Xu Rao sent Xu Di with men to pick up the person at Shili Pavilion outside Ganzhou City. After picking up the person, Xu Quan kept urging Xu Di to leave quickly, which made Xu Di a little strange. He knew that this fourth uncle was a person who liked to travel around. It was his first time in Ganzhou City, so why was he in such a hurry to let him go home?

Xu Di asked, "Fourth Uncle, did something happen on the way?"

Xu Quan said, "Your fifth uncle and I haven't seen your father in a long time, and we miss him very much. Hurry up and go."

After Xu Rao arrived in Ganzhou, he was eager to have people repair the roads. At that time, labor was the cheapest, so he repaired all the roads near Ganzhou City and even paved some important places with bluestone slabs.

On such a flat road, the ten-mile journey was quick, and we could see Ganzhou City from afar by the time dinner was ready.

As dusk fell, Ganzhou City resembled a majestic lion crouching on the ground, poised to pounce. The towering city gates elicited gasps of surprise from the children inside the carriage. Xu Quan and Xu Qu disregarded the etiquette expected of their children and urged the group to hurry into the city. They were eager to see Xu Rao and ask him their questions, hoping he would provide answers.

The city is quite lively at night. The main east-west street is bustling with pedestrians, and lanterns are lit in front of the shops on both sides of the road. By the light of the lanterns, there are also many stalls selling trinkets on both sides of the street.

Xu Rao and Zhang Zhaoci were waiting at the gate. When they saw Xu Di riding a horse with a group of men, they quickly went to greet him.

Xu Quan and Xu Qu quickly dismounted, bowed to Xu Rao and Zhang Zhaoci, and then each grabbed one of Xu Rao's hands and led her to the study in the front yard.

The children disembarked from the carriage and rushed to Zhang Zhaoci's side, calling her "Third Aunt" and "Third Madam." They also greeted Xu Zhi, Xu Bai, and the children from Zhang's in-laws' family. Xu Di and Li Yuexi arranged for the steward to bring the carriages carrying their luggage through the side gate one by one. The steward of the manor had the servants brought by the Xu family children carry the luggage of the masters and, following the manor staff who had led the way, to the place where it was arranged to be returned.

Zhang Zhaoci led the children to the backyard. The small yard couldn't hold so many children, especially since they were all teenagers. They were chattering and making a lot of noise, which gave Zhang Zhaoci a headache. In the end, Xu Di came over and helped out. He told the Xu family children to go to their respective places to wash up and change clothes, and then come to the side hall for dinner.

After the children had all left, Zhang Zhaoci turned to Xu Di and asked, "What's the matter that your fourth and fifth uncles are looking for your father about?"

Xu Di said, "Something must have happened. They kept urging me to hurry up on the way. I asked them, but they wouldn't say. Something must have happened, but they didn't seem like anything was wrong to me."

Zhang Zhaoci said, "I'll ask your father again tonight."

After being helped to the study by her two younger brothers, Xu Rao hadn't even sat down to have tea served when Xu Qu went and closed the door, startling Xu Rao, who asked, "What are you doing? What happened?"

Xu Quan said, "Third Brother, Fifth Brother and I have something we want to ask you."

Xu Rao said, "Just ask me anything, why are you being so mysterious?"

Xu Quan looked at Xu Qu, who gently shook her head. Xu Quan pulled Xu Rao to sit down and said, "Third Brother, tell us the truth, is there a problem with your background?"

Xu Rao had already anticipated what his family would think after seeing Wu Muyue, but he hadn't expected his younger brother to ask such a question.

Xu Rao said, "Yes, there are indeed problems with my background."

Xu Quan and Xu Qu exchanged a glance. Xu Quan asked, "Third Brother, what exactly happened back then? Was Eldest Sister really Father's child?"

Xu Quan said, "If my uncle had stayed in the capital, there would have been only two outcomes: either I would have died young, or my true identity would have been revealed to the world. However, the first possibility is more likely."

After Xu Rao finished speaking, both Xu Quan and Xu Qu looked horrified.

Xu Rao smiled and said, "This matter involves a lot of complicated issues and cannot be explained in just a few words. Moreover, this matter should stop with the two of you and not let anyone else know about it. If this matter is used by someone, the lives of our huge Marquis's mansion, with hundreds of people, would not be enough to fill the gap."

Xu Quan and Xu Qu looked even more terrified. Xu Rao smiled and said, "Don't worry, things are still under control. With Grandmother and Father here, the family is relatively safe for now. However, the princes in the capital have started to fight each other openly and secretly. It would be best if the younger brothers could take their families and leave the capital temporarily."

Xu Qu said, "Third Brother, I won't pry into Eldest Sister's background, but you have to tell me, is there something more to the story behind Ninth Sister's marriage to a local girl?"

Xu Rao nodded and said, "The Third Prince sent someone over, wanting to bring Xiao Jiu into his residence as a concubine. How could I bear to do that? It just so happens that your third sister-in-law had a good relationship with the late Lady of Pingxi Marquis a few years ago, and the two of them had discussed their children's marriage. So, we simply arranged Xiao Jiu's marriage. Just in case, we let the two of them get married first, and then they can consummate their marriage after she comes of age."

Xu Quan clenched his fist and slammed it hard on the table, saying, "Utterly shameless."

Xu Rao said, "On the way, Di Ge'er met the second master of the Feng family, who was rushing to the capital with his family. The second master of the Feng family somehow found out about our Xiao Jiu and came to Di Ge'er for advice. Di Ge'er secretly asked around and found out that the eldest daughter of the second master of the Feng family stayed in the capital in order to find a suitable marriage. Di Ge'er and I think that something must have happened to their daughter."

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