Chapter 101

Chapter 101

Cui Xuan accompanied Liu Wushi because Liu Wushi had arranged to meet him at Linglong Tower.

Liu Wushi wanted to transfer the entire fleet to the Cui family, intending to convert it into cash.

Cui Xuan frowned, puzzled as to why Liu Wushi would give up such a profitable fleet.

Liu Wushi simply said, "I need to do something, and I'm short on funds."

Cui Xuan glanced at him indifferently, "This year's Imperial Exam is open to merchants. The Emperor aims to select truly talented individuals. With your genuine abilities, you might very well pass. But if you resort to underhanded tactics, the Emperor is not one to tolerate such behavior."

Liu Wushi chuckled. The Emperor might not tolerate sand in his eyes, but he constantly exploits him. Liu Wushi had no fondness for the Emperor. If it weren't for Su Yu, he really wouldn't want to deal with the Emperor.

Liu Wushi offered the fleet at a fair price, but Cui Xuan declined. It wasn't that the Cui family couldn't afford it; they had the means. Although Great Qi didn't prohibit officials from privately acquiring assets, especially prestigious families like the Cui family, which had countless industries, he had initially agreed to Liu Wushi's proposal because he hoped this waterway would connect the capital to Jiangnan, bringing some vitality to Great Qi.

There was also another crucial point: at that time, he didn't have high hopes for Su Yu, so he wanted to rally various forces. Liu Wushi was one of the talents he wanted to win over. But now that he was cooperating with the Emperor, if he took over this waterway entirely, it might provoke unnecessary suspicion from the Emperor.

Cui Xuan wasn't short on money. Once the Emperor's trust in him was destroyed, rebuilding it would be difficult. He still needed to maintain his cooperation with the Emperor, so the small benefit wasn't worth the risk.

Since he didn't agree, Liu Wushi naturally couldn't force the sale.

The Liu family's fleet wasn't lacking potential buyers. Liu Wushi had approached Cui Xuan first because he was cooperating with the Cui family. He couldn't bypass the Cui family and sell to others directly. Now that Cui Xuan had refused, selling to someone else wouldn't offend the Cui family.

The two didn't waste any more words and prepared to leave after finishing their conversation.

However, someone from Honglefang hurriedly came over and told Liu Wushi that Su Langjun had brought a man and a woman to Honglefang for drinks.

Liu Wushi immediately became anxious and quickly bid farewell to Cui Xuan.

Upon hearing "Su Langjun," Cui Xuan clenched his fist slightly and immediately told Liu Wushi he would accompany him.

But Cui Xuan didn't expect that Su Yu, who usually wore bright or light colors, would be dressed in black robes today, just like him.

It was as if they shared a telepathic connection, or as if he was deliberately avoiding it, yet fate had arranged it so.

He pursed his lips tightly, thinking it was just the color of a robe, a mere coincidence, nothing significant.

Cui Xuan's gaze quickly shifted from Su Yu to Pei Jie, who was tightly bound. A single glance at the jade pendant on Pei Jie's belt revealed his Pei family heritage. Cui Xuan knew that the Pei family had come to the capital recently to discuss the wedding date with the Xie family.

But what caught his attention wasn't Pei Jie's jade pendant, but the brocade handkerchief stuffed in Pei Jie's mouth—it was the one he had given to Su Yu!

He abruptly turned back to look at Su Yu, his emotions in turmoil.

"Cui Xuan's favorability has decreased by 8, now at 57," the system calmly reported. It was an emotionless system, indifferent to the protagonist's fluctuating favorability!

Su Yu blinked innocently, wondering what she had just done. She glanced down at Pei Jie, saw the handkerchief gagging him, touched her nose, and with a hint of grievance, explained, "His mouth was too filthy. I couldn't find anything else, and I only had this handkerchief. In a moment of urgency, I used it."

Cui Xuan said indifferently, "It's yours, Su Langjun. Use it as you see fit."

Liu Wushi frowned, immediately guessing that the handkerchief originally belonged to Cui Xuan. But since Su Yu had used it to gag a scoundrel, its importance diminished.

He simply asked, "What disrespectful things did this person say to you?"

In Liu Wushi's eyes, Su Langjun was the best. If she had tied someone up like this, it must be a bad person. A flash of ferocity crossed his eyes as he stepped forward to carefully inspect Su Yu, "Did he hurt you?"

"No..." Su Yu spread her hands, ready to explain.

Liu Wushi was all worked up, "What happened to your hand? Why is it so red!"

Su Yu smiled and said, "I slapped him."

Liu Wushi quickly turned to the innkeeper, "Hurry and get some ointment."

Su Yu: "..." It’s not a big deal; I’m not made of glass.

Cui Xuan frowned deeply and eventually stepped forward, looking down at Su Yu's reddened palm. He clenched his fist, "Why’d you have to do it yourself?"

He shot Yu Chiyou a dirty look.

Su Yu coughed and quickly changed the subject, "Why are you here? We were just on our way to the Xie house."

Cui Xuan glanced down at Pei Jie, who was still struggling, and asked, "You’re getting mixed up in the Pei and Xie family drama?"

Everyone knew about the marriage between Pei Shisi and Second Sister Xie. Now that Su Yu had tied up Pei Shisi and was taking him to the Xie residence, she was clearly helping Second Sister Xie call off the wedding.

He shot a quick glance at Xie Yixin before looking back at Su Yu. Last year, he had advised Su Yu not to marry or have children yet. But now? With the Lu family gone and the Sixteen Guards being reorganized, the emperor would have nothing to fear in the capital...

The system droned on without a hint of emotion, "Cui Xuan's favorability has decreased by 5, now at 52."

Su Yu: "..." Who knew the icy Cui Xuan had such a soap opera going on in his head?

She shook her head helplessly, "I’m not planning to get involved in the affairs between the Pei and Xie families. It’s just that Pei Shisi insulted me and used vulgar language. I’ve got to set things straight."

Cui Xuan nodded. Insulting the emperor was a death sentence, "Then I’ll accompany you."

Liu Wushi, who had just taken the ointment from the innkeeper, was about to apply it to Su Yu, "Once I’ve got this ointment on, I’m coming with you too."

Su Yu quickly waved her hand. She figured the redness would be gone before she even stepped out of the Red Joy Pavilion, "No need. After I deal with this person, I’ll come find you."

She’d come out looking for Liu Wushi but had first encountered Pei Jie and Xie Yixin. She figured she’d deal with this first. She couldn’t let Liu Wushi in on her secret just yet—she needed him to do a few things for her first.

Liu Wushi hesitated, his gaze meeting Su Yu’s striking eyes. Su Yu gently shook her head, signaling him not to follow. She added, "Stay put."

Liu Wushi couldn’t refuse her and agreed, "I’ll wait here for you."

He passed the ointment to Yu Chiyou.

Yu Chiyou: "..." He didn’t know what was wrong, but he took the ointment without question.

Cui Xuan gave Liu Wushi a quick once-over before looking away.

The system’s robotic voice chimed in, flat as ever, "Cui Xuan's favorability has increased by 5."

Pei Jie was Pei Biao’s son, Pei Baozhen’s fourth cousin. This time, he came to the capital with Pei Biao and his wife.

Now that Xie Yiguan's position in the court was rising, the Pei family wanted to finalize the marriage as soon as possible. They’d brought Pei Jie to the capital to talk marriage with the Xie family, showing they meant business.

Xie Yiguan had been very busy these days, occupied with inventorying the Lu family's assets for the emperor. The Lu family was a century-old prestigious family that had previously absorbed half of the Zheng family's assets. The sheer amount of land they owned was mind-blowing—

The emperor had said that since it was the busy farming season, even though the Lu family had fallen, the agricultural work on the land under their name couldn't be neglected. Therefore, Xie Yiguan needed to make arrangements quickly, even during his downtime.

Despite this, when the Pei family arrived, Xie Yiguan still carved out half a day to see them.

When he arrived, Xie's parents had already sent Xie Yixin to take Pei Jie out for a tour of the city. Xie Yiguan only met with Pei Biao and his wife.

The Pei family members all look gentle and refined, but Xie Yiguan, who had dealt with them in Taiyuan Prefecture, knew they were not as simple as they appeared on the surface. Despite reports describing Pei Shisi as elegant and amiable, he was still very concerned about Su Yu's evaluation of Pei Shisi.

"When will Pei Shisi return?" Xie Yiguan asked, wanting to meet Pei Jie in person.

Before Pei Biao could speak, Xie's father said, "Pei Shisi rarely comes to the capital, how could he return so quickly? If you have something to do, go ahead and attend to it."

Xie Yiguan smiled, "It's alright, I'll wait for them to return."

Xie Yiguan chatted with Pei Biao without changing his expression. He was handsome and spoke with poise, putting people at ease.

Pei Biao only exchanged a few words with him before becoming interested, talking more and more. Before he could finish his conversation, he heard a ruckus outside the hall.

Xie's father frowned and sent Xie Yiguan out to see what was happening. Xie Yiguan stood up, stepped over the threshold, and locked eyes with Su Yu.

Xie Yiguan was momentarily taken aback. Why had the emperor suddenly changed his style? He then noticed Cui Xuan also dressed in black, and behind him, his sister Xie Yixin following the emperor, along with someone trussed up like a dumpling—

It was not hard to guess that the person tied up was Pei Jie, Pei Shisi.

He asked Xie Yixin first, "What happened?"

Xie Yixin's eyes instinctively flicked to Su Yu.

Xie Yiguan quickly stepped forward, carefully observing Pei Jie. Though he looked refined, his expression lacked integrity. Seeing a slap mark on his left cheek, he paused for a moment. The handprint didn’t look like Xie Yixin’s, but more like the emperor's.

He stood beside Su Yu and whispered, "Did you hit him?"

Su Yu nodded, "Are your parents here? Are Pei Shisi's parents here too?"

Xie Yiguan confirmed.

Su Yu strode in boldly, sat down face to face with Pei Biao, and asked bluntly, "Are you Pei Shisi's father?"

Xie's parents and the Pei couple had never seen Su Yu before and were stunned when they saw her. Firstly, they were amazed by her beauty, and secondly, by her boldness. She, a stranger, made herself at home in Xie’s father’s hall.

The four of them looked at each other, finally waiting for Xie Yiguan to explain. But following Xie Yiguan in, besides Xie Yixin, there were also Cui Xuan, who clearly held a high rank, Yu Chiyou with his double swords, and Pei Jie, who was dragged in.

Before Pei Biao could speak, Su Yu took the initiative, "Is this your Pei family's upbringing? I kindly invited your son to drink, but he spoke rudely and even tried to hit me. Do you know that if your son had actually hit me, your entire Pei family would be in deep trouble?"

Hearing Su Yu's last sentence, Pei Biao laughed in anger, "Who doesn't know who this young master is, but our Pei family isn’t to be trifled with either. You say my son spoke rudely, do you have proof?"

Su Yu pointed at Xie Yixin, "Xie Yixin can vouch for me."

Xie Yixin stepped forward to speak but was almost scared off by her father's shout of "Nonsense." She hesitated, then met Su Yu’s encouraging gaze, ignored her father, and directly said, "It's exactly as Cousin Su said. He invited Pei Shisi and me for a drink, but Pei Shisi spoke insultingly and even tried to pounce on him."

Hearing Xie Yixin's words, both Cui Xuan and Xie Yiguan's expressions turned cold, their gazes on Pei Jie extremely icy.

This was not the first time Pei Biao had been approached because of Pei Jie. He quickly retorted, "If the second daughter of the Xie family doesn't want to marry into our Pei family, just say so. Why find such a pretty boy to act? Are you secretly involved with him, trying to frame my son?"

Xie's parents couldn't stand him slandering their daughter so recklessly and immediately jumped up, "Your son is the one lying about our daughter!"

Su Yu scoffed, stood up, and asked Yu Chiyou for a long sword. She used the long sword to cut the ropes on Pei Jie.

Pei Jie scrambled away clumsily to avoid the long sword in her hand, got up from the ground, and removed the cloth stuffed in his mouth. He was mostly sober, just a bit tipsy, and quickly stood beside his father, certain that Su Yu wouldn't really cut him, and turned the tables, "It was you and Xie Yixin who conspired to trick me, forced me to drink, and when I couldn't handle the alcohol, you tied me up."

Su Yu pointed at Cui Xuan, "Premier Cui is here, and you’re still lying?"

Pei Jie was momentarily stunned, not expecting such a young man to be the head of the Cui family, but he quickly said, "Everyone knows you’re close with the Cui family head."

He stepped forward, with a disdainful look beneath his gentle appearance, "Pretty boys like you, trading on their looks for favors, I've seen many. You're just trying to seduce me."

Cui Xuan immediately stepped in front of Su Yu and said sternly, "Outrageous!"

Although Pei Jie was wary of Cui Xuan, he also felt disdain for Cui Xuan's disregard for family propriety in openly protecting his mistress in public.

On the other hand, his father Pei Biao did not want to truly offend Cui Xuan, nor did he want to lose such a good marriage with the Xie family. He belonged to the second branch of the Pei family, and if this continued, his son would soon be estranged from the main family, inheriting only a small portion of the Pei family's wealth. The Xie family adored Xie Yixin and would offer a lavish dowry. Once she married and moved far from the capital to Hedong, even if her brother was influential, he wouldn't be able to control his son.

So Pei Biao pulled Pei Jie to his side and first apologized to Cui Xuan on behalf of his son, "My son is merely speaking his mind. Please pardon him, Master Cui."

Then he turned to Xie Yiguan's parents and said, "Please don't take offense, I spoke hastily out of worry. I still acknowledge Second Sister as my daughter-in-law, but I fear she might be misled by someone. Is this Su truly your kin? Could he be some rustic impostor?"

Su Yu suddenly burst into laughter, walked in front of Cui Xuan, and faced Pei Biao directly, "What is Pei Xiao to you?"

Pei Biao immediately became furious, "How dare you, a mere youngster, address my elder brother by name?"

But the next moment, Su Yu's blade was at his neck, and he instantly fell silent.

Su Yu smiled and said, "Indeed, I hail from the Pingshan Kingdom, but this rustic from Pingshan won't endure your slurs. Xie Yiguan, inform him of the penalty for insulting me."

Xie Yiguan said expressionlessly, "The punishment is death."

Su Yu tilted the blade slightly, immediately drawing a line of blood on Pei Biao's neck.

Pei Jie, not understanding Su Yu's identity, rushed at her, trying to knock her down, but was kicked away by Cui Xuan, who stood behind Su Yu. Su Yu glanced at Pei Jie, who had rolled on the ground again, and thought, Cui Xuan might not look strong, but he sure has some strength.

Pei Biao, however, was shocked and dared not move. Pingshan Kingdom, surnamed Su... He couldn't help but widen his eyes and look at Su Yu, only to see the coldness in her eyes and a presence no less than Cui Xuan's. He was so frightened that he lowered his head, thinking in panic, could it be the emperor?!

No, that's impossible!

Su Yu, however, didn't let him off and gave him confirmation, "Pei Nüguan is with me, and I naturally believe that most of the Pei family is on my side. But if some individuals insist on being the black sheep, I will have to have a good talk with Pei Xiao."

She shifted the blade slightly, and Pei Biao instantly dropped to his knees in terror.

Su Yu asked him again, "Do you require me to summon witnesses?"

Pei Biao quickly said, "No, no, no... It's my fault for not teaching my son properly!"

Su Yu agreed with him, "Truly, your son is unworthy of my cousin."

She slowly turned her head and smiled at Xie Yiguan's parents, "Uncle and Aunt, do you still want to marry into the Pei family?"

Xie Yiguan's parents: "..."

From the conversation just now, they had guessed Su Yu's identity. They dared not respond to the address of "Uncle and Aunt"!

Cui Xuan, Xie Yiguan: "..." Suddenly feeling that the emperor is not only beautiful but also somewhat handsome...

System: "Cui Xuan's favorability increased by 5, Xie Yiguan's favorability increased by 1." Numb, not only is Cui Xuan's favorability fluctuating, Xie Yiguan's +1 has come again.