The old man’s face was filled with an indescribable terror.
“Young Master Liya.”
“You mustn’t speak such nonsense. Miss Liya is your elder sister. Anyone in our Royal City who dares to cause her any trouble is treated like a golden egg.”
The old man, in his flustered explanation, was already sweating profusely.
Everyone in the Royal City knew Liya’s disposition. The only son of her family was doted on by the Chief Financial Officer, acting so arrogantly and without regard for consequences.
Though an external minister, he lived a far more comfortable life than the princes within the inner city.
When his temper flared, no one could stop him. Even if this was the inner city, he dared to spill blood here.
Seeing the old man sweating from his head in panic, Liya maintained his stern expression.
“Then don’t stop me!”
“Young Master Liya, I…” The old man moved his lips for a long time, finally realizing he couldn’t dissuade him. If this ancestor continued, he might cause a scene in the city. With that thought, he could only sigh, “Fine, I won’t stop you. I’ll accompany you, then. I’ll wait outside the palace gates, and I’ll escort you out of the city. Please understand us servants; we can’t bear the responsibility of letting you enter the city without authorization.”
“I’ll grant you that favor. I agree.”
Liya nodded slightly with a cold expression, but inwardly, he couldn't help but chuckle.
It was intentional!
From the very beginning, he hadn’t thought his sister would be bullied in this city. He had merely done this because the old man’s nagging had become too annoying.
Liya crossed his arms and strode forward, the old man trailing behind him.
“You can wait for me here.”
About fifteen minutes later, Liya arrived at a villa and gestured towards the old man.
“Young Master Liya, how long do you plan to stay here?” the old man asked, his eyes betraying his attempt to probe. Liya frowned slightly, “Half an hour. I’ll only stay for half an hour, alright?”
Liya flicked his hand dismissively, grumbling.
“Honestly, I even have time restrictions when visiting my own sister. I should never have let my sister marry into this wretched place. You people in the inner city are so troublesome.”
Such disrespectful words, if spoken by anyone else, would have invited a death sentence.
Coming from Liya, the old man could only bow and scrape with a fawning smile.
“Young Master Liya, we agreed on half an hour.”
“I know,” Liya said, flicking his hand away with clear disdain. As he turned, a bright smile spread across his face. “Sister, I’ve come to see you.”
Holding a delicate jar of preserved fruit, Liya ran in with a beaming smile.
The maids cleaning in the courtyard were startled by Liya’s appearance. After exchanging glances, one of them secretly slipped away, while the others gathered around.
“Young Master Liya, you’re here.”
“Hey, Xiao Chun, Xiao Xia, you’re both here.” Liya grinned, pulling out two bottles of preserved fruit and placing one in each maid’s hand. “These are for you.”
The maids who received the jars repeatedly thanked him, and Liya waved his hand.
“Is my sister in the house?”
“Uh… Madam… she’s not at the villa.” Xiao Chun, with her baby face, hesitated for a moment before whispering. Liya’s brows furrowed upon hearing this. “My sister isn’t at the villa? How is that possible? I messaged my sister two hours ago, telling her I’d be here at this time to celebrate her birthday. How could she not be here?”
A short while later, Liya noticed the expressions in the maids’ eyes and his face darkened.
“What happened to my sister?”
The maids who were questioned lowered their heads, unsure how to respond. Liya’s suspicion grew, and he grabbed one of the maids by the shoulder.
“Tell me, what exactly happened to my sister!”
“Young Master Liya, Madam is truly not at the villa. Please… please go back.” Xiao Chun, with her baby face, forced herself to overcome her fear and stammered out a complete sentence.
“Impossible.”
At this moment, Liya’s face was devoid of any smile.
He knew his sister very well.
When they were children, he and his sister had been inseparable. A few years ago, after his sister married into the royal family, they saw less and less of each other. Her greatest anticipation was for Liya to celebrate her birthday with her.
Never in any year had she been absent from the villa.
Furthermore, he wasn't truly a dandy; his dandyism was an act. Conversely, he was quite perceptive, and judging by the maids’ expressions, something was amiss.
“Get out of the way!”
Recalling a possible scenario, Liya shouted sternly.
“Young Master Liya…” The baby-faced maid seemed to want to persuade him further, but she saw Liya’s eyes already turning slightly red. “I want you to get out of the way. I don’t want your sister’s villa to be stained with blood. If you don’t want to die, then scram!”
Liya’s eyes were now bloodshot, and a violent aura emanated from him.
The maids blocking his path didn’t know what to do. Just as Liya was about to erupt in fury, the door to the villa slowly opened, and Liya, dressed in ornate attire, emerged from the room.
“What are you doing? Are you throwing a tantrum in your sister’s villa too?”
“Sister?!” Upon seeing Liya, the murderous aura emanating from him instantly dissipated. His gloomy face was replaced by a smile as he rushed over. “You’re here! Why did that maid say you weren’t, and why did she hesitate to let me in to see you? I thought something had happened to you.”
“What could possibly happen to your sister?”
Liya’s eyes were filled with tenderness as she reached out and ruffled his hair.
“I was just changing my clothes inside.”
“If you were changing, you should have just said so. We’ve been together since we were kids, there’s nothing you can’t tell me,” Liya pouted, then his face instantly broke into a mischievous smile. “Sister, guess what I brought you this time?”
“What is it?”
“Hehehe, look!”
Liya, his eyes full of smiles, produced two bottles of preserved fruit. Before Liya could respond, he preemptively said,
“Don’t underestimate these preserves. These are absolutely top-tier, the best of the best. I bought them from a friend. The taste is exquisite.”
“What my brother gives me is always the best.”
“Of course!”
Liya raised his head proudly, then removed the magic seal on top of the jar and conjured a spoon.
“Sister, try it.”
Upon hearing this, Liya’s expression froze. Fortunately, she quickly regained her composure, shook her head with a faint smile.
“Sister doesn’t have much of an appetite right now. You can leave this jar here, and I’ll try it tonight and give you my feedback, alright?”
“Just one bite, Sister. Just one bite, and you won’t be able to stop.”
“I…”
“Try it, just try it.” Liya looked at her with the expectant eyes of a child begging. Liya fell silent for a moment, then a smile also appeared in her eyes. “Then I’ll try it.”
With that, Liya took the spoon and scooped out a piece of fruit.
Liya watched intently.
“Hiss…” Liya, opening her mouth slightly, involuntarily inhaled sharply. Then, she quickly composed herself, replaced by an expression of enjoyment as she slowly chewed. “Mmm, this flavor is indeed very good, little brother. Where did you get…”
Liya, her face full of bliss, slowly turned her head. But when she saw Liya’s expression, she could no longer speak.
“Sister, who made it.” Liya’s eyes welled up with tears, his face calmly looking into Liya’s eyes. “Who, is it Old Seven? Did he hit you?”
“Little brother, Sister…”
“I’m asking you, is it him? Is it Old Seven!” Suddenly, Liya’s tears burst forth, his eyes red. “He hit you, didn’t he? Did he hit you!”
“Little brother…”
Liya, holding the jar in her hands, threw it to the ground with a ‘bang,’ shattering it. She roared in fury.
“Damn it, I’ll kill him!”