Punish her brutally [Bonus chapter]
Lee Xianwu took the fan from Bong Huan and fanned himself. His father had returned home and suddenly summoned him by sending a message through a servant. Xianwu told Bong Huan if he could lie to his father that he was sleeping.
"Lord Lee will kill me if he finds the truth," Bong Huan said with a terrified expression on his face.
Lee Xianwu chuckled and got down from the bed. Wearing the boots, he handed the fan to Bong Huan and left to see his father.
Upon reaching his father's room, Lee Xianwu kept standing outside until he was called in. As he faced his father, he didn't greet him and sat on the floor chair in front of his father.
"Where are your manners?" Lee Shimin was a bit annoyed at his son.
"Why did Father summon me out of the blue? I was having a peaceful sleep," Lee Xianwu answered nonchalantly.
"Grand Empress Dowager wants to see you," Lee Shimin replied.
"Why?" asked Lee Xianwu and furrowed his brows together.
"You were not supposed to refuse Prince Wangjie's offer. Go to the palace this instant. This time I do not wish to hear anything wrong from you," Lee Shimin instructed his son.
"I don't want to work for Prince Wangjie. Unlike Father, I love to be the man of my own thoughts," Lee Xianwu pronounced.
"What did you say?" Lee Shimin scrunched his brows.
"The truth. I am not meeting Grand Empress Dowager or anyone related to Prince Wangjie. I don't understand why Father wants me to get a position in the wrong way when I already failed the civil services examination and military examination. Let me live my peaceful life," Lee Xianwu affirmed.
"How long are you going to waste the precious time of your life? You only roam around and don't concentrate on anything around you. Don't you aspire to become a respected man? Look at your younger brothers. Everyone praises them and looks at them with pride. You cannot eat free food all your life," Lee Shimin again gave a lecture to his eldest son, which showed his worries for him.
"Father has earned enough fortune that I don't need to earn anything to lead a good life," Xianwu stated and stood up to leave.
"Xianwu, don't you want to see your mother?" Lee Shimin's one question made him halt. "Don't you want to know how she's doing?"
"No," Xianwu went forward ignoring his father.
"So, do you want the people to know what exactly your mother did to me? How did she have an affair with a man? The world thinks she's dead, but I can drag her to the capital in chains and tell everyone how she betrayed her husband!" Lee Shimin pronounced.
Xianwu turned to gaze at his father. "You were also having an affair. Don't forget that you aren't lesser than her in doing such deeds," he proclaimed.
"I only did that after your mother betrayed me. You should be lucky that I kept you with me and didn't throw you out at that time only. But if you keep acting stubborn, I will not hesitate to kick you out," Lee Shimin asserted. "Not only this, I will bring your mother to the capital to punish her brutally," he added with disgust in his eyes.
Xianwu chuckled as he lowered his head for a moment. Lee Shimin was left confused by his gesture.
"Father loves his reputation more than anything. The reason why he never let this come out in front of the people," Xianwu affirmed and gazed at him.
"Do you think that's the reason I am quiet? Don't forget that your survival will become tough if I expose what your mother did. An adulteress she was!" Lee Shimin remarked.
Xianwu clenched his fists together as his nose flared in anger.
"Like an obedient son go to the palace and meet Grand Empress Dowager. You will accept the position of a rank first official of the Empire. If you disappoint me this time, then you already know the consequences," Lee Shimin pronounced.
Xianwu took a few steps back before heading out of the room. As he came out of the door, he saw Lady Lingji outside the room. He understood she was overhearing their conversation. However, he didn't say anything to her since he wasn't in the mood to argue with her.
Xianwu asked a servant to prepare a carriage for him which he left soon for the palace.
~~~~~~
Jia Li was surprised to find from her grandmother that Cao Jun didn't tell her it was she who refused to marry him. Instead, he took the blame and saved her from getting reprimanded by her grandmother. She was happy that she forwarded a hand of friendship to Cao Jun.
"Grandmother, I want to marry the man of my choice. She has always listened to me, so she let me have the freedom to choose the right person for myself," Jia Li humbly requested.
Grand Empress Dowager smiled a little. "The Crown Princess wants to break my son's promise to me. She has forgotten why she's holding the Crown Princess's title," she stated.
Jia Li was confused for a moment.
"The Crown Princess will marry the man whom I will select for her. Surely, I will keep her choices in my mind. I have more experience than her in all these matters," Grand Empress Dowager affirmed.
Jia Li turned quiet as she could not anger her grandmother. She would summon her mother and might take her anger out on her.
"I understand, Grandmother," Jia Li said. '"I take my leave," she bowed to her and left the room.
As she stepped out of the chamber, she felt her strings were being pulled by Grand Empress Dowager. She frowned and went ahead toward her room.
Court Lady Xuan followed her silently along with the other servants. Jia Li decided she needed to find a man soon before her grandmother forced someone who would turn her life upside-down.