Zhao Shuning never would have dreamed.
That she would experience such a grand welcome ceremony.
She thought she was just staying at the Xie Family as a temporary guest, simply needing a place to stay. Moreover, she remembered that she hadn't agreed to any conditions set by Xie Yu.
Before even entering the main gate of the Xie Family, she saw heavily armed guards standing there.
Zhao Xiangxiang stopped in her tracks and tugged at Zhao Shuning's clothes.
Yes, in all these years, Zhao Xiangxiang had never seen such a grand occasion.
"Zhao Xiangxiang, don't be afraid."
"I'm not afraid. I just find it a bit strange."
At this moment, Zhao Xiangxiang didn't know that Zhao Shuning was a fourth - rank alchemist.
Having read many books in her life, she had a certain understanding of these great families.
Just the young master of the Xie Family, Xie Yu, was quite well - known north of the Huai River.
Not to mention the head of the Xie Family, Xie Yuan, who was like a powerful figure south of the Huai River.
Zhao Xiangxiang knew that Zhao Shuning was a third - rank herbalist.
But the strange thing was, how could a third - rank herbalist make Xie Yu be so respectful to her and even address her as "Boss"?
What exactly had happened on that big ship? Zhao Shuning hadn't told her yet. Every time Zhao Xiangxiang asked, Zhao Shuning would look at her in slight surprise and say, "You couldn't even control the spiritual tool I gave you and got tied up by it. Do you really want me to tell you the embarrassing details?"
Zhao Xiangxiang was very vain. Every time Zhao Shuning said this, she would frown in anger, turn her head, and stop talking.
Anyway, that girl Zhao Shuning always seemed to have some extraordinary power. Since she came to the Zhao Family, there had been many astonishing things. One more wouldn't make a difference.
Although Zhao Shuning found the scene in front of her a bit strange, she still walked in expressionlessly.
As for Xie Yuan, he had originally prepared to welcome an old senior. Because after Xie Yu told him about this, he received an order from a higher - level grand master, so he didn't have time to find out whether that fourth - rank alchemist was male or female and what they looked like.
The moment the main gate opened, except for Xie Yu, who looked normal, everyone else was full of doubts.
The first one to enter the Xie Family was Zhao Shuning, an eight - year - old cute girl.
Xie Yuan and the servants all looked behind her in unison.
Then came Zhao Xiangxiang.
They looked behind Zhao Xiangxiang again.
But after Zhao Xiangxiang, there was no one else. The main gate slowly closed, and the smile on Xie Yuan's face froze at that moment.
Then, the smiling Xie Yu was in trouble.
Xie Yuan sighed, looked at the self - satisfied Xie Yu, and then said, "Bring out the family law."
Xie Yu, who had been smiling just now, immediately panicked when he heard this.
"Father, why are you bringing out the family law for no reason?"
But Xie Yuan didn't answer him. Instead, after getting the family law stick, he directly hit Xie Yu's buttocks.
"I'll teach you to be cynical."
"I'll teach you to be so bold as to deceive me about such things."
"I'll teach you to be a womanizer. Every time you go out, you bring maids back. This time it's even more excessive. You don't even let go of a little girl!"
"I'll beat you to death today, you unfilial son!"
"I wasted my trust on your nonsense."
Xie Yu grimaced in pain and didn't dare to fight back. He jumped around in the huge yard.
No one intervened.
It seemed that this scene had happened more than once.
"Old man, you're being so unreasonable. You just start hitting without even giving me a chance to explain."
"Explain? What do you want to explain? Don't I know all the bastard things you've done? You even dare to talk back and dodge!"
Zhao Xiangxiang felt a twinge of pity when she saw Xie Yu dodging.
She lowered her head slightly and said to Zhao Shuning, "Why did they suddenly start fighting?"
Zhao Shuning looked up and could see a trace of distress in Zhao Xiangxiang's eyes.
Zhao Xiangxiang was a kind - hearted girl. The phrase "a sharp tongue but a soft heart" was the most appropriate description for her.
"He tried to molest you before. Isn't it a good thing for his father to teach him a lesson now?"
"But—"
"But what?"
Looking at Zhao Xiangxiang's hesitant look, Zhao Shuning found it funny.
Then she continued to tease her, "Are you feeling sorry for him?"
"Feel sorry for him? Why would I feel sorry for a playboy? I just, I just—"
"Just what?"
When Zhao Xiangxiang met Zhao Shuning's beautiful eyes, she couldn't say a word.
It was as if all her secrets were laid bare in front of Zhao Shuning.
"Zhao Xiangxiang, don't tell me you've fallen in love with this wandering knight?"
"Zhao Shuning! What are you talking nonsense about!"
"Then what are you worried about now?"
"I just think that Xie Yu isn't that bad. He's just too vain. Besides, during the days on the ship, he treated us quite well."
Treated quite well?
Zhao Shuning looked at Zhao Xiangxiang, as if finding it incredible that these four words came out of her mouth.
"Zhao Xiangxiang, don't you forget that from the very beginning, Xie Yu had no good intentions towards you."
The red - clothed girl lowered her head and didn't say a word.
Zhao Shuning saw Zhao Xiangxiang's expression and understood most of it.
Then she looked at Xie Yu again. At this time, he was already covered in many wounds.
Considering that they had eaten and lived at his place for the past few days and he even called her "Boss", she should step in to stop it.
Zhao Shuning did what she said. The next moment, she appeared in front of Xie Yuan and grabbed the stick with both hands.
Xie Yu looked grateful.
Xie Yuan and the servants were stunned. You know, no one dared to stop the head of the family when he was beating someone. This inexperienced little girl really had a lot of nerve.
"Little girl, what are you doing?"
"Father, she is—"
"Did I ask you? If you say another word, I'll break your legs today."
Xie Yu immediately closed his mouth and didn't dare to say a word.
Everyone in the family doted on him, but this old man was someone he couldn't afford to offend.
"Master Xie, hello. I'm a guest brought back by your noble son."
"Guest? Little girl, aren't you the maid brought back by my rebellious son?"
"No."
Xie Yuan looked at Xie Yu. At this time, Xie Yu looked aggrieved but didn't dare to speak. He just spread out his hands to show his helplessness.
"Xie Yu, are you mute? Speak!"
Xie Yu seemed to have held it in for a long time. The first thing he said was, "Didn't you tell me to shut up?"
Before Xie Yuan could raise his hand, he quickly said, "This is the senior I told you about—Zhao Shuning."
Senior? A fourth - rank alchemist? A little girl with yellow hair?
No matter how Xie Yuan looked at it, it didn't seem right.
Not only did Xie Yuan not believe it, but none of the servants believed it either.