Before even stepping inside, they heard Li Suifeng’s screams like a pig being slaughtered.

“Master! It wasn’t me! I didn’t do it!”

“I really didn’t! I didn’t do such a thing—stop hitting me—ow, not the face—Father!”

There stood the old Marquis, swinging a sword at Li Suifeng’s head.

Thankfully, it was still in its scabbard—otherwise, Li Suifeng would’ve lost half his life.

Li Muyun’s eyes widened in shock, and he rushed forward to grab the old Marquis’s arm. “Grandfather, please, let’s talk calmly! No need for blades—put it down first…”

Taking the chance, Li Suifeng broke free from the onslaught. “Father, I swear this has nothing to do with me… it must be Yun-ge! Yue Niang’s been controlling the spending lately, he’s short on cash—it has to be him!”

Li Muyun’s eyes bulged.

Wow.

He came to mediate and his own father threw him under the bus!

Before he could figure out what was going on, he got whacked on the back with the sword scabbard and howled in pain.

“Grandfather! Please stop! I’m just a scholar—I can’t take this! What’s happened? Let’s sit down and talk it out!”

Li Zhiyue hurried to intervene.

Bai Ruzhu also stepped forward to block the old Marquis.

The old Marquis flung the sword scabbard to the ground and let out a deep sigh. “Oh, ancestors, it’s my fault for being a poor father… that such disgrace could happen in our Li family. In my youth, even as a rake, I never considered selling ancestral property. How could I have raised such a disgrace of a son!”

Li Suifeng looked more wronged than Dou E (a famously wronged woman in Chinese drama): “Master, I swear it wasn’t me! It was Yun-ge! I can’t believe I raised such a rebellious son!”

Li Muyun’s eyes were round with fury. “It wasn’t me! I didn’t do it!”

Finally, Li Zhiyue pieced together what had happened.

She quickly spoke up: “Grandfather, it was me. I’m the one who sold the ancestral estate!”

“What?” The old Marquis was stunned. “You? Yue Niang? Why would you sell the ancestral land?”

That morning, he had gone fishing near the capital with some old friends.

Passing near the family estate, he decided to take them there for some wine.

But upon entering, he discovered that the staff had all changed.

The steward informed him the estate now belonged to the Xuanping Marquis Household.

This was ancestral land—now sold to the Xuanping Marquis, his long-time rival?

The old Marquis nearly passed out on the spot.

Ignoring the mocking laughter of his friends, he galloped home and beat Li Suifeng senseless.

If it wasn’t him, it had to be Li Muyun.

Who would’ve thought—it was actually his granddaughter?

The old Marquis was so furious he raised his hand—but couldn’t bring himself to strike his precious granddaughter.

Instead, he slapped himself. “Ugh! It’s my fault… my uselessness forced my children to sell ancestral land… I can’t face the ancestors!”

“Grandfather!” Li Zhiyue grabbed his arm. “Our marquis estate has over a thousand mu of farmland, all poor quality. Each mu yields less than 100 jin of millet. Good land yields over 200 jin per mu. We should preserve what’s worth keeping—but the bad? Why should we?”

The old Marquis was stunned. “Our land yields that little?”

Bai Ruzhu nodded. “I told you years ago, but you insisted it was ancestral, so we kept planting. But those fields can’t even support our household for a year.”

The land could only grow millet, and the yield wasn’t enough to provide polished rice for the household’s yearly needs.

“Selling it was the right move!” Li Suifeng quickly backed his daughter. “Sell the bad, buy better land, and after a few generations, it’ll be the Li family’s new ancestral property!”

The old Marquis was a little comforted but sighed again. “Yue Niang, you could have sold it to anyone—but why the Xuanping Marquis? Do you know how much that old dog laughed at me?”

“It should be Grandfather laughing at him,” Li Zhi Yue smiled. “Poor land goes for maybe one tael per mu at best—we sold over a thousand mu for three thousand taels. The estate houses were decades old and in disrepair. Altogether, they weren’t worth that much. The Xuanping Marquis got fleeced—he’s the fool, not you!”

“Hahahaha! Good!” The old Marquis burst out laughing. “Yue Niang, I knew I could count on you. Well done, excellent!”

Li Zhiyue secretly let out a sigh of relief.

Bai Ruzhu asked, “Yue Niang, I heard from the servants—you sold some things from the storerooms too?”

“Cough,” Li Zhi Yue scratched her head. “Those silks were just so beautiful… I couldn’t resist. I bought a few more. I just want my dowry to be the envy of the whole capital!”

“If you like them, buy them!” the old Marquis waved grandly. “I still have over ten thousand taels in my private stash—take it all!”

Li Muyun couldn’t help but interject: “Wasn’t that your funeral fund, Grandfather? When I asked for some, you scolded me to hell and back.”

“If I gave it to you, you’d waste it on wine and women! Better to spend it on Yue Niang’s dowry!” the old Marquis huffed. “When the Xuanping Marquis’s eldest granddaughter married earlier this year, it was a ten-mile bridal procession. Yue Niang’s must outshine hers!”

Li Zhi Yue beamed: “Thank you, Grandfather! I won’t hold back then!”

Li Muyun felt the sting of favoritism.

He quickly followed after her. “Dear sister, you’ve got so much silver now… share a little? I saw this beautiful lady painting—if I don’t buy it soon, someone else will.”

“Big brother, have you forgotten you already have over thirty lady paintings stored with me?” Li Zhi Yue smiled. “If you fail the autumn exam, those paintings are mine.”

Li Muyun: “…”

This sister—ruthless!

Then she boldly asked, “Grandfather and our parents have given me silver for my dowry. Shouldn’t you, big brother, contribute too?”

Li Muyun: “…”

He didn’t have a single copper on him—what could he contribute?

He was even starting to worry—where would he get the betrothal gift for his future wife?

Just then, a figure approached.

It was their cousin, Miss Bai Tang, currently staying at the Marquis estate.

Li Muyun’s smile instantly vanished, replaced by a stern look.

He had already told Bai Tang twice—there was no future between them.

Why did she still cling to him?

He was just about to speak.

But Bai Tang didn’t even glance his way.

She walked straight to Li Zhiyue. “Wan Feng just came by—she said the menu’s finalized. She’s invited us to try the dishes. Yue Niang, are you free?”

“Of course! I’ve been craving it,” Li Zhiyue replied with a grin.

She sent Mo Yu to the old Marquis’s courtyard to get silver, told Li Qingsong to buy as much silk as possible.

The two girls walked off arm in arm.

From start to finish, Bai Tang never even looked at Li Mu Yun.

He pressed his lips together.

So… he’d been overthinking things.

No time to dwell on it though.

The provincial exam was in two days—it was his first time entering, and he had to make a good showing.