The subordinate didn't say much upon seeing this and simply left.
Meanwhile, Zhou Xuan found himself surrounded by Fang Ruolin and her brother.
"Zhou Xuan, you've offended the Qin family. We thought they were targeting us, I'm sorry!"
"But now that things have turned out this way, you should tell your people to be careful!"
"Yes! Brother Xuan, the Qin family is acting very domineeringly. If you treat them like this today, they definitely won't let your people go!" Fang Linfan quickly chimed in after his sister spoke.
Zhou Xuan understood their meaning.
As the nominal head of the Five Great Families, the Qin family had lost so much face today; they would surely seek to retaliate, or how would the families following them perceive their authority?
Zhou Xuan noticed Fang Ruolin looking at Baili Gongsun and the others, her intention clear.
"Yun Tian, notify your family to consolidate within the clan or at places with strong backgrounds. These few days might not be peaceful!"
Baili Yun Tian nodded upon hearing Zhou Xuan's words, recognizing the seriousness of the situation, and immediately contacted his family without hesitation.
"It's all my fault!" Lu Ling'er looked at her own attire, feeling a bit guilty. She thought if she hadn't dressed so beautifully, today's incident wouldn't have happened. She originally wanted to support Zhou Xuan, but things turned out contrary to her wishes, and she felt remorseful.
"Sister-in-law, this makes things difficult for us!"
"Yes! The other party was clearly looking for trouble. How is it your fault?" Fang Ruolin and her brother quickly stepped forward to comfort her.
Zhou Xuan looked at the self-blaming and distressed Ling'er, his heart aching. He pulled his beloved into his arms, offering her warmth and support. He softly said, "Ling'er, if you hadn't spoken up, do you think they would have let us go?" Zhou Xuan didn't comfort her directly but changed the topic.
"We are newcomers. How can the Qin family let us go!"
"Brother Xuan is right. The Qin family came with a purpose. Even if they didn't find fault then, they would have appeared later. You cannot avoid them!"
"Unless we refuse to take you in!" Fang Linfan joined in.
Fang Ruolin also came over to comfort Lu Ling'er. "In large families, girls are often pawns, and people easily find fault with them. I've encountered this many times. Ling'er, you need to adapt!" As a young lady from a prominent family, Fang Ruolin was accustomed to such matters. Lu Ling'er, however, knew little about major families. But as Zhou Xuan's girlfriend, Fang Ruolin wanted Lu Ling'er to realize the cruelty of this world sooner.
"Ah! This!" Lu Ling'er's eyes widened, unsure how to face such a scene. She also recalled the troublesome matters within her own family. She had originally thought there were few prominent families, but hearing Fang Ruolin's words, she finally understood that she was too kind towards the world.
"Don't worry, I'm here!" Zhou Xuan didn't say much more, holding Lu Ling'er's tender little hand and speaking with conviction.
"Mmm!" Lu Ling'er looked at Zhou Xuan's confident smile, and the gloom in her heart cleared. She nodded and followed him.
"The Hong family presents Grandpa Fang with a pair of thousand-year-old walnuts! Wishing Grandpa Fang longevity as enduring as the Southern Mountains and fortune as vast as the Eastern Sea!"
"The Li family presents Grandpa Fang with ten pills of Rejuvenation Elixir. Wishing Grandpa Fang longevity as enduring as the Southern Mountains and fortune as vast as the Eastern Sea!"
"The Tang family presents Grandpa Fang with a pair of thousand-year-old corals! Wishing Grandpa Fang longevity as enduring as the Southern Mountains and fortune as vast as the Eastern Sea!"
As Zhou Xuan and his group entered, the announcements of gifts immediately rang out. The announcement of gifts was a way for smaller families to display their attitude towards the Fang family and showcase their wealth. Therefore, this segment was extremely important. Fang Wanhai was hosting the banquet behind this courtyard, indicating its significance. This was a display of the Fang family's status in society. Currently, with the Qin family cornering the Fang family, those following the Fang family felt immense pressure, and this was the moment to demonstrate their loyalty. Connections were also a form of strength.
Hearing the modest gifts announced below, Fang Wanhai was very pleased, feeling that although his family was currently weaker, their influence remained strong, and the attendees had prepared good gifts. However, the Qin family patriarch, watching Fang Wanhai so pleased, couldn't feel the same. He turned to look at Zhou Xuan. Having been personally invited by Fang Wanhai, he knew Zhou Xuan would have to present a considerable gift; otherwise, it would be a slight to Zhou Xuan.
"What has young Zhou prepared? As a divine doctor, shouldn't you display your medical skills?" Qin Patriarch said, smiling as he looked at Zhou Xuan.
Fang Ruolin and her brother, as well as Fang Wanhai, turned pale upon hearing Qin Patriarch's words. They knew Zhou Xuan's background, meaning his only offering would be his medical skills. Qin Patriarch's words were precisely to block any excuses Zhou Xuan might have. They knew this was the Qin family's retaliation, to trouble Zhou Xuan with gift-giving.
"Haha! Zhou Xuan is my life-saving benefactor. It is our family's honor to have him here! How can I ask nephew Zhou Xuan to present me with a gift? That would be belittling me!" Old Master Fang, a seasoned elder, knew how to prevent the Qin family from succeeding and immediately stepped forward. Fang Ruolin and her brother breathed a sigh of relief seeing their grandfather step up. They knew Zhou Xuan well; if not for his medical skills, he truly had nothing to present. If he were forced to present a gift, it would be embarrassing, and they hoped it wouldn't happen.
"Haha! Indeed, saving Wan Hai's life is a boundless merit! To demand a gift is a bit too strict! I was too presumptuous!" Seeing Fang Wanhai intervene, Qin Patriarch immediately feigned retreat. However, seated next to Qin Patriarch, Sun Wanli, the patriarch of the Sun family, immediately spoke up with a malicious glint.
"Although saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda, for Master Fang, who is the head of the Five Great Families, to refuse any gift seems a bit stingy!" Sun Wanli said with a grin at Zhou Xuan. "Even a couplet would be a sign of sincerity, no? A small gift carries great meaning!" Sun Wanli was very accommodating, raising Fang's family status slightly before suggesting the casual offering of a couplet. This contrast, both belittling Zhou Xuan and humiliating the Fang family, was profound. The Fang family, as one of the Five Great Families of Shangjing, had a reputation that spread nationwide. For their patriarch to receive a couplet as a gift from an unknown individual would be a huge joke, mocked by people across the country. Sun Wanli's single suggestion of a couplet directly pushed Zhou Xuan and the Fang family into the spotlight of public opinion.
"You!" Fang Wanhai hadn't expected Sun Wanli to jump out at this moment. They knew the Sun family was close to the Qin family, but today they realized the Sun family was directly siding with the Qin family. This was a declaration from both families against the Fang family. The other two families also changed their expressions, looking at Qin Patriarch and then at Sun Wanli. Internally, their emotions surged.