"Well..."
After hearing Jiang Xiaobai's string of conditions, Li Bingzhang could not help giving a wry smile.
Indeed.
Jiang Xiaobai had delivered all that with perfect confidence, and every point held water. He had truly caught Li Bingzhang off guard.
Li Bingzhang had come unprepared. Just then, a clear, mellow voice suddenly rang out. "I have a few points to make myself."
As the voice fell, every gaze in the hall immediately turned to Li Zhiwei.
Even Jiang Xiaobai looked at her with some curiosity.
Yes, he too wanted to know what this woman would say.
Under everyone's gaze, Li Zhiwei slowly raised her head.
Much of the earlier bashfulness in her clear eyes had faded, replaced by a rare seriousness.
"First, ours is ultimately a partnership, so this marriage is merely a stopgap measure."
Looking at Jiang Xiaobai, Li Zhiwei said earnestly, "Therefore, once you enter the Chancellor's Residence, my Li Family will arrange separate quarters for you. In our daily lives, we will each keep to our own quarters and leave each other undisturbed."
At those words,
Jiang Xiaobai first froze, then the corner of his mouth twitched.
Good grief, this woman really wasn't pulling any punches!
Yet Li Zhiwei seemed not to notice his expression and continued, "Second, after entering our Chancellor's Residence, you must not stay out all night without a legitimate reason!"
As those words fell, the atmosphere in the hall grew a little more peculiar.
Seated at the head of the hall, Jiang Jingcheng could not help giving her an odd look.
Why... did that sound somehow off?
She called it a partnership, yet this second condition sounded as though she had already set all the household rules in stone for Jiang Xiaobai.
He immediately glanced at his son.
It seemed this woman... was not nearly as delicate as she appeared.
If his son truly married into her family, he would probably have some hard days ahead!
But Shen Yun, standing to one side, looked increasingly pleased as she listened.
Yes, this girl was not only beautiful but clearheaded too.
Very good!
As for Jiang Xiaobai, he lightly stroked his chin, looking at Li Zhiwei with an even deeper smile in his eyes.
This woman sounded so composed, but that second condition was rather interesting.
At this point, Li Zhiwei herself looked slightly uncomfortable.
Still, she quickly steadied herself and continued, "Third, my father may bear the reputation of having threatened your Jiang Family, but for no longer than six months."
"Within those six months, you must find a way to turn this matter around completely."
"Otherwise, if it drags on too long, not only will the Chancellor's Residence suffer, but my father's standing in the Imperial Court will be affected as well."
As she finished that condition, Li Bingzhang immediately gave a slight nod.
Indeed, he had intended to raise this point later himself. He had not expected his daughter to voice it first.
Jiang Xiaobai had no objection to this either.
After all, he understood that the Li Family could join him in this game, but they could never let him drag it out indefinitely.
Six months was already a considerable length of time!
"Fourth."
Li Zhiwei paused, then continued, "Once you enter the Chancellor's Residence, you must not exploit your status as its son-in-law to swindle people outside, much less use our Chancellor's Residence's name to stir up trouble."
"In particular..."
At this point, Li Zhiwei cast a pointed glance at Jiang Xiaobai. "You must no longer visit places such as the Spring Moon Tower, the Drunken Flower Tower, or the Listening Rain Pavilion."
"If something truly requires you to go, you must first ask my permission!"
"Well..."
At Li Zhiwei's words, Jiang Jingcheng could not help feeling sorry for the days awaiting his son.
Jiang Xiaobai's expression stiffened, and he could not help saying, "Senior Sister, aren't you... getting a little too specific?"
"Of course. Being specific keeps you from finding loopholes."
Li Zhiwei answered crisply, her face expressionless.
"Fifth, since you are entering the Chancellor's Residence, you should at least conduct yourself respectably in public from now on."
Li Zhiwei continued, "Your clothing must not be too frivolous, and your words and actions must not be too unrestrained!"
"Sixth, if our Chancellor's Residence encounters a problem that requires you to step forward, you must not shirk it. After all, you said this marriage alliance is a partnership, so you cannot simply reap the benefits without putting in any effort."
"Seventh, if circumstances change in the future and my Li Family's reputation is at stake, you must first ensure my father's safety."
"Eighth, if you truly uncover the person behind this plot, you must not act on your own before you are absolutely certain of success. You must first discuss it with my father and me."
At that condition, Li Bingzhang's eyes visibly brightened.
Indeed.
This was the condition that truly revealed her thoughtfulness.
His daughter was not guarding against Jiang Xiaobai.
Rather, she was reminding him that the game of the Imperial Court could not be won through hotheaded passion alone.
Hearing this, Jiang Xiaobai also reined in some of the playfulness on his face.
"Ninth, after the wedding, we may act as husband and wife in public, but in private... you must not deliberately touch me, make indecent remarks, or... or use this relationship to force yourself on me."
At those words,
Jiang Xiaobai outright froze, then asked with a face full of innocence, "Do I... look like that sort of person?"
Li Zhiwei gave a soft huff.
Her meaning was plainly... You do!
For a moment, the atmosphere in the hall grew rather odd. Even Lin Fengshuo could not help smiling and shaking his head.
Just then, Li Zhiwei suddenly paused. "Likewise, I have one condition that matters most."
At these words, everyone's expression in the hall grew a little more solemn.
Jiang Xiaobai also raised his head, genuine gravity appearing in his eyes for the first time.
Because he understood perfectly well.
Everything before this had, in the end, merely been rules.
This condition would be the true line that must not be crossed.
And sure enough,
Li Zhiwei slowly spoke. "Whether this partnership is real or not, and wherever this marriage ultimately leads, once you enter the doors of our Chancellor's Residence, you must not betray my Li Family."
"Much less... betray me!"
"Of course, if you truly have someone you love, she may only enter the household as a concubine. She must not overstep the bounds of propriety owed to the principal wife."
For a moment, the entire hall fell silent.
Jiang Jingcheng looked slightly startled.
Shen Yun could not help looking at Li Zhiwei anew, her gaze softening.
Because this final condition actually took Jiang Xiaobai's wishes into consideration.
Moreover, once those words had fallen, all the earlier conditions seemed far less important.
Sitting there, Jiang Xiaobai looked at Li Zhiwei, his expression noticeably more serious than before.
Because with this final condition, Li Zhiwei was not only asking where he stood; she was also showing him where she herself stood.
"All right, I can accept all of that!"
Jiang Xiaobai nodded slightly. "But... could I add one condition?"
"Go ahead!" Li Zhiwei replied.
"Ahem..."
Jiang Xiaobai cleared his throat. "If we grow to love each other over time... could our first child take my surname, Jiang?"
Before you continue