On the eve of the flower-viewing banquet, the night was as dark as ink.
Today, Cui Ling wore a pomegranate red robe with gold trim, her phoenix eyes held a commanding presence, and a faint, cold smile played on her lips.
She sat upright in the main seat and said only one sentence.
"Summon all the members of the Wang family."
A moment later, the somewhat obese Magistrate Wang and a group of Wang clan members walked into the main hall with trepidation.
Magistrate Wang wore a fawning smile.
"Madam, what brings you here so late?"
Cui Ling raised her eyelids, her gaze sharp as a knife, sweeping over everyone present.
She waved to Yu Luo beside her.
Yu Luo stepped forward slowly and stood quietly beside Cui Ling, her expression calm and undisturbed.
Cui Ling took Yu Luo's hand, and her voice clearly reached everyone's ears.
"Today I'm here to tell you that her name is Cui Lingyi, and she is my only legitimate daughter, Cui Ling."
"Come over here, greet each other, and say hello."
Upon hearing this, the air in the entire main hall seemed to freeze.
Magistrate Wang's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
He pointed at Yu Luo, his fingers trembling, and the fat on his face shaking.
"You, where did you get this child?!"
"Well, Cui Ling! You dare to betray me like this..."
"Smack!"
Before he could finish speaking, Cui Ling slammed her teacup down on the table, splashing tea everywhere.
She looked at her husband coldly.
"Wang Defa, you'd better think this through before you speak."
"Don't forget, who your Wang family relies on to be able to act so arrogantly in this county town."
"It's all thanks to my Cui family!"
Her voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable air of dominance.
"If you do not acknowledge me as your daughter today, a divorce agreement will be delivered to your desk first thing tomorrow morning!"
"At that time, I will take Lingyi back to the Cui family in the capital."
"As for your Wang family..." Cui Ling smiled contemptuously, "Just wait to bear the wrath of the new emperor!"
The words "new emperor" sent shivers down the spines of everyone in the Wang family.
The shock and anger on his face melted away instantly, transforming into a radiant chrysanthemum.
"Oh! Madam is right! Absolutely right!"
He rushed forward, rubbing his hands excitedly, his eyes filled with affection as he looked at Yu Luo.
"Misunderstanding! It's all a huge misunderstanding!"
"Look at my brain! Isn't this our long-lost biological daughter?!"
"My precious daughter! Quickly, let your father take a good look at her!"
As he spoke, he impatiently pulled out a piece of smooth, warm mutton-fat jade from his pocket and stuffed it into Yu Luo's hand without saying a word.
"Here, this is our Wang family heirloom! I've been thinking about it for so many years, and finally I can hand it over to you myself!"
Yu Luo accepted it calmly, as if it were just an ordinary stone in her hand.
She nodded slightly.
Thank you.
Magistrate Wang felt completely satisfied upon hearing this, and he smiled so broadly that his eyes disappeared from his grin.
Behind him, Magistrate Wang, who had remained silent the whole time, suddenly twitched his lips.
In his eyes, that was just a wild child, yet he had to greet a junior!
However, he had no choice but to give in!
…
Three days later, the county magistrate's mansion hosted a flower viewing banquet, which was packed with guests.
Almost all the prominent figures in Qingzhou City were present.
In the garden, the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments filled the air, and the air was filled with the fragrance of fine clothes and the clinking of glasses, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.
Cui Ling, holding Yu Luo's hand, appeared before everyone.
She smiled broadly and spoke loudly to the guests in the hall.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have invited you all here today because I have some very exciting news to announce."
"This is my daughter, Cui Lingyi, whom my husband and I lost many years ago. Now, we've finally found her!"
Upon hearing this, everyone stepped forward to offer their congratulations.
"Congratulations, Lord Wang! Congratulations, Madam Cui!"
"Your daughter is truly blessed with exceptional talent and beauty; one look at her and you know she is an outstanding person!"
The gifts arrived in a steady stream, quickly piling up into a small mountain.
Cui Ling thanked them one by one, and then said with a smile.
"Today is not only my daughter's family reunion banquet, but also a gathering of young people."
"Let the younger generation go and have fun on their own. We old folks are happy to have some peace and quiet."
"Please, everyone, make yourselves at home!"
Everyone readily agreed, and the atmosphere immediately became even more lively.
…
At the other end of the garden, a group of young people naturally gathered together.
Men made up the majority of the group, while women were few and far between, mostly just sitting quietly to the side.
All eyes, whether intentionally or unintentionally, fell on Yu Luo, who was being fawned over like a star.
One of the men, a nobleman dressed in brocade robes, spoke in a flippant tone, fanning himself with a folding fan.
"I wonder what the new emperor was thinking, that he would allow women to participate in the imperial examinations."
"This is utterly ridiculous!"
A man with a pointed mouth and monkey-like face next to him immediately chimed in.
"Brother Zhang is absolutely right!"
"A woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent. From childhood to adulthood, all they learn is needlework and embroidery. They probably can't even read properly!"
"Are you suggesting we make them embroider on the exam papers?"
A burst of laughter erupted.
Those people all wore undisguised superiority and arrogance on their faces.
Yu Luo held a cup of tea, her eyelids slightly lowered, her long eyelashes casting a small shadow under her eyes.
She just listened quietly.
Sure enough, not long after, the man in the lead arrived, chin held high: "I heard you are the eldest daughter of the Wang family, yet your surname is Cui?"
Yu Luo asked indifferently, "What does this have to do with you?"
The man laughed: "Of course it concerns me. You are a member of the Wang family but you followed your mother's surname, which violates the established moral principles. Naturally, I have to teach you a lesson on behalf of everyone in the world."
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
