Old Li shuddered and slowly lowered the vine.
He slowly sat down on a chair, shook his head, and sighed, "Son, there are many things in life more important than money! Back then, I was carrying you as an infant, being chased by our enemies all the way to Xidu. If it weren't for the Marquis, we would have both perished long ago! That's a life-saving grace! What do a little hardship and toil matter? Besides, the Marquis has never shortchanged us materially!"
Li Rui shook his head. "Don't talk to me about those old stories! If it was a life-saving grace, we would have repaid it long ago after serving them like slaves for so many years! Besides, you took a knife for Shen Manshu, we don't owe the Shen family anything at all!"
"Dad, you've been a slave your whole life, but I don't want to! I don't want to repeat your mistakes, and I don't want to waste my youth in this cramped courtyard!" Li Rui shouted frantically, a hint of resentment welling up in his eyes.
After saying this, he turned around and ran outside without looking back.
"Rui'er..."
Uncle Li tried to call out, but a sharp pain suddenly shot through his chest, likely aggravating his wound, and he could only sit back down helplessly. Finally, he let out a long sigh.
He naturally hoped that his child would have a bright future.
However, this is based on the right path.
"Rui'er, do you think the young lady is easy to deal with? Her ability to judge people is exceptional. If even I can see it, how could she not? Don't be foolish!"
Uncle Li pounded his legs weakly, his heart filled with worry.
If his son really attaches himself to Shen Shichang and does something to betray the Marquis's mansion, even he, as his father, probably can't save him!
...
Indeed, it was just as Shen Manshu had guessed.
After leaving the Marquis's residence, Li Rui went directly to Shen Shichang's residence.
“Sir, our relationship has now been exposed. The Marquis may very well suspect you regarding the assassination attempt. It was my fault for not handling things properly, please punish me!”
Li Rui knelt obediently on the ground, awaiting Shen Shichang's judgment.
"You! You! How could you do this job?!"
Upon hearing this news, Shen Shichang was furious.
"Li Rui, Li Rui, I've given you plenty of benefits over the years, haven't I? Why did you have to betray me like this!"
Shen Shichang was furious. He had his steward use Li Rui as a pawn to eliminate any future troubles.
But unexpectedly, this directly exposed them.
The steward beside him said in a panic, "Master, it's no use blaming him now. Why don't you pack your things and go abroad to hide? Although Lord Shen is kind-hearted, he has been on the battlefield and has a decisive side. Those who have betrayed him in the past have never had a good ending!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Shichang panicked completely and immediately considered leaving.
"Escape? Where to escape to?"
At this moment, Li Rui suddenly spoke up, saying calmly, "Sir, you've managed Xidu for most of your life. If you leave, all your hard work will be in vain. And even if you manage to escape, what about your descendants? Are they all going to follow you abroad? If they stay, they will inevitably face Shen Shi'en's purge! Rather than that, I think you should take a gamble. If you win, not only will you not have to run, but you might even sit on the throne of a marquis, securing a bright future for your children and grandchildren!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Shichang's old body trembled, and he narrowed his eyes, staring intently at him. "What do you mean by that?"
Li Rui walked to the side with his hands behind his back, turned to the side, and said, "My lord, there are no secrets that stay hidden forever. Even if this matter wasn't exposed through me, with the methods of the Marquis's mansion, it's only a matter of time before it gets back to you! Some things, once done, there's no turning back!"
As he spoke, he turned around and looked at Shen Shichang, “Uncle, you also have the surname Shen, and you are the most senior member of the Shen family. Why can Shen Shi’en sit in that position, but you can’t? As long as you are willing, I, Li Rui, am willing to serve you like a dog and a horse, and fight for you to inherit the position!”
Shen Shichang's old body trembled, and he frowned, saying, "You mean you want me to go to war with Shen Shi'en?"
Li Rui shook his head. "The Marquis's mansion is the legitimate successor. If we go to war head-on, even if you win, the title probably won't fall to you, and you might even face annihilation. We can't use open tactics; we have to resort to underhanded methods!"
"A shady scheme? What exactly do you want to do? Explain yourself!"
Shen Shichang's eyes immediately flickered.
To be honest, Li Rui's words tempted him. He had longed for that position for many years.
He wanted to seize every opportunity, no matter how small!
Li Rui said calmly, "Shen Shi'en must now suspect that you were behind the assassination, but he has no evidence and will certainly not dare to act rashly. Next, he will most likely search everywhere for evidence to bring you to justice, but this will not be something that can be found in a short time! We can take advantage of this moment to..."
As Li Rui spoke, he made a throat-slitting gesture.
Shen Shichang's expression shifted slightly. "You mean you're confident you can kill Shen Shi'en?"
Li Rui's lips curled into a cold smile. "I am but a humble steward in the Marquis's mansion. However, over the years, I have developed close ties with most of the stewards there, and even become intimate friends with one or two of them. Based on my understanding of them, if I give them enough benefits, I am confident that I can make Shen Shi'en die without anyone noticing!"
Shen Shichang's old body trembled, then he burst into laughter, "Good! Well done, Li Rui! I underestimated you! Since you dare to say that, I'll take a gamble with you. I support you on this matter!"
Shen Shichang sneered, "Just tell me how much money you need. As long as you can kill Shen Shi'en and win me the title, I won't say a word against any amount of money you want!"
"I don't want your money!"
Li Rui slightly curled the corners of his mouth, "I only want two things! First, after this is done, I want half of the Shen family's assets; second, Shen Manshu, you can handle what you want with her!"
After Li Rui finished speaking, a barely concealed lust flickered in his eyes.
At the age of sixteen, when he was just beginning to experience romantic feelings, he happened to catch a glimpse of the young lady cleaning herself in her bedroom.
That well-developed, graceful figure was permanently etched into his mind.
Obtaining the young lady became an obsession throughout his adolescence.
He was eventually caught spying on her repeatedly and was beaten half to death by Fu Gui. He was also subjected to extreme humiliation by Shen Manshu!
From that moment on, he secretly vowed to bring down the Shen family and to obtain Shen Manshu! To utterly humiliate her!
But he also knew that, given his status and position, he had no chance at all.
However, with Shen Shichang's help now, this wish will probably be fulfilled soon!
"Heh heh, Shen Manshu, you just wait! Sooner or later I'll pin you down and make you serve me like a bitch!!"
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