Chapter 1722: Grand BanquetAt the thought that there was still a mastermind behind this, a chill ran down Xiao Ying’s spine.

That person was definitely not simple. It was very likely that he had colluded with Ba Er before.

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“Could it be Long Di?” Xiao Ying stared at Long Ming unblinkingly.

Long Ming shook his head.

He had already gotten someone to interrogate Long Di the day he had seen this document in the conference room. He had used all kinds of methods, but Long Di jhad refused to admit that he had leaked the information.

With Long Di’s personality, he would have used it to threaten him the day he planned to usurp the throne if he had such information!

Seeing Long Ming shake his head, Xiao Ying pursed her lips tightly. “Then who could it be?” Seeming to have thought of something, Xiao Ying stood up, wanting to walk out of the study. Long Ming grabbed Xiao Ying’s wrist. “Where are you going?”

“Bring your phone over.”

Long Ming let go of Xiao Ying’s wrist.

Xiao Ying took her phone and clicked on the email to turn on the recording.

“Listen to it.”When Long Ming heard that someone had sent Xiao Ying the words he had said in the meeting room, his well-defined face tensed up and turned extremely cold.

“Who sent it?”

“I suspect it’s Lou Lan, but I didn’t find any clues. The person who sent me the recording was very cautious.”

“Leave this to me. I’ll investigate it properly.” Long Ming looked at Xiao Ying, who seemed to have lost some weight after not seeing her for two days. He caressed her face. “I’ve made you suffer.”

Xiao Ying rubbed her face against his palm, a lump in her throat. “It’s not me who has been wronged. It’s you.”

Long Ming knew that Xiao Ying felt terrible. Her past experience was like a deep scar to her. Although new skin had already grown over it, the flesh inside was still rotten.

Now that someone had torn off her shell and exposed the rotten flesh inside, she naturally felt pain.

“In the future, you will be the daughter of the Duke. Everything in the past will be sealed in your memories.”

Xiao Ying nodded with red eyes.

After Xiao Ying calmed down a little, she wanted to go back to her room to rest. Long Ming pulled her into his arms and rested his chin on the top of her head. “You still want to sleep in the guest room?”

Xiao Ying hummed. “I’m still very confused now. I want to be alone.”

Long Ming let go of Xiao Ying and did not force her.When Xiao Ying left the study, she looked at Long Ming’s tensed expression before she lowered her eyes and closed the door.

…

At one in the morning.

Long Ming came out of the study.

Pushing open the bedroom door, he walked in as he unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his firm and muscular chest.

When he was about to reach the bed, he stopped.

A delicate figure was lying on the wide and soft bed.

The bright and gentle moonlight shone in from outside the French windows and landed on that slender figure. It was indescribably beautiful and moving.

Long Ming bent down, his well-defined handsome face approaching her. Perhaps feeling his breath, the woman slowly opened her eyes. Staring at his handsome face that was so close to her, her long eyelashes fluttered slightly. “Why are you only resting now?”

“Didn’t you not want to sleep here?”

“I misunderstood you. It’s to make it up to you.” He did not know if she was awake or not, but her voice was soft and hoarse, with an indescribable charm. “If you don’t like it, I’ll go back to the guest room.”

Before she could finish, the man pressed his fingers against her lips. “You’re not allowed to go back.”After a while, Long Ming went to the bathroom to take a shower.

Returning to the bed, he looked at the woman who was waiting for him even though she could barely open her eyes. Warmth surged in his heart.

He pulled her into his arms and patted her slender back. “I said before that no matter what happens, you have to believe in me.”

Xiao Ying leaned against his arms, smelling his refreshing scent as she hummed hoarsely.

Although they had known each other for many years, they had rarely spent time together.

They still needed to get along. Having misunderstood him twice, she would try her best to believe and tolerate him in the future.

…

A week later.

At the Duke’s palace.

The lights were bright tonight and it was extremely lively.

After the couple returned to the country, they sent out invitations to the royal family, elders, and noble families. Tonight, they were holding a grand banquet at the Duke’s palace not only because they were returning to the country to settle down, but also because they had an important matter to announce to the public.

However, they did not reveal this important matter to the outside world.No one knew what the Duke and his wife were going to announce, so there was still a mysterious veil over the banquet tonight.

At the entrance of the Duke’s palace, luxurious cars were parked one behind another. There was a red carpet from the entrance to the manor’s villa. The musical fountain kept changing with the music, and the surrounding plants and flowers were blooming beautifully.

Xiao Ying had already moved into the Duke’s palace three days in advance. Although Long Ming was reluctant to let her out, she still had to learn some manners and rules in advance as the daughter of the Duke.

The couple had prepared a room for Xiao Ying. It was luxurious and dreamy.

In the afternoon, the fashion designer came over to help Xiao Ying change and prepare for the banquet.

Long Mei had only found out two days ago that Long Ming had asked her to come back to attend tonight’s banquet. She had arrived at the Duke’s palace early.

Long Mei was wearing a light pink off-shoulder dress today. Her skin was as fair as suet, and her long hair fell over her shoulders. She looked pure and feminine.

After Long Mei had changed and put on her makeup, she sat by the side to watch Xiao Ying do her makeup.

“Sister-in-law, you’ll definitely stun everyone tonight.”

Xiao Ying patted her chest. She was still a little nervous about tonight’s grand banquet. After all, all the people who were attending the banquet were all influential figures. She did not know what the relatives and elders who had seen her background would think when she appeared as the daughter of the Duke.

However, Long Ming was right. She had to take this step. After tonight, she would be the Long Ying of the Duke’s family, and would no longer be Number 21.

Xiao Ying finished putting on her makeup. The moment she stood up, her eyes were filled with amazement.“No wonder my brother likes you so much. Sister-in-law, you look so beautiful when you dress up!”

The makeup artist and stylist also praised Xiao Ying.

Xiao Ying was already immune to her appearance. If it wasn’t because she coudl change her appearance and take on all kinds of styles, Ba Er wouldn’t have trained her.

Once, she had hated this face to the core.

Long Mei pulled Xiao Ying to the window. From here, they could see the situation in the banquet hall downstairs.

Most of the guests had arrived, and they were all dressed elegantly.

Soon, there was a commotion in the hall.

Xiao Ying and Long Mei saw the banquet hall’s door open and a tall figure walked in amidst the crowd.

It was Long Ming.

Long Ming was wearing a tailored black suit. He was tall, with his perfectly ironed suit pants wrapped around his long legs. He had one hand in his pocket, his steps steady and strong.