Chapter 262: Mutual Respect (3) (Bonus Chapter)
Du Yue'e had originally expected to see Ling Fu's expression of joy, surprise, or even excitement after hearing that name.
Wen Shoufu and Ling Fu had been interacting more frequently recently, and if they could become in-laws, Ling Fu, no matter how dull he was, surely wouldn't refuse.
However, to her surprise, Ling Fu's face turned ferocious. He grabbed Du Yue'e's shoulders and asked, "What did you say? Who is it?"
"Wen... Xuanning." Du Yue'e had never seen him like this before and was truly startled, her voice trembling.
Her shoulders were suddenly squeezed tight.
Du Yue'e cried out in pain, "Ah! You're hurting me!"
Ling Fu, however, seemed not to hear her. He released Du Yue'e, put on his clothes, and walked out the door.
"What are you doing? Where are you going?" Du Yue'e quickly chased after him.
"To ask that unfilial daughter!"
Ling Fu was furious. He directly activated his Light Body Technique, tapping his foot, and was about to fly to Ling Yuke's courtyard.
"What are you doing? You'll scare her!" Du Yue'e, however, caught up and blocked his way.
"Get out of the way!"
"What's wrong with you? Is Wen Xuanning not good?"
Ling Fu looked at Du Yue'e in front of him, gritting his teeth and saying, "Of course not good! Anyone else would be fine, but why... why him..."
"Why? Explain yourself!" Du Yue'e persisted.
Seeing that Du Yue'e had no intention of moving, Ling Fu paused his steps and broke out in another direction.
Du Yue'e saw this, gritted her teeth, and a flash of spiritual light appeared in her hand.
A Yueya curved blade appeared in her hand, and she slashed fiercely at Ling Fu.
Ling Fu quickly dodged, his face full of disbelief.
"You actually... attacked me?"
"If you don't explain clearly, I won't let you disturb our daughter!"
With that, another slash.
"Alright, alright, then I'll join in too."
Ling Fu was already provoked repeatedly by Du Yue'e and was full of Qi.
With this, he might as well have a proper fight in the open.
So, a spiritual sword materialized in his hand, blocking the spiritual blade.
...
Ling Yuke was originally filled with spring in her heart, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. She simply got up and leaned by the window, silently praying to the god's face in the sky.
"I hope... Xuanning Gege doesn't think I'm forcing him. I just, I just..."
Thinking of this, Ling Yuke couldn't help but feel a little disheartened.
This marriage, in the end, was still something she had forced, and Wen Xuanning was clearly unwilling.
However, Ling Yuke quickly cheered up, secretly encouraging herself.
"It doesn't matter! As long as I treat him well, he will like me one day. And, once we're husband and wife, we'll be tied together. No one can separate us in this life..."
She thought, smiling shyly.
Immediately, Ling Yuke recalled the scene she had secretly seen using the miniature mirage her father had made, and she felt a faint worry in her heart.
She wondered what Xuanning Gege was planning, to even lay hands on Cai Bin Gege.
Unfortunately, the mirage had no sound, so she didn't know the exact reason.
"Supreme God above, I hope you can help me grow quickly so I can help Xuanning Gege!" Ling Yuke clasped her hands together in prayer.
Otherwise, like now, there were many things she simply couldn't understand or help with. When would she truly be able to participate in Xuanning Gege's world?
As she was pondering deeply, facing the god's face, she suddenly saw two figures fighting fiercely under the god's face in the night sky.
She looked closely.
These figures seemed familiar.
She rubbed her eyes again, wondering if she had misread.
But after watching for a moment, Ling Yuke cried out in disbelief.
"Isn't that my parents?"
How could her parents, who had always shown mutual respect, possibly have a day where they fought so fiercely?
However, she saw it clearly.
On the god's face's snow-white countenance, two figures fought, spiritual light splashing.
As they fought, they cursed at each other.
"Ling Youtian! What are you hiding from me?!"
"Don't call me by that name!"
"What? You want to abandon your past? Then why do you still want to bring your niece here to live?"
"Are you done or not? She didn't even say she's coming!"
"I'm not done! Those are poor relatives trying to freeload!"
...
At noon the next day, a certain poor relative who wanted to freeload appeared in a private room of a restaurant near Yunxian Residence.
Liu Sheng, who had been in meetings all night, was very tired at this moment, yawning repeatedly.
Last night in the New World, after basically understanding the situation of the "New World," she immediately convened the first comprehensive meeting of the Temple and the County Yamen to discuss new policies, pursue new trends, and build a New World.
Intervening manually to adjust the direction a bit, and then letting the world continue to accelerate its development, to see what would happen.
【It's still developing steadily, quite smoothly.】
"Since the development is smooth, let's celebrate!"
So, Liu Sheng called the waiter and ordered a large table of dishes, including many expensive signature dishes. She didn't wait for Jiang Caibin and started eating by herself.
Anyway, he was late, so he could pay later.
And for some reason lately, her appetite had become exceptionally large, always in a state of extreme hunger, as if she would starve to death if she didn't eat in the next second.
【However, this is not strange. The world's energy consumption has increased, right.】
【Yes, please improve your cultivation, it will be better.】 The world said.
【Got it...】 Liu Sheng responded grumpily.
【But... it's really strange.】
【What's strange? Increased appetite? Is it because of the world?】 This was not listening carefully to the previous words.
【Are you saying the gossip atmosphere is especially strong today?】
Liu Sheng and the others nodded, recalling that all along the way today, they had heard passersby discussing animatedly, whispering, and mysteriously laughing about something.
Eating alone was boring, and Liu Sheng was also very curious.
After thinking for a moment, she let Little Tentacle transform into a strand as thin as hair and extend out of the private room to listen to what they were saying.
It was perfect for accompanying her meal.
As for why she didn't sit outside to listen, of course, it was because the private room was secluded, and she and Jiang Caibin had important matters to discuss later.
Fortunately, this matter was indeed explosive, and Little Tentacle could hear a lot of information just by moving around casually.
"Have you heard?" A middle-aged scion, carrying a birdcage to drink tea, asked his Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend, who was playing with a cricket, with a mysterious look.
"Heard what? Quick, tell me!" Crickets were fun, but gossip was more interesting, so he quickly looked up and asked.
"Of course, it's about what happened last night!" The middle-aged scion said mysteriously, lowering his voice.
Seeing that the cricket Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend was still bewildered, the middle-aged scion said grumpily, "How could you not have heard! Late last night, Ling Shangshu and his wife had a big fight at home, even using Spiritual Qi, almost tearing down half of the mansion. Residences within a hundred li radius all heard it! In the end, the Jinwu Guard had to rush to break up the fight."
"Ah? There's such a thing?" The cricket Tian Shi Kang's Close Friend was indeed shocked. "I live right next to the Shangshu's mansion, and I didn't hear anything! Maybe I was too tired from catching crickets in the mountains yesterday, which made me go to bed early, and I actually missed such a big show!"
"Exactly!" The middle-aged scion said with a chuckle, then frowned slightly, "But how could you sleep so soundly?"
"Hey, I really need to tell you about this. I used the Jin Yutang's Calming and Soothing Wine, and I truly slept well after drinking it!"
"Really? How much did you drink?"
"Usually... about a jar?"
"No wonder you slept so well..."
【...No wonder you slept so well.】
【Speechless, the topic has strayed, find another table.】
Little Tentacle nodded its tentacle head, then moved to the next table.
Several nearby tables were discussing the Minister of Works and his wife's battle in Chang'an last night. Some said that both of them were summoned to the palace early in the morning, probably to be scolded by the Emperor for not setting a good example.
In addition, some also said that after the court session, the Minister's wife returned to her residence with a sour face, but the Minister did not share the same cloud sedan.
"Where did he go then?"
"It seems someone saw him chasing after Wen Shoufu's cloud sedan..."
"Could it be..."
Thus, a story about "Wen Shoufu being a lecher and coveting a married woman, and Ling Shangshu being enraged and pointing his sword at his wife" spread.
【Tsk tsk, I didn't expect them to play so big.】
【Please note, this is just gossip, it does not represent the real situation.】
【Alright, just some gossip.】
Then, Liu Sheng heard someone say, "Actually, Wen Shoufu has a record of this..."
Liu Sheng immediately perked up her ears. This was Wen Weilan's father, she had to listen!
Thinking about Wen Xuanning's background, it was very suspicious.
Yes, she was only gossiping for Wen Weilan's sake, definitely not out of curiosity for gossip.
The person who said this was precisely the scion who loved playing with crickets. He had a high background, so of course, he also knew something about Wen Xuanning's origins.
"You know, his precious son, who has been making waves recently, is... a certain noble's..."
"Shh, keep quiet, such matters cannot be discussed casually." The other scion quickly lowered his voice and warned.
"True... back then, when that noble was welcomed back from the grasslands... as soon as she returned, her belly was big..."
However, Liu Sheng did not hear the rest.
Not only because the person spoke vaguely and dared not say more.
But also because Jiang Caibin finally arrived.
Wishing everyone a healthy Dragon Boat Festival!
This chapter is a bit fatter, just like the melt-in-your-mouth, fragrant fatty meat in a savory zongzi (o▽)o
Thank you all for voting for me!