At this moment, the fire had already started to burn. To make the flames even fiercer, one more bundle of firewood needed to be added.
Zhao Shuning looked at Lady Xiang and then at Lin Feng. Her eyes filled with tears. Slowly, she stood up and walked up to Lin Feng.
Lin Feng was just about to offer some false words of comfort.
But before he could say anything, Zhao Shuning was about to kneel in front of him.
With so many people watching, he naturally didn't dare to let Zhao Shuning kneel to him. Otherwise, if word got out, the standing of the Lin family and his own position as Lin Feng would surely be shaken because of today's incident.
Zhao Shuning never really intended to kneel to him. Seeing Lin Feng helping her up, she took the opportunity to stand up.
"Master Lin, I'd like to ask you for a favor."
Master Lin? Wasn't Zhao Shuning Lin Feng's granddaughter? Why did she still address Lin Feng as Master Lin? Could it be that, just as the rumors said, Lin Feng had only brought her back to the Lin family because of her reputation in the martial world? After she came to the Lin family, had Zhao Shuning actually not been living a good life?
"Shuning, what's wrong?"
Zhao Shuning covered her face. When she took her hand away again, her tears fell like broken beads, non - stop.
"Shuning, my child, if you have something to say, say it properly. Why are you crying?"
Zhao Shuning was naturally good - looking. With her crying, looking like a pear blossom in the rain, and having been slapped by Lin Qingying earlier, she now looked extremely pitiful. It made many of the retainers' hearts tighten with a sense of pity.
"Master Lin, I want to go home. I want to go back to the Zhao family."
"You—"
"Master Lin, I miss my father and mother. When I was in the Zhao family, although our life wasn't as affluent as it is now, my parents and other family members never beat me, and I never suffered such grievances."
Everyone let out another sigh upon hearing this.
Yes, every child was the apple of their parents' eye. Zhao Shuning had suffered such great grievances in the Lin family. If Lin Feng didn't give her an explanation, how could a seventeen - year - old girl come to terms with it?
"Shuning, you've truly been wronged in today's incident. But—"
"Master Lin, when I first came here, you promised my grandfather that you would treat me well and regard me as your own granddaughter. Later, I came to understand that you are kind - hearted and benevolent. However, after all, I'm not your legitimate granddaughter. It's normal for you to treat me differently from Miss Lin. It's just—"
When Zhao Shuning said this, she choked up and couldn't catch her breath for a long time. To outsiders, such a good girl, having been so wrongly accused, must have been extremely angry and couldn't speak. But in fact, Zhao Shuning just hadn't thought of what to say next and was deliberately using this mood to organize her thoughts.
"However, last night's incident is really about my innocence. Master Lin, I'm also a spiritual pharmacist. But since I came to the Lin mansion, I've only wanted to do what a granddaughter of the Lin family should do. I thought the Lin family could provide me with the greatest protection. But last night, Young Master Wen entered my courtyard, and not a single person in the entire Lin mansion noticed. This also led to Miss Lin's tragic situation today."
"Master Lin, I don't blame Miss Lin for venting all her anger on me. I'm just heart - broken. In this huge Lin mansion, although I'm related to you by blood, at this moment, not a single person in this large mansion is on my side."
Everyone turned their gazes towards Lin Feng.
The young girl was showing such weakness and had been so bullied. Since they all had the Lin family's blood, how could Lin Feng just watch her suffer such injustice?
"Shuning, I will surely give you an explanation for this matter later. How about that?"
Did he think he could just brush this matter off?
No way!
"Master Lin, if it had been me in the main bedroom of the courtyard last night, how would you have handled such a situation?"
Lin Feng replied, "We'll talk about this later."
"I want to go back."
Tears streaked down the young girl's face.
Everyone thought that such a good girl being bullied like this was really too much.
It wasn't her fault at all. She was also a victim. But when Lin Qingying had struck earlier, not a single person in the Lin family had stopped her.
"Master Lin, let her go."
Finally, a retainer couldn't stand it any longer and spoke up.
Once the first person said so, there would be a second, a third.
More and more people stood up.
"Master Lin, Miss Zhao misses home. Let her go back. After the matter in the Lin family is resolved, it won't be too late to invite her back."
"Yes, a young girl suddenly facing so many things and being at a loss is normal. If her parents were by her side at this moment, they would surely be able to console her well."
"Master Lin—"
More and more people were speaking.
Lin Feng's brows furrowed deeper and deeper.
Zhao Shuning knew that when everyone spoke in unison, things could easily become one - sided. Now that she had taken the initiative to show weakness and won people's sympathy, Lin Feng would be the one at the center of the storm.
At this moment, he was in a dilemma and had to make a decision.
Otherwise, the hearts of these retainers who supported the Lin family might just be scattered.
"Everyone, please be quiet. I'm really sorry. It's my fault that the family discipline of the Lin family is not strict. Today, I've made you all laugh."
He looked at Zhao Shuning.
Lin Feng knew that Zhao Shuning herself had some strength. Although he didn't know exactly what level this young girl's strength was, just now, she could have easily avoided the slap, but she didn't. She had deliberately taken Lin Qingying's slap. What on earth was this Zhao Shuning up to?
"Master Lin, can I go?"
Lin Feng let out a sigh.
"My child, I'm sorry to you. If you want to go, go back to the Zhao family to relax. After some time, I'll send someone to pick you up."
Zhao Shuning nodded.
"Thank you, Master Lin."
"Master, you can't let this vixen go. It was she who harmed our daughter and made us lose such a good ally as the Yang family. Also, she somehow bewitched Wen Bo's soul. Master, such a woman is really too dangerous. We can't let her go."
"Shut up!"
Zhao Shuning smiled and gave a look to Huan'er.
Huan'er came over to support Zhao Shuning's "frail" body.
"Huan'er, go and call the people from the Zhao family who came with me. We'll pack up today and head back home."
"Yes, Miss."
Zhao Shuning got up and slowly walked backward.
She didn't believe that with Lady Haitang's temper, she could bear such provocation.
Sure enough, the familiar spiritual energy came from behind.
Zhao Shuning wore a smile but didn't turn back.
Because she knew that it was really unwise for Lady Haitang to make a move this time. With so many people watching, Lin Feng would surely not let her succeed.
Sure enough, the next moment, Zhao Shuning heard a scream from behind.
She "surprisedly" turned back. Lady Haitang was now spitting out blood and had fallen in a pool of it.