The sky was already bright, and warm beams of light pierced through the clouds, casting a clear, bright glow across the land. A gentle summer breeze swept away the sultry heat, calmed the restlessness, and left only a refreshing coolness.
The Fu family father and son's ability and speed in suppressing rumors were astonishing. They dealt with batches of servants, and a faint, nauseating smell of blood lingered in the air above the Fu mansion. The eerie screams and cries echoed through the sky.
"Disturbing people's sleep so early in the morning, do you have no morals at all?"
The surroundings were too noisy, and Ji Xiaoxiao tossed and turned, unable to fall into a deep sleep. Frustrated, she decided to give up and, with her hair a mess, stormed out barefoot from behind the curtain.
"Fu Qipan, how dare you show your face in front of me?" Fu Guanjie never expected that the culprit behind the extensive search would be so audacious as to hide in his study.
Ji Xiaoxiao glanced at them casually, and it really was Fu Guanjie and Fu Shixian! One was the original owner's biological father, and the other was the original owner's half-brother.
Ji Xiaoxiao remembered Fu Guanjie's actions and vowed to repay him handsomely. As for her brother Fu Shixian, Ji Xiaoxiao had to praise him, saying, "Where there's a will, there's a way. With determination, even the mighty Qin Pass will fall to Chu; Heaven helps those who help themselves. With perseverance, even the mighty Yue army can conquer Wu."
Fu Shixian was a hypocrite who could endure hardship. It was Fu Shixian who devised the plan for Fu Guanjie to give the original owner of the body to the Second Prince. The Second Prince was delighted, and Fu Shixian and Fu Guanjie gained many benefits. Over the course of ten long years, Fu Shixian outlived his other brothers, leaving only Fu Guanjie, who devoted all his energy to Fu Shixian.
Without rivals, Fu Shixian rose rapidly through the ranks of officialdom. Seeing that the original owner of this body had exhausted his usefulness, Fu Shixian became ruthless and proposed to refine the consuming Tai Sui (a mythical creature) into elixirs and present them to the emperor in order to seek the greatest benefit.
With such a father and brothers, how could the original owner not hate them to the bone!
Ji Xiaoxiao took a few deep breaths, calmly walked to the nearest chair, and, seizing the opportunity, plopped down. With a satisfied hum, she leisurely crossed her legs and poured herself some tea to rinse her mouth.
Since becoming Minister of Justice, Fu Guanjie had never been treated with disrespect, especially since this audacious person was none other than his own daughter, Fu Qipan, whom he had kowtowed to for over a decade. Feeling that her father's authority had vanished, Fu Guanjie was so angry that his beard almost stood on end.
"Fu Qipan, look at the state you've become! You haven't washed up, your clothes are disheveled, you sit and stand slouches, you've completely disgraced me."
Enraged, Fu Guanjie rushed over, intending to beat Ji Xiaoxiao to vent his anger. Fortunately, Fu Shixian possessed keen insight and a sharp mind, able to anticipate the situation perfectly. He managed to restrain Fu Guanjie in time, preventing a tragedy.
"You still have the nerve?" Ji Xiaoxiao was quite surprised, and the words came out without her thinking.
The room suddenly fell silent; the oppressive heat was instantly replaced by a chilly wind.
"Sister Qipan, Father is only doing this for your own good, so please say less!" As the saying goes, a prodigal son who returns is more precious than gold. Fu Shixian patiently and tirelessly persuaded Ji Xiaoxiao to turn back from her misguided ways.
How could a good father like Fu Guanjie ignore the steps that his obedient son Fu Shixian had carefully prepared?
“You heartless, unfilial daughter, I should have strangled you back then, so you wouldn’t have harmed hundreds of people in my Fu family.” Fu Guanjie’s face twisted with rage, confirming that what he said was true.
"Like father, like son. What kind of gentleman are you, Fu Guanjie? You only married my mother because you were after my maternal family's power. When my maternal grandfather's family was at its peak, you eagerly came to us. My grandfather didn't like you, but you wouldn't leave no matter what we did. With your enthusiasm, calling you a dog wouldn't be an exaggeration," Ji Xiaoxiao retorted calmly.
After achieving fame and success, Fu Guanjie couldn't bear to hear anyone mention his painful past of proposing to the original owner's mother. Ji Xiaoxiao's current actions, however, had indeed enraged him. With past grudges compounded by present resentment, Fu Guanjie's hatred wouldn't subside until Ji Xiaoxiao was dead.
A small cup of tea, enough to rinse one or two times, was gone in no time. The delicate teacup, however, couldn't quite satisfy the free-spirited and unrestrained nature of the tomboyish Ji Xiaoxiao. Seeing no one around, Ji Xiaoxiao deftly picked up the teapot and poured it into her mouth. The moon wanes after it's full, and a pale green stream meanders down its slopes.
"Sister, quickly apologize to Father." Fu Shixian anxiously stepped forward to try to grab Ji Xiaoxiao, but Ji Xiaoxiao, unaware of his good intentions, dodged Fu Shixian's grab with a slight movement.
"One should be honest and speak the truth. Fu Guanjie is a hypocrite, why can't I say that? Birds of a feather flock together. Even the son of a mangy dog is still a dog, no matter what he wears. Fu Shixian, you're nothing but the son of a lowly concubine, what are you, daring to point fingers at me?" Ji Xiaoxiao swallowed her tea, smacked her lips, and casually stabbed Fu Guanjie and Fu Shixian in the back.
Ji Xiaoxiao was unyielding, refusing to listen to reason or persuasion, and resorting to harsh words and aggressive tactics. She showed no signs of the impending storm, and most people would have already thrown a tantrum. But Fu Shixian remained calm and composed, dealing with her situation methodically. He was inherently resilient, and Fu Guanjie had greatly admired his indomitable spirit and unwavering resolve in the face of adversity.
“Qipan, I know I am a son of a concubine, but I am still my father’s biological son! Even lambs kneel to suckle their mothers, and crows feed their parents. How can you, as a child, speak of your father like this? You are a treacherous and disrespectful scoundrel, do you understand?” Fu Shixian wept bitterly, not defending himself, but instead demanding justice for Fu Guanjie with every word.
Ji Xiaoxiao put down the teapot, stood up, straightened her clothes, and slapped Fu Shixian across the handsome face. "You, a grown man, are always babbling on and on, more talkative than a woman! Ugh, you despicable creature, yet you have such a thick skin, still clinging to life like this. You dog, do whatever you want, but standing in front of me, you're defiling my beautiful eyes. Aren't you asking for a beating?"
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