Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Three
"The wrath of the Qin and Huo families? I'd actually like to see just how formidable that wrath is."
If it were before, Li Zhiwei would naturally have been somewhat apprehensive. But now, any one of the hidden guards by her side could easily handle several of their men.
Not to mention, she wasn't even afraid of Magistrate Cao, so why would she fear a merchant family like the Qin's, or the Huo family?
"Good! Good! Good! How utterly splendid!" Huo Yunlan was enraged by Li Zhiwei's arrogant words, repeating "good" three times.
"What are you waiting for? Seize them! Dead or alive, it doesn't matter!" As soon as Huo Yunlan finished speaking, the household servants moved forward to make the arrest.
The men brought by the Qin family, having received Madam Qin's order, also surged forward, eager to capture Xu Qingshi and claim credit from their masters.
At this moment, only Moyu, Qinghua, Qingyue, and Qing Chuan—who had come out to check on the situation because he was worried—were by Xu Qingshi's side.
Seeing the sudden rush of people, Qing Chuan immediately stepped forward, shielding his two young masters behind him. The gatekeeper servant was terrified off to the side.
No one had ever dared to be so brazen as to come to the Li family's doorstep and provoke them like this.
The servant's legs went weak with fear. He wanted to step forward to protect Li Zhiwei but realized he couldn't even get close.
He could only watch anxiously from the sidelines.
Qinghua and Qingyue, who had been very worried, breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Qing Chuan arrive.
Their only task was to protect Li Zhiwei and Xu Qingshi properly; the rest could be left to Qing Chuan and Moyu.
Huo Yunlan, who had initially worried her forces might be insufficient, saw that Li Zhiwei only had four people and couldn't help but snort with smug satisfaction.
She didn't take these few individuals seriously at all.
"Stop!"
Just as a fight was about to break out, a woman's voice, slightly breathless, rang out.
Li Zhiwei, standing at the entrance, raised an eyebrow upon seeing who had arrived.
Huo Yunyao, Huo Yunxuan's second elder sister.
"Step back at once!" Huo Yunyao scolded the servants who were about to advance and seize people.
"Second Sister, what is the meaning of this?" Huo Yunlan was extremely displeased at being undermined by her own younger sister and questioned her indignantly.
"Miss Li, my sincerest apologies. This matter... my elder sister acted rashly, her judgment clouded by anger over Keyun's injury. Please be magnanimous and overlook this offense." Huo Yunyao smiled as she looked at Li Zhiwei and offered her apology.
"Miss Huo, I dare not accept such an apology. Moreover, my child did nothing to your Qin family's young lady. Yet, upon arriving at my Li family home, it's all shouts of arrest and killing. Anyone unaware might think I had murdered her child." Li Zhiwei looked at the smooth-talking Huo Yunyao. She wouldn't mistake her smiling face for that of a good person.
None of the Huo family's three daughters was an easy character.
No, it should be said that none of the Huo family's four children, including Huo Yunxuan, lacked cunning.
"My wording was poor. The young master did not injure our Keyun. Keyun is not seriously hurt, just a minor scratch. Young girls tend to think a little blood means a major injury. As parents, hearing our child is hurt, we rush over without thinking. Miss Li, Young Master, let us consider today's matter settled. What do you say?" Huo Yunyao said with a smile on her face.
Yet the implication woven through her words was clear: Xu Qingshi did cause Qin Keyun's injury, but it wasn't severe. Huo Yunlan's visit was just a parent's well-intentioned, if hasty, reaction, so it shouldn't be held against them.
"Second Sister, on what grounds?!" Huo Yunlan was immediately unwilling upon hearing this.
Let that brat off? On what grounds?
Did her Keyun suffer for nothing?
"Elder Sister, we can discuss this further after returning home," Huo Yunyao said, her voice turning cold as she looked at her brainless elder sister.
She thought to herself, this elder sister was truly exceptionally foolish. Causing a scene at the Li family like this, was she afraid people wouldn't know about the Qin family's tyranny?
"I wasn't in the wrong! She tried to kidnap me first! There's no rule in the capital that says a young girl can kidnap someone just because she finds them good-looking!" Xu Qingshi crossed his arms, his expression one of clear displeasure.
"Yes, this matter was Keyun's fault. Please don't be angry, Young Master. We will discipline her properly upon our return. Here, I apologize to you on behalf of our Keyun." Hearing Xu Qingshi's words, although Huo Yunyao felt displeasure inwardly, the mention of "the capital" made her think this young man's background might be significant. They couldn't act recklessly.
So she quickly apologized again.
Just as Huo Yunlan was about to say more, a sharp look from her younger sister silenced her. She could only stand to the side, seething with resentment but not daring to utter another word.
"Beautiful Sister, let's go back inside." Xu Qingshi didn't wish to say anything more to these people.
However, he resolved in his heart that if there were a next time, he certainly wouldn't be so accommodating.
"What... what does she mean by that? You were already being so humble!" Watching the Li family gate close, Huo Yunlan complained discontentedly.
"Let's go back!" Huo Yunyao's previously smiling face was now completely gone.
Her expression had darkened to the extreme.
Although Huo Yunlan was the elder sister, she had always been somewhat afraid of this gloomy and shrewd younger sister since childhood.
Not daring to say anything more, she could only obediently follow Huo Yunyao back to the Huo residence.
Huo Family Main Hall
"Tell me, do you have any brains at all?" As soon as they returned to the Huo residence, Huo Yunyao angrily slapped the table.
Huo Yunlan sat to the side, head bowed, not even daring to breathe heavily.
She felt terribly wronged inside.
Clearly, it was that brat who bullied Keyun first.
She was Keyun's mother. What's wrong with seeking justice for her daughter?
"He injured someone first," Huo Yunlan ventured softly, seeing her sister's unpleasant expression.
"Is your daughter made of gold? A mere scratch, and you make such a huge scene at the doorstep of a third-rank official's residence? Do you think the Qin family is living too comfortably, or that the Huo family's lifespan is too long?" Huo Yunyao asked furiously.
"That Li family is just an ordinary merchant household like us, Sister. You're really making too much of Li Zhiwei, aren't you?" Huo Yunlan's voice grew louder at this point. She believed her sister must think Li Zhiwei marrying Huo Yunxuan was a favorable prospect. Otherwise, why would Huo Yunyao, who never lifted a finger without gain, come out to stop her?
"You're stupid, and you won't even admit it. That Li Tianyou is now a third-rank official in the court. Many people in Li'an County know this. How do you think Magistrate Cao was removed? It was because he offended someone he shouldn't have!" Huo Yunyao admonished in exasperation.
"Even if Li Tianyou really became an official, that child didn't look like anyone important either. Should I just let it go if he bullies Keyun?" Thinking of Xu Qingshi, Huo Yunlan spoke discontentedly.
After all, Xu Qingshi's identity didn't seem particularly impressive.
Her target had always been Li Zhiwei; it was Li Zhiwei who was being unreasonable by obstructing her.
"Only you would think he's simple." Although Huo Yunyao didn't know Xu Qingshi's identity, she didn't believe it was simple either.
"So I'm supposed to just swallow my anger?" Huo Yunlan said resentfully.
"Who said you should swallow your anger?" Huo Yunyao rolled her eyes. She had no intention of letting Li Zhiwei off the hook.
