Zhao Shuning looked back.
She gently placed her hand on Ye Qingluan's shoulder.
"Mother, let's go."
Ye Qingluan smiled contentedly. Then she walked with Zhao Shuning to the front hall.
Here, only Liu Yuan and Qiu Ying were left, fuming with rage but helpless.
In the front hall.
Luo Hao was sitting in the main seat, with an empty seat beside him.
That seat should be for Ye Qingluan, the mistress of the house.
"Lady Luo is here."
Ye Qingluan nodded to everyone.
The moment she appeared, she caught everyone's eye. Tonight, Ye Qingluan was exquisitely made - up and extremely beautiful.
Luo Hao reached out his hand to Ye Qingluan.
But Ye Qingluan lowered her eyes meekly and didn't put her hand in his. Instead, she bowed to Luo Hao.
"My lord."
After that, she took her seat on another main seat.
Luo Hao looked at his empty hands. His heart stirred slightly, but he managed to suppress his unease.
He stood up and said to everyone,
"Since everyone is here, let the dinner begin."
Everyone stood up and bowed to Luo Hao and Ye Qingluan.
Then they took their seats one by one.
Zhao Shuning sat in her place. Amid the clinking of glasses, everyone was talking excitedly about the latest trends.
Before long, a young boy ran up to Zhao Shuning.
"Cousin, you're finally back."
"Lin Qingzhi?"
"Yes, sister. Tell me about your days at Changkong Academy. Was it fun? Did anyone bully you?"
Zhao Shuning smiled.
Just as she was about to chat with the kid, a figure in yellow suddenly appeared in front of her.
"I said, Qingzhi, your question is pointless. You know very well that your good cousin doesn't know much. In a place like that, I'm sure whatever she does won't be appreciated."
Lin Qingzhi glared at Ye Xirou fiercely.
"You're really a nuisance. Wherever I go, you follow."
"Don't be ridiculous. I'm not following you. When I came today, Uncle told me to talk to Cousin Feiyan more during the dinner. So here I am."
Zhao Shuning sat upright.
She watched Lin Qingzhi and Ye Xirou bickering.
Don't be fooled by Lin Qingzhi's young age and being a boy. He was quite good at arguing.
"Cousin Xirou, you're just a distant relative. Your status is lower than Cousin Feiyan's. If you don't show basic courtesy to her, I'll have to talk to your parents and see if they taught you to disrespect the legitimate daughter of the Marquis Mansion."
Ye Xirou stamped her foot and then glanced at Zhao Shuning.
She said, "Cousin Feiyan, aren't you going to do something?"
Zhao Shuning pointed at herself.
She was just an on - looker and didn't want to get involved in this fight.
"Ye Xirou, if you had any self - respect, you wouldn't keep bullying my cousin every time. And you still expect my cousin to save you? My cousin is kind, but her kindness won't be wasted on someone like you."
"Luo Feiyan, cough, cough, cough... Cousin Feiyan, aren't you going to say something about your little follower? Look at how rude he is to me. Don't you have anything to say?"
Zhao Shuning asked in confusion, "Do I have to get involved in this?"
"Of course. This is the Luo Mansion. If you don't take care of it, who will?"
Zhao Shuning said again, "But I think you're already having a hard time dealing with Qingzhi alone. If I step in, won't you be even more embarrassed?"
"You!"
"Cousin Ye, if you want me to scold you, we can do it another day. Today is not the right time."
"Luo Feiyan, are you pretending to be stupid?"
Zhao Shuning picked up a pastry beside her and gently placed it in Lin Qingzhi's hand. She remembered that Luo Feiyan had said that Qingzhi had loved this kind of pastry since childhood.
"Luo Feiyan, I'm talking to you."
"Yes, I'm pretending to be stupid. I'm not as truly stupid as you."
"Pfft—"
This time, Lin Qingzhi couldn't help laughing. The pastry in his mouth almost sprayed on Zhao Shuning.
"Look at you, kid. Eat slowly. Although Cousin Ye is greedy, she's a lady and won't fight you for this pastry."
God, this way of talking sarcastically and secretly insulting others was really satisfying.
Lin Qingzhi quickly nodded.
He deliberately said, "Cousin Ye, if you want to eat, there are some on your own table. There's no need to fight me for it."
Ye Xirou's hand suddenly grabbed the table in front of Zhao Shuning.
She wanted to overturn the pastries on the table.
Anyway, she was used to being domineering. Even if Uncle found out, he would be magnanimous. Maybe he would even ask Luo Feiyan to apologize to her.
This kind of thing had happened before.
In fact, it had happened quite a few times.
Luo Hao was such a person. In front of outsiders, he was generous and polite. If Luo Feiyan had a conflict with someone, especially if the other person was a talented elixir master, then it would definitely be Luo Feiyan who had to apologize.
It was precisely because such things had happened so many times that the previous Luo Feiyan became more and more timid and only knew how to avoid things when they happened.
Ye Xirou grabbed the table.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't move the table even an inch.
She looked up. Zhao Shuning was still talking to Lin Qingzhi calmly, without even glancing at Ye Xirou.
Ye Xirou tried harder, but it was all in vain.
She straightened up, took a look at Zhao Shuning, and then walked in another direction.
When Lin Qingzhi saw the direction Ye Xirou was going, his face showed a look of anxiety. He pulled Zhao Shuning and wanted to leave the banquet.
Anyway, there were so many people here tonight, and Luo Feiyan had a very low profile. Even if they disappeared, not many people would notice.
"Where are we going?"
Zhao Shuning didn't get up. She still sat in her seat.
Ye Qingluan also looked in Zhao Shuning's direction. Zhao Shuning nodded to reassure her that she could handle it.
"Cousin, let's go quickly. Ye Xirou is going to find help."
"Find help? Who?"
"Rong Qing!"
Rong Qing? Wasn't he the most talented young master in the Luo family?
It was just right. Zhao Shuning hadn't met him yet.
"What are you afraid of? Can he eat me?"
"Cousin, Ye Xirou is good at pretending to be weak, and Rong Qing falls for it. You know that. If the young master gets involved, you're definitely going to get beaten. There are so many people watching. Let's slip away before they come."
There was no sign of pretense in Lin Qingzhi's anxious face.
"I see. Then I'm even more eager to meet this Cousin Rong Qing."
She wanted to see just how talented this so - called most talented person was.
Lin Qingzhi couldn't persuade Zhao Shuning. He could only look at the two of them walking towards them with a mournful face.
"Too late, all over."