My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 69 The Storm Begins

At the Lin residence, the guard Master Li was reporting Lin Ziping's situation to Lin Zhong. Upon hearing that Lin Ziping had not taken his medicine, Lin Zhong frowned, but still patiently listened to the whole thing.

"Understood. Send back any news as soon as possible," Lin Zhong instructed, then waved for Master Li to leave.

After a while, a person came out of the study; it was none other than Granny Liao.

"Did you hear what he just said?" Lin Zhong asked after Liao Mama sat down.

“The child is growing up and has his own ideas, which is normal.” Granny Liao picked up the tea on the table and blew on it, not taking it seriously. “Besides, that medicine only suppresses the symptoms; it can’t really change a person.”

“He’s not with us now, and I’m worried something uncontrollable might happen.” Lin Zhong pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Don't worry, someone is watching over there," said Granny Liao. "Shouldn't that person in the palace come out and take a look?"

"This... I'm afraid others won't agree," Lin Zhong said hesitantly.

"After all these years, the children have all grown up, and it's time for our plan to begin." Granny Liao put down her teacup, her voice heavy.

The candlelight crackled in the room. After a while, Lin Zhong sighed and said, "So many years have passed in the blink of an eye. My life in the palace is still vivid in my mind. It feels like I just left the palace yesterday. I will take care of things in the palace."

"I heard that Xiao Chunzi is now by the Sixth Prince's side?" Granny Liao asked.

"The fact that he survived so long at Chunhua Tower shows he has a good character. He was injured and didn't dare use the money, holding on until Ziping gave him some. Later, he even came to us to request to enter the palace, which shows he's a shrewd person. After all that, he didn't give up and was able to quickly find a way out for himself. He knows how to plan for himself, so he can't go wrong." Lin Zhong reached out and removed the lampshade, adjusting the wick as he spoke.

"It seems you think highly of this child? Wasn't the money he received before also from Ziping? Later, when you wanted to give the money to someone in a more transparent way, you still went to Ziping. Sometimes I wonder if Ziping has been raised too kindly by us. Will the bloody battles in the capital be unsuitable for him in the future?" As Granny Liao spoke, a look of worry appeared on her face.

"Who knows what will happen in the future? Besides, we're still here."

……

In the main residence of the Li family in the capital, a young woman dressed in a silk skirt, wearing a hair ornament, and with a face as beautiful as a peach blossom, is pouring tea for an elderly woman with a full head of white hair.

The young woman was the second young lady of the Li family, and the old woman was the matriarch of the Li family. The matriarch was also a formidable figure. Her husband died early, and she became a widow at a young age, but eventually became the de facto head of the Li family. Now that she is older, she has begun to gradually relinquish power.

"Grandmother, this is new tea from Jiangnan this year. Please try it," Miss Li said with a smile.

Madam Li picked up her teacup, took a sip, nodded, and smiled, "The tea is truly delicious and leaves a lingering fragrance. Qiongying is very kind."

Miss Li smiled sweetly, "As long as Grandmother likes it."

"In the blink of an eye, Qiongying has passed the age of marriage. I wonder which young man will eventually marry you." Old Madam Li looked at Miss Li with affection.

Li Qiongying said shyly, "I want to stay with my grandmother for a few more years. My sister just got married. Why does my grandmother want me to get married soon too?"

"You little rascal, you think I can say anything?" Old Madam Li laughed and pointed at Li Qiongying. "Your sister didn't think about it beforehand, which is why the Qin family got the better deal. You and I should take a good look. I think the two children from the Ji and Fang families in the capital are quite good. They both passed the imperial examination this year. They are both young and promising. I've watched them grow up, and I know their families well..."

“Grandmother, they are all my brothers, so please don’t tease me like that,” Li Qiongying quickly said.

"Alright, alright, I won't say anymore. In short, Grandma's wish now is that you all be well."

“Grandmother.” Li Qiongying stepped forward, took the old lady’s hand, and gently comforted her.

After a while, Li Qiongying left the house, closed the door quietly, and whispered to the servants beside her, "Grandmother is asleep, please be quiet."

Back in her courtyard, Li Qiongying washed her hands, changed her clothes, and said, "Take down that set of clothes and burn it."

A maidservant nearby quickly agreed and left the room.

"Miss, what if the old lady finds out..." Li Qiongying's maid, Yumei, approached Li Qiongying after the people in the room left and said.

Li Qiongying closed her eyes, seemingly suppressing something, and after a long while said, "Yumei told the servants that I accidentally dirtied my dress."

"Yes, ma'am."

Yu Mei bowed, turned and went out, then came back in a short while later.

"It has been properly handled," Yu Mei said.

Li Qiongying paused in her writing and asked, "Has the old lady woken up?"

"not yet."

“The tea in Jiangnan is quite good. Have them send some to each household and convey what Grandmother said today,” Li Qiongying said.

“Miss, this…” Yu Mei hesitated.

“Do as I say. The ancestors of the Li family have changed. So many years of pampered life have eroded their original will and made them forget their original intentions. My sister has already been married off to that widower in the Qin family. Am I supposed to wait to be sold off for a higher price? This Li family is no longer the Li family it used to be.” Li Qiongying said calmly to Yumei.

“Miss, is it really that simple? To choose a good family and live a happy life together…” Yu Mei shut her mouth under Li Qiongying’s sharp gaze.

"Yu Mei, in a couple of days I'll choose a family for you, or you can go to the estate first, then you won't need to stay by my side anymore," Li Qiongying said after looking at Yu Mei for a long time.

“Miss…I…” Yu Mei knelt down in terror, “Please, Miss, don’t… send me away.”

Li Qiongying said sternly, "We have different paths, so we cannot work together. Yumei, you know what I'm going to do. You're no longer suitable to be with me."

“Miss, this has always been the way women marry. Do you want to be an exception? Even if women could choose for themselves in the past, that…that was in the past!” Yu Mei covered her face and began to cry. “The eldest young lady has already given up. What’s the point of your insistence?”

“Yu Mei, you’re wrong. It’s not that I’m insisting. I’ve never seen an era where women were free from constraints, nor have I verified whether what Grandmother said about the legendary woman among the Li family’s ancestors who went to the battlefield and stood firm in the court was just one of the most ordinary among them. But I don’t want to be forced to find a marriage partner, marry someone they call a ‘match made in society,’ then bear him children, manage the household, and live a life where I can see the end from the beginning, and then my daughter will repeat my life. Grandmother once said that she controlled her own life, and I want that too.” Li Qiongying looked at her hands, clenched them into a fist, and said, “Grandmother said that my sister and I don’t have to care about worldly opinions and can do whatever we want, but look at my sister, she can’t even refuse to marry. I don’t want to be like her.”

“Miss…this…this Li family is basically under your control now, isn’t that enough?” Yu Mei put down her hand and looked at Li Qiongying.

Li Qiongying remained silent, her gaze towards Yu Mei as sharp as ice.

Upon seeing this, Yu Mei realized she had spoken out of turn. Trembling, she knelt down and touched her forehead with her hand in a deep bow: "Thank you for your kindness, Miss. Yu Mei will obey your orders."

Li Qiongying got up and helped Yumei up, bending down to brush the dust off her skirt and saying, "Go back and prepare well. We'll go to the estate in a while, which will also fulfill our master-servant relationship."

Yu Mei was led away, and a short while later, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

As soon as she finished speaking, a woman entered carrying a tray. Upon seeing the newcomer, Li Qiongying's expression softened, and her straight back slumped as she leaned back in her chair.

"Miss, have some soup." The person put down the bowl.

Li Qiongying stirred the soup in the bowl with a spoon and said, "Yu Mian, arrange for Yu Mei to go to the estate in a few days."

Yu Mian agreed, then thought for a moment and added, "Should we arrange for someone to replace Yu Mei?"

Li Qiongying took a sip of soup and said, "You handle it as you see fit. We need to speed things up. The old lady should just enjoy her retirement. It's best not to get involved in some things."

"Miss, isn't this making too much noise and attracting other people's attention?" Yu Mian pondered for a moment and said.

"On the surface, everything remains the same regarding the inner quarters of the Li family. Who knows what will happen in the future? The only person we can rely on is ourselves."

"Yes," Yu Mian curtsied and left.

She got up and went to the window. Dark clouds loomed over the horizon. Li Qiongying murmured, "The weather is about to change."