Under such a gaze, Zifu's heart skipped a beat, and she couldn't help feeling a bit light - headed.
Yes, being the adopted daughter of the heir apparent was far better than being a concubine!
Zifu had lived in Pingkangfang for nearly two years. She knew Li Wanming's business methods and how she had made a fortune by selling wine and opening shops.
Since Li Wanming had publicly said that she could offer a dowry of such a high - standard, she surely could.
Moreover, from today on, Li Wanming would be the mistress of the Prince's Mansion. All the huge wealth accumulated by the Ning Prince's Mansion over the generations would be under her control.
By then, it would be a piece of cake for her to prepare a dowry.
Thinking of this, Zifu couldn't help kneeling forward two steps on her knees. She held the teacup high, slowly opened her mouth, and a "Mother" was about to slip out...
In a split - second, Mrs. Kang stepped forward. Her embroidered shoes with bead pendants firmly stepped on the trailing hem of Zifu's skirt, and she waved her hand to knock over the tea in Zifu's hand.
The clear tea drew a curve in the air, just like the raging fire burning in Mrs. Kang's eyes.
"Adopting an adopted daughter is a major event for the heir apparent! How can it be decided so hastily? It's like a child's play. The Princess of the heir apparent is being too absurd!"
Li Wanming raised her eyes to glance at her, then looked at Zifu, who was shivering in shock at the sudden incident, and said casually, "Oh, you're right."
Suddenly, she broke into a smile, her tone as soft as cotton candy. "Second aunt is reasonable. Since you don't agree to Zifu being our adopted daughter, I won't take her in. We're all family. What can't we discuss? Why should second aunt get angry?"
Li Wanming's tone suddenly softened, and the chill in her eyes disappeared completely. It seemed that she was really talking about an ordinary matter, making Mrs. Kang's actions of stepping on someone's skirt and splashing tea look a bit excessive.
"I... When did I say I didn't agree..." Mrs. Kang was a bit confused by her changeable attitude and blurted out.
Li Wanming immediately raised her eyes, her gaze burning. "So, you agree?"
"I... You... What?"
Mrs. Kang was momentarily at a loss for words and then realized that she had fallen into the other's trap.
If she said no now, she would be the one who blocked Zifu's path to prosperity.
Watching the prosperity that was about to fall into her hands slip away, wouldn't Zifu hate her to the bone in the future?
Li Wanming already had Qinglan by her side. If she added Zifu - both of them were domestic servants of the Ning Prince's Mansion and first - class maids beside the Princess of Ning... If Li Wanming took them both under her wing, what would happen in the future?
But if she said yes, judging from Li Wanming's attitude, she might really dare to adopt this "adopted daughter" on the spot!
In that case, the situation would become even worse!
Caiwei, Qinglan, and Zifu, the three first - class maids beside the Princess of Ning. Two of them had been freed by Li Wanming and appointed as shopkeepers and courtyard managers, and the other was about to be adopted as a daughter...
Seeing that the servants around Li Wanming all had such good prospects, wouldn't the maids and women around her be envious?
Look at the expressions of these little girls in the pavilion now. Their eyes were almost popping out of envy!
If she wasn't here now, these shallow - minded little bitches would probably rush over immediately, hug Li Wanming's thighs, and cry and scramble to call her "Mother"!
Mrs. Kang felt a throbbing pain in her temples. This was not about adopting an adopted daughter at all. It was clearly poaching her people right under her nose!
What should she do?
Should she also learn from Li Wanming and adopt someone, and send them out with a dozen carriages of dowry in the future?
Not only did she not have the intention, even if she did, she didn't have the financial resources.
She had never done business, and her natal family had an ordinary background. Although she had been in charge of the Ning Prince's Mansion for a few years, it was only "temporary management". No matter how much money the Ning Prince's Mansion had, it had nothing to do with her.
Although she had secretly embezzled a lot over the years, she still didn't have much money. How could she be as bold as Li Wanming, who could offer a dowry comparable to that of a county princess?
Mrs. Kang's fingernails in her sleeves dug deeply into her palm, almost drawing blood.
She took a few deep breaths before barely suppressing the trembling of her lips and forcing out a smile. "Whether Jingnan wants to adopt a younger sister or a daughter, it's all a matter for your branch of the family. I have no right to interfere. However, Zifu's indenture is still in my elder sister - in - law's hands. This matter will probably require her approval in the end."
At this point, she had no choice but to use the Princess of Ning as a shield again.
Look, it's not that I don't agree. It's just that the objective conditions don't allow it.
Without the indenture, Zifu couldn't be freed. Without being freed, she couldn't be adopted as an adopted daughter or younger sister.
Do you want to use this trick to win people's hearts?
Bah, in your dreams!
Mrs. Kang knew very well that the Princess of Ning was always a timid and rule - abiding person. If she knew that Xiao Jingnan wanted to adopt a seventeen - or eighteen - year - old servant girl as his daughter, she would probably faint on the spot.
So, the Princess of Ning would definitely not agree to this.
Mrs. Kang sneered in her heart, but on the surface, she pretended to be in a difficult position. "Without the indenture, how can she be freed? Without being freed, how can we recognize relatives? I think this matter should be considered carefully..."
Li Wanming played with the jade bracelet on her wrist and suddenly raised her eyes with a smile. "Second aunt is indeed thoughtful. Then we'll discuss this matter after the Princess comes back."
Saying this, she slowly stood up, gently raised her arm, and hooked a bunch of brass keys about an inch long on her fingertips.
"Second aunt, these are the keys to various places in the mansion? Then I'll take them today. If I don't understand something in the future, I'll have to bother you again."
After saying that, she turned around and waved her hand behind her, her voice clear. "Come here. Carry all these account books and records back. We'll take our time to look at them. If we don't understand -" She looked back with a smile, her eyes sparkling. "We'll have to bother second aunt again. Second aunt is so kind. I'm sure she won't find us annoying."
Hearing this, Mrs. Kang gritted her back teeth tightly, pressed down her trembling hands, and forced herself to hold back the impulse to rush over and tear Li Wanming to pieces. She just said, "Of course not..."
Qinglan, on the other hand, was overjoyed. A smile almost bloomed on her face.
She couldn't wait to direct the little maids who had followed from Shiyongzhai to take over the account books. "Hurry up. Take the boxes from the elder sisters' hands! Don't tire the elder sisters out!"
At the same time, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Zifu, who was shivering on her knees. Qinglan felt extremely pleased.
Serves you right!
Serves you right for going against the Princess!
You're so stupid. After staying in Pingkangfang for two years, you still don't recognize the Princess's methods. You even jumped out to be Mrs. Kang's tool to deal with the Princess!
Qinglan had always known that Zifu wanted to be a concubine, but she never thought that she would actually take refuge with Mrs. Kang and be so eager to take the lead!
So, when she saw Zifu walking in gracefully from outside, Qinglan's heart skipped a beat. She was really worried about Li Wanming.