No Longer Afraid of Anyone

"Oh? What's up?" Lily Evans asked curiously.

Lily, aren't you looking for a language teacher? What do you think of me! My skills may not be enough for the civil service exams, but you don't want those kids to study ancient classics—just literacy and basic reading. I'm more than qualified for that! I even know foreign languages—Edward always says I speak well! Am I qualified to be a teacher?" Leonard Li said.

Lily Evans couldn't help but laugh and cry: "Young Lord Leonard, you're really not afraid of getting your legs broken, huh? If your father finds out, it'll be a disaster!"

Leonard Li had been all excited, but now it was like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over his head. He instantly drooped, looking like a wilted eggplant, making Lily Evans and Bella Bell burst out laughing.

"Young Lord Leonard, let's eat, let's eat, no more talk of this," Bella Bell said.

As soon as Bella Bell spoke, Leonard Li perked right up, nodding like a well-behaved puppy: "Eat, eat! Can't let Bella Bell's cooking go to waste!"

The meal was full of laughter. After tea, it was time for Leonard Li to leave. He said, "Lily, the Dragon Raising Its Head Festival is coming up, and Prince Ling and Princess Mira are getting married. Are you coming to the wedding?"

Lily Evans smiled gently, "They're getting married already? I've been so busy I hadn't even heard about it."

Leonard Li scratched his head, "Most likely Prince Alexander knew you wouldn't go, so he figured there was no point telling you about it at all."

Lily Evans laughed, "Of course I'm not going."

Then Su Li looked down and gently touched her still-flat belly: "My body isn't convenient now. Going to such a crowded and lively place, His Highness wouldn't be at ease, and I don't want to join the festivities either."

Li Yanhao stared at Su Li's belly, his eyes wide like eggs, stumbling over his words: "A-Li, you... you're expecting?"

"Yes, it's been over a month," Su Li replied, her smile gentle and sweet.

Li Yanhao jumped up with a shout: "Goodness, A-Li, you're going to be a mom and I'm still a single dog! Heavens! The world is so unfair!"

Su Li and Lingdang burst out laughing at his antics.

After seeing Li Yanhao off, Su Li returned to Prince Qin's residence, where she immediately saw a blond, blue-eyed man waiting for her, covered in travel dust.

"Edward!" Su Li greeted him with delight.

Edward was even happier. "Honored mistress, the task you gave me is now perfectly accomplished!"

"Wonderful, thank you for your hard work!" Su Li said to Edward. "Go get some rest now!"

"Of course, here's the inventory. Please review it, mistress." Edward handed Su Li a book listing the goods sold and those purchased.

Su Li read through it carefully, feeling very pleased. This trip had been quite fruitful, and she’d even managed to buy a lot of spices.

What made Su Li even happier was that Edward had used silk, tea, and porcelain in France to make connections and had met the head of an underground arms black market.

From this kingpin, Edward bought an astonishing amount of weaponry, hid it under the ship’s deck, and brought it back safely.

"Go call His Highness," Su Li said urgently.

Xiao Zetian was practicing martial arts in the backyard and soon hurried over.

"Darling, our goods—they’ve arrived?" Xiao Zetian was visibly excited.

"Yes, they’re here, stored in a safe place. Tonight we can inspect the goods," Su Li’s eyes sparkled as she whispered in Xiao Zetian’s ear, "With this batch of weapons, you can pick trusted men from the army and form the Divine Fire Battalion. With the elite Xiao Family Army and Divine Fire Battalion in our hands, our fists are the hardest—no one can intimidate us now."