Farm Girl's Manor
Chapter 318: Will You Miss Me (5)_1

Chapter 318: Chapter 318: Will You Miss Me (5)_1

Xiao Ruiqing approached with a smile full of delight, seemingly overjoyed by his elder brother’s return. "Big brother, so it really is you! You haven’t been home for quite a while, father and mother have been missing you terribly. If you have the time, you should go and see them!"

Hearing these contrived words, Xiao Ruiyuan didn’t even deign to offer a glance, ignoring the hand extended towards him and briskly walking past, as though the very person in front of him didn’t exist at all.

Xiao Ruiqing’s expression stiffened, his outstretched hand slowly dropping down, his face awash with the colors of heartbreak and dejection.

Seeing him like this, the man behind him pointed angrily at the vanishing figure of Xiao Ruiyuan, "How can someone devoid of brotherly affection assume the role of the Marquis’s Young Master? And how could we expect him to support the future generations of the Xiao Clan? No, I must write to grandfather and persuade Lord Wei Yuan to reconsider and appoint a new Princely Heir. We cannot entrust the prosperity of the Xiao Clan to such a cold and heartless man!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ruiqing quickly hid the triumph in his eyes and hurriedly looked up to defend his brother, "Big brother is a good person, just a bit solitary! He was neglectful towards Lingyun this time, I hope Lingyun can be understanding."

The man known as Lingyun looked at Xiao Ruiqing with disappointment, "You’re also a legitimate son of the Hou Mansion, educated and virtuous in every aspect. Why shouldn’t you contend for the position of Princely Heir?"

Xiao Ruiqing waved his hands dismissively, nervously glancing around. Seeing that no one was within earshot, he feigned anger and said, "Throughout history, there has been an order of succession, my big brother is the Hou Mansion’s legitimate eldest son, and his inheritance is the right of heaven and earth! I am but born of a secondary wife, inherently inferior by status. How can I covet my elder brother’s position as Princely Heir? Such rebellious words must never be spoken again, Lingyun!"

Upon hearing this, Lingyun’s face turned sour. Born of a secondary wife, so what? He too was born of a secondary wife, yet his grandfather, the Clan Leader, and his father still favored him the most. Humph!

"Why fear him? The day after tomorrow he’s off to battle, the Bai people are fierce and warlike, who knows if he’ll even return alive!"

Xiao Ruiqing’s face turned pale instantly, and he quickly covered his mouth, inwardly cursing him for a fool, "Lingyun, you absolutely must not speak such things. If word got out and those with ill intent learned of it, it would bring great calamity upon our Xiao Clan!"

Lingyun, coming back to his senses, was also sweating coldly. In the conflict between two armies, if such words were spread, accusing him of bolstering the enemy’s morale and diminishing his own side’s prestige would be the least of his problems. If someone were to accuse Lord Wei Yuan House of colluding with the Bai people, as a member of the Xiao Clan, he would undoubtedly meet with a dire fate; even the ruin of his future prospects was possible!

Xiao Ruiqing inwardly scorned him; if it weren’t for the sake of easily obtaining the Princely Heir position in the future, why would he associate with such a fool! Just wait, once those people make their move, Xiao Ruiyuan wouldn’t stand a chance of returning alive from the battlefield. The position of Princely Heir was his for the taking!

Unbeknownst to Xiao Ruiyuan, he was being plotted against once again, not that he would care even if he did know. Since childhood, he had faced such schemes too often, having escaped death in such plots more times than he could count.

At that moment, he was instructing Xiao Eleven on some matters.

"Master, why not let your servant go?"

Looking at his expressionless master, Xiao Eleven could hardly believe his ears and almost thought there was a problem with them.

Xiao Ruiyuan glanced at him and finally offered an explanation, "This time is different from before; the war may last a long while, and someone needs to manage affairs in the capital. Apart from you, I trust no one else."

"Your servant obeys!"

Xiao Eleven breathed a sigh of relief inside. He knew it; his master couldn’t possibly think he was not fierce enough to accompany him. However, his master actually offered an explanation—maybe the sun rose from the west today?