Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 375 - 374. The Regent Prince’s Hongmen Banquet

374. The Regent Prince’s Feast

"Xu Qingchen..."

As Xu Qingchen was in deep thought, Yunge’s charming figure was already standing outside the door, looking at the handsome man inside with indecision.

Xu Qingchen lifted his head, gazing at the girl at the door who was dressed in goose-yellow clothes, and smiled lightly. "Why don’t you come in?" The girl blushed a little as she tugged uncomfortably at her sleeves, gazing expectantly at Xu Qingchen.

Xu Qingchen praised with a smile, "You look very nice."

And indeed, she did look very nice. The girl’s delicate and petite face didn’t have any make-up, yet her slightly blushed face seemed as if it was tinged with a faint rouge, beautiful as a blooming peach tree or plum blossom. Her bright eyes carried a hint of unease, making her appear even more endearing. Though Ye Li was not particularly fond of dressing up, her taste was undoubtedly excellent. Her goose-yellow silk clothes, embroidered with light pink plum flowers, were tightened around her slender waist by a light-colored belt. Since it was early winter, she even matched it with a light purple cloak trimmed with white fox fur. The fluffy white fox fur gathered around her neck, further accentuating Yunge’s petite and lovely face, making it hard for people to look away.

Hearing Xu Qingchen’s compliment, the girl’s smile grew wider. Xu Qingchen looked at the radiantly smiling girl not far away and found himself somewhat dazed...

「The Regent Prince’s Mansion in Nanjing City」

The Regent Prince’s Mansion was exceptionally lively this day. Everyone of considerable reputation or power inside and outside Nanjing City was invited to the banquet at Prince Li’s Mansion. Although a part of them didn’t look quite pleased, Prince Li’s Mansion held great sway in Jiangnan now, its words carrying great weight. Even those who were not pleased didn’t dare to go against Prince Li’s wishes.

Ye Li arrived with Zhuo Jing and Wei Lin. Wei Lin reached out to hand their invitation to the steward who greeted guests at the entrance. The steward, taking a glance at the elegant and beautiful young master before him, couldn’t help but inwardly praise. This young master Chu, though hailing from the Northlands, had such refined looks and graceful bearing that even Jiangnan, known for producing talented and handsome men, had few to match. No wonder Yunzhou was also called the land of sages by the world. After a moment of stunned silence, the steward quickly instructed someone to lead Ye Li and her companions into the mansion.

It was Ye Li’s first visit to Prince Li’s Mansion. Despite having an intimate knowledge of the layout of Prince Li’s Mansion, actually stepping into it was a different matter. The architecture of the Northlands generally emphasized grandeur and magnificence, while Jiangnan focused on meticulous and exquisite detailing. Mo Jingli was always one for saving face, thus, the Regent Prince’s Mansion was naturally one of the grandest residences in Nanjing City. Its area was even slightly larger than that of Prince Ding’s Mansion in the Capital of Great Chu. This just goes to show how fiercely competitive Mo Jingli was towards Mo Xiuyao.

The banquet was being held in a grand hall located at the center of the mansion. The hall was nine rooms wide and five rooms deep, with a magnificent aura enhanced by its golden brick floor. The nameplate on its main entrance read "Taihua Hall."

A number of guests couldn’t help but frown as they approached the entrance, while Ye Li, standing at the door of the hall, quirked an eyebrow, asking, "Why does this Taihua Hall look so familiar to me?" Zhuo Jing chuckled softly, "My Lord, this does resemble Diligent Government Hall in the Capital of Great Chu quite a bit. No wonder it appears familiar to you."

Ye Li suddenly realized what it was. It wasn’t that Taihua Hall looked like Diligent Government Hall. Diligent Government Hall was, after all, a palace constructed by the founding emperor of Great Chu, grand and majestic without losing the domineering aura of an emperor. But Taihua Hall, with its overly exquisite grandeur and intricately carved and painted beams, was in fact so overly ornate that it gave off a somewhat petty bourgeois air. However, the hall’s nine doors, and the mythical creatures at the corners of the hall, were identical to those at Diligent Government Hall. Nine was the highest digit, which only emperors were entitled to use. Even the main hall of Prince Ding’s Mansion only used seven. It seemed that Mo Jingli’s ambition for the throne was no longer bothering to disguise itself at all.

Upon entering the hall, numerous dignitaries were already seated. Immediately after entering, Ye Li noticed Marquis Muyang and his son seated at the front, along with the gorgeous Yaoji, shining with a brilliant elegance, seated next to Mu Yang. Yaoji gave a smiling nod towards Ye Li, prompting Mu Yang, who was seated next to her, to immediately follow her gaze. He glanced at Ye Li, then at Yaoji, who spoke a few words in his ear while smiling. Only then did Mu Yang nod towards Ye Li.

Ye Li calmly returned the nod, and the attendant leading them guided them to their seats. Although the Chu Family was a high-ranking family in Great Chu, they didn’t have much power in Nanjing City at the moment. Therefore, Ye Li’s seat wasn’t particularly close to the front, but wasn’t far back either. Considering Chu Junwei’s status, this placement was quite considerate.

As soon as Ye Li entered the hall, she attracted many people’s attention, with many who didn’t recognize her starting to inquire amongst themselves about which family the outstanding young master was from.

"Is this young master Chu, Chu Junwei?" The middle-aged man sitting next to Ye Li asked with a smile.

Ye Li nodded and asked, cupping his fist, "May I ask who you are?" The middle-aged man replied with a smile, "My name is Lin, just a businessman. I can’t compare to a descendant of a high-ranking family like Young Master Chu." Ye Li replied with a smile, "Mr. Lin is too modest. The Lin Family is the leader in the silk business in Jiangnan. Your family’s fortune is likely no less than the world’s richest people. How can I, an insignificant sideline, compare to it?"

Obviously, Ye Li’s words hit the right spot for the middle-aged man. Businessmen are wealthy but not noble; they always have a mixed feeling of admiration and jealousy towards these noble descendants from scholarly families. A good word from them is equivalent to a hundred words from ordinary people. "Haha, Young Master Chu is too modest. How can we, who are tainted with the smell of copper coins, compare to your nobility?"

In fact, Ye Li was not unfamiliar with this middle-aged man. Although she had never met him, Mr. Lin was the leading silk merchant in Jiangnan. The majority of silk in Licheng that was transported to the Western Regions was traded with the Lin Family. As the Madam of Prince Ding’s Mansion, Ye Li was naturally aware of her business partners.

"Mr. Lin has overpraised me. I merely traveled to Jiangnan for studies and regrettably happened to witness... Prince Li... I’m just a member of a sideline branch after all, and I’m not the head of the Chu Family." Ye Li sighed lightly, her beautiful eyebrows knitted slightly.

Upon hearing these words, the middle-aged man also sighed and said, "You’re exactly right, Young Master. It’s a pity that nowadays, with Prince Li now in power and the saying ’civilians should not fight with officials’ prevalent, what can we ordinary people do?" He had a large volume of business with Prince Ding’s Mansion, to the extent that it could be said that thanks to Prince Ding’s Mansion, his Lin Family was able to securely establish its position as the leader in the silk industry in Jiangnan. What good would there be for the Lin Family if something happened to Prince Ding’s Mansion? Moreover, he did not hold Prince Li in high regard at all. If it weren’t for the fact that the Lin clan’s silk trading industry was based in Jiangnan and couldn’t be moved, he would have moved the Lin Family to Licheng long ago.

Now, they were in a pickle. Everyone knew how well-informed Prince Ding’s Mansion was. If news of his contributions to Prince Li’s cause reached Prince Ding’s Mansion... The middle-aged man furrowed his brow, his face growing even more sullen. Ye Li sat beside him, understanding his thoughts. With a helpless sigh, she said, "Luckily, my family resides in Yunzhou. If we can survive today, we can immediately set off for Yunzhou. At worst, we will have to give up one of our secondary residences in Nanjing City to Prince Li’s Mansion. Presumably, Prince Ding’s Mansion will consider the Xu Family’s standing and not hold it against us."

At his words, the middle-aged man brightened visibly. Grasping Ye Li’s hand, he laughed, "Being a traveler, young master wouldn’t want to be burdened with possessions. If you need anything, I would be happy to offer my assistance."

Ye Li calmly withdrew his hand, chuckling softly, "How can I trouble Mr. Lin."

The middle-aged man replied bashfully, "It’s no trouble at all. As the saying goes ’at home, one relies on parents; abroad, one relies on friends.’ I wish to befriend Young Master Chu, but worry that you may find us business people vulgar."

Ye Li grinned, finding him rather interesting. After considering for a bit, he nodded and laughed, "I wonder how I could repay Mr. Lin." The middle-aged man cautiously looked around and suggested, "Perhaps we could discuss this in private?"

Ye Li replied, "I’m just a collateral member of the Chu Family. Wouldn’t it be a shame if I end up disappointing Mr. Lin?"

The middle-aged man sighed in resignation, and said, "Well, it’s not a big deal really. Given your talents, I can’t believe the Chu Family does not give you any influence. I simply wish... for you to introduce me to Young Master Qingchen, or Young Master Han could also do. Amid the absence of Prince Ding and Princess Consort Ding in Licheng, Young Master Qingchen holds power over Prince Ding’s Mansion, while Han Mingxi controls the business affairs of the Mansion. An introduction to either would be beneficial to him."

Ye Li smiled faintly and said, "So, that’s what it is. It seems like a small issue."

At his words, the middle-aged man breathed a sigh of relief, and his eyes revealed a newfound respect for Ye Li. This was not a trivial matter; given his status, meeting Young Master Qingchen was an immense challenge. If Chu Junwei dared to say this so confidently, it meant that his relationship with Young Master Qingchen was solid. "Indeed, thank you, young master." The middle-aged man cupped his fist and said with a smile.

"Regent Prince has arrived! The Emperor is here!" A shrill voice interrupted the middle-aged man’s speech. Ye Li smiled slightly, indicating they would resume their conversation later. The middle-aged man swallowed his regret and quickly rose to welcome the Regent Prince and Emperor.

The young Emperor, adorned in a bright yellow dragon robe, followed closely behind Mo Jingli. By comparison, Mo Suyun, who was almost a year older than Mo Xiaobao, now appeared half a head shorter than Mo Xiaobao had been when Ye Li left Licheng a few months prior. He nervously trailed Mo Jingli, more resembling a pitiful victim than ruler of a nation.

Ye Ying walked beside Mo Jingli and, taking pity on the child, wanted to reach out and hold him. However, seeing Mo Jingli’s expression, she refrained.

"Paying respects to the Regent Prince! Paying respects to His Majesty the Emperor!" Normally, even with the Regent Prince holding power, the Emperor should be accorded precedence. However, the announcement had placed the Regent Prince before the Emperor. The court officials had become accustomed to this order, and among the wealthy merchants invited, a large portion were either oblivious to this departure from tradition or simply chose to follow along for fear of offending Prince Li.

"You may rise." Mo Jingli, high up, surveyed the crowd and only spoke once he had taken his seat.

"Thank you, Regent Prince," the crowd responded in unison.

Ye Ying seated herself on Mo Jingli’s right, while the Emperor, Mo Suyun, carefully glanced at Mo Jingli before taking the empty seat on his left. The onlookers watched the timid Emperor with shaking heads.

Mo Jingli looked with satisfaction at the guests and officials below who were slowly settling down, smiling, "Everyone, please feel at ease and enjoy the feast." Everyone acknowledged the Regent Prince’s command. Those present, who all had their own sources of information, knew what the banquet was about. Especially the forcibly invited merchants, who stiffly smiled, had no appetite for food and drink.

The banquet had an odd atmosphere. Ye Li, however, did not bother himself with it. He indulged in his food and wine, appearing to be unaware of the purpose of the banquet. From his position on the dais, Mo Jingli had a clear view of everyone’s expressions. The past few days had soured his mood. First, Dongfang You had disappeared. Even though he usually wished he could strangle her, her sudden disappearance caused many matters in his hand to stall. A lot of resources from Cangmang Mountain firmly resided in Dongfang You’s control. Without her, Mo Jingli could hardly mobilize that part of his forces. Furthermore, the Empress Dowager publicly fell out with him. Despite the known strife between mother and son, the public imprisonment of his biological mother led to much verbal and written criticism from the scholars. Now, looking at everyone’s stiff but submissive expressions, Mo Jingli felt much happier. So what if they opposed him in their hearts? Openly, they still had to obediently follow his command, kneeling respectfully before him, right?

"Bring him in!" In the middle of the tense banquet, Mo Jingli’s command echoed.

Soon, two palace guards dragged in a severely injured middle-aged man and forced him to kneel on the floor. Ye Li watched curiously; she didn’t recognize the man. But the gentleman next to her, Old Master Lin, couldn’t help but gasp and whispered, "It’s Zhang Baiwan." In the hall, there were many others with the same shocked expression as Old Master Lin. This Zhang Baiwan was a renowned grain merchant from Jiangnan. Allegedly, sixty percent of the granaries in Jiangnan belonged to the Zhang Family. Zhang Baiwan was counted among the extremely wealthy individuals in Nanjing; the term ’millionaire’ was insufficient to describe his wealth. Hence, he was known as Zhang Baiwan.

In Nanjing City, he was also known by the nickname "Money-Crazy". Despite already being extraordinarily wealthy, he lived a simple life, as did his wife and children, as if they were afraid others would learn of their wealth. He had no issues taking advantage of others, but if someone took a penny from him, he would lose his appetite for days. How would such a man be willing to fork out a large sum of money for Mo Jingli’s military expenses? Especially since Mo Jingli’s military required grain—Mo Jingli had already sent people to negotiate this matter with him earlier, but he intentionally evaded them. This time, he didn’t even show up at the banquet.

With Mo Jingli’s temperament, how could he tolerate such a blatant challenge to his authority? And so, at the Regent Prince’s banquet, if Zhang Baiwan refused to enter with dignity using his invitation, he would be forcibly brought in.

Mo Jingli gave a dismissive glance at the somewhat portly middle-aged man kneeling on the floor and sneered, "Old Master Zhang, you sure are hard to please."

Zhang Baiwan’s face twisted in dismay and he stammered nervously, "Prince, please forgive me, I dare not. I really do feel unwell, that’s why... I beg for your forgiveness, Prince."

"Feeling unwell?" Mo Jingli asked, "Is that so? We have several skilled imperial physicians in this mansion. How about letting them examine you? It would also prevent any potential illness from taking root."

"I... I dare not..." Zhang Baiwan’s face turned pale, as if he was truly ill. But how dare he let the physicians of Prince Li’s Mansion check his pulse? Even if he had a terminal illness, the physicians would probably declare him perfectly healthy after examination. Besides, everyone knew that his claim of feeling unwell was just an excuse.

"Presumptuous!" Mo Jingli’s face darkened, and he heavily slapped his hands onto the chair armrest. The resonant sound made everyone else in the room flinch. The wealthy figure of Zhang Baiwan trembled and his face drained of color in fear.

"You don’t know how to appreciate my kindness? Have you mistaken me for a vegetarian?" Mo Jingli said ominously. He waved his hand, "Drag him out and give him fifty strokes of the heavy plank. I believe that should restore Old Master Zhang to perfect health very soon."

Fifty strokes of the heavy plank would be enough to send a non-martial man like Zhang Baiwan, already of no small age, directly to his funeral. Even if Prince Li’s Mansion were to go easy on him, his life would likely be seventy to eighty percent gone. Clearly, Prince Li intended to completely devour the Zhang Family. Everyone present shuddered and was grateful they hadn’t done anything foolish.

The guards, allowing no further pleas, gagged Zhang Baiwan and dragged him out. In no time, the heavy sound of strokes echoed from outside the door, along with Zhang Baiwan’s whimpers of pain. Clearly, Mo Jingli was making an example of Zhang Baiwan.

"Regent Prince." Amidst the struggle of fear from the crowd, a clear and low voice resounded in the hall. The crowd followed the voice and saw a gentleman in white rising calmly, "The prince is about to set off for war. There is no need to lower oneself to the level of an ignorant commoner. I hope the Prince will think twice."

Mo Jingli raised his eyebrows, his expression inscrutable as he looked at Ye Li, "Is Young Master Chu pleading for him?"

Ye Li laughed, "I am not pleading for Old Master Zhang, but... The prince is going to war for the great cause of Great Chu. If Zhang Baiwan is killed, it may damage your reputation, Prince."

"Interesting." Mo Jingli’s actions were meant to scare the crowd; he hadn’t intended to take Zhang Baiwan’s life. At least, he had to ensure Zhang Baiwan left the Regent Prince’s Mansion alive. Seeing Ye Li’s words, Mo Jingli gestured to the people around him to halt their actions.

In a short while, Zhang Baiwan was dragged back and tossed onto the ground again. Despite Ye Li’s plea for leniency, he was still subjected to about twenty strokes with a rod, his back now stained with a large patch of blood.

Mo Jingli coldly glanced at the man sprawled on the ground, unable to pick himself up, and turned to Ye Li, "My Northern Expedition is intended to reclaim the lost territories of Great Chu. Now, I am merely borrowing some money from the people on behalf of the Imperial Court. This man, Zhang Baiwan, repeatedly refused to lend. Do you think such a person should not be beaten, Young Master Chu?"

Ye Li said indifferently, "Of course such people should be beaten. However, to kill without teaching is cruelty, to punish without warning is tyranny. As everyone knows, Old Master Zhang cherishes money as much as his life, being momentarily befuddled is inevitable. Now that he has been punished, I believe he will not disappoint the Prince again."

"Is that so?" Mo Jingli raised his eyebrow and looked towards Zhang Baiwan. The man who managed to amass such a fortune was certainly no fool. He must have realized how he had narrowly escaped death. If it hadn’t been for Young Master Chu’s plea for mercy, in a short while, he might have been pronounced dead. Seeing Mo Jingli gaze sweeping over him, he quickly nodded, saying, "The young master is correct...I was momentarily befuddled, I beg for the Prince’s forgiveness. I am willing to donate five hundred thousand bushels of food for the army."

Gifts to the army were outright donations, with no expectation of repayment. Although Mo Jingli had never intended to give anything back, somehow the word ’donation’ sounded much better. However... "Five hundred thousand bushels?" It sounded like a lot, but as military provisions, it wouldn’t even cover one month of food for hundreds of thousands of soldiers, so Mo Jingli was obviously unsatisfied. Zhang Baiwan shivered a little, with a gloomy face he said, "One million... One million bushels...."

Mo Jingli scoffed lightly, smiling, "In that case, I should thank Old Master Zhang for his generous act. Moreover, in the later stages of the war, procuring provisions for the troops might trouble you, Old Master Zhang, but of course... the Imperial Court will pay a high price to purchase them. How does that sound?"

What choice did Zhang Baiwan have but to nod in agreement? He was well aware that the ’high price’ Mo Jingli mentioned was nothing more than a mirage. It would be difficult even to get the market price; most likely the final cost would fall on him. After the war, he feared there wouldn’t be much left of the Zhang Family fortune.

With Zhang Baiwan’s lesson as a warning, the other wealthy merchants present knew better how to conduct themselves. Without Mo Jingli even needing to speak, they started pledging donations of money and goods, much of it presented as gifts. Despite probably cursing Mo Jingli’s ancestors eight generations back in their hearts, they still carefully continued to flatter him with their smiles, fearing that an angry outburst from him could prevent them making it out of Prince Li’s Mansion alive.

Before much time had passed, Ye Li had already calculated a rough estimate in his heart that the total of unwilling donations made by those present amounted to nearly five to six million taels of silver, along with countless other types of commodities. With such a generous revenue, Mo Jingli’s gloomy countenance improved greatly. Ye Li very tactfully donated fifty thousand taels of silver. While Mo Jingli was somewhat unsatisfied, he remembered that Chu Junwei being away from home, being able to procure fifty thousand taels was already quite substantial. Particularly since Chu Junwei had spoken out in persuasion earlier, giving Mo Jingli a way to back down gracefully. That made Mo Jingli feel a bit more favourable towards him, and he did not ask for more. Of course, the majority of these fifty thousand taels ultimately came from Old Master Lin sitting beside Ye Li. Old Master Lin had lost a whopping four hundred fifty thousand taels attending this banquet, and had turned literally green with regret. Everyone present knew that any money given now was like throwing meat buns at a dog—there would be no return. Fortunately, Jiangnan had always been a land of wealth, and although these merchants incurred substantial losses, they could still afford it. If this had been the case in Nanzhao or Xiling, they might have been in revolt even before Mo Jingli’s Northern Expedition started.

Having acquired what he wanted, Mo Jingli had no intention of drinking and eating with these men, so after toasting once, he got up and left. Although the attendees also felt sick to their stomachs, no one dared to get up and leave immediately. Departing right after Prince Li would be a clear sign of dissatisfaction, and the mentality of ’the poor not vying with the rich and the rich not competing with the officials’ had long been deeply ingrained. As long as they could make a living, the common people were most unwilling to challenge the Imperial Court.

Thus, the attendees watched the performances with an absent mind, all the while silently bemoaning the loss of their fortunes. The only one among them who seemed at ease was probably Ye Li. Although Mo Jingli left, Ye Ying and the young Emperor remained. After all, it was a gathering at the Regent Prince’s Mansion, so it wouldn’t do for all the hosts to be absent. However, Ye Li was not appropriately dressed to approach and converse with Ye Ying. His gaze calmly scanned over Mo Suyun, who was sitting and spacing out in his chair, and a faint smile touched his lips.

"Why is His Majesty the Emperor at the Regent Prince’s Mansion today?" Ye Li asked Old Master Lin, somewhat puzzled.

Old Master Lin next to him quickly explained in a low voice, "It’s been said that the Regent Prince has fallen out with the Grand Empress Dowager, claiming that the Grand Empress Dowager’s feminine leniency means she can’t properly discipline His Majesty. He plans to personally take charge of His Majesty’s education."

"Personally educate him?" Mo Jingli’s real plan is probably to scare the young emperor to death. Moreover, it seems that Mo Jingli has forgotten that he himself was also brought up by such "feminine leniency".

"Isn’t that so? Ah, it’s not easy being born into the royal family." Old Master Lin looked at the little emperor on the dais, looking dazed, and shook his head repeatedly. Even a fool could see that the little emperor looked like an utterly weak puppet. He seemed frightened like a cicada in winter when faced with Prince Li, which suggests that Prince Li probably doesn’t treat the little emperor well. It would be better if he stayed in the palace and was looked after by the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager. Now that he’s staying at Prince Li’s Mansion, one can’t be sure how long he will survive.

Ye Li lowered her eyes in thought, then glanced at Wei Lin behind her. Wei Lin stepped forward to receive his instructions, Ye Li whispered a few words into his ear, and Wei Lin nodded silently before returning to his original position. Old Master Lin watched the two guards behind Ye Li curiously and felt that this Young Master Chu was more enigmatic than ever.

"Young Master Chu," the recently beaten Zhang Baiwan approached, pale-faced and said with a forced smile, "Thank you for speaking well of me just now in front of the Regent Prince." Because Zhang Baiwan had just offended Mo Jingli, no one present dared speak with him, and Zhang Baiwan wasn’t very popular to begin with. If not for that, someone would’ve warned him about his mistakes. Everyone most likely considered Zhang Baiwan as a stepping stone to feel out the waters. Now, the banquet hadn’t ended yet and Zhang Baiwan was carrying his wounds, but he dared not leave, sitting alone in a corner looking quite desolate. At this point, he gathered the strength to come over and thank Ye Li.

Ye Li smiled slightly and nodded, "Old Master Zhang, there’s no need to be polite, I simply lent a helping hand."

Zhang Baiwan chuckled bitterly, "Young Master Chu, your simple act of help has saved my life. If Young Master Chu needs anything in the future, I won’t refuse." Ye Li laughed inwardly. Zhang Baiwan wasn’t really foolish, but his offer to be at her disposal was likely insincere; Zhang Baiwan, who loved money as much as his life, would not change his mind just because of a beating.

"I wouldn’t dare, Old Master Zhang, there’s no need to be polite."

Zhang Baiwan glanced at Old Master Lin next to him and said with a forced smile, "Young Master Chu, if you’re available any day, I would like to throw a humble banquet in your honor. It would be a pleasure to have your company." Ye Li pondered for a moment and then smiled, "In that case, I’ll bother Old Master Zhang when the time comes."

Seeing that Ye Li had agreed, Zhang Baiwan returned to his seat with a joyful expression.

Old Master Lin looked at Zhang Baiwan and couldn’t help laughing, "Who would have thought that after getting beaten, Zhang Baiwan has actually become generous? I’m afraid that over all these years, Young Master Chu is the first one to have the honor of being willingly treated by him."

Ye Li smiled faintly, "Mr. Lin is joking."

Old Master Lin shook his head, "Zhang Baiwan is always motivated by profit, Young Master Chu, you should be careful." Ye Li nodded, thanking Old Master Lin for his reminder. Although Old Master Lin had some ulterior motives, his reminder was still well-meaning. There was no free kindness in this world.

Zhang Baiwan is a well-known figure in Nanjing City, and Ye Li naturally had some understanding of him. It’s true that he was grateful for her life-saving grace, but he was probably more interested in the Chu Family.

After thinking for a while, Old Master Lin looked at Ye Li and whispered with a smile, "I’ve heard that Zhang Baiwan has a daughter still waiting in her chamber for marriage..." Although he didn’t finish his sentence, Ye Li already understood his meaning.

Actually, after meeting Ye Li today, there weren’t a few people who harbored the same thoughts. After all, although Chu Junwei was a side branch of the Chu Family, his background was not something these businessmen, who were looked down upon, could match. Besides, this young master Chu was handsome and elegant, and even Prince Li seemed to be very courteous towards him. Not to mention, the Chu Family and Xu Family had inextricable ties. Such a prospective son-in-law was naturally the ideal match for many. Even Old Master Lin himself harbored such thoughts; unfortunately for him, of his two daughters, the elder one had already been married for several years, while the younger one was not even ten years old yet. He could only lament his bad luck.

Upon hearing Old Master Lin’s words, Ye Li froze and fell silent. She indeed had not considered this issue. After all, no matter how well she pretended to be a man, she was still a woman at heart, and no woman would think about others wanting to marry their daughters to her. But now, after hearing Old Master Lin’s words... Ye Li turned around and looked at Zhuo Jing and Wei Lin.

Both of them looked strange and after a while, Wei Lin slowly said, "Young Master Chu’s charm is exceptional and he is incomparably handsome. Naturally, he is a person that many parents would desire." So the prince not only has to be on guard against men but also women? Wei Lin and Zhuo Jing couldn’t help but feel sympathy for their prince internally.

Ye Li shook her head helplessly, smiled and said, "Thank you for your reminder, Old Master Lin. I understand."

Old Master Lin chuckled and lowered his voice, "I’m just saying out of the blue, usually they say it’s better to tear down a temple than to ruin a marriage, but Zhang Baiwan’s daughter... heh heh... Young Master Chu, consider carefully."

Across from them, in the corner, Zhang Baiwan apparently noticed that Old Master Lin might be talking about his family, and shot him a fierce glare. Old Master Lin ignored him, continued drinking, and Ye Li, resigned, shook her head, raised her glass to Zhang Baiwan in acknowledgement.

Those who were sitting around looked surprised, never expecting that Young Master Chu would regard the stingy Zhang Baiwan so considerately.