The room atmosphere become heavy it feel like the tension squashes them inside out, The servants didn't dare to lift their heads, not even the servant who follows Sanguan Wu Ci, at first they thought it would be easy to subdue Lory, they thought she will give in without too much a fight, they deliberately choose the time where Lory alone in her manor before they decide to visit her but now they acted like an ostrich that buries their head on the sand.

Lory raised her finger before sanguan Wu ci could talk "Did I warned you and your sister, did I told you not to cross the line? I have warned both of you over and over again…I even said 'please'. If you forgot about it I can present you few witnesses who can confess what happened that day" Then she look at Ling Zi meaningfully.

​​

Ling Zi knowingly takes a step forward "If madam needs it, the shadow guard would happily found the witnesses, I don't think it would take less than a day" ling Zi sneer, searching for a witness for sanguan Li ye incident is a simple matter, like buying cabbaged at the market.

"What do you think Master Sanguan?" Lory raised her eyebrows as she directly challenged him.

Of course, everyone knows it was Sanguan Li Ye's fault but Sanguan Wu Ci still refused to admitted it because it meant he had to admit his mistake too, Sanguan Wu Ci was a proud man how could he let himself down in front of the woman. He tamped down his frustration then he glared at Lory "It's…unnecessary" he gritted his teeth.

Lory's expression softened, she leaned her back and smile "If you said so…" she give dismissed waved and Ling Zi takes a step back. Ling Zi peered at Lory's figure then she secretly smiled, she really admired the young madam right now.

Refuse to back down, Sanguan Wu Ci offered another suggestion "Still the matters between the Sanguan Family and Hei Shen sect has been dragged for too long and this is not good for both of us, I'm afraid that this will also damage your reputation so why don't we find a middle ground for this problem?"

"And what is your suggestion, master Sanguan?" Lory sips her tea nonchalantly.

Sanguan Wu Ci expression hardened, he used to have women swooning over him when did he ever treated like this with women, Lory behavior infuriated him but somehow he got more attracted to her "Why don't we make a truce, after all, there's nothing good coming if we fight each other so allow me to held a banquet and you can come as our honored guest, we will compensate for all losses and all you have to do that what happened that day is a misunderstanding" Sanguan Wu Ci broaden his smile, he clasped his hand behind his back and puffed his chest as he stares at Lory confidently.

Lory didn't give an immediate response, she becomes silent as she drummed her finger on the armchair in contemplation. The Hei Shen member who witnessed this scene subconsciously exchanged glances with each other, they were wondering why the young madam looks like their Lord. Although she's not as ruthless as Zhao Li Xin, but she got the same terrifying aura.

"You want me to come to your party and told everyone that everything that happened was a misunderstanding?" Lory narrowed her eyes.

"Is that a problem, madam?" Sanguan Wu Ci pretends to be oblivious.

Lory let out a harsh breath as her face contorted with anger "What you are asking me is to show everyone that Hei Shen sect surrender themselves. As Long Ming's wife and the owner of Xin Xen token if I came to your place and pretend there's nothing happened that would show that the Hei Shen sect feared the sanguan family. Do you expect me to throw away my husband and Hei Shen dignity into a gutter, WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!" Lory pounds the armchair.

Her rising voice startled everyone in the room including Princess Youya, even though her expression remains calm but under her sleeve, her hand was cold and clammy, she rubbed her hands together to eased the nerves within her. Meanwhile, Sanguan Wu Ci was was also dumbfounded his mouth slightly loose and his face turns pale, he didn't know someone like Lory could have such an intimidating aura that could match the empress, this is ridiculous!

However, no one is more shocked than Shin Jiu, he never saw Lory angry, not even once, Lory always talk with reason and logic and the worst thing she ever does is nags and it's also very rare most of the time it was him he do the nags so know his face is also turning as white as sheet, and he could feel cold sweat behind his back.

Lory snorted, she took another sip of tea then put down the teacup gently "This is unacceptable. Master sanguan…" her voice softened again as if the previous outburst is only a dream.

"If you ask for a middle ground, let's find fair middle ground" Lory opened her arms and showed a concerned look "We both know who had made the mistake here, but….as one of the most influential sects in the continent we don't need to raise the problem, so I suggest that your family admit that one of their family has made a mistake, also your sister would personally admit that it's all was her fault and promise she will repeat her mistakes, and in return, the Hei Shen sect would help treat miss Sanguan Li Ye until she completely healed…..what do you think?"

Princess Youya almost burst into laughter, she was struggling to maintain her expression so continued drinking her tea. Lory suggestion is much fairer than Sanguan Wu Ci, after all, everyone knows it's all happened because of Sanguan Li Ye arrogance so it was only natural that Sanguan Li Ye admits her mistake and Hei Shen compensated her by treated her until she recovers but asking Sanguan Jin Sheng to admit that his family make mistakes is like asking him to swallow poison.

There's no way an egomaniac like Sanguan Jin Sheng would let anyone tarnished his reputation not even for his own biological daughter, and for this matter, Princess Youya cannot be more certain.

Sanguan Wu Ci's face blackened like charcoal, judging by his father's character there was no way he would accept this proposal, he might even be punished by his father. Lory was also known about this, for a man who didn't hesitate to kill his wife and son for his own benefit would not have a problem sacrificing his other child just to save his face.

"This…..this is not something I can decide on my own," said Sanguan Wu Ci.

"I understand" Lory nodded, make them apologize or hurt Sanguan Li Ye was not her intention anyway, she just wants them to know that she's not someone they can look down on, they better stop trying to hurt Zhao Li Xin by using her.

"Madam Zhao, if I may ask, wouldn't you be worried about the rumor outside" princess Youya suddenly joined in the conversation.

"Rumor?" Lory shifts her gaze at princess Youya.

"Yes, haven't you heard? They say you are a vicious woman who used her husband's power to hurt a young girl for petty reason" she set her mouth in a hard line as if she was angry for Lory's sake.

"Is that so…" Lory mouth twitched "Are they say that I used my body to make Long Ming do my deed, or I'm a cunning vixen who climb my master bed, oh, this is the best one, they said I'm a shameless and greedy woman who used to sell my body to every man for money, did I get everything right?" Lory asks Ling Zi in jest.

Hei Shen members face turn ashen, they never thought Lory know about all the rumors, Bei Li Yan used to be the one who controlled the rumors around the young madam but because of Lao Min Na matters, he ends up neglects a few things, if their Lord knows about this they cannot imagine how furious he could be, they subconsciously gulped.

Lory thought they didn't answer because she caught them by surprise or they don't get her jokes, Lory waves her hands aimlessly on the air "Oh well….at least that was the big three top rumors that had been circled everywhere" she shrugged nonchalantly.

"This is not bothering you, a woman reputation is valued more than the life itself, with so many bad rumors about you out there it's not impossible someone would use it to harmed you, I know some woman who was ruined by malice rumors even though she was an innocent" Princess Youya didn't mean to frightened Lory on the contrary she actually gives her sincere warning about what could have happened.

"Perhaps you can fix some of your reputations if you….."

"There's nothing to be fixed if it's not broken…" Lory cuts off. She looks at Princess Youya and smiles

"You forget who I'm married to, your highness, my husband is not an emperor, nor prince, his background even more elusive than he is. My husband bow to no one, and it's obvious he has little care for society, so how could a man like him bother with something like….rumours" Lory stifles, for someone who didn't care about being called 'monster' would he be worried about what other people think about him.

Sanguan Wu Ci and Princess Youya exchanged quick glances, they forgot about Long Ming's character. They used to live in a society where image and reputation were too important for them, especially for women. They forgot there are very few people who live by their own rules like Zhao Li Xin and his people, actually, no one is live as free as Zhao Li Xin, not even the Emperor.

His jaw tightened as anger rose in him like a tide, he didn't expect that Lory would see through his manipulation. He thought no matter how smart Lory was she still a woman who lived under Long Ming's protection, so how much she could she know, let alone she also had no education about the high society worked, so where this wittiness come from.

He thought he can't trap her with great rewards, flaunt her vanity as an honorable guest for the sanguan family, he was sure that lory would take the bait in a heartbeat after all who doesn't want to be acknowledged by the upper society, especially someone who came from a lowly background like Lory.

He thought behind the nonchalant attitude she used she show on the surfaces, he's sure deep down Lory eager to prove her self worth as Long Ming wife but who would've thought her character was similar to Long Ming.