Yu Yan had already spoken up to here, the rest was up to the other person. Afterwards, she showed Zixi to the door to think about things on his own. She wanted him to come over to her side of his own accord and not force him.
Forcing someone would always lead to betrayal in the long term but if he joined her of his own violation, then they would be akin to ants on the same rope and he wouldn't dare betray her or have second thoughts.
It had been two days since her talk with Xun Zixi. She had thought he would come to her on his own, even if not for himself then atleast for his twin. Since the time limit she had given him was long over, she didn't want to wait for something that wasn't happening anytime soon.
She went down to the receiving hall and called all the household staff for a meeting and everyone had presented themselves promptly.
She looked at all these people and knew that every one of them would work under her in the near future.
"I have called you all here to tell you that no matter how trusted or favoured you are within these walls, at the end of the day don't try to overreach your station." She started off.
"Miss, what do you mean?" One of the clever ones asked, leading the talk down the path she wanted.
"You have amongst you people who have forgotten that they are serving the Yu family." Yu Yan replied with an angry growl.
Everyone showed confused faces and looked at each other suspiciously, trying to save their own skin.
"My Elder sister was kidnapped a few days ago and I had someone investigate it. I thought who had such guts to entangle themselves with the Yu family but the culprits seemed to be near at hand." She continued.
Zixi knew that this interloper must have prepared something for him and Xun Mei but he couldn't be bothered to tear apart the facade.
Today was the day he had lost his family all those years ago so, he didn't really have the heart to start a blame game with anyone. If she did something, he'll just let it go. He had made a promise to himself that he would never fight or quarrel with someone on this day and he hadn't broken his word till date.
This girl wouldn't push him to break it as she wasn't someone important enough to make him break his oath. If he was asked to leave, he'll simply leave.
Everyone knew that this was Miss Yu Yan taking up the fight to the Eldest Miss's doorsteps of her own accord. She had decided to throw away any semblance of family ties and loyalty out the door and would make it difficult for Miss Yu Yue. They just had to make sure that none of the sparks that would start flying between the two wouldn't land on themselves.
Yu Yan was delighted at heart when she saw everyone with their heads bowed in front of her. This was what she wanted, she wanted to have enough power to trample upon the exalted assistance of Yu Yue.
She carried on, "Elder sister has two close aides, one of whom lives in the main residence compound. He has the complete information regarding her schedule daily and generally, she doesn't leave the house without guards. So, how could it be that the only time she went without guards was the time that something happened? Was it just happenstance? Obviously, we could think so but there are no mere coincidences in life. That day Xun Zixi wasn't with her and he had called the head of security at home to inquire about the eldest miss's whereabouts"
She turned towards the head of security and asked, "Tell everyone about the talk you had with Zixi that day."
"He asked me if Eldest Miss was home when I said no, he asked whom she had taken along with herself. I told him that she wanted to go out on her own incognito and afterwards he asked me to inform him when she returned. That's all."
The Head of Security had been working at the Yu residence for so long and didn't want to take any sides so he just reported the things as they were so that no matter the outcome, later on, he would have a retreat route for himself.
Before anybody could say anything, the doors to the receiving hall opened. There was a beautiful girl holding a charming guy's arm and laughing happily at whatever he had said. The guy seemed to be delighted by her laughter.
Nobody had thought that the drama currently unfolding would change its genre from a suspense thriller to romance in under a minute. Moreover, the main characters also seemed to have changed.
The people standing at the door were Eldest Miss and the guy most probably was Second Young Master of the Li family because no one except him had ever been able to make the young mistress laugh like that or to lower her guard to not notice her surroundings. Everyone shivered at the thought.
Not because the Eldest Miss was here but because the other person with her was the devil's own reincarnate. He seemed to be happy - go - lucky person in front of miss, someone who wouldn't harm even a single fly but behind her back, he more than made up for it.
All the old servants remembered how he had beaten up kids and servants alike who would even look at Miss Yu Yue with a wrong look. It seemed Miss Yu Yan would have to eat a loss and lose a layer or two of her skin today.
Many of them had thought that Miss Yu Yue was uninformed about the happenings but now looking at the person standing with her, it was them who turned out to be the fools.
That Young Master would do anything for Miss and she herself wouldn't have to say or do anything. It seemed the legitimate daughter was more cunning and therefore more dangerous between the two sisters.
Zixi watched as Yueyue and Li Rong stood there one of them laughing without any constraints and the other indulging her in her laughter. Today he didn't even have the heart to be sarcastic or even spare any thoughts to Li Rong. He just turned his head away to not spike his own blood pressure.
Su Li already knew what would happen and that was why she brought Li Rong home. One needed to have a back - up if one wanted to duel with another person. She had already explained the ins and outs of everything to Li Rong and he had unhesitatingly agreed to help her.
She was insecure in her own heart about all of this and Su Li knew that if today Zixi was asked to leave the Yu residence, both him and herself would be done for. She didn't want him to leave and she didn't want to disappoint Yu Jian about loosing and not sheltering a close aide. The only person she could ask help from was Li Rong.
Though Su Li herself didn't know him, only had the information of his time spent together with the original, nevertheless, she felt a strange kind of inborn trust towards this person. As if no matter what, he would help her - her own self Su Li and not because she was Yu Yue.
Moreover, she had the intention to get close to him and understand why she got this kind of feeling from him. Luckily he had agreed without a question and she felt at ease in her heart.
Yu Yan hadn't thought she would be disturbed in the middle of her talk but when she saw the two people standing there, it was as if they were a match made in heaven.
The girl looked gorgeous in a Pastel Pink dress and was leaning on the guy for support. The guy was wearing a handsomely tailored Royal Blue tuxedo and looked effortlessly elegant. She didn't recognise him from any of the people she had met since arriving in the capital city but from the closeness of the two, it could be inferred that they were extremely close.
Yu Yan wanted to know the origins and background of this guy. From a single look, it could be seen that he was someone who could call forth the winds and the rains with a single flip of his hand. She wanted this guy to be on her side. Thinking up to here, Yu Yan stood up from her chair and walked towards the two to welcome them inside.
"Sister, I was just talking about you with everyone else. Come inside" and then she turned seamlessly towards the guy with a smile, "and this is?"
Yu Yan hadn't thought that silence would be her answer. Neither Yu Yue, not the guy spoke, leaving her to stand there awkwardly for a few seconds. Then the guy turned towards Yueyue, "Princess, this is?"
She hadn't thought they would be so close that he would call Yu Yue with a nickname. "She is my sister. Yu Yan."
Just as Yu Yan raised her hand towards him for a handshake, he gave her a quick once over and seemed surprised, "Oh, when did the late Mrs Yu have another child? I spent most of my childhood here. How come I never saw her or even heard a word about her?"
Yu Yue seemed to be embarrassed at his line of questioning and ducked her head. Moments later, it was as if the guy had an epiphany. "Oh! Don't tell me she is someone who was born on the wrong side of the blanket?"
The wrong side of the blanket was an expression used by the high and mighty of the society to address the illegitimate child without using offensive, crude words. It seemed to be a better term than an illegitimate or spurious child but in reality was a mocking, derogatory term used sarcastically to show someone their place.
Yu Yan hadn't thought the guy who looked so refined and helpful would use such a callous term for her. Instantly her eyes filled with tears as if she had been bullied horribly and couldn't speak up on her own behalf.
Any sane man would have come forward to comfort her or simply say sorry for his words and say that it was an unintentional slip of the tongue. But to her disappointment, the guy looked at her with a raised eyebrow as if he was enjoying her discomfort.
Then he said to her, "Oh please, do you think we all are herbivores? These tricks of starting your waterworks at a moment's notice might work on others but to us, they are nothing other than paltry parlour tricks. Moreover, don't assume that you look a dainty little miss with your tears akin to pearls that anybody's heart will sway. Rather you look like a snot-nosed brat who is throwing a tantrum because you didn't get your way. Now leave, looking at you is enough to spoil my mood."
In contrast, he turned to Yu Yue with a warm, dazzling smile, "Princess let's go to the gardens and do ask someone to bring some refreshments. You had me drive you through the capital all day long and didn't even let me have my lunch. I am hungry and famished."
Su Li asked one of the kitchen staff to bring pastries and drinks to the rear garden. She didn't put the altercation that happened just now in her mind.
"You go and wait for the food to arrive. I'll go and change my clothes before I rejoin you."
As soon as Yu Yue went up and closed the door of her room, the atmosphere of the receiving hall changed.
The guy turned towards Yu Yan and she could see immense hostility and hatred in his eyes for her and his words didn't leave her any face. "Girl, you are too big for your britches but careful, you don't fall flat on your face. Another thing, when we entered, you said you were talking about the princess to everyone present but what right or status do you have to have a say in her matters or life."
His subsequent words were even more callous, "Remember it wouldn't take a minute for princess to squash you like the bug you are. It's just she doesn't want to drop down to your level so keep yourself to your station in life and be content or I wouldn't mind showing you the dangers of coveting someone else's position. Also, stay away from her close aides. Don't think I can't see the jealousy and greediness behind your eyes. Zixi wasn't the one behind her kidnapping.'
Yu Yan tried to explain herself, "I was just worried about sister..."
He interrupted her words, "I was the one who brought her back to the residence that day so I think I have a better understanding of the circumstances that day than you and if you are really so worried about her, let me inform you my maternal uncle is the Deputy Police Commissioner of the city and we have already met him and explained everything that happened that day. So, whoever was behind the writing on the wall will be brought forward in no time. So you keep your nose out of it."
After that, he gave her Yu Yan a thorough look from her head to her toes but the only emotion visible in his eyes was mockery and disdain and with a sardonic smile he said, "If it was as you say and Zixi was involved, he would be handed over to the police. If he wasn't, I can only assume that you want to shake things up in the family. Hmmm"
He didn't even wait to hear her response and just looked at the household staff standing there and gave all of them a sharp stare with a ferocious glint in his eyes. "Anyone who has any kind of outrageous thoughts should wash their necks and be ready for the axe to fall down."
Finished with his words he directly left for the rear garden with a steady pace as if everything and everyone standing there until now were just some clowns jumping in front of him.
As soon as the servants heard Second Young Master Li's words, they felt fear from deep within their bones for this guy's means and methods and scattered like startled birds in the blink of an eye.
Only Yu Yan and Xun Zixi were left standing facing each other in the huge receiving hall which had been full just a few minutes ago. Yu Yan couldn't believe how things had derailed to such an extent.
She saw Zixi watching that new guy leave and turn towards her with a contempt-filled gaze. Afterwards, he said "Good day" and left her standing all alone in the spacious receiving room.
Belatedly Yu Yan realised that no one had answered her question about the guy's identity.