Chen Xiaoran looked up, glanced lazily at Xiao Guangyuan, and slowly said, "Lord Xiao, you only need to answer."
“Young Master Chen, this is a family matter after all. Why don’t we talk about it after the guests have left?” Xiao Guangyuan said quickly, his face showing a hint of flattery.
Upon hearing this, Chen Xiaoran looked around and smiled: "I imagine everyone is very curious about Xiu'er and Tuantuan's experiences after Xiu'er returned. In that case, let them listen here, so we don't have to explain to them one by one later."
"This..." Xiao Guangyuan wanted to refute, but Chen Xiaoran didn't give him a chance and asked directly, "Five years ago, after you went to the capital to take the imperial examination and became the top scholar, you did not give Xiu'er a letter of divorce, is that right?"
Xiao Guangyuan glanced furtively at Zheng Fangyu and saw her dark expression. He knew something was wrong, but Chen Zhixiu was now the daughter of the Prime Minister and a princess personally bestowed by the Emperor. Comparing the two, he immediately made a decision: "Yes! After she became the top scholar, I wanted to bring Xiu'er to the capital, but the people I sent said that Xiu'er died in childbirth and only brought my mother to the capital..."
"Fine!" Chen Xiaoran interrupted Xiao Guangyuan before he could finish speaking, and continued to ask, "Then why did you ask for the hand of the Grand Secretary's daughter in the Golden Palace? You only learned of Xiu'er's death a day ago, and you already asked for someone else's hand in marriage. How could you do this to Xiu'er?"
Xiao Guangyuan clenched his fists tightly: "Back then...back then..."
Zheng Fangyu looked at Xiao Guangyuan, their eyes met, and Xiao Guangyuan simply closed his eyes and said with a forced smile, "When the Emperor bestowed the marriage upon me, I dared not disobey, so I chose you, my lady."
"Lord Xiao, are you blatantly lying, or do you think no one will come forward to testify?" Eunuch Cai suddenly appeared, snorted coldly, and looked at Xiao Guangyuan, saying, "When did the Emperor bestow the marriage? The Emperor asked you if you were engaged, but you yourself said you were not married and even asked to marry Lady Xiao! Lord Xiao, you are deceiving the Emperor!"
Cai Gonggong's words made Xiao Guangyuan's face turn pale: "Your subject dares not!"
"You dare to do this, Lord Xiao! If I weren't here, would you have tried to smear the Emperor?"
Cai Gonggong walked over angrily and cupped his hands in greeting to Bai Han: "This servant just forgot to mention His Majesty's decree, which says that when entering the palace tomorrow, there is no need to go too early. You can go after the Princess and the County Princess have rested."
People around them cast envious and jealous glances at Chen Zhixiu and Bai Tuantuan.
The Emperor is actually thinking of them in such a way!
Xiao Guangyuan's mind raced, and he knelt down with a thud: "I'm guilty! I'm guilty! Xiu'er, it's my fault! It's all my fault!"
Xiao Guangyuan burst into tears: "I really didn't expect that someone would lie to me about your death. Xiu'er, please forgive me?"
Upon seeing this, the crowd began to whisper among themselves.
"Lord Xiao is really going all out! He's utterly disgraced!"
“If I were a member of the Bai family, I would never forgive him. I think he must be the one behind this. After all, the princess was just a commoner back then, and she was no match for Madam Xiao. He might have abandoned the princess.”
"Who can argue with that? Even the eldest daughter of the Zheng family was deceived! If it were me, I would divorce Xiao Guangyuan!"
"It's just a pity for the two children!" someone sighed, and everyone else sighed in sympathy.
Xiao Guangyuan knelt on the hard ground, not daring to raise his head.
At this moment, all he wanted was a hole to crawl into!
Bai Ze's expression remained unchanged, but his eyes held a deep hatred. He glanced at Chen Zhixiu, who nodded at him, and sighed inwardly, saying calmly, "Lord Xiao, please rise."
“Husband, your parents and brothers won’t blame you, and I won’t blame you either,” Chen Zhixiu said softly. “Tuantuan, come and help your father.”
Bai Tuantuan obediently stretched out her hand: "Daddy, don't cry. If Daddy cries, Mommy and Tuantuan will be sad."
"Everyone, I have some family matters to attend to, so I won't keep you any longer." Bai Haotian cupped his hands in apology to the crowd.
Everyone bowed and offered words of comfort before leaving.
After everyone had left, Bai Han said, "Since things have come to this, let's not dwell on the past. Xiao Guangyuan, Xiu'er is your wife after all, and Tuantuan is your legitimate daughter. Do you know what to do?"
Xiao Guangyuan paused for a moment, then moved his lips and said, "Xiu'er is naturally my wife."
"Well, what about your current wife?" Bai Han stroked his beard and looked at Zheng Fangyu.
Zheng Fangyu was so angry she wanted to bite her teeth, but she couldn't say a word.
After all, she did come later.
But Xiao Ruyan couldn't hold back anymore and hugged Xiao Guangyuan's leg, crying, "Father, you're my father alone, waaaah! Isn't that right, Father?"
“No, he’s my dad too,” Bai Tuantuan said softly, her voice filled with anticipation. “Tuantuan has a dad now, Tuantuan is so happy.”
"Shut up!" Xiao Ruyan glared fiercely at Bai Tuantuan. "He's not your father! Get out!"
Xiao Ruyan suddenly made a move and pushed Bai Tuantuan away!
Bai Tuantuan fell to the ground and began to cry softly, "It's my daddy..."
"round and round!"
Chen Luo strode over, picked up Bai Tuantuan, and glared angrily at Xiao Guangyuan: "Is this how you let her bully your daughter?"
"Grandfather, it's not Father's fault...it wasn't Father's fault..."
Bai Tuantuan looked at Xiao Guangyuan pitifully.
Xiao Guangyuan looked up at Bai Tuantuan's pitiful appearance. Despite being in pain from the fall, she still defended him. This was his child...
For a moment, Xiao Guangyuan felt extremely guilty. When he heard Xiao Ruyan's wailing, a hint of impatience appeared in his eyes: "Stop making a scene! Tuantuan is your sister."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Fangyu suddenly looked up: "Master?"
Xiao Ruyan's face flushed red, and she shouted, "I don't have a sister! She's just a country bumpkin, why should she be my sister!"
With that, Xiao Ruyan turned and ran out!
Zheng Fangyu curtsied to Xiao Guangyuan: "Master, I will take Yan'er home after you have finished dealing with these matters."
Xiao Guangyuan hurriedly said, "Madam, you..."
However, Zheng Fangyu completely ignored Xiao Guangyuan and went to chase after Xiao Ruyan with her maids and nannies.
Xiao Guangyuan became increasingly uneasy. He knew that Zheng Fangyu wanted Lord Zheng to stand up for her!
On one side was a Grand Secretary, and on the other was the Prime Minister. For the first time, he felt panicked!
"Husband?" Chen Zhixiu called softly, "I know how hard you've worked, and I'm willing to serve you alongside her..."
Xiao Guangyuan's eyes lit up: "Really?"
Chen Zhixiu sighed and slowly said, "Of course I don't want to, but things have come to this, and it's not my husband's fault, so..."
Tears welled up in Chen Zhixiu's eyes: "I'm willing to do anything as long as it's for my husband's good."
“Sleeve…” Xiao Guangyuan was deeply moved, holding Chen Zhixiu’s hand, overwhelmed with emotion.
Bai Tuantuan, who was standing to the side, also got off Chen Luo, looked up, and said softly, "Daddy, are you taking us home today?"
Xiao Guangyuan nodded quickly.
Chen Luo snorted coldly: "Since Xiu'er has forgiven you, we won't say anything more. But remember, with us here, if you dare to bully Xiu'er and Tuantuan again, don't blame us for being impolite!"
Xiao Guangyuan quickly bowed and said "Yes," then hurriedly led Chen Zhixiu and Bai Tuantuan away.
Inside the carriage, Chen Zhixiu gently rubbed Bai Tuantuan's little head and said slowly, "Tuantuan, your father isn't very good. Wait a little longer, and I'll find you a better one."
Bai Tuantuan was shocked. Looking at Chen Zhixiu's serious expression, she mechanically nodded: "Okay, Mother."
My mother's acting skills have improved too!
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