Chen Li had to admit the fact that Liu Xiu and Yin Lihua were engaged, but how could it be like this? Liu Xiu had been treating her very well these days, even more gentle and kind than before. She had expressed her meaning so clearly, there was no way Liu Xiu would not understand!

Chen Li only had a general knowledge of history, and even what she knew had changed a lot. However, in Chen Li's understanding, Liu Xiu was not a promiscuous and lustful emperor, and he did not have many concubines in the harem.

As for who was in Liu Xiu's harem, Chen Li had no idea that she would travel through time to this dynasty, and she never paid attention to it, so she never regarded Yin Lihua as a threat. Even though there were rumors outside that the Yin family and the Liu family were going to marry, Chen Li did not take it to heart.

In her opinion, an emperor like Liu Xiu, who was a genius in history, did not need marriage to consolidate his position. As an emperor on horseback, he naturally conquered the country through fighting. Chen Li was also trapped by her own half-baked knowledge of history. In addition, Yin Lihua and Liu Xiu rarely interacted with each other on weekdays, otherwise she would not have taken it so lightly. It was too late to know the news now.

"No, no, he won't do this to me." Chen Li murmured unconsciously. She didn't believe that Liu Xiu would treat her like this. She didn't believe that Liu Xiu would be so heartless to her. If Liu Xiu really wanted to get engaged to Yin Lihua, why didn't he tell her beforehand? She had dressed up beautifully today and came to the banquet happily. Now thinking about it, she felt like a fool.

Chen Li was not good at hiding her emotions, and she didn't have the heart to think about these things at the moment. Everyone saw her distraught look, but no one sympathized with her. Instead, they looked at her with contempt and ridicule.

In the eyes of these noble ladies, Chen Li was the daughter of a businessman who was not worthy of being in public. That would have been fine, but Chen Li challenged the secular world and showed up in public to do business, and even interfered in men's affairs outside. Some people had long been dissatisfied with this, but they kept silent because of Liu Xiucai. Now that they had such an opportunity, they would take the opportunity to laugh at her.

"Hey, Miss Chen, what's wrong with you? You look so miserable because your man was robbed. You look so pitiful."

"Yes, Miss Chen's face doesn't look right. Could it be that she was abandoned by her man? Tsk tsk, so it is said that self-knowledge is the most important thing for a person. You shouldn't covet things that are not yours, otherwise you will suffer retribution."

"That's right, a woman should stay at home and take care of her husband and children. If she is restless and wants to get involved in her man's affairs outside, no matter how capable she is, she will still be abandoned in the end. She really thinks she is nothing."

"That's not necessarily true. If she can't be the main wife, she can still be a concubine. After all, the Liu family is a descendant of the royal family and is now prosperous. It's already high for a merchant's daughter to have the status of a concubine. Can she dream of the position of the main wife with such status? It's really nonsense. Only someone with the character and personality of Miss Yin can deserve this position!"

Chen Li hadn't recovered from the shock of Yin Lihua and Liu Xiu's engagement yet, and these noble ladies started to slander each other. Although due to certain relationships, no one said it explicitly, the obvious hints were so pointed that even a fool could understand them. However, Chen Li ignored them all until Yin Lihua came over.

"Miss Chen, are you feeling unwell? If you are, I will let the servants take you to the back to rest." Yin Lihua still had her usual signature smile on her face and spoke gently to Chen Li. As the host of the banquet, she was very thoughtful and considerate, although this might not be entirely well-intentioned.

At this time, Chen Li would never appreciate it. As the saying goes, rivals in love are always jealous when they meet. Her eyes turned red when she saw Yin Lihua: "Yin, stop pretending. This attitude is really disgusting. Don't you know why I am like this? You are so shameless. You clearly know that Brother Liu and I admire each other, but you still come in and seduce Brother Liu with your beauty. Is being a mistress so interesting? And now you are standing in front of me with the attitude of a winner. You are so shameless!"

What Chen Li said was too harsh and too merciless. Even though Yin Lihua had known that Chen Li would not say anything nice, her expression changed a little after hearing this. Moreover, she was accused of seducing Liu Xiu in front of so many people. Although people might not believe it, Yin Lihua cared most about her own reputation. How could she allow Chen Li to ruin it like this? Her face turned red with anger.

"Miss Chen, please be tactful when you speak. Don't speak nonsense. I, Yin Lihua, am not such a frivolous person. There is nothing wrong between me and the eldest brother of the Liu family. The engagement is arranged by our parents and the matchmaker. It is fair and aboveboard. I wonder what position and status Miss Chen has to question me like this? I respect Miss Chen as a guest of honor and treat her with courtesy because she has helped the eldest brother of the Liu family a lot. Miss Chen, please don't get the wrong idea and think that my Yin family is easy to bully!"

Yin Lihua was indeed a lady from a famous family. No matter how angry she was, she never said anything too harsh to Chen Li. One could not help but admire her good upbringing and tolerance. However, although Yin Lihua's words did not contain any swear words, they were very sharp.

Even though Chen Li looked down on the customs of this era, such as parents' orders and matchmaker's words, she really had no identity or position when it came to her relationship with Liu Xiu. Although there was some ambiguity between her and Liu Xiu, and Liu Xiu understood her thoughts, he had never promised to marry her, and had never even acknowledged that she was his woman. She was speechless when questioned by Yin Lihua, and seeing the contemptuous and disdainful eyes of everyone around her looking at her, she could not bear it for a while.

"I don't believe it. I don't believe that Brother Liu would do this to me. I'm going to ask him now!" Chen Li said this and ran out, as if she wanted to find Liu Xiu to ask for a result.

Yin Lihua saw Chen Li running out, but she was not worried. Even if Chen Li wanted to find Liu Xiu, what would happen? She didn't believe that Liu Xiu would change his decision to marry the Yin family for a merchant girl. She saw clearly that man, he only had his grand ambitions in his heart, not the kind of man who was impulsive for women. She was willing to marry Liu Xiu because of this. Only such a man could be worthy of her, Yin Lihua.

As for the private affairs between Chen Li and Liu Xiu, it was impossible for Yin Lihua, as Liu Xiu's fiancée, to say that she didn't mind at all, but she could tell the priorities. Anyway, she didn't marry Liu Xiu for love, but she saw the potential of this man who could bring her to an unprecedented height. As a legal wife, she had to have the bearing and capacity of a legal wife and could not be jealous. Chen Li was not the first woman around Liu Xiu and would not be the last.