Yin Luoxue's face turned pale. "Grandma, what do you mean by this? Are you trying to drive me away?"
Old Madam Li smiled, "I'm not in the habit of kicking people out in the middle of a meal, but what I mean is that you shouldn't come to the Li family's family feasts anymore."
The Old Lady emphasized the words "Li Family" particularly heavily.
Yin Luoxue looked utterly bewildered, her expression pitiful.
Li Xingze immediately spoke up, "Grandma, Luoxue has never missed a family feast at our house before, so why suddenly forbid her from attending?"
"That was the past. It didn't matter if there was an extra pair of chopsticks at the table, so I didn't say anything. But now, your sister-in-law and she have direct conflicts; having both of them sit together at a meal would inevitably lead to disputes, and I just want to avoid that."
Yin Luoxue's tears fell freely. "But Grandma, I never thought about causing disputes with Gu Mian!"
Old Madam Li looked at her, "You don't hate Gu Mian?"
"No," Yin Luoxue looked at Gu Mian, "because I know that if I hate her, it will put Tingshen in a difficult position. I don't want to make things difficult for Tingshen."
Old Madam Li smiled again, then turned to Gu Mian, "Mian, do you hate her?"
Gu Mian spoke calmly, "I do."
She couldn't pretend, nor did she want to.
"Luoxue doesn't hold a grudge against you, so what right do you have to hate her!" Li Xingze protested, "Gu Mian, if you had even half of Luoxue's kindness, this tragedy would not have occurred, and she wouldn't be in a wheelchair!"
Gu Mian took a sip of orange juice and said nothing.
A year ago, she had explained countless times, but apart from Old Madam Li, no one believed her word.
Having already been imprisoned, continuing to explain was pointless now.
"What kind of attitude is that?" Li Xingze, seeing her indifferent demeanor, burst out in anger, "I thought you would've reformed after coming out of prison, but you're still the same, simply detestable!"
"Xingze, let me ask you," Old Madam Li spoke up, "If you were intentionally pushed down the stairs, resulting in paralysis and a wheelchair, would you hate that person?"
"Is that even a question?" Li Xingze didn't hesitate to reply, "I'd definitely kill him!"
"Exactly, I believe anyone else would feel the same," Old Madam Li said with a smile, "so don't you think Luoxue's so-called kindness is a bit too fake?"
Yin Luoxue's face changed rapidly from red to white, very dramatically.
Only then did Li Xingze realize, hastening to clarify for Yin Luoxue, "Luoxue said she forgave Gu Mian because she didn't want to put my brother in a difficult position! She deeply loves my brother, and for him, she could forgive anything. Unlike Gu Mian, who only harms people..."
Old Madam Li smiled faintly, "Xingze, in this world, who is the person you love the most?"
"Of course, it's my family—grandma, parents, brother."
"If you were pushed down the stairs and became disabled, let alone an outsider, even if it were your dearest family doing it, you would still hate them."
Li Xingze paused, putting himself in that situation, realizing that even for the ones dearly loved, it would be difficult not to harbor hatred.
"Grandma is right, isn't she?" Old Madam Li said with a smile, "People, to some extent, all have a selfish side. I don't believe there's such a saint in this world who, being so grievously harmed, could still smile and say they forgive, that's just too fake."
Yin Luoxue's tears kept flowing, "Grandma, you may not like me, but you can't slander me like this, I really am not like what you said..."
"Whether you are true or false, I'm not interested in investigating, but since you've caused endless disturbances in the Li family, it's your fault." Old Madam Li's face still had a smile, but her tone was uncompromising, "Since you neither carry the Li name nor are a relative of the Li family, it's only reasonable that I don't allow you to attend our private family feasts."
Yin Luoxue looked helplessly towards Li Tingshen, "Tingshen..."
Li Tingshen took a sip of red wine, "Grandma, it's just one meal, is it really necessary?"
Yin Luoxue was overjoyed.
She knew that Li Tingshen would definitely protect her.
"As long as I live another day, I will not allow the Li Family to be shrouded in scandal!" Old Madam Li's expression became severe.
Li Tingshen put down his wine glass, "Luoxue, just do as Grandma says."
Yin Luoxue was completely stunned!
Now that even Li Tingshen had said this, it must be a done deal!
She suppressed the anger in her heart and quickly regained her composure.
After all, the reason she couldn't attend the family dinner was because this damn old woman was protecting Gu Mian.
Once Gu Mian's affair of carrying an illegitimate child gets exposed, let's see how this damn old woman protects her!
With this thought, Yin Luoxue quickly grabbed a tissue to dry her tears and put on a smiling face, "Grandma, I'm sorry for upsetting you; I won't come to the Li family dinners anymore, please don't be angry."
Only then did Old Madam Li say nothing, "Everyone, let's eat."
The exquisitely delicious dishes were served one after another.
Old Madam Li was a stickler for rules, and basic decorum for her was not to speak while eating, so no one talked at the dinner table.
Yin Luoxue discreetly turned to look at a maid who was serving dishes; the maid caught on and quickly placed a steamed fish in front of Gu Mian.
The smell made Gu Mian nauseous: "Ugh..."
Li Xingze, who had been looking for an excuse to target her, immediately said, "What's wrong with you? Making such disgusting noises, how can anyone eat!"
Gu Mian wanted to explain, but her stomach was still churning and she couldn't speak.
Yin Luoxue curiously spoke up, "Gu Mian, you're not pregnant, are you?"
It was as if she suddenly realized something and excitedly said, "Tingshen, congratulations!"
Li Tingshen's hand holding the chopsticks paused!
"Do you have no common sense?" Li Xingze said with a laugh, "She just got out of jail a few days ago, how could she be pregnant so quickly..."
Yin Luoxue's mouth dropped open in shock, "Xingze, don't talk nonsense, how could the child Gu Mian is carrying not be Tingshen's!"
With that said, everyone immediately turned their inquisitive gazes onto Gu Mian.
Gu Mian barely managed to recover and looked calmly at Yin Luoxue, "Who told you I was pregnant?"
Yin Luoxue had already guessed that she would deny it, "Gu Mian, these are symptoms of pregnancy, why won't you admit it? You couldn't really be carrying someone else's child, could you?"
Li Tingshen's expression immediately darkened.
Yin Luoxue hurriedly consoled, "Tingshen, don't be angry, Gu Mian must have her reasons, maybe she was forced..."
"How dare you!"
Before Yin Luoxue could finish, she was sharply interrupted by Old Madam Li.
Old Madam Li, usually a gentle person, rarely lost her temper like this, and everyone at the dining table was so intimidated that they put down their chopsticks.
"Mom, please don't be angry."
Li Tingshen's father, Li Hongxuan, who hadn't spoken until then, couldn't help but speak up, "Don't get upset with the younger generation."
"My daughter-in-law is being falsely accused of carrying an illegitimate child, how can I not be angry?" Old Madam Li's fierce eyes turned towards Yin Luoxue, "With no evidence, you dare to slander our Li family member, who gave you the audacity!"
Yin Luoxue looked aggrieved, "Grandma, I haven't falsely accused her. She is pregnant! If you don't believe it, we can call a doctor right now to check!"