Chapter 109

Se Manli, who was far away in Qingdong, was very happy to learn about Yunkai and Yueming.

Se Manli, the chieftain's youngest daughter, had always had her way. Never having experienced hardship, she knew no compromise. How could she not be overjoyed at her only moment of triumph? She immediately pestered the chieftain to discuss her marriage with Yunkai with her aunt.

Seeing his daughter completely bewitched by her nephew, the chieftain spoke earnestly, "You witnessed what happened when Yunkai and the little girl from the Lan family came to Qingdong a few months ago. Yunkai's heart was completely devoted to that little girl. He had no choice but to break off the engagement. Once he gains power and has more leverage, he will definitely reconcile with the little girl from the Lan family. His heart isn't with you, so why bother trying to make things difficult for yourself?"

Se Manli couldn't hear anything else and confidently said to her father, "Didn't Auntie say that she'd already called off the engagement with the Lan family? Who knows when he'll be able to grow up and become independent. Can a little girl from the Lan family waste her youth waiting for him forever? If he can't let go now, how can he let go forever?"

The chieftain knew Se Manli had been in love with Yun Kai since childhood, otherwise she wouldn't have delayed him for so many years. Now that Yun Kai had broken off the engagement, she had hope, and no one could dissuade her. He had no choice but to promise his daughter that he would write to her aunt.

When the news of Yunkai's cancellation of the engagement spread, the head of the laid-off circle hurriedly looked for the head of the employed circle to discuss the matter.

He said regretfully, "I didn't expect the Second Young Master to be so ruthless and ruthless. He really broke off the marriage with the Lan family. I thought Master Tinglai would take over and fulfill the conditions he promised us. Now, we have become the bad guys for nothing."

The leader of the Shanggang Circle held up his wine glass and laughed, "What are you afraid of? Isn't it better now? The Lan family's broken engagement has already torn relations with the Tusi Mansion. How can Yun Xiang still stay? Once he leaves, the Second Young Master will lose his shelter. Li Shengmeng will probably also bear a grudge against him for the broken engagement. Isn't this a good thing to kill two birds with one stone?"

Even so, the laid-off circle leaders still had serious concerns: "It's safer to let Master Tinglai be the chieftain. I'm afraid the second young master will hold a grudge against us if he takes the position."

The leader of the Shanggang Circle emptied his glass and sneered, "You think he's a big shot. Not to mention that he used to only know how to fight cocks and listen to music, and would run outside whenever he had a free moment. Even now, with Lan Yingde backing him up, he won't seize the opportunity. He's scared off by us and goes to break off the engagement with the Lan family. Now the Lan family has completely ignored him, Qingdong is far away, and the Dao family in Zhangwai Xincheng has also been weakened by the war with the British. Even if he holds a grudge against us, what can he do? Besides, were we wrong to say that Lan Yingde's daughter's family background is not good enough to be Yin Tai? The Buddha of the Guanfo Temple has always followed the lead of the Tusi Mansion, and hasn't he quietly dared to speak out? What are we afraid of him for, even if we have reason?"

The laid-off leader of the group felt reassured and emboldened. They were worried about what was the point of doing all that work. They might as well plan how to get more benefits from the Second Young Master while he was still a fledgling. The Lan family and Yun Xiang's largest Mengdu had already turned against the Tusi Mansion. While these Meng circles were small, as long as they united as a team, they didn't have to worry about the Second Young Master submitting.

The Lan family had almost finished dealing with their property in Yunxiang, except for the house they lived in. Lan Yingde urged Yueming to pack up and prepare to leave for Kunming, but Yueming wanted to wait until Yunkai's succession ceremony was over.

Ai Ye said angrily: "Miss, why do you have to make yourself uncomfortable? Why do you have to watch them being proud?"

Yueming looked at the flaming Panzhihua flowers blooming along the road outside the wall and said calmly, "After losing so much, of course I can only rest assured if he gets what he wants."

Ye Hu silently held up a bowl of tea and handed it to Yue Ming. He sighed and said, "Why are you so cruel to yourself? The only ones who feel sorry for you now are the master and Young Master Changsheng. They must feel bad about you even if they don't say it."

The winter morning wind on Yun Xiang's face was biting. After a long morning of blowing moonlight, her fingers were frozen so cold that she couldn't even stretch them straight. A bowl of hot tea warmed her palms but not her heart.

A sudden gust of wind blew, hair flying everywhere. The fire cloud outside the wall was tossed this way and that by the sudden gust of wind. Red flowers, unable to withstand the raging wind, fell from the branches. Even if she couldn't see it, she could imagine the flowers' miserable appearance, petals scattered and stamens broken, as they fell into the mud.

People say that my destiny is in my own hands, but when fate tortures you, you really have no choice but to accept it.

Unable to bear watching any longer, Yueming asked Yehu, "Where are the master and the young master? I haven't seen them since I woke up this morning. Did they go out?"

"The car is still there, and little Lahu is feeding the horses in the back. The master and the young master should not have gone out. I'm afraid they are discussing something in the study."

Yueming handed the tea bowl to Yehu and instructed, "Go and help Aunt Yuxiang prepare lunch. I'll go ask the master and the young master what they want to eat for lunch."

Inside the study, Lan Yingde looked at Changsheng kneeling before him and asked in disbelief, "What did you say? Say it again?"

Changsheng prostrated himself on the ground again, his tone firm as he spoke, "I beg Master to let me marry into your family, so that you, Yueming, and I can truly be a family. I swear I will treat Yueming well, love her, respect her, and protect her. I will make her happy for the rest of her life."

Lan Yingde looked at Changsheng in silence. If he said he hadn't considered having Changsheng marry into his family before, he would be lying. He had never wanted Yueming to marry out, so he had put a lot of effort into Changsheng's upbringing. Orphaned and helpless, the child had become much more trustworthy than Han Yunkai under his careful upbringing. He was incredibly kind to Yueming. He never went against Yueming's wishes, and even though he knew Yueming's tricks would lead to a punishment, he still stood firmly by her side. If it weren't for Han Yunkai, who showed up out of nowhere, Changsheng would have been a perfect candidate for a son-in-law.

"But..." Lan Yingde rubbed his aching forehead and said, "I thought you only had a brotherly relationship with Yueming."

"The love between brother and sister is also love. If Yueming can marry the one she loves, I will be a good brother. If she can't find someone who shares her feelings, I will be a good husband. Master, your kindness to me is as great as a mountain. I will risk my life to protect Yueming and make her a worry-free life."

He looked at Lan Yingde pleadingly, "Can you bear to let her get married? She's been bullied right under our noses. If she meets another Han Yunkai, wouldn't that be the end of her life?"

Of course Lan Yingde was reluctant to do so. But it was easy to convince him, but it was not so easy to convince Yueming.

He hesitated and said, "Then when we return to Kunming, I'll find a chance to ask Yueming what he thinks..."

"I don't agree." Yueming pushed open the study door and interrupted her father.

Changsheng didn't dare turn around. He heard soft footsteps behind him. From the corner of his eye, he saw a green skirt draped at her side. He heard Yueming say, "Gratitude is gratitude, love is love. Brother, there's no need to sacrifice your own happiness to repay a favor."

"No, I'm not just doing this to repay a favor, I..." I also have romantic feelings for you.

But Yueming didn't give him a chance to continue, interrupting him and saying, "Brother, the thing people fear most in this life is being forced into situations. Dad had no choice but to leave his hometown, and Yunkai and I had no choice but to break off our engagement. You're the only one in this family who can choose how to live your life, you should cherish it." Then she looked at Lan Yingde complainingly, "Even if you feel sorry for me, you shouldn't be so desperate. I wouldn't dare disobey you if you said anything. Why did you ruin my brother's marriage for me? He'll suffer forever if he meets a girl he likes in the future?"

Lan Yingde...it's really unfair. Changsheng was the one who brought this up on his own initiative. What does it have to do with him?

Yueming's attitude was unusually firm, not giving the two men in the family a chance to speak. "Brother and we have been family for a long time. If he's willing, please pick a date to record him in the family tree! Since he has the surname Lan, I truly have a brother now."

Changsheng clenched his fists, lowered his head and remained silent for a while before asking, "Do you really want me to be your brother?"

Yueming looked at him: "You have been my brother for a long time."

Changsheng loosened his palm, which was scratched by nails, forced a smile, and said to Yueming: "Okay, if you let me be your brother, then I will be your brother."