Chapter 826: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 826: Threats (3)
After stepping under the starry sky and returning to the Wei Yuan Marquis's residence, Xiao Ruiyuan had a simple dinner and was about to go back to his room to rest when someone from the Crown Prince’s residence arrived, requesting his presence there.
Without giving it much thought, Xiao Ruiyuan changed into a new outfit and was preparing to leave the residence. However, as he stepped out the door, he ran into Xiao Xiong and Wei Shi, who had just returned from outside.
"It's so late, where are you going, Young Master?" Wei Shi asked with apparent concern, though anyone unaware would think she had a good relationship with her stepson.
Xiao Ruiyuan didn’t even look at Wei Shi, brushing past them and heading for the door.
"Stop!" Xiao Xiong suddenly shouted, his eyes cold and filled with disdain, looking nothing like a father speaking to his own son. "What’s this attitude? Apologize to your mother!"
Xiao Shiyi looked at Xiao Xiong as though he were an idiot. Normally, they wouldn’t even acknowledge each other, so he didn’t understand what had gotten into him today. Why was he asking the Young Master to apologize to this woman?
Xiao Ruiyuan and Xiao Xiong’s relationship had always been poor, and it had worsened after Xiao Ruiyuan sent Xiao Ruiqing out of the capital, assigning him to guard the family’s ancestral tomb. Their relationship had cooled to an all-time low. Even though they lived under the same roof, they hardly spoke to one another, passing each other like strangers for nearly a year. Was this the moment it was about to break?
Xiao Ruiyuan didn’t want to engage with these two people, but their reaction made him suspect something was amiss. Coldly, he looked at them and said, "My mother has long since passed away. The one who should apologize isn’t me."
Wei Shi’s face froze, and she moved half a step closer to Xiao Xiong, her face showing an expression of undeserved grievance. "Young Master, how can you speak like that to the Marquis?"
Xiao Xiong was even angrier now. Pointing his finger at Xiao Ruiyuan, he cursed, "You unfilial and disrespectful brat! What qualifications do you have to be the heir to the Marquis’s estate?"
Had it not been for the old Marquis, who, despite his illness, had gone to the palace to plead for Xiao Ruiyuan’s title of heir, Xiao Xiong would have never accepted him as the heir. Given his dislike for his legitimate son, he would have definitely replaced him with a younger child.
Xiao Ruiyuan had always known this well. Seeing Xiao Xiong bring it up again, his expression remained unchanged, but his mind began to weigh the deeper meaning behind his words.
Seeing Xiao Ruiyuan remain silent, Xiao Xiong’s anger eased a little, and he spoke in a commanding tone, "Your mother arranged a marriage for Ruiqing. You need to send someone to bring him back. If his future is delayed, it’ll be embarrassing for you as his older brother!"
If it hadn’t been for this unfilial son keeping Ruiqing away, refusing to allow anyone to get near him, Xiao Xiong would have brought him back long ago, without needing to consider his son’s opinion.
Xiao Ruiyuan, hearing this, began to understand why the couple was acting so strangely today. Hmph, someone who had been driven out, what right did they have to return?
"I’ve said it before—Xiao Ruiqing will either stay there for the rest of his life, or I will submit the evidence of how he secretly plotted against his elder brother to the Emperor. Since you insist on bringing him back... I’ll let you!"
Xiao Xiong and Wei Shi, however, did not back down as they usually did. Instead, Wei Shi couldn’t hide the smugness on her face and smiled, "Young Master, Princess Ruining wishes to marry Ruiqing, and the Emperor is also inclined to grant the marriage. You can’t let him stay away forever, can you?"
Xiao Ruiyuan was slightly surprised. He hadn’t expected them to be connected to Princess Ruining, and now he couldn’t help but reassess the two people in front of him.
Princess Ruining, seventeen years old, was the fifth daughter of Emperor Hui'an. With her stunning beauty and lively personality, she had managed to win the Emperor’s favor, making her the most beloved princess. As a result, she was granted the title of "Princess Ruining" even before she reached her coming-of-age ceremony, a first among the princesses.
(The End of This Chapter)
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