Chapter 166: Breaking the Siege

The woman in pink attire straightened her body, her face flushing slightly, with a hint of apology on her lips: "I'm really sorry, I… I didn't mean to, I stepped on the hem of my skirt, that's why…"

"Heh." Jiang Wan Yue's cold laugh cut off the pink‑clad woman's words. Looking at her already torn dress—made of moon‑shadow gauze, extremely expensive, now ruined—she burned with anger: "Who did I think I was? So she's a daughter of the Li family! Miss Li really does have leisure and elegance. Now your Li family is about to become a fallen household, yet you still indulge in pretentiousness here. Should I call you broad‑minded, or simply heartless?"

Li Yunxi heard this, her expression stiffened, her molars clenched her lips, her hands fidgeted anxiously with the handkerchief in her grasp, her face full of embarrassment.

"I…"

"Heh, my grandfather has already sent people to your Li family many times, asking about those few ponds—do you really intend to treat them as heirlooms? The clams in those ponds of yours can't even produce a few Dongzhu pearls; even if they do, they're misshapen, like crooked melons and split dates. Your Li family has already been kicked out of the Imperial Merchant guild. As a member of the Li family, you should have some self‑awareness."

Dongzhu? Chi Nan Yi recalled the Dongzhu she had retrieved from Hou Qinian's private vault, her eyes flashing slightly.

"What does it matter that our Li family isn't an Imperial Merchant? Where I go has nothing to do with you." Li Yunxi lifted her chin; though her body trembled slightly, her eyes were fiercely defiant.

At that moment, a young gentleman in purple robes slowly stepped forward, and beside him stood a strikingly flamboyant young lady, clearly the daughter of a very wealthy noble family, her attire matching Meng Qinghe's.

Li Yunxi's face turned deathly pale the instant she saw the two of them emerge.

Jiang Wan Yue, seeing this, let out a cold laugh: "I knew it—how did you end up here? So your fiancé was taken away."

Li Yunxi's nails dug deep into her palm; at that moment, the area outside River Source Pavilion was crowded with people, all pointing at her.

"I remember now—this lady is the Li family miss who trades Dongzhu in Jingcheng. The Li family used to be one of the top wealthy households in Jingcheng, but in recent years their Dongzhu has declined. The Dongzhu they sent to the Palace caused trouble, angering the nobles there, and the head of the Li family was beaten."

"Not bad, not bad." A woman, looking at Li Yunxi and then at the purple‑clad gentleman, chuckled: "Did you see that gentleman? He's the legitimate second son of the Liu family in Jingcheng. Miss Li had been betrothed to him early on. Now that the Li family is in trouble, the Liu family unilaterally announced the dissolution of the engagement, and within days they aligned with the Lin Family."

Chi Nan Yi looked at the flamboyantly dressed woman and guessed she must be the Lin Family's lady.

Li Yunxi's complexion was ghastly, her frail body swaying as if about to collapse. Liu Liangzhou saw her, furrowed his brows, hurried forward, and said coldly: "Hasn't the Liu family already made things clear with your Li family? Our marriage is called off; a man's marriage and a woman's marriage are unrelated. Why do you still cling here in misery? Have you lost all sense of dignity?"

"I…" Before Li Yunxi could explain, the Lin Family miss sneered: "Liangzhou, let's go. There's nothing to discuss with someone unrelated."

She, with a victor's bearing, walked to Liu Liangzhou's side, her gaze at Li Yunxi full of contempt: "Shameless. We still want you! From now on keep your distance from Liangzhou, understand? Don't fantasize about things that aren't yours, and look at the kind of conduct you're now displaying— even as a concubine you're unworthy of Liangzhou."

Facing the crowd's mockery, Li Yunxi felt a surge of helplessness.

At that moment, a large cloak draped over her; the warmth from the cloak seeped into her limbs and bones, sealing out all cold.

"You lot bully a weak woman and think it's glorious, huh?" Chi Nan Yi's face wore a mask, eyes full of cold, speaking in a low voice that nonetheless cut through the chaotic crowd, reaching every ear clearly: "Using numbers to oppress the few, relying on strength to trample the weak— is this the magnanimity you self‑styled gentlemen and ladies claim? Or is this the skill you pride yourselves on?"

When the words ended, the surroundings fell silent instantly; the mockery and clamor that had surrounded the area vanished, and everyone's gaze converged on Chi Nan Yi.

"Who are you to point fingers in front of the young master? Do you know what fate awaits those who anger the young master?" Liu Liangzhou twisted his neck, his gaze shifting between Chi Nan Yi and Li Yunxi: "Ah, I see. Are you Li Yunxi's lover? Well, Li Yunxi, I knew you weren't a docile one—just after breaking off the engagement with me, you immediately found a lover. Tell me, have you been involved with him for a long time?"

Heh. Chi Nan Yi sneered: "I've always heard the saying 'the thief shouts to catch a thief,' but I never believed it, thinking how could anyone be that foolish? Now it seems I can't even refuse to believe it."

"What do you mean?"

Chi Nan Yi glanced at the Lin Family miss standing beside him, her complexion extremely sallow, and, not intending to give them any face, said softly: "I just heard that Young Master Liu, after breaking off the engagement, immediately began discussing marriage with the Lin Family lady. It seems, as you said, he's already been involved with her; otherwise why such a strong reaction?"

"You… you're spouting nonsense!" Lin Ruo Yi's face flushed red as she shouted angrily: "My relationship with Liangzhou is perfectly pure."

"Indeed! So pure!"

When the words ended, snickers rose around them.

Lin Ruo Yi's complexion shifted from red to black, and her body began trembling uncontrollably.

"If it's a liaison, then it's a liaison—what's there to be ashamed of? Didn't we already discuss marriage? Even if a liaison involves a gentleman already betrothed to someone else, what does that matter?"

In Daqi, a woman's reputation is as lofty as the heavens; to consort with a married man—or even with a man already engaged—makes her no different from a prostitute.

Lin Ruo Yi shouted loudly: "You… you defame me like this—what's your intention? You've ruined my reputation; are you trying to drive me to death?"

"I'm merely returning the blow in kind," Chi Nan Yi said calmly: "What you just did to the Li Family miss is no less than what I just described—how is it, now that the fist has struck yourself, do you feel the pain?"

"What exactly is your relationship with her?" Liu Liangzhou's fists clenched, his eyes tinged with red, showing genuine anger.

Chi Nan Yi, seeing his demeanor, said with a half‑smile: "Young Master Liu, since the engagement has been dissolved, Miss Li has nothing to do with you. Why are you so angry here? Are you just eyeing the bowl while watching the pot, waiting for the day you can enjoy the blessings of the Daqi people?"

"You! What nonsense are you spouting? What are you, some kind of thing?"

At that moment, someone in the crowd said: "Isn't that the shopkeeper of the world's number one manor?"

Upon hearing that, Meng Qinghe's gaze in the crowd sharpened instantly.