The Female Cannon Fodder With Boundless Merits-Chapter 100 Love Affair with the Embroidered Ball (10)

Chapter 100: Chapter 100 Love Affair with the Embroidered Ball (10)

Until nightfall, Huang Zheng, who had been waiting with eager anticipation, had not seen Wen Rou’s returning figure, nor had his wife in name, Su Li, come by.

In the study, an orange-yellow oil lamp flickered gracefully, casting the shadows of two figures in conversation on the window.

"My daughter, today we have really brought death upon the Second Prince... Mr. Wen also that..."

"Father, don’t worry... The Second Prince never intended to spare our Su Family..."

Su Zhao-shi was greatly alarmed, "You, how did you come to know of this?"

Su Li’s indifferent expression was concealed in the dim shadows, "A tall tree catches the wind, and our Su Family’s reputation as grain merchants has already resounded throughout Zhao Country."

"Among the several princes, it is the Second Prince who is the weakest, without the help of an external family. Even if he gains a fraction of the Emperor’s favor, what of it? It cannot provide him with much support. His trip to Chaoshan this time might very well have been to seize an opportunity... Our Su Family has probably long been targeted by him."

In her previous life, the original body only thought that Huang Zheng saw the Su Family as a chance to please Wen Rou, even offering up all of the family’s considerable wealth, but Su Li would not think so. Combining the recently read Su Family’s account books and her analysis of the state affair, she came to this conclusion.

All of this had been influenced and aggravated by the maneuver of Xuanyuan Jian from behind the scenes; even, Su Li had a bold guess, perhaps in her last life, Su Zhao-shi’s untimely death also had Xuanyuan Jian’s tactics behind it.

Turns out, Su Li had guessed some of it correctly.

At that moment, in a secret room, Xuanyuan Jian was in a towering rage.

"Damn it, how was the news leaked?"

"Your subordinate does not know."

"All useless! It was supposed to be a foolproof plan. How did it fail? Now this side is being watched by elder brother’s men. It’s not possible to take action anymore, temporarily give up."

Xuanyuan Jian, still unwilling to let go, harshly kicked the kneeling subordinate before him, "Get out, and think of another plan later."

The next day, early morning

Su Li, along with Su Zhao-shi, was waiting in the posthouse early in the morning with a brocade box in hand.

After Mr. Wen came out, they presented the brocade box with both hands, "This is the Su Family’s reciprocating gift for concubine Qinglian."

Mr. Wen glanced at it briefly, "You are considerate." Then, he had the attendant take the brocade box.

Leaving the posthouse, Su Zhao-shi was filled with concern, "Ah Li, they..."

It is always difficult to deal with those in power; to ask the tiger for its skin. According to Su Zhao-shi’s private wishes, he did not desire to have too close relations with those in power.

Su Li calmly tapped her knee, "Father, since Mr. Wen did not refuse, it means that he accepts our affiliation; and he represents the intentions of that young master. Moreover, you shouldn’t underestimate yourself too much. The Su Family... is more influential than you think."

Su Li smiled and said, "Additionally, the brocade box contains the Su Family’s visible shares of profits, and not even the princes can resist it, after all, they don’t have much private property on the surface."

Just as Su Li had said, Mr. Wen turned around and had his attendant open the brocade box sent by the Su Family. Inside, besides a plate of silver notes commonly used in Zhao Country, there were various shops, farms, and most notably, two newly discovered iron mines by the Su Family, not yet known to others.

Mr. Wen’s expression became serious, and he quickly summoned his confidant to whisper a message. Additionally, a carrier pigeon was tied with a paper bearing a secret message on its leg and sent flying off towards the Capital in the night.

"I remember the president of Chaoshan City’s Chamber of Commerce just stepped down this year, right? Tell the County Magistrate for me, I think Su Zhao-shi, this Great Kind Person, would be very suitable." Mr. Wen, after having arranged everything, thought for a while and then gave an additional order.

Since the Su Family had shown their sincerity, it sought to reciprocate with a token of friendship. Giving Su Zhao-shi the nominal position of the president of the Chamber of Commerce would also be a gesture from them.

Mr. Wen was in a good mood; by handling this matter well, he would also gain more face in front of the young master.

In addition, his own daughter would also be able to stand taller in the young master’s backyard.

Concubine Qinglian was indeed a good childhood acquaintance.

----

Receiving the message delivered by the County Magistrate’s envoy, Su Zhao-shi was still stunned.

"Where is the young miss?"

"In the study..."

"Has the young miss never returned to the back courtyard?"

Su Zhao-shi searched with a heart brimming with complex emotions.

In the study, Su Li held a scroll in her hands, reclining leisurely on the couch, engrossed in her reading.

Upon seeing Su Zhao-shi, Su Li set down the scroll and said softly, "Father, what brings you here?"

Seeing his daughter, who had grown increasingly profound, Su Zhao-shi had a thousand words he wanted to say, but they all turned into a heavy sigh.

"Ah..."

"The servants have told me that you’ve been staying in the front courtyard these past few days?"

Su Li elegantly picked up a cup of hot tea and offered it to Su Zhao-shi, "Drink some tea first."

Then Su Li spoke nonchalantly, "What does it matter to you? In any case, it’s no trouble for our family to provide for one more person; if you don’t like it, just confine them to the courtyard."

Su Zhao-shi felt a sharp pain in his heart, wondering if this incident had struck his daughter too hard, driving her to embrace another extreme.

From the tone of her voice, she seemed to embody the demeanor of a heartless noble son.

Perhaps it was Su Zhao-shi’s overly solemn expression, but Su Li couldn’t pretend not to notice.

"Father, this world is too harsh on women. Look at the safe and joyful path you envisioned for me—it’s unfeasible now, but I still consider myself fortunate."

The original soul had garnered good karma, enabling her arrival. As for fairness—what of the ordinary women among the masses?

Su Li looked straight ahead, her voice distant and lingering, "Once a woman makes a single misstep, often what follows is the abyss of despair."

"Father, do you think that’s fair?"

"Why do they have the right to scorn others’ lives, why... can’t I break free from these rules?"

Su Zhao-shi was at a loss for words for a long while.

He hadn’t expected his daughter to harbor such shocking and unconventional thoughts.

Su Zhao-shi wanted to argue; this was a world ruled by the emperor and men...

But in the end, out of deep love for his daughter, he could only say, "As long as it makes you happy, whatever ideas you have, just go ahead and pursue them."

Su Li revealed a gentle smile, certain her father would have seen through her thoughts.

Suddenly, Su Zhao-shi remembered the reason for his visit.

"Ah Lee, the County Magistrate said that Mr. Wen has vouched for me, and now I will be the president of the Chamber of Commerce."

Su Li responded, "That’s excellent news. You are well-suited for the position, Mr. Wen has good judgment... don’t worry about anything else."

Suddenly, Su Li dropped a bombshell, "Mr. Wen will be returning to the Capital in three days, and I will accompany him."

Su Zhao-shi was taken aback, "Why would Mr. Wen make such a request?"

Although he had forced himself to accept the reality that his daughter was becoming increasingly distant from the virtues of wisdom and goodness, when faced with it so abruptly, he still found it hard to cope.

"It’s all because I’m incapable... that you have to shoulder..."

Su Zhao-shi was about to spiral into endless self-blame.

Su Li remained silent...