Chapter 499: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
**Chapter 499: Disdain (2)**
Xiao Ruiyuan had a temporary residence at Jingshan Villa, where he sometimes stayed when discussing important matters with Chu Heng and couldn't return to the city in time.
Now, as night had fallen, Xiao Ruiyuan returned directly to his residence after leaving the Ghost Doctor’s courtyard, not planning to visit Chu Heng in the backyard or inform him about tonight's events to prevent him from worrying.
At this moment, Xiao Ruiyuan sat silently at his desk, staring at the ginseng box with no intention of sleeping. In the flickering candlelight, his face bore an indescribable weariness.
Chu Heng had less than a year left to live. The ministers who originally supported the legitimate line, seeing no hope of his recovery, began to entertain other thoughts. The great benefits of assisting a new ruler were tempting to all.
What worried Xiao Ruiyuan the most was that Emperor Hui’an seemed to have other plans. Previously, when someone tried to assassinate him, nearly taking his life, Emperor Hui’an’s reaction and handling of the situation were very telling. Not only Xiao Ruiyuan noticed this, but many ministers also guessed the same.
As for the princes and nobles coveting Chu Heng's position as the crown prince, there was even less to be said. Otherwise, they wouldn't have joined forces to try to kill Xiao Ruiyuan on his way back to the capital. They did this out of fear that after Chu Heng's death, Xiao Ruiyuan would be recruited by competing brothers, which would be disadvantageous to them.
Xiao Ruiyuan knew well that the current situation was extremely unfavorable for both Chu Heng and himself. Only by finding the millennium ginseng and curing Chu Heng quickly could they resolve their predicament.
However, after searching for so many years and finally seeing a glimmer of hope, it was so easily shattered. This blow was undoubtedly severe for him!
The hidden guards, watching from the shadows, were deeply worried. They had protected their master for so long, and it was the first time they saw him show such emotions, leaving them unsure of what to do.
Xiao Jiu knew that his master’s "unusual behavior" was temporary, but he still didn’t want to see him like this. He took out a note from his waist, hesitated for a moment, then stepped into the light and appeared before Xiao Ruiyuan.
"Master, this is news just sent from the capital!"
Xiao Ruiyuan came back to his senses and took the note without a word, his face returning to its usual cold demeanor.
Upon reading the contents of the note, a cold smile appeared on Xiao Ruiyuan's lips: it seemed that the time had come to settle accounts with some people!
Seeing this, Xiao Jiu couldn’t help but shiver!
It looked like someone was about to have a bad day…
Remembering Mo Yan's instructions, Xiao Ruiyuan sent the ginseng to Mo Yan before dawn through the hidden guards. After dawn, he discussed some matters with Chu Heng and then, with his subordinates, rode out of the villa with great momentum, heading straight for the Marquis of Weiyuan’s residence.
The Marquis of Weiyuan's residence was located in the affluent East Market, close to the imperial palace. Its prime location was envied by many nobles, but the Xiao family’s ancestors had earned it through impressive military achievements and the deep trust of the founding emperor.
Even though the founding emperor and Xiao family ancestors had been gone for over two hundred years, this honor was maintained through the capable descendants of the Xiao family, a status rarely matched by other families in the capital.
The gatekeepers, who were chatting idly in the house, heard the sound of galloping horses approaching and hurried out to greet the visitors.
Daring to gallop recklessly near the Marquis of Weiyuan’s residence was reserved for either the royal princes or their own heir. The second son, favored by the marquis, lacked both the courage and the qualification for such behavior!
The four gatekeepers opened the gate and stood properly, waiting. As the hoofbeats grew louder, they finally saw who was coming and knelt down with a thud. When the group approached, they loudly and respectfully announced, "Welcome home, Young Master!"
Xiao Ruiyuan dismounted, tossing the reins to a subordinate, and strode into the residence with a stern demeanor under the respectful and fearful gazes of the gatekeepers. The others also dismounted and followed quickly.
Only after the footsteps had faded did the gatekeepers stand up slowly. One couldn't help but say, "The young master dismounted so nimbly, it seems his injury is much better!"
Hearing this, the other gatekeepers smiled with joy, "As long as the young master is well, our marquisate will flourish for decades more, and we will have good days ahead!"
They were all born and raised in the marquisate, having served for decades. They knew well where their loyalty lay.
The current head of the marquisate, Xiao Ruiyuan's biological father, Xiao Xiongweng, was neither capable of governing the nation nor securing the country through military prowess. If he weren’t the legitimate firstborn and the only son of the old marquis, the title wouldn't have fallen to him.
Even so, the old marquis was uneasy and left a will before his death, requesting an imperial decree that Xiao Xiongweng should abdicate in favor of Xiao Ruiyuan once he married, thus preventing outsiders from misjudging and thinking Xiao Ruiyuan was unfilial!
Few in the marquisate knew about this, but over time, some whispers emerged. Coupled with the attitudes of the marquisate’s other three masters towards the young master, the servants could see something was unusual!
In the marquisate’s study, Xiao Ruiyuan coldly stared at the middle-aged man sitting with a red face, his voice devoid of any warmth, "If it weren't for my promise to grandfather, do you think I would let your 'good' son off so easily? He dared to participate in that assassination attempt; he should be prepared to face retribution for his failure! Since you disagree, I’ll present the evidence to His Majesty tomorrow. I'm sure His Majesty would be delighted to see this matter!"
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man, Xiao Xiongweng, turned pale. He pointed at Xiao Ruiyuan and cursed, "You ungrateful wretch, that is your own brother! Do you really want to see him dead?"
If the involvement of his son in the assassination reached the emperor's ears, the emperor, to appease public outrage and restore the royal family's reputation, would certainly place all the blame on his son.
In that case, not only would he fail to protect his son, but he would also be blamed for poor parenting and might even lose his title, which would then be passed to this ungrateful child!
Fearing this possibility, Xiao Xiongweng was both angry and scared. He glared at Xiao Ruiyuan as if looking at a mortal enemy, forgetting that the person in front of him was also his son, his legitimate firstborn!
"Brother?" Xiao Ruiyuan sneered as if hearing the biggest joke, "He should be grateful he's a bloodline of the marquisate, grandfather's grandson, or do you think I'd spare him?"
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