A life of two souls traveling through time

Chapter 207 A Sudden Arranged Marriage

After Li Xingyuan checked the bill, Mu Liang booked a room in the restaurant to welcome his adoptive father, and Li Yunye, as his son, naturally had to accompany him. The father and his two sons gathered in the inner room, while Butler Fang sat at a table in the outer room with Ange, Anyun and Lao Zhou.

"Well, you've become stronger." Li Xingyuan patted his son's shoulder and sighed.

Seeing that Li Yunye had improved, Li Xingyuan's mood also improved. Although his face was still serious, his eyes were always paying attention to his son. Li Yunye's body was still weak in the eyes of outsiders. Anyone who had seen him in the past when he was in Qile City and was listless, would probably sigh like Master Li.

Mr. Li suddenly patted his shoulder. Li Yunye's back stiffened involuntarily and he lowered his head nervously.

Seeing that his son was still cautious in front of him, Li Xingyuan was helpless. In the past, he was so disappointed with his son that he was naturally too strict and harsh on his son. Now, his image as a strict father has been deeply rooted in Li Yunye's heart.

But Li Xingyuan still underestimated his terrible weight in Li Yunye's eyes. Ever since he was beaten by him last year, he was not only a strict father in his son's eyes, but also a tyrant.

"Aren't you comfortable living with your brother? Why did you move into the Zhuo Mansion?" Li Xingyuan awkwardly put down his hand that was patting his son's shoulder, and then asked in a deep voice.

He didn't care if he was a strict father. As long as Li Yunye made progress and could shoulder the burden of being a famous Li in Jiangnan in the future, he would be relieved.

"Uncle...my great-grandmother asked me to spend more time with her." Li Yunye replied nervously.

"Yes, Madam Zhuo loves Yunye very much and can't bear to see him running back and forth, so she just lets him live in the Zhuo Mansion." Mu Liang on the side also explained with a smile on his behalf.

"As long as Madam Zhuo doesn't mind it." Li Xingyuan nodded with relief after hearing this.

Although Li Xingyuan had never had any contact with the Zhuo family, he knew that his wife was related to the Zhuo family. In the early years when the couple still had some feelings for each other, he heard his wife mention that Mrs. Zhuo treated her like her own daughter and often exchanged letters. Later, Mrs. Zhuo's son Zhuo Yanzheng came to Beijing to serve as an official. Li Xingyuan's relationship with his wife had long been strained. In addition, he heard that Zhuo Yanzheng did not like to interact with merchants in the capital, so he did not want to go to his house and cause trouble.

"Don't worry, father. My aunt and uncle are all very good to me." When talking about the Zhuo family, Li Yunye showed a smile on his face.

"In that case, you can stay in the Zhuo Mansion and accompany Old Madam Zhuo for the next two days. It's time to set off for home in two days." Seeing the tenderness in Li Yunye's eyes, Li Xingyuan felt a little uncomfortable. The relationship between them as father and son is not as good as that of the Zhuo family.

When he heard that he was going home, Li Yunye was not happy at all. Although he missed Madam Li, the Li Mansion was cold and didn't feel like home at all. When he thought about saying goodbye to Liangdu, Li Yunye's brows were also shrouded in a faint sadness. He was reluctant to leave his aunt and grandmother, and even more reluctant to part with his brother Muliang. This separation was a long journey, and he didn't know when he would be able to come back. Brother Muliang could see him at least once a year, but he didn't know if he would have the chance to accompany his aunt and grandmother again in the future.

"If you miss Madam Zhuo after you go back, you can come to Beijing to visit her with your adoptive father next year." Mu Liang noticed the reluctance in Li Yunye's eyes, so he smiled and comforted him.

After being reminded by his brother Jingyi, Li Yunye realized that every year Master Li would inspect shops in various places, and he could also go back to Liangdu to visit his aunt, grandmother, cousin, and brother Muliang.

But he was not sure whether Mr. Li would bring him here, so he turned his expectant gaze to Li Xingyuan.

Li Xingyuan said nothing, but just nodded to show his agreement.

A smile appeared on Li Yunye's face again, and when he looked at his sworn brother, their eyes met. Mu Liang's smiling eyes like night stars made ripples in Li Yunye's heart again, and then he felt a bit bitter. He said helplessly: It's better to go back to Qile City. It's too painful to stay by brother Mu Liang's side and suppress the affection that surges in my heart at any time. It's better to keep a distance.

"I've heard from Master Mu Liang a long time ago that Mr. Zhou is a great martial arts expert. It was thanks to Mr. Zhou's escort that the master was able to travel safely to and from the border of Xiyue Kingdom." In the outer room, Butler Fang took a look at Old Zhou who was just drinking and eating in front of him, then smiled and raised his glass to toast him.

"Oh, I don't deserve it. It's all because of Mr. Li's good fortune that he was able to escape danger time and time again..." Hearing Shopkeeper Mu praising him in front of others, Old Zhou was naturally happy and raised his glass to toast back. However, he almost spoke too quickly. Fortunately, he reacted in time and hurriedly explained, "The journey was long and the bandits were rampant. Thinking about it now, it's still very thrilling."

An Yun, who was standing by, was also very nervous after hearing this. He was afraid that Old Zhou would tell the story of how General Yan was robbed and forced to marry. Although it was a close call, if the master knew that Master Mu Liang had concealed such a serious matter, he would definitely be furious.

Butler Fang, who was always good at observing people's words and expressions, naturally noticed the reactions of Lao Zhou and An Yun, but did not ask any questions. He just continued to chat with Lao Zhou with a smile on his face.

After three rounds of wine and five dishes, Li Xingyuan suddenly took out a piece of white jade wrapped in silk from his sleeve and placed it in front of Li Yunye, and continued: "My family has asked someone to find a marriage for you half a month ago. It's the Fan family of Jicheng Tea House. This is a token from the young lady of the Fan family. Wait for you to go back..."

"How can you make a decision on such a big matter without my consent?" Before Li Xingyuan could finish his words, Li Yunye stood up in shock. In his eyes, the white jade seemed to be a plague that he could not avoid. He was so angry and anxious that his face turned red and his breathing became rapid. Then he shouted at Li Xingyuan in dissatisfaction.

Although Madam Li wrote to her earlier saying that her family was planning to find her a marriage, Jiang Siyao was also worried, but she thought that with Li Yunye's previous bad deeds, she could still delay it. She didn't expect it to be settled now? She was using Li Yunye's body, but she was a woman with modern thinking. She couldn't accept this arranged marriage that she had never seen before, and she couldn't marry a woman. But in the eyes of others, even Master Li and Brother Mu Liang, there was only Li Yunye and no Jiang Siyao. She couldn't say anything about her suffering.

"How outrageous! Since ancient times, it has been the parents' orders and the matchmaker's words. Your marriage should be decided by your parents. How can you decide it on your own?" Li Xingyuan was annoyed by Li Yunye's dissatisfaction. He slammed the table and scolded Li Yunye with a sullen face.

Li Yunye felt aggrieved, but was so frightened by Master Li's anger that he dared not say a word. He just pouted and looked at Mu Liang aggrievedly, although he also knew that Brother Mu Liang could not help him with this matter.

Mu Liang also looked at Li Yunye with worry at this time. Seeing his brother's eyes full of grievances, he felt distressed but he could do nothing about it. After all, this marriage was arranged by his adoptive father. Yunye's brother was the young master of the famous Li family in Jiangnan, and it was his responsibility to expand the Li family. Although his adoptive father's approach was a bit overbearing, it was for the future of the Li family.

After all, Mu Liang was just an adopted son of the Li family. He had always been grateful to the Li family, so how could he dare to overstep the boundaries and interfere in this matter?

The noise from the inner room naturally startled the four people sitting outside. Butler Fang, An Ge and An Yun were naturally concerned about the father and son, and Old Zhou couldn't help but sigh for Master Li.