The Third of the Li Family said, "It is said that thousands of miles of marriage are tied by a thread. Father, this is my little sisterâs opportunity, and also our Li Familyâs opportunity."
Li Shan nodded, "Indeed, over the years Iâve been helping the Marquis Changning. Although I made a lot of money, our familyâs status hasnât improved much. You all havenât achieved anything either, not even passing the imperial exams. Now, itâs your sisterâs situation that might allow our family to advance further."
He lovingly patted Li Luru, "Good child, truly brings honor to your father."
"Honor!" Yang Aoshuang suddenly shrieked, "You still think she brings honor? If this matter gets out, our Li Familyâs reputation will be utterly ruined by her."
"An unmarried woman walking with an unmarried man, doesnât she care a bit for her reputation?" Yang Aoshuang shouted to the nanny beside her, "Go and bring me the ruler."
"Yes!"
The nanny quickly came and went.
Li Luru looked at her mother, bewildered, as she walked over with the ruler, "Snap..."
"Hiss..." Li Luru clutched her arm, hurriedly dodging to the side as the second strike came down.
"Youâre still dodging? How dare you dodge?" Yang Aoshuang scolded angrily, "How shameless can you be? Did our Li Family raise you only for you to do such shameless things?"
"Do you care for your reputation at all? How did I teach you? I instructed you to read and write, not to engage in illicit exchanges with men..."
Hearing her speak more and more outrageously, Li Shan became angry, "The child just returned home, and youâre going mad? How can you speak so ill of a daughter of the Li Family? Besides, even if she walked with Prince An, so what? Heâs of royal lineage; any kind of girl he wants he can have, yet he hasnât married, and itâs said there isnât even a maid in his house, which shows his character. How could he do such scandalous things?"
"As for reputation, Prince An stated early on he would come to propose, and when Miss Le marries over, who will say anything then?"
Li Shan, speaking in front of his son and daughter-in-law, naturally felt he couldnât just let it slide.
"Fine, fine, your good daughter. I canât discipline her, right?" She threw the ruler aside and stormed out in anger.
The Third of the Li Family stepped forward with concern, "Little sister, did it hurt? Third Brother will take you back to apply some medicine; mother was truly excessive, her outburst was relentless."
"Enough, thatâs your mother. What nonsense are you saying?" Li Shan waved his hand, "Take your sister back to apply some medicine."
He paused for a moment and then said, "Your mother just has that fiery temper. Miss Le, donât mind your mother; your father will back you on this."
Hearing this, Li Luru smiled, thinking how she just returned this time and found her motherâs temper getting worse, but fortunately, her father didnât say much.
Meanwhile, Yang Aoshuang returned to her courtyard, her anger causing her forehead to throb.
"Madam, thereâs still some health pills; would you like to take one?"
"Go get them." Yang Aoshuang rubbed her forehead, "The anger gives me a headache."
"Madam just cares too much for her children." The nanny smiled as she fetched the medicine and assisted her in taking it.
Seeing her expression relax slightly, she tried to advise, "Madam, even if youâre displeased, this old servant must speak a few words for the young miss. The words you said earlier were too harsh. Young girls are thin-skinned, and there were servants inside and out, even the concubines and second young miss were there. By disgracing the young miss like that, werenât those people laughing at you?"
"Besides, our young miss did nothing wrong; she encountered bad people on the road and was rescued by Prince An. How could she not follow him?"