met free Chapter 2079 Shocking! Du Xingyue Arrives with the Hands of the Eight Gates!
Chapter 2079 Shocking! Du Xingyue Arrives with the Hands of the Eight Gates!
The moment Ye Ruyan said, "Let's go to the backyard together," the atmosphere in the central courtyard snapped like a taut bowstring.
The five members of the fake gang simultaneously erupted in uncontrollable ecstasy!
It's done! Haha! It's finally done!
Finally, they joined forces with Ye, Chen, Wang, Lu, and Han from the top five!
With ten families joining forces, the Li family could no longer hold onto that closed door in the backyard!
Zong Wangshan grinned, his thick, fleshy frame piling up: "Miss Ye is right. It's rare for all ten families to gather together, so we should all pay our respects to Old Madam Mu!"
Hou Wanjin rubbed his hands together, his fat face jiggling. "Yes, yes, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
Liu Wenyuan adjusted his glasses, his eyes gleaming behind the lenses.
Yan Qinghe stroked his rat whiskers, a sinister smile of confidence on his face. He nodded slightly to Ye Ruyan, his posture respectful yet showing the intimacy of an ally.
Only Qian Houjin huddled at the very back, his legs trembling like leaves, his face as white as paper.
He glanced at Li Xiangnan, only to find that Li Xiangnan still had a faint smile on his face, as if he had expected all of this.
This isn't right...something's really wrong!
Alarm bells rang in Qian Houjin's mind.
Li Xiangnan was too calm, frighteningly calm!
Could it be that we've been tricked from the very beginning?
"Since Comrade Ye has spoken, that's good!" Li Xiangnan's voice remained calm. "However, the backyard is the inner quarters after all, and having so many people rush in at once might disturb Grandma!"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the representatives of the ten families: "How about this—Comrade Ye will bring two representatives from the top five, and Elder Yan will bring two representatives from the bottom five, six people in total! The rest of you can wait in the central courtyard!"
It's another limit on the number of participants!
Ye Ruyan frowned slightly, about to speak, when Yan Qinghe interjected, "Doctor Li, I'm afraid this is inappropriate! The account books involve ten families, and we should all be present to witness it!"
“Yes,” Zong Wangshan echoed gruffly, “If we’re going in, let’s all go in together, why bother with the order!”
Li Xiangnan looked at them and suddenly smiled. The smile was faint, with an almost mocking tone.
"It seems you've all decided to bring all ten families into the backyard together today?" he asked slowly.
“Exactly!” Zong Wangshan puffed out his chest and raised his head. “We ten families in Yanjing are of one blood! Today, we’ve come to offer our congratulations, so naturally we must all pay our respects to the old lady!”
These words sounded grand and dignified, but many of the surrounding guests frowned. This was hardly a congratulatory greeting; it was clearly an attempt to force the emperor to abdicate!
Li Xiangnan nodded, no longer insisting, and turned to Song Ziming, saying, "Ziming, go to the backyard and tell the old men... that the guests from the ten families of Yanjing have all arrived, and ask them to come out and be witnesses! Also, since there is an important matter in the backyard, do not let any unauthorized personnel in!"
Song Ziming was about to leave when Ye Ruyan called him back.
"Wait a minute," Ye Ruyan stepped forward, still wearing a polite smile, "Dr. Li, these gentlemen are getting on in years, and today is a celebratory banquet, why trouble them?"
She paused, her voice soft but firm, "We're just paying our respects to Madam Mu, returning the account books, and asking a few questions. With ten families present as witnesses, that's enough!"
This was a clever way of putting it; it both refused to invite Elder Jiang and the others and implied that mutual verification among the ten families would represent fairness!
Li Xiangnan gave her a deep look, and suddenly said, "Comrade Ye, are you worried that it's inconvenient to say some things with the old gentlemen present?"
That's a sharp question that hits the nail on the head.
Ye Ruyan's expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure: "Dr. Li is joking. I was just being considerate of my elders!"
"Then thank you for your kindness, Comrade Ye!" Li Xiangnan ignored her completely and nodded to Song Ziming.
Song Ziming strode towards the moon gate in the backyard.
Just then, footsteps sounded, and Li Dequan, supported by Song Cijiu, walked out of the main room.
Upon seeing this, Zong Wangshan, who had just been clamoring to greet Old Master Li, remembered the reputation of this Master Li in Yanjing and, after all, still had a bit of respect and apprehension for the senior, so he nodded and cupped his hands, saying, "Old Master Li!"
Li Dequan's half-closed gaze swept over Zong Wangshan, Yan Qinghe, and the others before he looked away, only reminding his grandson, "Take good care of them!"
The word "take care" was used with great emphasis and carried a deep meaning, causing Zong Wangshan and the others to pause slightly.
"Grandpa, don't worry, I'll definitely take good care of the ten families' distinguished guests today!" Li Xiangnan chuckled and nodded in agreement, then looked at Defa: "Defa, open the back gate!"
Wang Defa took a deep breath, walked quickly to the moon gate in the backyard, and slowly pushed open the door that had not been closed for decades!
"Squeak!"
The sound of the door hinges turning was particularly jarring in the quiet courtyard.
Behind the gate, a narrow path paved with bluestone leads forward, where two enormous jujube trees have long since reached for the sky.
The main house, facing south, stood quietly, its doors and windows tightly shut.
But what people are clearly more concerned about is the side room next to the Xu family's house across the street!
Everyone's eyes were fixed on that side room!
That's where Mu Huanying lives!
That's where this storm will finally end!
"Everyone, please!" Li Xiangnan stepped aside to make way.
Ye Ruyan was the first to take a step.
She stood tall and walked with a steady gait; her dark blue suit skirt gleamed with a cool sheen in the sunlight.
Representatives from the Chen, Wang, Lu, and Han families followed closely behind, the five of them walking side by side with a solemn and composed demeanor.
Excitement flashed in Yan Qinghe's eyes, and he quickly followed.
Liu Wenyuan, Zong Wangshan, and Wan Jin also couldn't wait to push forward.
Qian Houjin hesitated for a moment, then Zong Wangshan pulled him over: "What the hell are you dawdling for!"
The ten representatives finally stepped through the moon gate in the backyard of the courtyard house at No. 80 Nanluoguxiang.
They exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of excitement, agitation, calculation, and fear.
Qian Houjin's eyes were filled with panic!
But the arrow was already on the bowstring and had to be released!
Ye Ruyan walked at the front, about ten steps away from the door of the side room.
Nine steps.
eight steps.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Soon we will see Mu Huanying, and soon we will be able to confirm the secret that has troubled Yanjing for decades.
seven steps.
six steps.
The window of the side room suddenly moved.
Behind the dark curtains, an old face flashed by in the window.
Although it was only for a moment, everyone's scalp suddenly went numb!
It was an old face with neatly combed silver hair!
who is it?
Is it Mu Huanying?
She really is in the backyard!
Ye Ruyan stopped in her tracks, her pupils suddenly shrinking!
But she didn't know Mu Huanying!
Of the ten families in Yanjing, only Yan Qinghe was older and had met Mu Huanying.
She quickly glanced at Yan Qinghe, urgently seeking confirmation.
Yan Qinghe gasped, his hands instinctively clenching his sleeves, then shook his head at her.
Don't you recognize me?
Still can't see it clearly?
"Hehe..." Zong Wangshan grinned, trying to laugh, but found he couldn't. He could only see the side profile of that face, but the pressure on him was like Mount Tai pressing down, making him feel inexplicably uneasy.
His laughter broke Ye Ruyan's thoughts. She took a deep breath and started walking again.
Li Xiangnan was the only one who remained calm and followed at the back, his gaze as still as water.
Five steps.
Four steps.
Ye Ruyan's hand had already touched the clasp of her briefcase; the ledgers inside were about to come in handy!
Her breathing became rapid, her face flushed, and her heart began to pound.
Three steps.
Two steps.
Just as her foot was about to step onto the steps of the side room—
"Boom!"
A heavy, muffled thud suddenly came from outside the moon gate.
The sound wasn't loud, but it was unusually deep and resonant, like something heavy pounding on the ground.
Everyone was stunned.
Ye Ruyan turned around, and Yan Qinghe turned away.
Zong Wangshan craned his neck to look back.
Another sound—
"Boom!"
This time the sound was closer, right outside the moon gate.
Then comes the third tone.
Outside the door, a sea of heads stood silently.
"Boom!"
The sound was so loud that the bluestone slabs seemed to tremble.
Then, an old, hoarse voice, yet carrying an undeniable air of authority, pierced through the courtyard, booming in everyone's ears:
"The Du family of Yanjing, Du Xingyue—"
"Bringing my children and family, I've come to offer my congratulations!"
Dead!
Absolute silence!
The wind stopped.
The branches of the jujube tree no longer rustled.
Outside the moon gate, a burly and imposing figure slowly emerged.
It was Du Xingyue!