Li Ying's eyes lit up.
She had long guessed that with the Lu family in the limelight, the emperor couldn't turn a blind eye.
That was precisely why she had deliberately attributed all the affairs of the fishing village to Lu Xunguang.
Once Imperial Envoy Lin fell, it was inevitable that many others would be implicated, from the court down to the common folks.
Both the salt and tea inspectors had been removed from their posts. The Lu family's Coastal Tea was now in the spotlight. Back then, Concubine Lian had been the daughter of a salt merchant. If the Lu family were truly determined, it wouldn't be difficult for them to reorganize and take over the salt - merchant business.
However, if the emperor were to entrust the official salt and tribute tea business entirely to the Lu family, given his suspicious nature and having just convicted Imperial Envoy Lin of deceiving the emperor, he would surely have deep - seated concerns.
Li Ying had thought that the matter of the Lu family taking over the salt - merchant business would have to be discussed in the long run. Unexpectedly, word had spread so soon.
"I didn't readily agree for fear of arousing the emperor's suspicion. I only said that I was inexperienced and had just taken over the Lu family, so I wasn't qualified enough to convince everyone and declined politely," Lu Xunguang said.
Hearing his words, Li Ying nodded in understanding.
Keeping a low profile was indeed the best strategy.
"A Ying, you know I have no intention of vying for power. But now, as the saying goes, a man is innocent, but his wealth may be a crime. If I want to be your protector, I must..."
Before he could finish, Li Ying tightly grasped his hand with her fair little hands.
"Lu Lang, you don't need to say more. I understand."
After sharing some more intimate words, they walked back to the village hand in hand.
The boatmen and fishermen had already tidied up the huge hot - air balloon. Tourists who came to watch were crowded three - deep around it, chatting animatedly.
"This hot - air balloon is really novel and interesting! I wonder when we'll get a chance to take a ride on it!"
Li Ying smiled sweetly, cleared her throat, and said loudly, "Please be patient. This is just a test flight today. After we make repeated adjustments and ensure everything is safe, we'll surely invite all interested guests to have a try!"
Since she sounded so responsible, the tourists were naturally delighted and nodded in agreement.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, they returned to the village. Granny Sun had already prepared several home - cooked dishes.
"A Ying, Xiao Lu, you'll be able to stay at home for a longer time this time, right?"
As she was getting old, it was only natural that the old lady hoped her children would be by her side.
Li Ying instinctively looked at Lu Xunguang, but he just smiled.
"I'll follow A Ying's arrangement."
To avoid arousing the emperor's suspicion and being regarded as people who pretended to obey but actually disobeyed, for several consecutive days, they really stayed in the village quietly. They hosted feasts for the villagers and occasionally checked the operation of the nearby islands.
Since the pearl farm had received the imperial edict and was now under the management of the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies on behalf of the emperor, everyone was overjoyed.
You know, from then on, they would all be laborers of the royal pearl farm. They no longer had to worry about being exploited by villains, and their lives would surely be well - provided for!
The tribute - glue business and the swiftlet houses were also in good order. Li Ying heaved a sigh of relief.
However, when they were rowing a small boat to the seaweed farm with bamboo poles sticking out, a foreman rushed over in a hurry. There was a look of relief on his face.
"Boss Li, you're finally here!"
Cultivating seaweed wasn't difficult, and the villagers were usually quite idle. Seeing the foreman looking so anxious, Li Ying couldn't help but feel a pang of uneasiness.
"What happened?"
As the foreman led her onto the island, he said worriedly, "I don't know if we've offended someone, but overnight, all the mudflats where we cultivate seaweed have been destroyed!"
What?
Li Ying's face immediately darkened, and her brows furrowed tightly.
Sure enough, looking in the direction the foreman pointed, the neatly - arranged bamboo poles were now toppled over, some broken and some bent.
They looked as desolate as the withered lotus leaves scattered by the autumn wind, a sight too miserable to behold.
Several terrified foremen looked even gloomier than the bottom of a pot. When they saw Li Ying, they hurriedly knelt down.
"Boss Li, please investigate! We know that this good life is hard - won. We've never slacked off during our daily inspections. We really don't know why such a disaster has befallen us all of a sudden!"
"Don't worry, the villagers have gone to search everywhere. As soon as we find any clues, we'll surely bring the villain who did this to justice! Please trust us again, Boss Li!"
It was no wonder they were so nervous.
Everyone in the surrounding areas knew that working in the seaweed farm was the most leisurely and lucrative job.
Many people were eager to be hired by Li Ying and Lu Xunguang. Even if they could only be a servant doing odd jobs, their lives would surely be prosperous and full of promise.
They had been so cautious every day, but unexpectedly, they had suffered such an unwarranted disaster!
This must be the work of a villain, aiming to make Boss Li think that they were all incompetent!
What would happen if she really took back the seaweed farm?
Li Ying saw the uneasiness on their faces and understood. She just smiled faintly.
"I trust those I employ and don't employ those I don't trust. When I entrusted the seaweed farm to you, I believed that you were all down - to - earth and diligent people. There must be another reason for this. How could I blame you without a thorough investigation?"
She spoke gently. Since the Lu family was in need of capable people now, as a good helper, she naturally had to help Lu Xunguang win people's hearts.
Sure enough, the foremen were deeply touched by her trust and their eyes welled up with tears.
Li Ying rowed the bamboo raft and bent down to carefully examine the broken bamboo poles. There were already many fresh seaweed seedlings hanging on them, looking lush and green, very lovely. If they had grown to maturity, they would have fetched a large amount of silver.
Some heart - broken fisherwomen wept secretly and cursed the villain who had caused the trouble for generations.
Li Ying was calm. After examining all the broken seaweed seedlings on the bamboo poles, a faint look of understanding flashed in her eyes.
"Don't be panicked, everyone. Although this is very strange, in my opinion, it doesn't seem to be the work of humans."
Not the work of humans?
Could it be a wild beast?
But the island had always been peaceful. Where could there be a fierce beast so large that it could secretly destroy all the bamboo poles in the pond overnight?
Everyone looked at each other in astonishment, not understanding. But Li Ying was calm. She stood up and strolled slowly along the beach, her bright eyes searching for something from time to time.