There was a loud silence after Yang Ning completed her words. Everyone was dumbstruck and couldn't comprehend what just happened, especially Yang Luoyang.
Not only did Yang Ning not address him as 'Father' this time, her words sounded more colder and informal than usual. It was not the tone in which Yang Ning used to talk in front of him.
He has always seen Yang Ning to comply with his words without any other question asked and she has always held her head low in front of him. However, today she not only refuted his words but was also looking straight into his eyes, without avoiding his gaze.
" YOU….HOW DARE YOU? ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU WILL NOT DO AS I SAY?" He gritted his teeth and glared at her with his intimidating gaze however, rather than avoiding him, she calmly looked at him and was waiting for his decision.
" No! I am saying that I will do whatever you decide. So make a decision, should I go back and never return to attend the banquet or just attend the banquet in this dress as it is?" She said in a calm and composed manner. She even smiled after completing her words, which caused Yang Luoyang to scoff at her in disbelief.
'Did…Did the fever reach upto her head or what? How come the girl who never dared to meet his eyes is arguing with him right now?'
Seeing Yang Ning talking so eloquently, even Chang Ah was baffled. She has never seen this girl speak so much in front of Yang Luoyang before. Not only that, she never even talked back to her, forget doing that in front of her father.
" Yang Ning. Why are you being like this? Your father is thinking about your well-being only. If you go inside while looking like this, everyone will talk about you and will look down on you and the Yang Family. Do you want people to laugh at your father because of your stubbornness?" Chang Ah said.
Rather than being stern to her, Chang Ah decided to take the path of a 'Mother Fairy' and used the sweetest voice she can to persuade Yang Ning with her words and also to prove her point to Yang Luoyang.
" Am I being stubborn right now? I don't think so. I am simply giving him a choice and saving everyone's precious time." Yang Ning responded to Chang Ah's words seriously while looking at her with an expression that was saying, ' What do you want me to do?'
" Also, he is the Minister of Finance at the royal court. Who will dare to make fun of him? Aren't I right, Fa…Fa…My Lord?" Yang Ning said with a slight hesitation in her words.
' SHIT! I almost called him Father. Argh!! I am getting goosebumps.' Yang Ning smiled as if nothing had happened while rubbing her arms nonchalantly, smoothing the goosebumps that she was feeling in her body.
She will never call this snake her 'Father'. Never!
Her father is a lovely and caring man who always thinks about the well-being of his children, unlike this trash who only cares about his reputation and lineage. He even made his son who was just a child to turn into a rude and arrogant person, just like him.
Yang Luoyang's face turned crimson in anger as he controlled his outrage by clenching his hand into a tight fist and glared at Yang Ning with his reddened eyes as he said in a low voice, " You! Do you think I will not punish you just because you are going to become the Crown Princess? Huh?"
" Don't forget that you're still my daughter and have to return to Yang Household after this Banquet. Do you think you can bear the consequences of acting in front of me like this?" Yang Luoyang said in a low and deep voice, threatening her indirectly.
At that moment, the color of Yang Ning's face started to become pale. Did she overdo it?
She almost forgot it when she faced Yang Luoyang just now, but this trash father is not a normal trash. He is the stinkiest trash…Father character that she has ever met…or should she say…read?
In the novel, there were a few scenes of Yang Ning and Yang Luoyang together. In those scenes, Yang Ning used to become mum in front of him and sometimes tremble whenever he shouts at her or comes close to her.
It was because when Yang Ning was young, Yang Luoyang used to punish her harshly by hitting her many times with a whip or making her stand outside the whole night in cold weather without any warm clothes, in her undergarments only for every single childish mistake she made.
That's also one of the reasons why Yang Ning has a meek personality and weak constitution which causes her to get sick easily.
It was one of the moments when Fang Li felt bad for Yang Ning while reading the novel. Even if she was the villainous character in the novel, there was a reason why she became like this.
Her Father who never treated her like his daughter but a 'Thing' which can be bartered for his material gains caused her to become the puppet of her monstrous father and follow his greedy and evil orders with a blind eye.
Even if she wanted to go against him, she couldn't do so because she had no one by her side to support her and pull her out of this muddy puddle.
__
Yang Ning pursed her lips as she unconsciously stepped back upon facing Yang Luoyang's monstrous face that he was hiding behind his 'smile' that was meant for show to others.
Earlier, she was trying to control her emotions to the max and not act out of character, but seems like she still upsetted him in a way. However, that was her most calm and composed demeanor that she had shown to him and answered him as poltitly as she could.
Wasn't she doing just as he told her to do? However, to make things simpler, she just gave a choice. That's it.
Why is he treating her this way? Mainly, who the hell is he to treat her this way? Is he asking for a fight with her?
Ah….wait! He is not treating her this way, but his daughter, Yang Ning.
' Damn it. Wasn't Yang Ning supposed to be the villainess of the novel, then why is her character weaker than the female lead?
That's so unfair.'
Before Yang Ning could find her composure back and face Yang Luoyang with confidence and not be intimidated by him, Xiaowei jumped in between the conversation and kneeled in front of Yang Luoyang.
" MY LORD!! Please forgive my lady. She is still unwell and has a fever, that's why she does not know what she is saying. Please forgive her. I will take her back to the Yang Household right away and will make sure that she attends the banquet in the dress that Madam has prepared for her." Xiaowei said and begged for his mercy on Yang Ning.
She does not know why Yang Ning is acting this way but it will not going to help them in any way. He might have not punished Yang Ning since her engagement has been fixed with the Crown Prince but there is no surety that he will not do that again.
Also, she hasn't forgotten about the warning that he had given her last night. Yang Ning's actions are simply making the situation even more worse.
Yang Ning has just gotten up from a high fever and still hasn't recovered her health properly. If she were to get punished in this state, it can be dangerous for her.
Yang Ning frowned to see Xiaowei kneeling on the ground and felt wronged to see her protecting her in this way. If they were to agree to this man's order now, he will continue to treat her like trash just like he used to do before.
However, she could also understand Xiaowei's feelings. She was simply trying to protect Yang Ning from the punishment. She was the only person who always stood next to Yang Ning and supported her in every possible way.
While protecting her in the novel, she even sacrificed her life for her. Why do all the nice characters have to die so early and wrongfully?
" Xiaowei, Stand up. You don't have to do this here." Yang Ning tried to pull Xiaowei up and make her stand, but she didn't budge from the ground and continued to kneel on.
" We did nothing wrong. You don't have to-"
[ WHAT IS THIS COMMOTION HERE?]
[ Read this novel only on W e b n o v e l . c o m ( remove spaces). If you are reading this story on a website, other than w e b n o v e l app, then this novel has been pirated. To support the original author and not the thieves, read it on w e b n o v e l app] Insta - @kamlyn_love.