Ye Wenjie ran off with joy and was nowhere to be seen!
Upon hearing his brother-in-law's words, Hongji paused and glanced at the maid who had just reported.
Mrs. Li snapped out of it after listening to Li Zhihao and then asked the maid, "Did the guard ntion if the Old Lady and the Second Lady, along with the young Lady, have returned?"
"Madam, the guard only said the Old Lady has returned and didn't ntion the Second Lady or the young Lady!" the maid confird with certainty!
The excitent Hongji felt a mont ago was suddenly doused with cold water. He exchanged a glance with Mrs. Li and realized that the return of the Old Lady would likely bring them unrest, not just today but perhaps in the future. Although they had bought a house, the blood ties would inevitably lead to conflicts!
Since we refer to ourselves as the Old Lady, they cannot refuse entry, as it would be unreasonable and make them seem illogical. At this mont, whatever they do is wrong.
The couple said nothing, as eating was no longer their priority, and they went out to welco the guests.
Li Zhihao did not go out imdiately but instructed soone to prepare a good courtyard a bit farther away, and to get a dinner ready for the guest in the kitchen!
Even as a housekeeper, he had the authority to instruct and manage here, and his words were imdiately followed!
When guests arrive, whether they are the host's guests or the host themselves, dinner must be prepared for them.
Hence, those who were preparing dinner for the master and
themselves thought they could eat and rest but had just picked up their chopsticks when the ssage ca to prepare dinner for so people, a more sumptuous one including the female host!
As for who this female host was, the kitchen and those cleaning the courtyard and preparing accommodations for the guests got busy again!
The two nannies teaching Ye i Qi etiquette quickly received the news from their spies, who relayed the information. They promptly wrote a letter reporting back to the spies for the Empress to know!
Suddenly, spies from other parts of the Ye Residence also got the ssage and reported back to their masters.
Hongji, followed by Mrs. Li and several maids, quickly walked towards the main entrance!
Ye Wenjie was the first to run towards the main entrance, followed by Li Anning. The two young boys arrived at the entrance, which was still closed. At this ti, there were six guards at the entrance, who
saluted them, saying, "Young Master, Young Master!"
"Hmm, open the door!" instructed Ye Wenjie!
Li Anning followed suit.
The main door opened once again, and all the gatekeepers were watching!
As the guards opened the door, they did not first step out to greet them, nor was the host in sight. Instead, there were just two youngsters, one around seven or eight years old, and the other about twelve or thirteen!
The guards and those nannies had heard about a young master being recognized but had never seen him. Among these two young boys, was one of them the enemy they knew of?
The enemy, they knew, were people from the Pri Minister's Mansion, and except for the Old Lady, everyone else from the Ye
family was their enemy!
All eyes turned to the youngest of the two boys, and with his age matching, he should be the young Master!
Ye Wenjie curiously looked at the several carriages parked outside the door, at the attendants who got down from the carriages, and at the guards holding the horses. Their hostile eyes were too hard to ignore!
His footsteps paused!
Li Anning also felt the strange look in the eyes of these people. Although not every stare at him was unkind, paying attention to others' expressions was sothing he could sowhat do!
He too paused!
"Ye Wenjie, Li Anning, co over!" Tang Shunyan called to them from inside the carriage!
Hearing the familiar voice, Ye Wenjie and Li Anning looked over to see Tang Shunyan waving from the carriage, so they ran over!
"Ye Wenjie, just as they thought!" muttered a nanny beside another carriage. So guards also understood the situation!
The look in their eyes turned more hostile toward Ye Wenjie, though
they restrained themselves from making a move!
Their eyes already carried venom, secretly preparing for what to do next, which of course, was to first get rid of those inside!
"Ye Wenjie, they are all hostile towards you! It seems there's a problem with your relatives. Your family must be careful!" Tang Shunyan whispered in Ye Wenjie's ear as he approached.
Ye Wenjie nodded, understanding Tang Shunyan's goodwill. Despite being young, he already understood that his family's situation was no longer that of an ordinary family. House fighting was no longer just about argunts; it could potentially be life-threatening!
Li Anning listened and could only worry as he looked at those people
and the gate, concerned for his relatives. He didn't know if his father and he would successfully return ho in a few days' ti!
The sudden situation also made it uncertain whether his father would
be able to leave!
Hongji and Mrs. Li, along with the maids, appeared at the gate, looking at the carriages and those holding the horses. Dusty and with
unkind eyes!
Knowing they were not brought by his mother but by the Old Lady, Hongji didn't mind their looks. Although the General Mansion was complex, this was his Ye Residence, offering them a place to stay was kindness, not giving them one was within reason.
In recent years, Hongji had learned to deal with people showing different expressions. He knew the other party harbored no good intentions, but his face remained full of smiles as he said to the
guards:
"Did you escort the Old Lady back? As the Old Master, I have prepared quarters and supper for your relatives and their attendants.
Please co in!"
The guards didn't move, their eyes on the Guard Captain, who sneered and said, "This is the General Mansion, our Old Lady's ho. Who do you think you are, calling yourself the Old Master?" "Hahaha, even a concubine's illegitimate son dares to call himself the Old Master. Has the Old Lady agreed yet!"
The contemptuous guards paid no mind to Hongji's self-proclaid title, their disdain evident!
The nannies and maids laughed along:
"It's the world's big joke, an illegitimate son dares to swagger before
the Old Lady."
"Exactly, they think buying the mansion with a bit of money makes them the owners. What a mistaken belief! Others may not know, but
we surely do, what a face they have!"
Mrs. Li, listening to these people mock her husband, blushed with anger. Though she usually left such confrontations to her husband, her silence did not an she lacked anger!
Hongji felt anger too but disguised it. Though the words were true, he pretended not to understand the implication. Besides, the residence's na was under his daughter's ownership; he feared no legal
troubles.
He was curious if the Old Lady would make an appearance with such unruly servants, indicating she wasn't good either!
"This residence is registered under my daughter's na. As for the Old Lady, she is our relative. You attendants, please enter, or if you do not wish to stay, you don't have to!"
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