Xue Zhongfu stopped where he was, watching his elder brother Xue Yuanchu's back gradually walking away, feeling a sense of melancholy in his heart about the unpredictable world.
Among five brothers and sisters in the family, he and Xue Yuanchu were the closest in age. Before his third brother Xue Jiyan was born, the two of them studied calligraphy side by side and have been inseparable since childhood.
At that time, their father Xue Yonghuai personally taught them horse riding and archery, and the brotherhood was extremely deep. However, now, a gap has arisen between them and it is difficult to return to the way it was before.
Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm the waves in his heart, turned and walked towards the Prajna Hall.
As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he saw that his mother Hong Yingrong had finished her dinner and was sitting upright on the couch, sipping her tea. When she saw him come in, a kind smile immediately bloomed on her face.
"Fu'er, you're here." Hong Yingrong called softly.
"Mother." Xue Zhongfu stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "I heard that my eldest sister-in-law is pregnant, so I came to congratulate you."
"It has been a long time since the Marquis' Mansion has welcomed such a happy event. Your father's spirit in heaven would surely be very pleased to know that the Xue family has a successor."
Hong Yingrong smiled and gestured for her son to sit next to her, and Nanny Zhao immediately served him freshly brewed hot tea.
"Your elder brother has been injured for a long time and has not recovered yet. Now you have to take care of the Ministry of Works and many affairs outside the government. It is really hard work for you." Seeing that her son looked a little tired and his body was a little thinner, Hong Yingrong spoke softly.
"My son doesn't feel tired, but my eldest brother... seems a little lonely." Xue Zhongfu was silent for a moment before he slowly spoke.
Hong Yingrong sighed softly, "Your eldest brother has always been proud and arrogant. Now that he's in this situation, he's inevitably feeling depressed. However, there are some things that others' advice is ultimately useless. The key is for him to slowly understand it himself."
"Mother is absolutely right." Xue Zhongfu nodded in agreement, but in his heart he still couldn't help but defend his elder brother, "But elder brother is not a stubborn person. I believe he will change one day."
The teacup on the table was still emitting a faint wisp of hot steam. He picked it up gently and turned it slightly between his fingers, as if he was also sorting out the myriad thoughts in his mind.
"Mother," Xue Zhongfu said in a deep voice, "I've heard some gossip in the mansion these past few days. Although I reprimanded those servants who were talking nonsense in public, if this continues, the order of seniority and inferiority will be lost, and it will definitely become the root cause of internal strife."
The round fan in Hong Yingrong's hand waved slowly, bringing up gusts of breeze. She stayed in the mansion all day, and what she heard was naturally no less exciting than what her son heard. On several occasions, she severely punished servants who spread rumors and disturbed the house. After beating them with a stick, she even expelled two of them from the mansion.
However, although she was able to shut up the people in the mansion, the rumors outside the mansion spread like weeds and were difficult to contain.
"I have made up my mind about this matter." Her tone brooked no room for negotiation.
Xue Zhongfu took a sip of tea and looked around. Everyone in the Prajna Hall was his mother's confidant, so he could speak freely without worry.
Putting down the teacup and standing up from the couch, he knelt solemnly in front of his mother with a serious expression.
"I have something to say. If you are truly disillusioned with my eldest brother and have other intentions, I, out of filial piety, naturally have no right to interfere with your decision. But please wait until your eldest sister-in-law gives birth safely before making a decision. If she gives birth to a boy, I am willing to work with you to ask His Majesty to appoint my nephew as the heir to the Marquisate. This will not disappoint your eldest sister-in-law and the Jiang family, and will also silence the gossip."
His eyes were firm and sincere, and every word seemed to be engraved on his heart. "As the second uncle, I will do my best to raise this child, ensure that he grows up safely, and inherit the title."
Hong Yingrong's gaze fell on Xue Zhongfu. Although her expression remained calm, deep in her heart there was an indescribable sense of relief.
In her previous life, Xue Zhongfu was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for setting up a gambling house and taking human lives lightly. At that time, she could never believe that her second son, who had a pure character, would be a greedy person who regarded human lives as worthless and committed many evil deeds.
Assuming that the charges were not deliberately fabricated, how could my son go down such a path of no return?
If Xue Yuanchu's dissolute life could be traced, then Xue Zhongfu's crime was always like an unsolvable mystery to her.
However, in this life, inheriting the title of Marquis is no longer a bargaining chip that can be casually given up between brothers, but a heavy responsibility that requires them to think carefully and make long-term plans for the future of the family.
"It's getting late. You should go back and rest first. Come and pay your respects to me another day." Although Hong Yingrong's voice was cold, it did not contain any blame.
Xue Zhongfu understood the meaning of his mother's words to drive him away. He did not say anything more, but just stood up silently, bowed respectfully, and then turned and left.
His figure gradually blurred in the night, and with a hint of loneliness and frustration that was hard to conceal, he disappeared outside the door of Prajna Hall.
Nanny Zhao watched Xue Zhongfu walk away, then returned to the house. While arranging the teacups on the table, she said softly, "Old Madam, what the Second Young Master said is not entirely unreasonable..."
Hong Yingrong gazed out the window at the gradually darkening night and said slowly, "Of course I don't know this, but what the Marquisate truly needs is a head of household who can strategize and provide protection for the entire household, not a crying infant guarding this illusory title."
Although she didn't understand the deeper meaning, Zhao Ma nodded as if she understood, then told the maid to light the lamp and help the old lady go to bed to rest.
…
Xue Zhongfu returned to his courtyard and fell heavily on the bed as soon as he entered the door. His eyes revealed a bit of depression as he stared at the bed curtain above his head.
The layout of his inner room still remains the same as when his late wife Chen Yunniang was alive, without any change.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
