Chapter 123 Chapter 123 Brothers
Zhao Mingcheng's study.
When Duan Wenpei arrived, many people were already sitting in the room.
Seeing him coming, everyone turned their eyes to him. Zhao Huaiyou pushed his wheelchair forward, but was held down tightly by Zhao Huaian next to him.
"Third Brother, you're so arrogant! You've actually made all these uncles wait here for you alone. If someone didn't know, they'd think you'd already become the Young Master of the Zhao Family!"
Zhao Huaian knew something about the grudge between his father and Duan Wenpei. He thought that when he came back this time, the father and son would have a big fight, and he would fan the flames and make some moves to make his father decide to get rid of him.
Unexpectedly, Nan Xu's resolute decision to divorce at the ancestral hall that day made his father and mother think of letting the third son marry Qin Hui.
He naturally understood what they were planning. If he really got the support of General Chang Yi, Duan Wenpei's status in the Zhao family would soar, and in the future the position of the head of the Zhao family might really fall on him.
Zhao Huaian had been planning for so many years, how could he just watch the fat meat in his mouth fly away?
"Father, Third Brother doesn't even take you seriously!" He said to Zhao Mingcheng, his eyes filled with pain at his brother's disrespect for their father. "Third Brother, no matter how unhappy you are, you shouldn't be like this!"
As he spoke, he beat his chest in grief. People who didn't know the truth might have thought that he was an elder brother scolding his disappointing younger brother.
But everyone sitting here is smart, and no one can fail to see through his tricks.
Duan Wenpei walked past him steadily, sat down calmly below Zhao Mingcheng, opened his eyelids coldly and stared at his performance.
Zhao Huaian had seen his methods in Kyoto, and seeing that he didn't say a word of defense and just stared at him, he couldn't help feeling guilty.
"Father..."
"Alright." Whether it was sibling rivalry or jealousy and hatred, Zhao Mingcheng didn't want such a family scandal to be exposed. He glared at Zhao Huaian, warning him to behave himself. "Huaizhou's wedding is imminent. I called you all here today to discuss a major matter for our Zhao family."
Zhao Mingcheng has been the head of the family for many years, and he still has the means and deterrence. After hearing what he said, those who wanted to watch the fun gave up their ulterior motives.
The ultimate purpose of them sitting here is for that 'big thing'.
Everyone was talking at once, quickly forgetting the little incident.
Duan Wenpei rubbed his fingers and glanced at Zhao Huaian provocatively.
Zhao Huaian was already dissatisfied with Zhao Mingcheng's "partiality", and seeing Duan Wenpei like this, he felt even worse. However, due to Zhao Mingcheng, he had to endure it again and again. However, the fish had already been hooked, and how could Duan Wenpei let go of such a good opportunity.
He slowly withdrew his provocative gaze and slowly called out "Father" to Zhao Mingcheng who was sitting above him.
Zhao Mingcheng was stunned. This was the first time he heard Duan Wenpei call him like this in such a long time.
Looking at this face that somewhat resembled Yuxiu, Zhao Mingcheng was a little dazed for a moment...
This scene was particularly glaring in Zhao Huaian's eyes.
But a mere word "father" had already made this father, who didn't recognize any relatives, lose his mind. If he called me a few more times in the future, would he hand over the position of head of the family or even the position of crown prince to someone else?!
Zhao Huaian was indignant and finally couldn't help cursing, "What a cunning and treacherous man! Father, please don't be fooled by him! Father may not know that although he has divorced Nan Xu, he still sleeps at night..."
"How dare you!" Seeing that his words were becoming increasingly outrageous, Zhao Mingcheng hurriedly stopped him, "As an elder brother, you should learn to be humble and yield to your younger brothers. Why don't you step back!"
After all, he was his eldest son. Zhao Mingcheng suppressed his anger, slowed down his tone and spoke to him in a neutral tone, warning him not to talk nonsense again.
As father and son for many years, Zhao Huaian naturally knew that this was Zhao Mingcheng's limit. Resentment and resentment filled his chest. He clenched his fists and looked deeply at Duan Wenpei who smiled at him, then turned back to look at Zhao Mingcheng who was displeased. He felt the nameless fire in his heart spread all the way to burn his whole body.
He didn't want to stay any longer, so he stood up and said reluctantly, "Son, I'm leaving." He flicked his clothes and walked out of the study without looking back.
The three old men from the Tu Liao family looked at each other in bewilderment when they saw this. Some of them wanted to chase after him, but were stopped by Zhao Mingcheng in a cold voice.
"He's not even the young master yet! I'm still alive, so he can't do whatever he wants! What? Just because I said a few words, you're already restless? Showing your loyalty? Isn't that too early?"
These words carry great weight.
Although the three surnames are retainers of the Zhao family, the time is different now. If they just live peacefully in Shu, it doesn't matter who is the young master and when. But... they looked at Duan Wenpei, who seemed to be relaxed as an outsider. Among the three sons of the Zhao family, the second one is unable to walk, the third one's mother died early, and the third one is the Earl of Weiyang, who was personally appointed by the court. It seems that he is trapped in the Zhao family, but who knows what this man is planning in his heart?
Zhao Mingcheng dared to gamble because he was Duan Wenpei's father, but they did not dare to gamble their lives and the future of their family on such a person.
After all, the two members of the Zhou family who helped Duan Wenpei escape but ended up with their heads and bodies separated are the best examples.
"Since the eldest son is not here, the second and third sons should also withdraw to avoid suspicion. For the sake of the overall plan, please think twice before acting, head of the family." The Yuan family was the first to speak out.
Once someone started, others naturally followed suit. The Jin family followed closely behind. "Yes, although spring has arrived, the dews are still heavier. The Second Young Master has difficulty walking, so it's best for him to take care of his health. As for the Third Young Master... forgive my sarcasm, but the Third Young Master is from Kyoto after all. Now that he's willing to return to his roots and marry a Qin family woman according to traditional customs, it's naturally a good idea. However, it's best for the soon-to-be groom to focus his energy on his bride. We can take care of these trivial matters for the head of the family, so why should you wait here?"
"Yes, yes, that's what my Zhou family means."
Everyone was talking at once, and in front of Duan Wenpei, they almost said that he was not trustworthy.
As for the Zhao family, he naturally couldn't trust them... He turned to look at Zhao Mingcheng, who happened to be looking back with pensive eyes. Their gazes met in mid-air. They were clearly the closest blood relatives in the world, but now they were like two deep wells reflecting each other, the deep water reflecting only their own figures, unable to detect the true feelings in the other's heart. A bottomless chill spread silently.
"In that case, Master Zhao, there is no need to be embarrassed. I can just leave." Seeing that Zhao Mingcheng looked a little embarrassed and hesitant, Duan Wenpei stood up and made a decision for him.
He guessed that Zhao Mingcheng was waiting for him to say this.
Sure enough, the leader's tired expression relaxed a little, and he waved his hand helplessly. "Well, we, the elders, will take care of these things. You can go down and rest. Don't run around all day. When you have time, spend some time with Miss Qin and cultivate your relationship with her, so as to avoid being criticized."
It's a double entendre, it's a hint at him.
Duan Wenpei neither answered nor refuted. After glancing at everyone in the room, he stepped forward and pushed Zhao Huaiyou, who looked a little dazed, out of the study.
The door closed behind them, and the intermittent sounds of discussion in the study reached their ears.
The wooden wheel rolled over the bluestone slabs, making a creaking sound. Suddenly, the sound stopped. Duan Wenpei looked down. It was Zhao Huaiyou who had pulled the wooden wheel with his hand. He looked up at Duan Wenpei and asked in a deep voice, "Third brother, did you kill Fourth brother?"
Outside the corridor was a pond, where fish occasionally jumped out of the water to breathe. Duan Wenpei chuckled and suddenly pushed the wheelchair into the pond. Zhao Huaiyou was caught off guard and grabbed the armrests on both sides of the wheelchair tightly, shouting, "Third brother, what are you doing!"
When the front half of the wheelchair was suspended above the water, Duan Wenpei held on tightly. Zhao Huaiyou, with no feeling in his legs, could only use his upper body to cling tightly to the back of the chair. Even so, his lower body drooped weakly, and the pool water quickly soaked his shoes, socks, and clothes.
"I've been back for so long, and I keep hearing that second brother is disabled. That's a lie. What do you think, second brother?"
Zhao Huaiyou struggled to hold on, and as he watched himself about to fall into the water, he quickly defended himself, "Who are these idiots who spread these rumors? If I were fine, why would I bother pretending to be lame? Third brother, you know me well, how could you believe these nonsense?!"
Duan Wenpei laughed coldly and pulled him back. "Yes, Second Brother also knows me. Why would you ask such a stupid question?"
The corridor was winding and quiet. Zhao Huaiyou covered his pounding heart and watched the dark figure gradually disappearing in shock.
When he was a child, his brothers and relatives were unwilling to play with him because he was a lame man who could not stand up.
When he was born, he lost the qualification to inherit the family fortune. The retainers would not waste time on a cripple, and his brothers from the same mother also distanced themselves from him because of their parents' dislike. Only Duan Wenpei, who was equally unpopular as him, would often visit him.
They were not born of the same mother, but they were close to each other as brothers in this huge house.
Zhao Huaiyou took off his cloak to cover his wet shoes, socks and clothes, rubbed his elbow that had just been scratched, and called out to Duan Wenpei who was about to disappear into the depths of the corridor.
"I'm not questioning you." He pushed his wheelchair slowly forward. "Big brother came to see me and said a lot of nonsense. I didn't believe it, but it's useless for me to disbelieve it. The three families of Jinyuan and Zhou all support him. They believe it."
He turned his wheelchair very skillfully, and could even push it backwards to walk over a few stone steps. He caught a glimpse of the last step and saw that he still couldn't get up. Duan Wenpei pulled him up with a cold face.
"Thank you." Zhao Huaiyou gladly accepted his help and continued, "That's why I wanted to ask you, to test your attitude. If for no other reason, Huaijue is my biological brother after all. Only after I get the correct answer and pass this test myself, will I have the confidence to convince the Zhou family and help you at this critical moment."
Duan Wenpei glanced at him in surprise.
"Can Second Brother persuade the Zhou family?"
Zhao Huaiyou smiled and said, "Yes."
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