"You're insane!"
The old woman could hardly believe her ears, her hand gripping the dragon-headed cane trembling.
"A marriage alliance between noble families, do you think you can just change people as you please?"
Tantai Ye turned back, his cold eyes devoid of any emotional change, unnerving those who looked at him.
The others immediately fell silent, not daring to speak further.
Only the old madam stubbornly declared, "This old woman will absolutely not agree!"
"It's no use if you don't agree. I'm not asking for your opinion; I'm informing you, I will marry her!"
His expression was frigid, yet his voice carried an undisguised determination.
"She will be my legitimate wife, Tantai Ye's wife."
The air around them seemed to freeze in an instant.
The old woman pointed at him furiously, "Say that again?!"
Tantai Ye ignored her and turned to leave.
"Are you trying to anger me to death? Your grandfather would never agree."
"For the dignified future head of the Tantai clan, the Great Liang's Zhenxi Great General, to marry an impudent woman, it will make the entire Shangjing laugh at our Tantai clan!"
In the wedding hall, the bride lay unconscious, her life or death unknown!
Absurd!
It was a complete farce.
Since the founding of Great Liang, in all these years, there had been no precedent like this.
Not to mention Great Liang, even among the Nine Provinces, no high-ranking noble family would marry a comatose woman?!
"I tell you, neither the嫡氏 (di shi) clan nor the nineteen collateral branches of the Tantai clan will recognize an unconscious orphan as their matriarch. You can give up on this idea."
Tantai Ye looked back and sneered, "The Tantai clan cannot control me."
The old madam, seeing his demeanor, was consumed by rage, her lips trembling so much she couldn't speak.
"I warn you one last time: if you have nothing to do, do not come to my manor."
As he spoke, his gaze slowly shifted to the old madam.
"No matter who it is, even the old man, if anyone dares to have any further designs on her, I will uproot all nineteen branches of the Tantai clan with the combined power of the Nine Ministers of the court!"
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at him in terror.
"----"
Rebellious!
Utterly defying heaven!
Lady Yue Hua, before she could say anything upon hearing his words, heard a commotion nearby.
"Old Tai Jun, Old Tai Jun---"
She quickly turned back, only to see the old madam had fainted from anger.
The female relatives crowded around, in utter disarray.
Alarmed, she immediately called out, "Someone!"
Tantai Ye calmly watched the commotion over there and instructed from behind.
"Send her back to the manor."
Qing Feng respectfully replied, "Yes."
Tantai Ye paid them no further mind, cradling the person in his arms and heading back to his room.
Upon entering, he gently placed her on the bed.
Her eyes were still tightly shut, her pale little face devoid of any color, lying quietly on the couch like a pear blossom slowly withering, fragile and desolate.
He leaned over and reached into her robes, his hand cupping her waist.
Feeling the warmth of her body, he came back to himself slightly.
"Come in."
The waiting maids immediately entered with a basin of water.
"General."
Tantai Ye instructed them to set down the items, then ushered everyone out.
He removed all of Lan Murou's clothes, wet a cloth, and sat by the bed, wiping her body.
He had been personally attending to her these past few days and was quite familiar with the routine.
After he had finished cleaning her, he went to the wardrobe to find her undergarments and changed her. He then went to the back bath to wash himself briefly before getting into bed, embracing her in his arms, holding her close, and closing his eyes.
----
Recently, the news of the Prince of Dingbei taking a consort had been the talk of the capital.
Many families privately speculated about which family's daughter this formidable figure would marry. Some, enjoying the spectacle, deliberately embellished the scandalous affair between the Prince of Dingbei and the Ye family's legitimate daughter from the previous year, spreading vivid accounts throughout the city, many filled with disdain.
The Bai family naturally heard the news of the concubine being taken, which had spread from the military intelligence. Hearing the rumors circulating in the capital, the old madam was so angered that she hadn't eaten properly for several days.
Therefore, after Ye Luan returned to the Bai manor, she was surrounded and questioned thoroughly.
The old Tai Jun, fearing that Ye Luan might become despondent from these rumors, directly declared, "Even if she never marries, the Duke's manor can afford to support her for a lifetime."
Ye Luan, hearing these rumors, merely smiled.
However, she also knew that many in the capital were merely watching the show, not refraining from embellishing and spreading false stories, so she didn't pay much mind, offering a few simple explanations.
The old Tai Jun, thinking her a shy young lady, didn't quite believe her. She instructed the manor staff not to spread rumors and privately tasked several madams in the manor to find her a suitable husband.
Ye Luan, tired from a day out, wasn't particularly concerned with these matters. After having dinner with the old Tai Jun, she returned to her own chambers.
The Yue Pavilion was still as it was before she left, its layout almost unchanged.
But the room was very clean, likely cleaned by servants regularly.
She went to the washroom to freshen up, then emerged wearing a light inner garment.
Although it was almost evening, it was still summer, and the weather was hot and humid, not cold.
Her eyelids were heavy with sleep, but her dark hair was still damp, falling past her waist. She had no choice but to open the window to let in some air.
The night breeze, carrying the subtle fragrance of crabapple blossoms, drifted in, caressing her cheeks.
She leaned lazily against the window, her features as beautiful as a painting, her countenance exquisitely enchanting.
Her eyes shimmered with a soft glow, and under the moonlight, they appeared like three thousand peach blossoms in full bloom, captivating and alluring.
The hibiscus flowers outside the window bloomed, obscuring half of her face, subtly revealing her slender figure.
When Xiao Chizhan, carrying Xueqiu, rounded the corridor, he happened to glimpse her figure.
Perhaps Ye Luan heard the movement, for she suddenly turned her head, a faint smile gracing her lips.
That glance was truly a captivating smile that outshone all others, full of charm and allure.
Their gazes met in the air, intertwining.
Looking at her smile, Xiao Chizhan felt his heart being struck forcefully.
The wind blew, and the surroundings fell into silence.
Xueqiu, in his arms, pouted its chubby little face and nudged him. Seeing that he remained still, it immediately kicked its short legs and jumped off him, leaping directly onto the window.
Ye Luan saw Xueqiu approaching and was no longer sleepy. She reached out and scooped it into her arms.
"Hiss, it's really heavy."
"You've gotten fat again."
Xueqiu, as if understanding, giggled with its tiny milk teeth, nuzzling against her chest.
"Do you still have me in your eyes?"
From behind, Xiao Chizhan followed, displeased, and leaped in through the window.
Ye Luan raised an eyebrow, "Why are you jealous of a cat?"
"I'm not at all. It's just that you haven't even looked at me."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Chizhan scrutinized her from head to toe, suddenly enraged.
"Ye Luan, are you stupid? Standing by the window wearing so little."
Ye Luan was accustomed to his unpredictable moods and remained completely unfazed.
She first put Xueqiu down, then looked down at her own attire and said, "What's wrong with this? It's completely covered."
"Your neck, collarbone, and waist are all exposed."
As he spoke, he immediately turned and closed all the windows.