Li Se immediately understood the Tang family's stance. They intended to remain neutral. This was understandable, as the Tang family was currently caught between the Ye family and the Li family.
In terms of individual capability, Li Se was far superior to Ye Bowen. In terms of family background, they were quite evenly matched.
However, there was a problem: Ye Bowen's arms had been crippled. No one knew if they could be restored. If they couldn't, he would be a cripple from now on.
A cripple could never become the next head of the Ye family!
Therefore, the Tang family would absolutely not marry Tang Xi to Ye Bowen again. This was beyond doubt. Moreover, even if the Tang family were willing, it might not be successful, as Li Se was the biggest obstacle.
"Mr. Tang, did you ask me here just to talk about this?" Li Se smiled slightly. He didn't believe Tang Mingguo had summoned him solely for this conversation. There might be other matters.
Tang Mingguo's eyes suddenly narrowed. "I heard your relationship with Rou'er is also unusual."
It was easy for Tang Mingguo to investigate the matter between Tang Rou and Li Se. After he found out that his daughter seemed to have feelings for Li Se as well, it led to the conclusion that both Tang Xi and Tang Rou of the Tang family liked Li Se.
This was becoming quite complicated!
In prominent families like theirs, having multiple wives and concubines was not a major issue. However, Tang Rou was his own daughter, and it was absolutely impossible for her to become a concubine to someone else. This was something the Tang family would never allow.
"Mr. Tang, please rest assured, Tang Rou and I have no relationship. If possible, please also speak to her. I truly don't like her," Li Se said, shrugging helplessly.
Damn it!
Tang Mingguo almost blurted out an expletive. Did he mean that his daughter was pursuing him, but he wasn't interested?
They said you shouldn't hit a man where it hurts, but Tang Mingguo felt severely humiliated.
How could his own daughter be chasing someone?
"I will speak to her," Tang Mingguo said, his expression odd. "However, I'd like to know how much standing you have in the Li family. The Ye family is not to be trifled with. After this incident, they will definitely target you. Without the full support of the Li family, it will be very difficult for you to withstand the Ye family's wrath. I don't oppose Tang Xi being with you, but I cannot agree to let her bear this price with you!"
Putting on an act! Keep acting!
Li Se felt a hint of contempt. He firmly believed that Tang Mingguo was not concerned about Tang Xi; it was all about interests. Tang Xi was, after all, very beautiful, and for the Tang family, she held significant leverage.
As for this display of concern, it was clearly fake.
However, Li Se didn't mind. For prominent families like the Tang family, it would be strange if they didn't prioritize interests.
This applied to the Ye family, the Li family, and all such prominent families.
Although Li Shengjun had appeared today, the Li family had not. This was because Li Shengguo, who was present throughout, had not uttered a single word, indicating that the Li family's stance was still somewhat ambiguous.
"Rest assured, Xi Xi is my woman. No one can touch her!" Li Se said calmly.
The two didn't chat much longer.
Upon returning, Li Se pondered why Tang Mingguo had met him. It felt like they had only discussed trivial matters, such as Tang Xi and Tang Rou, and the issue of taking sides.
This left him puzzled. Or perhaps, Tang Mingguo wanted to know something from him?
Regardless, Li Se now understood the Tang family's attitude. At the very least, they would not side with the Ye family and become his adversary.
This was good news.
Li Se found it strange. Did Tang Mingguo specifically meet him just to convey his stance?
As for the events of today, they were an utter humiliation for the Ye family!
Even though it was late at night, the Ye family mansion was brightly lit.
Ye Bowen had already been sent to a recuperation center for treatment. Whether he could recover depended on the imperial physicians.
"Father, this matter absolutely cannot be let go!" Ye Zhizhu said in a deep voice.
Everyone looked towards Old Master Ye.
Old Master Ye had been silent all along, his aged face looking anything but pleasant.
"How else do you want it to be handled?"
It was Ye Zhizhu's second brother, Ye Zhiwen, who spoke. He sneered, "Are you still planning to make a move against Li Se? He is the biological son of War God Li, the Chief Instructor of the Heavenly Dragon, and an imperial physician. If you act against him, even with our Ye family's power, we will have to pay a price!"
"Yes, we can't act recklessly."
"After all, he is truly formidable, and a practitioner of ancient martial arts."
"Not as good."
"..."
Many members of the Ye family began to murmur amongst themselves.
For the Ye family as a whole, many people felt schadenfreude at Ye Bowen's fate. At least for the younger generation of the Ye family, this presented an opportunity.
Ye Bowen was originally the most likely successor. But now that his arms were crippled, and he had brought such humiliation to the Ye family today, the position of family head would likely be far from his reach.
Ye Zhizhu said indignantly, "Isn't Bowen a member of the Ye family? Today, Li Se was so arrogant, crashing our Ye family's wedding. If this matter isn't resolved today, how will our Ye family stand in the future?"
"In the end, it's because your son couldn't compare to him. If he could, we wouldn't have suffered such humiliation today, and the bride would have run off with someone else. I don't know what to say," Ye Zhiwen said with a cold smile.
"Elder brother is truly something, letting the bride run off like that, it's too shameful."
"Yes, if I were him, I wouldn't have the face to live anymore."
Many of the younger generation began to speak sarcastically.
Ye Zhizhu's expression was grim. He could only look at Old Master Ye.
"Enough!"
Old Master Ye shouted, and the entire living room finally fell silent.
No one spoke further, but their faces showed a hint of schadenfreude. Today's events had indeed embarrassed the Ye family, but that was Ye Bowen's affair, and it had nothing to do with others.
Moreover, with such an event occurring, for many, it was a good thing.
Old Master Ye swept his gaze across the entire Ye family. He saw the expressions of everyone present and sighed inwardly. The Ye family was not united.
"Regardless, Bowen is my grandson. Li Se was so excessive, and we naturally cannot let it go. Zhizhu, you handle this matter yourself. I will fully support you!"
After saying this, Old Master Ye rose and left immediately.
"Yes!"
Ye Zhizhu immediately responded, his eyes filled with malice. He had been waiting for Old Master Ye's words.
This meant that he now had permission to act against Li Se!