Chapter 81 His Prince Loves to Laugh
Wen Xingluo laughed out loud. "Big brother said, 'A man's knees are as precious as gold,' but since ancient times, people have been allowed to kneel to everyone, including Heaven, Earth, the Emperor, parents, and teachers. This is loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness. Even those ordinary people in the market, those learning opera or carpentry, know to respect their teachers as fathers and show filial respect every day. Since big brother is willing to respect Master He as a teacher, then what's wrong with kneeling to him? How can it be considered that he is deliberately humiliating you? Could it be that big brother secretly despises Master He and therefore doesn't want to kneel to him?"
Wen Rufeng hurriedly said, "Don't talk nonsense! When did I ever look down on Master He?!"
Wen Xingluo turned to Wen Yueyin again, "Sister said, 'Pull your strength together.' Excuse me, but I only saw Big Brother pushing me out to do the hard labor, but I didn't see what he himself had to sacrifice. If you don't even want to work hard for your own future, how can you expect others to do the same?"
Wen Yueyin stubbornly retorted, "That being said, you and Big Brother are siblings after all. Blood is thicker than water. What's the harm in you helping him a little? Little sister, didn't you love Big Brother the most in the past? Why are you so selfish today?"
"Sister Yueyin is right!"
A crisp voice suddenly came.
Everyone looked over and saw that the girl who was speaking was wearing a pomegranate skirt and was very pretty.
Miss Zhao was curious, "Who is she?"
Wen Xingluo said calmly, "Xu Miaomiao."
"Xu Miaomiao? Could she be the jewel in the crown of the Xu family, the largest tea merchant in Rongcheng? I heard that the Xu family has no sons, only this one daughter, and the Xu family elders practically dote on her like the apple of their eye."
Wen Xingluo nodded.
In her previous life, Xu Miaomiao admired Wen Rufeng for his talent and beauty, and married him with a huge fortune.
Later, when he heard that Rufeng had passed the imperial examination and was chosen as a son-in-law by the powerful people in the capital, he was overjoyed and immediately demoted his wife to a concubine and married another noble lady from a wealthy family.
Xu Miaomiao was demoted from a wife to a concubine, and had no one to rely on in the capital. She died of depression within three months, and all her family wealth became someone else's wedding dress.
Wen Xingluo looked at Xu Miaomiao with affection in her eyes as she walked towards Wen Rufeng step by step, and she knew that Xu Miaomiao still had feelings for him in this life.
Xu Miaomiao glanced at Wen Rufeng affectionately before swiping his gaze sharply at Wen Xingluo. "An elder brother is like a father. As the saying goes, 'Parents' orders must not be disobeyed.' Your elder brother only asked you to do a small favor, so why are you refusing?! I've been listening for a long time. Wen Xingluo, you yourself are unfaithful, unfilial, and unrighteous, so how dare you blame your elder brother?!"
Wen Xingluo said, "Miss Xu, kowtow on the mountain steps. This is no small favor. A young man who doesn't even want to take responsibility for his own future and instead shifts the blame onto his sister, what else can he afford to do?"
She implicitly reminded Xu Miaomiao that Wen Rufeng was not a man worthy of trust.
But Xu Miaomiao didn't understand her hint at all and only sneered, "Wen Xingluo, you're really sharp-tongued! Your eldest brother came to Yuntai Mountain to become his disciple, which shows that he values his future very much. How can you be so irresponsible?! As for you, you're selfish and disrespectful to your elder brother, which shows that you have no manners! If you were in the Xu family, you would have been dragged out and whipped long ago!"
Wen Xingluo had no expression on his face.
This person is seeking death, who can stop him?
In her previous life, Xu Miaomiao was the eldest sister-in-law and had a casual relationship with her. She even withheld things from her yard several times.
She was not a saint who would repay evil with kindness. The reminder she had just given was the most she could do.
She took Miss Zhao's hand and said, "Let's go."
"Wait!" Xu Miaomiao was furious. "Your eldest brother's problem hasn't been resolved yet, why are you in such a hurry to leave?!"
Wen Rufeng, now that she had a supporter, perked up. "Xingluo, it's time for you to take on the responsibility of being my younger sister! I'll make the decision. Before it gets dark, go and kowtow to Master He on my behalf. As many times as you can! If I win the first prize in the imperial examination, you, as my younger sister, will be proud too, right?"
Wen Xingluo was fed up with these people.
She sneered, "Be the boss, be the boss. Big brother is from the Wen family, and I'm from the Zhenbei Palace. How can you be my boss? The person who can make the decision over me is still sitting there!"
A slender jade finger pointed at the distance.
Everyone looked over subconsciously.
Xie Guanlan sat lazily, with a beautiful profile, and was fiddling with the tassels around his waist out of boredom.
Being stared at by everyone, he slowly raised his eyelids and said with a half-smile, "How interesting."
He never likes to speak directly.
Therefore, it is unclear whether these four words are saying that Wen Xingluo is interesting or mocking Wen Rufeng.
Wen Rufeng strode forward and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, please understand. Although Wen Xingluo is your stepsister, according to my father's wishes, I am now also your stepson. This shows that the relationship between you and Wen Xingluo is the same as the relationship between you and me. Wen Xingluo dares to disrespect her brother today and her parents tomorrow. She is truly uneducated and a disgrace to our family! Please, for the sake of our brotherhood, teach Wen Xingluo what loyalty and filial piety are!"
"Stepbrother?" Xie Guanlan repeated the word.
Wen Rufeng curled up the corners of his mouth and secretly straightened his back, "This is what father meant."
Xie Guanlan repeated, "Father?"
Wen Rufeng said firmly: "That's right! My mother married the King of Zhenbei. I called him father and he nodded!"
Xie Guanlan laughed softly.
When he smiled, his brows relaxed, and his scarlet robe and jade belt outlined his noble and gorgeous appearance in the shade of the summer trees. He was truly elegant, unrestrained and uninhibited.
Wen Rufeng saw him smile and thought he was in a good mood, so he smiled too.
Fushan stood quietly behind Xie Guanlan, half lowered his head, and silently lit a candle for him.
His eldest son loves to laugh.
He smiles when he's in a good mood, and he smiles when he's killing people.
Obviously the smile now belongs to the latter...
Xie Guanlan suddenly stopped smiling.
He said coldly: "Are you worthy?"
Wen Rufeng was stunned for a moment, a smile still on his face, "What?"
Xie Guanlan's brows lowered, his face showing undisguised indifference and malice, "You call yourself my stepbrother, are you worthy?"
Wen Rufeng opened his mouth.
This person was smiling so happily just now, why did he suddenly turn hostile?
Xie Guanlan twisted his goose-yellow tassels, his voice low and cold, "My father is of the same clan as the emperor. He served the emperor with great military exploits and was named King of Zhenbei at the age of thirteen. My maternal grandfather's family inherited the title of Duke, a family of scholars and nobles for a hundred years. My mother was given the title of Princess from birth. I hear what merits and abilities you have to dare to call me brother?"
Xie Guanlan's political achievements and military exploits are truly dazzling.
He usually behaves in a gentle and humble manner.
So much so that people forget how distinguished and noble his background is.
He is truly a child of destiny.
A terrifying pressure emanated from his body, and Wen Rufeng's shoulders felt as if they were carrying a thousand-pound weight.
He stammered, unable to speak, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.
His back gradually bent and his knees weakened, and finally he fell to his knees in front of Xie Guanlan with a "thump".
He trembled, "My Lord, please forgive me!"
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