Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 720 - 721: Waiting (3)

Xiqiu looked at Xiao Yanzheng, "Weren’t you supposed to be unwell? Why aren’t you resting at home?" Xiao Yanzheng’s old illness had flared up two days ago, as Ruan Jingliu had told her. Lord Pang had been concealing the affairs of the Marquis Mansion from her, but paper can’t wrap fire; somehow she found out, and in her anxiety, her sickness relapsed immediately.

"How can I have peace of mind to stay at home?" Xiao Yanzheng’s tone was urgent as she stood impatiently at the door, asking, "Even my husband’s words were ambiguous, Fourth Sister-in-law, what exactly happened, please tell me quickly." She paused and added, "I’ve just gone back home. Eldest Sister-in-law has returned to her parents’ home, there’s no one in the house, where have Mother and Second Brother gone?"

Apparently, Xiao Yanzheng was still unclear about the situation. Xiqiu took her hand and led her into the room, "Don’t worry, let’s go inside and talk slowly." With that, Chunliu lifted the curtain, and Xiqiu and Xiao Yanzheng entered the Warm Pavilion.

As soon as they sat down, Xiao Yanzheng couldn’t wait any longer and looked at Xiqiu eagerly. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

With a sigh in her heart, Xiqiu contemplated before telling her the story of what had transpired. The more Xiao Yanzheng listened, the worse her expression became, until her face turned ashen, and she uttered, trembling and in disbelief, "Are you saying that Third Brother conspired with Prince Rong to rebel... and kidnapped Mother and Second Brother?" She stared at Xiqiu, waiting for her response, as if hoping what she had heard was merely a joke.

"Yes, Mother and Second Brother are currently missing, and your Fourth Brother is sending people to search for them."

Xiao Yanzheng’s body shook, and after holding back her tears for a long time, they finally fell as she murmured, "How could this happen... Third Brother, how could Third Brother do such a thing!" After speaking, she covered her face with a handkerchief and lay down on the kang table, crying bitterly.

Xiqiu had nothing to comfort her with; the matter had already occurred, the ironclad evidence lay before them. Had it not been for the Emperor’s trust in Fourth Master Xiao and Xiao Yanyi, the Marquis Mansion might have ceased to exist by now. It’s almost proof of the mansion’s innocence that Fourth Master Xiao has led troops to campaign against Miaojiang, otherwise, the Imperial Censor’s slanders alone would drown the mansion.

They wouldn’t have the peace to sit here and talk quietly as sisters-in-law.

After crying for a while, perhaps exhausted from crying, Xiao Yanzheng wiped her swollen eyes and sat up, choking on her words, "Has Fourth Brother sent any message back? Is there still no news of Mother and Second Brother?"

Xiqiu nodded and handed her a clean handkerchief, offering her tea, "You’re not well; stop crying!"

Xiao Yanzheng absent-mindedly picked up the tea cup to drink, but paused at her lips, furrowing her brows tightly. She pondered for a while before turning to ask, "Fourth Sister-in-law, do you think Third Brother might have... otherwise, why hasn’t Fourth Brother found them after so much time?"

"No, he wouldn’t." Fearing that what she said would cause Xiao Yanzheng’s old illness to relapse again, Xiqiu reassured her immediately, "Even if Third Master is muddled, Mother has always cared for him as her own flesh and blood. He couldn’t hurt Mother, and Second Brother has been nothing but kind to him, surely he wouldn’t harm him either!"

Xiao Yanzheng nodded in agreement, thinking it over, "Right! You’re right; Third Brother couldn’t be as muddle-headed as to harm both Mother and Second Brother."

Xiqiu didn’t want to discuss this topic with her for too long, so she changed the subject, asking, "Why did you come alone, where’s Master Pang?"

"He went to court; he’s been quite busy these past few days." She said, with her expression turning somber, Xiqiu noticed her change and asked in surprise, "What happened?"

Xiao Yanzheng set down her teacup, furrowed her brows, and said, "It’s still about Father-in-law..." Xiao Yanzheng’s face was full of grievance, on the verge of tears again, "Father-in-law took a liking to a maid by my side... how could I consent to this, even Mother-in-law couldn’t persuade him, even my husband tried to dissuade him, but Father-in-law seems obsessed, hanging around my courtyard all day." Looking at Xiqiu, she continued, "He’s Father-in-law... even my husband wouldn’t look twice at the maid beside me... where’s my dignity? In frustration, I sold the maid off to spare myself the bother of seeing her around."

Xiqiu was astounded, recalling how Lord Pang strode with a serious demeanor, even sterner than Tong Shen Zhi, never expecting him capable of such a deed, to fancy the maid beside his daughter-in-law... If word got out, it’s unimaginable what others might say, which Xiao Yanzheng couldn’t bear.

"Father-in-law became upset with me, compounded by what’s happening now. I’ve been bedridden, and just as I managed to feel slightly better today to pay respects to Mother-in-law, Father-in-law decided to tell me about my family’s situation. I understand what he intends, he’s trying to humiliate me, despite me being the legitimate daughter of the Xuanning Marquis Mansion, with high status, yet given the mansion’s current predicament!"

Xiqiu had earlier wondered, since Master Pang wanted to keep things hidden from her, he should’ve arranged everything inside and outside the mansion, yet Xiao Yanzheng somehow found out.

"If that’s truly his intention, you shouldn’t let it affect your relations with him, he’s a senior after all." Xiqiu suggested that it would be better for Master Pang to handle, as they’re father and son, and he would probably manage better than a daughter-in-law.

"Hmm." Xiao Yanzheng agreed, nodding, "I haven’t had the opportunity to speak with him. Seeing Mother-in-law’s wounds made me reluctant to talk to him, so I returned to the Marquis Mansion... I’ll wait until my husband comes to discuss; in any case, I don’t want to stay in that home." She then recalled the Grand Dowager, "Now that Mother and Second Brother are missing, I have even less desire to deal with him, seeing him makes me uncomfortable, it’s unsettling."

"Then stay here for now. If Master Pang doesn’t come to pick you up tonight, let Nanny Cen accompany you back." Xiqiu said, pausing before advising, "They say seniors are like children sometimes, prone to whims; with Master Pang protecting you, respect him when due, avoid him when necessary, keep your distance, and avoid direct conflict, after all, you’re under the same roof."

Xiao Yanzheng nodded, wiped her tears and replied, "I understand." Glancing around, she asked, "Is Xing here?"

"He’s resting in the backyard." Xiqiu answered, "He’s taking a nap right now, Nanny Cen can bring them over later."

In the afternoon, Pang Guibin indeed came to fetch Xiao Yanzheng. After much persuasion by Xiqiu, Xiao Yanzheng finally returned home with Pang Guibin. After tidying up, Xiqiu lay alone on the bed, and with the silence surrounding her, she couldn’t help but think about Fourth Master Xiao.

She opted to sit up and, caressing her belly, said, "Baby, where do you think your father has reached by now? Where will he rest tonight? Will he have hot meals... He must be tired after traveling continuously." Pausing, she continued, "I want to write to him, but thinking better of it, as he’s on the march; he doesn’t have time to write back, and saying too much might distract him, let’s quietly wait for him at home."

Speaking for a while longer, she added, "You should come out later, wait at least until your father returns, and then make your appearance, okay..."