The Eldest Daughter Is Beautiful and Saucy
Chapter 746: room
Chapter 746: Room for Maneuver
Bai Qingyan sat in a sedan chair from Qinghui Courtyard to the main hall in the front yard. Li Mingrui had been sitting in the main hall waiting for a long time.
Li Mingrui lowered his eyes, grasped the hem of his gown tightly with his hands, clenched his teeth and his face did not look very good. The old man was different from others to Li Mingrui. In addition to being his and his mother’s savior, the old man was more like an elder to Li Mingrui. Although he didn’t like to talk much, he would always act as a listener and listen to what Li Mingrui had to say.
His father, Li Mao, was the left prime minister and was too busy, which his mother could not understand. He was also the eldest son in the family, so he was strictly disciplined by his father and had high hopes from his mother.
There are some things he can only say to the old man who is not good at talking.
The old man never commented on what Li Mingrui said, but when Li Mingrui showed some sadness, he would gently stroke his head like an elder. Li Mingrui was very greedy for the little warmth the old man gave him.
The bright and dazzling sunlight shone on the mirror-clean floor of the main hall of Princess Zhenguo’s Mansion. When the light dimmed, Li Mingrui looked up. His sore eyes were already slightly green, making it difficult for him to see Bai Qingyan who was late.
“Master Li is coming alone?”
Hearing Bai Qingyan’s clear and crisp voice, Li Mingrui hurriedly bowed and saluted: “Mingrui greets the Princess Zhenguo.”
Bai Qingyan held Zhenming’s hand and sat down on the main seat, looking at Li Mingrui with a half-smile: “Didn’t the Left Prime Minister explain clearly to Lord Li, or does Lord Li think I have a lot of free time?”
Li Mingrui glanced at the maid who was standing beside Bai Qingyan and had no intention of leaving. He gritted his teeth, lifted up his skirt and knelt down in front of Bai Qingyan: “I wonder how badly the Zhenguo Princess’s subordinates are injured?”
Bai Qingyan looked at Li Mingrui without saying a word until the maid came into the main hall with a black lacquered and gold-painted square tray, served tea and left. Bai Qingyan then picked up the black glazed teacup and blew the hot air slowly: “Whoever dares to hurt my people…even a little bit, will pay with his life. It depends on whether Master Li wants to pay with the lives of the entire Li family or the life of just one person.”
Li Mingrui closed his eyes. As expected, Princess Zhenguo wanted to kill the old man!
“Mingrui doesn’t know how badly Princess Zhenguo’s subordinates were injured, but… the old man is just a servant, just following orders. Princess Zhenguo should blame Mingrui instead of a servant! Mingrui knows that the reason why Princess Zhenguo spared the lives of the whole family is because Princess Zhenguo may need my Li family in the future. Li Mingrui is willing to die for Princess Zhenguo!”
Li Mingrui, who had always been aloof and proud, closed his eyes and kowtowed to Bai Qingyan.
“Mr. Li, what you said is funny. The lives of your entire Li family are in my hands. Even if you are not willing to die for me, I ask you to go east… Do you dare to go west?” Bai Qingyan took a sip of tea and put down the teacup slowly. “Li Mingrui, you have no room for bargaining with me.”
“Could it be that the Princess Zhenguo has become a servant? She is willing to abandon my father, a high-ranking and controllable court official. Li Mingrui believes that he has some ability. When my father retires from the position of Left Prime Minister, Li Mingrui will surely make a difference in the court. He can also become a chess piece placed by the Princess Zhenguo in the court. In the long run… The Princess Zhenguo needs the Li family. After weighing the pros and cons, she should not take the lives of my entire Li family for a subordinate. What the Princess Zhenguo actually wants is an explanation!”
Li Mingrui looked up at Bai Qingyan, who had a cold expression, and said coldly, “After all, the Zhenguo Princess is now the butcher… My Li family is the fish, and the fish should have the awareness of being fish. If you dare to use force against the butcher, the butcher… will naturally teach the fish a lesson.”
“Lord Li is very smart…” Bai Qingyan’s eyes were filled with sarcasm, “But he is too smart. I have not touched your Li family because I do not want to disrupt the current stable situation in Dadu, not because I want to use you! I made this very clear to the Left Prime Minister at the beginning. I have had the handwritten letters from the Left Prime Minister and the Second Prince for a long time. Apart from the matter with Wang Qiulu, I have never asked you to do anything else…”
Li Mingrui tightened his grip: “Could it be that Princess Zhenguo is waiting for a more serious situation before using the Li family?”
“What can I use from your Li family?” Bai Qingyan’s smile became friendly. “Lord Li really thinks highly of your Zuo Xiangfu. To me… you are completely irrelevant. I have the absolute trust of the crown prince, the future heir. Why should I bother with you?”
Li Mingrui’s throat was churning. Was the bargaining chip he thought he had really nothing in front of the Zhenguo Princess? Or… was the Zhenguo Princess just deceiving him?
He gritted his teeth. No matter what, he could not abandon the old man, let alone the entire Li family.
“Since Princess Zhenguo insists on asking for an explanation, I gave the order… I will take responsibility for it!”
As he spoke, Li Mingrui suddenly pulled out a dagger from his waist.
“Miss, be careful!” Zhen Ming exclaimed, opening his eyes wide and risking his life to protect Bai Qingyan.
Shen Qingzhu, who had been listening at the door, jumped in from the window and drew his sword…
But he saw that Li Mingrui’s dagger was inserted straight into his abdomen. Sharp pain came from his abdomen. Li Mingrui gritted his teeth… His face suddenly turned red and veins bulged on his forehead.
Bai Qingyan tightened his grip on the armrest of the chair, feeling horrified, and looked at Li Mingrui expressionlessly.
Shen Qingzhu was also stunned and looked up at Bai Qingyan.
Li Mingrui supported himself on the ground with one hand, his whole body trembling with pain, his eyes bloodshot, but he managed not to cry out. He closed his eyes and adjusted his rapid breathing, then stood up and looked at Bai Qingyan: “Zhenguo Princess… In this case, can this matter be resolved?”
Bai Qingyan really didn’t expect that Li Mingrui would protect Shen Baizhong in this way.
Although Li Mingrui is not a man of great principles, he still has some principles.
Bai Qingyan waved his hand, signaling Zhenming, who was protecting him, to step back. He looked at Li Mingrui and tested him: “It seems that Lord Li has a close relationship with this man with extraordinary skills!”
“That year, my mother and I returned to our hometown to visit relatives. We encountered a long-ambushed killer on the outskirts of Jinjian City. The guards at home were on the verge of being defeated… They abandoned my mother and me and ran away. It was the old man who risked his life to save us. Li Mingrui admits that he is not a gentleman, but he will never be an ungrateful beast.” Fine beads of sweat were already oozing out of Li Mingrui’s forehead.
Shen Qingzhu put away his sword, stared coldly at Li Mingrui as he walked slowly to Bai Qingyan’s side, frowning: “Young lady…”
Jin Jiancheng…
Bai Qingyan rubbed his fingers gently: “There is such a thing, I wonder what year it happened?”
Bai Qingyan seemed to be unconcerned about Li Mingrui’s injury. He picked up the teacup and looked like he was going to have a long talk with Li Mingrui.
Li Mingrui endured the severe pain from his wound and answered truthfully: “Six years ago.”
Shen Qingzhu opened her eyes wide and looked at Bai Qingyan. It was exactly six years ago…
The second and third updates will be released a little later, probably before noon. Don’t worry, my dear friends, and continue to ask for your monthly votes.