In the Dragon Palace Hotel, Li Xiaotian had been accompanying Tian Fu for a reunion. In reality, Li Xiaotian paid no mind to the fact that the Li family and other major families were searching for him.
Of course, to avoid worrying everyone, Li Xiaotian did not tell Ye Qingmei and Fang Yuan that he had crippled Li Chaoyue.
That evening, as Fang Yuan was happily playing with Tian Tian, she suddenly received a call from Zhao Lu. She frowned and did not answer.
But the phone kept ringing.
"Grandma, whose call is it?" Tian Tian asked curiously. Ye Qingmei beside her was also somewhat curious.
"It's Zhao Lu. I guess the Zhao family wants to do something again," Fang Yuan said with a frown. She didn't want to answer calls from the Zhao family.
"You should still answer it and see what they want," Ye Qingmei advised.
Fang Yuan took a deep breath and answered Zhao Lu's call.
"Hello, Aunt Fang, where are you?" Zhao Lu breathed a sigh of relief when the call was connected. As long as Fang Yuan answered, she would have a way to trick her.
"Zhao Lu, I'm out. Is there something you need?" Fang Yuan asked with a frown.
"It's like this, Aunt Fang. Grandpa regrets it and wants Qingmei to join our family genealogy, without any conditions. After you left, Grandpa thought about it all night and felt that his rules were too strict before. There shouldn't be so many rules between family members," Zhao Lu said with a smile. She didn't believe that Fang Yuan and Ye Qingmei would not be tempted by the Zhao family's identity.
Fang Yuan was overjoyed at first, but then she became puzzled. She knew the Zhao family patriarch's personality. Why had he suddenly changed his attitude?
"Zhao Lu, you also know that Qingmei has never wanted to join the Zhao family," Fang Yuan said.
"Oh, Aunt Fang, we are all family. Grandpa said that it's okay if Qingmei doesn't want to join the Zhao family. He just wants to properly meet his granddaughter and great-granddaughter," Zhao Lu said, deliberately feigning a dejected tone and adding softly.
"My grandfather's health has been diagnosed with problems. The doctor said he doesn't have much time left, so Grandpa wants to see our Zhao family reunited and harmonious."
"What? What's wrong with father's health?" Fang Yuan was immediately startled. After all, he was her father-in-law. Although he was usually a bit rigid, he hadn't mistreated his family members.
"Zhao Lu, how is Grandpa? Is it serious?" Fang Yuan was flustered and her suspicion eased.
"Grandpa is fine for now. He just wants to see you. He said that no matter what sister Qingmei chooses, the Zhao family will open its doors to her and welcome her home anytime," Zhao Lu said, barely suppressing a smile.
Hearing this, Fang Yuan's eyes instantly turned red. She quickly nodded and said, "Okay, I'll bring Qingmei back right away. We'll be back immediately."
"Alright, Aunt Fang, call me in advance before you get home, and I'll come out to pick you up," Zhao Lu said, then hung up.
At this moment, in the Zhao family's hall, everyone was watching Zhao Lu make the phone call, especially the Zhao patriarch, whose expression was very displeased.
This girl actually lied to Fang Yuan, saying he didn't have much time left. This made him feel very uncomfortable.
Seeing the patriarch's expression, Zhao Lu knew what he was thinking. She walked over with a smile, hugged the patriarch's arm, and said with a smile.
"Grandpa, isn't this to lure Li Xiaotian out? And although our Zhao family is doing this, it also has benefits."
"If our Zhao family succeeds in this matter, our cooperation with the Li family, Zhang family, and others on other projects will be much smoother. Moreover, with this relationship, if our Zhao family encounters difficulties in the future, they won't stand by idly."
"So, this matter is very beneficial to our Zhao family. As for reputation, what is reputation? Everyone in the capital knows about that incident with the Li family back then, yet the Li family is still one of the three top aristocratic families in Da Qin?"
Only after Zhao Lu finished speaking did the patriarch's expression ease slightly. He wasn't unable to think of these reasons. After all, they were all aristocratic families, and no one wanted their scandals to spread.
"Father, I think Lu'er is right. To deal with a scoundrel like Li Xiaotian, we must use the methods of a scoundrel," said Zhao Tiancheng, the head of the Zhao family.
In the hall, the other members of the Zhao family also agreed. After all, everyone present harbored hatred towards Li Xiaotian, especially Zhao Wuneng and Zhao Tianlong.
One had his hand crippled by Li Xiaotian, and the other's wife was indifferent to him and his status in the family had plummeted.
"When they return, I will personally teach these two bitches a lesson!" Zhao Tianlong gritted his teeth and said.
On the other side, in the Dragon Palace Hotel, Fang Yuan hung up the phone, looking worried.
"I heard everything on the phone just now. If you want to go back, I and Tian Tian will accompany you," Ye Qingmei said. In fact, she had no feelings for the Zhao family at all, but she didn't want Fang Yuan to be in a difficult situation.
"Qingmei!" Fang Yuan's eyes were slightly red, and she didn't know what to say.
"I'll tell Xiaotian first, and then we'll set off," Ye Qingmei said.
"Xiaotian, I think we should forget it. You also know that Xiaotian forced his way into the Zhao family that day, and he must have a very bad impression of the Zhao family," Fang Yuan hesitated and said.
"Moreover, I guess the reason why the Zhao family hasn't come to trouble us yet is that the patriarch gave the order. Xiaotian was too impulsive that day, forcing his way into the Zhao family and making them lose face. Doesn't he know how powerful the Zhao family's influence is?"
Ye Qingmei frowned, somewhat hesitant.
Seeing this, Fang Yuan continued. She didn't want Li Xiaotian to know about this, mainly because she was worried that he would get impulsive again.
"We can go back to the Zhao family first and plead for Xiaotian. You and Xiaotian are too naive to know the power of the Zhao family, nor do you understand how much trouble you've caused."
Ye Qingmei nodded. The Zhao family in the capital. Xiaotian could have things go smoothly in Jiangnan, but it might not be the same in the capital as in Jiangnan.
"Don't worry, the patriarch seems to have changed his mind. After we go back, we'll say some nice words and ask them to spare Xiaotian. This way, your family can enter the Zhao family at any time from now on," Fang Yuan persuaded.
Fang Yuan had already decided in her heart that after returning, she would say some nice words to ask the Zhao family to spare Li Xiaotian and accept her daughter Qingmei, thus achieving a true family reunion.
After Fang Yuan's persuasion, Ye Qingmei gave up the idea of telling Li Xiaotian. The two of them took Tian Tian and left the Dragon Palace Hotel, heading towards the Zhao family.
At this time, outside the Zhao family, everything was as usual. However, inside the manor, there were many hidden bodyguards, and the Zhao family had already notified the Li family and other major families. Once Li Xiaotian appeared, the personnel from the other major families would immediately arrive.