The Favored Heiress
Chapter 344: Are You Satisfied with the Results of Uncle’s Test?

Chapter 344: Chapter 344: Are You Satisfied with the Results of Uncle’s Test?

Upon entering the estate, Housekeeper Xiao, who had been waiting for some time, immediately came to greet them.

He bowed respectfully to Shang Yu and Li Qiao and said, "Eldest Young Master, all the family heads and elders are in the Reception Hall waiting, the master has asked for you to go there first. Miss Li, please follow me."

Shang Yu slowly released Li Qiao’s hand, looking at her solemnly, he cautioned, "Remember what I said."

Li Qiao nodded, indicating she understood, and then followed Housekeeper Xiao to the tea room in the back courtyard.

The tea room was especially tranquil and peaceful, with numerous bodyguards standing guard near the wing room.

Housekeeper Xiao pushed open the carved wooden door for her, and as they entered, a rich aroma of tea greeted them.

In the ancient-style tea room, Shang Zonghai dressed in a gray Tang suit and wearing gold-rimmed glasses, was sitting at a tea table carved from Huanghuali wood.

Upon hearing footsteps, he raised his hand and beckoned, "Young miss, come over and sit."

Li Qiao approached and greeted him as Uncle, and as she took her seat, Shang Zonghai pushed a cup of clear tea towards her.

His gaze fell on the elegant cup, seemingly filled with distant memories; after a moment of silence, he said, "Years ago, an old friend gave me half a pound of wild Taiping Houkui.

I have treasured it for over twenty years, never willing to drink it, but you, young lady, are in luck today."

Li Qiao looked composedly at Shang Zonghai, nodding politely in thanks, "Thank you for your generosity, Uncle."

"No need to be so formal, just try it and see how it tastes."

Shang Zonghai seemed extremely patient with Li Qiao, his eyes, marked by the traces of years, unwaveringly fixed on her.

Li Qiao brought the cup to her lips and took a sip, the fragrant aroma of the tea blooming on her taste buds. She smiled and agreed, "It’s indeed good tea, richly aromatic and mellow without bitterness."

Shang Zonghai nodded approvingly, let out a sigh of relief, and stood up from the tea table.

He paced over to the tea shelf, stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze settling on the packet of Taiping Houkui, he asked in a low voice, "Was last night’s matter resolved?"

Li Qiao put down her tea cup, turned to look at Shang Zonghai’s back, knowing he was referring to the kidnapping case, she calmly replied, "It’s mostly settled, Uncle, you don’t need to worry."

"Speaking of which, had I not arranged for the Ferrari to be involved in a staged accident on the street that day, I might never have realized... This child of yours, though young, is quite capable."

Li Qiao was taken aback, surprise fleeting through her eyes.

With his back to her and hearing no answer, Shang Zonghai could not help but rub the Buddha Beads on his wrist, and he slowly turned around, "What, you didn’t expect it was me?"

Li Qiao stood up unhurriedly and met Shang Zonghai’s gaze, shaking her head slightly, "Indeed, I did not, but why did you do this, Uncle?"

The old, calculating Shang Zonghai, it was as if he was playing a game of chess, and she, Li Qiao, was just a piece in this game.

That feeling was rather unpleasant.

At that moment, Shang Zonghai sighed again, and the fingers stroking the Buddha Beads gradually came to a stop.

"You can consider it a test, or you can see it as a challenge. Young girl, being with Shaoyan means you are destined to face much pressure from the outside world.

If you don’t have the ability to protect yourself, then I must consider whether I should tell you certain truths or not."

Li Qiao and Shang Zonghai locked eyes for three seconds before she lowered her eyelids, concealing the emotions in her eyes, "Is Uncle satisfied with the results of the test then?"

"So far, it’s acceptable."

Not satisfied, nor dissatisfied, just acceptable.

Li Qiao tugged at the corner of her mouth, then looked down at her toes and calmly asked, "Was the incident at Qishan World Resort also one of your tests?"

"No. One test is enough; too many would be meaningless," Shang Zonghai explained, his deep voice tinged with a rare smile and a hint of an elder’s gentleness.

Therefore, the attack at the resort was indeed the handiwork of the Collateral Branch.

Li Qiao’s eyes momentarily flickered to a halt, and she secretly let out a sigh of relief, "Can Uncle now tell me some truth?"

Shang Zonghai adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses with a hand, speaking cryptically, "Girl, you are so smart, you should have guessed that there is some kind of connection between you and Parma."

Sure enough, every word Shang Zonghai had said to her in the South Sea had a deeper meaning.

Li Qiao raised her head to meet his gaze, "Uncle means to say..."

Shang Zonghai looked at her intently for a long while, then pointed into the air with his index finger and chuckled, "You, you are feigning ignorance."

Li Qiao smiled and said she wouldn’t dare, but deep in her eyes, there were hints of annoyance.

Trying to get information from Shang Zonghai was truly not easy.

"Alright, no matter what the truth is, you will eventually find out," Shang Zonghai said as he turned to leave, adding, "Child, there’s no need to be so guarded in front of me.

Remember, even if you are not with Shaoyan, Uncle will still protect you for your whole life."

This statement was resolute, word for word.

Li Qiao’s heart trembled abruptly, and she quickly looked up, her gaze complex as she watched Shang Zonghai’s retreating figure.

Those were not words a mere acquaintance could say.

So, did it all stem from her connection to Parma?

Li Qiao stood in her original spot, deeply pondering.

Shang Zonghai had already opened the carved wooden door, and sunlight flooded the tearoom all around. He looked back, his face gentle, "Come, it’s time for you to meet the family at today’s Clan Assembly."

...

It took just a few minutes to walk from the tearoom to the Reception Hall.

Li Qiao’s face didn’t show it, but inside, she was anything but calm.

In such a vast and complicated family relationship, her appearance in the Reception Hall alongside Shang Zonghai spoke volumes.

He was there to protect and escort her.

As the two of them entered the front hall of the Reception Hall, an atmosphere of solemnity and formality immediately enveloped the surroundings.

The moment Shang Zonghai, leading Li Qiao, appeared at the entrance of the hall, the people inside cast their gazes over in unison.

The two approached against the light, Shang Zonghai dressed in traditional attire exuding a simple elegance, his steps firm as he crossed the threshold. All those inside immediately stood up, bowing respectfully, "Patriarch."

Shang Zonghai walked forward without a word, with Li Qiao following behind him, her eyes fixed straight ahead.

The Reception Hall was spacious, and Li Qiao’s peripheral vision quickly scanned the room, estimating around fifty to sixty people present.

It indeed was a sprawling, intricate family.

And as she walked, she also noticed that the square tables were seemingly arranged according to the order of the Collateral Branches.

Amid the dense crowd, Li Qiao spotted Shang Qiongying and Shang Fu standing at the very back.

At that moment, the Reception Hall was very quiet.

Though everyone bowed their heads and bent at the waist, Li Qiao’s arrival was bound to attract the attention of many.

Apart from Shang Fu, who stood at the back, all other Collateral Branch members who had not met Li Qiao bowed courteously to her.

In a flash, Shang Zonghai took his place at the head of the main hall, and with Housekeeper Xiao’s guidance, Li Qiao also arrived at the head table of the main family.

All in the hall stood up, except for Shang Yu who sat firmly like a mountain.