When Ye Xi and the others arrived at the Luo Mansion, the Luo family was in complete chaos.
"My daughter married into your Luo family to be your daughter - in - law, not a servant," roared Qiao Yiting, the wife of the imperial censor, grief - stricken and furious.
"Even if she were a servant, there's no reason not to call a doctor when she's sick. Do you think our Su family is dead with the way you Luo family have been acting?!"
As soon as they passed through the small gate of the courtyard, they heard her voice.
Immediately afterwards came Zhou Zhanlan's somewhat guilty but forcibly defiant voice:
"She's a grown - up. If she gets sick and doesn't say a word, what does it have to do with us?
"The autumn imperial examination is approaching. Our children are preparing for the exam. Our family head is busy with official business, and I've been ill. There are countless things to do. If she can't help, that's fine. But if she gets sick and doesn't know to call a doctor herself, we can't have the whole family revolve around her, can we?"
"You..."
Qiao Yiting was so angry that her chest heaved violently.
On the couch, Su Xin, looking haggard and sick, propped herself up and patted Qiao Yiting's hand, signaling her not to be too angry.
Qiao Yan beside her also helped to pat Qiao Yiting on the back to calm her down and said resentfully:
"Auntie, don't waste your breath on her. It's useless to talk to someone who twists the facts and has no shame. Let's just take cousin back."
"Miss Qiao,"
Zhou Qingqing spoke up:
"This is a matter between our Luo family and the Su family. You're an unmarried young lady. You shouldn't get involved. Be careful you won't be able to get married later."
"None of your business!"
Qiao Yan glared at her fiercely and cursed directly:
"You're just a concubine. There's no place for you to talk about the mistress's affairs."
"You, you're so vulgar!"
Zhou Qingqing's face turned red and then pale from Qiao Yan's scolding. With tears in her eyes, she threw herself into Luo Ji's arms, who had been silent all this time.
Qiao Yan didn't even look at her. She stared directly at Zhou Zhanlan, her beautiful eyes blazing with anger:
"I'm telling you, today I'm not only taking cousin away, but I'm also taking Lian Yi with me!"
"You're being presumptuous!"
Zhou Zhanlan thundered:
"Su Xin is a member of our Luo family, and Lian Yi is our Luo family's daughter. Where did you, a young girl who's hardly grown up, get the audacity to say such things!
"Even in the case of a mutual divorce, there's no precedent under heaven for taking the child away. Who do you think you are, talking about taking away members of our Luo family at will!"
"Humph - "
Qiao Yan snorted coldly. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ye Xi coming in with Jian Yue. Immediately, she felt more confident:
"I don't care whether you allow it or not. I'm making the decision today!
"If you dare to play tricks and make things difficult, don't blame me for exposing your son's dirty secrets."
"What, what dirty secrets?"
Everyone in the Luo family was shocked. Zhou Zhanlan's voice trembled. She exchanged a few nervous glances with her son.
"My son is upright and has no dirty secrets!"
Qiao Yiting and Su Xin were also looking confused. When did Qiao Yan get hold of the Luo family's dirty laundry?
The mother - daughter pair exchanged glances and then looked at Lian Yi, who was looking worriedly at Su Xin. Although they were both puzzled, they saw the same determination to draw a clear line from the Luo family in each other's eyes.
Previously, they had been patient, only hoping that Lian Yi would be well. But after this incident, they finally understood that endless concession would never lead to a way out. If they could take Lian Yi and escape from the Luo family's den of wolves, they would be willing to go through any hardship.
Looking eagerly at Qiao Yan, the mother and daughter were waiting for her to expose the Luo family's secrets.
Under everyone's various gazes, Qiao Yan sneered and said:
"Jian Yue, invite the Immortal Lady Man Ping."
"Yes."
Jian Yue responded briskly. She stepped aside to let Ye Xi and the others in and made a gesture of invitation.
For a moment, everyone tensed up.
The Immortal Lady Man Ping was already becoming quite famous. Especially after the incident at the Ye family, when it was revealed that she was the junior sister of the Grand Master Hun Yuan, she became extremely popular.
Many families were willing to pay a fortune to ask for her divination. Even many unclear cases in the government yamen wanted to invite her to help. But then the Immortal Lady Man Ping suddenly stopped taking orders, saying that she needed to take a break before resuming her divination. Those with urgent matters were extremely anxious and searched everywhere for a way to find her. Some powerful people even went to Hun Yuan, but most of them returned empty - handed.
Unexpectedly, Qiao Yan had such a connection with her. The person that others couldn't find anywhere was easily invited by Qiao Yan.
Luo Ji's face turned pale. He subconsciously looked at his mother and saw that her face was equally ugly.
Ye Xi herself was completely confused.
Qiao Yan had spoken so confidently, but she hadn't found out anything yet. Where were the Luo family's secrets to expose?
Sure enough, they heard Qiao Yan say:
"Immortal Lady Man Ping, Luo Ji, the eldest son of the Luo family, often goes to an unassuming tavern on Chuiming Road. I've investigated that tavern. It's not a decent place. As long as you ask in public, the truth will come out."
"Luo Ji has a scholarly title and is already an official. He often goes to those shady places, sometimes even sneaking there in broad daylight. An official consorting with prostitutes and corrupting official ethics will be dismissed and punished!"
Although this speech sounded intimidating at first, it was actually baseless.
Ye Xi thought: ... How could I have suspected Qiao Yan of hiring a murderer back then?
With Qiao Yan's straightforward personality, if she really had the intention, she would definitely go there with a knife herself. She wouldn't bother to hire a murderer.
The Luo family members were relieved to find that after Qiao Yan's indignant speech, there was actually no solid evidence. They had to wait for Ye Xi's divination to determine the guilt.
Even Qiao Yiting and Su Xin's eyes dimmed.
"Is that all?"
Zhou Zhanlan sneered mockingly:
"I thought you had some great ability, but it turns out to be nothing but groundless speculation."
"Everyone has their own preferences. If my son likes the wine in that tavern, so what? If he wants to go and buy it during the day, he'll go during the day. If he wants to go at night, he'll go at night. Is that something to be criticized?"
"Stop quibbling,"
Qiao Yan pointed at Zhou Zhanlan.
"That tavern is not a decent place at all. Your son goes there so often. Can you say there's nothing fishy about it?"
"Miss Qiao is wrong,"
Luo Ji finally spoke up. The false smile on his face couldn't hide his smugness:
"I just go there to buy wine. How would I know if the tavern is decent or not? Even if it's not, what does it have to do with me? Not every person who goes there to buy wine is the kind of person Miss Qiao is talking about, right?"
"Pfft!"
Qiao Yan was furious. Even Qiao Yiting beside her couldn't hold her back:
"You keep saying 'I don't know' and 'it has nothing to do with me'. Then let the Immortal Lady Man Ping ask, and the truth will come out!"
"Tsk - "
Luo Ji sneered disdainfully:
"Miss Qiao's words really don't make sense. Do you think you can just ask for divination whenever you want?
"Open your eyes and take a look. The land you're standing on belongs to the Luo family, not your Qiao family."
"Uh..."
Qiao Yan was at a loss for words.
She was used to being straightforward. She just wanted the Immortal Lady Man Ping to come and determine Luo Ji's guilt through divination to save her cousin and Lian Yi from their plight. She never considered the possibility that Luo Ji would refuse the divination.
Now that the situation was at a standstill, Qiao Yan subconsciously looked at Ye Xi, who had remained silent since she arrived.