Leverage

Before Murong Rui could finish her sentence, Murong Yu interrupted her, "Is this what you were talking about earlier? Did I misunderstand?"

Murong Rui felt guilty, her legs even trembling slightly. She said, "Sister, listen to me, it's not what you think!"

"What is it, then?" Murong Yu said sternly as she stared at Murong Rui.

Murong Rui was at a loss for words. Her mind was in turmoil. She never expected that Murong Yu would take the opportunity to search for those letters while she was away from the manor. 

'When did Murong Yu discover these? Was this why her attitude towards me and Huo Hongyu had been so cold since yesterday? Who could have betrayed me?' Murong Rui pondered.

Murong Rui's eyes darted toward Qiao'er, who was already petrified. Upon meeting Murong Rui's gaze, Qiao'er hastily shook her head. Murong Rui knew that Qiao'er wouldn't betray her.

"My marriage with Huo Yuan has been pre-arranged by our elders. If not for the mourning period of his grandfather, he would already have been formally engaged to me. Didn't you know?" Murong Yu spoke calmly.

Murong Rui forced a stiff smile and said, "Sister, I knew, but there's a misunderstanding. How could I dare to compete with you for Huo Yuan..."

"Is that so?" Murong Yu cut Murong Rui off.

Murong Rui had no choice but to forge ahead, "Sister, the person Huo Yuan wants to marry has always been you."

"Huo Yuan and I have only a verbal agreement, nothing formalized," Murong Yu said, tired of the nauseating talk. "Rui'er, you don't have to be like this. If you like him, you just have to tell me. When have I ever been stingy with you? Why do you have to hide it from me?"

Murong Rui was stunned. She thought, 'Did this mean she didn't want to get married? But that couldn't be! Without the support from the House of Lord Li, how would the House of Marquis Huo manage? Could they rely solely on our family? Our family was indeed powerful, but Father was an upright man. He would avoid showing any clear favor towards the House of Marquis Huo. The real support had to come from the House of Lord Li.'

"Sister, I won't contact Huo Yuan anymore. You and he are the perfect match. I'm not a match for him." Murong Rui humbled herself, immediately kneeling to apologize.

Murong Rui was too aware of the situation at the House of Marquis Huo. Without the backing of the House of Lord Li, relying solely on the House of Murong would not work.

Murong Yu shook her head and sighed, personally helping Murong Rui to her feet, and said, "Rui'er, there's no need for this. Forced affection bears no fruit. If you and Huo Yuan are in love, how could I stand in your way?"

At this point, Murong Rui was almost angry at Murong Yu's persistent altruism. 

'Is she insane? She can even give up her fiancé?' 

"I didn't deliberately search for these letters. I thought, considering your previous explanation, that your relationship with Huo Yuan was a misunderstanding. I planned to retrieve the letters that could harm you, only to accidentally find these." Murong Yu explained.

Murong Rui suddenly remembered the letters and hurriedly said, "Sister, let me take these letters back!"

"How can these letters stay with you? They should stay with me." Murong Yu disagreed. 

Murong Rui's face turned pale. She had just handed over her biggest leverage to Murong Yu.