Yan Ran's tear - streaks were not yet dry, but her face was now filled with nothing but shock. She glanced at Xie Bu Yan, then turned back to look at Zhao Shu Ning. No matter how she looked, her husband didn't resemble this young lady in the slightest. Moreover, if this was her aunt, why was this young lady so young and beautiful?
Seeing his mother cry, Xiao Tuan Zi struggled out of Zhao Shu Ning's embrace and ran towards Yan Ran. At this moment, Yan Ran stopped crying, but Xiao Tuan Zi suddenly burst into tears.
Zhao Shu Ning shook her head. "Look, you've scared my Xiao Tuan Zi." Then she added, "Xie Bu Yan, I always thought you were an upright man, but when it comes to matters of the heart, you're as dull as a block of wood. Your wife is clearly jealous of me. Do you understand?"
Xie Bu Yan knelt on the ground, burying his head low. Yan Ran was still in a daze and hadn't reacted yet.
"Aunt, please forgive us. Yan Ran—"
Yan Ran came to her senses. Without bothering to console Xiao Tuan Zi, she panicked and said, "Aunt, is she the second young lady of the Zhao family who went missing decades ago?"
Xie Bu Yan nodded. "Yan Ran, you must not be rude."
Yan Ran immediately buried her head low. Xiao Tuan Zi was still crying.
Zhao Shu Ning said, "You two, that's enough! Although I'm of a higher generation than you, my physical age might even be younger than yours. Don't kneel in front of me like this. It might shorten my lifespan."
"Get up already?"
As soon as Zhao Shu Ning said the second sentence, Xie Bu Yan immediately stood up. Yan Ran wanted to stand up too, but her legs seemed to have gone weak and she couldn't muster any strength.
"Husband, I—I can't stand up."
Xie Bu Yan quickly helped Yan Ran up.
Since she got married, Yan Ran had always considered herself a woman of little knowledge. She lived in seclusion, mostly staying at home, coaxing Xiao Tuan Zi. She rarely visited the Zhao family by the river or returned to the Xie family north of the Huai River. She believed that as a woman, she should stay away from the fights in the jianghu. All she needed to do was be a good wife and make her husband feel the warmth of home when he came back.
That's why Yan Ran had never seen a portrait of Zhao Shu Ning. She had only heard about Zhao Shu Ning from her husband and the guests in the inn.
In their words, Zhao Shu Ning was a once - in - a - lifetime prodigy. A few years after her birth, without the help of her family, she had awakened her spiritual and psychic powers on her own. Moreover, she single - handedly destroyed the four great families in the Eastern Wilderness. As a result, the power of the Zhao family grew stronger and stronger as Zhao Shu Ning's abilities rapidly improved.
It was rumored that the Shui Yun Sheng of the little uncle was also related to the second young lady of the Zhao family.
Such a remarkable person. Yan Ran thought she would never have the fortune to meet her in person in this lifetime.
"Yan Ran, greet your aunt."
"A, aunt—"
"Yes, I need to explain to you. When I call your mother - in - law by her name, it's not out of disrespect. You may not know that Zhao Xiang Xiang and I have never gotten along since childhood. So I've never called her elder sister, and she rarely called me younger sister. We mostly addressed each other by name. This doesn't mean I don't respect her. Do you understand?"
"Yes, aunt. Yan Ran was wrong. It was Yan Ran—"
"It's okay. Go and make a pot of tea. If you cry, Xiao Tuan Zi will cry again. After all, this child calls me great - aunt. I can't keep making her mother cry in front of her."
Hearing this, Yan Ran immediately stopped crying. She knew the weight of this aunt in the family. Basically, among the elders, regardless of seniority, she was the most respected. Although she was easy - going, it was no excuse for Yan Ran to be disrespectful.
Yan Ran stood up and quickly walked out of the room with a smile to make tea in the main inn.
Just as Yan Ran came out, she bumped into Xie Jing and Chu Chu who were coming back. Xie Jing's legs were temporarily inconvenient, and his hands were wrapped in bandages. He was sitting in a wheelchair, being pushed back by Chu Chu and Uncle Gong.
As soon as they met, Xie Jing said, "Sister - in - law, where's my elder brother?"
"He's in the backyard."
In a hurry, Yan Ran didn't even greet Xie Jing and went upstairs to make tea.
Xie Jing was completely confused. "Chu Chu, my eyesight is not very good now. Did you notice anything wrong with my sister - in - law just now?"
"Madam's eyes were red. It seemed like she had cried a lot."
"Cried? Why?"
As far as Xie Jing knew, his elder brother and sister - in - law had a very good relationship. Over the years, there had never been any problems. His elder brother would never let his sister - in - law shed tears. What was going on this time?
"Shopkeeper? What happened to my sister - in - law?"
The shopkeeper shook his head. "Second young master, I don't know either. After madam went in with the young master and that young lady, she came out looking like this."
Xie Jing understood immediately and guessed most of what had happened. He turned around. "Chu Chu, let's go back to the restaurant."
"Sir? Aren't we going to see the elder master?"
"He doesn't want to see me now. Look, because of a girl, he made my sister - in - law cry. In my current state, even if I go in, I won't be able to argue with that girl, let alone get justice for my sister - in - law."
"Ah?"
"Let's go. We'll go back first. We'll come back after my injuries have healed."
"But?"
"Chu Chu, are you not listening to me now?"
"No, sir, I—"
"Good. Then come back to the restaurant with me." Anyway, his bones had been set back in place. He would be able to walk in a few days, but it would be impossible for him to use his spiritual power for a few months. If Zhao Shu Ning hadn't been here to set his bones in time, whether his hands and feet could be saved would have been another matter.
After six or seven days, Zhao Shu Ning thought Xie Jing's injuries were almost healed and planned to go and see the young man. But before she could leave the room of Shu An Ning Ran, a figure flashed in and closed the door.
Zhao Shu Ning recognized it was Xie Jing at a glance. Before she could say anything, Xie Jing spoke.
"I said, aren't you tired of staying in this Shu An Ning Ran? What's so good about following my elder brother? He's a brute and doesn't understand romance. Besides, he already has my sister - in - law. Why don't you—"
"Kneel down!"
A roar. Xie Jing's legs went weak and he knelt down with a thud.