Chapter 71 Family Tradition
When Xiao Mo said this, there was a faint smile on the corner of his lips.
His eyes were always looking at Aunt San in front of him, and he seemed really interested.
Liu said dryly, "Nothing... nothing, I just wanted to ask Miss Xu to go back to Songhe Hall with me."
Finally, he added, "The banquet should be starting soon, right?"
Xu Shuyao lowered her head and said softly, "Shuyao just met her fourth cousin and is going back now."
Xiao Mo's eyes swept across her face, nodded, and walked forward on his own.
Xiao Jinwen clenched his hands in his sleeves, his face turning slightly pale.
He felt sorry for his cousin Xu, for his mother, and for himself.
Just now, if it weren't for his elder brother, he almost blurted it out.
That would make the situation even worse, right?
Xiao Jinwen didn't dare to think about this possibility, because Xu Shuyao was rational enough and would not be willing to be a concubine for anyone.
It would not be good if he exposed the other party to rumors because of his momentary impulse.
The fourth young master of the Xiao family closed his eyes and said softly in his heart: Forget it.
Seeing that the prince had left first, the first person to gather around him was Xu Shuheng.
He looked at his elder sister with a worried look on his face, and even the fifth young master Xiao Jinli seemed to have something to say.
But there were so many people talking at the moment, Xu Shuyao didn't say anything, but just used her eyes to signal to her younger brother that she was fine.
Liu Qingwan's face was gloomy, and Xiao Jinrong fell behind her, his heart in a mess.
He was standing not far away when his wife was talking to his third aunt, and then he saw them coming over here.
He knew that this was related to Liu Qingwan, but he could only remain silent.
Xu Shuyao originally thought that Xiao Mo was just talking casually, but she didn't expect that when she arrived at Songhe Hall, the old man actually called Xiao Jinwen in.
Seeing this, Liu was completely speechless.
Facing the dissatisfaction expressed by her son Xiao Jinli and the young master of the Xu family, Liu couldn't help but blame her niece in her heart.
She also blamed herself for believing everything she heard and for offending the cousin whom her mother-in-law valued.
Madam Xiao then called Xu Shuyao in and said softly to her, "If I hadn't heard from Jinli, I wouldn't have known that your brother was bullied. Don't worry, little girl. Since you live here, you are also under the protection of the Duke's Mansion. Besides, this matter was caused by that kid, so let the young men in the mansion solve it. Just wait and see!"
Xu Shuyao's eyes were filled with tears. Thinking that today was New Year's Eve, she wiped her face again and called softly, "Old Madam..."
The rest of the words were stuck in my throat and I couldn't say them, but everything was implied.
Xiao Mo stood in front of the window and didn't look back.
But the voices of his grandmother and the woman reached his ears clearly.
Xiao Jinwen thought that today's incident was finally resolved, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but the voice of his elder brother came clearly to him.
"Now that you're engaged, you must be careful about your words and actions. Even if someone approaches you, you should avoid them. As a man, you must not bring disgrace upon the reputation of the Duke of Cheng's Mansion."
Xiao Jinwen was enlightened after hearing this, and felt extremely ashamed for a moment.
He whispered, "I know."
This matter was not only supported by the words of the prince, but also by the old lady's intentional protection. Therefore, neither Liu nor the newly promoted second young master's wife had any grounds to complain.
Next came the reunion dinner. Chen probably heard Xiao Jinshan gossiping with her and had a vague idea of what was happening outside.
During the meal, he still verbally challenged Liu a few times.
Liu knew she was in the wrong, so she agreed with a good temper.
The meal went quite peacefully.
The garden of the Duke's Mansion was large and it was snowing outside. After the reunion dinner, the old lady asked the female relatives to go back and rest as soon as possible.
Only a few young men in the mansion stayed behind to continue to accompany their grandmother to celebrate the New Year.
Madam Xiao then asked about Sun Xingyao in detail, "How did Fifth Brother offend that Young Master Sun before? Tell us now!"
According to Xiao Jinli's oral account, Sun Xingyao had a younger brother who also studied in the Shen clan school.
The boy was weak and timid. One autumn, the Fifth Young Master accidentally knocked him into the pond.
Xiao Jinli didn't take it seriously. The water in the pool was only waist-deep. If he fell in, he fell in. He could just climb out.
Then he went to greet others, but his younger brother Sun Xingyao lay by the pool and dared not move. He did not crawl out until Xiao Jinli and his group had left.
As a result, he fell seriously ill when he returned home that night and never came to the Shen clan school again.
The reason why Xiao Jinli knew about this was that Sun Xingyao stopped him on the street one day and told him, otherwise he would have been unaware of it.
At that time, the man's eyes were red and he said that he had killed his brother.
"I... heard that his younger brother died of a cold a year later. But it's been a year, can... can you blame it on me?" Xiao Jinli stammered in front of his brothers and grandmother.
It even involved a human life, so it's no wonder that person is still brooding over it after several years.
Although Sun Xingyao hated the fifth son of the Xiao family, he was afraid of the power of the Duke's Mansion, so he could only vent his anger on his cousin who was staying in the mansion.
After hearing what the fifth brother said, the older brothers were also a little undecided.
Although this matter has a lot to do with the young master's weak body and timid nature, it cannot be entirely blamed on the fifth brother.
But there are so many people in this world who are twisted and unable to turn around.
The Xiao brothers all looked at their grandmother.
The old man frowned, and after a long moment, he said to Xiao Jinli, "After the New Year, have your father take them to the Sun family to apologize. Be sincere, but not too humble. We want to make peace, not let others take advantage of us. And we must also emphasize the matter of the cousin. He is under the protection of the Duke's Mansion. If you take your anger out on him again, the Xiao family will not sit idly by."
Xiao Jinli nodded repeatedly: "That's right! Did you give him face? He's a bully, a coward, and he's so aggressive..."
Seeing his grandmother frowning, the fourth young master quickly glared at his younger brother, "Speak less!"
Then Madam Xiao said to Xiao Jinli, "You must not be so reckless in the future. For now, the Duke's Mansion can still protect you. As a person in this world, you must be compassionate to the young and weak, and you must also be discerning and clear-headed. Do you remember this?"
Xiao Jinli nodded uncomfortably.
After they left, the old lady said to Xiao Mo, "It's a good thing this matter was exposed in advance. It also reminds everyone in the mansion that the more prosperous the situation, the more we should not be arrogant. We should know that a thousand-mile embankment can be destroyed by a single ant."
Then he added: "If they can't handle it well, you help to clean it up!"
This time, Xiao Mo smiled and said, "Okay!"
The old lady was a little uncomfortable, "Why are you so easy to talk to today?"
The eldest grandson in front of him answered seriously: "Grandma is right!"
Then he said in a good-tempered tone: "Today is New Year's Eve. I hope that grandma will live a long life and continue to look after us like this."
These words almost made the old lady cry. Otherwise, why would she say that she loved this eldest grandson the most among the younger generations?
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