Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Wedding Scandal

"Oh," Li Yingshan murmured. "I misunderstood you. I apologize."

"You have nothing to apologize for. If I did anything to make you come to that conclusion, I'm sorry," Xu Haoran countered.

She bit her lip and stared down at her hands.

The rest of the ride was silent. When they arrived in front of the Li family manor, Xu Haoran climbed out first.

"Ahh, Xiao Xu! I'm so glad you could make it! Ying'er is elated also!" Old Li exclaimed.

"You're my Father-in-Law, and he's my Brother-in-Law. Why wouldn't I come and wish him well?"

Old Li laughed and clapped Xu Haoran on the back. "Come in, come in!"

"Just a moment."

He turned back around and reached out towards the carriage. A dainty hand extended and clasped his. Old Li's eyes widened when he saw Zhang Fangong setting up the wheelchair. Xu Haoran helped Li Yingshan out of the carriage and into the waiting seat. Her eyes flicked up at one person in particular.

"Father," she acknowledged.

Steam nearly came out of Old Li's ears. Fury lighted on his face. "Wretch! How dare you show your face here!"

"Second Brother is getting married. I've come to wish him well."

"You're not welcome here."

Her eyes widened as she faked surprise.

She was just about to retort when Xu Haoran cut in. "Father-in-Law, please don't discriminate. You've invited your Son-in-Law, but not your own daughter. Allow Li Yingshan to accompany me."

Old Li sneered at Li Yingshan. "You're no daughter of mine."

This, I did not expect.

She raised her chin. "Fine. Then I need no longer worry about being the Third Daughter of the Li family. I'm satisfied with being Madam Xu."

"You-!"

"Father-in-Law, if you turn your daughter away, I will follow her back. Please, all I ask is that she sits by my side."

Old Li growled. Off to the side, other arriving guests murmured amongst themselves.

"Do you see? It's the Disgraced Third Lady of the Li family."

"She has a lot of nerve showing her face in this city."

"Isn't she just eye candy anymore? She can't do anything. She's worthless."

Of course, with his excellent martial artists, Xu Haoran heard them no matter how quiet they were trying to be. His grip tightened around his sword as his left hand clenched into a fist.

"I can't believe she's trying to bring down her whole family with her. So shameless!"

"She's such a fox!"

"That's right! A fox!"

Li Yingshan's face remained calm. But deep down, she was greatly pained. She had once enjoyed the highest praises and now was scorned at every corner. How couldn't that hurt one's self-image and self-confidence? Though their words hurt her, she never let it show.

But Xu Haoran was different. He couldn't stand to see people humiliate his wife.

"A person's worth is not determined by their appearance or their physique." His voice rang out, and those who had been slandering her immediately shut up after being caught red-handed.

Li Yingshan tugged at his sleeve. "Don't, it's not worth it."

He glanced down at her. "Why would you let them talk about you this way?"

She just shook her head and repeated, "It's not worth it."

You could never understand. You'll probably never have to go through what I've lived. It's better not to bother you with my problems.

Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Miao Chuntao who made a hand signal. Li Yingshan tipped her head forward ever so slightly, indicating she had gotten the message. Then, Miao Chuntao slipped away.

"Father-in-Law, I ask that you allow my wife inside. Not as the Third Daughter of the Li family, but as Madam Xu."

Using her married title, Xu Haoran was able to turn the tide. Realizing he had no way of refusing the request now, Old Li grumbled and acquiesced. Xu Haoran nodded in thanks and wheeled Li Yingshan inside.

They entered the main hall where they took their places at the side to watch the wedding ceremony. Other guests streamed in, and soon the groom and bride appeared. They walked forward and began the Bai Tang Ritual. After their three bows, they were married.

The newlyweds sat at the head of the hall. Guests lined the sides at tables set up for dinner. Li Yingshan was position to the left of Xu Haoran and the right of Li Yingxue. But her sister never once spoke a word to her.

Halfway through the post-wedding festivities, a servant came running in. "Master!"

Old Li leaned forward in his seat. "What is it?"

"A- a minister from the capital is here! He's come to congratulate Second Young Master on his wedding."

"See him in, quickly now!"

The servant bowed and ran back out. When he returned, Li Yingshan felt her stomach drop.

No.

Xu Haoran noticed her go pale. He leaned over and whispered, "Are you feeling alright?"

Her words caught in her throat. She couldn't speak. Her eyes were fixated on the man who had followed the servant in.

Minister Ning looked around at the gathered people. When his eyes fell on Li Yingshan, they seemed to brighten. "Ahh, Young Lady Li! What a surprise to see you here."

I'm done for.

Old Li asked, "Sir, you know her?"

"Yes, of course! Don't you martial artists know anything? Young Lady Li is the best there is!"

The guests chattered between one another. "Best? Yeah, right."

"How can she be the best at anything anymore?"

"This minister must be mistaken."

Finally, Li Yingshan spoke up. "Minister Ning, it's a pleasure to see you again. Tell me, is everything alright in the capital?"

"Haven't you heard, Young Lady Li? The Seventh Prince has become the Crown Prince!"

She chuckled, "I had."

"Then it's just cause for celebration!"

She winced. Please, no. Not here. Not now.

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Xu Haoran noticed her reaction. "Li Yingshan, is there's something I don't know?"

She quickly shook her head and turned back to look at Old Li. "Father, might I introduce to you an acquaintance of mine? This is the Minister of Finances, Ning Chao宁超 níng chāo - given name meaning "Surpass"."

Minister Ning bowed respectfully to the patriarch of the Li family. "I apologize for interrupting the celebrations. But I heard congratulations are in order for the Second Young Master."

Old Li chuckled, "Yes, my son has gotten married. Ying'er, stand and greet Minister Ning."

Li Yingying and his new wife did so. Minister Ning smiled and turned back to Li Yingshan.

"Young Lady Li, perhaps you could entertain everyone with a song?"

She gulped. "I'd need a pipa, I'm afraid."

Minister Ning looked around. "Someone find Young Lady Li a pipa!"

Xu Haoran took her hand and squeezed it gently. "It'll be alright."

She whispered back, "I didn't want my father to find out about my time in Luoyang. It appears my wish won't come true."

A pipa was brought out, and she situated it on her left leg. Just before she was about to play, Minister Ning added, "Young Lady Li, if you'd like to join me at the tavern afterwards, I wouldn't mind a drink or two before bed!"

She stilled. The connotation was evident. Every pair of eyes in the room landed on her.

Finally, she replied, "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. This wife is already taken."

Her words were as clear as day. Minister Ning's eyes widened.

"You? Married? Is that why Madam Meng let you go? I thought perhaps the others had gotten jealous and run you out."

"My husband paid the bride price, and Madam Meng let me go," Li Yingshan explained.

"It's a pity, truly a pity. You were the best courtesan at Dream House, and all of Luoyang knew it."

The room exploded into chaos. Old Li leapt up from his seat as the guests cried out in horror.

"YOU BITCH! HOW DARE YOU TAINT THE LI FAMILY'S NAME?! A COURTESAN?! A DAMNED WOMAN?! YOU ARE NO LI! FROM THIS DAY FORTH, THE LI FAMILY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU!!!"

Disowned in front of the most influential people in Longxin City. Li Yingshan couldn't care less. Her past as a courtesan being revealed, she was furious.

"Minister Ning, I wonder what His Majesty, the Emperor, would think if he found out you were embezzling funds from the Imperial Treasury and have been for over a decade. Tsk, tsk."

"Young Lady Li, how dare you slander me?"

"Can truth be slander?!" she retorted. "Do you really think I wouldn't defend myself? Do you think I'm nothing more than an educated whore? Let me tell you-"

"Master! I caught this one snooping around outside the gates!"

A servant came in, holding onto Qiu Ling. Li Yingshan's fury boiled over. Before Xu Haoran could stop her, she screeched, "LET HER GO THIS INSTANT!"

"My Lady!" Qiu Ling cried.

"YOUNG LADY LI, I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS!" Minister Ning lamented.

"GET THIS BITCH AND HER DAMN MAID OUT OF MY SIGHT!" Old Li raged.

Qiu Ling turned around and bit the servant's hand. He yelped in shock and released her. She dashed over to Li Yingshan's side and whispered into her ear, "The letter's been sent. Han Shaolei had something to report. It wasn't your brothers who set you up, my Lady."

Li Yingshan stared at her incredulously. "If not them, then who?"

"Your sisters."

A coldness crept into her bones. She turned and stared at her siblings. She saw the fury in her brothers' eyes, but the pure hatred in her sisters'. Soon, everything began to fall into place. Li Yingshan's eyes widened.

"It all makes sense now. They were out of the residence. It would be easier for them to act than Eldest Brother and Second Brother."

Qiu Ling nodded in agreement. Xu Haoran leaned in.

"What was easier?"

Li Yingshan spoke up so everyone could hear, "Poisoning me so I could die slowly and in disgrace rather than a quick death which would've been honored. It's curious how Cloudless Night Sect got involved though, don't you think, Eldest Sister, Second Sister?"

Everyone turned to stare at Li Yingxue and Li Yingyu who had both gone pale. They began to stammer but couldn't formulate words. Finally, they both got up and used their qinggong to try and escape. But before they could, Li Yingshan had already flicked her wrist. From inside her sleeve, two needles shot out. They flew straight and true. One hit Li Yingxue's paralyzing acupoint, and the other one stuck into Li Yingyu's paralyzing acupoint. When they could no longer move, everyone gaped at Li Yingshan who was still sitting in her wheelchair.

Casually, she said, "Just because I can't walk and don't have martial arts doesn't mean I can't throw accurately."

Old Li changed his tune, demanding, "Xue'er, Yu'er, what's the meaning of this?!"

They looked at Li Yingshan and sneered. Li Yingxue snarled, "You always thought you were better than us. Father doted on you the most just because you were the most skilled in martial arts. At first, we just wanted to take you down a peg. But when you rose to fame as an Elite of the Jianghu at just sixteen years old, how could we stand it?"

Li Yingyu added, "So we met with some disciples of Cloudless Night Sect. They gave us Fury Black Poison, and we sent men after you who had it on their blades. We had hoped that you'd be caught alone, and you were. When we heard about your "accident", we knew our plan had succeeded."

Xu Haoran fumed. "You'd be so cruel as to sentence your own sister to such a fate? Surely you know what Fury Black Poison does!"

"Of course we do, Hero Xu," Li Yingxue replied easily.

Li Yingyu said, "It's your own fault for marrying a dead woman."

Qiu Ling rested a hand on Li Yingshan shoulder and murmured, "My Lady?"

"Not yet, Qiu Ling. There's too many people."

Xu Haoran flew forward, drawing his sword. His eyes blazed as he pressed the sharp edge to Li Yingyu's neck. A snarl curled his lips.

"if it wasn't for your jealousy, my wife wouldn't have had to flee Longxin City and suffer so much. trust me, if I had known her back then, you would never have gotten away with this!"

Li Yingshan called out, "Let it be, Hero Xu. What's done is done."

Just then, she pretended to cough. Holding onto her chest, her fingers discreetly covered her lung meridian. She pressed into it, forcing herself to cough up blood. Xu Haoran's expression changed from fury to worry in a second. Using a speed technique, he was at her side in almost an instant.

"What's wrong?"

She just shook her head. "My internal organs must be starting to fail."

His eyes widened. Without warning, he scooped her up in his arms and made for the door. Qiu Ling scrambled after them, pushing the wheelchair along. Old Li, her siblings, the guests, and Minister Ning all gaped after them.

Xu Haoran carried Li Yingshan all the way to the carriage. He climbed in and set her down beside him. Qiu Ling was smart enough to stay out with Zhang Fangong who flicked the reins and urged to horse to walk. As they pulled away from the Li family manor, Xu Haoran encircled Li Yingshan's wrist in his hand, testing her pulse. She locked her Governing Vessel meridian without him realizing, momentarily weakening her pulse and her Gate of Vitality point. When he checked her Gate of Vitality point, he found the same issue. Once he retracted his hand, she unlocked her Governing Vessel meridian before it harmed her.

"I shouldn't have made you come tonight. It's made your condition worse."

She shook her head. "Don't worry about it."

"How can I not? I told Qiu Ling that I'd never hurt you."

Li Yingshan peered at him. "Do you hold any affection for me at all, or is everything you're doing for me because of your principles and your duty as my husband?"

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