"No, Father."
"Little Ling'er, now that you're back home, Daddy will never let anyone bully you again."
Just as Ji Cong finished speaking, someone at the door called out, "Uncle."
The servants at the door parted, and Ye Liushuang helped someone walk over. The two of them went straight inside and into the room.
The room was packed with people. Ji Shaocheng looked at the servants at the door and said, "All of you, step back."
"Yes," Butler Ning waved his hand and led the servants away. In short, they now knew that there was a young lady in the General's Mansion. The young lady had returned, so from now on, the young lady was the most important, and the cousins and others would have to step aside...
Chapter 76 The Feast, the Number One Beauty of Northern Shandong [Handwritten VIP]
Inside the room, Ji Cong looked at Madam Ye, the first wife. This woman had aged considerably. He hadn't seen her for over ten years, and seeing her again now felt like a dream.
Moreover, seeing her stare at Hailing as soon as she walked in, Ji Cong remembered the way she had harmed Hailing, and his eyes were filled with cold hatred.
Ji Shaocheng looked at the people in the room and slowly said, "Let's go sit down in the living room. We can't talk in this room."
Finally, the group moved to the living room of Xiangwu Courtyard. General Ji Cong sat at the head of the table, his large hand holding Hai Ling's. Hai Ling sat beside him and could see that Ji Cong's face was full of protectiveness towards her. Her heart warmed. From then on, she knew that someone would truly care for and protect her.
Madam Ye remained silent throughout, sitting at the lower end of the table, unperturbed by Ji Cong's coldness. However, Ye Liushuang, who was beside her, was furious. She never dreamed that this stunningly handsome young man was actually her cousin, or perhaps not even a cousin at all—what relation did they have? But seeing this woman's breathtaking beauty, she was consumed by jealousy. Moreover, her cousin doted on her so much, and even her uncle, who rarely returned to the mansion, treated her with utmost care. Yet, this woman's appearance had stolen all her glory.
How could Ye Liushuang not hate? She stared intently at Hailing, hoping that her aunt and the two men from the Ji family would make a scene and force this woman who had appeared out of nowhere to get out. She must be a liar, that must be it.
In the main hall, everyone was already seated. Ji Cong looked at his wife and said calmly, "Xiao Ling'er is back. I will hold a grand banquet to announce to everyone that my daughter, Xiao Ling'er, has returned."
Upon hearing his father's words, Ji Shaocheng nodded in agreement, then looked at his mother, hoping she would say something.
Father will surely forgive her. Although Mother did something wrong back then, so many years have passed and Little Ling'er has returned. Father will surely forgive her.
However, Madam Ye seemed not to have noticed her son's hint. Her eyes were fixed on Hai Ling, and her gaze was peaceful and gentle. Hai Ling could sense that she was not hostile; her eyes were clear and serene.
"You are Xiao Ling'er, aren't you?"
Hai Ling nodded, unsure of what to say. This woman had sent someone to kill the woman who gave birth to her, yet she actually felt sorry for that woman.
"sorry."
Madam Ye slowly rose and spoke. This was a knot of resentment that had been accumulating in her heart. Ever since the general stopped returning to the manor, she had stayed in the inner hall. Gradually, her thoughts cleared and became more transparent. It was all because of her jealousy that she had ruined a perfectly good family. She remembered that the general had once said that because she had treated Lei Jing well, he would never marry another woman into the manor. There would only be her and Lei Jing as the two women. Moreover, his affection was never limited to Lei Jing alone. He also doted on her and respected her. Compared to those men with three wives and four concubines, this was so precious. But she had destroyed a family with her own hands. Every time she thought of this, she felt remorse and heartache. But there was no medicine for regret in this world.
Ye's words stunned everyone in the hall, especially Ji Cong, who looked at her suspiciously, wondering if she was plotting against his little Ling'er again. Now that he was back, he would never forgive anyone who tried to harm her again.
However, Ye ignored the others and continued to speak.
"This sound is an apology to your mother."
After pausing for a moment, Ye spoke to Hailing again: "This second apology is for you. It's my fault for causing you so much hardship and displacement since childhood."
After Ye finished speaking, she looked at Hailing. Everyone in the hall could see that Ye was truly repentant, and they all looked at Hailing.
Ji Cong also looked at Hai Ling. If Xiao Ling'er forgave Ye Shi today, this matter would be over; otherwise, he would not forgive Ye Shi.
Of all the people in the hall, only Ye Liushuang was filled with anxiety, her eyes filled with disbelief. She never expected that her aunt would come out just to say these things. Her aunt's brain must be really muddled. Could it be that she has become confused from chanting scriptures all these years? With what she said, wasn't she clearly letting this little slut into the mansion?
However, Ye Liushuang dared not speak, because everyone in the hall liked the little slut in front of her, and if she spoke, she would be sent away.
How could she possibly marry her cousin in the future? Did she have to fawn over this woman? Ye Liushuang thought to herself slowly.
Hailin slowly got up, and her delicate face gradually glowed.
She forgave Ye today not because of his two apologies, but because of her newly recognized father and brother, who genuinely loved her. Since she didn't want them to suffer, she had to forgive Ye.
"Never mind, so many years have passed."
As soon as Hai Ling spoke, Madam Ye breathed a sigh of relief, her face lit up, and her eyes shone brightly. She slowly said, "You and my sister Jing are really alike. You are both kind people. It's all my fault."
After she finished speaking, she suddenly quickened her pace, pulled a dagger from her bosom, and stabbed it in her chest.
The movement was so fast that the people in the hall couldn't react in time. Just as the dagger was about to pierce her chest, General Ji was the first to react. He grabbed a tea lid from the table and struck it, causing the dagger to fall to the ground with a clatter.
Ji Shaocheng and Ye Liushuang rushed over in a panic.
"Aunt, what are you doing?"
"Mother, what are you doing?"
This alarmed even General Ji, who went over to look at Madam Ye.
"What are you doing? Xiaoling'er has already forgiven you."
Ye stared intently at the man who was scolding her. He was her man. After so many years, he had finally come to scold her again. So scolding was a kind of happiness after all. It was better than being ignored for so many years. They were husband and wife, but they were like strangers. Her heart was aching.
Ye Shi shed tears and looked at Ji Cong: "I dare not ask for your forgiveness. Since I have done such a thing, I should atone with my death."
"This happened so many years ago, let it go. If you truly repent in the future, treat Xiaoling'er as your own daughter. After all, it was you who caused her to lose her mother."
As soon as Ji Cong finished speaking, he forgave Ye Shi.
Ye's tears flowed even more fiercely, and she nodded, choking back sobs: "General, me?"
She was speechless. Although Ji Cong had forgiven her, it was impossible for him to be kind to her all of a sudden, so he instructed Ji Shaocheng, "Help your mother go back."
"Yes, Father."
Ji Shaocheng nodded, reached out to help his mother up, then looked at Hailing, and then glanced at his father.
He truly loves his father and Xiaoling'er; they are his family. Now, he feels even more gratitude because they have forgiven his mother, freeing her from her prison. He will cherish Xiaoling'er even more from now on, making up for all the guilt his mother once felt.