FID – Chapter 709

Chapter 709: Can You Marry the Eldest Daughter?

As Li Ruibai began to explain, Liu Yusheng gradually fell into deep thought.

The origins of this matter traced back to Li Ruifan and even further to the decades-old grudge between the Lu and Li families.

At that time, the Lu family could only be considered a second-tier aristocratic family. They repeatedly came to the Li family, requesting to cooperate, and eventually, the Li family agreed.

In the beginning, things went smoothly, but after a few years, the Li family’s younger generation started encountering frequent misfortunes.

As a prestigious family, the Li family noticed that its descendants were facing accidents and troubles at an unusually high rate. It was clear that something wasn’t right. 

Their bad luck wasn’t just a result of misfortune; something more sinister seemed to be at play. Though they suspected foul play, they couldn’t find any concrete evidence.

Eventually, the elder members of the Li family became distracted and unable to focus on business, and the cooperation with the Lu family was terminated.

Now, with Li Ruifan’s situation, the truth was beginning to emerge.

After the diagnosis that day, the Li family immediately carried out a thorough purge of the household staff.

From the people who had been exposed, some clues were uncovered, and the shadowy figure behind it all pointed directly to the Lu family.

A century ago, the Li family was renowned in the capital, standing out alone, while the Lu and Huo families could only look up to them from a distance.

At that time, the main business under the Li family’s management was the tea and liquor industries.

But as the younger generation of the family began to face troubles, it took several decades for these two major businesses to be gradually taken over by the Lu family, the Huo family, and some other businesses in the capital.

This was how the family gradually descended into decline.

It wasn’t until now that the Li family truly realized that those accidents were not mere accidents. Someone had been intentionally harming the Li family.

And the methods used were extremely malicious.

They had to watch helplessly as their family members dwindled, enduring pain and suffering.

In this generation, Li Ruifan was the only male heir of the family. If even he couldn’t be saved, the Li family would surely collapse entirely and wouldn’t survive such a blow.

“Is that why Miss Li has always dressed as a man, because there’s no other male heir in the family?”

Liu Yusheng’s question made Elder Li sigh and glance at Li Ruibai with a look of guilt. “When Fan’er became so ill, how could we old men focus on managing the family business? In order to relieve our burdens, my little granddaughter has been dressing as a man since she was thirteen. She single-handedly took on the responsibility of supporting the family, preventing our family from declining too early. I feel deeply ashamed to her.”

“Grandfather, please don’t say that. Although I am a girl, I am still a descendant of the Li family. It is only right for me to contribute to the family. I don’t find it difficult, nor do I think there’s anything wrong with it.”

“Still don’t think there’s anything wrong? You’re already nineteen this year, and all the marriage proposals are from ladies seeking to marry you. Can you marry a young lady?”

“……” Li Ruibai immediately blushed, feeling extremely embarrassed.

Liu Yusheng bit her lip, desperately holding back the laughter that almost spilled out. She hadn’t expected Li Ruibai to have such an experience.

With her dressed as a man, looking like a handsome young gentleman, she probably had won the hearts of many young girls.

This was really awkward.

After reprimanding his granddaughter, Elder Li shifted the topic back. “I won’t say more, but the style of the Lu family is indeed not suitable for cooperation. What I’m worried about is not other things, but that seeing your business succeed, the Lu family might use underhanded tactics to steal it. I can’t guess what might happen then, but it certainly won’t be anything good. 

The misfortune of my Li family began because we once cooperated with them decades ago, and it brought in wolves, nearly causing my family to lose its heirs! Miss Liu, even if you don’t choose our Li family, don’t board a pirate ship. There are many good businesses in Beicang. Take your time to select carefully. Integrity and honesty are the most important. Otherwise, if something goes wrong, you will be far away in Nanling, and you’ll only be left to suffer.”

His  words were very straightforward, and Liu Yusheng listened carefully. “Elder Li, thank you for your advice today. Regarding the cooperation, I will discuss it further with the Merchant Guild when I return. Since the Li family has previously been in the tea and wine business, with your family’s foundation, it should not be difficult to revive the business. I believe there is an opportunity for cooperation between us.”

Not to mention anything else, but just the last piece of advice and suggestion from him had already won her favor.

It proved that they were not just profit-driven merchants; the Li family truly appreciated her and had warned her as if she were one of their own.

After leaving the restaurant, Liu Yusheng didn’t return to the royal residence but instead went to the inn where the merchants were staying.

She had a private conversation with Qian Baihao and the others for almost an hour. When she walked out, it was already dark.

The carriage from Prince Ting’s Manor was parked right at the inn’s entrance. The window curtain was slightly pulled back, revealing a man’s refined face, smiling and looking at her.

Feng Qingbai had come to pick her up.

She climbed into the carriage and immediately fell into the man’s arms. “How did it go?”

“There’s some progress. The Li family came today to give me some advice. We’ve decided to stop the partnership with the Lu family.”

“Have you chosen the Li family?”

Liu Yusheng nodded, giving a playful smile. “They’ll be a good partner, won’t they?”

“Why ask me?” Feng Qingbai didn’t answer, instead asking her back, his eyes curving with a slight smile.

“You didn’t send me out today. Were you not going to investigate the Li family, Lu family, and the Huo family?” She always felt that he treated her matters as his own.

With him around, how could he let her suffer?

At the same time, he would not let her worry too much.

She just knew that he had been working behind the scenes on her behalf.

The man let out a low laugh, his voice pleasant, and nibbled on her earlobe. “The Li family is indeed the best partner for cooperation. At least when we’re in Nanling, you won’t have to worry about people here using tricks to rob the profits or using some other dirty tactics to make your side lose everything.”

“Then it’s settled, we’ll go with the Li family.”

Actually, inside the inn, the merchants had already expressed their intention to go with the Li family.

Doing business with honorable people made everyone feel at ease.

Her ears were itching, which was unbearable. Liu Yusheng turned around and pinched the man’s mouth to stop him from misbehaving. “I don’t think the Lu family will let this go easily. After hearing about all this, I analyzed it with Master Qian and the others. They’re the type of people who can’t stand seeing anyone do better than them. This time, by choosing to cooperate with the Li family, they will likely target the Li family again, and even us. We’re in Beicang, and we’ll be at a disadvantage.”

“Not at all. We have Duan Ting.”

“A prince wouldn’t care about these matters.”

“Just have him handle it. After all, a life-saving favor must be repaid.”

“…” With Feng Qingbai around, Duan Ting’s days from now on wouldn’t be easy.

But if Duan Ting was there as a support, at least the Lu family would have to be more cautious when acting, and that would give the Li family more security.

Moreover, the Li family was not a soft target. They had just been disinterested in fighting before. Now that hope had been rekindled, it was hard to say who would ultimately come out on top.

That evening, the merchant group’s notification letter reached the Lu residence.

Looking at the letter, and after reading its contents, the usual cheerful and open expression on Patriarch Lu’s face vanished, replaced by a frighteningly grim one.

“Father, does this mean the Nanling side doesn’t want to cooperate with us anymore?”

“If they find a better cooperation partner, naturally, they will choose the better one. Perhaps the conditions we offered weren’t to their satisfaction.” Patriarch Lu still spoke in a calm and pleasant tone even though he was burning the letter in his hand with a face full of gloom.