“If Father has something to say, why doesn’t he tell his daughter?”

Li Shiyue lifted her skirt, and Granny Chang, carrying some things in her hands, followed her in.

Ignoring the shocked look in Yunyang Bo's eyes, perhaps he was surprised by her appearance, but in fact he was surprised that Li Shiyue in front of him was no longer the delicate woman he was in Yunzhong County, and even the silk she wore was precious feather satin.

"Fourth maternal uncle, cousin."

When Fourth Master Xu Huailou saw her appear, he wanted to say something, but after moving his mouth for a long time, he looked at Xu Yunci. Seeing that Xu Yunci was still sitting and his expression remained unchanged, he also sat back down and adopted the same leisurely attitude as before.

"Yan Yan is here, please sit down."

Li Shiyue sat down with a smile next to Xu Yunci. Xu Huailou gave an order, but Xu Yunci didn't say anything. Only Yunyangbo was left standing there alone.

After a long while, Uncle Yunyang came to his senses, his face flushed: "I am your father, after all. How can you not greet your father when you see him? Where did you learn such manners?"

Xu Huailou raised an eyebrow. He was rather frivolous, and with one leg raised and placed on the stool, he looked exactly like a spoiled young master. He said coldly, "In the Xu family, how the masters behave is the rule. Yan Yan is now a girl of the Xu family. What, does the Earl want to boss people around in the Xu family?"

When Uncle Yunyang saw Li Shiyue approaching, he assumed that his eldest daughter was as easy to manipulate as ever, and he lost his temper, coldly saying, "The Xu family is quite formidable!"

"No matter how powerful he is, he can't compare to the Earl of Yunyang who favors his concubine over his wife. Even the Emperor has been alarmed." Xu Huailou is quite different from his brothers, especially his mouth. When he speaks, he can really smash the self-proclaimed scholar's airs to smithereens.

After saying that, he didn't even look at Yunyang Bo, his arrogant attitude just like that of a tyrant.

"Yan Yan, what brings you here?"

That implies that Li Shiyue shouldn't have come.

Li Shiyue knew that her fourth uncle was trying to avenge her. She glanced at Yunyang Bo, whose face was flushed, and obediently replied, "As for me, Yan Yan doesn't want to trouble Uncle and Cousin. It's good that we can clarify some things today."

She stood up and walked to Uncle Yunyang: "You are my father, and that is an unchangeable fact."

"But you said you received a letter from the Xu family, in which your grandmother entrusted my upbringing and marriage to the Xu family, and your father said he cared about me, his daughter. I wonder when this letter, after leaving the Xu family, reached your father's hands."

The Earl of Yunyang's eyes, which had been shining, suddenly became unfocused upon hearing this: "The journey between the capital and Yunzhong County is long, and it's understandable that the letter was delayed on the way. But Yan Yan, your father is truly worried about you, otherwise why would he have traveled day and night to come here?"

“Your mother is gone, and your father did some foolish things before, but now your father understands that you are his own flesh and blood. How can a father, while still alive, hand you over to his maternal grandparents?”

"Besides, you're just a young girl from a humble family, and your family has received such great favors from the officials one after another. There are many powerful and influential people in the capital, and your father is worried that you might suffer if you're alone in the capital, surrounded by all sorts of people. Why don't you come back with your father, and we can get along well as father and daughter in the future?"

"Moreover, the letter stated that it was arranged by the two families' matriarchs, and it did not bear my seal. These things are not valid. The blood ties between father and daughter cannot be severed so easily."

If she only looked at the expectation in Uncle Yunyang's eyes, she would be willing to believe that her father was speaking from the heart.

"Father thinks I'll suffer in the capital? But with my maternal grandmother, my uncles protecting me, and my cousins ​​around, who can make me suffer?"

"Father, do you feel that your daughter doesn't understand your heart?"

However, it would be a grave mistake to assume that her upbringing and marriage are merely verbal agreements between the two families' matriarchs, simply because they see potential for profit in her.

Uncle Yunyang clearly didn't understand the deeper meaning in her words and continued arrogantly, "Hmph, don't say those things. You are my daughter, and your surname is Li. Even though the Xu family is your maternal grandparents' family, there is no reason for them to separate a father and daughter."

“The Xu family values ​​etiquette the most, especially since the Crown Princess is still in the palace. Since I have come to the capital anyway, if Yan Yan cannot return with me, I might as well file a complaint with the Emperor and let the Emperor and all the officials judge this matter. The Rongguo Duke’s Mansion is so powerful that it is separating my father and me.”

“Yan Yan is my daughter. She has a gentle nature. Now that I have dared to come to your door, I will not let you control her.”

His arrogance made it seem as if Li Shiyue's words were not from her own heart, but rather coerced by someone.

Xu Yunci, who had been sitting silently, now had an even more obvious sarcasm in his eyes: "Is that so?"

"So this is how the Xu family is viewed by the Earl of Yunyang. But before my cousin entered the manor, she was as thin as a kitten and was afraid of everyone. I wonder how the Earl doted on his daughter in Yunzhong County that he raised his beloved eldest daughter to be like this?"

“Grandmother dotes on my cousin. Even the things my mother sends to Chengyu Pavilion every day are carefully selected. Everything she wears and uses is luxurious. It’s normal for a girl to be pampered in her family.”

“My mother was worried about my cousin’s health, so she had people brew nourishing soup with precious medicinal herbs every day, and she wouldn’t be at ease until she saw my cousin drink it herself. She finally managed to fatten my cousin up a bit and make her complexion rosy, so how could it be that the Xu family mistreated my cousin according to the Earl of Yunyang?”

"I suppose the Earl of Yunyang is worried that his cousins ​​might do something to his cousin. Oh right, your family used to have a concubine named Meng, and her nephew, who called himself the young master of the Earl's family, is still in the Jingzhao Prefecture prison."

"Since you've come to the capital, why not seize the day and do it today? How about you come with me to the Jingzhao Prefecture prison to visit an old friend?"

Xu Yunci's eyes flashed with sarcasm, and his tone became even more severe: "The Earl of Yunyang himself has done things like favoring his concubine over his wife and letting others bully his cousin. The Xu family hasn't even sought an explanation from the Li family yet, and you've come to them on your own."

"How about I invite you to visit the Jingzhao Prefecture and try the tea served in the Jingzhao Prefecture prison?"

Xu Yunci rarely showed signs of anger, which surprised even Xu Huailou. He put down his leg and coughed twice.

Xu Yunci completely ignored him. He stood up and stood beside Li Shiyue, his hands behind his back, his cold eyes focused on one point: "My cousin is a delicate and precious person. She suffered grievances in Yunzhong County before. I was just worried that I had nowhere to avenge her."

“Even my mother, my maternal aunt, feels sorry for my cousin. How could the Earl, as a father, tolerate the grievances my cousin has suffered all these years? If the Earl favored my cousin, why wait until today? He should have doted on her long ago instead of saying unfounded things at the Xu family today.”