The commotion from the Inner Courtyard's attic soon brought Hong Zhenguo into the room, along with Zhang Yuman, the Hong family's eldest aunt, and others.
"Ting'er, what's going on here, how did you end up like this?" Zhang Yuman hurried over and pulled Hong Yuting out of the water basin.
Hong Yuting burst into tears, wailing to the heavens, "It's that worthless man, our Hong Family's worthless son-in-law, he threw me out, he actually dared, dared to treat me like this, mom, I don't want to live anymore."
Her cries were earth-shattering, yet her eyes remained dry, not a single tear fell; her emotions were a play for Hong Zhenguo to see.
Zhang Yuman cursed furiously, "That damn dog, he's just a son-in-law of the Hong Family, yet he dares to be so arrogant. Yu Ting got up early in the morning to cook porridge, kindly bringing it to him, and this Mr. Ye not only showed no gratitude but also treated Yu Ting so terribly, is there no justice left in this world?"
Hong Zhenguo didn't speak, merely looking on coldly.
At that moment, Ye Feng, seated in a wheelchair, slowly descended from the second floor of the loft, pushed by Seventeen.
Zhang Yuman pointed at him and roared, "Mr. Ye, you've gone too far, you must apologize to Ting'er today, else we cannot stay in this house any longer."
The wheelchair slowly moved past her; Ye Feng didn't even look at her, completely ignoring her.
Only when the wheelchair directly approached Hong Zhenguo did Ye Feng speak, "Do you remember what I said? No one is allowed to enter the Inner Courtyard's attic without permission!"
Hong Zhenguo bowed slightly, "I'm sorry, Mr. Ye, it was my oversight."
Ye Feng's cold voice stated, "Don't let it happen again."
"Don't let it happen again? What is that supposed to mean, do you think this is your own home?"
Zhang Yuman, unable to contain her anger, coldly shouted, "Mr. Ye, I'm telling you, apologize to our Ting'er right now, or this matter won't be over!"
"Enough!"
Hong Zhenguo bellowed angrily, "Aren't you ashamed of yourselves? Didn't I give you a chance that day? Yet what was your response? Calling him 'worthless' at every turn, with your little smarts, do you really think others are fools?"
Without a word, Hong Yuting turned and walked away, but just as she was about to turn a corner, she stopped abruptly, turned back, and gritted her teeth, "Mr. Ye, let me tell you, I, the foremost beauty of Jiangdu, don't think I care for you? Today it's you who fails to appreciate what's offered; don't blame me for being impolite!"
Watching their retreating figures, Hong Zhenguo shook his head and sighed deeply, "I'm truly sorry, Mr. Ye, it's our family's misfortune that has caused you amusement."
Ye Feng made no comment, at his level, there were few things in the world that could disturb his calm; he simply said, "Have Qingyan come back."
Hong Zhenguo nodded, "I have already contacted her, she should be able to return by noon."
Ye Feng said no more and slightly tilted his head as a sign, Seventeen stepped forward and steadily pushed the wheelchair onwards.
Hong Zhenguo called out, "I've had someone specially prepare mustard greens and lean pork porridge, does Mr. Ye have an appetite?"
Ye Feng didn't speak; he has always been a man of few words, and sometimes silence signifies agreement.
Breakfast was very light, and after it, Hong Zhenguo suggested, "Mr. Ye, you look well today, how about we play a couple of rounds?"
Ye Feng nodded, "Sure."
Hong Zhenguo laughed heartily, he was pleased because it was an honor to play chess with the man before him.
He gestured grandly and pulled out a set of Chinese chess, along with a nail and a hammer.
Once the chessboard was set up, Hong Zhenguo, laughing, picked up the hammer and the nail, "Shall we stick to the old rules?"
Ye Feng chuckled lightly, "Let's follow the old rules."
Hong Zhenguo didn't hesitate, hammering the nail; he fixed Ye Feng's General piece in place.
"A General that does not move is like a mountain; the moment it moves, the whole game is lost!" Hong Zhenguo laughed heartily.
He had nailed Ye Feng's General piece so that it couldn't move; this was the rule Ye Feng played by in chess.
Chess is like life, almost everyone in the Northern Border army knows that when the Northern Border King takes action, it's as sudden and forceful as a thunderclap, changing the landscape itself.
The two were locked in a fierce battle on the chessboard; however, even with Ye Feng's central general unmoving, Old Man Hong was no match for him, losing three games in a row in utter defeat.
Just then, a servant-like old man hurried in, intending to speak. Yet, after catching sight of Ye Feng opposite him, he hesitated.
Hong Zhenguo furrowed his brows, "Speak freely, there's no harm in it."
It was then that the man said, "Mr. Hong, there are visitors at the door claiming to be from the Martial Alliance."
"People from the Martial Alliance?"
Hong Zhenguo's expression subtly changed, his hand holding the chess piece suspended midair: "The Martial Alliance rarely intervenes in external affairs, what are they here for?"
"They said they're looking for Mr. Ye," the servant replied.
"Looking for Mr. Ye?" Hong Zhenguo instinctively looked up at Ye Feng across from him.
Ye Feng's expression remained unchanged as he merely smiled, "Who would have thought the Martial Alliance had a presence in Jiangdu too?"
Hong Zhenguo pondered aloud, "It was only established in recent years. The Martial Alliance has a rather complicated background, with a presence throughout the country. Mr. Ye, what do you think..."
"Then let them in," Ye Feng chuckled lightly.
In fact, how many citizens knew that the establishment and national expansion of the Martial Alliance were thanks to the efforts of Ye Feng, the Northern Border King?
It was due to Ye Feng's initiative and strong support that the Martial Alliance had risen to such prominence. However, not many knew that Ye Feng, the founder and the hidden Alliance Hierarch, was behind it all – not the citizens, nor even many within the Martial Alliance itself.
Initially, Ye Feng thought his identity had been leaked and high-level members of the Martial Alliance had come to see him. But when he saw the two people who arrived, he realized he was mistaken.
The two visitors were young men, walking with their noses in the air and swagger in their steps, as if they owned the place.
As the saying goes, 'true quality does not show itself,' and just by looking at these two, Ye Feng lost all interest, finding the situation tedious.
"Which one of you is Ye Feng?" a young man from the Martial Alliance demanded.
Ye Feng didn't speak. With such men, he couldn't even be bothered to open his mouth.
Hong Zhenguo asked, "What business do you have with Mr. Ye?"
"Are you Ye Feng?"
"It's certainly not me."
"If it's not you, then stand aside. What do you, an old fool, have to add?" The young men were arrogant.
Of course, they had the capital to be arrogant, for the Martial Alliance was powerful, and even commercial giants like the Hong Family in Jiangdu wouldn't want to offend them lightly.
Ye Feng said, "I am Ye Feng."
"You're Ye Feng? A cripple in a wheelchair?" The young men showed a look of confusion, questioning among themselves, "Could it be a mistake?"
Ye Feng wasn't angry, just asked, "At present, who heads the Jiangdu Martial Alliance?"
The two young men laughed, "You asking about our Deputy Alliance Leader of Jiangdu? Is that someone you can inquire about? We thought the Hong Family's son-in-law was somebody significant, but it turns out he's just a cripple in a wheelchair, no more than a crawling reptile."
"Such an invalid attracted our esteemed visit, worthy of our attention? Truly a waste of youth."
"Insolence!" Seventeen moved, pouncing forward like a ferocious beast.
The young men from the Martial Alliance wore disdainful expressions, confident in their practiced skills and martial prowess.
Yet with just two thuds, they were sent flying backward, limbs already broken.