Hu Maolin knew full well that he was doomed today, so he simply threw caution to the wind. He tidied up his disordered robe, which had been tugged during the scuffle with the eunuchs, and glared at Li Ying with hatred blazing in his eyes.
"Su Buchi, you colluded with the Lu family in official - merchant dealings, which is a grave taboo to the emperor! Poisonous woman surnamed Li, how dare you fabricate evidence in front of the emperor!"
He shouted unwillingly, with a glimmer of hope in his heart. He thought that if his arguments were reported to the emperor by the eunuchs, there might be a chance for him to be vindicated and regain a glimmer of life.
But how could Su Buchi give him the chance to spout nonsense?
His face darkened. He took out a handkerchief and firmly covered Hu Maolin's mouth and nose.
"Master Hu, you're really noisy. Just take a good sleep. After you become a test subject in the Imperial Hospital, you probably won't have many chances to rest peacefully."
Then he turned to Li Ying and explained softly, "This is a special sleeping drug used in the interrogations of the Ministry of Justice. After Hu Maolin wakes up, he won't remember anything. Miss Li, feel free to say whatever you want."
Caught off guard, Hu Maolin took a deep breath. He never expected that the seemingly frail - looking Su Buchi would use force against him. His eyes widened in shock, and his body went limp uncontrollably.
He still had a bit of consciousness when Li Ying cleared her throat and said softly, "Master Hu must be extremely indignant now, right?"
"Yes, you are indeed wronged. Although you are audacious, you don't have the guts to harm the emperor. The doctored nine - roasted bamboo salt that Qin Zhu brought today was actually a play I directed myself."
Seeing her admit it so frankly, Hu Maolin's anger flared even more. But with his mouth blocked by the handkerchief, he could only grunt in frustration.
"What does it matter whether it's true or false? Master Hu, you can only blame yourself for meddling in too many things. You've long touched the emperor's reverse scale. The emperor intended to deal with the Hu family, and I just gave him a suitable reason today."
"Doesn't it feel bad to be wronged?"
She smiled sweetly, looking as innocent as a lamb.
Hu Maolin's chest heaved with anger. His pale and gaunt face turned bright red. He then turned to look at Hu Qinzhu.
Hu Qinzhu was his blood - related sister. A flicker of compassion flashed in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by coldness.
"Brother, don't worry. Qinzhu will do her best to prevent the Hu family from declining."
She stood behind Li Ying, never leaving her side, looking like a loyal subordinate. This made Hu Maolin even more furious.
The good sister he had groomed was supposed to stir up trouble in the Lu family, but instead, she defected and was willing to be someone else's lackey!
Hu Qinzhu understood what he meant. She looked at him and then at Li Ying.
"Brother, Qinzhu can tell friend from foe. Compared to you, Boss Li is more worthy of Qinzhu's service. Qinzhu only regrets that she didn't get to know Boss Li earlier and was bullied by you for so many years."
Her words were so straightforward that Hu Maolin could no longer hold on. His eyes rolled back, and he fainted from anger.
Su Buchi put away the handkerchief and waved. The eunuch waiting in the distance was very obedient. He trotted over with a smiling face and bowed to Su Buchi.
"Then we'll send Master Hu to the Imperial Hospital now. Take your time, Lord Su!"
After leaving the Princess Dowager's mansion, Li Ying bid farewell to Su Buchi and Hu Qinzhu. The Lu family's carriage was already waiting. She got in and was taken back to the Lu mansion.
As soon as she lifted the curtain, a strong smell of sandalwood hit her face. It was the incense that Lu Xunguang often used.
"A Ying, I'm back."
He hugged her tightly, stroking every inch of her skin and bone. After just a few days apart, it felt like years. He wished he could meld the woman in his arms into his very being.
Li Ying was suffocated by his tight embrace. It was a long time before he finally let her go.
Their eyes met, filled with tenderness.
She had just managed to call out "Brother Lu" when a shrill voice came from outside the Lu mansion.
"An imperial edict is here. Lu Xunguang, come and receive it!"
Li Ying quickly let go and obediently followed behind Lu Xunguang. She lowered her head and quietly listened to what the emperor had to say.
"By the mandate of heaven, the emperor decrees that Lu Xunguang, the head of the Lu family, is humble, polite, gentle, and concerned about the people. He also has extraordinary talents. He is hereby appointed as the imperial merchant, in charge of the salt and tea business across the country. He shall be rewarded with a thousand measures of pearls, ten thousand taels of gold, and a mansion to show the emperor's grace. So it is decreed!"
"I thank the emperor for his grace!"
The stone in Li Ying's heart finally dropped.
Sure enough.
Now that Hu Maolin had been sent to the Imperial Hospital, the Hu family was in ruins, and the Lu family was the first choice to be the imperial merchant.
She just didn't expect the imperial edict to come so quickly.
She accompanied Lu Xunguang to receive the edict and thank the emperor. The eunuch who delivered the edict took the silver Lu Xunguang gave him and smiled, but he didn't leave in a hurry.
"Congratulations, Lord Lu."
"I also have a verbal order from the emperor for Miss Li."
Li Ying raised her eyebrows.
For her?
"The emperor has ordered that Miss Li claimed to have other ways to nourish the emperor's body. The emperor will visit soon. Please make preparations in advance. If it was just a casual remark, the crime of deceiving the emperor is not something to be taken lightly."
Lu Xunguang looked solemn, but Li Ying just smiled. She curtsied and said softly, "My lord, please rest assured."
One load after another of the rewards was carried into the Lu mansion like a flowing stream. It was very lively.
After the eunuch left, the people in the capital were eager to take a peek at the new noble in the capital.
The bolder ones quickly prepared generous gifts, hoping to curry favor with the new imperial merchant and perhaps get some help in the future.
Later in the day, the Princess Dowager's reward also arrived.
She came in a small sedan chair with thick curtains and stopped at the main gate of the Lu mansion.
"Your Highness, the Princess Dowager, why did you come in person!"
Li Ying, accompanied by Hu Qinzhu and Lu Xunguang, quickly went out to greet her. Knowing that the Princess Dowager usually rarely left her mansion, they bowed in a low voice and quickly invited her into the inner courtyard.
After this incident, the Princess Dowager had a favorable impression of Li Ying for her propriety. She casually waved her hand, ordered Li Ying to rise, and drank a cup of tea. Then she got straight to the point.
"Li Ying, that day in the princess mansion, you said you had a business idea targeting the noble ladies in the capital. Now that things have settled down, you should tell me about it in detail, right?"
Li Ying had the same intention. She looked at the sky and was not in a hurry. Seeing the tired look on the Princess Dowager's face, she smiled brightly.
"This time, thanks to the Princess Dowager's efforts, the Lu family was able to turn the corner. Now that the Princess Dowager is so tired, why don't you let A Ying help you relax a bit?"