Chapter 105 Chapter 105
Xiao Yuanxing frowned because of this sentence.
Where are the peaches that can't be eaten? Could it be that the peaches from Linfeng Pavilion are the peaches of the Queen Mother? As for where my aunt is, even if someone really wants to eat the peaches of the Queen Mother, there are many people who will come to her and find ways to get them.
Could it be possible that Zhao Zhao is missing?
Don't understand.
But Xiao Yuanxing didn't say much because of the box of things he had packed. He just kept a straight face and a solemn expression, nodded and said, "I know. I'll bring it to her."
Xie Qingya nodded to the man again, said thank you, then turned around and walked out.
After he left, some time passed.
Xiao Yuanxing took the evidence of Xiao Yuanfu's crimes, frowned, and left first.
Back home.
It's dinner time.
But before Xiao Yuanxing went to see Xie Qingya, he asked his followers to go home first and tell them not to wait for him.
Therefore this big family.
When Xiao Yuanxing came back, they were already having dinner.
There aren't actually many official masters in the Xiao family, except for Xiao Yuanxing's family and Xiao Baozhu who is already married.
Although Xiao Yuanfu has a bunch of women in his backyard, he has not remarried since his first wife passed away, and he doesn't even have any children.
Therefore, apart from the two brothers, Ming and the two children, there were only the Duke of the Protectorate and his wife.
The ancestor of the Xiao family is old.
On weekdays, I eat in my own room and don't eat with them.
When Xiao Yuanxing passed by, Chang was talking about Xiao Yuanfu's life event: "It has been two years since Zhang died. Your house cannot be left without a mistress forever. Your sister-in-law and I will take a good look at you later, and you can pick the one you like and marry her."
After saying that, Chang looked at Ming beside her and said to her, "Old lady, if you have a good candidate, remember to let Yuanfu take care of him."
When Ming heard this, she felt a little unhappy.
With Xiao Yuanfu's character, how could she dare to introduce him to others? Especially those good sisters in her circle, if she introduced them to Xiao Yuanfu, would she still want to associate with them in the future?
I'm afraid that people will poke my spine for the rest of my life.
But since her mother-in-law had spoken, she naturally could not refuse. She could only agree temporarily and plan to find something else to get away with it later.
"Yes, my daughter-in-law has noted it down." She replied in a low voice.
Chang was very happy to see her being so well-behaved.
She knew her son was a spendthrift, married for the second time, and had many women in his backyard...
But as a mother, she will naturally favor her own son.
This book is exclusively compiled by the LK team. At this time, she just patted Xiao Yuanfu's arm and said, "You should behave yourself recently and don't go out and do anything wrong. Do you understand?"
When Xiao Yuanfu heard this, he became unhappy: "When did I ever do anything wrong?"
Chang loved him the most.
Seeing that he was unhappy, he was about to comfort him, but before he could open his mouth, Xiao Yuanxing's angry voice came from outside: "Xiao Yuanfu, you did a bad thing!"
Everyone in the room was shocked by these words.
Xiao Yuanfu was so frightened by the angry shout that the chopsticks in his hand fell directly to the ground.
Since he was a child, he was most afraid of his elder brother.
His father didn't care about anything, his mother and grandmother always loved him, and his aunt lived far away in the palace, so he could only see him a few times a year.
Only his eldest brother not only dared to scold him but also beat him.
He was often punished according to family rules and was always made to kneel in the ancestral hall.
Chang was also startled and was now covering her chest and soothing it.
But out of habit, she turned to Xiao Yuanfu and asked him, "What did you do to make your elder brother angry?"
Although he was the youngest son, Chang was well aware of the eldest son's abilities.
Moreover, her current status and honor are all thanks to the eldest son, otherwise that bastard Xiao Changbao would have divorced her in the first year after returning to the capital.
Therefore, although she loved her youngest son, Chang still trusted her eldest son very much. She would listen to her eldest son for everything that happened at home.
Even the Duke of the State, Xiao Changbao, who had been silent, stared at Xiao Yuanfu and asked, "What stupid things have you done to displease your elder brother?"
"I don't have any!"
Xiao Yuanfu sounded very aggrieved when he said this.
Out of habit, he first thought about what he had done recently, but no matter how he thought about it, he didn't feel that he had done anything wrong.
Ming had long given up hope on her brother-in-law.
Knowing that her husband would not get so angry for no reason, she asked the maids and nannies behind her to take the two children to the inner room first.
So as not to scare them.
It happened that the mother-in-law also spoke.
"Old man, go ask the eldest brother first, what's going on?"
Chang herself did not dare to touch this thorny issue. In this family, not only Yuanfu was afraid of his brother, but she was also very afraid of her eldest son.
This is exactly what Ming meant.
Upon hearing this, he gently replied yes, and then took the initiative to greet Xiao Yuanxing.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing Xiao Yuanxing coming in, she sent away all the servants inside and outside the house, and took the initiative to ask about Xiao Yuanxing.
When Xiao Yuanxing saw her, his expression softened a little.
Even without telling her, she kept a sullen face.
"Where is Xile?" He looked inside and asked the two children.
After listening to what Ming said, he nodded, then walked in with a stern face.
"Boss, what's wrong with you? You're so angry that you even scared your mother!" When Chang saw someone coming in, she stood up, patted her chest, looked at Xiao Yuanxing, and tried to continue to smooth things over.
Xiao Yuanxing looked at her without saying anything.
Over the years, because of his mother's protection, he had forgiven Xiao Yuanfu countless times.
But today——
He was determined to give Xiao Yuanfu a good punishment!
He still had a sullen face.
Amid Xiao Yuanfu's cautious flattering voice, he threw the box he had been holding onto the table.
"Look at what you have done!"
Xiao Yuanfu didn't know what he had done, but seeing his brother so angry, he didn't dare to neglect him and hurriedly opened the box to take a look.
Seeing this, his face couldn't help but turn pale.
——It turned out to be full of evidence of bribes he had accepted over the years!
"What?"
Xiao Changbao also took it and took a look. After reading it, his face turned very ugly. He glared at Xiao Yuanfu and said, "You rebellious son, you actually collected so much money outside!"
"You left evidence behind, and someone found your eldest brother!"
Chang didn't care about it. She thought it was a matter of life and death, but she didn't expect it was just a matter of collecting money.
She felt relieved.
However, in front of her eldest son, she did not dare to favor her youngest son too much.
He deliberately raised his arm and slapped Xiao Yuanfu several times, then followed Xiao Changbao in scolding, "Look at what you have done. You made your elder brother so angry. The money your family gives you is not enough, so you have to go out and collect these things? Don't do this again in the future. If you do it again, your father and I will not care about you anymore!"
Finished cursing.
Chang looked at Xiao Yuanxing flatteringly again: "Boss, your brother knows he was wrong, but it's not a big deal anyway, just forgive him this time."
"He will definitely not dare to do that again."
Although Xiao Changbao was angry, he also felt that it was not a big deal.
Although he was annoyed with his youngest son, who was not as capable and obedient as his eldest son, Xiao Changbao did not want to cause unrest in the family because of these trivial matters, so he followed Xiao Yuanxing and said, "Your mother is right. This is not a big deal. The second son took the money and did the job. Those people dare not tell anyone."
"If you're really angry, make the second son kneel in the ancestral hall for two days."
"Until now, you still think this is not a big deal?" Xiao Yuanxing looked at them with disappointment on his face.
Xiao Yuanxing knew that his parents were used to playing it safe.
His mother has always been partial to Yuanfu, and his father simply doesn't want to get involved. But it is because of their attitude that Yuanfu has become more and more fearless, and has become what he is today!
Blame him too.
It's his fault that every time his mother cried a few times, he would soften his heart and let Yuanfu go, which has led to his behavior becoming more and more aggressive!
He was angry at Yuanfu, angry at his parents, and even more angry at himself!
"Today this thing was handed over to me, but what if it wasn't? The money he received would be enough to put him in jail!"
Xiao Changbao and Chang were still afraid of him.
Hearing him speak so seriously and seeing him so angry, I couldn't help but feel a little unconfident.
"It's not that bad..." Chang said, "Who dares to go against us and send your brother to jail?"
Xiao Changbao also hesitated and asked, "Boss, aren't you being too serious?"
"Father, do you know what your son has promised to others?" Xiao Yuanxing asked Xiao Changbao.
How would Xiao Changbao know this?
Being looked at by his eldest son, he felt guilty for some reason, so he turned around and yelled at Xiao Yuanfu: "You idiot, what on earth did you do to make your eldest brother so angry!"
"How should I know?"
Xiao Yuanfu was still feeling aggrieved. If his elder brother hadn't been here, given his temper, he would have turned hostile and left a long time ago.
He just thought that at worst he could just put his elder brother off first.
Anyway, he has received a lot of money over the years, especially a large sum recently, so it would be okay for him to live in peace for a while in the future.
Then he heard his elder brother say, "Did you promise the position of Patrol Officer of the Salt and Water Bureau to Quan Fangtong?"
The smile on Xiao Yuanfu's face suddenly froze.
He really didn't expect that his elder brother even knew this.
He thought he had been careful enough and had not attended any of Quan Fangtong's banquets for a while.
I don’t know how his elder brother knew about it.
This book is compiled exclusively for you by the LK team. Who gave these things to Big Brother?
常氏不懂這些，蕭長保卻也瞪大了眼睛，看着蕭元福，質問道：“什麽？哪個全方同？混賬玩意，你究竟做什麽了！”
“巡鹽禦史這樣的位置，咱們自己人都不定拿得到，你還敢許諾出去？”
蕭元福心虛道：“就是咱們自己人不好拿，我才想着給別人……”未等他爹和他大哥訓他，他又為自己辯解起來，“我還不是為了家裏！”
“外頭的人都盯着我們，害得這種肥差，我們就算想要，也只能避着一些，免得給別人落下話柄。”
“但這全方同跟咱們沒關系，他應允我了，以後在這個位置上，每次拿到的錢，都會分五成給我們。”
“五成，五成！”
他攤開一只手，揮了揮。
越說越覺得自己沒做錯什麽，底氣也不禁足了起來。
“這跟咱們自己的人在那個位置，有什麽區別？還能規避風險，他日後就算出事，也落不到我們的頭上，我這樣做有什麽不對的？”
蕭長保被他這話說得，倒是又面露沉吟起來。
聽着倒是不錯。
但他心裏清楚，要不是老大提前知道了這件事，就老二這脾性，絕對會把這些錢都私藏起來，絕不會讓他們知道！
不過分錢這個事，可以之後再說。
現在還是先把老大給安撫好。
要不就老大這個性子，這事肯定得黃。
他心裏思忖着，該怎麽開口，才能既把這事完美解決，又能不讓這把火燒到他的頭上。
就聽老大又道：“你知不知道這全方同是誰的人？”
“誰？”
蕭長保下意識問了一句。
蕭元星沒理會蕭長保，他一直盯着蕭元福在看，自然能看到蕭元福臉上那一閃而過的緊張。
蕭元星心裏便清楚，他是知道的。
他沉下聲音：“看來你早就知道那全方同是曹達的人？”
“誰的人？”
蕭長保再次瞪大了眼睛。
“曹達？怎麽又跟曹達扯上關系了？”雖然貴為國公爺，但蕭長保素來欺軟怕硬，他知曹達的厲害，自然對他有着天然的害怕。
“狗東西！”
蕭長保這下是真的生氣了。
他說着，又狠狠踹了蕭元福一下：“他的人，怎麽跟你扯上關系了？”
常氏先前看長子的态度，不敢說話。
這會見蕭長保動手動腳，方才又急紅了臉，跟蕭長保吵了起來：“蕭長保，你好端端的，踹兒子做什麽？”
“我踹他做什麽？”
蕭長保氣道：“你看看你養出來的好兒子，成日惹是生非！現在連曹達的人，都敢去沾惹，他不怕死，也別把我們牽連進來！”
這對夫婦，早就在這日複一日的生活中，喪失了對彼此的愛。
又或者。
他們根本就沒愛過對方。
當年蕭家還在北地流放的時候。
蕭長保因生得一張好面孔，被常氏看上。
當時常氏的父親，是監管他們的衙差。
對于那個時候的蕭家而言，即便只是一個衙差，也夠他們仰望了，何況若能跟衙差結為親家，日後自然也就不必再做那些苦力活。
因此即便蕭長保再不喜歡常氏，也還是把人娶了回來。
甚至還對人伏小做低了好多年。
那個時候，在蕭家，是常氏說了算。
所有人都得聽常氏的話。
哪想到蕭家忽然峰回路轉，一道聖旨下來，蕭家又恢複了昔日的榮耀。
自那之後。
常氏雖然拿捏着對蕭家的恩情，又仗着自己為蕭家生了長子這個福星，但蕭長保卻也沒再怕過她。
這些年，夫婦二人已鬧得越來越僵，就連同房都沒有過了。
常氏心裏對蕭長保有恨，覺得他忘恩負義。
蕭長保卻覺得自己對常氏已經夠仁至義盡了，要不是怕常氏吵吵嚷嚷，外面的人對他吐唾沫，又有長子的緣故，他怕是早就要休了這個悍婦了！
這會夫婦二人沒說幾句，又吵了起來。
甚至還有動手的傾向。
蕭元福對這副情形，早就見怪不怪了。
蕭元星卻看得頭疼欲裂。
他額角青筋都暴起了，直到緊攥的手，被明氏輕輕握住。
蕭元星垂眸看去，瞧見明氏眼中安慰的神情，蕭元星重重回握住她的手，而後又閉了閉眼睛，把心中那些負面的情緒，都全部消下去之後，方才睜開眼，沖着前面厲聲喝道：“都給我住嘴！”
屋內霎時一靜。
別說蕭長保和常氏夫婦了，就連蕭元福也被他這一聲怒喝，吓得抖了三抖。
蕭元星盯着蕭元福，沉聲說道：“我明日會給你送一道休病假的折子，到戶部，從今日開始，你給我老老實實待在家裏，別去見那個全方同！”
“要是再讓我知道，你跟他有什麽往來，別怪我打斷你的腿！”
蕭元福對這個決定十分不滿，當即就叫嚷起來：“大哥，你這做得過了吧！”
“我戶部還一大堆事呢，你把我關着，我還做不做事了！”
蕭元星看着他，淡淡說道：“你也可以不做。”
蕭元福臉色微白，一時就連反應都慢了下來：“……你什麽意思？”
蕭元星沒有正面回答他的話，只是沉默地看了他好一會，方才繼續說道：“這些年，爹娘縱容你，我也總覺得沒什麽事，才會讓你如今行事越來越過。”
“蕭家有今日不容易，你若是學不會好好做人做事，日後就不必再去戶部報道了，我不介意養着你。”
蕭元福面露驚恐，聲音卻不自覺拔高，沖人喊道：“蕭元星，我是你弟弟，不是你兒子，你憑什麽這麽管我？”
常氏也被這番話震到了。
好一會，才反應過來，她亦蹙了眉：“老大……”正想幫着蕭元福說幾句。
但蕭元星心意已決。
未等常氏說出口，他就看着人先說道：“娘，如果您不想您的兒子，以後真的入大獄，咱們蕭家再次家破人亡，被人流放，您可以繼續維護他。”
一句話說得常氏都驚恐地睜大了眼睛。
“哪有這麽嚴重……”她蒼白着臉色，嗫嚅道。
蕭元星問她：“您要試試嗎？”
常氏哪裏敢試？做了幾十年的護國公夫人，她哪裏還過得了一天苦日子？
蕭元星見她不語，便又轉頭看向蕭長保：“爹，您的意思呢？”
蕭長保這會也顧不上那些錢了。
有命，才能有錢。
被長子點名，他自是忙道：“全聽你的！”
“你們、你們……”蕭元福沒想到自己的事，就被這麽定下來了，他又氣又恨，沖着蕭元星喊道：“我不服！”
他說着就往外跑去。
可蕭元星的護衛都在外頭。
見蕭元福出去，被蕭元星一吩咐，一群人便立刻朝蕭元福蜂擁而上。
“蕭元星！”
蕭元福回頭看着蕭元星，目眦欲裂：“你憑什麽這麽對我！”
“憑我是你哥。”
蕭元星邊說，邊沉着一張臉，從屋內出去：“憑我是蕭家如今的當家人。”
見蕭元福還是滿臉不忿。
蕭元星忽然感到一陣疲憊，他不想再說，擡手揮了兩下，與人吩咐道：“帶他回房，沒有我的吩咐，不準他再出蕭家的大門！”
“是！”
衆人齊刷刷應是。
蕭元福被人帶走了，蕭長保也先離開了，常氏哭哭啼啼的，也被明氏派人先送回去了。
兩個孩子，更是早被丫鬟們帶回去了。
好好一個晚上，鬧成這樣，蕭元星的心裏自然也難受。
明氏看着他這副模樣，嘆了口氣。
她走上前，握住他的手，安撫似的輕撫着他的後背，嘴上卻說：“你這樣做，只怕二弟這口氣，難消啊。”
“我若是不這樣做，咱們家，遲早有一天，得毀在他手裏。”蕭元星說着又看着她，長嘆了口氣。
“先回屋吧。”他跟明氏說。
明氏點頭。
夫妻倆未讓人跟着，自行回屋去了。
路上，蕭元星跟明氏說：“我明日得去趟山莊，把這事先跟姑姑說一聲。”
明氏自然不會有意見。
“姑姑知曉，只怕也得生氣。”她牽着蕭元星的手，說着又嘆了口氣，過了會，才又問道，“讓元福不去戶部的事，你是認真的？”
蕭元星沒有立刻回答。
要放在今日之前，蕭元星或許還不能如此果斷地下定主意。
但跟謝清崖聊過之後……
蕭元星忽然輕聲說道：“我今日跟謝清崖見面了。”
“嗯？” 本書由LK團隊為您獨家整理 明氏微怔：“他找你做什麽？”
想到什麽，明氏突然睜大眼睛：“那些東西，難道……”
她仰頭看着蕭元星。
看着他與她點了點頭，明氏一臉不敢置信的模樣：“怎麽會……”
“他不是昨日才回來，哪裏知曉這麽多東西？”
她與夫君恩愛多年。
私下也是什麽都說的。
自然也知曉姑姑和夫君之前的擔憂，看來那位南安王真不是什麽簡單的人物。
不由擔心起昭昭。
明氏蹙眉問道：“昭昭知不知道？”
蕭元星沉默片刻，才說：“憑昭昭的聰慧，要說她真的什麽都沒猜到，自是不可能的，只是她應該也不敢肯定。”
明氏也想到了。
She sighed, "Zhao Zhao is going to be in such a dilemma."
She had already learned from her husband what Zhaozhao had said in Yutian that day.
When she was at the villa a few days ago, she had complained to her privately about this, blaming her for not caring about her own safety, but how could she not be worried in her heart?
Although she and Zhao Zhao are several years apart in age, they have always had a close relationship.
"Did he come to you just to give you these things?" she asked Xiao Yuanxing.
Xiao Yuanxing shook his head: "More than that."
In this mansion, his parents and grandmother are all unreliable, not to mention Yuanfu and Baozhu. The only person he can trust is his wife.
That's why.
Xiao Yuanxing never thought about hiding it from her.
At this moment, under Ming's gaze, he held her hand and whispered to others what Xie Qingya had said to him.
It did not include the events of the Battle of Nagano, but only talked about Xie Qingya's proposal and cooperation.
After listening to him, Ming did not say anything and just looked at him.
He asked her, "What do you want to say?"
He added: "You can say anything. Between you and me, we don't need to care about that."
"I think the King of Nan'an's proposal is good."
Ming said to him, "In fact, when I went to the villa this time, I could clearly feel that my aunt had aged a little and was not as energetic as before."
"To be disrespectful, if your Majesty doesn't do anything, how many years can your aunt hold on to these powers?"
"When she's here, we're not afraid of anything, but what if she's gone?"
"I can do anything with you. Even if we are exiled in the future, I believe in you and I can endure the hardship."
"How about joy?"
"Do we want them to suffer the same fate as us?"
Ming felt her husband holding her hand tightly. She held his hand in return and continued to whisper to him, "Husband, while we still have time, we should really think carefully about the future."
"Since Prince Nan'an is willing to cooperate with us, given his relationship with Your Majesty, he will have a say in the court in the future."
"The fact that he gave you those things from his second brother shows that he truly loves Zhao Zhao and sincerely wants to cooperate with us."
"Due to Zhao Zhao's relationship with us, he will definitely plan something for us."
“Now is the best time.”
How could Xiao Yuanxing not know? He was silent for a while, but finally held Ming's hand and said to her, "I will go to the villa tomorrow and discuss it with my aunt."
Ming was afraid that he would say something he shouldn't, so she reminded him first: "Don't mention Prince Nan'an yet. If Auntie is unhappy, there will really be no possibility for him and Zhao Zhao."
She was afraid of harming Zhao Zhao.
Afraid that something might happen to Prince Nannan, Zhao Zhao really didn't want to live.
Xiao Yuanxing said: "Don't worry, I know what's going on."
Afterwards, the two of them went back to the house to rest.
The next day, Xiao Yuanxing made arrangements for his family and had someone keep a close eye on Xiao Yuanfu. He also asked his personal bodyguard to go to the Ministry of Revenue in person to report Xiao Yuanfu's sick leave. He then asked someone to keep an eye on Quan Fangtong to prevent him from coming back to look for Yuanfu.
After all the matters were taken care of, he took everyone to the hot spring villa first.