The top-level junior sister also wants to act weak today

Jiang Yingxue then got off the carriage. She looked up at the tall buildings in the city, a smile on her lips: "Canglan Kingdom, it is indeed a prosperous and powerful country."

Chu Ying nodded: "Of course not, but this foreign carriage cannot enter the city for the time being, so we need to go in. Everyone, come down. Let's rest at my house first, and then we can visit the Zheng family after we settle down!"

Everyone nodded and followed Chu Ying into Qihong City.

Inside the city gate, the streets are spacious and clean, with a constant stream of pedestrians, and it is very lively.

The air was filled with the aroma of tea and snacks, sweet with a hint of floral fragrance, which made people feel happy. Chu Ying, who was walking in front, walked briskly and couldn't help humming a little tune: "Go, go, go, we're almost there, my home is just ahead, just around the corner."

Everyone followed her through several intersecting alleys and passed by a small field full of locust trees. A breeze blew, and the locust flowers fell, landing on the ground like a pale white blanket.

Finally, after walking for about an incense stick of time, they arrived in front of a spacious and magnificent house. Hanging on the door was an exquisitely carved plaque with the two large characters "Chu Mansion" written in vigorous and powerful handwriting, exuding an extraordinary style.

Chu Ying stared at the plaque and swallowed nervously. Then she mustered up the courage to walk forward and knock on the door.

After a while, a servant opened the door. The servant was still holding a broom in his hand, and his eyes lit up when he saw Chu Ying.

Before the servant could speak, Chu Ying excitedly said, "Laifu! Long time no see!"

The servant was surprised and said, "Miss, weren't you practicing? Why are you back?"

"We have important matters to attend to in Qihong City, and we'd like to bring our friends home to visit them."

Upon hearing this, the servant quickly put down the broom in his hand and opened the door wide: "Dear guests, please come in quickly."

Chu Ying nodded and led the group into the Chu Mansion. Sunlight streamed through the porch onto the bluestone floor. The courtyard was filled with lush flowers, and a gentle breeze carried a faint, elegant fragrance. However, the Chu Mansion seemed a bit less crowded, with only the rustling of leaves as the only sound in the silence.

"Let's go, I'll take you into the house." Chu Ying looked normal, with a hint of lightness in her tone.

The group soon arrived at the main hall. Pushing open the heavy wooden door, they were greeted by a desolate scene.

The walls were decorated with delicate vases, but they were covered in a fine layer of dust from neglect. The large chairs in the hall were neatly arranged, but it seemed empty and lonely, and even the sound of footsteps echoed in the room.

Chu Ying frowned. Dad used to treasure these vases very much. How come no one noticed them now that they were covered in dust?

"Please sit down first, I'll make tea for you." The servant said respectfully at the door, then turned around and prepared to leave.

"Wait, Lai Fu." Chu Ying suddenly spoke, her eyes fixed on the servant's back.

The servant paused, a look of uneasiness on his face. "Miss, what do you want?"

"Where is my father?"

The servant was startled, his hands trembling slightly, and he lowered his head, not daring to look directly at Chu Ying. "Um... the master..."

The servant spoke vaguely and hesitantly, as if he didn't know how to answer.

Chu Ying panicked when she saw this: "What happened to my dad?"

Upon hearing this, the servant lowered his head even further, his fingers twisted nervously together, and he spoke uncomfortably, "The master was furious after receiving your letter. He was so angry that he vomited blood that day. He then fell ill and took to his bed... Now, all affairs of the mansion, big or small, are under the management of the Second Master. The position of acting head of the household will also be temporarily held by the Second Master."

Chu Ying's face turned pale as she heard this: "Doesn't that mean my father's power has been hollowed out? How could this happen? My father is a Jindan-stage expert after all, how could he..."

Chu Ying gritted her teeth. It was just a breakup. She didn't believe that a mere letter from home would cause her father to be bedridden. "Take me to see my father."

The servant shook his head: "Madam Liu said that the master is weak now and no one can visit him."

"Bullshit!" Chu Ying slammed her hand on the table, the sound so clear that it shook the porcelain cups in the hall slightly. "She's just a concubine, how can she control me? Anyway, no matter what, I have to see my father today!"

After saying that, she suddenly stood up, her skirt raised in a sharp arc, and ran straight out of the hall.

"Miss! Miss!" The servant was so frightened that he hurried forward and stretched out his hand to try to stop Chu Ying. As he chased her, he carefully advised: "Miss, this is not appropriate! You still have guests here. It is really not appropriate to leave so rashly..."

"What's inappropriate about this?" Chu Ying looked at Jiang Yingxue, her tone apologetic. "Wait for me here, I'll be back soon."

"it is good."

Chu Ying ran quickly towards her father's bedroom, the dust raised by her footsteps flying on the bluestone path. Along the way, she thought of various possibilities, but when she looked up and saw the scene before her, she was completely stunned.

"what's the situation?"

The bedroom door was tightly closed, and the door frame was covered with talisman paper. The golden runes emitted a faint glow, and as the spring breeze blew, the light patterns flowed, like an invisible barrier covering the entire room.

She quickly stepped forward and raised her hand to tear off the obtrusive talisman. However, as her finger touched a corner of the talisman, a powerful force erupted from it, like an invisible wall, violently shaking Chu Ying away.

She stumbled back a few steps, her heel colliding with the stone steps behind her before she could regain her balance. Chu Ying looked down at her numb fingers, her eyes blazing with anger. "Are you kidding me? My father's bedroom was sealed off with a talisman array!"

The servant hurried over and couldn't help but sigh when he saw the scene.

"Who put this talisman up? Where's Aunt Liu? Bring her here!"

Before he finished speaking, a graceful woman walked in from the courtyard gate. She was wearing an elegant crimson dress, her face charming and smug, and she was followed by several unfamiliar servants.

The woman's eyes swept over Chu Ying, a sharp smile curling up her lips. "I was wondering who would be so bold as to trespass into the master's house. So it's our eldest daughter of the Chu family. Why did you suddenly come back today?"

Chu Ying stood in the courtyard and glanced at her coldly: "If I hadn't come back, I wouldn't know that my father was imprisoned by you like this."

"Imprisonment?" The woman scoffed, her jade fingers covering her lips as she smiled coquettishly yet coldly, "Chu Ying, don't you understand the situation? It was you, the unfilial daughter, who insisted on breaking off the engagement, and that's why the master is so furious and terminally ill! If it weren't for you, would the master be in this state now?"

Chu Ying's eyes suddenly turned cold when she heard this: "Nonsense! My father is a Jindan-stage cultivator, how could he be so sick and bedridden because of a letter of broken engagement? It's clearly you, a vixen, who did something to him! Aunt Liu, I'm warning you for the last time, tear off the talismans on the doors and windows immediately, otherwise -"