Chapter 283: Hiring a Hitman(7)_1
"It’s all because of that slut Lin Ziyin, who drugged the Prince." Li Yanran was absolutely furious. The town’s south had many shops, and if she got married in the future, she would receive more dowry from the Residence. Selling the shops would mean her dowry would be less. What was even more infuriating was that the Prince truly warned the Li Family for the sake of an ordinary girl like Lin Ziyin.
Thinking that she was not valued as much as an ordinary girl in Chu Suifeng’s heart, Li Yanran had a sense of oppression in her chest. "Father, I refuse to believe that my cousin will harm us for that wench," she fumed.
"You still have the audacity to say that," Marquis Li retorted, seeing her defiant look, adding fuel to his anger. Though he could not discipline his daughter-in-law directly, he surely could discipline his daughter. "You were asked to maintain a gentle and virtuous demeanor before the Prince, but instead, you act like a shrew all the time. Haven’t you thought that the Prince might despise a jealous woman?"
"The Prince is busy with his duties every day, so I hardly get to see him, what can I do? The issue with the Lin Family this time was just an accident," Li Yanran said with tears in her eyes as she heard her father’s reproofs. She had always been the apple of her parents’ eyes in the Residence. When was the last time she was treated so harshly? She utterly despised Lin Ziyin for this.
"Even if it means showing the Prince, we have to sell some of the south town’s shops," Marquis Li finally commanded.
"Let’s sell some. We still hold the majority. Everyone should discuss which shops they’re willing to sell so we are ready when the time comes," Second Uncle Li sighed. "The Prince has become suspicious of our family, and traditionally, one’s dangerous when their accomplishments outshine the Prince’s. Apparently, he wants to forget our family’s support."
"Second brother, don’t utter those words again," Marquis Li glared at his younger brother.
Second Uncle Li sighed and didn’t say another word thereafter.
Selling the shops was a settled matter, no matter how unwilling everyone was. In the end, it was decided that each family would need to sell two of their shops. The younger generation, especially Madam Yu and the two daughters-in-law of the eldest household, was even more upset. As the younger generation, they didn’t have many shops to start with; selling two more was almost asking for their lives. But no one could disobey Marquis Li’s command, so they reluctantly agreed.