The young boy was startled and shook his head, "No."
The Xue Family smiled and said, "The girl who asked you for food just now is my sister-in-law. Her name is Li Yuzhu, she’s twelve years old, hasn’t been promised to anyone yet, very pure. I’m selling her to you."
The boy looked up at her in astonishment.
The Xue Family glanced towards the door and whispered, "As for the price, I can lower it a bit. Our family originally planned to sell her for eighty taels, I’ll take forty... how about forty-eight taels? Forty-eight, what a prosperous number."
She didn’t know how much selling a bride would cost, so she quoted a number she guessed the young boy could accept.
The young boy gave her a look, put down the basket he was weaving, and stood up.
He gently brushed the bamboo shavings off his body.
The Xue Family thought he had listened, happily said again, "She’s very obedient, whatever you ask her to do, she’ll do it."
The boy did not pay attention to her this time, and instead walked out with big strides.
The Xue Family didn’t know what he was going to do and followed him outside.
Outside the house, Li Yuzhu was holding a bowl, feeding porridge to the Xue Family’s two children.
Two-and-a-half-year-old Li Jing was sitting obediently on a small tree stump stool, while half-year-old Li Guoguo was being held by Third Young Master Li Xing’an.
The boy looked at Li Yuzhu and said loudly, "Li Yuzhu, your sister-in-law wants to sell you to me, the price is forty-eight taels."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone at the Lu Ling Royal Mansion looked at the Xue Family with anger in their eyes.
The Xue Family was scared out of her wits; how could this silly boy shout it out?
"Am I so cheap? Only worth forty-eight taels?" Li Yuzhu said with self-mockery.
"Xue Family, how dare you?" Princess Consort Wei was furious.
"Zhen Niang, how could you do this? She’s your sister-in-law!" Li Xingmao was also very displeased.
"I... I... I am doing this for her own good! Should we just watch her starve to death?" The Xue Family said aggrievedly, "She just fainted from hunger, how many more times can she faint?"
"My daughter would rather starve to death than be sold!" Wei coldly snorted.
The boy’s gaze slowly turned to Li Yuzhu.
"Why argue? Let’s go!" Prince Luling Li Boxuan couldn’t listen any longer and turned to leave.
If they kept arguing, afraid the family assets would be exposed for outsiders to hear.
Does he still want any reputation?
Wei gave a fierce glare at the Xue Family and also left.
Li Yuwen and Li Yu En, seeing that they couldn’t find anything to eat, were not interested in staying, and left too.
The Second Young Master Li Xingsheng urged Li Yuzhu and the Third Young Master Li Xing’an, "Hurry up."
"We’re coming." Li Yuzhu scraped the last bit of porridge from the bowl with the spoon into the children’s mouths.
Li Jing smacked his lips contentedly, "Tastes so good, auntie."
Li Guoguo grinned foolishly at Li Yuzhu, showing his little mouth with only two lower incisors.
"Thanks, when my family has food someday, I’ll definitely repay you." Li Yuzhu returned the bowl to the boy.
"No need, it’s just porridge." He took the bowl and returned to the house.
The princely heir Li Xingmao came to pick up the child, "Third Brother, Third Sister, I’ll take Guoguo."
The Third Young Master Li Xing’an coldly looked at the Xue Family standing aside and handed over the little baby.
"Third Sister, let’s go, you’re kind enough to hold the children, yet they plan to sell you! Hmph!" Li Xing’an pulled Li Yuzhu’s arm and turned to leave, "They probably think you don’t hold the children well, let them do it themselves then!"
Li Yuzhu was also unhappy, and followed Li Xing’an away.
Everyone left, leaving the Xue Family alone at the last.