Farm Girl's Manor
Chapter 499: Disdain (2)_1

Chapter 499: Chapter 499: Disdain (2)_1

At Jingshan Villa, Xiao Ruiyuan had a temporary residence where he would often rest if he was unable to return to Jing City in time after discussing urgent matters with Chu Heng.

Now that night had fallen, coming out from Doctor Gui’s house, Xiao Ruiyuan went straight back to his quarters without going to the back courtyard to find Chu Heng. He also didn’t plan to tell him about what happened tonight, lest it stirred up unnecessary worries.

At this moment, Xiao Ruiyuan was seated motionlessly in front of the desk, staring at the ginseng box atop it, feeling not the slightest bit of drowsiness. Under the flickering candlelight, his face revealed an indescribable weariness.

Chu Heng’s life was left with less than a year, and the ministers in the Central Plains who originally supported legitimacy witnessed his hopeless recovery and gradually harbored other intentions, who wouldn’t want the huge benefits brought by Merit of the Dragon?

What worried Xiao Ruiyuan the most was that Emperor Huian seemed to have other plans. Previously, he had been schemed against and nearly lost his life, and the attitude and measures taken by Emperor Huian were quite thought-provoking. Not only did he notice it, but many ministers in the court also speculated a thing or two.

And those Princes coveting the position of Crown Prince Chu Heng, needless to say, wouldn’t have banded together to put him to death on the way back to Jing City. They did so, simply because they were worried that after Chu Heng passed away, he would be coaxed over by competing brothers, which would be unfavorable to themselves.

Xiao Ruiyuan was very clear that the current situation was extremely disadvantageous both for Chu Heng and himself. Only by finding the Thousand-year Ginseng and quickly curing Chu Heng’s illness could they resolve their predicament.

However, after searching for so many years and finally having a glimmer of hope, the hope was so easily shattered, a blow to him that could not be called insignificant!

The Dark Guards hidden in the shadows were very worried, having protected their master for so long, this was the first time they saw their master showing such emotion, and for a moment, they didn’t know what to do.

Xiao Jiu understood that his master’s "abnormality" was only temporary, but he still didn’t wish to see his master like this. He took out a piece of paper from his waist, hesitated for a moment, then walked into the light, appearing before Xiao Ruiyuan.

"Master, this is the latest news from Jing City!"

Xiao Ruiyuan came back to his senses, took the paper without a word, and his face returned to its usual coldness.

Upon seeing the content of the paper, a cold smile appeared on the corner of Xiao Ruiyuan’s lips: It seems that the time to settle accounts with certain people has come!

Seeing this, Xiao Jiu couldn’t help but shudder!

It seems that someone is going to be unlucky...

Xiao Ruiyuan remembered Mo Yan’s instructions to send the Ginseng to Mo Yan’s hands before dawn by Hidden Guard. After dawn, he discussed certain matters with Chu Heng and then, with a group of subordinates, mounted his tall horse and rushed out of the villa, fiercely heading back to Jing City, straight to Lord Wei Yuan House.

The House of Lord Wei Yuan was located in the Eastern Market where the nobility gathered, and it was close to the Imperial Palace. Thanks to this prime location, countless dignitaries envied it. Who could blame them when the Xiao Family’s Ancestors had distinguished military achievements and were deeply trusted by Emperor Taizu?

Even though Emperor Taizu and the Xiao Family’s Ancestors had been gone for over two hundred years, this glory was maintained without any sign of decline thanks to the Xiao Family producing capable people generation after generation, a feat rarely matched by other families in Jing City.

The few gatekeepers who were chatting idly inside the house heard the clopping of horse hooves from outside the gate and scurried out to welcome the arrival, stopping their gossip.

Daring to gallop brazenly on the path in front of Lord Wei Yuan House, besides the noble Princes, only their Princely Heirs were capable. The beloved second son of Lord Hou, who lacked the guts and qualifications, wouldn’t dare behave in such a manner.

The four gatekeepers opened the mansion gates and stood in formation, and as the sound of hooves grew louder, they finally saw who was coming, and dropped to their knees, and when the procession approached, they shouted with respect, "We, your servants, respectfully welcome the Prince back to the mansion!"

Xiao Ruiyuan dismounted from his horse, tossed the reins to a subordinate, and stepped through the mansion gates with a dignified presence, under the admiring and fearful gaze of the gatekeepers. The others dismounted too and quickly followed.

Only after the sound of footsteps faded into the distance did the four gatekeepers slowly stand up. One of them couldn’t help but say, "The Prince dismounted so briskly, it seems his injuries have greatly improved!"

Upon hearing this, the other gatekeepers showed joy on their faces: "As long as the Prince is well, our Hou Mansion can prosper for many more years, and only then can we have good days ahead!"

All of them were born and raised in the Hou Mansion and had spent decades there. They clearly understood where their loyalty lay and had their own accounts in mind.

The current Family Head of Lord Wei Yuan House and Xiao Ruiyuan’s biological father, Xiao Xiongwen, was not capable of strengthening the nation through martial deeds. If he were not the eldest legitimate son and the only son of the Old Marquis, the title would have never fallen upon him.

Even so, the Old Marquis didn’t have peace of mind, and before his departure, he left a will, requesting an Imperial Edict stipulating that as soon as Xiao Ruiyuan got married, Xiao Xiong was to voluntarily relinquish the title, allowing Xiao Ruiyuan to inherit, preventing outsiders from recklessly speculating and thinking of Xiao Ruiyuan as unfilial and unrighteous!

This matter was unknown to many in the mansion, but over time, some whispers had spread, and combined with the other three masters’ usual attitudes towards the Princely Heir, it naturally appeared out of the ordinary!

In the study room of the Hou Mansion, Xiao Ruiyuan coldly stared at the middle-aged man sitting in a superior position with a reddened face, his voice devoid of any warmth: "If I hadn’t promised Grandfather, do you think I would have let off your ’well-behaved’ son so easily? He dared to participate in that assassination and should have the readiness to face retaliation for failure! Since you disagree, tomorrow I will submit a report with evidence to The Emperor, which I believe, The Emperor would be very pleased to see unfold!"

The middle-aged man, Xiao Xiong, his complexion changed drastically, pointed at Xiao Ruiyuan and cursed: "You evil offspring, that is your own brother, do you really wish to see him dead to be satisfied?"

If Qing’er’s involvement in the assassination became known to The Emperor, to quell public anger and restore the Imperial Family’s reputation, The Emperor would definitely push all the blame onto Qing’er.

By then, it wouldn’t be just about preserving Qing’er. He might face condemnation for failing to teach his son and even be stripped of his title, allowing this evil offspring to inherit it!

Considering this possibility, the middle-aged man was both afraid and furious. He glared fiercely at Xiao Ruiyuan, as if glaring at an enemy in a scholastic feud, never considering that the person before him was also his son, his eldest legitimate offspring!

"Brother?" Xiao Ruiyuan sneered as if he heard a great joke, "He should be grateful that he is the bloodline of the Hou Mansion, the grandson of our grandfather; otherwise, do you think I would spare his life?"