Li Junyao hastily pleaded, "Dad, I was overwhelmed with anger just now, you know well, that day, that day... I suffered so badly at the hands of Ji Xinhe, yet when Mu Xiang came, he even made me apologize to her. How could I swallow this humiliation? Dad, as your daughter, I simply can’t accept being bullied like this!"
Le Yuanhou, eyes closed, shook his head, "Don’t make excuses, trying to distort the truth. I am not blind, I know well what happened that day."
At these words, Li Junyao’s face turned pale, she stammered, "Dad ..."
"No matter how you feel victimized, consider this a lesson. You cannot always act recklessly. You need to understand that there will always be someone above you. Do you understand?" Lord Marquis spoke sternly.
Li Junyao bit her lip, begrudgingly nodding her head, "I understand, father."
Yet she thought to herself, even if there is always someone above you, how does Ji Xinhe even qualify to be that someone?
She’s just a temporary toy to Mu Houchu.
That’s definitely it!
But even if she is his toy, Li Junyao was still filled with jealousy. Mu Houchu had never been close to any woman. Even with the previous Chen Yining always playing the part of Mu Houchu’s future wife, his attitude towards her was cold. Who could have imagined that such an aloof and noble man would stand up for a woman?
Grinding her teeth, Li Junyao thought, especially since that woman had seduced her fiance! That damned seductress!
Seeing the fierce look in her eyes, Lord Marquis knew that she wasn’t sincere in her contrition. He sighed, "Since this has already been taken care of, stop causing trouble. You’re making the whole household restless."
"Yes." Li Junyao lowered her head.
Only then did Lord Marquis turn to leave.
Waiting outside Li Junyao’s Shuyu Pavilion, Lady Hou had been anticipating Lord Marquis’s departure. As soon as she saw him come out, she rushed over and asked, "How’s Junyao?"
Li Junyao’s birth mother had passed away long ago. Now the current Lady Hou, Lady Sun, was Lord Marquis’s second wife.
Li Junyao always looked down on Lady Sun and was frequently against her. With Li Junyao currently in a fit of rage, Lady Sun dared not go in to anger her further. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
Lord Marquis shook his head and sighed, "Junyao can be so reckless and thoughtless. I’m to blame for indulging her too much since childhood. Thinking of her deceased mother, I just couldn’t bear to discipline her strictly. Now, I can do nothing but watch as she grows more and more unruly."
Lady Sun whispered, "Lord Marquis needn’t worry so much. Junyao is still young and naive. As she grows up, she’ll learn better."
"Forget it. Don’t dwell on this anymore. I’ve already counselled her, and she probably won’t cause any more trouble. You should go rest early. Don’t worry yourself too much." Lord Marquis advised.
"But Lord Marquis ..."
"I’m going to take a walk," Lord Marquis massaged his forehead, appearing worried.
Lady Sun nodded, "Then, Lord Marquis, you should get some rest soon. I’ll leave."
When Le Yuanhou was feeling upset, he liked to wander around the garden alone, not wanting anyone to bother him. Lady Sun had been beside him for many years now, and understood his preferences well.
After Lady Sun left, Le Yuanhou wandered by the lakeside alone. He recalled the day when he heard Mu Houchu was visiting. Rushing to the garden and raising his gaze, he saw a face that looked vaguely familiar. In that moment, he thought she looked exactly like her.
However, upon a closer look, he realized she did not resemble her at all. The girl had a pair of sharp eyes and an extraordinary aura about her. They were simply nothing alike.
Despite that, Le Yuanhou could not forget his initial sight of her, which had shocked him into speechlessness.
A man dressed as a guard rushed over, made a fist salute before Lord Marquis and said, "Lord Marquis."
Lord Marquis collected himself, his expression become somber, "Any progress with the investigation?"
The man replied gravely, "The subordinate sent people to search the main road from Linzhou to Lanshan City again but found nothing."
Lord Marquis’s eyes darkened, his hands behind his back, he pondered for a long while before he sighed, "More than a decade has passed in a flash, and even the Leng Family’s dynasty has changed kings, but we still haven’t found any clues."
"The subordinate believes that we should consider the road to Lanshan City as the primary lead and continue our search carefully. There must be some results." The guard advised.
Lord Marquis took a deep breath, nodded, "Carry on as you suggested. Go on."
"Yes."
——
Early the next day.
Elder Master Duan got up early, fully dressed and ready to head to Le Yuanhou’s mansion.
Duan Lan’s visit to Li Junyao’s birthday banquet not only led to no progress in their relationship, it seemed to have made things worse. Eventually, Elder Master Duan conceded and decided to personally call off the betrothal early that morning.
"I should accompany you," Madam Duan spoke uneasily.
Elder Master Duan waved her off, "There’s no need, why should you involve yourself in such a shameful affair? I can handle it alone."
Madam Duan said helplessly, "You need to tread lightly and be polite. Don’t offend anyone. Lan’s personality is not compatible with Junyao’s. Forcing them together wouldn’t yield any good results. We are helpless, and we’re doing this for Junyao’s future happiness."
"Rest assured, do you think I’m as lackluster as that boy?" Elder Master Duan was grumpy if he didn’t bad mouth someone.
Madam Duan knew exactly what kind of man her husband was. She smiled, helping him with his cloak before saying, "Alright now, depart. The coachman has been waiting outside."
"Okay." Elder Master Duan was about to leave.
However, before he could get to the courtyard gate, Eunuch Lin, from the Emperor’s side, arrived.
Elder Master Duan was taken aback and quickly went to greet him, "Eunuch Lin, what brings you here amidst your busy schedule?"
With a smile on his face, Eunuch Lin said, "The Emperor has assigned me a task, Elder Master Duan, you should first accept the Imperial Edict."
While speaking, he raised the yellow Imperial Edict in his hand. Elder Master Duan was stunned and urgently said to Madam Duan, "Quickly, assemble everyone in the mansion to accept the Imperial Edict."
"Alright."
The entire mansion had to kneel and accept the Emperor’s Edict together.
In a short while, everyone in the Duan Family, both masters and servants, gathered to kneel and accept the Imperial Edict.
Eunuch Lin read out loud, "Elder Duan’s son, Duan Lan, is extraordinarily talented, upright, and academically superior. The Emperor is very pleased and has awarded him the title of Scholar in the Hanlin Academy. Considering his deep affection with Lady Junyao, the eldest daughter of the Marquis’s legitimate wife, the Emperor is granting marriage! By the Emperor’s order!"
The Emperor’s actions undeniably helped raise the status of the Duan Family by awarding a title to Duan Lan.
But the grant of marriage...
Duan Lan’s face turned ash-grey as he froze in place.
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