The words Wen Yu used were far too dangerous!

Swallowed alive!

The Wen family’s current position in the court wasn’t something just anyone could shake, much less something that could be described as being swallowed alive in such a pitiful manner. Could it be that they were like meat on a chopping block, to be stripped piece by piece and devoured by the Su family? This was simply absurd and laughable. Even if the Su family opened wide to eat this fat piece of meat, they might not necessarily be able to swallow the entire Wen family whole.

They might even choke to death on it!

After hearing these words, Wen Che’s handsome face twitched violently, his gaze darkening as it fell, looking at Wen Yu with severity, saying word by word, “Even with all his abilities, Su Ziluo cannot cover the sky with one hand. If he wants to suppress us everywhere, it depends on whether he has that capability. Aren’t you just boosting others’ morale while diminishing your own imposing presence?”

“The facts before our eyes are exactly this. You and Father keep telling me to endure, but how can I endure? Those who don’t know would think we’re shrinking turtles! Letting the Su family bully us like this.” After speaking, Wen Yu clenched his teeth and fists, slamming them heavily onto the table with a muffled thud.

A single outlet for his pent-up frustration!

Wen Che actually understood this feeling. He sighed and said, “I understand your feelings, but A’Yu, with any matter, you cannot just focus on what’s before you and retaliate in kind. We must build our momentum before acting. As long as an opportunity comes, we can topple the Su family at any time, but not now. So we must endure, and we must be careful everywhere.”

“Ha! Opportunity? Could it be that we have to wait until Su Ziluo makes another move to harm me before we’ll have an opportunity? Elder Brother, you weren’t like this before. Where has your commanding presence from when you dominated the battlefield gone? Now you’re just like Father, far too benevolent and soft-hearted. To accomplish great things, one cannot be so fussy and indecisive. When enemies bully you to your face, how can there be any reason not to fight back? Everything you’re saying is just excuses, and I’m tired of hearing them!”

“…”

“Although I just advised Luo Yang not to rashly go to the Su residence to demand someone back, that doesn’t mean I myself can sit by and watch! If we still haven’t found Miss Ji, I’ll take people to the Su residence to demand her return, and settle all our previous grievances at the same time!” Wen Yu’s gaze was fierce, suffused with faint bloodshot veins.

After angrily saying these words, he slapped the table and left!

Actually, Wen Yu normally wasn’t someone who couldn’t control his temper. Like Wen Che, he could also be considered clever and wise, even relatively composed. But even a dog when cornered will jump over a wall, let alone a person!

Moreover, Wen Yu had twice nearly lost his life. With such hatred pressing on his heart, how could he not seek revenge?

If it were anyone else, they might not be able to endure as well as he could!

Wen Che saw all these things, but at the end of the day, there was one concern in his heart that he could never let go of…

…

On the other side, Minister Zhu received a message from his wife telling him to hurry home. Thinking something had happened to his daughter again, he immediately set aside matters at the Ministry of Rites, got into his sedan chair, and rushed home in great haste.

He hadn’t even changed out of his official robes before his wife pulled him into the main hall.

“What exactly happened?” Minister Zhu’s face was panicked, his heart terrified.

Madam Zhu wore a worried expression, sighed, and told him, “It’s still about our daughter!”

“What happened to Yao’er? Is it…”

“Our daughter is fine, but early this morning she secretly went out to meet the Li family’s heir apparent.”

Eh!

Hearing this, Minister Zhu’s expression changed drastically. He forcefully flicked his sleeves, his brow showing a trace of anger as he said, “This child really won’t give us peace of mind. I’ve tried to reason with her so many times, but it’s all been useless. What’s so good about that Li family seed? Our Zhu residence absolutely cannot become a stepping stone for the Li family, to be ordered around by them.” As he spoke, he sat down heavily on the pear-blossom chair. When a servant came to serve tea, he barked, “What tea? Get out!”

The servant’s hand trembled in fright. Seeing the atmosphere was off, they quickly left to avoid being caught in the crossfire!

Actually, ever since the Zhu and Li families had arranged the marriage alliance, the atmosphere throughout the entire residence had been wrong, only no one dared to say so!

Seeing him angry, Madam Zhu quickly said, “Master, why are you getting so worked up! Listen to me first.”

“Speak!”

“I don’t know what Yao’er said to the heir apparent, or what the heir apparent said to Yao’er, but in any case, as soon as Yao’er returned, she said we should call off the engagement. Looking at her, she didn’t seem particularly sad either, as if she’d truly come to terms with it. So I immediately called you back to discuss this matter!” Clearly this should be a happy thing, but from Madam Zhu’s mouth it came out with a sense of worry and anxiety.

After hearing this, Minister Zhu’s breath, which had been uneven, suddenly smoothed out. Shocked yet delighted, he said, “Truly? Yao’er has finally come to her senses?”

“That’s what she said.”

“This is wonderful!” Minister Zhu’s face showed a relieved smile, almost ready to call someone to set off fireworks! But seeing his wife’s expression was off, he asked puzzled, “Wife, what’s wrong with you? Now that our daughter has come to her senses and decided to call off the engagement, isn’t this very good? And you’ve always looked down on the Li family’s heir apparent. Now that the engagement is called off, you should be happy!”

From the time this engagement was arranged, Madam Zhu had never been very satisfied. But Minister Zhu had his eye on the Marquis Kangding’s title, and it could somewhat be considered a match between families of equal standing. Although Li Shiyan’s reputation in the capital wasn’t good, these past few years he had reportedly become much more ambitious and settled down considerably. So after thinking it over, Minister Zhu felt this marriage alliance was quite good, which was why he agreed!

However, after the incident at Ning’an Mountain Villa, he felt that Li Shiyan not only lacked ambition but was constantly embroiled in trouble. If the two families truly became in-laws, who knew how many times they’d have to clean up after him in the future.

So calling off the engagement became the only choice!

Unfortunately, his daughter, because she had been saved by Li Shiyan two years ago, had set her heart entirely on him. No matter what, she refused to call off the engagement, and had even fallen ill over it, shedding countless tears. This troubled Minister Zhu greatly, and he really didn’t know what to do!

Now that his daughter had finally agreed to call off the engagement, this was a good thing, but Madam Zhu’s reaction was somewhat unusual!

Most perplexing!

Madam Zhu sighed softly, her brow tightly furrowed as she looked at her husband and said, “Master, although this matter should make us happy, but… I feel uneasy in my heart. Think about it, our daughter was previously willing to die rather than not marry the Li family’s heir apparent, but after just one morning she suddenly came to terms with it and agreed to call off the engagement. There must be something fishy about this, but I don’t know what exactly is fishy. In any case, my heart just feels unsettled! Master, you don’t think… Yao’er will do something foolish, do you?”

“What you’re saying makes no sense!”

“I’m just worried!” Madam Zhu pondered, her hands tightly clasped together as she said, “I don’t know why, but I always feel like something is about to happen! I don’t know if I’m overthinking it, being too anxious about nothing?”

The joy drained from Minister Zhu’s face at once, his expression becoming grave. “Now that you put it that way, I suddenly feel uncertain too.”

“Then Master, what should we do?”

Minister Zhu shook out his sleeves. “First let’s go check on Yao’er.”

He still felt uneasy about his daughter.

As he spoke, Minister Zhu’s feet seemed to sprout wind as he hurried urgently toward his daughter’s courtyard.

Madam Zhu anxiously followed behind!

The two entered the courtyard and happened to see Cai’er coming out carrying a bowl.

Cai’er froze for a moment, about to curtsy, when Minister Zhu waved his hand, signaling her to remain silent.

Cai’er could only lower her voice, “Master, Madam, you…”

Minister Zhu asked, “Where is the young miss? How is she?”

“The young miss just woke up, took her medicine, and rested again.”

Her voice was especially soft, afraid that Zhu Yao might hear.

Minister Zhu and Madam Zhu looked into the room from the doorway several times, and seeing Zhu Yao safe and sound resting on her bed, they felt slightly reassured.

However—

Madam Zhu still felt uneasy and asked Cai’er, “Has the young miss done anything strange? Or said anything strange?”

Hm?

Cai’er was confused by the question. She paused before reacting, shaking her head and answering truthfully, “No, the young miss is no different from usual, just that her body feels unwell.”

“Did she mention anything more about the Li family’s heir apparent?”

“No.”

“Truly?”

“This servant dares not deceive you.” Cai’er kept her head lowered.

Madam Zhu and Minister Zhu exchanged glances, their eyes meaningful. Perhaps… they really were worrying too much and overthinking it? Perhaps their daughter had truly come to her senses!