"By the way, if any of you dare to breathe a word about what happened today, you know the consequences."
Zhao Shuning formed a seal with one hand.
Tens of thousands of worm-like cocoons rained down from the sky and burrowed into those people's bodies one by one through their wrists.
"What is this?"
"It's a kind of venomous insect called bone-devouring worm. As long as you keep tonight's events to yourselves, you'll be fine. But if anyone breaks the rule, the worms will multiply several times in your veins and finally burst your bodies until you die."
"Let's go!"
The crowd, terrified, didn't dare to stay for another second.
Finally, it was over.
Zhao Shuning heaved a sigh of relief.
Xia Qingyan stepped forward, losing the arrogance of the past.
"I thought that if you married me because you liked me, it would be you who was climbing up the social ladder."
Zhao Shuning frowned.
Xia Qingyan continued, "Now I realize that your backbone comes from your ability to reject me."
Zhao Shuning was speechless.
She was just about to retort when she heard Xia Qingyan whispering with a soft smile.
"Luotiu. What a nice name. It sounds like a name from a romance novel."
Zhao Shuning didn't say a word.
At that moment, a sharp pain shot through her chest.
She reached out her hand.
Just as she managed to steady herself against Xia Qingyan, Xia Qingyan's face lit up. But the next second, he watched in horror as Zhao Shuning slumped backward and lost consciousness.
Zhao Shuning fainted.
Thankfully, she fainted after the Rong family had left. Otherwise, it would have been so embarrassing if those people had seen her like that.
Ye Qingluan rushed forward.
But Luo Hao got there first and scooped Zhao Shuning into his arms.
"Call a doctor," he ordered.
"Hurry!"
Then he carried Zhao Shuning towards the main building.
As he passed by Liu Yuan, she clung to his legs and pleaded, "Brother Hao, I know I was wrong. Brother Hao."
"Get out of my way!"
This time, Luo Hao didn't show any mercy. He kicked Liu Yuan away and carried Zhao Shuning into the main building.
The doctor came, examined Zhao Shuning, and prescribed some medicine. According to the doctor, she was just exhausted from the long journey, overused her spiritual power, and was hit in the chest, which led to her fainting. As long as she had a good rest, she would be fine.
Since Zhao Shuning needed peace and quiet, Ye Qingluan had to leave.
As soon as Ye Qingluan came out, Luo Hao rushed up to her.
"Madam."
But Ye Qingluan didn't even look at him and walked straight towards the study.
Luo Hao quickly followed her.
In the study, Luo Hao dismissed all the maids and left only him and Ye Qingluan in the room.
He gently closed the door.
Looking at the woman in front of him, his eyes were filled with the same infatuation as before.
Ye Qingluan fetched the writing brush and ink.
She spread out a piece of rice paper and then looked at Luo Hao, holding out the brush to him.
"Madam—"
"My lord, the paper and ink are ready. You can start writing."
"Madam, I was wrong before. I know you're still angry with me. You can beat or scold me as you like, but please don't be so cold to me, okay?"
Ye Qingluan didn't say a word and pushed the brush a bit closer to Luo Hao.
"Madam, let's sit down and talk this out. Don't be so willful, okay?"
"Luo Hao, I'm not being willful. This time, I'm serious."
Luo Hao panicked.
He quickly stepped forward.
"Madam, I was blind. I didn't see what kind of person Liu Yuan was. I misunderstood you. These days, I've been cooped up in the master bedroom, ignoring everything outside. So today, when I opened the door and saw so many aristocrats outside the mansion, I panicked."
Ye Qingluan started to grind the ink.
"Madam!"
Luo Hao moved the inkstone aside.
Ye Qingluan looked at him.
"Madam—"
Luo Hao's voice sounded aggrieved.
"Luo Hao, stop acting like a child. We can't go back to the way we were. From the moment you didn't trust me, our relationship was over."
"Madam, I really know I was wrong. Can I kneel down and beg you?"
"No need."
As soon as Ye Qingluan said these two words, Luo Hao knelt down with a thud.
A man's knees are precious, and this was the first time Luo Hao had ever knelt in front of someone. It showed that he was truly panicked.
"Luo Hao, it's no use."
Ye Qingluan looked at the man in front of her and shook her head again.
"Madam, we've been together for almost twenty years."
Ye Qingluan looked up and smiled. "Yes, almost twenty years. How many twenty - year periods can a person have in a lifetime? I used to think we would have many more."
"Madam."
"Luo Hao, you still don't understand me."
Ye Qingluan broke free from Luo Hao's grip.
She squatted down and calmly said to him, "I know that your Luo family values descendants. I didn't want to be the one to cut off your family line, so I deliberately chose your childhood sweetheart. But Luo Hao, that doesn't mean I don't get jealous."
"I just didn't want you to worry about such things."
Ye Qingluan stood up.
"Actually, I've argued with you many times before, but I've never had this thought."
"Madam—"
"This time, even when I saw you walking past me with Liu Yuan in your arms, feeling desperate and heart - broken, I didn't think about asking you to divorce me."
Luo Hao asked, "Then what was it for?"
"Because of Yan'er."
"Yan'er is so powerful now and will be the support of our mansion. Madam, now we don't have anything to worry about. Why do you want to break up with me because of Yan'er?"
"Luo Hao, before you knew Yan'er had such abilities, how did you treat her?"
"I was trying to protect her. I was afraid that if we were gone one day, outsiders would find an excuse to bully her."
Ye Qingluan shook her head.
"It shouldn't be like this, Luo Hao. A real father and a real husband shouldn't act like this."
"When I was a child, my father's spiritual power wasn't as powerful as it is now. But when I was bullied by someone of a higher rank, even if the bully was from a big family, my father wasn't the least bit afraid. He took me and went straight to their mansion to confront them."
"That's because your father was powerful."
"No, at that time, my father was just a fourth - level spiritual pharmacist. He only got a lucky break later, which made his spiritual power soar and achieve what he has today."
Luo Hao lowered his head.
"Luo Hao, when I was very young, I followed my father on his military campaigns. But over the years, I've never felt insecure. My sense of security came from my father's favoritism, so I lived a fulfilling life."
"But what about Yan'er? She's afraid of this family and afraid of you. When others bullied her, as her father, you didn't teach her to fight back. You just taught her to endure. There are still many mysteries about this incident. After she wakes up, I'll get to the bottom of it. By then, I hope you'll be a gentleman and don't stop me from leaving."
"Luo Hao, are you going to write the divorce letter or not?"
Luo Hao firmly shook his head.