"I'm sorry, sister. I might not have noticed earlier. Did I hurt you?" Ye Qingluan pretended to check Liu Yuan's wrist.
Liu Yuan quickly said, "I'm fine, sister. You and Brother Hao still have things to do. I won't bother you. You two continue."
After saying this, Liu Yuan was about to go out.
Ye Qingluan quickly called out to Liu Yuan.
"Sister, wait a moment."
Liu Yuan stopped in her tracks.
"Sister, is there anything else?"
Ye Qingluan said calmly, "Just now, you heard the argument between me and the marquis. No one else knows about this matter. You should know it best. Just tell the marquis that when I talked to you, didn't I tell you that the banquet should be made warm and cozy, and there's no need to invite too many people? Didn't I say so to you?"
Hearing this, Liu Yuan showed a surprised look.
At this time, Luo Hao was also looking at the two of them.
"Sister, what you said to me was clearly not like this."
Ye Qingluan frowned.
What was Liu Yuan up to?
"Sister, you clearly said that this time Fei Yan rarely came back. In the past three years, this would be the only time we could see her. You asked me to hold this banquet grandly. It would be best to invite all the big shots that the Luo family had acquaintance with and had dealings with. We couldn't let our Yan'er be wronged."
Ye Qingluan was left speechless.
Liu Yuan looked innocent.
Luo Hao's face was ashen.
"What else do you have to say?"
Luo Hao's voice was full of anger.
Ye Qingluan suddenly felt like laughing.
She looked at the two people in front of her and suddenly thought they were truly a perfect match.
Luo Hao was conservative and regarded the offspring of the Luo family as extremely important. In the past, Ye Qingluan had seen Luo Hao feeling sad on his own more than once.
She had been married to Luo Hao for many years but had never had a child. She thought it might be her own problem. After much consideration, she found Luo Hao's childhood sweetheart - Liu Yuan - for him.
At first, she thought Liu Yuan was a little white rabbit.
She never thought that this little white rabbit would turn into a big bad wolf in the future.
"Luo Hao, do you believe her or me?"
"The fact is right in front of us. All I want is an apology from you, Ye Qingluan. When you've done something wrong, you have to admit it."
Admit?
With what should she admit?
It wasn't what she did. Why should she admit it?
Ye Qingluan was not convinced.
She was the descendant of the Ye family. Why should she be reduced to such a state by a scheming woman?
"I'll explain it to you one more time, Luo Hao. Before I left, I entrusted all the matters to Liu Yuan. I emphasized with her that for the sake of your face, this banquet didn't need to be held on a grand scale. Whether you believe me or not is entirely up to you."
Ye Qingluan's face was filled with grievance, anger, and humiliation.
Luo Hao was already moved and was about to step forward, just like he used to, putting aside his pride.
But at this moment.
Liu Yuan started to sob.
The two of them looked at Liu Yuan.
"Sister, over the years, I've always remembered your kindness to me. It was you who let me meet Brother Hao again. It was you who gave me everything I have now. So over the years, I've never vied for your favor, because I know I'm not qualified."
Ye Qingluan frowned.
But Liu Yuan was sniffling and didn't stop her act.
"Sister, I've been married to Brother Hao for almost twenty years. I've never interfered in any of the Luo family's affairs. Every time you arranged and instructed me to do something, I never shirked it. You're the mistress of the marquis's mansion. Whatever you said, I would do. I never dared to overstep my bounds."
"I thought that my hard work over the years would earn your trust. I was wrong, sister. You can beat me and scold me, but you can't wrong me -"
Liu Yuan was in floods of tears.
She was so convincing.
It seemed that what she said was the truth.
In this way, she herself had become a heinous villain, while Liu Yuan was the "kind" little white flower who was bullied by her and had no power to resist.
Ye Qingluan thought, how could a person's heart be so ugly?
"Slap!"
Ye Qingluan stepped forward and slapped Liu Yuan hard across the face.
This time, both Luo Hao and Liu Yuan were shocked.
Liu Yuan thought that no matter how bold Ye Qingluan was, she wouldn't dare to do such a thing to her in front of Luo Hao.
Luo Hao thought that Ye Qingluan had been hit on her sore spot by Liu Yuan, so now she was in a fit of anger and wanted to stop Liu Yuan from telling the truth.
"Ye Qingluan, are you crazy!"
Luo Hao stepped forward and pushed Ye Qingluan away.
Ye Qingluan, who had been exhausted all night, was not in good health at this time. Being pushed like this by Luo Hao, her vision even turned a little black.
She almost lost her balance.
She tightly held onto the door with both hands to prevent herself from fainting immediately.
Ye Qingluan propped herself up and stood up.
She looked at the picture of the two people in front of her, harmonious and affectionate.
In her heart, it was like thousands of ants were gnawing at it.
Luo Hao, I can accept your misunderstanding of me.
However, I can't accept you hurting me like this for another woman.
"Luo Hao -"
Ye Qingluan's voice was very low.
After it became hoarse, there was not even a trace of unwillingness left.
"Luo Hao, how have you been these days when I was away? You've been in the arms of a beauty every day. You must have been very happy. After all, without my interference, you and her can really be together day and night."
"You're crazy. Why are you saying this now?"
"Brother Hao, my face hurts so much. I still have to meet the guests later. Will I embarrass you like this?"
"Don't be afraid. I'll take you to see someone now."
"Okay."
Liu Yuan wrapped her hands around Luo Hao's neck. With a gentle movement, Luo Hao picked her up. Then when passing by Ye Qingluan, he paused slightly.
"Change your clothes and clean the dust off your face. You still have to deal with this mess you've invited later. Don't embarrass the marquis's mansion anymore. Let's just let this matter go."
Just let it go?
It was so easy to say.
"Luo Hao, I slapped her face. Her feet aren't broken. She can walk."
"Brother Hao -"
"Don't worry about her."
Luo Hao carried Liu Yuan and walked out past Ye Qingluan.
The courtyard door creaked.
Ye Qingluan smiled slowly, a sad and bitter smile.
She turned around and closed the door.
Her vision went black.
She slowly sat down along the door eaves.
Her heart was in a complete mess, the pain twisting it into a knot.
Someone knocked on the door outside.
"Madam, the young lady has almost changed her clothes. She sent this servant to ask when you'll be ready. She'll come to find you."
Ye Qingluan straightened up.
She still had a daughter.
"Half an hour later."
"Yes, this servant understands."
The maid left. Ye Qingluan supported her body and walked into the inner room.
The moment she saw the "forgotten" things on the bed in the room, the psychological defense line in her heart completely collapsed.
She covered her face with both hands.
And cried softly.