YWTGU -Chapter 29 Father! I Truly Want to Help Him

The next morning.

At the residence of the Imperial Maternal Uncle, in the embroidery tower.

Liu Wanqing, the daughter of the Imperial Maternal Uncle and one of the Four Beauties of the capital, sat in front of her dressing table. Looking at herself in the bronze mirror, she suddenly burst into laughter.

Her face was oval, her eyebrows like willow leaves—at twenty, she was in the prime of her youth.

“Miss…”

Her maid, Xiaocui, chattered beside her. “You’ve been going to the construction site for five days straight. The master says… he wonders if you’ve lost your mind.”

Liu Wanqing picked up a hairpin and slowly fixed it into her bun.

“Lost my mind? What do you mean?”

“Oh, Miss, just take a look at yourself in the mirror!”

Xiaocui leaned closer, blinking. “Look at your face—you’re practically blooming with smiles. I think… you’re not going for the project… you’re going for someone, aren’t you?”

Liu Wanqing’s cheeks flared red.

“Nonsense!”

“Xiaocui’s not making things up,” Xiaocui said with a teasing smile. “Just yesterday evening, you were back here, holding the account book Master Li gave you, grinning like a fool!”

“That… that was me thinking about something!”

Liu Wanqing glared at her in embarrassment.

“Thinking about what?”

“Thinking…”

She bit her lip and finally sighed softly. “Thinking that Master Li really has it tough.”

“Look at him—handling such a massive project, so many messes, all on his own, and still managing the factions in the court.”

“Xiaocui… you see…”

She paused, then spoke more gently, “Master Li works so hard… it must be incredibly difficult. Yet he never shows it. Like a mountain standing tall, enduring wind and rain without ever moving.”

Xiaocui froze for a moment, then covered her mouth to stifle a giggle.

“Miss, it’s not about whether the mountain moves or not… I think it’s you… who’s moved, isn’t it?”

Liu Wanqing said nothing.

She just stared at herself in the mirror, her eyes distant.

Moved?

She wasn’t sure if that counted as being moved.

But these past few days at the construction site, she had watched Li An running around, dealing with the Prime Minister’s Mansion one moment and calming merchants the next.

Even though those materials were obviously fake, he pretended not to notice and handed the matter entirely to her.

Wasn’t that a hint?

Master Li surely knew there was something wrong, but he couldn’t offend the Prime Minister’s Mansion or the noble families, so he used her Imperial Maternal Uncle’s name to clear the mess.

Thinking this, Liu Wanqing felt no anger at being “used”; instead, her heart warmed.

He trusted her.

To entrust such an important task to her was to treat her as…

“Miss!”

At that moment, Xiaocui suddenly leaned closer, lowering her voice. “Master is waiting for you in the main hall. He says it’s an important matter.”

Liu Wanqing froze.

“My father wants to see me?”

“Yes, you’d better go.”

…

At the Imperial Maternal Uncle’s residence, in the main hall.

Liu De sat in the Grand Tutor’s chair, holding a cup of hot tea.

In his fifties, with a goatee, dressed in a luxurious dark-patterned brocade robe, he exuded the air of royal kin.

“Father.”

Liu Wanqing walked in and bowed formally.

“Wanqing has come,” Liu De said with a smile. “Sit down.”

Liu Wanqing took a seat on the embroidered stool nearby.

“Father, why did you want to see me?”

Liu De sipped his tea, eyes squinting. “How’s the work at the World Expo construction site going lately?”

“Not bad,” Liu Wanqing nodded. “The issues with the materials have mostly been handled.”

“Hmm?”

Liu De raised his eyebrows, suspicious. “What issues?”

“Well…”

She paused, then lowered her voice. “The materials provided by the merchants were all fake. I had them returned. Now we’ve replaced them with new suppliers—reliable channels from our Imperial Maternal Uncle’s merchant guild.”

Hearing this, Liu De’s smile froze.

“What?”

“What’s wrong, Father?”

“You… you returned all those materials?”

“Yes,” Liu Wanqing said, puzzled. “They were fake, substandard, and overpriced. How could I let them slip through?”

“You!”

Liu De slammed his tea table. “Foolish!”

Liu Wanqing flinched.

“Father…”

“Don’t you realize most of these merchants belong to the Prime Minister’s Mansion?”

“I know,” Liu Wanqing bit her lip. “But Master Li entrusted this matter to me so I could clean up these crooked dealings.”

“Master Li?”

Liu De’s beard trembled with anger. “You actually think you’re working for Li An?”

“Wanqing, listen carefully!”

He lowered his voice and leaned in. “I had you go to the construction site to use your charm to win Li An over, to bring him to our side—not to actually play a righteous official!”

Liu Wanqing’s face fell.

“You mean… you want me to seduce him?”

“Seduce? How can you call it that?”

Liu De waved his hand. “It’s called… a political marriage, understand?”

“Li An is hot right now. He’s the head of the Expo and the Treasury Office, controlling millions in silver!”

“A rising star of the court, favored by the Emperor—we must win him over!”

Liu Wanqing bit her lip, her voice trembling. “Then… Father, you want me to do what exactly?”

“Simple,” Liu De said, sipping tea. “Stay close to him, speak softly, touch his hand occasionally, tug his sleeve.”

“Men fall for this every time.”

“Once he has feelings for you, bring up our Imperial Maternal Uncle’s difficulties, and he’ll naturally take care of us. Eventually, he’ll become part of our family.”

Though Liu Wanqing had suspected this, hearing her father say it so bluntly and mercilessly chilled her. She pressed her lips together and asked:

“Father, you mean to use me like this?”

“Wanqing,” Liu De sighed, “you’re young and don’t understand court politics.”

“People like us, royal relatives, look powerful, but we tread on thin ice.”

“This Li An is a new scholar, talented and capable. Favored by the Emperor, if we bring him over, the benefits for our family will be endless…”

“But…”

Liu Wanqing took a deep breath. “But Master Li isn’t that kind of person!”

“He…”

She paused, then added, “He truly works for the good of Great Qi!”

Liu De froze, then laughed.

“Truly for the good of Great Qi?”

“Wanqing, you’ve been fooled by him!”

“Where are the clean officials in the court? They’re all faking it!”

“Li An is just better at pretending than the rest.”

“He’s not pretending!”

Liu Wanqing suddenly stood, her eyes red.

“These past few days at the site, I’ve seen everything clearly!”

“The merchants sent fake materials. He knew but didn’t expose it, he just gave me full authority!”

“He’s using our name to clean up these corrupt officials!”

“He trusts me—how could I betray him!”

“Father!”

She took a deep breath, speaking each word deliberately, “I am never anyone’s pawn!”

Tears welled in her eyes. “You sent me to win over Li An… fine, but at the site, what did I see?”

“The merchants’ fake materials! The Prime Minister’s Mansion lining their pockets! The Expo turning into a shoddy project!”

“Master Li…”

“He gave me the procurement authority completely, trusting me to fix these crooked dealings!”

“How could I betray his trust!”

Liu De was stunned by his daughter’s words.

After a long while, he could only helplessly ask:

“Wanqing… you… you haven’t really fallen for that boy, have you?”

Liu Wanqing didn’t answer.

But her silence said it all.

“Absurd!”

Liu De slammed the table. “Do you realize the kickbacks from those materials could’ve funded our family for years?”

“The Prime Minister’s Mansion takes half, we take half—everyone profits, that’s the proper way!”

“But you… you kicked those merchants out and made our guild run honestly?”

“You’ve cut off our own source of income!”

Liu Wanqing raised her head, her eyes resolute.

“Father, Master Li is truly an idealistic, ambitious, loyal, and patriotic minister.”

“What he wants is to strengthen Great Qi and let the people live well.”

“I admire him and…”

Her face flushed further. “…I look up to him.”

“So I won’t let those crooked merchants ruin his reputation.”

“Even if Father punishes me, I’ll accept it!”

Liu De was dumbfounded.

He pointed at Liu Wanqing, speechless.

The charm strategy… he realized he’d risked his daughter!

“You… you really…”

He slumped back into his chair and sighed.

“Fine, fine… since your mind is made up, I won’t say more.”

“But…”

He looked at Liu Wanqing and forced a smile. “Wanqing… is this really worth it? Are you that sure Li An isn’t using you?”

“I think it’s worth it.”

Liu Wanqing’s gaze was clear. “Master Li is a good man. I want to help him—even if it means being used!”

…

Two hours later.

At the Scholar’s Mansion, accounting office.

Hongmei sat at the table, organizing accounts.

She opened the latest procurement list and frowned.

“What’s going on?”

Jin Daya stood nearby cautiously. “Miss Hongmei, these were all re-procured by Miss Liu.”

“She said the previous batch was fake, returned everything, and got new suppliers.”

Hongmei’s expression darkened.

“Liu Wanqing…”

She gritted her teeth, voice cold. “How many days has she been at the site?”

“Five days.”

“Every day?”

“Every day,” Jin Daya nodded. “And each time, she only leaves at dusk.”

Hongmei put down the account book, her gaze turning sharp.

“I see… you may leave now.”

After Jin Daya left, Hongmei sat alone, her expression terrifyingly grim.

She picked up the list and checked each item.

Golden Nanmu wood, market price: 180 taels, Liu Wanqing’s purchase: 190 taels.
Taihu stone, market: 120 taels, Liu Wanqing: 130 taels.
Glazed tiles, market: 80 taels, Liu Wanqing: 85 taels.

…

All genuine products.

All reasonable prices.

Some even cheaper than market.

Hongmei clenched the book, but her heart churned.

Liu Wanqing…

She wasn’t here to embezzle.

She was truly helping Li An!

“Hmph.”

Hongmei sneered. “Playing innocent? The daughter of the Imperial Maternal Uncle wouldn’t be greedy?”

“Isn’t it just because she fancies my master? Pretentious!”

She stood, walked to the window, and looked at the sky.

Yet her heart felt inexplicably uneasy.

…

By evening.

Li An returned from the Ministry of Revenue and, upon entering, saw Hongmei sitting in the hall with a troubled expression.

“What’s wrong?”

“Young Master,” Hongmei stood and handed over the account book. “This is Miss Liu’s procurement list for the past few days.”

Li An took it casually and flipped through it.

“Hm, not bad.”

“Have you looked carefully, Young Master?”

Hongmei’s voice carried a hint of urgency. “All these materials are genuine, and the prices are very reasonable.”

“Liu Wanqing… she… she hasn’t embezzled anything!”

Li An froze for a moment.

“Not embezzled?”

He lowered his head and checked the account book again.

Golden nanmu wood, 190 taels… normal price.

Taihu stones, 130 taels… normal price.

Glazed tiles, 85 taels… normal price?!

Something was off.

Wasn’t Liu Wanqing the daughter of the Imperial Uncle?

Wasn’t the Imperial Uncle supposed to be skimming profits?

Yet, she was even more honest than those people at the Prime Minister’s mansion?

Li An’s head was buzzing.

“This… this isn’t right!”

Hongmei said coldly from the side, “I heard from Jin Daya that Miss Liu has been at the construction site every day these past few days, personally inspecting the goods and negotiating the prices.”

“She also said…”

Hongmei paused, her tone tinged with sourness, “Young Master Li is a loyal and patriotic official. She cannot let unscrupulous merchants tarnish your reputation.”

Hearing this, Li An’s whole body sank.

Liu Wanqing… Liu Wanqing…

Are you here to help me or to sabotage me?

I gave you full authority so that the Imperial Uncle’s mansion could skim profits, so the expo would become a real shoddy project!

But instead, you’ve started running an honest business?

Then how am I supposed to waste the nation’s money?

At that moment, the system chimed.

Ding!

【Liu Wanqing sincerely supports Li An!】

【Refuses embezzlement! Imperial Uncle’s business guild takes over procurement, operating with integrity!】

【Expo project quality guaranteed!】

【Great Qi National Fortune +1000】

【Current National Fortune: 38,479】

Li An’s face immediately fell.

“What?! National fortune… went up again?”

He stared at the system panel, feeling almost ready to cry.

One thousand points of National Fortune!

One thousand points!

He had been undermining the nation for over half a month, watching the National Fortune continuously drop. And Liu Wanqing had just restored a thousand points in five days?

“Young Master?”

Hongmei saw his expression and whispered, “Are you alright?”

“I…”

Li An took a deep breath and forced calm. “I’m fine.”

“It’s just…”

He looked at the account book in his hands, feeling helpless and speechless.

Damn it!

The Imperial Uncle’s mansion is running an honest business…

Is this even the same Imperial Uncle’s mansion?

“Young Master,” Hongmei’s voice turned colder, “I think this woman, Liu Wanqing, isn’t entirely straightforward.”

“A daughter of the Imperial Uncle, running to the construction site every day, and still paying attention to you…”

She paused. “I feel she has other intentions! You should be careful.”

Li An forced a bitter smile.

“I know.”

Of course he knew.

Perhaps at first, Liu Wanqing had been persuaded by the Imperial Uncle to cozy up to him and employ the charms of a beauty.

But unfortunately… his personal charm—no! His charisma—was overwhelming.

After several in-depth exchanges, perhaps Liu Wanqing truly had been captivated by his charm?

What she was doing now… she genuinely wanted to help him!

But the problem was…

He didn’t need help!

What he needed were people to drag him down, to embezzle, to make shoddy constructions!

Yet now…

The merchants at the Prime Minister’s mansion were embezzling under his guidance, and performing quite well, each one a black-hearted scoundrel.

But Liu Wanqing, representing the Imperial Uncle, ran an honest business and cleared out all the unscrupulous merchants at the Prime Minister’s side…

And he had given her full authority, total control!

Now… he had really lost out!

“Young Master,” Hongmei asked, “should I… warn Liu Wanqing?”

“No need.”

Li An waved his hand. “She hasn’t done anything wrong.”

“But—”

“There’s no ‘but,’” Li An sighed. “Let her be.”

He couldn’t stop her anyway.

Just then, Jin Daya rushed in, out of breath.

“Master! Master!”

“What is it?”

“Just now, news came from the Imperial Uncle’s business guild,” Jin Daya panted, “they’re going to fully take over all procurement for the expo!”

“And…”

He swallowed. “Miss Liu gave a strict order: all suppliers must provide genuine materials at reasonable prices. Anyone who falsifies will be immediately kicked off the supplier list!”

Li An: …

Hongmei: …

“There’s more, Master,” Jin Daya continued. “Miss Liu also said she will personally oversee every procurement to ensure your reputation isn’t harmed!”

“She said…”

Jin Daya scratched his head. “Young Master Li is the most upright and responsible official she’s ever met. She is determined to help him make this expo the most successful in Great Qi’s history!”

Li An closed his eyes.

It’s over.

Completely over.

Liu Wanqing treats him like a saint.

And wholeheartedly, devotedly wants to help him.

“Young Master…”

Hongmei looked at Li An with concern.

“I’m fine,” Li An opened his eyes. “I’m just… a little tired.”

Tired?

Not just tired.

Exhausted to the soul.

All he wanted now was a place to lie down.

But…

The system wouldn’t allow it.

Ding!

【Imperial Uncle’s business guild fully intervenes in expo procurement!】

【Commitment to honest operations! No corruption!】

【Expo costs greatly reduced! Project quality greatly improved!】

【Great Qi National Fortune +500】

【Current National Fortune: 38,979】

Li An stared at the system notification, dumbfounded.

Another five hundred points?

“Young Master?”

Jin Daya asked cautiously, “Are you… alright?”

“I’m fine,” Li An waved him off. “Continue.”

“Yes,” Jin Daya nodded. “Also, Miss Liu called a meeting with all suppliers this afternoon.”

“She said,” Jin Daya scratched his head, “from now on, anyone who delivers fake goods or inflates prices will not only be kicked off the supplier list but reported to the authorities!”

The merchants were all pale with fear.

Li An: …

“Young Master,” Jin Daya lowered his voice, “I heard that the Prime Minister’s mansion already sent word, saying Miss Liu is not giving the Prime Minister face.”

“What did the Prime Minister say?”

“The Prime Minister said…”

Jin Daya swallowed. “That you should properly ‘discipline’ Miss Liu, so she doesn’t break the rules.”

Li An forced a bitter smile.

Discipline her?

With what?

Liu Wanqing was determined to help him “do good.”

“Got it,” Li An waved his hand. “You may leave now.”

“Yes, Master.”

After Jin Daya left, Li An sat alone, staring at the night outside the window.

He tried to console himself: it’s fine, it’s fine. Honest operations—so what? At least she isn’t cheating on the purchases.

But in essence, his grand strategy was still intact!

Even if all materials were genuine, it was still wasting the nation’s silver on useless constructions—just from massive waste to smaller waste, still acceptable!

Hongmei stood beside him, eyes complicated.

“Young Master,” she said softly, “this Liu Wanqing woman…”

“I know,” Li An sighed. “She genuinely wants to help me.”

“So what will you do?”

“What can I do?”

Li An spread his hands. “I can’t exactly say, ‘I’m trying to ruin the nation, don’t help me,’ right?”

Hongmei fell silent.

After a long moment, she said, “Young Master, I feel… Liu Wanqing’s feelings toward you are more than just helping.”

“What do you mean?”

“She…”

Hongmei bit her lip. “She may truly have feelings for you.”

Li An froze.

“Feelings for me?”

“Mm,” Hongmei nodded. “I observed her these past few days. Every time she looks at you, her gaze… is different.”

“And on the construction site, she praises you to everyone, saying you are a loyal and patriotic official, the backbone of Great Qi.”

“The tone…”

Hongmei paused. “It’s like… like a girl praising her crush.”

Li An’s entire body sank.

Liu Wanqing actually likes him?

Damn…

He just wanted the Imperial Uncle’s mansion to skim a little profit, and now he’s stolen the daughter’s heart instead?

“Young Master,” Hongmei’s voice was cold, “you… haven’t fallen for her too, have you?”

“Me?”

Li An waved frantically. “Impossible!”

“I’ve barely met her a few times!”

“That’s good,” Hongmei exhaled, though her tone was still sour. “After all, a lady of her status, delicate as she is, may seem obedient now. But when she enters the family, her willful, capricious side will show.”

Li An: …

Something about Hongmei’s words didn’t sound right.

“Young Master,” Hongmei asked, “what will you do next?”

“What else can I do?”

Li An smiled. “Go with the flow.”

“If Liu Wanqing wants to operate honestly, let her. Anyway…”

He sighed. “Even if she runs an honest business, the silver is still being spent in heaps, right?”

“True!”

Hongmei nodded. “Our goal is to spend as much of Great Qi’s treasury silver as possible! With Liu Wanqing doing this, at most we’ll get more quality materials, but it won’t affect our grand plan.”

“Yes! Don’t worry! Great Qi is spending enormous resources on this flashy, useless world expo, draining national power. The young emperor will grow more impractical, seeking glory. The ministers are busy filling their pockets. How can Great Qi not fail under such circumstances?”

Li An stood up. “Sleep, sleep. We’ll see tomorrow. Maybe by tomorrow morning, half of Great Qi’s National Fortune will already be gone!”

Yes!

Even now, Li An remained optimistic.

After all, the nation’s fortune had fallen from nearly ninety thousand points to under forty thousand. Liu Wanqing’s little bit of diligence could at most restore a few thousand points.

A small problem! No problem at all!

Moreover, Liu Wanqing’s actions gave him an extra layer of protection for his persona as a “loyal official of Great Qi,” serving as a clever cover.