Chapter 199 Carrying Thorns
He's eighteen years old, not a child. To act so thoughtlessly is utterly foolish!
"That's enough. It's no use for me to hit or scold you now. Pack your things and go to the Princess's residence immediately to apologize."
This was the best way he could think of to handle the aftermath.
Xiao Min had offended the Princess and Qi Yuxuan. If he didn't make a statement and admit his mistake, no matter how many times the Xiao family clarified things, it would be useless. Since things had already come to this point, if he didn't apologize, he could just wait to never return to the capital.
Xiao Su pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling exhausted and numb all over, with a dull ache in his chest.
He didn't know if it was because too many things had happened in recent days, and none of them were good, but he was unable to eat or sleep, and his health had deteriorated a lot compared to before. Even his forgetfulness had increased. It would be good for him to go back to Jiangnan to recuperate for the next two and a half years. As long as he was alive, he would not have to worry about running out of firewood.
Xiao Min also stopped crying, and only whispered:
"But Father... the Eldest Princess and Princess Chang Le may not be willing to see their son..."
"And... are you really going to apologize with a bundle of thorns on your back? It would be so embarrassing to do it in public..."
Xiao Su couldn't catch his breath and just wanted to kick him out.
After leaving the study, Xiao Min did not go directly to the Princess's residence, but instead went to his mother's bedroom.
Since the affair, although Mother appeared gentle on the surface, she treated Father and the three brothers like a completely different person. She would send people to inquire about their well-being, but she didn't care at all. She seemed as if she might divorce Father at any moment and leave her three sons behind.
In the past, whenever things didn't go his way, his father would either beat or scold him. His older and younger brothers couldn't agree with him either, so he could only seek comfort from Xiao Yuyao or his mother.
He could never go to Xiao Yuyao's place again. How could his half-sister be worthy of his brother's flattery? And his mother, seeing how pitiful he was, would surely soften her heart and comfort him as before.
In the main courtyard of the Xiao family, in the small courtyard outside Lin Hui's bedroom, more than a dozen stewards from the family and the estate gathered together, all standing respectfully with their heads bowed, waiting for the mistress to speak.
“Some of you are my dowry, and some are my trusted confidants whom I have personally promoted. I have called you here today for no other reason than to ask you one thing.”
As soon as Xiao Min arrived at the main gate of the courtyard, he found the gate tightly closed, with two unfamiliar maids standing guard at the entrance.
The young maidservant greeted him, then, with an apologetic expression, said:
"Madam is busy giving instructions right now, Second Young Master, why don't you come later?"
Xiao Min frowned; already in a bad mood, his tone now tinged with anger:
"I've come to see my mother, and you, girl, not only failed to inform her, but also dare to make decisions for me?"
Another older maid immediately explained, "Second Young Master, it is Madam who said she will not see anyone. Even if Master comes, she will be stopped at the door. Please forgive us, Second Young Master. It is really not that we have been negligent."
Xiao Min snorted, noticing that while the two maids spoke humbly, their attitude remained firm.
“Go in and announce that I am requesting an audience. My mother will not refuse to see me.”
"this……"
The two maids exchanged a glance, inwardly groaning.
The second young master was neither the eldest nor the youngest. His upbringing was neglected from a young age. After only a few years of formal education, he was sent to an academy. Without supervision, his personality became increasingly distorted. The servants among them had even discussed in private that if there was one young master in the manor who was the most difficult to get along with, it would undoubtedly be the second young master.
They wanted to stop him, but how long could they stop him? If they were sold off, beaten, or scolded by the second young master before they got their turn, they would have nowhere to seek justice!
"This servant will go right away!"
The maidservant responded and immediately opened the door and ran inside.
"Madam, the Second Young Master requests an audience; it seems to be something urgent."
Lin Hui glanced up, picked up her teacup, skimmed off the foam, and took a sip.
"Let him wait outside."
"But Second Young Master..."
"I told him to wait, and I just said I wouldn't see anyone who came. Are you ignoring what I said?"
Lin Hui's gaze was calm, yet she exuded an air of authority without anger.
The maidservant readily agreed and immediately turned and left.
"My mother won't even see me? How is that possible?!"
Xiao Min raised his voice in disbelief. What on earth was he being scolded about? It was such a confidential matter that even he, as the son, had to step back.
"Don't forget, your indentures are all in my hands. Your loyalty is not to anyone in the Xiao family, but to me, Lin Hui. Do you understand?"
Upon hearing Lin Hui's words, the eyes of the dozen or so managers flickered slightly. They wanted to exchange glances with those around them but dared not, so they lowered their heads even further, almost burying them in their chests.
"yes--"
A dozen voices rang out in unison, and Xiao Min, who was waiting outside, also heard them.
Just as he was about to go to the Princess's residence, the gate suddenly opened from the inside out, and more than a dozen middle-aged servants filed out. They looked like the matrons of the various courtyards in the residence, the managers of the estate, and so on.
Xiao Min waved his hand dismissively, waving them off, and went inside to find Lin Hui.
"Mother!"
Before he even got close, he called out in a wronged tone, "Those two girls outside are really awful; they wouldn't let me in to find you."
Lin Hui didn't let him continue complaining, but instead gave him a cold glance: "What is it?"
Her expression didn't exactly convey happiness, which made Xiao Min's heart skip a beat.
“Mother, it’s all because of that Xiao… Qi Yuxuan! She sent a gift yesterday, pretending to be friendly, but I thought it was bad luck, so I had it secretly thrown away. Yes, I admit I acted impulsively and did something wrong, and I have sincerely apologized! I didn’t expect Father to scold me so badly about this today and even make me go to the Princess’s residence to apologize!”
"Mother doesn't know, but yesterday, that maid from the Princess's residence treated me terribly, saying..."
He embellished the story, describing in detail what the maid sent by Qi Yuxuan to deliver gifts said and her demeanor the day before, attempting to make Lin Hui empathize with him and join him in condemning Qi Yuxuan.
After talking for a long time, until his mouth was dry, Lin Hui didn't react much and remained calm and indifferent.
“Mother, I don’t want to go to the Princess’s residence! Let alone offer my apology with a bundle of thorns on my back. Anyway, our whole family is going to move to Jiangnan, and in a few days no one will care about this anymore…”
Lin Hui pulled her sleeve out of Xiao Min's hand. "You did something wrong. Do you sincerely apologize?"
Xiao Min was taken aback, not understanding why his mother was repeating those words, and hesitated for a moment: "Yes... what's wrong..."
"Guards, hold the second young master down and bring out the family law."
As soon as Lin Hui finished speaking, Li Mama stepped forward and grabbed Xiao Min's thin arm. Caught off guard, Xiao Min was immediately pinned to the spot by several burly, fierce women.
"Mother, what are you doing? Father hasn't even hit me, and you're going to hit me for this?!"
Xiao Min's voice changed in surprise, but Lin Hui just glanced down at him and said with a slight movement of her lips, "Gag him, he's so noisy."
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