Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Leader of the Jianghu

After a month, Li Yingshan had fully recovered. 

Coincidentally, the leader of the Jianghu, Hero Wu had also died around this time and a new leader was being decided. The day Li Yingshan stepped outside of Cherry Blossom Hall again was also the day that her father, Old Li was named the new leader of the Jianghu.

Xu Haoran came to find her and tell her the news. But of course, Miao Chuntao had beat him to him.

"Moonlight Pagoda really isn't to be underestimated," he muttered forlornly.

Li Yingshan chuckled. She had decided to try warming up to him over the past month, and now they were on much better terms.

"It's your fault for being too slow."

He gaped at her before saying, "Oh, I'm slow? Let's see who can race around Xu manor and return here in the quickest time!"

She smirked. "Hero Xu, you're on."

They took off, using their martial arts to speed their way around the residence. Qiu Ling and Miao Chuntao shook their heads, laughing.

"It's good to see my Lady in higher spirits now. She really has improved a lot."

"Goddess just needed to find the right place to be. Qiu Ling, don't you think Xu manor is pretty good?"

Qiu Ling nodded in agreement. "My Lady has been much happier recently. I suppose most of that has to do with Young Master. He's really supported my Lady and tried his best to make her comfortable and happy."

Just then, the couple returned, but Li Yingshan was just a bit faster. She turned around and laughed, "Who's slow?"

Xu Haoran smiled and gave in. "I am."

Zhang Fangong approached. "Young Master! An invitation from the Li family manor!"

Xu Haoran took the paper from him and read it before handing it over to his wife. Her eyes scanned the words. She held the paper out to Qiu Ling and Miao Chuntao who also read it.

"It seems my father's pride hasn't diminished at all. He's even throwing himself a congratulatory banquet in three days."

Xu Haoran looked at her. "Do you want to go?"

"Why not? It's best if I congratulate my father, right? Be a filial daughter?"

∇

Three days later, Xu Haoran, Li Yingshan, Zhang Fangong, and Qiu Ling left Xu manor and rode over to the Li family manor. Zhang Fangong and Qiu Ling sat outside on the platform, while Li Yingshan and Xu Haoran sat inside.

"I don't understand," he said. "You can walk. Why not just show them?"

She shook her head. "When the time is right, I will. Until then, let them think I'm still invalided."

He sighed. "Sometimes, I question your plans."

She chuckled. "All in good time, Hero Xu, all in good time."

When they arrived in front of the Li family manor, Old Li and Mrs. Li watched as Zhang Fangong and Qiu Ling hopped off and began setting up a wheelchair. Xu Haoran emerged from the carriage, carrying Li Yingshan in his arms. He gently set her down in the chair and turned to face his in-laws.

"Father-in-Law, Mother-in-Law," he bowed and greeted.

Li Yingshan tipped her head in acknowledgement. "Father, Mother."

Old Li growled and stormed off inside, muttering, "Ruining everything. That bitch ruins everything."

Both heard him, and Li Yingshan had to hold Xu Haoran's hand to keep him calm. Mrs. Li sent them an apologetic look before racing inside after her husband. Xu Haoran wheeled Li Yingshan inside with their attendants following. Inside the main hall, the already arrived guests turned to watch their entrance and murmured amongst themselves.

"She even dares to ruin this happy occasion?"

"Who does she think she is anyways?"

"Mei mei妹妹 mèi mei - "Younger Sister"," Li Yingqin called out. "You dare to even show your face here after what happened to our sisters?"

Li Yingshan replied evenly, "I had nothing to do with their deaths."

"Oh, really?" Li Yingying baited. "Then why were the special blade markings from Wudan on their bodies?"

The color drained from her face in an instant. "Second brother, I have no martial arts and nor do I have Wudan in my possession. How could I have killed Yingxue and Yingyu?"

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Xu Haoran leaned over to her and murmured, "I thought you said they were killed by Cloudless Night Sect's Nether Blades."

"Miao Chuntao has never lied before. I trust her word. This must be a trap. If I reveal how they were really killed, it would show that I colluded with Cloudless Night Sect to kill them."

Li Yingshan glared at both of her brothers. "I'm confined to this wheelchair and destined to die within three months, before my twenty second birthday. How could I have killed Eldest Sister and Second Sister?"

The other martial artists present began to murmur in agreement.

"Indeed, she's useless."

"How could she kill them?"

"There's no way!"

Her brothers fumed while her father banged his fist on the table and roared, "Enough of this! Isn't it bad enough that my two daughters have died? Qin'er, Ying'er, stop arguing with that wench!"

Li Yingshan finally quivered. Her father had disowned her in public the last time and held to it this time. Seeing her reaction, Xu Haoran stood and bowed respectfully.

"I'd like to make an announcement. From this day forward, my wife, Li Yingshan, is no longer Li. She is Xu Yingshan or Madam Xu. I'd like to ask everybody here to please respect this change."

Jaws dropped. Martial artists jumped to their feet. Old Li seemed ready to explode from rage. Mrs. Li was on the verge of tears. The two Li sons smirked.

Xu Yingshan bowed her head, accepting her husband's words. But just at that moment, her father's personal guards came in, rough-handling a young woman.

"Master, we found this woman trespassing on the property!"

Li Yingshan's head shot up. Xu Haoran froze. Qiu Ling and Zhang Fangong were equally worried.

Finally, a feminine voice rose up, "She's my second maid. Hero Xu gave her to me as a wedding gift. Please, unhand her this instant."

Old Li looked to Xu Yingshan. "She's yours? Well then, I guess we can have some fun first."

Her eyes filled with panic. She suddenly roared a code phrase, known only to members of Moonlight Pagoda, "A thousand stars shine against the dark!"

Miao Chuntao quickly twisted upon the command. She flew up, using her qinggong and released the cornflower blue ribbon that all martial artists in Moonlight Pagoda used. It wrapped around the personal guards, tying them up. She landed back down gracefully, pulling the ribbon taunt.

"Now let my father's men go."

The ribbon disappeared as quickly as it came. Miao Chuntao was gone in the blink of an eye and was at Xu Yingshan's ear in the next moment.

"Goddess, it's as you predicted. The Crown Prince has ordered for your arrest."

Coldness filled her veins as her back stiffened. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I understand. You may go."

Miao Chuntao bowed slightly and quickly departed from the Li family manor. Xu Haoran leaned over and asked, "Why did she say?"

Xu Yingshan shook her head. "It's nothing. Just a financial report."

She felt bad for lying to him, but she knew she couldn't tell him while they were still in the Li family manor. Qiu Ling hadn't heard it either and was equally curious, but in a public gathering, it wasn't acceptable for her to ask.

Chen Kai, how I underestimated you. You've really forced me to this now. Her eyes blazed. What I made, I can undo.

A plan began to formulate in her mind.

At that moment, the City Governor entered, and Xu Yingshan knew it was all over when his eyes met her. He cleared his throat.

"Third Young Lady Li, I'm shocked you'd even dare to show your face in public."

"I'll stare any tribulations in the eye," she replied coolly.

"Good. Then I'll tell you this: the Crown Prince has ordered your arrest and public execution for treason against the throne."

Horror filled Xu Haoran, Zhang Fangong, and Qiu Ling's faces. Old Li, Mrs. Li, Li Yingqin, Li Yingying, and all the guests were stunned.

She chuckled dryly. "You're just now saying this? My maid has already come and gone, telling me this information. You're just repeating what I already know."

"You're on death's door, and you dare to still be so unrepentant?!" the City Governor cried.

"Of course. If I didn't dare, then my name isn't Li Yingshan!" This time, to separate herself from Xu Haoran, she used her Li name. "But I will say, that if I'm guilty of treason, then the Crown Prince is just as guilty! After all, it wasn't my idea to kill the First Prince."

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