novelhk 40. Meeting with guests in the main study
40. Meeting with guests in the main study
The guard's voice came over, and apart from the two people in the main seats whose expressions changed, the expressions of the other two groups of people in the guest room also changed.
What they had in common was that a look of joy appeared on the faces of the old man in white and the two middle-aged men with red hair.
Just now, during their conversation with Ling An, they discovered that Ling Yongsheng, whom they were looking for, was not even at the Ling family home, and they were about to say goodbye and leave.
Unexpectedly, just when things seemed hopeless, Ling Yongsheng returned.
The three people who were about to get up and leave immediately sat back down.
Seeing the old man in white sit down again, the girl, who had already stood up, could only twist her body, pretending that she just wanted to adjust her posture, feeling slightly embarrassed.
Fortunately, no one was paying attention to her at the moment; everyone in the guest room was distracted by the shouts of the two guards.
If there weren't other guests sitting in the guest room, Lingjun would probably have already gone out to greet her beloved son and father-in-law.
But since the guests were still sitting there, Lingjun's years of aristocratic upbringing taught him that he could not be impolite at this time.
After the initial joy, Ling An, who was seated in the main seat, also felt slightly embarrassed.
I had just told the guests that Ling Yongsheng had gone out on business and might not be back for a while, and then the old man came back. It was a slap in the face.
However, as the lord of a city, having a thick skin is one of Ling An's skills.
He quickly composed himself and addressed the guests seated in front of him: "Ahem, ahem. It seems my father has just returned home. In that case, I hope you can wait a moment while I have my wife go and ask if my father is free to come."
Ling An's words were very apt; they neither said that Ling Yongsheng would definitely return, nor did they give his wife the opportunity to satisfy her current needs.
Ling Yongsheng's original plan was to go for a day or two at most and then return. Unexpectedly, four days have passed in the blink of an eye, and he's only just returned at this time.
Ling An was also secretly worried, wondering if something had happened.
Especially the golden pillar of light that reached the sky a few days ago. According to feedback from a member of a collateral branch of the clan, Ling An was able to confirm that the golden pillar of light appeared near the secret realm.
This news left Ling An with mixed feelings of joy and worry. On the one hand, reason told him that when that golden pillar of light appeared, the aura it faintly emitted made him feel that it was a hundred times more terrifying than the aura emanating from the old man.
This level of skill can only be achieved by those at the level of a Title Douluo or higher!
On the other hand, emotionally, as a son and a father, Ling An inevitably had worries in his heart.
But now that the gatekeeper said that the old master and the young master have returned home, it at least means that on the surface, they are definitely fine.
This was enough to put Ling An's mind at ease, allowing him to focus on dealing with the visiting guests.
After Ling An finished speaking, the guests in the room expressed their understanding. As Ling An's wife, Ling Jun immediately understood her husband's intention, smiled, got up, said goodbye to the guests, and quickly left.
This was the first time in six years that she had been separated from her beloved son for a full four days, and she couldn't wait to see him again.
With Lingjun walking quickly, she arrived at the front garden of the Duke's mansion in less than two minutes and saw her beloved son.
But the figure standing next to her father-in-law and son made her eyes narrow in surprise, a look of deep shock flashing across them.
……
Two quarters of an hour later, Lingjun returned to the guest room.
She first greeted the guests with a smile, then went straight to her husband's side, bent down and whispered a few words in his ear.
In the eyes of both groups of guests, Ling An, who had maintained a calm demeanor since appearing before them, suddenly narrowed his eyes and showed a deep look of shock the moment he heard his wife's words.
"Really?" he asked his wife softly, lowering his voice.
Lingjun remained silent, but nodded slightly to reiterate his affirmation.
"Hoo—" The city lord slowly exhaled a long breath, then stood up and said something that surprised the guests in front of him.
"My father has indeed returned home, but the journey has been arduous, and both my father and son are quite tired. It is truly inappropriate for us to receive guests today, and I hope you will all understand."
"If you don't mind, please rest at my residence for the day. I will arrange for you to speak with my father tomorrow."
Ling An's words were seen as complete nonsense by both groups of people.
Although they were unsure of Ling Yongsheng's current cultivation level, both groups of visitors were certain that his cultivation was definitely above that of a Title Douluo, and he was even very likely to be a Super Douluo!
What kind of fatigue could make a Super Douluo feel tired?
However, neither group of people came to cause trouble. Since the head of the family had said so, they naturally obeyed his arrangements.
Soon, at Ling An's summons, two of the Ling family's butlers came to the guest room and led the two groups of guests away.
"Is Uncle really back?" As soon as the two groups of guests left, Ling An couldn't contain his confusion any longer and asked his wife beside him.
"Oh, it's true. It's the uncle you told me about who was very kind to my father but later disappeared. He's come back with my father and Tian'er this time."
Lingjun was somewhat dissatisfied. She had already said it twice, yet her husband was still questioning whether she was lying.
After thinking for a moment, she added, "I've seen my uncle's portrait hundreds of times, there's no way I could mistake him. Besides, my father has confirmed his identity and is telling you to go over there quickly."
How could Ling Jun have guessed that the news of Ling Yongming's return would give Ling An such a great shock?
She was unaware, but Ling An was absolutely certain. How could he not know whether his uncle was truly missing or faking it?
Ling An was stunned by the news and hadn't quite processed it yet when he recalled the speculations of his predecessors.
However, upon hearing his wife's urging once again, he responded with an "okay" and then got up to head towards the Ling family's main study.
"Whatever the situation, we can find out by asking Father in the main study."
This was Ling An's only thought at that moment.
At the same time, the head steward of the Ling family, who had received instructions from Ling Jun, quickly dispatched a guardian of the family's agility-type Soul Master to the East Gate to inform Ling Yongyi, who was guarding there, about Ling Yongming's return home.
Upon receiving the mission, the agility-type Soul Master with the Lightning Antelope Martial Soul immediately set off from the Ling family and rushed towards the East Gate, leaving a purple afterimage on the city's expressway.
The news of Ling Yongming's return home immediately mobilized the entire Ling family leadership.