Meng Anli stopped. "May I ask, Father, am I still a member of the Meng family?"
Meng Mingde was slightly taken aback. Before so many officials, he naturally could not say no.
He nodded cautiously.
"Then can't I invite all these uncles to visit my home?"
Meng Mingde was left speechless.
He cursed Meng Anli several times over in his heart, but on the surface, he could only force out a smile.
"Anli, of course you may invite them to visit, but it must be during the day."
Lu Zhiyuan snorted coldly. "You're stopping us like this—are you feeling guilty? If there's nothing shady going on, why are you afraid to let us see?"
Meng Mingde asked, "If I brought so many people to your home right now, would you agree?"
Lu Zhiyuan answered openly, "Of course I would. I have nothing that cannot see the light of day."
And so the standoff dragged on for a while.
Meng Xiuchen returned and gave Meng Liangmiao a reassuring look.
Meng Liangmiao felt somewhat relieved, though indignation still covered his face.
"Lord Lu, you are truly bullying us beyond measure and have pushed us into a dilemma where we can neither advance nor retreat.
If we refuse, by tomorrow the Heavenly Realm will be spreading word that we use forbidden arts to cultivate inner cores, that we do not dare let others see.
But if we agree, where will our dignity be?
If you insist on seeing, we can cooperate. But if there is nothing there, then tomorrow you must issue a notice explaining tonight's circumstances and publicly apologize to our Meng family."
Lu Zhiyuan agreed without hesitation. "Fine."
Even Meng Anli was somewhat startled, and she looked up at Lu Zhiyuan.
Lu Zhiyuan gently rubbed her head in reassurance. "I believe