Returning to the Tribe (2)

After about ten days of this, things slowly began to change. Long Anqi nodded in approval, and finally, the emperor, having many matters to attend to, could not stay away for too long and returned home.

The Empress Dowager stayed in Ye City for about a month or two, and became quite familiar with Ye Lanyu and others. She even seemed reluctant to leave, spending her days drinking tea and watching plays at Ye Lang's teahouse, seemingly enjoying herself.

In the end, because of her special status, she had no choice but to leave. However, when she left, Long Anqi saw her off, and their relationship was no longer so strained.

Taking advantage of this, the Empress Dowager invited Long Anqi to the Vermilion Bird Empire to attend her birthday banquet. She hadn't celebrated her birthday with Long Anqi for many years, and what she wanted most now was for Long Anqi to bring her family. She also specifically requested that Ye Lang go, because she felt that Ye Lang was much more interesting than Long Anqi and Ye Lanyu.

Although the outcome was harmonious, Ye Lanyu could also sense that the problem between Long Anqi and the Empress Dowager was not simple. It was definitely not because of the conflict between the Vermilion Bird Empire and the Xiangkong Empire. If that were the case, the Ye Clan had already broken away from the Soaring Sky Empire, so such a problem would not exist.

There must be something else between them. No wonder Ye Lang didn't acknowledge her as his grandmother before. Only Mom herself can confirm this.

Ye Lanyu still doesn't know what the question is, because Long Anqi hasn't satisfied her curiosity and hasn't mentioned it at all. However, she has acknowledged that the Empress Dowager is her mother.

Long Anqi and the Empress Dowager haven't reached that point yet. She will have Ye Lang and Ye Lanyu call the Empress Dowager "Grandma." She doesn't want her children to hate their grandmother because of her.

As for Long Anqi, she naturally hoped that this matter could be resolved. After all, they were mother and daughter and had no deep-seated hatred. As for why she appeared so calm, it was simply because she couldn't accept it for the time being.

The ice three feet thick doesn't form in a day, and melting that ice won't be done in a day either.

"No, we still need to notify my brother and ask him to come over. Otherwise, he might have disappeared again, and we don't know how long it will take to see him again," Ye Lanyu said, shaking her head. She was still lost in her own thoughts.

"Speaking of which, that's true. We should let him know; I haven't seen him in a long time either." Long Anqi nodded. She also wanted to see Ye Lang; she hadn't seen him for even longer than Ye Lanyu Ye Lang.

"Okay! Let him go." Ye Lanyu nodded immediately.

"Do you all know where he is?" Ye Yi and the others asked, eager to know how Ye Lanyu planned to inform Ye Lang.

"I... don't know..." Ye Lanyu shook her head. She hadn't received any news about Ye Lang for a long time, and she wouldn't be the first to receive it.

Within the Ye Clan, Ye Lanyu was not in charge of intelligence. If Ye Lang hadn't sent her a message, she wouldn't have been the first to know Ye Lang's whereabouts.

The first people to know will probably be Seventh Brother or Third Brother, as they have more contact with the intelligence organization and are people who need information.

"Where's the third brother?" Ye Yi asked. He knew about this matter and knew that the best way to get information was to go to his Third Brother.

At this moment, everyone suddenly realized that the Third Brother, who was supposed to be there, was not present.

"Yes... I'm here..."

Just as everyone was wondering what was going on, the three of them came running over, panting heavily. They quickly grabbed some drinks from the table and drank them to ease their discomfort.

"Third Brother, why are you in such a hurry? It's okay if you're late. It's not like it's a meeting." Seventh Brother said, a little puzzled. Even if you don't attend this family gathering, it's fine. After all, it's just a get-together. If you really have things to do, go ahead and do them. No one will blame you.

"Do you think I was in such a hurry because I was late?" After calming down, Third Brother said to Seventh Brother, "I rushed over here because I wanted to give you a surprise."

"Surprise? What surprise? Do you have a girlfriend?" Seventh Brother looked at Third Brother and smiled lewdly. He had always suspected that Third Brother had some special fetish and didn't like women.

Because Third Brother has never had a girlfriend. He's already such a grown man, and he's always hanging out with his gang of brothers, risking their lives together.

The elders of the Ye Clan had brought up his marriage countless times, but it seemed that they had never managed to get him to comply.

"..." Third Brother rolled his eyes at Seventh Brother, then said, "Don't beg me later."

"Please? Please what?" Seventh Brother was a little confused.

"Third brother, what's making you so anxious?" Ye Yi asked. He rarely saw his Third Brother with such an expression, so he was certain that this matter was not trivial.

"I've received news, news about Thirteen," Third Brother said with a smile. Seeing that no one continued, he kept everyone in suspense, making them wait and look at him expectantly.

"Bang!"

Third Brother's father, who was also Ye Chengtian's eldest brother, gave Third Brother a "headshot" and cursed, "You little brat, are you asking for a beating? You're trying to pique my interest. Tell me now, what news do you have about Thirteen?!"

"..." Third Brother looked quite innocent and could only mumble, "News just came that Thirteen has returned to the Soaring Sky Empire, and it's even the imperial city of the Soaring Sky Empire."

"What?!"

Everyone was shocked by the news, though this was just an average reaction. Some people had already jumped over and grabbed Third Brother, swaying him back and forth.

Ye Lanyu was one of them. She shook her Third Brother violently and shouted, "What is he doing in Soaring Sky Imperial City? Doesn't he know what the situation is? That madwoman Zhao Yarou will kill him!!"

That's right, everyone present knew about this. Ye Lang going to Soaring Sky Imperial City was basically like sending a lamb to the slaughter.

"This beginning... I think... Damn, stop shaking me, let me finish what I have to say..." Third Brother said pitifully. At this moment, even if he wanted to explain, he had no way to do so.

"You say!"

In an instant, almost everyone withdrew their hands and stared at Third Brother.

"This matter... I don't know where to begin..." Third Brother paused, preparing to speak.

Are you asking for a beating?

"... I really don't know where to begin. Thirteen suddenly appeared in Soaring Sky Imperial City without any prior warning. It is said that he entered as a member of the Fox Tribe."

"The Fox Tribe?"

The Fox Tribe —what do they have in common with that kid, Thirteen? This question crossed everyone's minds, conjuring up two different images...