43. Chapter 43: Scheming, Part 3

Miss Luo, today the Hen family has truly offended you! However, please rest assured that I will not shield my own kin. I shall handle this matter impartially and give you a proper explanation, Miss Luo!

Just as Luo Nongyou was about to speak to Luo Li, his voice was abruptly drowned out by Hen Ruochen. With a righteous expression, Hen Ruochen shouted toward the entrance: "Guards! Take the First Elder's wife and the Second Elder's wife down to the ancestral hall! Apply the family law for offending our distinguished guest today!"

With a grand wave of his hand toward Liu Mei and the First Madam, the guards stepped inside. But upon realizing that the culprits were none other than the First Madam and the Second Madam, expressions of hesitation immediately crossed their faces.

Though each had received a slap across the face, the First Madam and Liu Mei still wore arrogant looks, glaring threateningly and warningly at the guards entering the hall.

However, with a nod from both the First and Second Elders, the guards finally approached the two women with troubled expressions. "Respected madams, please come with us."

"Who do you think you are, speaking to me in such a tone? Do you not know that I am—"

"Enough, drag them out!" Seeing that his wife was still making such a fuss instead of quietly withdrawing from the hall, where any nominal punishment under family law could be quietly overlooked, she still had the audacity to throw her weight around here!

At the First Elder's stern shout, the First Madam and Liu Mei instantly clamped their mouths shut, daring not to bellow anymore. They began to weep silently, obediently letting the guards escort them away.

A shadow crossed Hen Ruochen's face. He had not expected the First Elder's influence in the Hen family to run so deep that even subordinates dared not touch the First Madam!

"Miss Luo, I am truly sorry for the immense grievance you have suffered. This old man..." The First Elder wore a sheepish expression. Having lived to such an advanced age, he never imagined he would have to apologize to a mere young girl.

Yet, despite the First Elder's respectful apology, Luo Li's expression did not soften in the slightest. She turned away, ignoring the Elder entirely, and fixed her gaze upon Hen Queqian.

Looking down, she discovered that Hen Queqian was cradling a flower in her hands. Luo Li's lips immediately pouted in disbelief as she asked, "Is this the apology gift you prepared for me?"

The flower was undeniably charming, there was no doubt about that. But right atop its lovely petals, a red fruit had somehow been crudely glued on. Luo Li was at a loss for words, hardly daring to believe her eyes, but...

Hearing Luo Li voice the question herself, Hen Queqian beamed with delight. She was finally spared the embarrassment of having to bring it up herself! She nodded repeatedly, "That's right, Luo Li! You truly are as clever as ice and snow, I simply adore you to death!"

Luo Li's lips twitched involuntarily. Before Hen Queqian had left, Luo Li had repeatedly and earnestly instructed her to get her a red fruit. Now that a red fruit was literally glued to the flower, if she still couldn't figure it out, she would truly have to be an utter fool!

Hen Queqian praised the creation enthusiastically, and with utmost warmth, thrust the bizarre, mismatched flower right into Luo Li's hands, shamelessly singing her own praises:

"You have no idea, this flower represents years of my painstaking effort before it finally bloomed..."

"Speak human!" Luo Li felt a sudden urge to slap Hen Queqian to death on the spot. Still, she wanted to see just how far Hen Queqian could go in praising this utterly ordinary flower to the heavens!