freenovelworld Chapter 2084 This situation is not going to end well today!
Chapter 2084 This situation is not going to end well today!
Before Du Xingyue could utter the word "three," he was interrupted by the deep, resonant voice of Old Master Du, which abruptly severed the tense atmosphere that had been frozen in the courtyard.
All eyes in the courtyard turned to the tightly closed vermilion moon gate!
Du Xingyue stopped counting, and the hand that was stroking the dragon-headed cane suddenly stopped.
The old man's cloudy yet sharp eyes narrowed slightly, and for the first time, a subtle change appeared on his usually domineering and all-encompassing expression.
The fluctuation was not fear, but a deep mix of surprise and solemnity... apprehension!
In the corner, Ye Ruyan and the others seemed like drowning people grasping at the last straw, their eyes gleaming with hope, yet they dared not move rashly, only holding their breath and staring at the doorway.
Song Yi, Wang Defa, Song Ziming, Yang Weidong, Ma Yingyao, Mi Le, and other relatives and friends of the Li family immediately glanced at Li Xiangnan with some concern, then turned their gaze back to the entrance of the courtyard.
Li Xiangnan reached out and pressed the corner of one of the three square tables in the courtyard, unconsciously tightening his grip slightly.
His expression remained calm, but deep in his eyes, he could already see the approaching footsteps outside the door.
Calm and powerful, each step was measured with precision.
"Squeak-"
The heavy wooden door was pushed open from the outside, not by a guest, but by a hand with distinct knuckles wearing a black mink glove.
Immediately afterwards, a towering figure, as imposing as a mountain, blocked out the sunlight from the doorway.
The man was under sixty years old, tall and broad-shouldered, wearing a perfectly pressed Zhongshan suit made of top-quality wool that gleamed with a restrained yet substantial luster under the sun.
He had extremely short, half-inch hair, each strand standing straight up like iron. His square face exuded an air of authority, and beneath his thick, dark eyebrows were a pair of unfathomable eyes.
When his gaze swept across the courtyard, there was no deliberate sharpness, but it carried a heavy pressure from someone who had long held a high position and had the power of life and death.
What is most striking is the faint, treated old scar above his right eyebrow, which not only does not detract from his imposing presence but also adds to his battle-hardened and valiant air.
He was not followed by a large entourage, but only by a silent middle-aged man who was also dressed in a Zhongshan suit and carrying two brocade boxes. However, the man had bright eyes and slightly bulging temples. Standing half a step behind him, he was as immovable as a rock, which stabilized the atmosphere of the entire doorway.
The entire courtyard fell silent, and everyone gasped in surprise.
The newcomer's gaze first fell on Du Xingyue in the center of the courtyard. A perfectly timed smile bloomed on his face as he clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Brother Du, it's been many years. Your temper is still as decisive and efficient as ever!"
His voice was loud and clear, full of energy, and instantly filled the entire courtyard.
Du Xingyue's pupils contracted slightly, and the hand that had been stroking the dragon head of the sandalwood cane began to caress it again. A smile appeared on his face, but it now carried a hint of caution. "Who do we have here with such an air of grandeur! It's the esteemed head of the Shangguan family! What a rare guest indeed!"
Patriarch Shangguan!
Shangguan Wuji!
These four words, like a stone thrown into a still pond, stirred up a thousand waves in the hearts of the guests and representatives of prominent families.
Shangguan Wuji, the leader of the five great families!
His status, power, and influence far surpass those of the top five families in Yanjing, and even Du Xingyue, the leader of the noble families, has to give him some leeway in certain aspects!
This is a truly powerful figure standing in the shadows at the very top of Yanjing!
Oops!
Why is he here?
The faces of the people in the courtyard suddenly turned pale!
With his arrival, the ten families of Yanjing, who had just been severely suppressed by Du Xingyue, now had a powerful backer. How could they possibly submit to him?
Their goal was to confirm whether Mu Huanying was in the backyard and find the account books, but wouldn't that mean bringing up the issue again?
Li Xiangnan finally managed to find Du Xingyue, a big shot, to come out of seclusion, but wasn't it all ruined by Shangguan Wuji?
What should we do? What should we do?
"Hahaha!"
However, Shangguan Wuji saw the apprehension and worry in the room. He laughed and said in a voice that shook the rooftops, "Brother Du, you are too polite. What family head or not? In front of you, I will always be a junior!"
Although these words were polite and humbled him, his proud stance, which stood on equal footing with Du Xingyue, made the word "junior" seem utterly meaningless.
His laughter stopped abruptly, as if he had just noticed the situation in the courtyard. His gaze swept over the ten representatives in the corner, whose faces were ashen but whose joy was hidden, and then over the guests in the courtyard. Finally, it landed on Li Xiangnan, and his smile widened: "Dr. Li, it's been a long time. You still look as radiant as ever, and even more joyful!"
Li Xiangnan remained calm and gave a slight nod: "Mr. Shangguan, you flatter me. Today is my daughter's one-month celebration, and it is an honor to have you here in person!"
His calm attitude impressed Song Cijiu, Song Yi, and others.
Even with Shangguan Wuji here, he remains so calm. Could it be that this kid still has some trump card he hasn't used yet?
Meanwhile, the old men standing by the window inside the house had different expressions, and Jiang Huaiyuan could no longer contain himself.
"No way, that old bastard is cunning. If he comes, it's definitely not going to be good. I have to go out and check up on Little Li!"
"Brother-in-law, what's the rush!" Qin Zongheng grabbed him and shook his head. "Just keep watching, there's no need to rush!"
"Isn't this a cause for concern?" Jiang Huaiyuan said warily, "Shangguan Wuji is a man who always causes trouble wherever he goes!"
Yu Haoran also agreed wholeheartedly, frowning as he said, "The Shangguan family isn't just powerful because they talk a big game! Zongheng, believe it or not, this guy came here with absolutely no good intentions. He looks harmless, but he's actually full of wicked schemes..."
“Brother-in-law,” Song Qiankun pulled him from the window to a seat and beckoned him, “what’s the rush! It’s not our turn to make a move yet!”
Jiang Huaiyuan stamped his foot. "Hey, you guys are really calm. There's a massacre going on outside, and you still have the mind to play chess here... Tell me, when is it our turn to make a move?"
Qin Zongheng smiled and stroked his beard: "If you ask me, we don't need to take action today!"
Jiang Huaiyuan: "???"
Yu Haoran was utterly shocked: "Old Qin, you really trust your grandson-in-law's methods that much?"
Qin Zongheng smiled without saying a word, casually lit a cigarette, and looked out the door with a grin.
At this moment, Shangguan Wuji waved his hand with a hearty laugh, "Of course, of course! I met your grandfather several times back then. Although I was young at the time, I always admired his demeanor! Elder Mu is an elder I deeply respect! Hearing of your joyous occasion of having a daughter, how could I, as your uncle, not come?"
After saying that, he turned to the side to gesture.
The silent middle-aged man behind him immediately stepped forward, placed the two brocade boxes on the octagonal table in the courtyard, and then stepped back.
Shangguan Wuji personally opened the first brocade box, inside which was a wild ginseng of excellent quality, with its roots and stems fully grown. The ginseng was plump and its rhizome was dense, clearly a rare and mature specimen.
"This old ginseng is a small token of my appreciation for Miss Qin, to help her recover properly!"
After saying that, he immediately opened the second brocade box, and the bright orange light blinded everyone.
Inside the box were ten small yellow gold bars, neatly stacked.
The scene left everyone in the courtyard speechless, including the members of the ten families from Yanjing who were beaming with joy.
"This small gift is both a congratulatory present and an apology!" Shangguan Wuji looked at Li Xiangnan sincerely.
"Apologize?" Li Xiangnan appropriately showed his doubt.
What crime could Shangguan Wuji have committed that warranted spending the value of ten gold bars as a stepping stone?
Li Xiangnan's heart sank, and he knew something was wrong!