To the south of the imperial capital, in the villa area of the imperial city, is the Li family.
In the exquisite small garden, servants and gardeners are cultivating new varieties of roses. In the Li family's garden, different flowers and trees are carefully cultivated according to the different flower species that bloom in each season. The place is still brightly colored all year round.
The Imperial Capital is not like Ningzhou, where the four seasons are like spring, and the climate is warm and comfortable. Instead, it is a place with four distinct seasons.
Spring, summer, autumn and winter each have their own temperatures and seasons. Now that it is late autumn, the weather is particularly cool.
The servant trimmed and cleaned the hibiscus flowers and then went to the living room of the villa.
Melodious music came from the living room, and an old-fashioned gramophone was working hard at the moment. Li Langhua, wearing a purple cotton nightgown, was sitting on a single sofa.
She drank coffee gracefully, with two fashion magazines spread out on her knees, which contained the latest clothing from major brands this year. She lowered her head and drew circles on them from time to time.
She had a diamond hairpin in her carefully taken care of her curly hair. She placed her left hand on the table next to her. Two manicurists were kneeling on the ground to do her nails. The muscles of the woman's hanging arms were tight and there was no obvious slack.
This is all thanks to Li Langhua's love and care over the years, which prevented him from showing his old age at this age.
At this time every week, Li Langhua would make flower arrangements for a while. In addition to the flowers picked from his own yard, he also used fresh bouquets flown back from outside.
After all, the Imperial Capital is a relatively cold place, and it is not easy for many flowers to bloom here. Therefore, all kinds of plants growing in the Li family garden must be carefully cared for by gardeners before they can bloom.
Li Langhua was leisurely listening to music and doing his manicure, but from time to time there was a knock on the door upstairs. Maybe it was because of the distance or the thick door panel, but the sound was transmitted downstairs. Not too big.
But the thumping sound is also very rhythmic and cannot be ignored.
"Madam, it's ready." The manicurist wearing a mask stood up and spoke respectfully.
The old lady of the Li family has taken good care of herself, and even though she is almost seventy years old, she still looks like someone in her forties, which is well-known in the entire imperial capital circle.
So manicurists and beauticians will do what they like, and they won't call her too old when they call her.
Li Langhua glanced at the fingernails inlaid with gold foil and diamonds. They were very delicate and it was obvious that a lot of effort had been put into them.
"Go down."
The servant standing next to him came forward and led two manicurists out.
Rachel made lemonade for Li Langhua from the kitchen and brought it over. Rachel raised her head and glanced upstairs with a helpless smile on her face.
"Otherwise, let's release the young lady. She has been locked up for three days. I guess she can't hold it in anymore."
The longest time that Li Li had ever been locked up was three days. The first two days this person must have been well-behaved and did whatever he was supposed to do in the room, but by the third day he must have almost collapsed.
With such an impatient personality, I still want to be a cartoonist. It’s no wonder why I always give up. It’s because I don’t take the time to think about the plot and characters.
Li Langhua stood up and sat down in front of the round table. He held the golden hand scissors and started pruning the flower branches.
"Let her out later during lunch."
Rachel understood that the old lady was frightened by the last time Li Li used a bed sheet to go downstairs from the third floor. No matter how disobedient her granddaughter was, the old lady would still pamper her and take care of her.
It was not that she had never been detained for the fourth day before, but on the fourth day, Li Li started to cry, fuss, and hang herself. The old lady was so distressed that she gave up because she was afraid that something might really happen to her.
But this time it was different. She was joking with her life. Of course the old lady was angry. Therefore, all the windows in Li Li's room had been installed with thick security windows, making it impossible to get out or get in.
When Li Yuanzhi came back, the vase in the old lady's hand had just been half decorated.
"Mom." He stepped forward and called.
Li Langhua carefully fiddled with the edge of the vase, "How's the check going?"
Li Yuanzhi took out the document bag and put it over, "The friend Li Li mentioned is from Ningzhou, from the Mu family of Ningzhou. She is the Mu family's youngest daughter who has been missing for fifteen years. She was found not long ago."
"The Mu family?" Li Langhua put down the scissors and looked at the opened document, and quickly scanned the contents of the document.
"Yes, the Mu family announced that their youngest daughter had been lost for fifteen years and was found only two months ago. This Mu Wenli was very powerful. Not long after he returned to the Mu family, the Mu family went bankrupt and Mu Kun was killed. Mr. Mu committed suicide, and the eldest daughter of the Mu family was imprisoned."
Li Yuanzhi had no expression on his face when he read these words, but his heart was still slightly shaken.
According to the data, Mu Wenli is the same age as Li Li. They are both twenty-year-old children. Why do I feel that this child is untouchable.
"There are no photos here?" Li Langhua flipped through a few pages but didn't see a single picture.
"Half of the photos in Ningzhou cannot be searched, nor can all the pictures taken by reporters on the Internet."
"Have you found out the reason why the Mu family was destroyed?" Li Langhua handed the document back to him.
Li Yuanzhi looked at the old lady arranging flowers in a relaxed manner and shook his head as usual, "The rest of the people sent out are still investigating carefully. I will tell you the results when they are available."
"So this child is no ordinary child." The scissors in Li Langhua's hand suddenly cut off the middle flower branch.
"After all, she is not a simple person. I suspect that the Mu family's affairs have something to do with her."
The old lady didn't say anything anymore. I'm afraid many people would doubt Mu Wenli about such a thing.
Listening to the thumping sound coming from upstairs, Li Yuanzhi looked up and said, "Mom, why don't we let Lili go? She didn't eat much last night."
Li Langhua chuckled softly, "You all dote on her and spoil her. The more you get used to her, the more lawless you become."
It would be no exaggeration to say that the two little overlords of the imperial capital, Xi Moqian and Li Li, are notorious.
It's because of being pampered that a lawless genius behaves like this.
"Look what you said, girls have to be pampered. Lili is still young, and she will be sensible when she grows up." Li Yuanzhi persuaded with a smile.
Rachel took this opportunity to persuade her, "Don't be angry, it's the lady's birthday soon. You have to listen to the lady's opinion on how to organize the birthday dinner."
Li Li's birthday has always been the most important event in the Li family. Every year it is held with great grandeur and luxury, and it all follows her temperament.
Seeing that Li Langhua didn't speak, Li Yuanzhi gestured to the servant and went upstairs.
There are only four rooms on the third floor, one for Li Li, one for Li Ruobing, and the other is the gym and the place where Li Li keeps comic books. The two little girls live in the entire third floor by themselves.
The door of the white room in the middle kept making knocking sounds, and the dull sound came one after another, which seemed a little weak.
Li Yuanzhi took out the key from his pocket and opened the door. Li Li, who was leaning against the door, immediately jumped out.
“Second uncle!!!”
She knew that every time it would be her second uncle who would save her.
"Little ancestor, you have to talk to grandma properly when you go down, otherwise I won't be able to save you." Li Yuanzhi pinched her face.
The closeness between the elders and the younger ones made people feel more comfortable. The servants on the side also laughed when they saw this. The husband has always doted on the second lady the most, maybe because Li Li's parents have not been around since he was a child.
She also had extra respect and affection for this uncle who gave her fatherly love.
"Don't worry, uncle." Li Li said, taking out a painting from the side, "I haven't been idle these past two days."
If you want to coax grandma, how can you not come up with something real
After Li Li finished speaking, he took the picture frame and ran out. Li Yuanzhi's voice came from behind.
"Be careful not to fall!"
Rachel stood next to the old lady and looked at Li Li who rushed down the stairs. The smile on her face deepened and she said, "Here he comes."
Li Li rushed to the edge of the sofa and sat down with Li Langhua, and spread the painting in his hand in front of the old lady like a treasure.
"Grandma, look, this is your favorite oil painting master's painting. Is it similar to the one painted by your granddaughter?"
The little girl's proud look made the servant standing next to her laugh out loud. This was a painting by Li Langhua's favorite artist, but so far she had not been able to buy an authentic copy of the painting.
This was drawn by Li Li based on pictures circulated on the Internet, and it is 99% similar to the real thing.
Although the comics drawn by Li Li and Xi Moqian were not too splashy, Li Li's talent in painting could not be hidden. She was admitted to the art major of Teito University with a good score of first place in Teito University.
If I hadn't taken a break from school willfully, I would be in my junior year now.
"Grandma, please forgive me for the sake of this painting. I have really reviewed my problem deeply. If it happens a second time, I will definitely lock myself in the room without you having to tell me." !" Li Li looked so confident that he wanted to raise his hands to swear.
Seeing the serious look on her face, Rachel echoed, "You see, the lady said so, don't be angry, it's not good for your health."
Li Langhua took the painting in her hand and stared at her. Li Li was a little frightened by her sudden look.
"forgive you?"
Li Li nodded crazily, yes.
"Go back to school."
Li Li's face fell. She had been out of school for such a long time, and she had almost forgotten that she was still half a college student.
"I'm not going." She moved to the side.
Li Langhua put the painting on the table and stared at her, "Give me a reason?"
Rachel knew that this matter had always been a difficult thing for the old lady to get over. Back then, the young lady made a fuss about dropping out of school and kept pestering her to drop out, shouting slogans very loudly.
There are good reasons for dropping out of school to pursue her dreams. People who have done great things in history have already become famous by her age.
She can no longer be trapped in school, she must pursue her dreams and freedom.
In the end, Li Langhua was so angry that he got angry at Li Li for the first time in his life, and locked him up for three days and three nights without releasing him.
But the young lady was also stubborn. She didn't eat a sip of water or a bite of food, which made the old lady feel distressed for a long time. In the end, it was Li Yuanzhi who took her to apply for suspension of school, which was the end of the matter.
"I just want to do what I like." Li Li looked at the old lady.
"What do you like, drawing comics?" Li Langhua laughed out loud, "How much income can the dream you pursue so far bring you every month? How long will it take you to be able to afford it? Is this the dress you’re wearing?”
Rachel understood the old lady's impatience. Li Li was really a very talented child, and it wouldn't be good to waste it in vain.
"How much does this cost?" Li Li asked confusedly, pinching the edge of her skirt.
Li Langhua was stunned for a moment, then laughed angrily.
Of course she didn't know how much the skirt she was wearing was. Every season, the Li family's exclusive theater brand would send clothes and skirts here. Seasonal clothes were sent in like a stream, and the ones she picked were all the latest limited edition styles.
Li Li didn't need to go shopping to buy clothes herself. Of course she didn't know that the dress she was wearing cost seven figures.
"This semester is coming to an end. It doesn't make much sense for Miss to enroll now. How about waiting until the next semester?" Rachel suggested.
Li Li cast a grateful look.
The old lady also heard it, and looking at her granddaughter's appearance, she could only give up. "You must enroll in school next semester!" the old lady said with a straight face.
Li Li nodded. Anyway, he didn't want to rush in tomorrow. It was true that he should stabilize his grandma first.
"Go and get her a glass of juice." The old lady told the servant next to her.
When Li Ruobing walked in, Li Li was lying on the old lady's knee choosing a hotel. This twentieth birthday was the biggest event for the Li family, and the entire Li family naturally wanted to accompany her and lively.
"Don't want this, this won't work." Li Li refused.
Li Ruobing walked up to the two of them and put down her bag, "Grandma, are you feeling better when you get up in the morning?"
In order to take care of Li Langhua's health, the Li family naturally has a ready-made doctor like Li Ruobing in addition to their own family doctor.
From time to time, he does acupuncture and other treatments, and uses traditional Chinese medicine to regulate his body. Over the years, Li Langhua's health has gotten better and better.
"Much better." Li Langhua looked away from Li Li and looked at his eldest granddaughter, "You went to the competition site this morning. How was it?"
"The competition will officially start in three days, but the people coming from each family this time are also quite powerful." Li Ruobing looked at Li Li, "I even met Wen Li."
Li Li sat up all of a sudden, his movements smooth and fast, "Really? Wen Li is here to participate in the competition too?"
That night was so rushed that I didn't have time to ask Wen Li what he was doing in the imperial capital.
"Yes, she is the apprentice of the Jin family and represents the Jin family in the competition."
Li Langhua thought about what he saw from Li Yuanzhi just now. The girl named Mu Wenli was quite powerful.
She has been running in the mall for so many years, so she is not stupid enough to think that the death of the Mu family is a coincidence. After that girl returned to the Mu family, the earth-shaking changes in the Mu family happened. I am afraid that she has something to do with it. Such a person cannot be a kind person.
It would be better for Li Li to have less contact with her.
"Sister, can I go and cheer for Wen Li?"
Li Ruobing shook his head, "This is not an ordinary competition. Ordinary people are not allowed to enter, otherwise something could easily happen."
In every traditional medicine competition, there are many people who become disabled after being poisoned. This is also the first time Li Ruobing has participated in such a competition, and he can see the mystery behind it.
She was sweating in her palms.
"That's it. I thought I could cheer her on." Li Li was a little disappointed.
Wen Li had helped her so much, it would be great if she could repay the favor.
"Grandma, can I bring her back for my birthday so that you can get to know her? Wen Li is an extremely beautiful girl. This is the first time I have seen such a beautiful girl. Moreover, she has a good personality and is willing to help others. , you will definitely like her." Li Li wrapped her arms around Li Langhua and said.
The old lady was annoyed by her pestering, "It's your birthday, you decide who you want to invite."
However, in previous years, Li Li invited the juniors to join in the fun, but this year the old lady wanted to do something different and invited everyone from the imperial capital to come. After all, it was Li Li's twentieth birthday.
Twenty-year-old is a very important stage. This little princess will eventually meet people from the upper class of the imperial capital. It is not good to always hide her.
"Grandma, have you made a reservation for Li Li's birthday dinner this time?" Li Ruobing glanced at her.
Li Li shook his head. All the plans she thought of were rejected by her grandma. She had obviously come to the previous birthday parties according to her ideas. As long as she was happy, her grandma would not say anything.
As a result, she was not in the mood today because she said something grandma vetoed.
Li Ruobing took the hotel album from the old lady's hand and saw that the hotels circled in red pen were the hotels that the Li family often used when hosting annual dinner parties.
"Grandma, do you want to entertain everyone?"
Li Langhua nodded. Compared to Li Li, Li Ruobing lived a more sensible life.
"Sister, please tell me if these places chosen by grandma are not good." Li Li came over and looked at Li Ruobing.
Li Langhua also cast a shallow look, and Li Ruobing closed the book, "Grandma, these are not very good, either too solemn or too relaxed. We also have two conjoined villas in the east of the city, which are on the beach. The floor area is not smaller than that of some hotels. After all, it is our own home, so it is suitable for use.”
Her words awakened Li Ruobing, and Li Ruobing had to introduce Li Li to everyone on a formal occasion, but Li Li was still too young now, and it would not be good if it was too formal.
It’s not bad to choose a place like this, and it doesn’t seem shabby or indifferent.
"Li Li, what do you think?" Li Langhua asked Li Li for his opinion.
Li Li thought for a while, "Yes, I agree, it's better to be at the beach!"
Pool parties and stuff are the best.
"If Lili agrees, I will ask someone to take care of it." Li Ruobing put the book down.
Li Langhua shook his head, "Let Rachel do it this time, so you don't have to be distracted by the competition."
Rachel on the side nodded, "Leave this to me, don't worry."
Li Li made a request from the side, "Aunt Rachel, I want the light blue princess style first. Since we are all at the beach, how about we make it the same color as the sea water!"
Rachel shook her head, "Miss, we can't rely on you this time."
The people invited this time are all the elders of the family heads. If you don’t look serious, this is not an ordinary dinner.
After her idea was rejected, Li Li felt frustrated and stood up with her head hanging down.
"I'm going out, you can do it yourself."
She still has to go find Wen Li. Grandma must be angry that she won't let her come up with ideas for her birthday party this time.
"Come back." Li Langhua called.
Li Li reluctantly walked back and looked at the old lady.
"Don't get into trouble these two days. The etiquette teacher will be back tomorrow to help you correct your etiquette. Be good."
"Ah?" Li Li suddenly fell down on the sofa, "Do I still have to go to class?"
Li Li has not liked these courses since he was a child, but fortunately, he is a well-behaved child who has been exposed to them, and he is also familiar with table manners and the like.
But this dinner is her birthday, shouldn't birthdays be happy
Why does she still have to suffer like this!
"Be obedient, this time is different." Li Langhua stroked his granddaughter's hair.
Seeing grandma's look, Wen Li, who had just been released from the room, could only nod. After all, it was her fault first, and it didn't matter if she had been obedient in the past two days.
"Grandma, I'm going upstairs first, and I'll come down later to give you acupuncture." Li Ruobing stood up carrying her bag.
Li Li is still grieving that she has to make the same mistakes again. Just like when she was a child, someone used a stick to correct her standing and sitting posture.
Only Li Langhua and Rachel were left in the living room. Rachel took the brewed black tea and placed it in front of the old lady.
The exquisite gold-plated utensils looked very luxurious, and the air was filled with a faint fragrance of tea. Li Langhua poured himself a cup of black tea.
"My lady has grown up. Have you already thought about what kind of husband you want to find for her?"
Li Langhua probably already had a candidate in mind. Li Li's husband must be the best, a man who can support the entire Li family in the future.
"Just tell me, and let me hear if that man is worthy of our young lady." Rachel spoke immediately.
Li Langhua sipped the black tea and said calmly, "The second young master of the Yun family, Yun Xiao."
The Yun family, one of the four major families, is the younger brother of the current head of the family, Yun Sheng. The boy who often follows Li Li appears in Rachel's mind.
Rachel also nodded with satisfaction, "He grew up with the young lady. He has a good background and is also an outstanding child. He graduated from college at the age of nineteen. I heard that he now holds an important position in the Yun family and is very outstanding."
More importantly, Yun Xiao grew up with Li Li and was a child who knew everything about her. Rachel had noticed before that Yun Xiao was different from Li Li, and anyone with a discerning eye could see that he liked Li Li.
It would be much easier to handle it if the man is in love with the concubine.
Yun Xiao was born in the Yun family, with a clean and distinguished fortune and outstanding abilities. If he became Li Li's husband, Li Li would not have to worry about it in the future.
"Have you already talked with the head of the Yun family?" Rachel asked.
Li Langhua shook his head, "Not yet. I'll take a look at it on Lili's birthday."
Rachel knew that the old lady would naturally have to plan in every possible way. Now her health was getting worse and worse. Although she took good care of herself, she was still an old man who was nearly seventy years old, and she would feel unable to do many things.
Li Li is the old lady's biggest concern. If she leaves, find a reliable person to take care of her granddaughter to ensure that she will be worry-free for the rest of her life.
"We should go to the company." Rachel reminded.
Li Langhua got up from the sofa and went upstairs to change clothes and prepare to go to the company.
In the study room, Li Yuanzhi looked at all the information and news briefings spread out on the table, tapping his fingers on the table very rhythmically.
The secretary next to him, Wang Hao, looked at his cold expression and said, "You might as well tell the old lady directly."
When they investigated Mu Wenli, they also collected a lot of information about Ningzhou. In the Li family these years, some information was not allowed to enter.
Therefore, they found out later.
Li Yuanzhi turned over the documents on the desktop and put them over, "None of these are important."
What he is worried about now is the girl named Mu Wenli. All the news about her in Ningzhou has been wiped out, only a few bits and pieces are left, and there is not a single exposed photo.
After the Mu family was destroyed, this child came to the imperial capital. What was his purpose
The person who arranged to keep an eye on me has not given any news yet.
Wang Hao answered the phone. The person over there spoke very briefly, and the expression on his face quickly turned to surprise.
Moving the phone away, he looked at Li Yuanzhi, "The person we sent was discovered and was given a warning."
The bodyguards of the Li family were very good at conducting private investigations, so they were able to be discovered.
"It seems that this Mu Wenli is not simple..." Li Yuanzhi put the documents away.
All information has been erased, and it is not an ordinary person who can do this.
As far as the case is concerned, she is just an insignificant girl, so there is no need to care so much, but during the investigation, he discovered some things that made him very concerned.
After all, this person is not an ordinary person. If he enters the Li family, he may cause quite a commotion.
depositing
(End of chapter)