Chapter 85: Teaching Li Wushuang a Lesson (Thanks to Patriarch 'Xiaoyu' and 'Xuanran')
Chapter 85: Teaching Li Wushuang a Lesson (Thanks to Patriarch 'Xiaoyu' and 'Xuanran')
Seeing Fifth Lady shift the conversation to him, Li Hao smiled and didn't mind.
"Xue'er should be back in about half a year."
The other Madams didn't let Li Yun continue feeling embarrassed and smoothly changed the topic.
"Xue'er is also a Ninth-Rank War Body, right?"
"She's very clever. That year..."
Their conversation gradually covered up the earlier minor quarrel.
Li Hao remained composed, chatting and laughing with the Madams, reminiscing about old times. On the other hand, Li Yun's cheeks were still flushed with embarrassment. He occasionally stole glances at his father, who had put away his anger and was now smiling contentedly while chatting with Li Hao. Li Yun felt both relieved and, inexplicably, a bit disappointed.
At that moment, he felt a hand gently touch his under the table. Looking down, he saw it was his younger sister.
Li Zhining smiled at Li Yun and started to serve him some dishes, which warmed his heart...
Gao Qingqing glanced at Li Hao, who was calm and composed, then at her own son, sighing inwardly. Apart from cultivation, her son was indeed somewhat inferior to Li Hao. Li Hao's early wisdom and understanding were already well-known in the household, with the only regret being that he had fallen behind in cultivation early on.
"Shuang'er, now that you've made it to the Heaven List and returned home, do you have any plans?"
Midway through the dinner, Liu Yuerong asked casually.
Li Wushuang glanced at the boy two years younger than her, who was chatting and laughing effortlessly. She reached for the dragon liver with her chopsticks but, using her years of Sword Dao wrist control, subtly changed direction and picked up a dish beside it.
Putting the dish in her mouth, she said, "Not really. I just want to spar with Brother Qianfeng."
This comment drew a few glances from the Madams, but they seemed to hear nothing and continued their conversation and drinking.
Liu Yuerong's expression didn't change, and she smiled, "Qianfeng is said to have just descended from Wuliang Mountain and will be back soon. We can arrange a match then. Back then, Xuanli and Tian Gang would often chase each other around the courtyard..."
Li Xuanli smiled bitterly, "Second Sister-in-law, those are just embarrassing young stories, let's not bring them up, let's not bring them up."
As the dinner neared its end, the night grew deeper.
The seven or eight dishes that Li Hao had Yuanzhao buy, along with the other dishes Mother had prepared, were all served and eaten up.
Li Wushuang ate a lot, not knowing which dishes Li Hao had bought, but she found them delicious.
Li Hao had no interest in revealing it. This was a one-time thing. From the moment the dragon liver was placed on the table, he knew he wouldn't give her any more gifts.
At most, he might give a small gift when she got married in the future.
After eating and drinking their fill, everyone gradually left the Changchun Courtyard without any further friction.
Li Hao said goodbye to the Madams and returned to the Mountain and River Courtyard with Old Zhao and Qingzhi.
On the other side, Li Xuanli returned to the Snowfall Hall with his wife and children.
After the three children went into the house, Gao Qingqing pulled her husband to the back path, scolding him:
"How could you say such things about Yun'er at the dinner? He's your child, and Shuang'er too, just back from her journey. Your words could really hurt their feelings!"
Li Xuanli was taken aback, thought for a moment, and sighed, "They were in the wrong. Yun'er is too petty. If he continues like this, he won't amount to much in the future. Shuang'er is also too rash, despite her good progress in cultivation over the years."
"She was just protecting her brother. Is sibling harmony such a bad thing?" Gao Qingqing said irritably.
Li Xuanli thought about it and smiled, "You're right."
"You..." Gao Qingqing was speechless. The men of the Li Family were indeed all rough.
Feeling his wife's dissatisfaction, Li Xuanli said helplessly,
"Anyway, I couldn't have criticized Li Hao. Fourteen years ago, when Seventh Brother just returned from his campaign, I was injured at the time. Otherwise, the Yanbei affair should have been my responsibility. Seventh Uncle and Qingqing have been fighting in Yanbei for years, and we both know how hard it has been. How could I criticize his son here?"
Gao Qingqing was speechless, knowing he was right.
Li Xuanli continued, "Besides, Li Hao did nothing wrong. You saw how clever he is. He spoke confidently to his elders, without any shyness, and was polite and likable. For someone his age to have such qualities is truly rare. It's a pity he can't cultivate. Otherwise, our Shuang'er might not be able to match him."
Gao Qingqing's anger, which had just subsided, flared up again at his praise and comparison.
She angrily threw her sleeves and said, "Then why don't you go to your Li Hao!"
With that, she stormed into the house.
Li Xuanli was bewildered, wondering what he had said wrong. Why was she angry again?
In another place, in the Waterflower Courtyard.
Liu Yuerong returned to the courtyard and, as soon as she sat on the soft couch, she coldly huffed and slapped her hand on the tea table.
"Little girl, you’re just a future bride, and you actually want to spar with Qianfeng and vie for the True Dragon Seat? Don’t you know your own limits!"
The young girl at the banquet said she wanted to spar, but how could she not hear the other person’s true intentions? And returning at just this moment—wasn’t it clearly to challenge her?
Although the True Dragon Seat of the Li Family has always been held by men of the Main Lineage for thousands of years, it hasn’t been entirely exclusive to men. Hundreds of years ago, a woman once held it.
That woman never married and dedicated her life to managing the family’s affairs, eventually becoming a renowned female general of Dayu.
Could it be that the little girl wants to emulate Ancestor?
"Hmph, a mere Divine Wanderer Realm, overestimating herself..." Liu Yuerong’s lips curled into a smile as she thought of something.
Beside her, the elderly housekeeper, who had been following her, lowered her head, not daring to speak, but a touch of melancholy and sorrow flickered in her eyes.
There was a time when all the Madams of the various courtyards lived in harmony, treating each other with warmth and affection, and the Nine Courtyards were united without any gaps.
But things have quietly changed.
When did this start?
The old housekeeper, who had served the Li Family for many years, could still vaguely remember.
It seemed to have started when the eldest and third sons of the Li Family fell in battle, and that joyful time disappeared.
...
...
The next day.
Li Hao was waiting on a small path beside the manor, mounted on his horse. Soon, the sound of hooves approached from behind.
"Hao Ge", Li Yuanzhao called out with a smile, riding up beside Li Hao. The two of them rode together to Tan Palace.
"Did you eat enough yesterday?"
"Almost stuffed."
"Ha ha."
"Hao Ge, my mother has a sharp tongue, don’t take it to heart", Li Yuanzhao said after a moment’s thought.
Li Hao waved his hand. "We’re brothers, no need to worry about it. I won’t blame your mother."
Li Yuanzhao was delighted and relaxed. "I knew Hao Ge was generous."
Li Hao smiled.
Li Yuanzhao, thinking about the banquet last night, sighed. "Mother and the others were praising Elder Sister Wushuang, but they don’t know that your cultivation already surpasses hers. Hao Ge, why didn’t you say anything last night?"
Li Hao casually held the reins, letting his horse trot happily. "What’s the point of saying that? It’s too childish to compete for attention with a child."
Li Yuanzhao was taken aback for a moment, then laughed. Indeed, that was his Hao Ge, just as he remembered.
"If Elder Sister hears you call her a child, she’ll be furious."
"You’re a child too."
"Hao Ge, you..."
"Ha ha."
Li Hao laughed.
Li Yuanzhao felt a bit helpless but, having grown up with Li Hao, he found nothing strange about it. He said:
"Still, Mother and the others will likely find out about your cultivation soon."
Li Hao nodded, not particularly concerned.
Once Uncle Fu returns from Cangyu City in a couple of days, the news will probably spread.
The peace won’t last much longer.
Fortunately, Cangyu City is in Qizhou, which is Xia Clan territory. With hundreds of cities in the state, the demon calamity hasn’t caused significant casualties, so the news hasn’t caused much of a stir.
Moreover, in recent years, the Li Family’s attention has been focused on Yanbei, and the remaining members are scattered across other territories they guard, so they’re less attuned to news from other regions.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Li Hao pulled on the reins, and the Crimson Blood Horse, sensing his intent, stopped in place.
In the shade of the trees ahead, a snow-white figure stood, and by the silhouette, it was clearly Li Wushuang.
Li Yuanzhao’s small eyes narrowed as he recognized her face, his expression changing. "Hao Ge, it’s Elder Sister. Did she hear what we just said?"
"Whether she heard or not doesn’t matter."
Li Hao raised an eyebrow, his brow furrowing slightly. These kids were a bit of a headache, but he still rode his horse over.
If someone is waiting for you, you can’t avoid them.
As the horse approached, Li Wushuang turned her head, clearly having been watching for Li Hao and his companions. Her expression was cold.
"Last night at the banquet, with all the aunts present, I didn’t want to argue with you. But don’t think I’ll let you off for bullying my brother."
"Miss Wushuang, that happened years ago, and it was Li Yun who provoked Hao Ge first", Li Yuanzhao quickly interjected.
Li Wushuang gave him a cold glance. "Shut up."
Then she turned to Li Hao. "You’re a few months older than my brother. Whatever you did to him back then, I’ll do the same to you today. Don’t resist, or I won’t hold back."
Li Hao couldn’t help but chuckle. "I hit his bottom. Are you going to hit mine?"
Li Wushuang was taken aback, her face turning slightly cold. "I won’t hit your bottom, I’ll hit your mouth!"
With that, she suddenly dashed forward, covering the dozen meters in an instant, and raised her hand to strike Li Hao on the horse.
Seeing her hand coming toward him, Li Hao leaned back slightly, then reached out and grabbed her wrist, using a Tai Chi deflection technique to throw her off balance. With the power of Object Control, he pinned her to the horse.
"You!"
Li Wushuang’s pupils dilated, a hint of shock in her eyes.
"Hit my mouth? If you weren’t a member of the Li Family, you’d be in big trouble."
Li Hao coldly snorted, then lifted his hand and slapped her bottom hard, striking it several times.
"Want to avenge your brother? I should have hit him harder back then!"
(End of Chapter)
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