her fingertips.
She said in a flat tone: "Master Yi, according to the laws of the Great Chen Dynasty, it is a crime to insult the royal family and their relatives without cause."
"I'm only punishing her lightly out of consideration for her being Ah Shao's older sister; that's quite lenient of me."
"Besides, now that I have married him, I am not willing to see him suffer."
Ling Wei looked at Yi Nanqiao, whose expression was constantly changing: "Mother-in-law, don't you think this makes sense?"
The title, which was not originally intended for Yi Nanqiao, made her heart skip a beat.
She glanced at her daughter who was being beaten, then her gaze fell on her son in the wheelchair, who was now being protected by Ling Wei with just a few words.
Does this son really have such ability? To make this seemingly indifferent Fifth Prince say such protective words in public.
She was a shrewd businesswoman, and her judgment was completely biased towards Yi Shao.
"Your Highness is kind and benevolent. It is my fault for failing to discipline him properly and causing you trouble. I will definitely keep a strict discipline in the future and never let Shao'er suffer any more grievances."
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