Chapter 426: Provoked

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

“His Majesty wants you to be honest, not that you can only live off the wind. As long as you get rich through proper channels, His Majesty will only praise you for managing the family well when he sees you. If you have the ability, you can go into business to earn money. Why do you have to say that grapes are sour when you can’t eat them? Why? Are you jealous?”

Xiaoxiao could only give him a thumbs up. “Impressive, Shen Tianci. Indeed, Dean Lu’s teachings are different. Young man, you’re different from before. You’ve been reborn!”

Shen Tianci snorted smugly.

Zuo Xiangling was hot-headed for a moment. She said, “Xiao Ning, do you know any shame? You’re clearly already seducing His Highness the Crown Prince. Why are you still having an ambiguous relationship with another man?”

The young men and women who were chatting and laughing darkened their faces at the same time and looked over with unfriendly expressions.

Apart from being afraid, Zuo Xiangling felt even more indignant. “Why? Can’t I say anything about what she did?”

Xiaoxiao was quite calm. She held her chin and stirred the soup bowl in front of her. Her gaze inadvertently glanced at the Crown Prince, who had no intention of speaking, and her smile turned cold.

“Which eye did you see and which ear heard me ‘seducing’ the Crown Prince?”

Zuo Xiangling said angrily, “It’s all over the Imperial Capital!”

The Crown Prince still had no intention of clarifying. In his opinion, it was not impossible to get married to the Xiao Family, but it had to be the Xiao Family begging him to marry her. It was impossible for him to take the initiative to pursue a farm girl.

Her mother had already planned to use this rumor as an excuse to propose marriage to the General’s Residence.

However… why wasn’t his mother here yet?

Zuo Xiangling continued to shout, “A fly doesn’t bite a seamless egg. If you have a clear conscience, where did this rumor come from?”

Xiaoxiao laughed. “I already said that it’s a fly. Does it matter if the egg is seamless or not?”

This smile was cold, and Xiaoxiao did not intend to give Zuo Xiangling any face. “It seems that Miss Zuo is very dissatisfied with me. In that case, why do you have to lower yourself by coming here?”

Zuo Xiangling’s face turned red. “What do you mean?”

This time, it was Xiao Ran who spoke. “She means for you to leave. The General’s Residence doesn’t welcome you.”

Without waiting for her to speak again, Xiao Ran narrowed her eyes and said, “If you have any objections, hold it in. Get lost.”

Zuo Xiangling never expected that she would be chased out by a group of lowly servants after lowering herself to attend Xiao Ning’s coming-of-age ceremony!

She, who had lost all her face, decided to give up. “If you have the ability, don’t admit to seducing the Crown Prince. If you have the ability, don’t use the books the Crown Prince gave you! What kind of ability is it to rely on the Crown Prince to help complete the task assigned by His Majesty!”

Xiaoxiao readily accepted it. She didn’t want to accept it in the first place. “Alright, I don’t want it anyway!”

The Crown Prince:…

He did not say anything and saw that the Xiao Family had really returned his gift.

Almost as soon as she finished speaking, there was a commotion outside the door. The Empress, whose crown was crooked from the chores on the road, held the hand of the palace maid and put on airs before entering. She happened to see this scene.

Her sharp protective finger pierced into the palace maid’s palm. Fortunately, the palace maid had good composure and did not even make a sound.

After hearing the Crown Prince’s servant’s brief report, the Empress’s gaze cut through Zuo Xiangling, who no longer dared to speak. She decided to follow the plan. “General Xiao, you don’t have to do this. The innocent will be proven. This will make us seem distant from the Crown Prince.”

Xiao Ran said bluntly, “Other than the innocent will be proven, there’re also nasty rumors. Xiaoxiao is my daughter. I won’t allow anything to affect her reputation.”

She emphasized, “Xiaoxiao and the Crown Prince have clearly only met a few times and have said less than 10 sentences in total, but they were deliberately made up by those disgusting things. It makes me want to pull out their tendons and skin them on the spot! Cut them into pieces! Cook them in oil!”

The Empress:…

The Crown Prince:…

Why was she scolding them?

Xiao Ran was very insistent. “Crown Prince, take these books back. Don’t meet my Xiaoxiao at any time or place in the future, lest you get someone to make a fuss again.”

The Empress:…

How could she continue?

Was Xiao Ran clearly trying to cut ties with the Crown Prince and their Yan Family?

If she wanted to clear her name, the Empress would definitely be unhappy.

“Sister Xiao, you’re wrong. In my opinion, it’s really far-fetched to say that the two children have nothing to do with each other in Border City. It’s my Crown Prince’s fault for being so careless. That’s why I’m worried about her reputation.”

These words seemed to admit that there was really some story between the Crown Prince and Xiaoxiao that had to be told.

“How can a man let a lady suffer? Why don’t we do this? It’s an auspicious day today. Why don’t…”

“Aunt Xiao, Uncle Gu, Yan’er has something to tell you.” It was naturally Rong Yan.

He wanted to speak at a better time today, but the Crown Prince and the Yan Family were really too much!

Xiaoxiao stared at Little Big Brother with a burning gaze. She was excited and touched.

The Empress said unhappily, “What impressive words? Must you choose now?”

Xiao Ran did not give her face. She said with a completely different genial attitude from when she was facing the Crown Prince and the Empress, “Yan’er, tell me.”

It had been a long time since the Empress had been ignored like this. After years of pampering, her face darkened. “Sister Xiao, are you not giving me face?”

Xiao Ran did not give in. “Please call me by my name, or General Xiao.” Nobody wants to be your sister.

When their gazes met, the surrounding people seemed to be able to feel the sparks fly. Some people who had also come uninvited had already started to plan which side to stand on.

Grand Secretary Gu had already stood up. He did not speak, but his actions of standing beside Gu Chang’an had clearly expressed his decision to protect his children.

The Empress glanced at every face coldly. “What if I don’t let him say it?”

As she spoke, the guard behind her actually drew his saber.

The Crown Prince also raised his glass at Rong Yan with a fake smile.

“There are some things that need to be said by our parents. You have to consider it carefully before you speak, Third Brother.”

“If you say that and your mother goes back on her word, you won’t be the only one who will be embarrassed.”

It was obvious how domineering the Yan Family was. Xiao Ran chuckled. “Your Majesty, look carefully. This is the Xiao Family’s residence, not your Phoenix Hall.”

Rong Yan’s face was cold as he insisted on bowing. “Aunt Xiao, Uncle Gu, I…”

At most, he would use military merits to exchange for it! He would never let Xiaoxiao suffer!

Just as they were about to fight, there was a commotion outside the door again

“Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!”

Xiao Ran and the Empress looked out at the same time. The difference was that the Empress immediately pretended to be aggrieved, while Xiao Ran’s face was as cold as ice, as if her fists were itching.

The Emperor clenched his fists and coughed. “It’s quite lively. Why didn’t anyone call me?”

The Empress was still getting her emotions up when Xiao Ran rolled her eyes. “His Majesty is busy every day. How can we disturb you over such a small matter?”

The Emperor thought about his senior sister’s tone and confirmed that the Empress had already angered her..