9 – Ning Zong’s Dominant Protection of His Wife
Tang Qianluo furrowed her brows slightly and asked in a light tone, “Where is he?”
“In the reception hall.”
Tang Qianluo nodded and followed the servant toward the reception hall.
The person sent to pick her up was Uncle Wang, the Tang Family’s driver—usually an amiable elderly man. Recognizing him, Tang Qianluo greeted him softly,
“Uncle Wang.”
“Second Miss.” Uncle Wang bowed slightly in return. “Second Miss, Madam sent me to bring you home. She said she misses you and wishes to have a small gathering.”
A wave of disgust washed over Tang Qianluo. Miss me? More like she wishes I were dead!
“Young Madam, the Young Master has instructed that you are not to go out alone.” The Ning Family’s steward approached Tang Qianluo to stop her.
Uncle Wang’s eyes were full of distress as he pleaded, “Second Miss…”
The Tang Family had many affairs, and given Wan Qing’s way of handling things, if this task wasn’t completed, he might very well lose his job as driver.
Seeing this, Tang Qianluo smiled at the Ning Family steward and said, “Steward Uncle, don’t worry. I’ll be quick and won’t cause you any trouble.”
With that, she walked out of the room. The moment she got into the car, over ten different versions of a “Hongmen Banquet” scenario had already formed in her mind.
Tang Qianluo stood at the entrance of the Tang Residence for a long time. The exquisite iron gate resembled a cage, cutting off all familial affection between her and the Tang Family.
Two years ago, this iron gate had broken her wings and trapped her; two years later, it sealed off any remaining kinship and blocked her way.
The moment she pushed the gate open, the oppressive atmosphere nearly suffocated her.
Her mother’s endless curses, her father’s daily neglect, her sister’s repeated slanders…
Tang Qianluo walked in without showing any emotion and greeted the few people sitting properly in the hall.
Wan Qing shot her a sidelong glance of contempt and said sarcastically,
“Well, if it isn’t Madam Ning. Do you still remember this is your home? It’s truly not easy to have you grace us with your presence.”
Tang Qianluo sneered inwardly, straightened her clothes, and replied,
“Indeed. Since you know how busy I am, please keep it short. I still have to go home and have dinner with my husband later.”
Wan Qing’s eyes widened in fury. Two years ago, Tang Qianluo would resist, but she was never this sharp-tongued. It infuriated her!
“Fine, I’ll keep it short. When are you planning to return the restaurant the Gu Family transferred to you back to Ning Ning?”
So this was the true purpose of this Hongmen Banquet!
Tang Qianluo stood indifferently in place. After a moment, she let out a mocking laugh and retorted, “Return it? Why should I?”
“Tang Qianluo, are you truly ignorant or just pretending? The one who should have married into the Ning Family was Ning Ning, not you. Your status, your position, everything you have should have been Ning Ning’s. Since you took what belongs to her, shouldn’t you return it?”
Wan Qing’s voice was shrill, but the rest of the Tang Family had long grown accustomed to such scenes.
Countless days and nights, Tang Qianluo had endured this. She crossed her arms and said,
“Even if I dare to give it, would she dare to take it? Do you think the Ning Family is some pushover?”
Tang Wan Ning’s heart sank upon hearing this. Recalling the icy gaze Ning Dai had given her yesterday, she couldn’t help but shudder.
She coughed lightly, furrowed her brows delicately, and said in a soft voice,
“Qianluo, Mother isn’t trying to take the restaurant from you. She’s just worried you might not know how to manage it. If Beyond the Tower Restaurant declines under our Tang Family’s care, wouldn’t it bring shame to our family? I have more management experience than you, so entrusting it to me would be more secure.”Tang Wanning’s words sounded reasonable and justified, but in reality, it all boiled down to wanting the Beyond the Tower Restaurant.
Tang Qianluo shot her a disdainful glance and couldn’t even be bothered to respond.
Wan Qing, seeing Tang Wanning’s aggrieved expression, flew into a rage. She stood up, thrusting her neck forward as she shouted,
“If I had known you’d turn out like this, I never should have given birth to you! Why can’t you be more like Ning Ning? She works harder than you, she’s smarter than you, and she deserves the best of everything more than you do! I’m asking you, are you going to hand over this shop or not?”
Tang Qianluo had completely run out of patience. She let out a cold laugh and met Wan Qing’s gaze squarely, enunciating each word clearly,
“I won’t give it to you!”
Slap!
A sharp crack echoed through the living room.
Tang Qianluo tilted her head and raised a hand to gently touch her stinging cheek. The metallic taste of blood flooding her mouth made her nauseous.
“You harbinger of doom, you…” Wan Qing started to say more, but the sound of the door opening cut her off.
Tang Qianluo turned and saw Ning Dai walking in against the light. His posture was tall and straight, just like at their wedding, descending into her life like a savior.
Tang Qianluo’s face was still adorned with delicate makeup, but the red, swollen handprint stood out starkly against her delicate features.
Ning Dai reached out and gently touched Tang Qianluo’s swollen cheek. His voice was cold as he asked, “Who did this?”
Though she was accustomed to such scenes, having Ning Dai witness it seemed to magnify the humiliation. Her eyes reddened, and for a moment, she remained silent.
“I asked you, who did it!” Ning Dai’s tone grew even colder. Following Tang Qianluo’s gaze, he glanced at Wan Qing’s unpleasant expression, his eyes sharp enough to flay her alive.
Wan Qing cleared her throat. Although the Tang Family was no match for the Ning Family, she thought that as Ning Dai’s mother-in-law, she still deserved some respect. She straightened her posture and put on airs, saying,
“I did it. So what? Do I need your permission to discipline my own daughter?”
Ning Dai snorted coldly. “Discipline? Do you think you’re worthy of disciplining someone from the Ning Family?”
Someone from the Ning Family—those four short words struck Tang Qianluo’s heart like a heavy hammer.
Her almond-shaped eyes widened, and she could almost hear the frantic beating of her own heart.
Tang Chengye, seeing his wife being scolded by a junior, grew uncomfortable. He stood by Wan Qing’s side and said in a deep voice,
“Ning Dai, we are still your parents, after all. Speaking to us like this is utterly lacking in grace.”
Ning Dai didn’t even spare them a glance. His gaze remained fixed on Tang Qianluo’s injured cheek as he replied to Tang Chengye,
“I married Tang Qianluo, not the Tang Family. Did I ever say I acknowledged you as my parents?”
Tang Chengye was left speechless, his face flushed red with anger.
Before he could say anything else, Ning Dai’s deep voice cut through the air, “Tang Qianluo, return that slap!””
Tang Qianluo froze, not expecting Ning Dai to tell her to strike back. She clenched her hands into fists, coldly watching Wan Qing’s gritted teeth. Her hand twitched with the urge, but she couldn’t bring herself to raise it.
“Madam Tang, I’m not holding back because I’m afraid, but because I know what propriety, righteousness, integrity, and honor mean! I understand the respect due to elders! This slap is the last time I will ever yield. If there’s a next time, I will not tolerate it!”
Ning Dai was a man devoid of familial affection. He never let so-called emotions hinder his steps, so he couldn’t understand why Tang Qianluo was still holding back.
Today, the Tang Family had exhausted his patience. He lightly twisted the ring on his index finger and said impatiently to Tang Chengye,”I can make the Tang family live, and I can make the Tang family die. I’m not my grandpa—sentimental notions of gratitude mean nothing to me. If you don’t believe me, you can try.”
With that, he dragged Tang Qianluo out of the Tang Residence.