Fang Yuan brought Ye Qingmei and Tian Tian to the Zhao family's old residence. Zhao Lu was waiting for them at the main gate. A glint flashed in her eyes as she quickly walked over, taking Fang Yuan's hand.
"Auntie, you and Sister Qingmei are finally here."
"How is Father's health?" Fang Yuan asked anxiously.
"Don't worry, let's go home first," Zhao Lu said casually, then pulled Fang Yuan towards the Zhao family gate.
As Fang Yuan and Ye Qingmei entered, a 'bang' sounded behind them as the gate slammed shut, startling them both.
Zhao Lu then released Fang Yuan and turned to face them, slowly backing away.
"Zhao Lu, what's wrong? What's going on?" Fang Yuan asked, a bad feeling creeping into her heart.
"What are you doing? Heh!" Zhao Lu sneered, a hint of contempt in her eyes. She then took out a wet wipe to clean her hands and shouted orders.
"Someone, arrest these two bitches and this little bastard!"
Instantly, a team of bodyguards emerged and advanced towards Fang Yuan and Ye Qingmei.
Seeing this, Fang Yuan and Ye Qingmei's faces turned pale. They both realized they had been tricked and quickly turned to flee.
However, being women with a young girl, they were caught by the bodyguards before they could reach the gate.
"Zhao Lu, what are you doing? Are you crazy? I'm your aunt!" Fang Yuan shouted, while Ye Qingmei, holding a terrified Tian Tian who was on the verge of tears, glared at Zhao Lu with anger.
Zhao Lu scoffed at the mention of being an aunt and cast a disdainful glance at Fang Yuan before saying, "The moment you and that ant, Li Xiaotian, left the Zhao family, you ceased to be part of our Zhao family!"
"Is it just for that? I know I did wrong, but Qingmei and the child are innocent. You can arrest me, but let the mother and daughter go!" Fang Yuan pleaded, her heart utterly disappointed with the Zhao family.
"Hmph! You wretched woman, what's the use of regretting it now? Did you not think of the consequences when you left the Zhao family?" Zhao Tianlong emerged, his face ashen as he looked at Fang Yuan.
"Brother Long!" Fang Yuan was stunned. Her husband, Zhao Tianlong, was verbally abusing her like this, and she found it difficult to accept.
"Shut up! Fang Yuan, our marital bond is broken. From now on, you are no longer a member of the Zhao family!" Zhao Tianlong said with a cold smile.
Fang Yuan's face turned deathly pale. If not for the two bodyguards supporting her, she might have collapsed. But then, Fang Yuan regained her senses and said with a pleading expression.
"Then why are you arresting us? Qingmei is your daughter. She's done nothing wrong, so why are you arresting her too? Brother Long, I beg you, can you let Qingmei and her child go? They are innocent."
"Slap!" A resounding slap echoed. Zhao Tianlong struck Fang Yuan across the face and then sneered.
"What are you? We are arresting this unfilial daughter and her bastard. As for you, you're just collateral!"
"You probably don't know yet? The trouble that ant Li Xiaotian has caused. Yesterday, he crippled the limbs of Li Chaoyue from the Li family, then broke the arms of disciples from several prominent families like the Zhang and Sun families, as well as our Wu Neng."
"He has already incurred the wrath of many in the capital. Right now, countless people want him dead!"
Boom! The words hit Fang Yuan like a bolt from the blue. She was completely stunned. Li Xiaotian crippled the young master of the Li family, Li Chaoyue? And broke the arms of disciples from several other prominent families?
Was this Li Xiaotian insane? Was he seeking death in such a manner!
Thinking this, Fang Yuan's heart filled with worry for Ye Qingmei. Her own daughter had been so easily implicated by her husband.
Ye Qingmei's face was also pale, her heart filled with shock and a chill. Li Xiaotian had caused such immense trouble in less than three days since arriving in the capital!
"Hmph! Take them to the main hall!" Zhao Tianlong said with a cold smile.
Fang Yuan and Ye Qingmei were escorted by bodyguards to the main hall. During this, Fang Yuan was utterly dejected. Li Xiaotian had offended so many people; it was over, over. She might be fine afterwards, but her daughter Ye Qingmei would definitely be implicated.
In the Zhao family's main hall, Old Master Zhao sat in the main seat, coldly observing Fang Yuan and Ye Qingmei as they were brought in. The other members of the Zhao family watched the scene with cold smiles.
"Hmph! One is a bitch who abandoned the family! The other is an unfilial daughter who betrayed her ancestors! Today, I will teach you the rules of our Zhao family!"
Old Master Zhao declared with palpable anger.
"Kneel! Tiancheng, carry out the family law!"
"Yes!" Zhao Tiancheng, the head of the Zhao family, quickly responded.
Concurrently, the bodyguards escorting Fang Yuan and Ye Qingmei forced them to kneel.
"No! Father, you can't do this. I haven't done anything wrong, and Qingmei is innocent. She's not even a member of the Zhao family yet. You can't enforce family law on her!" Fang Yuan cried out in disbelief. She never imagined that the Zhao family patriarch would be so unreasonable, not only enforcing family law on her but also on her daughter.
"Shut up! Why aren't you kneeling quickly?" Zhao Tianlong scolded. At the same time, a bodyguard behind Fang Yuan applied pressure, and Fang Yuan immediately knelt on the ground.
Ye Qingmei struggled hard, refusing to kneel. She looked at Old Master Zhao, her face filled with anger, and said, "On what grounds do you demand I kneel? You abandoned me long ago, and I have nothing to do with the Zhao family anymore. I am not a Zhao, and I never will be!"
"Presumptuous! Speak!" Old Master Zhao's eyes widened as he shouted orders.
"Slap! Slap!" Zhao Tianlong stepped forward and slapped Ye Qingmei twice, once on each cheek, then yelled angrily.
"You unfilial daughter, how dare you talk back to your grandfather? Why aren't you kneeling quickly!"
"Don't hit Mommy. Wuwu. Grandpa, don't hit Mommy. Mommy didn't do anything wrong." Tian Tian's eyes welled up with tears as she cried loudly, seeing her mother being hit.
"Tian Tian, don't cry. Tian Tian, don't be afraid," Ye Qingmei said with red eyes. At this moment, how she wished Li Xiaotian was by her side.
"Still not kneeling?" Zhao Tianlong roared, glaring fiercely at Ye Qingmei.
Ye Qingmei's face was filled with resentment. She tightly hugged her daughter Tian Tian, completely ignoring them.
Zhao Tianlong's anger grew as he saw this. Just as he was about to act again, a figure approached. It was Zhao Lu.
"Heh, can these two bitches do as they please on my Zhao family's territory?" Zhao Lu sneered, slowly walking over to Ye Qingmei and then abruptly snatching Tian Tian away.
"Tian Tian!" Ye Qingmei cried out, trying to get her daughter back, but she was held by the bodyguards and couldn't break free.
"Let go of me! Let go of me, you bad person! Wuwu!" Tian Tian wailed.
A cruel glint flashed in Zhao Lu's eyes. She reached out and fiercely pinched Tian Tian's cheek, causing Tian Tian to let out a piercing scream.