Prime Minister Li snorted, "What if I do not pardon your crime?"
"This..." Wang Youbao was at a loss for words, not knowing what to say.
"Enough, you may leave. There are plenty of others willing to marry into my family; it doesn’t have to be you."
"... Yes, this humble one takes his leave."
Although he said he was leaving, Wang Youbao did not move. After a moment, he spoke softly again, "Prime Minister, this humble one has an impudent request. I hope the Prime Minister allows me to see your beloved daughter once more, to say farewell."
Prime Minister Li snorted, "My daughter is still unwed, it’s not appropriate for her to see guests."
"Someone, see the guest out!" Before Wang Youbao could finish speaking, Prime Minister Li ordered someone to escort him out.
Wang Youbao, being but a mere merchant, dared not make a scene in the Prime Minister’s residence. He had no choice but to leave, but before he left, he bowed respectfully to Prime Minister Li, "This humble one takes his leave."
"Take your things with you." Prime Minister Li said this casually while sipping his tea.
"... Yes." If someone doesn’t want something, you can’t force it on them. Moreover, how could Wang Youbao dare to compel the mighty Prime Minister to accept his gifts? He had no choice but to take the generous gifts he brought back with him, unopened.
No sooner had Wang Youbao left than Li Wuyu came rushing out.
Li Wuyu glanced in the direction Wang Youbao had left, then stamped her foot and said to her father in great anger, "Father! Didn’t you promise you wouldn’t make it difficult for him?"
Prime Minister Li, still drinking his tea, glanced at her, "You got injured because of him, how have I made it difficult for him?"
"But I’m all healed now! Besides, it wasn’t Youbao’s fault, it was Wang Youtao! Wang Youtao is such a villain; he always tries to harm Youbao, scheming to take his inheritance. In the end, when he always failed to harm Youbao, he lost his senses and attempted to kill Youbao. Fortunately, I was there at the time. Otherwise, Youbao might have died."
"Do you have no shame? You’re not even married to him yet and you’re already ’my Youbao this, my Youbao that.’ Are you trying to enrage me to death, your father, on purpose?"
"Father..." Seeing that her father appeared truly angry, Li Wuyu hurriedly went to cuddle his arm and act coquettishly.
Prime Minister Li could only sigh heavily and helplessly, "It’s such a failure that despite my high position, I haven’t managed to raise you properly. Look at you now, secretly betrothing yourself to someone without any regard for your family. You really intend to make me lose face completely."
His wife had died early, and he had been busy with state affairs, neglecting the education of his daughter. By the time he thought to discipline her, it was already too late, so he had accepted it. After all, she was his only daughter.
"Father, since our face is already lost, stop fretting over it or you will just make yourself unhappier," Li Wuyu said with a teasing smile.
Prime Minister Li was provoked into laughter.
Li Wuyu, seeing her father laugh, didn’t care if it was out of anger or amusement; she murmured with a complaint, "Father, you might trouble Youbao because I was injured, but why did you let him leave at the end? You should have made it clear to him that you actually had agreed to our marriage..."
As soon as Prime Minister Li heard these words from Li Wuyu, he got angry again, "He is his father’s only son and does not want to join our household; you’re my only daughter, do you think I can bear to marry you off so far away? And look at his status! Although the Crown Prince is fond of him, by the time he makes something of himself, I might have already entered my coffin. I’d rather not hold such expectations. If his character were not acceptable, even if you cried to death, don’t think for a moment that I would agree to this marriage!"