“Ah Lan.” The second time Old Master called out Zeng Lanzhi’s name, his tone had turned notably lower and heavier.

Only then did Zeng Lanzhi snap back to her senses and gave a hasty nod: “Yes — yes, Old Master.”

According to the plan, Old Master was supposed to be knocked into a deep sleep for two days and two nights.

The messenger the Yue family had sent to inform Yue Jianfei had long since been intercepted by Zeng Lanzhi’s people.

Even if the Yue family noticed something was wrong and sent another messenger, Yue Jianfei’s round trip would take at least a full day and night.

Zeng Lanzhi had assumed that one day and night was more than enough time to do what needed to be done — after all, this had been in the making for quite some time.

Yet she had never imagined that Old Master would not fall into that deep sleep. And most critically — the most important person was now standing before her in glowing health.

Zeng Lanzhi cast a glance at her butler. The butler immediately dropped his head low.

She stepped over to him and said in a cold, low voice: “Come. Accompany me to make preparations.”

“Yes — yes. No — Madam, Old Master’s medicine is still being decocted. Let me go and check on it now. Xia Li, Qiu Li — you two accompany Madam to make preparations.”

With those words, the butler turned and hurried off at full speed, making no pretense of it. At this moment, there was no way he dared leave alongside Zeng Lanzhi.

Zeng Lanzhi drew a slow breath, swept a glance at the two servant girls standing not far away, and had no choice but to go.

She was not afraid of Tang Xiaohua — but she feared Yue Jianfei, and she feared Old Master.

The Elder, who had stood among the crowd in silence all this time, finally showed some relief in his expression now that he could see Old Master was perfectly well.

“Old Yue, what happened to you? Just now the butler said you had fainted — what was that about?” the Elder asked softly.

“Nothing of the sort. I was feigning sleep — playing a trick on him.” Old Master shook his head. “What else was I to do when he kept insisting on feeding me medicine? The medicine was too bitter. I did not want to drink it.”

Old Master’s words were caught by the departing Zeng Lanzhi, and she very nearly wished she could go strangle the butler on the spot.

Unfortunately, the butler had vanished like a wisp of smoke, and she had no idea where he had fled to.

“Come, come — it is a rare occasion for the Elder to visit today. Let us have a proper talk.” Old Master continued.

“Very well, very well.” The Elder gave a nod and asked nothing further.

Only then did Yue Jianfei’s second younger brother come back to his senses. He immediately raised his hand in a welcoming gesture: “Since Father and the Elder still have matters to discuss — please, this way!”

“Father, please! Elder, please!”

The Elder was once again seated in the place of honor, and Old Master settled into the other high-backed chair beside him.

Zeng Lanzhi quickly returned with her servants and presented tea and pastries for the two of them.

Feng Jiu’er came to stand behind the small table between the two elder men’s chairs and, in full view of everyone, used a silver needle to test the tea and pastries for poison.

Zeng Lanzhi, standing to one side, immediately furrowed her brow at the sight.

She glared at Feng Jiu’er and said sharply: “And what is the meaning of this? Do you think I intend to poison Old Master and the Elder?”

“If you believe so, then perhaps you do.” Feng Jiu’er gave Zeng Lanzhi no pleasant expression in return.

Old Master turned to the Elder beside him with a smile and said softly: “Elder, please do not take offense. My situation has not been at its best of late.”

“This little lady here was found by my eldest son. She is not only accomplished in the arts but also formidable in martial skill. The only shortcoming is that her fees are rather high.”

Old Master’s words made both Tang Xiaohua and Feng Jiu’er involuntarily curve their lips into a smile.

Feng Jiu’er had not expected that Old Master would turn out to be someone who enjoyed a good joke.

“Her fees are very high?” The Elder looked up and cast a glance at Feng Jiu’er. “Just how high?”

The Elder was very old — at least ten years older than Old Master — with hair entirely white, well past the age when one’s eyes begin to dim.

Feng Jiu’er knew nothing about this man, but since Zeng Lanzhi had gone to the trouble of inviting him, this elderly gentleman’s standing was surely not a simple matter.

“One hundred taels of silver per hour — what do you say, is that not a little high?” Old Master raised an eyebrow.

“That is truly not just a little high.” The Elder nodded, then looked at Feng Jiu’er once more.

“Indeed.” Old Master also looked over at Feng Jiu’er. “Expensive is not without reason, though. My eldest is not lacking in money, and I am rather fond of this little lady.”

Feng Jiu’er looked at the two elders, picked up the teapot, and poured a cup of tea for each of them.

“Both Old Grandfathers, please have some tea!”

“Very well.” The Elder gave a nod and lifted his teacup. He looked at Old Master and asked: “Old Yue — what exactly is going on today?”

“What else could it be? My second son and third son were led astray and did something foolish. I never expected it would end up drawing the Elder into things.”

“Elder, I offer this tea as a substitute for wine in my apology to you.” Old Master raised his teacup and said with a smile.

Apart from Zeng Lanzhi, probably no one else noticed that Old Master glanced briefly in her direction as he lifted the cup.

The Elder raised his cup and touched it to Old Master’s, took a sip of tea, and set the cup down.

“Old Yue — between the two of us, do you still need to apologize to me? As long as you are unharmed, that is all that matters.”

The Elder reached out and gave Old Master’s hand a gentle pat on the back.

“In my eldest’s home, what could possibly happen to me?” Old Master shook his head and let out a soft sigh.

“The eldest may be unaccomplished, but is there not still Xiao Hua? All these years, Xiao Hua has treated me better than she does her own father. My daughter-in-law truly is a good one.”

Old Master raised his eyes and looked over at Tang Xiaohua in the hall, a satisfied smile spreading across his lips.

“If anyone dares to bully Xiao Hua, I will certainly not let them get away with it!”

Old Master drew a deep breath and looked back, his gaze falling on Zeng Lanzhi as she turned to leave.

“Second Son — have someone see the Elder out. Everyone else, remain here. I have something to say.”

Old Master’s words made Zeng Lanzhi freeze. She stopped where she stood, rigid from head to toe, unable to move.

Second Master glanced at Zeng Lanzhi, then immediately redirected his eyes to Old Master and gave a nod: “Yes, Father.”

When Old Master turned back to the Elder, his expression instantly became warm and gracious.

“Elder, once I am feeling a little better, I will certainly come to call on you in person. Today, there is still some family business to attend to, so I will not keep you.”

“No matter.” The Elder shook his head once more. “Then I will take my leave.”

“Please!” Old Master made a gesture of sending him off.

Feng Jiu’er wheeled Old Master out to see the Elder to the door of the great hall, then wheeled him back inside.

Outside the hall, the Elder departed with his people, and the group of unidentified assassins departed as well.

Inside the hall, everyone remained in place except for Tang Xiaohua and Qiao Mu, who had taken their seats.

Those still standing were nearly all tense — especially the two other masters of the Yue family: Second Master Yue Jianhua and Third Master Yue Jiancheng.

Feng Jiu’er wheeled Old Master back before the dais. Jian Yi bent down and carried him in his arms, lifting him up into the high seat.

Old Master leaned back in his chair and swept his gaze across the people in the hall.

Then, without warning, he gave a sharp cold laugh and slammed his hand down hard on the table: “Speak! What exactly is going on?”

Old Master’s anger was real. At that single outburst, a crowd of people dropped to their knees throughout the hall.

With the exception of Tang Xiaohua and Qiao Mu, who remained seated, everyone else knelt.

Zeng Lanzhi sensed the danger in the situation and turned to glare at Tang Xiaohua, then rose to her feet.

“Father, it is Tang Xiaohua who sought to harm you — why do you trust her so completely? You have trusted the wrong person!”