The Marquis didn't name anyone to speak first, and just silently looked at everyone.
After a long while, the prince finally said, "Father, my younger sister has been wronged in her husband's family. As her brothers, it is only natural for us to go and seek justice for her."
The Marquis sighed inwardly. His eldest son was truly not a man of courage. He glanced at Xu Rao, who frowned but remained silent. The Marquis didn't press further, saying, "Shao'er's life is truly worrisome. But now the children are all grown up, and Shao'er will soon be a grandmother. For so many years, Shao'er has borne children for the Zhao family, served her parents-in-law, and managed the household chores without complaint. She has never done anything to disgrace the family, nor has she committed any of the seven grounds for divorce. Naturally, a simple divorce cannot suffice. What do you all think?"
Xu Quan nodded quickly and said, "Father is absolutely right. In that case, my elder brother and I will go to the Zhao family right now and have a good talk with my brother-in-law."
The second master nodded and said, "This time it was Shao'er's mother-in-law who caused the trouble. Brother, I think we should go and have a good talk with Marquis Yongping. Our Xu family is not a powerful family, but if our daughter is wronged in her husband's family, we can still get revenge."
Originally, this was a matter for the eldest son's family, and the two gentlemen of the second son's family didn't dare to speak up easily. Now that their own father, the second master, had spoken up, they naturally nodded in agreement.
Marquis Yongning nodded and said, "Alright, I'll go talk to Shao'er and see if she'll come with us or wait at home."
The Marquis went to the backyard, where Xu Shao and Madam Wu were having breakfast. When she saw the Marquis coming, Xu Shao quickly stood up and said, "Father, have you eaten yet? If not, please have some here."
The Marquis waved his hand, looking at the child he had pampered for decades. In fact, when he first learned that this was not his child, the Marquis had complicated feelings for Xu Shao. He didn't want to pay attention to her, but she was the child he had loved since she was a child. The whole thing was caused by Zhu Shen. She was just a newborn baby. Moreover, she was the only bloodline of the late Crown Prince. The Marquis of Yongning was a close friend of the late Crown Prince. Otherwise, he wouldn't have stayed at home after the late Emperor killed the Crown Prince.
Because of this relationship, the Marquis felt more pity for Xu Shao and simply treated her as his own daughter.
The Marquis said, "I'm going to the Yongping Marquis's residence now. Your second uncle and your brothers are going with me. I came here to ask you what you think. Are you coming with us or waiting at home?"
Xu Shao gave a wry smile and said, "Father, I won't go. In the future, I'll be traveling with Xing'er's family and Shen'er. I won't go back to that place unless there's a specific reason."
The Marquis sighed and said, "You can't be so straightforward in doing things. You have to put your heart into managing your life. You should have a good talk with Xing'er's father."
Xu Shao shook her head and said, "Father, some things, once they're dirty, can never be cleaned no matter how much you wash them. Let it be. I'm almost forty years old. I'll just live my life by taking care of my son and grandson."
Looking at the stubborn Xu Shao, the Marquis thought that heredity was a really amazing thing. Xu Shao looked just like her birth mother, Zhu Shen. However, because Xu Shao had been loved by everyone in her family since childhood, she did not have Zhu Shen's scheming.
With tears in her eyes, Madam Wu looked at the Marquis. The Marquis sighed, walked to Madam Wu's side, put his arm around her, gently patted her shoulder, and said, "Don't worry, I will never let our daughter suffer."
Madam Wu nodded. When the Marquis reached the door, he gave a curtsy. When the Marquis turned around and saw his wife's curtsy, his heart ached and his eyes welled up with tears. He nodded, waved to the mother and daughter standing by the table, and then walked out.
Marquis Yongning was in a very complicated mood. A thousand words were stuck in his chest, but he couldn't get them out. Marquis Yongning knew very well that if he wanted his wife, children and elderly parents to live a peaceful life in the future, he had to deal with it carefully and plan meticulously. If he was not careful, everything could be lost. If that happened, his entire family might not have a good end.
When the Marquis of Yongning returned to his study, the Second Master and the others had already gone back to change into their outdoor clothes. Chen Zhaoci knew that Xu Rao was also going, so after thinking for a moment, he leaned close to Xu Rao's ear and whispered, "After you get off the carriage, you must pretend that you are unable to walk properly."
Upon hearing this, Xu Rao pondered it carefully, then smiled and said, "You're so clever, Madam. Don't worry, I will definitely do what a disabled person should do."
Chen Zhaoci heard about what happened afterward from Xu Rao.
The Marquis and his entourage, some on horseback and others in carriages, left their home in a grand procession and then leisurely made their way to the Yongping Marquis's residence.
Although the two marquis residences differ by only one character in their names, one is located in the east of the city and the other in the west, requiring one to walk along the most bustling street in the capital.
When people on the street saw the carriage bearing the insignia of the Marquis of Yongning pass by, they were very curious. Some of the more curious ones secretly followed the large group of people, and gradually, quite a few people joined them.
Marquis Yongning was naturally aware of this, and this was exactly the result he wanted. He wanted everyone in the capital to know how his daughter was being humiliated in her husband's family, and he also wanted everyone in the capital to know how shameless the people of the Marquis Yongping's mansion were.
The Marquis of Yongning lifted the carriage curtain, and his son, who was riding on the side, quickly stepped forward. The Marquis whispered, "Later, have a few servants tell those onlookers about what happened at the Marquis of Yongping's residence."
Upon hearing this, the prince paused for a moment, glanced at his father's expression, quickly nodded, and then went to instruct the servants around him.
After traveling for more than an hour, it was almost noon when they arrived at the Yongping Marquis's residence. The Yongning Marquis alighted from the carriage and stood in front of the gate of the Yongping Marquis's residence, followed by his brothers and nephews. Further away were those who had come to watch the excitement. He felt somewhat satisfied and couldn't help but nod.
Upon seeing the commotion at the main gate, the gatekeeper of the Marquis of Yongping quickly sent someone to the study in the outer courtyard to report to the Marquis. The Marquis of Yongping had been busy with other matters in the past few days and had not yet heard about what happened at the Marquis of Jianning's residence the day before yesterday. He was just a little surprised as to why the Marquis of Yongning would bring his nephews and nieces over at this time, but he knew very well that they were not here with good intentions.
As Marquis Yongping ran towards the main gate, he cursed his son inwardly. His son was a good-for-nothing, spending his days indulging in frivolous pursuits and drinking with women. Marquis Yongping wanted to teach his good-for-nothing eldest son a lesson, but he was always distracted by various matters. Over time, he allowed his heir to continue his dissolute ways. However, Marquis Yongping secretly planned to depose his heir and choose a more capable son from among his younger sons to be the crown prince. After all, the Marquis's estate would eventually be handed over to the heir, and his incompetence was a sure way to squander the family fortune left by their ancestors.
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