Yi Luowa glanced at him but said nothing more.
When everyone arrived at the palace, Carlos and Clarissa were already waiting at the main hall doors.
Long Che glanced at the frail-looking Carlos and walked over with a smile. "I heard you were ill. Why aren’t you resting properly? Standing out here like this!"
Carlos rolled his eyes internally but didn’t show it. Instead, he smiled and shook Long Che’s hand. "A distinguished guest has arrived; how could I stay lying down? Please, everyone, co inside."
Long Che furrowed his brow slightly. This old guy—has Luowa scolded him into turning over a new leaf, or has he gotten dazed from his illness? Why is he not snapping back?
Tong Yao smiled apologetically, "Carlos, Luowa is still young and impulsive. I only learned what she said to you after she called, and I gave her a talking-to on the way here. Don’t take it to heart."
Yi Luowa lowered her head, lips curling into a secret smirk. Oh, her in-laws—what a show they’re putting on! One gives a slap, and the other imdiately offers a piece of candy.
Since her mother-in-law had already said so, she might as well play along.
"Uncle Carlos, I’m sorry!" Yi Luowa apologized earnestly to Carlos.
Carlos laughed and said, "Luowa, there’s no need to apologize. On the contrary, you woke up. After your call, I reflected on things. In the past, your father and I were the closest of friends, brothers who shared everything. But because of Ai Ni and You Jia, we’ve been squabbling for over a decade. Now that we’re about to beco in-laws, continuing our feud would only make things harder on Ai Ni and You Jia."
Yi Luowa nodded fervently.
Carlos added with a smile, "I was in the wrong before. Today, I’ll apologize to Long Che right here in front of everyone. From now on, even if Long Che mocks , I won’t argue with him anymore."
Carlos’s words left Long Che a little embarrassed. "The way you’re saying it makes it sound like I’m the immature one. You’re still unwell—go inside and rest!"
Carlos gripped Long Che’s hand tighter while smiling. Finally, the dark clouds above them began to part.
From inside the hall, Bernard and Alice, who had been eavesdropping, saw the two reconcile and ca out smiling.
Long Che looked at them and let out a cold snort.
Bernard laughed, "I’ve been hiding half the day, afraid the flas would reach , yet here I am, still caught in the crossfire."
Alice, unfazed, went straight to Yi Luowa, grasping her hand with a warm smile. "Oh my, the Yi that our Duoduo talks about every day is even prettier in person than on TV!"
Yi Luowa pursed her lips into a smile. "Queen Alice, how are you!"
Alice’s face suddenly fell. "Why so formal? Is it because I didn’t attend your engagent banquet with Rui’er, and you’re holding it against ? Luowa, you can’t bla us for that. Your engagent was arranged in haste, and your uncle’s schedule was packed. But when you and Rui’er have your wedding, I’ll make sure to arrive a month early to your ho."
"Our family doesn’t have enough spare food to feed you!" Long Che interjected sarcastically.
Alice glanced back at him before turning again to Yi Luowa. "Your father, I’ll tell you, whoever marries his two daughters becos his sworn enemy."
Yi Luowa chuckled and said, "Aunt, you can’t bla my father entirely. Imagine raising a daughter for over twenty years, only to have her suddenly belong to soone else—it’s natural to feel a little upset. Even if his way of expressing it is unique, I’ve realized sothing: My father sees you all as his closest people. When it cos to people he doesn’t like or know well, he wouldn’t even bother to speak."
Long Che arched an eyebrow slightly—his daughter-in-law understood him well!
"We all know how he is. Otherwise, with my temper, I’d be arguing with him every day," Alice said, her gaze falling on the eldest grandson, asleep in her son’s arms. Then she glanced at the younger grandson in her daughter-in-law’s arms and said with so heartache, "Everyone should go rest now. We can talk tomorrow."
Everyone agreed and, under the servants’ guidance, went to their respective rooms.
Tong Yao and Long Che stayed behind. The three pairs of forr friends—now rivals—sat together, oddly evoking a sense of warmth.
Long Che was frustrated but couldn’t help feeling a twinge of sympathy when he saw Carlos genuinely unwell. "I’ll sit here with Bernard for a while. You go rest."
Carlos waved him off. "I haven’t held my grandchild yet. I’m not dying anyti soon. You haven’t visited my ho in years. I need to spend so ti with you."
Long Che gave him a sidelong glance. "You’d better stay alive. If you kick the bucket, who am I going to argue with?"
Carlos gave him a side-eye. "Argue with whoever you want, but I’m done playing along. You’ve got a great daughter-in-law whose sweet little mouth manages to lecture with truths while flattering at the sa ti. Occasionally, she even gets a jab or two in. Long Che, what kind of luck did you have in your past life to get such a good wife and now such a good daughter-in-law?"
Long Che pulled a sour face. "I don’t just have a great daughter-in-law; I also have two wonderful daughters. If anyone’s lucky, it’s you guys!"
"True, true!" Bernard chuckled, nodding in agreent.
Carlos also laughed. "We really owe you for letting your two amazing daughters marry You Jia and Monica."
Bernard and Carlos kept up their flattery until Long Che was finally soothed. Once Tong Aino and the others arrived, they all went to rest.
On the following day, the engagent banquet was held on ti at the palace. Though it was just an engagent celebration, as it was for the crown prince of S Country, the event was grand. Politicians and elites from around the world were in attendance.
Ai Ni and You Jia, like a prince and princess straight out of a fairytale, arrived in a white carriage, dressed in white attire, slowly entering the venue.
Yi Luowa watched the two on the carriage, grinning. Today, Ai Ni was dazzling, and You Jia was so handso that one could hardly et his gaze.
The mont the engagent ceremony concluded, Carlos announced that You Jia would be established as the crown prince of S Country. Joy upon joy—cheers erupted throughout the hall.
With the crown prince’s engagent, S Country declared a three-day holiday, and celebrations filled every street and alley.
The entire nation was imrsed in joy.
Shiqing lay in her hospital bed, staring blankly while listening to the celebratory music outside. Tears stread down her face.
The private nurse hurried over, carefully wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes. "Princess, you mustn’t cry—it could infect your wounds."
"Infected or not, I’m going to be disfigured either way," Shiqing murmured, narrowing her eyes slightly. "When are my parents coming back?"
"They said they’ll be a while longer."
Shiqing shot her a nacing look. "Call my mother and tell her I’m dying."
"Princess!?"
Shiqing suddenly smiled. "I’m just joking. You can go now."
The private nurse left but lingered outside, watching for a while. Seeing Shiqing laughing one mont and crying the next, she panicked and dialed Ni Lu’s number.
Ni Lu, who was talking with Tong Yao at the ti, answered the hospital call imdiately.
"Keep an eye on her—I’ll head over shortly," Ni Lu said, setting down the phone with a heavy sigh. She turned to Tong Yao with an apologetic expression. "The hospital called; they said Shiqing’s emotions are unstable."
Tong Yao patted her hand reassuringly. "The banquet is almost over. Why don’t you go check on her first? Long Che and I can follow later."
Ni Lu sighed again. "You shouldn’t co. Ever since she woke up and learned she might be disfigured, she’s refused to see anyone except Jack and ."
"Auntie, modern dicine is so advanced these days. There are ways to reconstruct," Yi Luowa chid in, trying to console her.
"We’ll have to rely on that," Ni Lu managed with a strained smile.
Yi Luowa took Ni Lu’s hand, holding it gently and stroking it. At this mont, words felt aningless, and this was all she could do to offer comfort.
Ni Lu smiled faintly and leaned her head lightly against Yi Luowa’s cheek. "Thank you."
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