“Xiao Yaoming, do you think… no one would know what you’ve done?” Xiao Yaozu’s voice was peculiar—lacking the deep resonance typical of men, carrying instead the undertones of a southern Cantonese accent.
Though threatening, it sounded more like teasing.
Xiao Yaoming’s heart raced. He was close to the door, just a few steps from escape, yet for some reason he felt trapped. Forcing composure, he retorted:
“I didn’t do it, and that’s final. If you have no evidence, don’t go around making baseless accusations.”
Xiao Yaozu leisurely rolled up his sleeves. “Evidence? Who told you… I need evidence to suspect someone?”
“You… how could you…” Seeing Xiao Yaozu assume a posture of coercing a confession through torture, Xiao Yaoming stammered, unable to form a complete sentence.
Xiao Yaozu looked down at him from his superior position.
“Third Brother, I heard you and Second Brother are close friends.”
“What do you want? Don’t even think about driving a wedge between me and Second Brother.”
“You treat him as a brother, but does Second Brother feel the same?”
Xiao Yaoming’s face was full of defensiveness. “Second Brother is genuinely sincere to me, unlike you, who only knows how to slander others.”
“Sincere? Do you know why Liu Yuanniang and your mother can’t stand each other?” Xiao Yaozu asked.
“They don’t get along simply because Mother is the wife, and she is the concubine,” Xiao Yaoming replied, seeing nothing wrong with it. “Father said he treats everyone equally—respects his wife, and ensures Yiniang gets what she deserves.”
“Is that so? What if you were the son of the concubine?”
“Then Second Brother would still treat me just as well. We’d still be good brothers. Being the legitimate heir is just a title,” Xiao Yaoming asserted firmly.
It seemed his own interests weren’t truly at stake yet…
Xiao Yaozu whispered like a demon: “Then… what if one day, you both fall for the same woman? Would he yield to you?”
Xiao Yaoming’s expression changed, his eyes darting away. “You… what nonsense are you talking about?”
Once a seed of doubt is planted, the thought begins to grow wildly in one’s heart…
Xiao Yaozu, intent on stirring more chaos, leaned in and said: “Xiao Yaoye wouldn’t, but I would! After all, we are brothers born of the same mother, don’t you agree?”
Of course, Xiao Yaozu didn’t let Xiao Yaoming off easily—he landed a few more punches on him.
Then he tied him up and threw him on the floor.
With nowhere else to sleep that night, she had no choice but to occupy his bed.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yaoming squirmed on the ground like a fat maggot
“Wuwu Help”
He wriggled frantically, but his mouth was gagged, and no sound came out…
The next day
Xiao Yaozu woke up refreshed and energized. Combined with last night’s drama, her life points now stood at -92.
Truly, a slow road to survival~
But today, she didn’t have to attend court. Instead, she went directly to supervise the Spring Examination venue inspection, earning 3 life points for checking in.
As soon as she pushed the door open, she saw Xiao Yaoming—sporting dark circles under his eyes—leading an enraged Master Xiao to block her path.
“You unfilial child! How dare you tie up your brother all night? This is outrageous!”
Xiao Yaozu feigned innocence: “Father, last night I returned to my room and found it in complete disarray—the bedding and clothes all soaked. When I asked Third Brother about it, he refused to admit it and even hurled insults at me. In a fit of anger, I merely taught him a lesson for being so unruly.”
“Father, I’m supposed to supervise the Spring Examination today. How could I let the students’ exams be delayed just because I had nowhere to sleep?”
Remembering the Spring Examination and the need for Xiao Yaozu to assist Yaoye, Master Xiao hesitated.
Master Xiao looked at Xiao Yaoming: “Is this true?”
Xiao Yaoming’s eyes darted evasively as he stubbornly insisted: “Father, he’s slandering me!”
Xiao Yaozu sneered coldly: “Third Brother, if you’ve done it, have the courage to admit it. Why be so stubborn? If it wasn’t you, who else would have nothing better to do than drench my room? Father can just ask the steward to clarify.”
Steward Wu had no choice but to truthfully inform Master Xiao that Xiao Yaozu’s room was indeed in some disarray.
“Nonsense! That’s your eldest brother’s room. Go kneel in the ancestral hall as punishment, and don’t expect any meals without my permission.”
“Yes, Master.” Steward Wu waved his hand, and several servants escorted Xiao Yaoming to the ancestral hall.
Xiao Yaoming was suffering in silence. He had approached Master Xiao hoping to have Xiao Yaozu punished, so how did it end up being him instead?
On the way, Xiao Yaoye hurried over and, upon seeing Xiao Yaoming being escorted, feigned surprise: “What’s going on here? Why is Third Brother being restrained?”
Xiao Yaoming looked dejected: “Second Brother, Father has punished me to kneel in the ancestral hall.”
Xiao Yaoye began speaking ambiguously: “Did Father find out about what you did? I’ll go plead with Eldest Brother. Let’s talk this out properly and not harm brotherly harmony.”
Xiao Yaoming’s pride naturally wouldn’t allow him to bow to Xiao Yaozu, so he rejected Xiao Yaoye’s suggestion.
“Second Brother, it’s fine. It’s not like I haven’t been punished before.”
Xiao Yaoye lowered his voice: “Third Brother, don’t worry. After Father calms down, I’ll go plead your case before him.”
“I knew Second Brother would be the best to me, unlike that Xiao Yaozu.” Xiao Yaoming expressed gratitude, but his heart grew even more resentful toward Xiao Yaozu.
Watching Xiao Yaoming’s disappearing figure, a servant quietly reminded:
“Second Lang Jun, are you really going to plead for him? The master seems quite angry.”
Xiao Yaoye dropped his brotherly affection expression.
“Plead for him? Who said I was going?”
He would be delighted if the direct descendants hated each other, or even better, if they all died out.
It was just empty words, and only Xiao Yaoming would take them seriously.
Master and servant exchanged a knowing smile.
…
Meanwhile, Master Xiao said with pride: “I heard you’ve been appointed as supervisor for this year’s Spring Examination?”
Xiao Yaozu gave a light hum, waiting for Master Xiao to continue.
Sure enough…
“Yaozu, Ye’er will also be participating in this Spring Examination. As the eldest son of the Xiao Family, brothers should help each other.”
“Don’t worry, Father. We’re brothers, so of course I’ll help.”
Master Xiao didn’t expect Xiao Yaozu to agree so readily—it was truly unexpected.
Xiao Yaozu suddenly added: “However… Father, as the eldest son, I currently don’t even have a proper place to sleep. This wouldn’t sound good if it got out. Yesterday I passed by a courtyard—the gentleman bamboos there looked quite nice.”
Master Xiao naturally understood which place he referred to.
That place was originally prepared for Ye’er in case he passed the imperial examinations, but now he had to spend money to make money.
“Fine, the Bamboo Courtyard will be tidied up. You can live there from now on.”
“Then I’ll take my leave, Father.” Having gotten what he wanted, Xiao Yaozu left immediately, believing it would be enough to irritate Xiao Yaoye for quite some time.
…
At the morning court assembly, civil and military officials stood in two rows.
Suddenly, an announcement came from outside the hall: “The Saibei envoy requests an audience!”
Following this, an envoy dressed in foreign attire entered the hall.
The envoy wore a distinctive hat and performed a salute, though careful observation would reveal contempt in his eyes:
“Your Majesty, Saibei Wang accidentally hunted a divine deer from the snowy mountains. He has ordered the prince to bring it as tribute to present to Your Majesty. They are already on their way and will arrive in Bianjing in a few days.”
The Emperor sat upright on the dragon throne, looking down as he said, “Is that so? It seems Saibei Wang has received my greetings. You’ve worked hard.”
The envoy, shaken by the imperial aura, instantly grew uneasy.
The assembled ministers pretended not to know.
They naturally understood the “gift” referred to Noble Lady Li’s severed head from not long ago.
Saibei Wang had sent his son precisely because he feared the envoy might not return, using this as an opportunity to gauge the Emperor’s true situation.
He ordered the eunuchs to first take the envoy to the specially designated guesthouse for foreign envoys, while the Ministry of Rites prepared a banquet.
The court instantly returned to solemn silence, far quieter than usual, when the Emperor suddenly spoke.
“Why don’t I see the Compiler today?”
“Your Majesty, Lord Xiao has been assigned to supervise the Spring Examination venue,” the Ministry of Rites reminded him.
“It feels less lively than the past few days,” the Emperor on the dragon throne remarked with emotion. Just moments earlier, he had hoped to hear some gossip from this envoy.
Not seeing Xiao Yaozu standing in the front row felt somewhat unfamiliar.
Thinking about how the Spring Examination must be full of interesting incidents, he felt a stirring of excitement…
Should he have his eighth brother recount the stories to him, or go listen in person…
Even the Admonishing Official, Lord Zhang, and Lord Li distinctly felt something was missing, especially since they had all been in a brawl together just last night.