Chapter Fifty-Eight: The Pampered Uncle Makes His Appearance
As the wedding day drew ever closer, the Prime Minister's residence was brightly decorated, a scene of festive activity.
In the afternoon, the gatekeeper rushed into the inner courtyard, panting, and announced loudly, "Master! Madam! Uncle and General Wang Zheng's carriages have arrived at the gate!"
Inside the study, Li Xiangyuan was whispering with his trusted advisor when he heard the news. He paused, his brows furrowing into a deep frown, and an uncontrollable look of extreme impatience and annoyance flashed across his face.
His brother-in-law is a real jinx! A mere warrior, stubborn and inflexible, like a rock in a latrine. Every time they meet, his eagle eyes seem to see right through his meticulous schemes, making him feel extremely uncomfortable.
The two are simply incompatible; they can't even exchange a single word!
But... Li Xiangyuan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the nausea surging in his heart. This brute had a deeply entrenched network of old subordinates in the army and was quite prestigious among the upright faction in the court. Several of his vital sources of income and connections still depended on the favor Wang Zheng had left behind to keep them running smoothly.
Thinking of this, he could only force out a bit of surprise and enthusiasm, straighten his wrinkle-free clothes, and quickly went out to greet them.
When he arrived at the courtyard in front of the main hall, he saw Wang Zheng striding in, as if he were the true master of the Prime Minister's residence.
Even though he had long since retired and returned to his hometown after years of guarding the border, Wang Zheng's heroic spirit had not diminished at all. Instead, his decisiveness and ruthlessness had been ingrained in his bones, transforming into a dignified and imposing aura.
Wang Zheng was dressed in casual clothes, his back straight as a pine tree, his eyes sharp as an eagle, and his sweeping gaze carried an aura of ruthlessness honed on the battlefield, which was completely out of place in the meticulously crafted and luxurious gardens of the Prime Minister's residence.
However, when his gaze fell on the person approaching, his sharp eyes instantly turned cold.
In the courtyard, only Li Xiangyuan, along with his wife Wang Qingzhi, Li Bao'er, and Li Yu, were present. None of the other concubines, illegitimate sons, or illegitimate daughters were to be seen.
Wang Zheng's expression immediately turned sour.
"Brother!" Wang Qingzhi spoke first, her voice tinged with a barely perceptible sob and obvious joy. She quickly stepped forward, her eyes slightly red, her gaze carefully tracing her brother's face, which she hadn't seen for years. A thousand words were condensed into the simplest greeting: "You must be tired from your journey. Is everything... alright at home?"
When Wang Zheng saw his sister, his anger subsided and turned into deep concern.
His gaze swept quickly over Wang Qingzhi. Although she was dressed appropriately, there was a hint of weariness in her brows from years of accumulated melancholy. She also looked thinner than he remembered. His heart ached.
He softened his voice, his tone firm and unwavering: "Qingzhi, I'm fine. You..." He paused, ultimately not pressing the matter further, and simply said, "Brother is here."
Just then, two younger voices rang out excitedly, breaking the slightly heavy atmosphere.
"Uncle!" A clear and melodious voice called out.
Li Bao'er, lifting her skirt and with bright, sparkling eyes, ran forward and said, "You've finally decided to come all the way from your hometown to see us!"
Before she could finish speaking, a figure beside her was even faster! Li Yu swept past like a gust of wind, her movements incredibly agile, and she darted in front of Wang Zheng a step ahead.
Instead of bowing formally, he smiled and naturally opened his arms, giving Wang Zheng a tight hug. He even hugged his uncle's broad back tightly, just like when they were children, before taking a half step back.
"Old man! Are your legs getting worse and worse? You should be able to crawl all the way from your hometown to the capital by now, right?" Li Yu raised her chin, her peach blossom eyes crinkling with laughter, her tone full of playfulness and intimacy, completely lacking the fear that a junior would show when meeting a dignified elder. "Were you so busy thinking about how to support your precious niece on the way that you forgot you have a nephew who's eager to be taught marksmanship?"
As he spoke, he deliberately winked at Li Bao'er, as if to say, "Look, I got to hug her first."
Wang Zheng's heart, hardened like iron on the battlefield, was instantly melted by these two younger relatives he loved most.
His face held a mixture of indulgence and amusement, yet he deliberately put on a stern expression, pretending to slap Li Yu: "You brat! No manners! You want a beating? Daring to tease your uncle?"
But when the raised hand landed on Li Yu's shoulder, it turned into a heavy slap, full of praise and affection. "You've grown quite tall! This physique is perfect for martial arts! Don't worry, I won't mistreat you! I'll show you what the real Wang Family Spear is all about!"
But the next moment, Wang Zheng's gaze immediately returned to Li Bao'er, and his expression instantly changed from cheerful towards the boy to...
With undisguised tenderness and affection, his attitude toward his soon-to-be-married niece was noticeably more complex.
He called out, his voice unconsciously softening.
Wang Zheng stepped forward and carefully examined Li Bao'er from head to toe.
"Let your uncle take a good look at you!" He frowned slightly, his tone filled with deep concern, completely ignoring Li Xiangyuan, who looked embarrassed and was about to start a small talk. "Why is your complexion still so pale? Are you still not fully recovered? Did someone upset you again? Tell your uncle! Your uncle will stand up for you!"
Li Bao'er stepped forward and took Wang Zheng's hand. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Li Xiangyuan's slightly nervous expression and made up her mind.
Her long eyelashes drooped slightly, casting a small shadow on her fair cheeks, and the corners of her lips curved into a perfect arc with a hint of melancholy.
Li Bao'er gently tugged at Wang Zheng's sleeve, her voice soft and sweet: "Uncle, look at you, you've been asking these questions since you arrived." She skillfully avoided a direct answer, instead steer the conversation elsewhere, "You must be tired from your journey. You should go inside and have a cup of hot tea to rest. Bao'er is fine, really."
The more casually she spoke, the more Wang Zheng frowned. He knew his niece well; she had always been strong-willed, and would never show such an expression unless she had truly suffered a grievance.
Sure enough, Li Bao'er changed the subject very quickly and lightly, seemingly unintentionally, yet with a hint of barely concealed sadness. Her gaze casually swept over Li Xiangyuan, who was trying to appear calm: "Actually... it's just a small matter. Father is usually busy with official duties and inevitably has times when he can't attend to the household affairs. A few idle words are nothing for a young lady to hear and let bygones be bygones. Just bear with it and everything will be fine. It's really not worth getting Uncle angry."
Li Xiangyuan's heart pounded wildly, and a layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on his back!
This isn't an explanation; it's clearly the most cunning accusation! Every sentence implies that she has no one to back her up in this household and can only suffer in silence when wronged!
Li Xiangyuan's smile froze completely; he could almost feel Wang Zheng's suddenly cold and sharp gaze falling on him.
He hurriedly stepped forward, trying to interrupt the conversation: "Hehe, Bao'er is such a thoughtful child, always overthinking things. Everything is fine in the manor, all fine! Come in, please, the tea is ready!"
Wang Zheng's face darkened completely. He gently patted Li Bao'er's hand, the gesture was tender, but when he looked up at Li Xiangyuan, his eyes were as cold as ice in the dead of winter.
"Gossip? Endure it? Has my niece, Wang Zheng's niece, reached the point in this Prime Minister's residence where she has to swallow her anger and listen to gossip?"
He took a step forward, and the oppressive aura of someone with years of experience on the battlefield swept over him, almost making Li Xiangyuan want to retreat: "Li Xiangyuan, the Wang family may be weak, but that doesn't mean you can act without restraint!"
Li Bao'er lowered her head at the opportune moment, exchanged glances with Li Yu, and hid a hint of triumphant smile.
Yes, Uncle's anger was just enough to stop when it reached its limit.
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