Study Room
The Prime Minister violently hurled the teacup in his hand onto the floor, producing a loud “crash.”
Tea splattered everywhere as the cup instantly shattered into pieces.
Second Miss Bai and Third Miss Bai trembled violently at the sudden outburst.
“Father, your daughter knows she was wrong,” Second Miss Bai hastily spoke, her voice tinged with fear.
“Daddy, your daughter knows she was wrong,” Third Miss Bai quickly echoed.
Seeing that both were verbally admitting their mistakes yet their eyes revealed stubbornness and resentment, the Prime Minister’s anger intensified.
“Know you’re wrong? I don’t think you’re wrong at all! Fighting with your own sister over some pretty boy who appeared out of nowhere—you truly are my wonderful daughters!”
Hearing her father’s scolding, Second Miss Bai felt deeply wronged. Suppressing her tears, she rarely raised her head to meet the Prime Minister’s gaze directly.
“Father, Lin Lang is not some pretty boy. He is the young heir of Marquis Zhenyuan, his status is not low, and he is gentle and refined.”
She silently added to herself that being with Lin Lang always brought her joy, and he was her chosen future husband.
Third Miss Bai chimed in agreement: “Yes, Daddy, your daughter would never fancy some common laborer. Lin Lang is different.”
At this moment, the Prime Minister almost wished his daughters had fallen for common laborers instead.
“You believe him just because he says he’s Marquis Zhenyuan’s heir?”
The Prime Minister could hardly believe it.
Third Miss Bai pouted, “Your daughter isn’t foolish. The Zhenyuan Marquis Estate isn’t far from us, and I’ve seen him enter the estate myself. He truly is Marquis Zhenyuan’s young heir.”
Second Miss Bai added, “Daddy, we saw it with our own eyes. There’s no mistake.”
The Prime Minister was so enraged that veins bulged on his forehead. He ordered the Steward to lay out all the jewelry the two sisters had received, forcing them to recognize the man’s true character.
But the result…
Seeing the love tokens Lin Lang had given them, both sisters grew bashful, unable to lift their heads.
“Look at these gifts from your beloved Lin Lang—identical! Can’t you see how perfunctory he is? Do the esteemed daughters of the Prime Minister’s household lack such trivial trinkets?!”
Third Miss Bai argued, “Daddy, that’s because Lin Lang said my elder sister always insists on wearing the same jewelry as me. Since he intends to marry me, he had no choice but to give her an identical set.”
Second Miss Bai, accustomed to maintaining dignity as the elder sister, flushed crimson with embarrassment and retorted, “You’re lying! It was you who forced him to give you the same jewelry after seeing what he gave me. You’ve repeatedly opposed me, and I’ve tolerated it only because you’re my sister.”
Suppressing his fury, the Prime Minister asked how the two sisters had met the young man.
“On the day of the Qixi Temple Fair, I accidentally dropped my handkerchief, and Lin Lang returned it to me. I met him first,” Second Miss Bai recalled the scene as if rejuvenated, then shot a glare at her sister.
“It was me! Lin Lang picked up my handkerchief first…”
Third Miss Bai grew anxious, fearing the Prime Minister would marry her sister to the young heir instead. “…My sister was jealous that Lin Lang picked up my handkerchief and copied me by dropping hers on purpose. Don’t think I don’t know, Bai Yating!”
The Prime Minister pointed out bluntly, “Have you never considered that all of this might have been deliberately orchestrated by that man?”
Second Miss Bai insisted, “Father, that’s impossible. Lin Lang is handsome and noble—he would never stoop to such petty schemes.”
Third Miss Bai affirmed, “Daddy, Lin Lang isn’t that kind of person. Your daughter will acknowledge no one but him.”
For a moment, the Prime Minister thought his two daughters had lost their minds—they could actually justify this nonsense.
If we’re talking about handsome talents, even that good-for-nothing Xiao Yaozu could outshine that young man by miles.
Could it be… this is what Xiao Yaozu called “love-struck brains”?
Is it an illness?
For every criticism he, as their father, made about the man, his daughters would retort with two comebacks.
Others only have one such daughter, but his family… has two!!!
The poor Prime Minister was witnessing the power of love-struck brains for the first time…
Left with no choice, he could only ground both of them. Dealing with that pretty boy was the real key.
Xiao Mansion
“Third Lang Jun, are we really going to do this?”
Several servants in gray clothes held buckets, trembling with fear.
“Enough nonsense. I am your master.”
The next moment, while Xiao Yaozu’s bed was neatly made, the servants poured bucket after bucket of water onto it without hesitation.
Water quickly soaked into the bedding, forming dark, wet stains.
Not just that—the clothes in the cabinet were drenched, water trickling down the cabinet and soaking the floor.
The entire room was filled with a damp, murky humidity.
Xiao Yaoming looked at his handiwork with satisfaction, a faint, sinister smile curling at the corners of his lips.
He could already imagine the furious expression on Xiao Yaozu’s face when he returned and saw this scene…
Just as he stepped out of the backyard, Xiao Yaoming spotted Xiao Yaoye standing by the corridor, seemingly waiting for him.
“Third Brother, after all, Xiao Yaozu is our eldest brother.”
Xiao Yaoming replied without hesitation, “Second Brother, don’t worry. I did all this on my own. If anything goes wrong, I’ll take full responsibility.”
At worst, he’d get a scolding or two from his mother—he could just let it go in one ear and out the other.
Second Brother Xiao Yaoye wasn’t born of the legal wife, but that didn’t affect their deep brotherly bond in the slightest.
Over the years, Xiao Yaoming had gotten along harmoniously with Xiao Yaoye and knew his second brother’s character well—he was upright.
It was just the relationship between their mother and Yiniang that often put Second Brother in a difficult position within the family.
Xiao Yaoye looked at Xiao Yaoming before him and promptly put on a worried expression, hiding the calculation in his eyes.
So what if he’s of the legitimate line? He’s still a fool.
……
When Xiao Yaozu returned and saw the door wide open, he sensed something was wrong.
His first thought was: Had his room been robbed?
Thankfully, he carried all his money with him.
Pushing the half-open door, his eyes quickly scanned the scene inside.
Upon closer inspection, he found his bedding soaked with water, and his clothes hadn’t been spared either.
[System, who did this?]
[Host, it was Xiao Yaoming.]
Xiao Yaozu lifted the quilt—water was still dripping from it…
[Host, what are you going to do?]
He couldn’t help but press his tongue against the roof of his mouth, a cold glint flashing in his eyes…
Xiao Yaoming was somewhat absent-minded when he returned to Orchid Courtyard for his meal.
Especially today, as Master Xiao had surprisingly come to Orchid Courtyard to eat, which greatly astonished Xiao Yaoming.
What made him even more uneasy was that Master Xiao also inquired about his progress in studies.
Xiao Yaoming stammered and gave a few vague replies.
He was terrified that Master Xiao might notice something else.
Nearby, Madam Xiao was overjoyed to see her husband rarely visiting Orchid Courtyard.
Happily, she served Master Xiao, continuously adding dishes to his bowl while chattering:
“Master, please try this dish. The kitchen specially prepared it for you—all your favorites!”Master Xiao nodded, seemingly quite satisfied with Madam Xiao’s attentiveness, and rarely gave her an approving look.”
This was how a wife ought to be.
He had no intention of staying overnight. After the meal, he went to Plum Courtyard again. If not for his Ye’er reminding him to check on Xiao Yaoming, he wouldn’t have bothered to come at all.
Madam Xiao resentfully twisted her handkerchief. “Gone to that wretched woman again.”
Xiao Yaoming also stopped eating and hurried back to his own courtyard.
Pushing the door open, he was astonished to find Xiao Yaozu actually waiting in his room, his eyes wide with surprise.
“You… you… how dare you be in my room!!”
“Was it you who dirtied the bedding in my room?”
“Baseless accusations. Don’t try to frame me,” Xiao Yaoming retorted stubbornly.
Xiao Yaozu stared at Xiao Yaoming when suddenly the System’s voice rang out…
[Host, there’s some juicy gossip about Xiao Yaoming.]
[Do tell.]
[Xiao Yaoming and Xiao Yaoye, these two brothers, have fallen for the same woman.]
Xiao Yaozu’s eyebrow twitched slightly. [Who is she?]
[One year, Xiao Yaoming and Xiao Yaoye went out traveling together and happened to rescue an orphan girl. The girl was somewhat attractive, though not exactly stunning, but she was quite cunning.]
[Xiao Yaoye maintained a polite facade in public, but secretly kept the orphan girl in an outside courtyard. After learning that Xiao Yaoye was the second Lang Jun of the Xiao Family, the girl developed feelings for him while simultaneously trying to seduce Xiao Yaoming. Now, she plays both brothers – spending odd days with Xiao Yaoye and even days with Xiao Yaoming.]
A meaningful smile appeared on Xiao Yaozu’s face.
Well, drama really is everywhere.
Truly brothers – even their taste in women overlaps.