Chapter 555 My family... My grandfather has already gotten married!
"Listen up!" The Minister of Revenue slammed the table, making the teacups clang. He looked around at the faces in the hall, some bewildered and some terrified. Every word he spoke seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, with unquestionable severity and deep-seated fear:
"From today on! Everyone in this mansion, from top to bottom, including you!" He pointed his finger fiercely at his wife and children, "Everyone, behave yourself! Be careful with your words! Be cautious with your actions! No one is allowed to go out and cause trouble! No one is allowed to show off your power and bully others! And no one is allowed to act recklessly in the name of this official! Those who disobey my orders will be severely punished according to the family law, and there will be no leniency! Do you understand?!"
His gaze was like a poisoned knife, sweeping across everyone, and his voice suddenly rose, almost to a roar:
"Especially during this period! Keep your skin tight! If anyone dares to cause even the slightest bit of trouble and is targeted by... that 'living king of hell'... and their property is confiscated... it won't just be a broken leg! It'll be the loss of their head! Their entire family will be buried with them! Do you want to experience the Imperial Prison, or do you want to see our house sealed?! Huh?!"
As soon as the words "living devil" were uttered, the temperature in the hall seemed to drop to freezing point in an instant.
The ladies were so frightened that their faces turned pale and they covered their mouths and screamed; the young masters turned pale and were silent; the butlers and servants were trembling and almost fell to their knees.
The horrific scene of the confiscation of property and the extermination of the entire family, along with the Minister of Revenue's hoarse warning, was imprinted very clearly in everyone's mind.
"Listen... I heard it clearly!" The butler was the first to react, and responded with a trembling voice.
"Yes, father (master)! Your daughter (son) obeys your command!" The young masters and young ladies hurriedly bowed and responded, their voices filled with tears.
"The servants (slaves) remember this! Never dare to cause trouble!" The servants all knelt down, their foreheads pressed against the cold tiles, their bodies shaking uncontrollably.
Seeing his family members terrified and submissive, the Minister of Revenue, who was sitting in the main seat, seemed to have all his strength drained away. He slumped back into the armchair, closed his eyes tiredly, and waved his hand.
Cold sweat silently trickled down his temples. The entire mansion fell into a dead silence, with only heavy, uneasy breathing as the only sound.
Not only the Minister of Revenue, but almost all the ministers who returned home today gave the same admonition to everyone in the mansion.
The biting cold wind blew up the remaining snow, and Mo Liyuan stepped into the solemn palace with a murderous look on his face.
The heavy study door slammed shut behind him, isolating him from the noise and coldness of the outside world.
He walked straight towards the large rosewood desk, and the cold wind brought by the corner of his robe caused the candlelight on the desk to sway violently.
He didn't sit down, but simply turned his back to the door. His tall figure cast a heavy shadow in the dim light. His voice was like cold iron tempered with ice, striking Tianyi, who was standing by with his hands hanging down, without any ripples:
"No news yet?"
Tianyi's heart tightened and his head drooped even lower, almost burying it in his chest.
His Adam's apple rolled, and his voice was dry and cautious: "Your Highness, there is no... news about the princess. She... may have left the capital..." Otherwise, with the tight net laid by the palace, how could they not catch even a ripple?
Before he finished speaking, the temperature in the study seemed to drop another ten degrees in an instant.
The invisible, oppressive cold aura around Mo Liyuan suddenly erupted, like a tangible cold wave sweeping over, almost extinguishing the candlelight.
He didn't turn around, but his tense back and suddenly clenched fists showed his surging anger.
"Back off!" These two words were short and cold, carrying with them an unquestionable pressure, like an icicle piercing the bones.
Tian Yiru felt as if he had been pardoned, yet he was terrified. He did not dare to hesitate for a moment and immediately bowed: "Yes!"
He almost held his breath as he backed out of the study, gently closing the door behind him. Only when the heavy door completely blocked out the suffocating atmosphere in the study did he suddenly lean against the cold pillar, gasping for breath as if he had just struggled out of deep water.
He cried out inwardly: "My Lady Princess, where have you been? Even if you are free and easy, the lives of your subordinates will be frozen in the cold of your Lordship!"
At this time, Lan Xiyue was completely unaware of the storm in the capital.
The New Year's Eve in Jinling City was extremely lively. She was dressed in a moon-white brocade robe and had her hair tied up with a jade crown. She looked like a handsome young man. She led Chuchun, Chuxia and Anyi out of the inn where they were staying and was attracted by the hustle and bustle of the street.
Red lanterns are hung on both sides of the long street, firecrackers are heard one after another, and the air is filled with the aroma of food and festive joy.
Just as she was looking at an exquisite sugar figurine stall with great interest, a group of people suddenly blocked her way.
The leader was a middle-aged man with a friendly smile, who was Liu Bu, the steward of the Liu Mansion.
He took a step forward and bowed respectfully to Lan Xiyue, his face full of attentive smiles:
"Master Yue, may you be blessed with good health. My wife would like to invite you to her house for a chat. Please do me the honor of visiting."
Lan Xiyue raised her heroic eyebrows, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes: "Oh? Your wife?"
Liu Bu's smile deepened, with a hint of pride: "She is the wife of the local county magistrate."
Lan Xiyue's brows knitted slightly, her confusion growing even more intense. "It seems... I don't know your wife. What's the reason for this sudden invitation?"
Liu Bu rubbed his hands, a smile almost overflowing from the corners of his eyes: "Well, it's like this, my wife has been looking for a good husband for the eldest daughter, but none of the talented men in Jinling City have caught the attention of the eldest daughter. Today, by chance, the eldest daughter saw the young man's demeanor in the county government office, and was shocked by his handsome appearance, so..." His words revealed the meaning of "God-given marriage".
However, before Liu Bu could finish his words, Chuchun darted forward and urgently stopped him in her clear voice, "No!" She glared at Liu Bu, then quickly turned to Lan Xiyue and blurted out, "My...my grandfather is already married!"
The smile on Liu Bu's face froze instantly, as if frozen, his eyes full of disbelief: "What...what? Young Master Yue is such a young and handsome man, but he...is already married?" His eyes swept back and forth over Lan Xiyue's excessively young and dazzlingly handsome face.
Chu Xia also nodded vigorously and said in a firm tone: "It's absolutely true! My master already has a family in Beijing, and they are very loving! Moreover, my master has vowed that he will never take a concubine in this life!" She deliberately emphasized the four words "never take a concubine".
Lan Xiyue felt helpless and rolled her eyes secretly. These two girls reacted too quickly. She had wanted to tease the housekeeper and see the trick of "selecting a son-in-law", but now it was no longer possible.
The light on Liu Bu's face completely dimmed, and his eyes were full of disappointment and regret.
He sighed heavily, clasped his fists towards Lan Xiyue, his voice filled with obvious disappointment: "So that's how it is... I'm sorry for being rude. Young master, your deep affection and loyalty are admirable. In that case, I won't disturb your interest." After saying that, he waved his hand listlessly, and quickly disappeared into the bustling crowd with a group of equally deflated servants.
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