Chapter 478: Lustful
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Li Yu told Fan Mingfang and Madam Gong about Hengshan Town. “Aunt, do you know who Country Lord Ning hooked up with?”
Madam Gong thought for a moment. “I heard from your aunt today that someone said that she has taken a fancy to the youngest son of the Yang family in Lantern Alley and forcefully invited him to her house to make lanterns. I wonder if she has gotten her way.”
Li Yu looked at Madam Gong curiously. “Aunt, is there no one in her husband’s family who can control her?”
Madam Gong shook her head. “The surname of Country Lord Ning is Wei. She was originally the daughter of a general. Her father was a general, but for some reason, he only had her as his daughter. After his Madam left, he didn’t remarry. The father and daughter relied on each other. During the winter hunt that year, the late emperor was attacked by ferocious beasts. Her father saved the late emperor and died. After his death, she was the only one left in the Wei family. The late emperor conferred her the title of a Country Lord and seemed to have given her a lot of gold, silver, and fields.”
“The younger brother of the Xu family was married into the Wei family. After marrying her for less than a year, he chanced upon the scandal of her and her guard. In a fit of anger, he ran out to drink. After getting drunk, he missed his footing when he went down the stairs and fell to his death. After the younger brother of the Xu family died, Country Lord Ning gave the Xu family the farm shop. The Xu family did not pursue the matter.”
“Although Country Lord Ning is a woman, she’s especially lecherous. As long as she takes a fancy to a man, she’ll try her best to seduce him. However, she’s a little smart. She never gets entangled with men from good families. The men she hooks up with are all good-looking men. There are scholars who failed the exam after coming to the capital and the young masters of merchant families.”
“She doesn’t spend those people’s money. Even if she’s discovered by their families, no one can do anything to her, givenher status. The officials only treat her as a topic of conversation. No one has ever paid attention to whom she’s hooking up with.”
Fan Mingfang said angrily, “To think there’s such a shameless woman in the world. Also, the Xu family is too disgusting. The husband of Madam Xu is still working in the Ministry of Rites. Her brother died because of such a woman and she still helped the wicked. What a shameless person.”
Madam Gong said indifferently, “The Xu family is a down and out family, to begin with. After their son died, his family had fields and shops, and they could eat and drink. Who would care why he died?! His family doesn’t care about him anymore, and outsiders don’t care.”
Fan Mingfang nodded. “That’s true! They just treated it as selling a son.”
Li Yu thought that it didn’t matter if she was lecherous or not. As long as she didn’t provoke her, she didn’t care who she was with. When Li Yu thought of Country Lord Ning’s pompous appearance, she would probably require a lot of money to support her lifestyle. Could it be that she was a capable woman? “Aunt, does Country Lord Ning run many businesses?”
Madam Gong thought for a moment. She had never heard of Country Lord Ning running an industry. “She’s an orphan. When her father left, she was only 14 or 15 years old. It’s also thanks to her father that she was able to hold on to the assets of the late emperor. How can she have the ability to run a business?”
Li Yu analyzed, “Country Lord Ning is promiscuous. Even if the late emperor rewarded her with a lot of gold, silver, and fields, she should have spent most of them after so many years! If she doesn’t have any assets. Where will she get the money she spends?”
Madam Gong also found it strange. “That’s right! She’s living an extravagant life. After all these years, where did she get her money?”
Fan Mingfang thought for a moment and said to Li Yu, “Sister, when my father was in Liangzhou, a rich family raised thugs and guards in order to lend and collect loans. Do you think she will lend money to earn money?”
“By the way, why is a woman raising so many guards? She’s most likely a loan shark. If she dares to do this, she’ll be demoted or forced to work,” Madam Gong said.
Li Yu felt that she could start from there. “Alright, let’s find out if she’s lending money?”
Seeing that Li Yu was not angry about those gossip, Madam Gong was relieved.
“Ah Yu, no matter what, don’t be angry with that bitch. You’ll anger yourself.
Aunt will ask Cousin tomorrow. She’s well-informed.”
Fan Mingfang also advised, “That’s right, Sister. That kind of person is not worth arguing with.”
Li Yu smiled and said to the two of them, “Don’t worry! I’m fine! It’s just a few gossipy women. I didn’t take those words seriously!”
Madam Gong laughed when she heard that. “Your uncle said that you’re as
indifferent to fame and fortune as your mother and won’t care about those clowns. In the end, he was worried and pulled me here to take a look. Just as I reached the door, I met Ah Qing and Wanwan.”
It felt good to be remembered. Li Yu smiled. “Thank you, Aunt, Uncle,
Sister-in-law.”
Everyone returned to the hall after exchanging a few more pleasantries. Seeing that Li Yu was fine, Uncle Lin and Li Qing left with their Madams in relief.
Li Yu told Zhou Jia about the mortgage and Lantern Lane. “Let’s do it both ways. I don’t believe we can’t find something on her.”
Zhou Jia nodded and replied, “Alright, get Ruyi and Han San to investigate these two things. I’ll go to the capital’s government office to find out about the loan.”
After dark, Ji Xiang went to Tongzhou Guild Hall to get to Laidi’s house. He turned around and entered the courtyard. When he saw that the house was still lit up, Ji Xiang walked closer with light footsteps. When he heard Li Fengqi recite, Ji Xiang stood there silently and seriously remembered the words Li Fengqi had recited.
Suddenly, he heard Laidi say, “Fengqi, it’s getting late. It’s time to rest.”
Li Fengqi replied indifferently and continued to sit in front of the window. Ji Xiang waited outside for a while. Seeing that he showed no signs of resting, he left the courtyard and returned to the residence. He recited the words Li Fengqi had recited to Zhou Jia.
When Zhou Jia heard this, he said to Li Yu, “This is probably some scholar’s answer. I’ll check it tomorrow. However, what I’m sure of is that Li Fengqi heard something about you from Laidi. Then he used it to exchange for this.”
Li Yu thought to herself that it was impossible for anyone to know that she had borrowed a corpse to reincarnate and had a space. Also, it was impossible for Laidi to know that she had made those homemade bombs. Could there be anything else that they could use to make a fuss?
“Xiao Xi, everyone in West Mountain Village knows what Laidi knows. What’s the use of him asking around?”
Zhou Jia looked at Li Yu’s puzzled expression and knew that she was magnanimous.
“No wonder they wanted to spread rumors that I was jealous and not filial to Old Master Zhou. They were ruining my reputation step by step and making everyone think that I was a person with bad character.” Li Yu was disdainful of these methods. “Xiao Xi, do you believe it? Do those who are familiar with me believe it? I don’t feel accountable to others. Why should I care about those clowns?
“Yu’er, I believe you more than I believe in myself, but I won’t allow them to slander you.” Zhou Jia held Li Yu’s hand and looked at her affectionately. “It’s impossible for Country Lord Ning to only think of attacking you with the matter of you breaking off the engagement with the Zhang family. I think there’s something else that we don’t know..”
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