Chapter 21

Taiqing Courtyard, once deserted with only a few servants, had gained popularity due to the old master’s arrival. The masters, madams, young masters and ladies from all courtyards in the Li Mansion had heard about it and eagerly came here to show their faces, hoping to please the old madam.

Although the old master and the old madam no longer pay much attention to the things in Li Mansion, but both were innate fifth-level warriors. Making the old madam happy could lead to valuable favors slipping through her fingers and enticing greed in people.

The outer hall of Taiqing Courtyard was already filled with people. The front row consisted of the family members of the six masters of Li Mansion, while the back row accommodated young masters, the wives and concubines of each master.

Old Madam Li, Duan Qin, seated in the main seat, held a tea cup. She listened to flattery and chatter with a smile, seeing through the thoughts of everyone in the hall like a piercing eye.

Duan Qin, nearly a hundred years old, maintained a charming appearance. It was evident she was a stunningly beautiful woman in her youth, yet she exuded the aura of a high-level warrior, making it challenging for people to feel close to her.

“The old madam has been back for a while; why hasn’t Tianzhou or Tianyan come yet?” Sun Xiang, the second madam, asked with a concerned tone, though her eyes seemed to drift to the person sitting under the old madam—Hong Man.

Sun Xiang, Li Kun’s wife, had been eager to be out of Li Mansion since the eldest master took control. Anyway, she was happy to make Hong Man unhappy.

Hong Man followed  Madam Sun’s words and explained, “Tianzhou went to inspect the training ground today and will be back soon. I also have sent someone to invite Tianyan.”

“Tianyan is really becoming more and more arrogant. The younger you are, the more you should respect the old,” Madam Lin, seated behind Sun Xiang, suddenly interrupted.

Considering Li Kun mentioned Li Tianyan going out today and he arranged gangsters to meet him, Madam Lin felt proud, anticipating Li Tianyan to be injured.

“Li Hong hasn’t been seen yet. Shouldn’t he be invited too?” Chen Tang, the third madam, said sarcastically, looking at  Madam Sun with contempt.

If  Madam Sun hadn’t been so useless, there would be no room for concubines to speak here today.

“Hong’er has been sick for the past two days,” Madam Lin said breathlessly. Li Hong was injured by that good-for-nothing Li Tianyan, and now, even after a month of recovery, he still couldn’t walk freely. If the old madam knew about this, what would she think of Li Hong?

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“How is Tianzhou doing recently? If he’s busy, tell him not to rush back,” Old Madam Li glanced at the women below but ultimately addressed Hong Man next to her.

“The old madam’s love is Tianzhou’s blessing,” Hong Man replied, wearing a happy smile on her face, understanding that the old madam had always been aloof and likely wouldn’t take notice of any woman in the room. Fortunately, she had two promising sons. Tianzhou’s martial arts talent was a little better among the aristocratic families’ children, ensuring he would eventually inherit the entire Li Mansion, not to mention Cheng’er.

As long as Cheng’er had a firm foothold in Tianfan Immortal Sect, the entire Li family would rely on him in the future. With the two brothers joining forces, the Li family would definitely surpass the Zhao family in Yuncheng. The old lady madam would naturally lean toward her side.

Seeing that the old madam rarely opened her mouth to show kindness to others, but was ignored by Hong Man’s lukewarm attitude, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became a little tense. The juniors sitting in the back row were even more excited but did not dare to express their feelings. At this moment, when everyone saw Li Tianyan coming in with his wife, they all looked like they were watching a good show.

Only Madam Lin saw Li Tianyan appeared and was so shocked that she almost teared the green silk handkerchief in her hand. This person should have been severely punished by Li Kun. How could he stand here like nothing happened?

Li Tianyan heard the conversation in the room clearly before getting close. Naturally, he knew the expressions of everyone present. He didn’t care whether the other party was in a good mood or not.

“The grandson, Li Tianyan, and his wife, Cheng QI, have met the old madam.” After speaking, Li Tianyan clasped his fists with his hands and performed the warrior salute.

Cheng Qi, standing next to him, saw this and hurriedly followed suit. However, just as Cheng Qi imitated Li Tianyan’s actions and salutes, several sneers suddenly sounded in the room.

“This Cheng Mansion used to be the head of the four major families. How come the people who come out are so ignorant of the rules and don’t kneel down to salute the old madam?” Sun Xiang, the second madam sitting at the bottom, covered her mouth with a handkerchief and said with a smile, “Unexpectedly, Li Tianyan actually brought this ugly shuanger with him.”

When Cheng Qi heard this, he realizes that he made a wrong salute. He quickly pulled up his clothes and was about to kneel down to salute, but his hand was grabbed by someone. When he lowered his head, he saw the cloud-edged sleeves on Li Tianyan’s clothes, but Cheng Qi actually felt Li Tianyan’s hand holding his under his sleeve.

“Cheng Qi has begun to practice martial arts. There is nothing wrong with using warrior salute,” Li Tianyan says expressionlessly.

“Oh, this is being protected. It seems that the Cheng family did the right thing by changing the marriage from Cheng Si to Cheng Qi,” Madam Lin said, observing that Li Tianyan had not been disabled. She could only express her dissatisfaction.

“Maybe he is as secretive as Tianyan. Li Hong of your family must be watched carefully, lest he be beaten by someone who has not practiced martial arts next time,” the third madam, Chen Tang, remarked with a smile, offering a reminder.

Sure enough, Madam Lin was furious, as if someone had stepped on her foot, but she dared not speak out in front of this third madam.

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“Okay, stop talking,” Old Madam Li, who was in charge, finally couldn’t help but intervene. She looked at Li Tianyan with a complicated expression. “That’s enough; we just met today, so there’s no need to be so polite.”

Then the old madam changed the subject and asked Li Tianyan, “I heard that you injured Li Hong last month. Is it true?”

Everyone’s attention shifted to Li Tianyan upon hearing this. They had heard about it a long time ago, but some people still didn’t believe Li Tianyan had such ability. Now the old madam mentioned it publicly, it must be true. Unfortunately, Madam Lin had lied, claiming that Li Hong was sick, but the old madam seemed aware of the truth.

“Yes,” Li Tianyan answered frankly, regardless of how others reacted.

Cheng Qi, who didn’t know about this yet, thought the old madam in front of him wanted to blame Li Tianyan, and the two of them couldn’t help but tighten their hands.

Duan Qin looked at Li Tianyan, who stood in front of him, and noticed that his attitude was neither humble nor rebellious. He no longer exhibited the indulgent habits of the past, nor had he given up on himself due to later events. Instead, he gave off a sense of detachment. It was a pity if Li Tianyan had spiritual root, he might be well-cultivated as the young master of Li family.

“Since you are now the head of a family, you can move out of Li Mansion after the birthday party and start your own household,” Old Madam Li’s words immediately echoed in the hall.@@novelbin@@

Though they didn’t understand why the old madam wanted to separate Li Tianyan from the Li Mansion at just fifteen years old, it didn’t deter everyone from relishing in his misfortune.

Li Tianyan frowned slightly upon hearing the old madam’s words. While he did plan to move out, he was concerned about lacking a suitable excuse. This woman’s words spared him effort, but he couldn’t ignore a hint of an unusual atmosphere.

On the contrary, Hong Man spoke reluctantly, “Old madam, Tianyan is still young. If we separate him now, people might think I am a heartless mother. The Li Mansion can support two more people. It’s better to wait a few years.”

“This matter has been decided,” the old madam firmly declared, waving off Hong Man’s input.

“Yes, the grandson will follow the old madam’s arrangements,” Li Tianyan quickly agreed, fearing her change of heart.

Seeing Li Tianyan’s simple response, Duan Qin felt an inexplicable sense of missing out. He looked at the shuanger standing with Li Tianyan and finally stuck to her decision.

“The grandson came back late. I apologize to my grandmother,” Li Tianzhou’s voice echoed in the hall, just as Li Tianyan’s matter was finalized. Duan Qin immediately left Li Tianyan, smiling at her eldest grandson. “No need to apologize. If you have something to do, you don’t have to come back all the way.”

The old madam’s attitude toward Li Tianzhou was remarkedly different from before.

Li Tianyan realized they wouldn’t pay attention to him for a while. Despite the crowd’s sympathy or mocking looks, he and Cheng Qi retreated inconspicuously, waiting until people dispersed before leaving.

Note:

To make sure everyone doesn’t get confuse, the grandparents have six sons, each son is the master of family and Li Pei is the head of Li family, meaning his lineage is the first branch and the heir of Li Mansion.

Each master has their own wives and concubines, unlike Li Pei’s wife, Hong Man being called Madam Li. The rest of them will be called according to their surname,  Madam Sun or the second madam as she was Li Kun’s wife.

But don’t worry, the Li family won’t appear much after this. Alright thanks for reading^^