Looking at Yi Mei, Yi Lei Fang knew what Yi Mei was thinking. Huh, in your dreams, Yi Lei Fang snickered inwardly.
Having no other choice, Yi Mei calmed her voice and obediently said, "If it is best for the clan then I will accept the marriage proposal. U-unless Young Master Mu doesn't mind."
Yi Mei peeked at Mu Ling and when she saw him returning her glance she bowed her head to hide her blushing cheeks.
Having witnessed Yi Mei's coquettish display, Yi Lei Fang wanted to gag. Sadly, Yi Lei Fang had to portray a weak and a heart-broken maiden in front of her audience.
Mu Ling turned his vision from Yi Mei to Yi Lei Fang and then to Chief Yi Yang before he monotonously replied, "As long as the alliance still stands then I do not mind accepting Second Young Miss Yi as my concubine."
Now with that the tense atmosphere had somewhat calmed; however, there were some people in the hall who felt conflicted with the outcome. That was Yi Yang, Madame Yu, Yi Cheng, and Yi Xing-fu along with the loyal Yi servants and maids. They were happy that Yi Lei Fang will not be married to that scumbag but at the same time they did not want to see Yi Lei Fang's painful expression and have her reputation go further down the drain. Yi Lei Fang was already known as a shemale and now another title will be gossiped around in the village or even the other clans as the abandoned woman.
Truthfully, Yi Lei Fang did not care about the whole engagement event and if she was to hear what the siblings, the parents, and the servants were thinking, she would have laughed her ass off. Reputation? She won't be in this world any longer to care about it. She will leave right after she completes her missions anyway. Abandoned woman? She was already abandoned a long time ago by her adopted family and her ex-fiance.
Chief Yi Yang look at Yi Lei Fang with pitiful eyes. With no other choice, he let out a heavy sigh and said, "Since my Fang'er has suggested this, I will comply with her decision. Let's exchange the token of our agreement. Chief Mu Yat-sen please, if you will."
Chief Mu Yat-sen signaled Mu Ling to hand the token agreement to Yi Lei Fang as Yi Lei Fang did the same as well.
Then the token agreements were exchanged between Mu Ling and Yi Mei to complete the engagement.
"Okay, since it has been a long journey for our guests, Chief Mu Yat-sen would your family and Wangye like to stay for a couple of weeks. There will be a drum festival coming soon, so how about staying for awhile and enjoying the food and entertainment? Plus we need the Shaman's blessing for the soon-to-be-couple as well as finding an auspicious date for the wedding," said Chief Yi Yang.
Yi Mei blushed hearing the word soon-to-be-couple and wedding.
"No need to find an auspicious date for the wedding. Since the groom is already here, it can be done two days after the festival. That should be enough time to prepare for the bride and the groom. The Shaman does not need to waste her energy as this benwang will bless them today." Gu Yuan abruptly suggested.
Yi Lei Fang glared at Gu Yuan trying to figure out what he was planning. Unfortunately, Yi Lei Fang could not read his mind.
When Gu Yuan waved his hand for Yi Mei and Mu Ling to stand side by side facing Gu Yuan, he stood up from the throne. But what made everyone in the hall as well as Yi Lei Fang stupefied is that Gu Yuan did not approach the soon-to-be-couple, instead, Gu Yuan waved his fingers, making a cross sign and says, "You've been blessed." Then he went back and sat back down on the throne.
Everybody in the hall almost coughed up a mouthful of blood seeing Gu Yuan's so called "blessing."
Chief Yi Yang coughed to light up the embarrassing silence. "Um, thank you Wangye for the blessing...ahem...as for the wedding, we will do as Wangye commands." Of course, Chief Yi Yang cannot object the Emperor's brother unless he wanted his family's and his own head to be detached. But what the Chief and the rest do not know is that Gu Yuan has other plans which soon will be announced later on.
Later, Xi Ting came behind Yi Lei Fang and whispered something in her ear. Yi Lei Fang responded with a nod. Then a glint of mirth flashed across her eyes.
"Fu Qin, I have been wanting to ask a question that has been bothering me," said Yi Lei Fang.
"Fang'er what is it that you want to ask?"
"Well, um, about the rumor that has been going around..." Yi Lei Fang hesitatingly look at the people in the hall before continuing. "I want to know who started the rumor?" Yi Lei Fang's eyes started to turn teary. "Am I really that disgusting that others hate me to the point they slander me. Hu..hu..hu..Mu Qin do I really have a...a little brother down there?"
Madame Yu spurt out her tea and was coughing madly over Yi Lei Fang's choice of words. After stabilizing her coughing fit, Madame Yu elegantly wipes her mouth before walking over to Yi Lei Fang and hugged her daughter. With a soothing voice says, "Silly child who dares to say that about you. Only you know that answer so why care what others say. Whoever believes them must not have eyes or a brain." Madame Yu looks at the Mu family indicating her words towards them and she quickly averts her attention back at the weeping Yi Lei Fang.
Then a sweet voice spoke up. "Tang Jiejie, I tried to stop the rumors from going around but it was only me against so many people. If this rumor would not have happened then your engagement would not have been cancelled."
"Tang Mei thank you for standing up for me but even if you did say something, no one would listen."
Yi Mei bite her bottom lip in anger. Yi Lei Fang meaning is that even if Yi Mei spoke up, she will be ignored because she was not important.
Yi Lei Fang look down and says, "Mu Qin what are we going to do about the rumors, about me being a shemale?"
"Who dare says my Xiao Fang is a shemale!" A booming elderly female voice echoed throughout the hall.
Everyone turned to the entrance and saw an elderly woman in her seventies walking in with the help of Xi Tang. Yi Lei Fang face lit up and ran to greet the elderly woman.
"Nanny Lu, you came!" Yi Lei Fang try to hug the elderly woman but the elderly woman smoothly dodge Yi Lei Fang and start whacking Yi Lei Fang with her walking bamboo stick.
"You child! You have been causing so much more trouble ever since I left."
While protecting her body, Yi Lei Fang says, "Nanny Lu, what are you talking about?" Nanny Lu raised her walking bamboo stick and continue whacking Yi Lei Fang. She try to dodge the attack but surprisingly her butt got smacked. Damn! I forgot this old lady knew martial arts! Yi Lei Fang told herself. Luckily, the nanny really cherished Yi Lei Fang, so the nanny did not put too much strength when she hit Yi Lei Fang with the walking bamboo stick. But still, it hurt!