I'm Not That Cheap

"Nonsense, utter nonsense!" The village chief was so angry he almost slapped her, while Mrs. Tang covered her head and fled immediately.

The villagers watching the commotion also dispersed in small groups. Although they didn’t fully believe Mrs. Tang’s claim that Su Li was violated, they felt it wasn’t baseless. After all, Su Li, a beautiful girl, had been kidnapped by a man before; it was possible she had indeed been harmed.

Thus, the rumors, half-truths and half-lies, quietly spread throughout the village.

At this moment, Xiao Zetian returned home with Su Li. Lingdang immediately came forward to escort them back to the room.

Inside the room, Su Li sat on the edge of the bed, wrapped in a blanket, her expression blank.

Xiao Zetian knelt on one knee beside her, trying to take her hand, but was stopped by her vacant gaze.

"General Xiao, you may leave now and go marry your Princess of Chu," Su Li said calmly. "If you want to cooperate with me in business, just appoint an official to liaise with me. There's no need for a great general to personally handle these matters."

"Ah Li!" Xiao Zetian couldn’t care about anything else. He grabbed Su Li’s hand and pressed it to his chest. "Hearing you say that breaks my heart!"

Su Li looked up, coldly staring at Xiao Zetian, then at Lingdang, her expression equally icy.

She scrutinized Lingdang and sneered, "I always said my four disciples were all clever, diligent, and eager to learn. Turns out, they’re all Xiao family’s elite secret guards. Tsk, having you come to steal my cooking skills must be quite a hardship for you."

Lingdang suddenly turned pale and knelt down. "Master, I didn’t come to steal skills; my master ordered me to protect your safety closely. He cares about you very much..."

"Is that so..." Su Li forced a smile. If it weren’t for Prince Ling, she wouldn’t have realized how valuable she was, being sought after by two powerful men who both wanted to use her talents.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and Mrs. Wang’s voice came with genuine concern and anxiety, "Ah Li, how are you? Are you hurt?"

Hearing Mrs. Wang’s voice, Su Li’s nose tingled. Thinking of the night’s fear, grievances, and the shock and disappointment after learning the truth, she almost cried.

Mrs. Wang was very pleased with Yuanbao as a son-in-law and wholeheartedly hoped that Yuanbao and Su Li would live happily together and have several children.

Su Li thought about how heartbroken Mrs. Wang would be if she knew the truth — it would be no less than her own pain.

Su Li sniffled and said, "Mother, I’m fine, really. Just tired and want to rest."

Xiao Zetian spoke up, "Mother, I’m taking care of my wife, please don’t worry."

Only then did Mrs. Wang say, "Alright then, Yuanbao, take good care of Ah Li. If anything happens, call me immediately."

"Got it!" Xiao Zetian replied.

Outside the door, Mrs. Wang’s footsteps gradually faded away. Su Li lowered her head, tears dropping one by one.

"General Xiao, you should leave. The countryside isn’t a place for someone like you to stay long," Su Li said as she pulled her hand away, wiped her tears, took a few deep breaths, and looked up. Her eyes no longer showed confusion or helplessness but a newfound clarity and resilience.

She was always a strong-willed woman who wouldn’t drown in sorrow. She had to pull herself together to keep living and to support this family.

Xiao Zetian looked at her sadly, "Ah Li, do you really want to send me away?"

"And if I don’t leave?" Su Li gave a bitter, mocking smile. "You are, after all, the fiancé of Princess Mingyu. What am I caught in the middle? The mistress who ruins your marriage? I, Su Li, am not that cheap!"