The banquet at the Zhou residence was almost here. Ye Ningjie had already finished preparing when Zhou Yan came to call her. Together they went to the garden near the lotus pond.
The air tonight is not too cold nor too hot. Spring is indeed a good time. Moreover, there are so many flowers blooming. Make the garden of the residence look more beautiful.
When Ye Ningjie arrived at her destination, Madam Zhou was already preparing the dishes with several maids. Upon seeing Ye Ningjie's presence with Zhou Yan, Madam Zhou immediately broke into a broad smile.
"You guys have come! Come sit down!" said Madam Zhou enthusiastically. She had already set up a dining table with several stone chairs surrounding it. The place was created specifically for outdoor banquets.
"Thank you." Ye Ningjie smiled and then sat down on the chair. Zhou Yan was about to sit on the opposite seat, but Madam Zhou, who saw that, immediately clicked her tongue.
"You sit here! There for your grandfather and father!" the woman protested as she pointed to another seat not far from Ye Ningjie.
"Mother …." Zhou Yan wanted to protest, but Madam Zhou glared at him. Finally, he relented and sat in the designated chair.
"My mother really…."
Ye Ningjie chuckled lightly. "Just leave it. Why don't you want to sit next to me?"
"It's not like that. You didn't know my mother could be misunderstand," Zhou Yan whispered.
Ye Ningjie just smiled in response. Then she saw Grandfather Zhou and Zhou Jingran, who was stepping closer. The two of them looked very compact and organized.
"Where are Sister Yingyi and the others?" Zhou Yan asked in surprise. So many people were still not seen, and it surprised him.
"It's not a big dinner. So I didn't invite them," Madam Zhou replied casually. "Father-in-law, sit here!"
"They will be upset if they find out about this," Zhou Yan grumbled quietly.
Ye Ningjie just shook her head slowly. It's true what Zhou Yan said; there will be some who feel displeased for not joining this dinner. However, she was nobody in this residence, so she would not interfere.
"Let's eat! Ah, but it looks like we should have a toast first. The arrival of a guest like Jie'er is rare," said Zhou Wanwu happily.
"Grandfather is exaggerating. If it weren't for my father, I probably wouldn't have come here," Ye Ningjie replied with a smile. She poured wine into her cup, and they toasted happily.
"Don't drink too much. You guys are still young. So don't get drunk," Zhou Wanwu later ordered.
"Well, listen to your grandfathers," Zhou Jingran reminded.
"Alright. So, when can I eat?" Zhou Yan asked.
Zhou Wanwu also laughed. "Please, please, enjoy your food."
They began to take food and eat while occasionally making jokes. There were some things that Zhou Jingran asked Ye Ningjie. It seemed that the man already knew her true identity. Maybe Grandfather Zhou told.
The atmosphere at the table is lively and warm. Being there made Ye Ningjie think of her father and mother. They hardly ever got together like this, except when she was a kid.
Too bad something like that will never happen again because her family is gone. There will be no warm dinner.
"Jie'er, what are you thinking? Why are you daydreaming?" asked Zhou Wanwu, who noticed the change in Ye Ningjie's face.
"Ah, no. I just feel like I miss my family a little," Ye Ningjie replied shyly.
Zhou Jingran and Zhou Wanwu looked at each other. After that, they smiled. "We are here. Just think of us as your family."
Ye Ningjie smiled happily, then nodded. "Thank you."
"Don't remember anything unpleasant. I don't know what happened to your family, but give this a try."
Madam Zhou put the roast duck cutlet into Ye Ningjie's bowl. She said, "Our kitchen roast duck is nothing short of any restaurant out there. You have to try it."
Without hesitation, Ye Ningjie immediately tasted the roast duck. Her eyes started to sparkle. "That's right. This duck has great taste!" She said earnestly.
"It's not wrong," said Madame Zhou happily. "Eat more. I will ask the cook to make more if it's not enough."
Ye Ningjie nodded with a sweet smile. They are good people. It is inconceivable if the emperor would punish them for helping her. Thinking about this made her feel bad.
She shouldn't have involved this family. She'd better hurry up with her plan and leave this family as soon as possible.
At that moment, suddenly, a bodyguard walked up to Zhou Jingran. His face looks very serious. "My Lord ...."
"What's wrong?"
The bodyguard bent down and whispered in Zhou Jingran's ear. No one heard what the bodyguards were talking about, but seeing Zhou Jingran's furrowed brows made them feel a little worried.
"I understand. Go," Zhou Jingran said then. The bodyguard nodded and then finally left.
"Father, what's wrong?" Zhou Yan was the first to ask.
Zhou Jingran took a deep breath. First, he looked at the old Zhou Wanwu. Then without answering his son's question, he directly addressed the older man.
"Father, this afternoon Master Tang has come before the emperor," said Zhou Jingran.
Zhou Wanwu's brows furrowed as well. "For what business? We have no enmity with them, do we?"
"It's about Zhou Yan."
"Uh? Me?" Zhou Yan became confused. He looked at his father and grandfather in disbelief. "What happened?"
Zhou Jingran looked at his son with a complicated expression. Then he asked, "Answer my question, do you like Tang Yin?"
Of course, Zhou Yan immediately shook his head. "Who would like a rude girl like her? If there were, it wouldn't be me."
"Tang Duchun came to Yongheng Palace and asked the emperor to make your marriage decree."
"What?!"
Not only Zhou Yan was surprised; even Madame Zhou was also surprised. Why did Tang Duchun suddenly do that? Even if Tang Yin liked Zhou Yan, they should have spoken first. There was no need to involve the emperor.
"Then? Did the emperor grant it?" asked Madam Zhou quickly.
"Fortunately not. However, the emperor invited me to see him tomorrow. Maybe to talk about this matter," Zhou Jingran explained.
"This Tang Duchun is in too much of a hurry! He must have known Yan'er didn't like his daughter and asked the emperor to help lower the decree. If the emperor made the decree, I wouldn't be able to do anything!" Zhou Wanwu growled loudly.
In the past, Zhou family had never forced a marriage. They have faith in a marriage full of love and affection. That's why the couple in the Zhou family always lasts a long time and is happy.
"Father, Grandfather, I don't want to marry that girl. Don't let that happen," Zhou Yan pleaded.
"I know. Don't worry. I will talk to the emperor tomorrow."
Ye Ningjie, who heard this matter was silent for a while. She thought that the Zhou family had already helped her get here. It seemed she had to think of a way to help them.
However, there was something that surprised her. Why didn't Huang Feiyu give Tang Duchun a marriage decree right away? It seemed the emperor wasn't as stupid as she thought.