Chapter 289 In this life, Xiao Yeming's only beloved is Lu Zhaoruo.
"Tell me quickly, where is she?"
Xiao Yeming pressed for an answer.
Yunxiu glared fiercely at Xiao Yeming. At that moment, Shiliu whispered something in her ear.
Upon hearing the words "marriage proposal," her pupils contracted sharply, and her voice rose abruptly, becoming shrill with disbelief: "Marriage proposal? Xiao Yeming, do you really intend to marry that lowly merchant's daughter?"
"yes."
Xiao Ye met her jealous gaze without hesitation.
This affirmative answer was like a red-hot blade piercing Yunxiu's heart!
All her pride and illusions shattered instantly. Jealousy overwhelmed her reason, and she raised her hand to slap Xiao Yeming across the face!
Xiao Yeming reacted with lightning speed, raising his hand to firmly grasp her wrist, his gaze as cold as ice: "Lady Yunxiu, please have some self-respect."
Instead of letting go, he stepped forward, staring intently at her face, which was contorted with rage. His voice wasn't loud, but every word echoed clearly in the hall: "In my life, Xiao Yeming has only ever loved Lu Zhaoruo. If you don't release her today, you will have forged a mortal enmity with me, one that we will never share in this life!"
After saying that, he forcefully threw away Yunxiu's wrist.
"you……!"
Yunxiu trembled with anger, her wrists aching from being gripped so tightly, but what hurt even more was his undisguised protection and resolute threat.
The man she had admired since childhood treated her this way because of a woman of lowly status!
Extreme humiliation and resentment nearly drove her to the brink of collapse. She screamed, "She's a merchant woman who shows her face in public, divorced, defiled, and forced to have an abortion. How could she be worthy of you! How could she be worthy of you!!"
Xiao Yeming abruptly shook off her hand, his eyes filled with disdain and determination: "The one who is unworthy of her is me, Xiao Yeming!"
His words were clear and distinct, like a vow: "To receive her 'yes' is the greatest fortune of my life, Xiao Yeming. As long as she agrees, I will formally marry her according to the proper rites and customs, and welcome her into my Xiao family ancestral hall!"
Yunxiu was so angry at his words that she trembled all over.
She stared intently at Xiao Yeming, her eyes churning with the humiliation of being insulted and the resentment of not being able to have what she wanted.
After a long pause, she suddenly let out a sharp, cold laugh: "Good! What a fine set of formalities and marriage! Xiao Yeming, you're really something!"
She took two steps back, looked Xiao Yeming up and down, and sneered: "However... even if you're delusional and she's dreaming, it still depends on... whether God is willing to grant you two a happy ending!"
After saying that, she turned around abruptly and quickly walked out of the hall with Shiliu in her arms.
Reaching the doorway, she suddenly stopped, glanced back at Xiao Yeming standing there, and said softly, word by word, "You, stay here, and wait peacefully... for five days."
Before she finished speaking, she had already disappeared into the shadows under the porch outside the door.
After Yunxiu left, the front hall fell into a deathly silence, with only the rumbling thunder outside the window.
Xiao Yeming stood rooted to the spot, Yunxiu's words "wait five days" echoing in his mind, an ominous premonition almost engulfing him.
Just then, a maidservant entered with a tea tray, her head bowed and eyes lowered. It was Pu Cao.
She walked up to Xiao Yeming, about to offer him tea, when her wrist suddenly twitched.
"Clang!"
The entire cup of tea was spilled onto Xiao Yeming's robes!
"This servant deserves to die! General, please forgive me!"
Pucao exclaimed in surprise, hurriedly pulled out a silk handkerchief, and rushed forward to wipe it.
Just as she leaned closer, she spoke urgently in a very low and fast voice, so that only the two of them could hear: "General Xiao! Madam Lu is being held in the first room of 'Tingzhu Pavilion' in the northeast corner of the backyard! There are guards outside the door, go quickly!"
Before the words had even finished, Pu Cao had already retreated swiftly, knelt on the ground, and repeatedly begged for forgiveness.
Xiao Yeming was shocked! This news came too suddenly.
He couldn't fully trust the cattail, nor could he tell if it was another trap to lure him in.
But Sister Lu had been in danger for almost a day, and Yunxiu's words "wait five days" hung in her heart like a death warrant!
He felt as if he were trapped on the edge of a cliff, and he had to grab onto any vine that was hanging down!
No matter how great the risk, it couldn't outweigh the regret of standing by! He suppressed his surging emotions, keeping a calm expression, even deliberately revealing a hint of offended anger, and said coldly, "It's alright, step back!"
As if granted a pardon, Pu Cao hurriedly gathered up the broken cups and left in a rush.
Xiao Yeming kept his eyes fixed on her back until he was sure she had disappeared safely into the corner of the corridor and had not suffered any immediate harm for reporting the news. He felt a little relieved.
The next moment, without the slightest hesitation, he walked straight out of the hall.
Fortunately, he had been forcibly taken to the mansion by Yunxiu many times when he was young, so he was quite familiar with the path to "Tingzhu Pavilion".
In the courtyard.
Aunt Ji led more than twenty guards armed with water and fire sticks, guarding the courtyard gate like an impregnable fortress.
Seeing Xiao Yeming stride out, she immediately stepped forward to block his path: "General Xiao, please wait. If you wish to return to your residence, this servant will immediately have someone escort you. If you intend to force your way into the forbidden area of the inner courtyard..."
Her voice suddenly turned stern: "At best, it's disobeying the imperial family; at worst, it's showing contempt for the emperor's authority—both are unforgivable crimes!"
Xiao Yeming didn't stop for a moment, his gaze like two sharp, icy blades piercing Ji Gugu. He retorted sarcastically, "The Grand Princess's residence detained a royal merchant without authorization and abused private punishment. What crime should they be charged with? Besides, I was just looking for someone. What crime have I committed?"
He didn't give Aunt Ji a chance to argue at all. His murderous aura suddenly erupted, like a cold blade being drawn from its sheath, and he shouted sharply, "Get out of the way!"
A cold glint flashed in Aunt Ji's eyes. She was no ordinary maid. Instead of retreating, she pressed forward and decisively ordered, "Stop him!"
Upon receiving the order, the guards instantly clashed their water and fire sticks, blocking the way forward.
Aunt Ji stood ramrod straight, her voice suddenly rising in pitch and clearly echoing throughout the courtyard: "Listen to my command! If General Xiao dares to take another step forward, he will be treated as trespassing and harboring rebellious intentions. Seize him on the spot!"
"Yes, sir!"
The twenty guards responded in unison, their voices echoing through the night sky.
Xiao Yeming's gaze swept indifferently over the guards who were standing ready for battle.
Let alone these twenty people, even if there were twice as many, he would not be afraid of them.
Without hesitation, he took a step forward.
The head guard's fire and water sticks whistled through the air as they struck straight at his face!
Xiao Yeming raised his hand with lightning speed, grabbing the water-fire staff that was slashing down. He exerted force with his wrist, intending to slam the guard, staff and all, to the ground—
"stop."
A majestic and menacing voice came from the shadows under the corridor.
The sound was not loud, but it was like a cold bolt of lightning, cleaving through the dull night.
Everyone was shocked and looked in the direction of the sound. They saw that the Grand Princess Linglang had quietly stood by the pillar at some point. The color of her clothes was almost blending into the night, with only the gold ornaments at her temples reflecting a cold glimmer in the occasional flashes of lightning.
"Greetings, Your Highness!"
Led by Aunt Ji, all the guards and servants in the courtyard knelt down in an instant, their movements perfectly synchronized, holding their breath and concentrating, and the courtyard fell silent.
Her face was hidden in the shadows, only her eyes, calm as an abyss, looked down at the crowd who had suddenly shrunk in size, exuding an imposing aura without anger.
She ignored everyone else, her gaze fixed directly on Xiao Yeming's hand gripping the end of the stick. After a moment of silence, she spoke, her voice as still as a stagnant pool: "General Xiao. You have overstepped your bounds by harming my people in my own residence."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
