Chapter 10 Adopted Daughter
These words were sharp and sarcastic, quite different from Xiao Jue's usual gentle and refined image. Looking at her tall and handsome eldest son, Madam Xiao felt a sense of powerlessness for the first time.
Yu Xuan was a bit immature a month ago, but she's much better now. Why is her older brother still holding onto this? They're about to get married, yet he still speaks to his sister in a strange tone.
Xiao Yuxuan did not avoid the question and looked him straight in the eye, saying, "Brother, don't worry. Since you instructed the physician to use the strongest medicine on me and spared no effort to make me recover as soon as possible, I am now much better."
The bitter taste of the medicine she had drunk these past two days still seemed to linger in her mouth. Xiao Yuxuan didn't shy away from it, but that didn't mean Xiao Jue dared to admit that he had indeed intended to torment Xiao Yuxuan, which was why he had Doctor Pei use bitter medicine.
He avoided Madam Xiao's gaze, refusing to answer her question about the most potent medicine, and instead said:
“If I find out again that you have ill intentions and are intent on harming others, even if Mother doesn’t pursue the matter, I will still teach you a lesson.”
Xiao Yuyao felt greatly relieved to see that the two of them could be so impolite in front of Madam Xiao.
Although Xiao Yuxuan tricked her, making her mother and third brother stop favoring her, fortunately her eldest brother was loyal to her, so she didn't lose out. As for her father and second brother, they would definitely stand on her side.
Madam Xiao glared at Xiao Jue: "Alright, you're the elder brother, and instead of pampering and spoiling your sister, you're threatening and intimidating her now. You're not acting like an elder brother at all."
After saying that, Yu Yao wanted to coax Yu Xuan again, but instead she took her hand and said affectionately, "Mother, don't blame my eldest brother. He was just worried and confused. Now that he's here, let's hurry up and go to the temple fair."
Xiao Yuyao walked between Madam Xiao and Xiao Jue, with Xiao Yuxuan following calmly behind her.
The carriages had been prepared in advance, one for Madam Xiao and one for the two young ladies. The eldest young master rode a horse. As the maids and servants put down their belongings and the masters were about to board, Mama Li suddenly took Madam Xiao's arm, a sweet smile on her face.
“Mother, we used to ride in the same carriage when we went to the temple fair. Today, Yuyao wants to ride with you too. It’s perfect. My eldest brother and fifth sister were arguing earlier. Why don’t we let them ride in the same carriage? It will help ease their tension.”
Madam Xiao was initially hesitant, but after realizing that it was indeed necessary to allow her eldest son and Yu Xuan to calm down, she agreed.
The mother and daughter got into the car. Xiao Yuxuan looked over and saw Xiao Yuyao lift the car curtain and give her a cold look.
As Xiao Yuyao had predicted, Xiao Jue did not agree to ride in the same carriage as Xiao Yuxuan. He mounted his horse and walked to the carriage in front, leaning down and saying, "Mother, Fourth Sister, I will lead the way. You can rest assured."
After saying that, he flicked his whip, and the horse trotted ahead.
Xiao Yuxuan sat in the car with her eyes closed, resting. Bi Sui hesitated several times before finally saying nothing.
These were just some cold words. There were far more hurtful things to say in her past life. Her father, eldest brother, and second brother all doted on Xiao Yuyao, and they didn't even bother to pretend to care for her. Now that she had given up on trying to please them, she was naturally prepared to never have anything to do with them again.
The journey from the Xiao residence to the outskirts of the capital takes about an hour. Jici Temple is built halfway up the mountain and is a royal temple. It is only open to the public on temple fair days. So when they arrived at the rear of the carriages, they heard that it was very lively outside.
Xiao Yuyao got off the carriage, took Madam Xiao's hand, and said sweetly, "Mother, we heard a lot of vendors hawking their wares on the way up the mountain. Let's go and visit the temple fair later."
"Alright, whatever you say, but we need to hurry up and pray for blessings and draw lots, lest we miss the auspicious time."
Madam Xiao personally tidied Xiao Yuyao's hair, took her hand and walked a few steps, then seemed to remember something and turned back to call out, "Yuxuan, you come along too."
Passing through a bamboo grove behind Jici Temple, beneath a giant waterfall atop the mountain, lies a secluded meditation room, where the sounds of prayers and temple fairs at the foot of the mountain cannot reach.
A kind-faced woman held a white chess piece and gently placed it on the chessboard in front of her.
"My aunt seems to have something on her mind?"
Opposite her sat a young man dressed in a black brocade robe, with delicate features, red lips and white teeth. He held a black chess piece without moving, seemingly waiting for her to change her mind.
"Oops, I took the wrong step. I shouldn't have taken this step. Let's start over."
The woman spoke vividly, quickly picking up a white piece from the chessboard. After much deliberation, she placed it in a different position.
"Sigh, Abbot Shikong just said that I still have a karmic connection to this, and that I might be destined to have a child." The princess said with some difficulty, "You know how many years your uncle has been dead. Does that old man Shikong mean I'm going to have a second spring in my life? That doesn't seem right, I'm almost forty..."
"Cough cough..."
Qi Jun was quite embarrassed by his aunt's enthusiastic and bold words.
The elders were used to being disrespectful, and he, as a junior, couldn't afford to offend them, so he carefully considered his words and said:
"They may not be biological children; adopted sons or daughters are the same."
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
A voice came from the doorway, and a young girl dressed in gorgeous clothes walked in and sat down next to the princess.
"Crown Prince, Aunt, I just overheard you talking about an adopted daughter?"
The eldest princess glanced at Qi Jun and said, "I was just joking with Jun'er."
Qi Wenyue pouted, thinking that her aunt and her brother, the Crown Prince, didn't want to talk to her. But she knew a lot. If her aunt really wanted to adopt a daughter, she had a good candidate in mind.
“If Aunt really wants to adopt a daughter, I have a ready-made candidate. She is well-educated, reasonable, and graceful. She is the best among the daughters of famous families in the capital.”
The princess, having aroused some of her curiosity, asked:
"Oh? Since she's so outstanding, her parents must dote on her and have put a lot of effort into raising her. How could they bear to let her become someone else's adopted daughter?"
Qi Wenyue said, "That's how it used to be, but last month, her parents discovered that their biological daughter was someone else. She is now in a difficult situation in the Xiao family and has been repeatedly targeted and harassed by the biological daughter who was found. If Aunt is willing to take her under her name, that would be a perfect thing for both of them."
"I won't hide it from my aunt, this girl is actually my confidante, Xiao Yuyao from Minister Xiao's family."
The eldest princess knew many noble ladies and young misses, but she couldn't recall such a person in her mind for the time being. She didn't usually care much about the gossip of the people in the capital, and she was either worshipping Buddha or reading storybooks. Recently, she had taken on the job of headmistress of a women's academy, but after hearing Qi Wenyue's recommendation, she was somewhat tempted.
She simply discarded a few white pieces to concede defeat, stopped playing, and turned to Qi Wenyue earnestly, asking, "How old is this Xiao Yuyao you're talking about?"
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