The room fell silent.
After a moment, Fourth Master Xiao smiled and said decisively, “It won’t be.”
Everyone stared at him intently.
“Last night our people observed that group, and among them were two who seemed to have gifted abilities. Our people saw them suddenly disappear and suddenly reappear.”
Everyone breathed a long sigh of relief.
The whole world knew that the Crown Princess had not awakened any gifted abilities.
There were no such people around the Crown Princess either. While gifted abilities weren’t limited to the Tie imperial clan, they were extremely rare in the world, very precious, and most remained hidden. Some overseas reclusive clans and great aristocratic families might still have some, but they would never serve as guards for others.
“Then they can only be from certain reclusive great clans or famous overseas families,” someone said. “Through dynastic changes over hundreds of years, many imperial and noble families chose to live in seclusion or go overseas during times of turmoil. The legendary Three Madmen and Five Emperors of the martial world are mostly from such families. Their ancestors mostly had gifted abilities, passed down through generations, so their descendants are naturally extraordinary.”
“If they’re of such origins, we can’t easily move against them. Better to try recruiting them—this could also aid our Xiao family.”
Fourth Master Xiao pondered, seeming to think or perhaps waiting. Then sudden commotion arose outside, with someone crying and shouting as they burst into the hall.
“Fourth Uncle! Fourth Uncle! How could you treat your own nephew like this! A perfectly good person, fighting desperately for the family, only to be pushed out as a scapegoat at the end, having his legs broken! How ruthless your heart is!”
A woman covered in jeweled hairpins rushed through the door, lunging at Fourth Master Xiao with clawing hands. Behind her followed countless maids and servant women, all pale with shock, shouting and pulling but unable to restrain her.
A middle-aged man followed behind, his face iron-blue, standing coldly to the side.
Seeing him, everyone looked embarrassed and kept greeting him as “Second Brother,” “Second Uncle,” “Second Nephew.”
The Second Branch master of the Xiao family stood in place, ignoring his wife’s tantrum, pointing at Fourth Master Xiao who had quickly retreated to one side: “Harming your own nephew, incompetent and muddled! You’re unworthy of managing the ancestral estate! Just wait—I’ll summon the clan elders and convene the ancestral hall for judgment!”
The Second Madam, having failed to claw Fourth Master several times, wept as if about to faint. “Xiao Si, you’ve lost your conscience! The embankment digging and flood release was the family’s idea—why should only my son take the blame! If legs must be broken, you should all break yours first!”
Fourth Master Xiao stood behind his chair, adjusting his disheveled collar, and sighed. “Second Sister-in-law, I know you feel sorry for Eighth Master, but you can’t speak recklessly and drag everyone down with you. Digging embankments and releasing floods is such a grave matter that mishandling could destroy the entire family. If the family truly wanted to do this, we would have arranged capable people properly. How could we have left it to Eighth Master to act recklessly?”
“That’s because you knew this would outrage the world, so you secretly instructed Eighth Master, planning all along to push all responsibility onto him afterward. Eighth Master told me everything—Xiao Si, what a vicious scheme!”
Fourth Master Xiao didn’t get angry, speaking gently: “Second Sister-in-law, given the situation then, with the people’s anger, if I hadn’t dealt with Eighth Master, he might have been beaten to death on the spot, not to mention our Xiao family’s reputation built over many years and our future grand plans would inevitably be affected. Ultimately, Eighth Master acted carelessly and failed at the crucial moment. You must understand—the Crown Princess came to Haiyou, previously caused such huge trouble at Yueli Academy, removing all our stewards in one sweep, then disappeared again… She might well be nearby. If the downstream people had rioted and the Crown Princess fanned the flames, the Assistant Minister and Empress Dowager in the capital would have been roasted over the fire… This matter is so significant, if Second Brother and Sister-in-law want to take it to the ancestral hall for judgment, I wouldn’t mind.”
The couple both choked up. After a moment, the Second Madam began wailing in despair.
Even with countless grievances, compared to the family’s reputation and the Xiao family’s grand plans, they meant nothing.
The Xiao family recruited talent and cultivated relationships with officials—all this required money, so the ancestral estate couldn’t be flooded, and the vast fertile fields upstream couldn’t be destroyed.
The Xiao family recruited talent, cultivated official relationships, and built their reputation—all for future grand plans, to smoothly ascend to the highest position by first establishing foundation in court and public opinion. So the Xiao name couldn’t be ruined, and they couldn’t give the Tie clan any leverage.
Therefore, they could only sacrifice their son.
Speaking to this point, both understood that even bringing this to the ancestral hall wouldn’t yield good results. Who told Eighth Master Xiao to be incompetent, accepting the task but failing to complete it properly?
Fourth Master Xiao quietly waited for her crying to subside before saying softly, “Though I have a clear conscience in this matter, Eighth Master is still my most beloved nephew. So Second Brother and Sister-in-law, please put your minds at ease and give him a message—tell Eighth Master to recover quickly and not be angry. His fourth uncle has no sons or daughters, and being strict with him is for his cultivation. He suffered great injustice today, and the family and I both understand. In the future, he will naturally be compensated.”
The Second Madam suddenly raised her head, joy flashing in her eyes.
“Fourth Uncle means…”
“This can be considered a test for him. If he endures this test, shouldn’t he be worthy of being the clan leader’s heir?” Fourth Master Xiao smiled composedly.
The Second Madam immediately stopped crying, and the Second Master’s iron-blue face gradually softened.
If breaking one leg could exchange for heirship, it was quite worthwhile.
The maids and servant women quickly helped the Second Madam up to escort the couple back. As they were about to leave, Fourth Master Xiao said casually, “Those honored guests who helped close the embankment, I’ve already invited them back and arranged them at Yipou Jiangyue Pavilion. They are distinguished guests—please don’t harbor resentment, Second Brother and Sister-in-law, and disturb them.”
The Second Master nodded stiffly, while the Second Madam’s eyes flashed with hatred before she lowered her head and left.
Everyone watched the couple’s hasty arrival and departure. After being disturbed like this, they all felt somewhat exhausted. Looking at Fourth Master, they saw him straightening his clothes and sitting back in his chair, still calm and unruffled, and immediately admired him greatly, thinking he truly had the bearing of a great general accustomed to storms—no wonder he could surpass so many elder brothers and firmly occupy this position of clan and family head.
However, someone hesitantly said, “Fourth Brother, your reminder seems somewhat superfluous.”
This clearly pointed out where the enemies lived—what if the Second Master couple couldn’t resist going over?
Fourth Master glanced at him. That person was startled, vaguely understanding something in his heart, and lowered his head without speaking further.
At this time, several younger family members reported from outside. Fourth Master ordered them in. A man and woman entered—the man was the eldest legitimate grandson of Fifth Master, who had previously studied at Yueli Academy and recently purchased a student status, planning to go to the capital at year’s end. He had fair skin, large eyes, and outstanding appearance—the kind of beautiful young man who looked innocent and naive.
The woman was a concubine-born daughter from a branch family. Though her birth was ordinary, she had clear, beautiful features with a hint of scholarly air—a beauty who made people forget worldly concerns upon seeing her.
These were the two most beautiful among the large group of young people in the Xiao family’s ancestral estate.
Fourth Master Xiao looked at each of them and said kindly, “Recently distinguished guests have come to stay at Yipou Jiangyue Pavilion. As hosts of similar age to them, you should represent the family in showing hospitality and accompany them around Dongming.” He also instructed, “Remember, these are honored guests—be attentive.”
The young man and woman accepted the order and left.
Everyone understood—that group was probably mostly young, now suspected to be descendants of great families, so naturally they should first try to win them over. Sending the Fifth Branch’s eldest legitimate grandson, the target was naturally that stunning woman, except that woman was born with exceptional beauty and didn’t seem like a proper lady. For men it didn’t matter—if her status truly wasn’t high, taking her as a concubine would suffice.
As for legitimate daughters being precious, they were meant for marriages with great families and the imperial clan. For instance, Assistant Minister Xiao’s legitimate granddaughter currently raised at the ancestral home was planned to marry Prince Zhao’s legitimate son in the future.
So sending a concubine-born daughter was sufficient.
However, everyone was somewhat puzzled by Fourth Master Xiao’s operations—first hinting to the Second Master couple, then sending beauties to seduce. What was this about?
Fourth Master Xiao slowly lifted his tea lid.
Much time had passed. Others had already changed their tea, but his cup of famous tea still steamed hot.
Why say more to these fools?
Even if concubines didn’t matter and concubine-born daughters were cheap, they were still Xiao family people—how could they be given away easily?
Naturally, some fools should first test the other party’s capabilities.
Moreover, wasn’t their process of being tested an opportunity for the Xiao family to show goodwill?
As for the Second Branch couple, after this incident, discord remained. Did they really think he would leave the heir position to the Second Branch?
He smiled and took a light sip of tea.
Truly fragrant.