The Princess of Northern Land
Chapter 493: The Wind Rises and the Waves Swell (7)_1

Chapter 493: Chapter 493: The Wind Rises and the Waves Swell (7)_1

This had brought a chuckle to the crowd, but bitterness filled the heart of the Li family. Was the prince truly planning to abandon the Li family?

"With his tactic of trading grains for goods, the Prince has likely shattered the dreams of those with ulterior motives. I wonder how the Prince plans to deal with those dreamers?" Luo Yan casually glanced at everyone with a hint of a smile.

Sweat immediately slipped down Li Jiesong’s back. He couldn’t help but feel that Luo Yan’s words were directly pointed at him.

No, he needed to quickly dispose of his stockpile of grain. He refused to end up rich but dead.

"No mercy," declared Chu Suifeng, a faint smile on his face yet his words were filled with a decisive, murderous intent.

This almost made Li Jiesong pass out. He couldn’t bear the pressure anymore. Aside from the need to dispose of his own grain supplies quickly, even those of the Yu family couldn’t be allowed to leave any traces.

"The Prince is right. Those who dare to disrupt the grain trade must be dealt with promptly. Otherwise, this will only root future calamities for the Prince." Mei Hanqing agreed, and many others voiced their approvals.

The members of the Li family felt ill at ease, particularly Marquis Li. He wished he knew nothing of Chu Suifeng’s intentions.

The more one knew, the quicker one died. Chu Suifeng didn’t trust the Marquis Residence, yet exposed so much in front of them. What was his goal?

"Go, find out the results of the game next door." Suddenly, Chu Suifeng ordered Congyi who stood behind him.

The abrupt shift from state affairs to personal matters left Marquis Li somewhat disorientated. He sat there in a daze, not reacting at all.

But those who had been serving Chu Suifeng for years knew him well. Nobody expressed their surprise.

"I’m rather looking forward to the Empress’s performance," Luo Yan added in a fearless manner.

Li Jieyong twitched at the corners of his mouth. Was the prince worried that Lin Ziyin would be at a disadvantage? He gave a bitter smile, realizing that his little sister and sister-in-law were truly determined to stir trouble. Did they ever consider that if Lin Ziyin were mistreated at the Marquis Residence, the Prince wouldn’t let the Li family off the hook?

The Prince had brought Lin Ziyin to celebrate his birthday, publicly acknowledging her as his wife; his stance was clear. By making things hard for Lin Ziyin, embarrassing her, did they think they could change anything?

Li Jieyong couldn’t wrap his head around why the old Madam and Lady Mu had not stopped the reckless actions of Li Yanran and Lady Yu.

"Miss Lin, you are really lucky today. The flower is in your hands again," scoffed Li Yanran, looking at Lin Ziyin.

Si Jinyu and Luo Yanlan were somewhat agitated. Including this time, the flower ball had fallen into Lin Ziyin’s hands three times already. If it weren’t for Li Yanran and Lady Yu causing trouble, they wouldn’t have believed it at all.

"You wretch, how did you play the drum? Why did it land in the honored guest’s hands again?" Before Si Jinhan and Luo Yanlan could stand up in anger to argue on behalf of Lin Ziyin, Lady Yu had already begun to scold the maid who was playing the drum. "Guards, drag this insolent girl away and give her twenty hard strokes."

The crowd’s faces drastically changed.

Everyone perceived that Lady Yu was deliberately making things hard for Lin Ziyin under the guise of disciplining the maid.

Lin Ziyin chuckled bitterly. It was indeed difficult to navigate the Marquis Residence’s intrigues. Despite knowing that Lady Yu and Li Yanran had tampered with the drumming segment, she couldn’t let them punish the maid freely. Otherwise, only her reputation would be tarnished.

Perhaps in the past, she could have disregarded her reputation, but not anymore. Because now, she was representing Chu Suifeng, representing the dignity and magnanimity of the Prince’s residence.

"Why is the mistress so angry?" With this thought in mind, she asked with a soft smile, "It’s just a game after all. Moreover, she can’t see me with her eyes blindfolded. Are you saying she has a divine eye and is deliberately making things difficult for me?"

The elder matriarch of the Si family and others nodded in agreement, their admiration for Lin Ziyin growing.

Though Lin Ziyin’s words seemed to be lighthearted, if one thought deeper, she was candidly slapping the face of the Li family. But, they couldn’t find fault with Lin Ziyin. After all, it appeared as if she was generously pleading for the maid, she didn’t directly accuse the Li family of cheating and creating difficulties for her, her future empress. Everyone sympathetically watched Lady Mu’s face as it changed colors. She was the current mistress of the Marquis Residence.

"Step down." Lady Mu couldn’t take it any longer. "Stop speaking nonsense. Miss Lin is not a petty person. Even if you’re uneasy, you can’t punish a maid without reason."

Her words sounded grand, but everyone knew the truth of the matter. Some people lowered their heads to hide their laughter, while some openly wore a mockery on their faces.

"Yes, Madam and Miss Lin have taught me well. I was too hasty and wrongly reprimanded the maid." Lady Yu quickly acquitted herself.

"As the flower ball is in my hands, I suppose I have to step out once again." Lin Ziyin timely moved the conversation elsewhere.

Everyone held their breaths, fixing their eyes on her once again.

"Dense autumn around the house like Tao’s, the sun sets gradually along the edges of the fence. Not that I favor chrysanthemum among all the flowers, but when it blooms, no other flower does." This time, Lin Ziyin chose "Chrysanthemum" written by Yuan Zhen.

The moment her poem was recited, a hush fell over the crowd. Her previous pieces were Tao Yuanming’s "Drinking Wine V" and Chen Yi’s "Autumn Chrysanthemum."

The three poems, whether in terms of artistic conception or in the elegance of verses, had exceeded the understanding of everyone present.