webnovelfull Chapter 157 Intrigue
Chapter 157 Intrigue
The Li siblings sat facing each other in the Jinyuan Pavilion, while the maids and servants had already been dismissed.
Li Su was filled with unease. His younger brother, who was in charge of the family at a young age, wielded considerable power, and given that his family's actions were not in the right this time, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.
"What brings you here today, little brother?" Li Su broke the silence with a smile.
Li Sheng poured himself a cup of tea. "The other day, Yunniang came to visit her elder sister. After returning home, she said that you made your brother-in-law so angry that he got a migraine?"
Li Su suppressed her smile. What Shen Shi had done behind her back was already a fait accompli, and she could only grit her teeth and accept it, but that didn't mean she truly accepted it in her heart. Her tone turned cold.
"Did Shen Huai'an send you here as an intermediary?"
“No,” Li Sheng shook his head. “I also watched the entire Imperial Guard competition and the audience at the Hall of Diligent Governance that day. With such abilities, you should not be confined to the inner quarters. Your brother-in-law did the right thing.”
Hearing Li Sheng's words, Li Su's face turned completely cold: "Whether you cherish talent or are just using it, you know perfectly well!"
Li Sheng put down his teacup and looked directly at Li Su, "Sister, how can you say such things after being the mistress of the house for so many years?"
"Don't tell me that enjoying family glory also means bearing corresponding responsibilities. You men fight for power and profit, so why should women always have to pay the price?"
"In this world, apart from old age and poverty, everything else requires struggle. If your ancestors hadn't struggled, where would your current wealth and glory come from?"
Li Su choked, a fire burning in her heart with nowhere to vent. She had heard this argument far too many times. But how could she choose her birth? Yet, someone asked her if she was willing to enjoy this glory.
"Even if you truly cherish Yu Chu's talent, there are other options. Why insist on a marriage alliance with the Lu family? Is this for Yu Chu's own good? It's clearly Shen Huai'an's selfish motives that are using my daughter to enhance the Shen family's reputation for filial piety and righteousness!"
"Sister!" Li Sheng interrupted Li Su, saying seriously, "She is Shen Qingxi!"
Li Su pursed her lips and turned her head away to suppress the urge to cry.
Li Sheng sighed. He knew that Li Su wasn't truly unable to understand the reasoning behind it, but her love for her daughter and the accumulated resentment over the years had caused her to get stuck in a rut, which led her to utter hurtful words that harmed both herself and others.
"Do you think that even if Qingxi wanted to command troops, she could just become a general and wouldn't need to marry into the Lu family? But as a virgin, her daily involvement in military camps has damaged more than just her reputation. Not to mention the Shen family, even the Li, Lu, and Qin families... all the female relatives by marriage can't hold their heads up. Qingxi made this decision precisely because she understands this principle."
"Then why must it be the Lu family? There are so many noble families in Xuanguo, and any of their sons is better than a dead man!"
“Dead men are good,” Li Sheng said sarcastically. “If my brother-in-law hadn’t insisted on the marriage beforehand, there would probably be suitors knocking down my door by now. Even the Xie family asked someone to speak to me and tell my brother-in-law not to be so old-fashioned.”
"The Xie family?" Li Su's heart skipped a beat. The Xie family, a century-old clan, also held military power in the western border. It was truly an excellent match.
Seeing his expression, Li Sheng said sarcastically, "If the Shen-Xie family were to marry, the king would not be able to sleep at night. The same goes for other noble families. The Lu family is declining and after the Marquis of Yongyi left, only an orphan and a widow are left. Only such a family can put the king at ease. Only such a family with only a title can let you do whatever you want."
"As for Qingxi's lifelong happiness?" Li Sheng said meaningfully, his gaze deep, "What can't you have when you have power in your hands one day?"
Li Su was shocked. Shen Shi had already planned everything, even blocking all the aristocratic families and nobles from proposing marriage in advance. If they waited for others to come and propose marriage after the imperial decree was issued, it would inevitably offend people and be seen as a show. One can see through a hundred things; how deep is his scheming!