Zhao Shuning's hands were a bit cold.
Ye Qingluan helped her stand up.
"Yan'er, we're here. Let's get off."
Zhao Shuning nodded, took a deep breath, and then gently lifted the curtain of the sedan chair.
At this moment, what came into her sight were no fewer than hundreds of family elders.
Judging from the situation, it seemed that even the elders from distant relatives had come.
When they saw Zhao Shuning.
There was clearly a hint of contempt on the faces of those elders.
It was just a home - visit during the three - month period, yet it was held so grandly, and they, these distant relatives, were all invited. If it weren't for the sake of Marquis Ruoqiang, Luo Hao, they would never have come for this trip.
Zhao Shuning scanned the crowd.
Comparing with the portraits Luo Feiyan had shown her, she went through the people in front of her in her mind one by one.
The Luo family had started from scratch.
Thanks to Luo Hao's ability and Ye Qingluan's family background, they had become the backbone of Taoyuan City. So in this family, the spiritual power cultivation of their children was highly valued.
Luo Feiyan was the only daughter of the Luo family, and all the important responsibilities fell on her. However, from her birth until she turned eighteen, spiritual power had nothing to do with her.
Many people in the family didn't say anything on the surface, but privately, they despised Luo Feiyan extremely.
Zhao Shuning looked up.
The one in the middle should be her father, Luo Hao.
At this moment, his face was gloomy, as if he wanted to devour Luo Feiyan alive.
Ye Qingluan also got off the carriage.
Seeing such a grand occasion, she was stunned for a long time.
Before she left, she had clearly told Liu Yuan not to make a big deal out of it and just make it a warm family dinner.
But now? What was going on?
"Greetings to Lady Luo."
"Pay respects to Lady Luo."
"Miss Ye is back, and so is the young miss."
Ye Qingluan looked at Luo Hao.
She could imagine that at this moment, Luo Hao must be very unhappy.
Luo Hao kept a straight face. Although he was unhappy, he still stepped forward, took Ye Qingluan's hand, and supported her as they walked in front.
There was no sign of unhappiness on their faces.
However, Zhao Shuning could glimpse a bit of the conflict between them.
"Greetings to Father."
Luo Hao just nodded.
Without saying a word to Luo Feiyan, he walked forward with Ye Qingluan.
Ye Qingluan looked back.
"Yan'er, come along."
"Okay."
Just now, Zhao Shuning had stood there motionless. After Ye Qingluan's reminder, she then followed up.
After returning to the mansion.
There were many guests outside.
Zhao Shuning and Ye Qingluan had just come back from a long journey, looking weary. In order to entertain the guests, they had to change into appropriate clothes first before they could come out to host the banquet.
Zhao Shuning was led by the maids and old women in the mansion to Luo Feiyan's room.
Ye Qingluan followed Luo Hao back to the main courtyard.
The maids and old women serving Zhao Shuning showed little expression.
Presumably, they thought that the young miss was not in favor with the master and was not liked by other clan members, so there was no need to curry favor with her.
Zhao Shuning didn't really care about this.
If others were overly respectful and knelt on the ground every time they said a few words, she would actually feel uncomfortable.
Just like this, since others treated her like this, it would be easier for her to teach them a lesson without having to worry about too many things.
Zhao Shuning's place was relatively peaceful.
But it was different in the main courtyard.
In front of many people, Luo Hao didn't lose his temper with Ye Qingluan.
After they got to the main courtyard and entered the main room, he closed the door. The dissatisfaction on his face couldn't be hidden anymore.
"Marquis?"
"Ye Qingluan, you've really made a big show. For the sake of Yan'er, you'll stop at nothing."
Ye Qingluan was utterly confused.
What had she done?
She had done nothing. When she came back, she saw this situation.
"You've hidden it really well. When you left, how did you promise me? It was just for the family and a few close relatives to have a meal together, a small - scale family dinner. You said it was to let Yan'er feel the warmth of home. Look, look at all these people outside. Is this what you promised me?"
"Building a plank road in the open while tunneling secretly. Ye Qingluan, you're my wife, yet now you're using such tricks on me?"
The confusion on Ye Qingluan's face turned into anger.
"Luo Hao, what are you talking nonsense about?"
"Ye Qingluan, if you had a bit of sense, you should know whether this grand banquet outside today should be held like this!"
"I've said I didn't do it. If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do."
"Is this your attitude of admitting your mistake? Ye Qingluan, over the years, I've really overestimated you. I thought you were just worried about Yan'er, which was why we often had conflicts. But you've really disappointed me. At this moment, you still retain that young - miss attitude you had in the Ye family. Is it that my Marquis Mansion is too small to accommodate you, a bodhisattva?"
Ye Qingluan looked at Luo Hao in disbelief.
These words actually came out of his mouth.
Look, this was the man she had once carefully chosen, the man she had defied her family rules and parents for.
Now, without asking or listening to her explanation, he was taking his anger out on her.
"Luo Hao, what do you mean?"
"If you don't explain it clearly today, then I, Ye Qingluan, don't necessarily have to cling to your Marquis Mansion's high branch!"
Ye Qingluan's almond - shaped eyes showed a hint of anger, and her slender fingers tightly squeezed the silk handkerchief in her hand.
"What are you doing? Are you going to lose your temper with me again? Ye Qingluan, it's clearly your fault in this matter, yet you're being unreasonable and arguing with me here?"
"I've said I didn't do it. I didn't invite these people."
Just then.
There was a clanging sound from the inner room.
Ye Qingluan, with tears in her eyes, stopped and looked towards the inner room.
"Who's in there?"
After a while.
A woman slowly walked out.
It was Concubine Liu from the side courtyard.
"Sister, I'm sorry. I just came to deliver something to Brother Hao. I didn't know this would happen between you. I'll leave as soon as I put the things down."
Ye Qingluan looked into the inner room.
There were many clothes that looked like they were from a night of pleasure, and in Liu Yuan's hand was a belly - pocket that a woman would wear.
Whether she was coming to deliver something or take something was obvious.
Ye Qingluan grabbed Liu Yuan.
Liu Yuan let out a soft cry.
"It hurts."
Hurts?
Ye Qingluan clearly hadn't even used much strength. Was Liu Yuan really that frail?
"Ye Qingluan, what are you doing! If you're angry with me, just take it out on me. Why are you losing your temper with Yuanyuan!"
Yuanyuan?
It had only been five days since they last saw each other, yet his address for Liu Yuan was already so intimate.
"Brother Hao, I'm fine. Sister is just too angry. She didn't do it on purpose."
Ye Qingluan was usually carefree. It was the first time she had encountered such a situation, and for a moment, she didn't know how to handle it.