Chapter 56 The second day brought...

Chapter 56 The second day brought...

The next day, Jiangzuo City was blessed with a bright and sunny day. After a night of torrential rain, even the air seemed exceptionally fresh.

In the inconspicuous alleyway to the side of the Xiao family's residence, the bloodstains that had flowed all over the ground last night had been washed away by the rain without a trace. Even the sharp marks left on the wall by the guards and assassins during their fight had been completely erased.

"Brother Tiger, slow down! Let me play for a while!"

"Hahaha, hurry up and catch me, or you can play with me."

The cheerful sounds of children playing echoed through the alley as usual. Several children chased after bamboo balls, whistling as they came and went. Only one chubby figure squatted in the corner, seemingly doing something.

"Little Fatty, stop being so lazy and run faster. If you don't come over, we won't let you play anymore."

The child at the front called out, his chubby figure seemingly afraid that his friends wouldn't let him play, and quickly followed after them, clutching his hands.

......

"I dug the little sign you mentioned out of the crack in the wall, but..." The chubby boy with a smug look on his face shook the small wooden sign in his hand and bargained with the peddler on the street corner: "I want candied hawthorns, you have to give me three... no, five."

"Okay, I'll buy you five, come on." The hunchbacked, short peddler generously waved to him, gesturing for the child to follow him.

That evening, amidst a heart-wrenching cry, the drowned child was pulled from the river. This tragedy became yet another stark example of how parents warn their children to stay away from water during the summer.

Meanwhile, on the other side of Jiangzuo City, a hunchbacked peddler released an inconspicuous gray pigeon towards the capital.

......

"After your third sister's wedding, you should go directly to the capital. This letter of recommendation was written by Mr. Wu from the Prince's Mansion. He and Master Qiao are fellow disciples and have been close friends for over twenty years. With this letter of recommendation, your apprenticeship should be no problem."

In the main hall of the Xiao family, Xiao Fuyan was giving earnest advice to a young man in his early twenties.

The handsome young man, with a proud and spirited demeanor, was none other than Xiao Heyou, the eldest son of the Xiao family. This young master Xiao had been studying away from home for many years, and he had only returned home for his sister's wedding. He never expected to be greeted with such a surprise upon his return.

"Is the 'Master Qiao' that Father mentioned the great Confucian scholar, Mr. Qiao Yang?" Although it was a question, it was actually a pointless one. In the capital, besides Qiao Yang, who else could be called Master Qiao?

"It was him, thanks to the Chief Secretary of the Prince's Mansion who made the connection." At this point, Xiao Fuyan stroked his beard with a sense of pride and continued to instruct his eldest son.

"They're only doing this because of your future brother-in-law. You've just come back, so you probably don't know yet, but Qin Ji has quite a bit of influence in the Prince's mansion. You need to spend more time with him while you're staying in Jiangzuo. Your brother-in-law and brother-in-law have an extremely close relationship, so you can't be estranged. I'm warning you, don't put on that scholar's airs."

“Father, we are a merchant family. I would never put on airs like a scholar. I only criticized Zhao Qingyun because he was really clueless.”

At this point, Xiao Heyou couldn't help but show a look of disgust: "Father, even if Fourth Sister is a concubine's daughter, she is not someone like Zhao Qingyun who can aspire to marry into her family. Although this is a matter for the second branch of the family, I am still their elder brother. May I say something to you, Father?"

It was quite a coincidence that he ran into Zhao Qingyun and his mother when he got home.

Judging from their words, it seemed that they were interested in the fourth sister in the family. At that time, Master Xiao was not at home, and the second wife seemed to be about to accept the token. Xiao Heyou used his status as the eldest son to turn them away and said that Zhao Qingyun should bring up the matter again after the imperial examination.

At that time, the three men's faces were as black as the bottom of a pot. But when he heard Master Xiao's words, "Don't put on airs like a scholar," Xiao Heyou naturally understood that the Second Madam had spoken to him in bed. Naturally, he had to take the opportunity to explain and reciprocate.

"What do you mean by 'eldest brother'? You are their eldest brother. There's nothing you can't say about your younger siblings." Master Xiao was displeased with Xiao Heyou's words.

Although his children are separated into two households, they are all his own flesh and blood. Xiao Heyou is the eldest son and has been very talented in his studies since childhood. He is the next generation of the Xiao family to be in charge, on whom he has placed high hopes. He naturally has the right to control and comment on any of his children.

“Father, you know that Zhao Qingyun and I were classmates for several years. Although he left the academy a few years ago, I still know him quite well. He lacks talent and diligence, and is arrogant and conceited. He is really not a good match for me.”

He didn't mention the Zhao family's increasingly dilapidated situation, while the Xiao family was extremely wealthy. If someone was truly a good match for him, he wouldn't need to consider their family background; it would just mean providing more dowry.

"Then what do you think about your fourth sister's marriage?" Xiao Fuyan asked, squinting his eyes.

Xiao Heyou smiled confidently: "Fourth sister is still young, let's wait another year or two."

The Xiao family had already secured a partnership with the Qin family and then conveniently connected with the Prince Cheng's Mansion. They were currently on the rise, and Xiao Heyou was confident that he would pass the imperial examination next year. In a year or two, the family Xiao Xunying could marry into would be vastly different from what it was now.

Moreover, if her family has a better future, she can marry into a better family and benefit not only herself, but also the benefits can be returned to her family.

The father and son exchanged a glance, both seeing a tacit understanding in each other's eyes.

“The second branch of the family has made a fuss about this matter several times. Second Madam is muddle-headed. I’ve been so busy with your sister’s marriage these days that I haven’t had the time to argue with her. I originally planned to deal with this matter after Yan Hui got married, but I didn’t expect the Zhao family to be so clueless.” Xiao Fuyan also explained to his eldest son.

"From my son's perspective, there's no rush for Fourth Sister's marriage, but Second Sister's marriage needs to be settled soon. Before I returned home, I heard about Second Sister's reputation as a talented woman in the academy. This widespread reputation can be said to have both advantages and disadvantages, but what's the point of involving a man in this? What exactly does the Liang family mean by this marriage?"

"Sigh!" Xiao Fuyan sighed heavily when he said this: "Liang Erlang is willing, but the Liang family has high standards, it won't be easy!"

“Father…” Xiao Heyou wanted to say that his father was confused, but he didn’t say it out of consideration for his father’s face.

"What good is it if the Liang family doesn't want him to be married? Can he come to arrange the engagement or to present the betrothal gifts? Father should also keep an eye on Second Sister. Are you really just going to watch her get along so closely with Liang Er? Once her reputation is ruined and the Liang family stops supporting her, what will happen to Second Sister? Is she supposed to try to get him to retire and become her concubine?" Xiao Heyou's face darkened, and his eyes became serious as he looked at Xiao Fuyan.

He had actually guessed a little of his father's thoughts, which was that with the Liang family's wealth, it wouldn't be a loss for his second sister to become a concubine. But in Xiao Heyou's opinion, this was far too short-sighted.

"This...this isn't your sister's wishful thinking...we parents can't really go against your wishes." Faced with the disapproval in his eldest son's eyes, Xiao Fuyan put on a show that he was in a real predicament.

It's true that Xiao Quexian is determined to marry Liang Er, but to say that he can't control his daughter is pure nonsense. Xiao Heyou didn't expose him, but only said, "Father, even if my second sister has developed a good relationship with the Liang family this year, think about it carefully. Apart from having a few more invitations on your desk and spending more money to support those literary societies, have you really gained any real benefits?"

"You need to think more long-term." Now it was Xiao Fuyan's turn to criticize his son for being short-sighted.

“If my son passes the imperial examination next year, I don’t want people to say that I have a sister who is a concubine when I go out to socialize. Father, you have a good opportunity now. If you are fortunate enough to associate with the people of the Prince Cheng’s Mansion in the future, do you really want people to say that the Xiao family has a daughter who is a concubine in the Liang family?” Xiao Heyou’s words shut Xiao Fuyan up completely.

"If the Liang family has no intention of marrying Second Sister as their principal wife, Father, please reschedule Second Sister's marriage as soon as possible, lest you delay her marriage." Although Xiao Heyou was considering his own interests, he was also genuinely thinking of Xiao Quexian.

After all, the Liang family's attitude wasn't exactly friendly. It wasn't that they intended to have a proper marriage; on the contrary, they seemed indifferent to who their son was entangled with outside, but it was impossible for him to properly marry into the family.

"Brother, you know nothing, yet you want to ruin my marriage with just one sentence? What are your intentions?" The sharp question was blurted out by Xiao Quexian as she rushed in.

Her eyes were bloodshot, and she looked at Xiao Heyou with resentment, while she was still holding Xiao Yanhui, who was staggering.

"Very well, very well indeed. Your scheming and tactics are truly admirable. You two are trying to force me to my death first, so that the entire Xiao family will be under your control, Xiao Heyou." At this moment, Xiao Quexian could be described as rational; otherwise, she would never have dared to say such words.

"Insolence!" Xiao Fuyan slammed his hand heavily on the table. He, who always looked gentle and smiling, was now glaring with anger and his face was ashen. He looked furious.

Seeing Xiao Fuyan like this, Xiao Quexian suddenly realized what she had said without thinking.

But it's really no wonder Xiao Quexian lost her temper. Although she was unwilling to admit it, she lost her mind in an instant because Xiao Heyou's words completely hit her deepest worries and revealed her deep-seated fears.

Of course, Xiao Quexian, who had regained some of her rationality, was first thinking about how to deal with the current situation.

She immediately knelt down in front of Xiao Fuyan, tears streaming down her already red eyes: "Father, sob sob sob, Father, I was so angry just now that I spoke without thinking, but... sob sob sob... You know and approve of my relationship with Liang Langjun this past year, and my elder brother just came back and wants to sever our fate with a single sentence, Father... sob sob, you won't even say a word of justice for your daughter?"

“Daughter is just jealous and disappointed. You always say you love me, but does your love mean ignoring me? Does it mean giving my dowry to Xiao Yan Hui?”

Xiao Quexian had brought Xiao Yan back to the main hall to discuss the dowry, but before they could even get to the point, she overheard some words outside the door that completely broke her down.

"Xian'er, this matter... Father has a reason." Mentioning the dowry, Xiao Fuyan now felt somewhat guilty.

Xiao Yan, who had been passively observing, raised an eyebrow: What's going on? It's rare that she actually benefited from Xiao Quexian, how come she didn't know?