Chapter 194 A Nostalgic Person
Time flied. On the evening of the third day, the Lord Rui’s Mansion was boisterous unprecedentedly. The courtyard was thronged with visitors. The rumors spread quickly. Originally, people didn’t pay attention to Lord Rui, Dongfang Rui. Now all people were talking about his past. People lively talked about what Dongfang Rui had experienced since his childhood except the things related to Su Yun, as if these were all real.
“So many people here!”
“Of course, Lord Rui was the closest brother to the emperor in those years. In the past few years, because of his daughter, Lord Rui was depressed and didn’t see anyone! Now he found the princess, so his mansion is very boisterous.”
Clank!!
Drums and gongs were beating suddenly. Wu Bin in a festive red dress ran out and shouted, “It’s the good occasion. Welcome to enter!”
Many aristocratic guests who had stayed for a long time carried the invitation cards and went in. The manservant who was responsible for counting gifts, shouted loudly at the same time, “Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Lord Ma, sends a pearl of the Donghai Sea! Congratulate the princess on returning safely!”
“Minister of the Ministry of Penalty, Lord Chen, sends…”
“…”
Su Li went in the Lord Rui’s Mansion following the crowd. She looked around at the place where her mother had lived. Her clothes were inconspicuous today. She also used the Nothing Unusual to make herself be unremarkable. Besides… she did not offer a gift, so the manservant did not call her name.
Lord Rui held the big banquet for his daughter. As long as people received the invitation cards, they could come in without a gift. Looking down at the invitation card in her hand, Su Li stood quietly in the crowd. Dongfang Rui had determined that Su Zipei was his daughter and should not remember her. This invitation card was likely to be sent by Zhu Yan or Su Zipei.
Did they want to show off?
Su Li turned around and saw Ling Li and Ling Qinglan enter. Then she saw Su Zipei appear with splendid jewels. Su Zipei pulled the hand of Dongfang Rui and walked leisurely. Su Li smiled.
Su Zipei, were you ready to accept your end of this life?
Dongfang Rui in a violet gold robe with the pattern of a three-jaw dragon slowly came up. He was not angry but still looked stately. He didn’t show his cultivation, but many people felt strong pressure.
“The momentum of the Dongfang Family is so powerful…”
Some people couldn’t help but scream secretly. Their families seemed too small compared with the Dongfang Family which could hold up a country.
“Best wishes to Lord!”
“Best wishes to the princess!”
Dongfang Rui and Su Zipei stood there. Guests did not need to be reminded. They saluted spontaneously. This was the conventional rule of the world with a strict hierarchy!
After studying hard in these three days, Su Zipei could almost remain calm. When she suddenly saw those men whom she used to call “Childe” humbly all salute her, her chest couldn’t help but fluctuate violently.
However, Dongfang Rui was indulgent to her. He was extremely satisfied with Su Zipei’s performance. His gentle and magnetic voice sounded through the banquet hall. He smiled and said,
“I’m fortunate to find my daughter, Zipei. Today, I hold the banquet to celebrate. As long as you don’t make trouble here, help yourselves.”
Then, guests cooperated with him. They let out a burst of laughter, and someone did not forget to play up to him. He shouted, “Lord is humane!”
After they guffawed, Dongfang Rui reached out and hinted at stopping speaking. He continued to say, “Although Zipei’s mother disappeared one day before our wedding day that year, I had regarded her as my wife long ago. Now Zipei returns home. Naturally, she will change her original family name to Dongfang! Today, I tell the whole world about it at the banquet!”
From now on, Su Zipei would change her name to Dongfang Zipei!
For a time, the banquet hall was silent. People had long expected that there would be such a day. However, they didn’t expect that Lord Rui was so impatient. After only three days, he couldn’t wait to admit Su Zipei as a member of the Dongfang Family.
Dongfang Rui frowned and asked, “What’s going on? Is my decision wrong?”
Seeing the sign that Dongfang Rui would be angry, someone suddenly stood out and made a bow with hands folded in front. He said, “We dare not! Princess changing her family name to Dongfang is an unalterable principle. We have no objection.”
“Yes, we have no objection!”
“No objection!”
More and more people echoed that person’s words. Dongfang Rui was slightly relieved and gradually smiled. He knew that even if he forced everyone to admit Zipei’s ident.i.ty, she still needed to let the subjects of the Dahan Country admit her ident.i.ty on her own account.
Zhu Yan sat at the main table and looked at the scene with excitement. After tonight, she would be the foster mother of the princess! Zipei, her biological daughter, would treat her well.
After her years of effort, her daughter finally became a member of the gentlewomen circle in Yunjing. Besides… her status was extremely high!
“I have an objection!”
Suddenly, a lazy voice sounded. Although the voice was not loud, it was extremely harsh compared with other shouts.
In an instant, everyone looked at the direction of the sound and then felt eccentric.
It turned out to be him.
He was the first playboy in Yunjing City, Little Childe of the Ling Family, Ling Li.
Dongfang Rui looked angry and shouted, “Ling Li, you deceived me at the Baishou Feast and let me almost mistakenly recognize my daughter. I haven’t gotten even with you for it. You even make trouble at the banquet?”
Ling Li adjusted the tuinga askew on his head and laughed. He said,
“Why are you angry? I just cracked a joke on that day. Should you be serious? Besides, it is uncertain that this girl named Su Zipei is your daughter.”
Dongfang Rui’s look instantly changed. He shouted, “What did you say?!”
Wu Bin also stood out and said with anger, “Third Childe Ling, you can’t make irresponsible remarks. If you can’t explain the reason, even Mrs. Gu will not save you!”
“Hey! Don’t say that, Butler. I’m entrusted by someone. Why did you blame me?”
Ling Li seemed to be afraid. He instantly waved his hands. However, he was not afraid at all. Obviously, he was teasing Wu Bin.
Wu Bin instantly became angry and shouted, “Drive him away…”
“Stop!”
Hearing a deep voice, Wu Bin was stunned and turned around. The person who interrupted him was actually his master, Lord Rui.
Dongfang Rui looked angry and asked, “Ling Li, you said that you were entrusted by someone, didn’t you? Who is he?”
Ling Li smiled and pointed at the young man behind him, who was helping him push the wheelchair.
Ling Qinglan knew that it was time for him to stand out. He took a deep breath and gave a salute. He said, “Ling Qinglan is here to salute Lord Rui.”
Guests who were originally silent immediately exclaimed.
“Ling Qinglan! He is the Officer of the Supreme Judiciary and the first expert detective of the Dahan Country, isn’t he?!”
“To my surprise, he disagrees with the change of Su Zipei’s surname.”
“Maybe there is a mistake.”
“…”
Only for a moment, guests’ att.i.tudes had changed.
Ling Li was the first playboy in Yunjing. He was absolutely not reliable. However, the words of “Ling Qinglan” were much more credible.
Ling Qinglan didn’t care about others’ whispers. He continued to say, “Lord Rui, I heard what happened at the Baishou Feast from my cousin. I did not care before. But after hearing that you recognized Su Zipei as your daughter, I felt strange…”
“Nonsense! Lord, do not listen to him!”
Ling Qinglan was suddenly interrupted by a very sharp female voice. Dongfang Rui looked back and saw Zhu Yan standing up. She pointed at Ling Qinglan and shouted rudely. Her image of a shrew was exposed.
“Zipei was picked up by me in that year. That jade pendant was in her swaddling clothes. I remember it clearly. How can it be wrong?”
Zhu Yan said for certain, so Dongfang Rui was more confident in Su Zipei. He turned around and said with anger, “Ling Qinglan, what else can you say?”
Ling Qinglan smiled slightly and didn’t look fl.u.s.tered. He said, “Lord Rui, I went to the Qinghe Province last year because of the official silver case. Unfortunately, the Su Family was involved in it, so I investigated all members of the Su Family at that time.”
When hearing it, Zhu Yan looked flurried. She remembered what Ling Qinglan said was real. He didn’t come at other times but stood out at this time. It was obvious that his words were aimed at her deliberately!
No, she must find a way to fight back!
However, she did not notice that Wu Bin was looking at her.
Ling Qinglan deliberately paused to tantalize guests. Then he said, “The result of the investigation was that Su Zipei, the third daughter of the Su Family, was only fifteen years old! Lord Rui, your daughter should be sixteen years old. The age is wrong first. How could your wife be pregnant for two years?”
Then, all guests were in an uproar. Ling Qinglan continued to say, “Besides, the second daughter of the Su Family, Su Li, is sixteen years old. Mrs. Zhu, you lied about the age of your second daughter. Who is talking nonsense actually? Do you know?”
Zhu Yan’s face was pale. She had nothing to say anymore.
At this moment, Su Zipei, who had been silent, suddenly said, “Lord Ling, I know you. What you said is right.”
Everyone was shocked. Su Zipei admitted that she deceived Lord Rui, didn’t she?
Before guests reacted, Su Zipei said, “My foster mother adopted me secretly in those years. In order to keep the secret and distinguish me from my Second Sister, she lied about the age. She told me about it privately. She also gave the jade pendant to me when I grew up. If you use this reason to refute me, I can only apologize. My foster mother had no choice, so she lied about the age.”
Then, Su Zipei looked up at Lord Rui with tears in her eyes, “Dad, you trust me, right?”
Dongfang Rui looked relaxed. Zipei was a mischievous but innocent girl. She didn’t deceive him before. It was impossible for her to deceive him in this kind of occasion and in such a matter.
“Ha-ha…”
Ling Qinglan suddenly laughed. Everyone felt strange.
Dongfang Rui turned his head instantly and shouted, “Why are you laughing? Ling Qinglan, I gave you the chance. Now… Before I want to punish you, get out!”
“You asked me why I’m laughing.”
Ling Qinglan shook his head slightly and looked at Su Zipei, who made an effort to look composed. He said with a bit of pity, “I laughed at Mrs. Zhu and Su Zipei. I haven’t finished my words, but you can’t wait to negate. As for the problem of age, Miss Su Zipei quickly came up with a good reason. However, she will not negate next.”
Ling Qinglan turned his head and then bowed. He said, “Lord Rui! I stand here because I have full a.s.surance. But time is tight. I failed to tell you before the banquet. It’s my fault.”
Su Zipei was fl.u.s.tered. She couldn’t think of any loopholes. She even could explain the problem of age. How could d.a.m.n Ling Qinglan still have a way to prove that she was a fake?!
Dongfang Rui took a deep breath. He couldn’t trust the girl next to him anymore because of Ling Qinglan’s performance and Zhu Yan’s exaggerated reaction.
He helplessly nodded and said with a heavy heart, “If you have anything to say, just go ahead.”
Ling Qinglan nodded and said to Wu Bin, “Butler Wu, can you ask the gatekeeper to let a mammy come in?”
When hearing the word “mammy”, Dongfang Rui was shocked. He remembered that Su Yun disappeared with her personal maid. Should the maid still be alive?
Wu Bin saw that Master did not respond. He sighed and gave the gatekeeper the sign to let the mammy come in.
Mammy Li dressed up carefully today. She was nervous and walked in under everyone’s gaze. When she saw that the layout of the mansion was the same as before and that the yard was full of osmanthus trees which were Miss’s favorite, she could not stop the tears.
Lord Rui was a nostalgic person.