Lanxue Hall, this was the courtyard of Ling's second madam, Bai Jingzhi.
Upon seeing Ling San enter, Bai Jingzhi quickly asked, "Ling San, did Second Master send you? Did Second Master resolve everything? Have the Yuan family members already left?"
Ling San respectfully replied, "Reporting to Second Madam, it was Eldest Miss who sent me. Eldest Miss said that the matter of Yuan Chengjie is of great importance and cannot be taken at face value, so she has invited Second Miss to the front hall."
"Eldest Miss?" Ling San's third madam, Li Ziya, questioned in confusion.
"Luo'er is back?" Bai Jingzhi asked with surprise.
"Yes, Eldest Miss returned half an hour ago."
Because there was going to be a major battle in the Ling family today, to protect the younger generation of the Ling family, Ling Qi had arranged for them all to be here. He and Ling Jin were in the front courtyard, the servants were in their rooms, and the guards were at their posts, which was why no one in the Ling family knew that Ling Luo Yi had arrived for nearly half an hour.
"Such big news that Eldest Miss is back, why hasn't anyone come..."
Bai Jingzhi remembered the Ling family's current predicament and did not continue speaking.
"Eldest Sister is back, is Eldest Sister really back?" Ling's fourth young lady, Ling Luo Ran, murmured.
"Mother, is Second Sister going?" Ling's third young lady, Ling Luo Fu, tugged on her mother's sleeve and asked.
"I'm going," Ling's second young lady, Ling Luo Qian, said without hesitation. "I was the one who did it, I'll go confront the Yuan family head."
"Qian'er." Bai Jingzhi paused, then continued, "Very well, Mother will accompany you."
"Second Aunt, I'm going too," Ling Luo Ran said.
"Ran'er, it's enough for Second Aunt and your Second Sister to go, you wait here," Bai Jingzhi disagreed.
"Second Aunt, I must go," Ling Luo Ran said, looking timid but inexplicably firm.
"Second Sister-in-law, let's go together. This matter must be resolved quickly, otherwise the Ling family will never have peace," Ling's fourth madam, Yao Yuxin, said.
Ling's second madam looked at them one by one, and everyone nodded in agreement.
"Then let's go together. No matter what wolves or tigers lie ahead, we as a family will be together," Bai Jingzhi said as if making a decision.
Immediately, the three madams led the children to the front hall.
*
Front Hall
Ling Luo Yi looked at the vast number of Ling family members before her, and couldn't help but twitch her lips. She instantly returned to her previous demeanor and said gently, "Didn't I ask for Second Miss to come? Why are you all here?"
"Luo'er," the three madams called out in unison.
"Second Aunt, Third Aunt, Fourth Aunt," Ling Luo Yi greeted them one by one, then said, "Let's talk about anything later, let's resolve the matter here first."
The three madams nodded, then sat down, and the younger generation also stood beside their respective mothers.
"Which one is Second Sister?" After they sat down, Ling Luo Yi asked.
Even though they had lived together as children, they had all grown up now, so it was normal for Ling Luo Yi not to recognize them.
"It's me," Ling Luo Qian stepped forward.
"Come here."
Ling Luo Qian walked over and stood beside Ling Luo Yi.
"I presume you know why you were called here. Just now, the Yuan family head said that you killed his son a few days ago, is that correct?"
"Yes."
Just as Ling Luo Yi was about to speak, she was interrupted.
"Eldest Sister, it's not Second Sister's fault! It's because of me that Second Sister killed him."
Ling Luo Ran said excitedly, her voice cracking slightly.
"It seems there's more to this. Don't rush, tell me slowly," Ling Luo Yi comforted her.
Ling Luo Ran gradually calmed down with Ling Luo Fu's comfort and said with a slight tremor, "At that time, the academy was on holiday, and I was returning home with my brothers and sisters. We stopped at an inn on the way, and unexpectedly, Yuan Chengjie was at the same inn as us. That night, I was resting alone in my room, and Yuan Chengjie suddenly entered my room and tried to..."
Ling Luo Ran struggled to control her emotions and continued, "He wanted to... he wanted to insult me. Second Sister, because she was worried about me, came to find me. So she ran into him, and that's when Second Sister made her move."
The matter was very clear. Yuan Chengjie had taken a liking to Ling's fourth young lady and attempted to defile her. Ling's second young lady killed him to protect her sister.
"My brothers and sisters didn't say anything to protect my reputation. Three days ago, the Yuan family head came to the Ling family seeking revenge. Not only did he injure everyone, but he also broke Eldest Brother's leg."
Ling's fourth young lady said intermittently.
The Ling family's main gate was not closed, and by this time, the outside was already filled with onlookers.
"So that's how it is."
"This Yuan family is too shameless."
"Who says not?"
"Yuan Chengjie's tyranny in Yunyuan City isn't a day or two, so Ling's second young lady has indeed eliminated a scourge."
"Speak softly, the Yuan family head is still here."
...
"Yuan family head, I believe you know your own son very well. My fourth sister's words should not be false, right?"
Listening to the murmurs from outside, Ling Luo Yi said.
Yuan Zhan remained silent for a long time. Of course, he knew what his son was like.
Yuan Chengjie, at such a young age, relied on the Yuan family's power to be arrogant and domineering in Yunyuan City, bullying men and women, and was extremely lustful, with no regard for gender. Many beautiful young men and women had suffered his humiliation.
"But my son is dead," Yuan Zhan said through gritted teeth, stating this fact.
He was not angry because his son was dead, but because his son was dead and had tarnished the Yuan family's reputation.
Yes, regardless of the reason, Ling's second young lady killed Yuan Chengjie, and that was a fact.
Ling Luo Yi suddenly smiled and said, "So the Yuan family head still wants compensation? Alright, Second Uncle, bring out the pill that the Yuan family head wants."
"Eldest Sister!" Ling Luo Qian shouted angrily.
Since they knew it wasn't their fault, why should they still compensate?
Ling Qi took out the pill from his storage ring and handed it to Ling Luo Yi, slowly saying, "This pill was left to you by your grandfather. How you handle it is your decision."
"Thank you, Second Uncle," Ling Luo Yi felt a sudden, inexplicable sadness.
Taking the pill, Ling Luo Yi suppressed her sadness and said to Yuan Zhan, "Is this the pill that the Yuan family head is referring to?"
"That's right, it's this pill," Yuan Zhan said excitedly. "Give me this pill, and this matter will be settled. I, the Yuan family head, will never mention it again."
"Good, I hope the Yuan family head keeps his word."
Ling Luo Yi was not verbose and directly threw the medicine bottle she was holding.
Yes, you read that right, she threw it directly.
Everyone was stunned. That was a fourth-grade pill. Even in the capital of the Tianwu Kingdom, it was not common. Even for a large family like the Yuan family, a fourth-grade pill was something only people of high status might possess.
This item, as compensation, was truly tempting.
Eldest Miss Ling was a prodigal.
This was the unanimous thought in everyone's mind at that moment.
The medicine bottle drew a perfect arc, and just as it was about to hit the ground, it was caught by Yuan Zhan, who had recovered from his shock.
Seeing this, Ling Luo Yi couldn't help but say in her heart: What a pity.
Yuan Zhan, upon receiving the medicine bottle, was eager to open it and examine it carefully.
The moment Yuan Zhan opened the medicine bottle, the medicinal fragrance of a fourth-grade pill spread out; it was indeed a true fourth-tier pill.
"Yuan family head, have you finished checking?" Ling Luo Yi asked with great concern.
Yuan Zhan did not mind Ling Luo Yi's subtle sarcasm and said with a laugh, "Eldest Miss Ling is indeed straightforward. Then, this matter is settled."
After speaking, Yuan Zhan put away the medicine bottle and prepared to leave with his men.
"When did I say you could leave?"
As soon as Ling Luo Yi spoke, everyone's gaze fell on her, including the Yuan family members.
"What does Eldest Miss Ling mean?" Yuan Zhan asked.