For scholars and literati, the most cherished quality has always been "integrity".
Lian Ji secretly bribed several well - known scholars. With just a few words, she managed to distort the "make - guests - feel - at - home" hospitality principle of the Cat Café into servility.
A Man had an impatient temper. She put away her sweet smile and stormed out of the coffee shop. Rolling her eyes at the leading scholars who were chattering non - stop, she said, "You had our pour - over coffee just yesterday. Today, I wonder who's bribed you with gold? Are you here to gossip? Is this what the classics have taught you? Eating at our table and then bad - mouthing us right after?"
As a woman from the Hu ethnic group, she was straightforward and carefree. Her words were sharp and unsparing. The scholars had never been scolded so mercilessly by a woman before, and their faces turned ugly.
"You... You, a low - ranked musician, dare to insult us like this! You're so audacious!"
A Man spat disdainfully, "Bah! You have the nerve to talk to me about violating propriety? In my opinion, you're all sycophants. You spout moral principles but are actually full of nonsense!"
She spoke quickly and sharply. How could those pedantic scholars be a match for her?
Many people, having witnessed Lu Xunguang's might, didn't dare to provoke him. Instead, they pestered Li Ying relentlessly. They grabbed her, demanding an explanation.
Lu Xunguang's face darkened. He put down the slender - spouted teapot heavily.
Lian Ji, who was secretly observing, couldn't help but feel delighted.
Sure enough, everything was going according to her plan.
The farce in front of the Cat Café today was all her doing.
Lu Xunguang had an impatient temper. To protect Li Ying, he would surely get into an argument.
Then, she would secretly fan the flames and create a false impression that Lu Xunguang had "accidentally hurt someone".
Even the Son of Heaven would be punished as a commoner if he broke the law. By then, even if Li Ying had schemed successfully to get this young man to recognize his ancestry and return to the Ping'an Bank, he would still end up in jail.
A prisoner who had taken a life could never become the young master of the Ping'an Bank.
Li Ying noticed the smug look on Lian Ji's face from afar. Before she could say anything, she heard a sharp rebuke from the crowd.
"Who is so presumptuous?"
She followed everyone's gazes and saw the bank's owner striding over, looking imposing even without getting angry.
Although it was already autumn and it was quite cool in the morning and evening, there was still a bit of summer heat at noon. Yet, he was already wearing a fox - fur cloak, which seemed rather out of place.
"Boss Li and Miss A Man are honored guests of our Ping'an Bank. If you show disrespect to them, you're not putting our bank in your eyes."
Although the bank's owner spoke calmly, the trouble - making scholars knew they couldn't afford to offend him. They obediently fell silent and carefully defended themselves, "Please calm down, sir. We've all seen Boss Li's capabilities. It's just that we thought the Cat Café's boss Lu lacked any backbone as a man, so we wanted to teach him a lesson..."
Before they could finish, the bank's owner's face suddenly turned cold.
"I'm on the verge of death and know my days are numbered. But as long as I'm still breathing, I don't need you all to worry about teaching my son a lesson!"
His son?
The on - looking villagers looked at each other in surprise. Did the so - called "son" refer to the usually silent Lu Xunguang?
Lian Ji never expected that the bank's owner would publicly acknowledge Lu Xunguang's identity so soon. Her face turned cold, and she couldn't force a smile anymore.
She had been one step too late.
Li Ying noticed her embarrassment and smiled faintly without showing it.
She gracefully walked through the crowd and came in front of Lian Ji. Her voice was calm.
"The other day when I sent coffee for the bank's owner to taste, I also presented the accounts of the Cat Café since its opening."
"Years ago, the bank's owner thought his only son was good - for - nothing and discarded him. Merchants value profits. Now that he has seen Lu Lang's unique business talent with his own eyes, he will surely welcome him back home. How could he let his only heir get involved in a lawsuit? Madam, isn't this the truth?"
Lian Ji's well - maintained face turned as cold as ice.
These days, she had been exhausted both physically and mentally trying to curry favor with Inspector Lin and rescue the captured pirates.
With several capable subordinates suddenly gone, it had become even more difficult to keep an eye on the bank's owner.
She only heard about the pig - stomach chicken Li Ying had sent the next day.
As for the coffee and the accounts, she knew nothing about them!
Could it be that the old man was already on guard against her?
If he really suspected her... then...
She couldn't let him live!
But they had been married for many years. After all her scheming, she had finally become his legitimate wife, to be buried together with him. It was really hard for her to abandon this man.
Lian Ji frowned tightly, hesitating in her heart.
The bank's owner's voice rang out in time.
"Lu Xunguang is my son, my only son, my proudest son, and the young master of the Ping'an Bank!"
He held up Lu Xunguang's right hand high. There was even a glimmer of excitement in his aged eyes.
Lu Xunguang stiffened, looking rather uncomfortable. When he met Li Ying's smiling eyes in the crowd, he reluctantly nodded.
Lian Ji gritted her teeth in hatred but knew that it was a done deal. She didn't waste any more words with Li Ying. Taking a deep breath, she forced a smile and walked up to the bank's owner coquettishly. She said softly, "Congratulations, husband! A Xun has come back from the dead. Your long - standing knot in your heart can finally be untied!"
She carefully adjusted the bank's owner's clothes and gently advised, "Husband, you're in poor health. The doctor said you shouldn't get too excited. Look, your face is so red. Drink some soothing tea first and then catch up with A Xun."
As she spoke, she told the maid to bring a cup of tea. Then she took out a delicate porcelain bottle from her bosom, poured out a few pills, and coaxed him to take them.
The bank's owner hesitated for a moment and then drank the tea from her hand in one gulp.
Li Ying's right eyelid suddenly twitched.
The next moment, the bank's owner, who was holding Lu Xunguang's hands, covered his lips and coughed heavily twice. A dark stain appeared on his indigo silk handkerchief.
"Husband, what's wrong with you? Quick, call the doctor! Husband is spitting blood!"
Lian Ji let out a soft cry and quickly supported the bank's owner. The villagers present immediately panicked.
Du Zhong rushed forward to feel the bank's owner's pulse. Li Ying didn't know much about medicine and couldn't help much. She could only go with Lu Xunguang to send the bank's owner to the medical clinic. Standing outside the door, she tightly held Lu Xunguang's hand.
"Don't worry, Lu Lang. The bank's owner is a good man and will surely pull through."
She tried to comfort him. Lu Xunguang remained silent. When their eyes met, Li Ying clearly saw a hint of uneasiness in his eyes.