With the visit of the three princes, business at Li’s Tea House had grown even better.

After a long day’s work, Shopkeeper Chen adjusted the abacus and called out, “Miss, today we made three hundred sixty-eight taels!”

Li Zhiyue looked at the pile of silver on the counter, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction in her heart.

In this era, nothing is dependable.

Only by relying on oneself, holding the silver in your hands, can you avoid being swept along by the tides of fate.

Returning to the marquis’s residence by carriage, her family was still waiting for her to dine.

Li Zhiyue spoke up, “I lost track of time when I got busy. You all eat first, just leave a little food for me.”

“That won’t do!” The old marquis picked up his chopsticks. “A family should dine together, all of us, in harmony. It’s much livelier that way.”

Li Zhiyue knew she couldn’t persuade him, so she decided to come home earlier in the future.

The tea house was gradually getting on the right track and didn’t need her watching over it all the time.

Bai Ruzhu smiled, “Our house will be even livelier in the future.”

Li Zhi Yue didn’t understand.

“Your grandfather’s family is returning to the capital,” Bai Ruzhu said with a wider smile. “When your eldest brother was little, he and your cousin Tang Tang were betrothed. Now that they are both of marriageable age, once your grandfather’s family settles in the capital, their marriage will be on the agenda. Don’t you think our house will be even livelier then?”

Li Zhi Yue remembered now.

Her maternal grandfather was a scholar who had worked diligently in his official position for many years after passing the imperial exam.

He was promoted to a seventh-rank position, and about seven or eight years ago, he was sent out to practice in Jizhou.

He was bound to be promoted when he returned to the capital.

She tried to recall, and it seemed her grandfather had been promoted to a fifth-rank official.

Though the fifth rank wasn’t very high, for a small family like the Bai family, which lacked support from powerful relatives, it was a considerable achievement.

Her grandfather was a workaholic, and his health had been ruined in his youth from reading late into the night.

Over the years, he had devoted himself entirely to state affairs, and his health deteriorated.

He passed away just three months after his promotion, lingering on his sickbed for months before succumbing to illness.

Her uncle, only a successful candidate in the imperial exams, had been stuck in waiting for a post, and with no successor in the Bai family, they had fallen into decline.

Li Zhiyue sighed.

The marquis’s family had been in decline for three generations, while the Bai family had been overly competitive.

She couldn’t decide which model was better, but she was determined to avoid her grandfather’s tragic death.

As she pondered, Li Muyun stood up with an unhappy expression. “I’ve told you many times, I don’t want this marriage! I don’t want to marry her!”

Bai Ruzhu’s face immediately darkened. “At first, you were the one pestering us to marry Tang Tang. After discussing it with your aunt, we arranged the betrothal. Both families have already exchanged the formal wedding letters. If you cancel the engagement now, how will Tang Tang live?”

Li Muyun couldn’t say anything in response.

When he was a child, he had indeed liked his cousin Tang Tang, but as he grew up, that affection had faded.

Moreover, after being apart for seven or eight years, they had become strangers.

He only vaguely remembered her always following him around, overly clingy.

He stammered, “Tang Tang must have already forgotten about me, maybe she already has someone she likes…”

“Enough,” Li Suifeng said coldly. “Marriage is a matter for the parents. It has nothing to do with you. Go back and study!”

Li Zhiyue couldn’t help but speak up, “Father, mother, marriage should also be based on mutual consent. Otherwise, it would just be a marriage of resentment. Once cousin comes back to the capital, she can see how things go with eldest brother. If it really doesn’t work out, then we’ll have to call it off.”

Li Muyun quickly agreed, “Yes, Zhi Yue is right!”

Li Zhiyue sighed again.

These two were indeed a mismatched couple.

No matter how close they had been as children, they had grown apart as they matured.

After seven or eight years, cousin Bai Tang had become a graceful lady, while her eldest brother had remained uninterested in his studies, spending all his time in the brothels, eventually falling in love with a woman and moving into the pleasure district.

His wife, despite trying to persuade him every day, had only driven him further away.

Later, when the marquis’s family was confiscated and exiled, his wife could have left with the divorce papers but chose not to.

She stayed by his side the whole time.

The journey of exile was difficult, and his wife, exhausted, passed away in the bitter cold of the northern border…

“By the way, eldest brother,” Li Zhiyue remembered something. “Is there a new top courtesan at the Zui Hualou, called Fu Rong?”

In the book, Li Muyun had spent lavishly for Fu Rong, staying in the brothel and drifting further from his wife.

One day, his wife finally compromised and allowed Fu Rong to enter their household as a concubine.

Who would have thought that Fu Rong was actually a spy from an enemy country?

The evidence of her being an agent was already in the hands of Lu Jingxue, which was why the marquis’s family was accused of treason, with no chance of defense…

Li Muyun spoke with righteousness, “I study hard every day. I haven’t been to Zui Hua Lou for a long time. How would I know who the new top courtesan is?”

He had refused invitations from friends to go out and have fun, focusing on his studies instead, all to pass the imperial exams and make a name for himself.

But after just a few days, a new courtesan appeared at Zui Hualou.

He was curious about what kind of songs she could sing and wanted to go check it out…

As Li Muyun’s thoughts wandered, Li Suifeng suddenly choked on a sip of water.

“Cough, cough!”

He quickly wiped his mouth, smiling, “Zhiyue, how does a young lady like you know about Zui Hualou? You even know the name of the top courtesan?”

Li Zhiyue looked at him incredulously. “Father, you don’t spend time there, do you?”

“Wronged!” Li Suifeng quickly raised his hand and swore, “A few days ago, a colleague invited me to Zui Hua Lou to discuss official matters. I just drank some wine and listened to some songs. I definitely didn’t do anything else! Wife, you must believe me!”

Bai Ruzhu sneered, “You don’t even have a proper position, what official matters could you possibly discuss?”

“I was just looking for a job,” Li Suifeng said shamelessly. “So I went to that Zui Hualou to suffer, but it’s full of ordinary women, not a patch on my wife…”

Bai Ruzhu immediately covered his mouth.

With the old marquis and their son and daughter present, could he please mind his words?

Li Zhiyue paused and then spoke, “Father, do you think we could find a way to bring Fu Rong back home?”

Li Muyun’s eyes widened in shock. “Zhi Yue, you’re getting bold, encouraging father to take a concubine…”

Li Suifeng hurriedly repeated, “Your mother and I love each other deeply, with mutual respect, harmony…”

“Shut up!” The old marquis glared at him. “Zhiyue is not a child without sense. She has her reasons for saying that. I think she is just curious about what Fu Rong looks like. You can bring her home and let Zhiyue see her.”

Li Zhiyue looked up at her family and spoke slowly, “She should be a spy from the Yue Kingdom.”

“What?!”

The whole family was shocked.

The Yue Kingdom was their enemy, constantly at war with the Wei Kingdom.

“One opportunity for meritorious service. Do you want it?”

Li Zhiyue’s voice was gentle, but with a hint of persuasion.