Chapter 137

"This is my sister's own admission; I'm not fooling anyone."

"Fine then, since you insist that Ye Qingran personally admitted she likes Xiao Ji, how about we go find Ye Qingran and confront her face to face?"

"Even if we kill her, no one would believe that her sister is so formidable that anyone could fall for that lousy Xiao Ji!"

"This…"

"Ye Huanhuan and the three others all showed a sudden change of expression."

"Ye Qingran naturally doesn't like Xiao Ji. Even if she did, she wouldn't tell them. Therefore, those words are all fabricated by them, and today's whole drama is also self‑directed and performed by them."

"Their purpose is to belittle Ye Qingran, then seize the chance to force a marriage onto her and drive her out of the Ye Residence. Of course, as for whom she should marry, they have already arranged it, just awaiting an Imperial edict (Empress); then even if Ye Qingran ends up with a poor match, no one will say a word."

"After all, Zhao Shi has already done everything she can, even disregarding her reputation, crying and wailing in the streets, fighting desperately so that she could marry that ugly man Xiao Ji."

"Once married, Ye Qingran will naturally face many restrictions and will no longer be as free as she is now. Moreover, the husband she is to marry is also arranged by them; thereafter Ye Qingran's life will only worsen, worse than death!"

"Such a grand drama naturally has to be played in full. After all, Ye Qingran is the daughter of General Dingyuan; if she were inexplicably married off to a scoundrel, someone would inevitably cause a stir."

"The play was going smoothly, but Xia Zhimeng suddenly barged in, becoming a major variable."

"They won't allow Xia Meng to ruin their plan!"

"Miss Xia, in those days, Ye Qingran could have done the self‑run‑to‑marry thing for the Crown Prince, admitted she liked Xiao Ji, so why would it be impossible?"

"Zhao Yan curled the corner of her mouth and gave a faint cold laugh."

"Everyone who heard it thought it very reasonable."

"Back then, Ye Qingran adored the Crown Prince, even repeatedly offered to move into the Crown Prince Residence early, declaring that since they were already betrothed, why couldn't they live together beforehand?"

"At the time, those shocking statements caused a huge uproar, but they were later eclipsed by the even bigger event of Ye Qingran's pregnancy."

"Xia Zhimeng frowned."

"She didn't know what the former Ye Qingran was like. She only knew that the current Ye Qingran couldn't do such a thing. So, with a slight lift of her brow, she said loudly: 'There's a saying that after three days apart, one should look at a person with new eyes; let alone five years, which is enough to change someone. Therefore, don't keep talking about how she used to be; I only know that the present Ye Qingran would never commit such a self‑run‑to‑marry folly, nor would she set her sights on that good‑for‑nothing dog Xiao Ji!'"

"The young grandson of Summer Venerable Envoy, having been nurtured for years by Summer Venerable Envoy, possesses a keen mind, subtle insight, and unique perspectives."

"Ye Huanhuan and the others, fully aware that Xia Zhimeng is hard to deal with, exchanged a glance; Wang Yan, quick‑thinking in the emergency, whispered something, and Zhao Shi suddenly fainted."

"Sister!"

"Aunt!"

"Mother!"

"The scene instantly descended into chaos."

"\"Miss Xia, I'm really sorry, my mother is so agitated I have to take her back! \""

"Xia Zhimeng frowned, fully aware that this was Ye Huanhuan and the others' delaying tactic, but she didn't block it. With matters at this point, Ye Qingran's reputation cannot be cleared in a single day; if she were to forcefully stop them, it would backfire."

"Ye Huanhuan and the others hurried away with the fainted Zhao Shi, leaving the still‑enthused crowd to chatter. As for Xiao Ji, he had long taken advantage of the chaos to flee."

"Xia Zhimeng thought for a moment, then stepped forward, sprinting toward the Ye Residence."

"…"

"When Xia Zhimeng arrived at the Ye Residence to request an audience with Ye Qingran, she was told that Ye Qingran had gone to the Ling Kingdom Residence and had not yet returned."

"However, seeing her hurried demeanor, Leng Yue still escorted her to Ting Yu Xuan."

"Ye Qingran did not take Fu Qianchen and Mo Xiaohu to the Ling Kingdom Residence; at this moment the two, under the watch of Leng Yue and Little Silver, were playing in the courtyard."

"When they saw Xia Zhimeng, both rushed up. They had thought that after their disguise in Jiu Fu Lin last time, these two cute kids wouldn't recognize her, and she was still pondering how to explain, but unexpectedly, they immediately called her 'Meng Yi'."

"It shocked her for quite a while."

"\"How did you recognize me? \" Xia Zhimeng couldn't help being surprised."

"\"Your appearance changed, but everything else stayed the same! \""

"Xia Zhimeng: \"... \""

"Careless!"

"But being recognized is also fine; it saves her from having to keep explaining."

"\"What are you playing? Can I join you? \" Xia Zhimeng really does love those two babies from her sister's family."

"It is said that the children's father is the National Master, could the mother be her sister Ye Qingran?"

"Xia Zhimeng gave a mischievous grin, feeling as if she suddenly smelled the scent of illicit passion!"

"\"Meng Yi, you smile so lewdly! \""

"Huh?"

"Coming to her senses, Xia Zhimeng touched her face, suddenly feeling that her previous thought was indeed a bit lewd."

"She giggled, crouched, and couldn't help pinching their smooth little faces."

"\"Oh my, this texture... \""

"Xia Zhimeng was simply intoxicated."

"\"Babies, you're so cute; do you know that yourselves? \""

"Mo Xiaohu blinked his big watery eyes: \"We know! \""

"Xia Zhimeng immediately let out a series of high‑pitched squeals."

"Is there a group formed to steal the babies???"

"\"Meng Yi, we have a question for you; can you answer us? \""

"Xia Zhimeng thought that as an elder, she must save face, otherwise how could she stand before the children later?"

"Xia Zhimeng cleared her throat confidently, straightened her back, and put on a mature demeanor. Over the years, under her grandfather's supervision, she has learned a lot; she knows everything about the capital's noble ladies' gatherings, though her favorite remains cultivation."

"Therefore, she was confident; how hard could a question from two five‑year‑old kids be?"

"She was sure she could answer."

"\"Ask away! \""

"\"Meng Yi, if my father and mother want to have a little sister, may I ask, does it have to be in bed to give birth? \""

Fu Qianchen's question—it seemed he hadn't forgotten that night on the Broken Soul Abyss, when Mo Xiaohu had looked down on him, and he was struggling unwillingly.

Xia Zhimeng, full of confidence: "……"

She instantly went dumb.

It felt as if a heavenly thunderbolt had struck her forehead, and her whole body went numb.

What kind of divine question is this?!

Do kids these days all play their cards so unreasonably?

As a young unmarried lady, how could she possibly answer such an advanced and profound question?

Even if she knew, could she even speak up in front of two five-year-olds?

Thus, the question went unanswered, and Xia Zhimeng's face flushed with frustration.

"Meng Yi, you don't know either?"

Seeing Xia Zhimeng's expression constantly shifting, Fu Qianchen couldn't help but ask again.

Looking down at their blinking little eyes, Xia Zhimeng simply didn't know what to do!

If she says she can't, she's afraid of disappointing them!

If she says she can, she finds it hard to speak up!

Wu wu wu~

Being an elder is so hard!

She doesn't want to be an elder anymore!