"You go first, I'll talk to the Marquis about this." After thinking it over, Consort Li still felt it was inappropriate for her brother to handle the matter.
Firstly, my elder brother has taken too many advantages and has a huge appetite; he might say something inappropriate.
Secondly, Jiang Zhengqing also dislikes the Li family, and seeing Li Qingkui might make him even angrier.
Over the years, the Li family has become accustomed to taking advantage of others and to being hands-off managers. Whenever something goes wrong, they leave it to Li Guiqie to handle. In the past, Li Guiqie always had a way to resolve the situation.
There must be a way this time.
"Okay, then you'd better hurry up. We've lost so much money, this is terrible. How will we live without money?"
He took a couple of steps and then came back, smiling shamelessly: "Actually, you don't have to ask the Marquis for anything. Just make sure you replace whatever we lost, and I'll pretend we never lost anything."
Concubine Li was so angry that her face turned ashen. Her family was a bottomless pit, and they had no shame!
"roll!"
Li Qingkui chuckled: "I'm leaving now."
Jiang Junjing and his two siblings were heartbroken when they saw their uncle's true colors.
Jiang Junyu, in particular, said: "Auntie, we've spoiled our maternal grandparents' family rotten."
Concubine Li frowned as she walked inside: "It's already like this, what other options are there?"
Green Bamboo told Yuan Qi what she had seen.
Yuan Qi hummed in agreement and asked Wen Zhujun, "Do you think Consort Li will help her family cover up their losses this time?"
Wen Zhujun was also surprised: "Probably."
As the two were discussing this, Shen Xun, who was standing in the corridor, reminded them: "Consort Li is here."
Concubine Li has come to ask Yuan Qi for help.
It was Jiang Junyu's idea.
Jiang Junyu knew that Yuan Qi was skilled in divination and wanted him to help her calculate who the thief was and where they could be found.
Jiang Junjing also felt that Yuan Qi could calculate it.
But neither of them, nor Jiang Jiulu, had the face to come and beg Yuan Qi, after all, Yuan Qi had been humiliated at the Li residence that day. They really didn't want to come.
Finally, Li Guifei shamelessly came over.
Wen Zhujun said, "We've had quite a few flowers bloom. I'll go take a look. You two chat." She made an excuse to leave so that Consort Li wouldn't feel embarrassed to speak.
Concubine Li asked with a forced smile, "What are you doing, Seventh Girl?"
Yuan Qi put down the carving knife and jade tablet in his hand and got straight to the point: "I know why you came. The Li family's things are in the hands of bandits southwest of the capital. It will be difficult to get them back."
Concubine Li opened her eyes wide and suddenly smiled happily: "I knew you could predict the future and have extraordinary abilities. Look, you knew what I was going to ask before I even said anything. Seventh girl, if we can find her, I will have to thank you properly."
Yuan Qi chuckled dismissively, "You're welcome."
The Li family has a lot of wealth, but not enough manpower to guard it. Once they are targeted by bandits, who knows what might happen? You don't need to thank me.
Li Guiqie, unaware of the trap in Yuan Qi's words, thanked him and left.
Wen Zhujun came in, holding a rosebud that hadn't yet bloomed, and handed it to Lüzhu so she could find a vase to put it in.
Then he said, "Why didn't you remind her that the bandits have big appetites? Maybe those bandits will go to the Li family again tonight."
Yuan Qi said, "Jiang Junyu will remind them, but whether the Li family will listen is another matter. If they're destined to suffer, no one can stop them."
Sequoia entered excitedly: "Miss, Madam said she wants to hold a tea party and has prepared a lot of tea leaves. All the teapots and teacups in the storeroom have been taken out and washed."
Green Bamboo chimed in, "I've heard about it too. They're saying they want to find a match for the young masters and ladies in the manor, and the guests they've invited are all prominent young men and ladies from the capital. I heard they've also invited the Ninth Master and the Sixth Young Master Bai Fujun, the young master of the Bai family."
When Green Bamboo said this, her face was full of a lovesick smile.
Yuan Qi jokingly asked, "Who is this Bai Fujun? I wonder why you want to marry her?"
Green Bamboo pouted sheepishly, "Miss, you're teasing me again. The young master of the Bai family is beyond my reach. I was just saying. He was chosen as the next head of the family at the age of ten. He's incredibly intelligent and has the most handsome face in the world. Many women in the capital admire him. He's already sixteen this year, and I heard he secretly used his elder brother's name to participate in the imperial examination and came in first place in the second class. He's a genius. I'd be content just to catch a glimpse of him from afar."
Yuan Qi said, "Oh, I see. So, are you planning to marry him?"
Green Bamboo's eyes widened: "What are you saying, Miss? This servant doesn't have that kind of luck. Just one look is enough for me."
Yuan Qi then stopped teasing her and chuckled, "On the day of the tea party, you will serve me by my side, and I promise you will be able to see him up close."
Green Bamboo was very happy.
Yuan Qi recalled his last visit to the Bai family. Why hadn't he seen a stunningly handsome young man? Could it be that he missed him, or that he simply didn't come out?
Well, no matter what happens this time, I must see this unparalleled beauty.
But in terms of looks, who can compare to Tushanli?
The next morning, Yuan Qi was summoned to see Xiangli Mingzhu.
When she arrived at Xiangyue Courtyard, several young ladies and gentlemen from the Bai family came, along with Li Huilin, who sat next to Jiang Jiulu.
Li Huilin secretly sized up Jiang Juncai. Unlike Jiang Junjing and Jiang Junyu, Jiang Juncai had a tough face and a serious expression because he had practiced martial arts for many years and served in the palace.
She whispered to Jiang Jiulu, "Is that the Crown Prince?"
She thought to herself, "As expected of the heir of one of the four great families, he is indeed majestic and extraordinary. He is more imposing and manly than the illegitimate son."
Jiang Jiulu, unaware that Li Huilin was infatuated, told her, "That's right, he is my elder brother, the commander of the Imperial Guards, and also the God of War General personally appointed by the Emperor."
Li Huilin became even more infatuated.
Yuan Qi pretended not to see them, greeted everyone according to the rules, and then took his seat.
She noticed that something was off about Jiang Juncai, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it; she just sensed that his aura was off.
Before long, Li Guifei also arrived.
Then Xiangli Mingzhu came out from the inner hall.
"Since everyone is here, I'll say it." Xiangli Mingzhu gently glanced at everyone and had Hexiang bring out the tea leaves and tea set, placing them in front of everyone.
The Jiang family had held tea parties before, and the tea sets were all readily available. Each set was exquisite, made of porcelain, jade, glass, and beautifully designed purple clay teapots. The teacups were even more exquisite and unique.
There are dozens of sets in total, and these alone are enough for everyone to see.
Each set was incredibly valuable, and Yuan Qi marveled at the Jiang family's immense wealth; no wonder the Li family was so desperate to exploit them.
"This year's tea party uses the same new tea as in previous years. We invited everyone here today so that you can recognize the tea leaves and taste the tea soup. We don't want our family to make a fool of ourselves when others ask what kind of tea it is."
As she spoke, she looked at Yuan Qi. The Jiang family held tea parties every year, sometimes two or three times. The young ladies and gentlemen in the family were already very familiar with all kinds of teas. Only Yuan Qi was unaware of them.
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