Chapter 697: Let Him Be

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Old Master Xiao had a loving and caring smile on his face.

“That child doesn’t look smart. We’re doing this for your own good.”

“You’re a person with a noble title. Your future children definitely can’t be too stupid.”

Old Madam Xiao also chimed in, “That’s right. This child doesn’t look smart at first glance. He’s not even comparable to Zheng’er and Yi’er. He’s even worse than Dalang and Erlang.”

Xiao Yuanshi was speechless.

He admitted that he was no match for his eldest and second sons.

However, compared to Dalang and Erlang who only knew how to suck his uncle’s blood, it was a joke.

His legs were not good, and he did not like to go back to the village, so he could only give up for the time being.

Then, his personal attendant walked in from outside with an envelope in his hand.

Xiao Yuanshi took the envelope and took out a few portraits.

On it were drawings of a pair of twins, and there was also a letter that specifically wrote about the general situation of the two children.

Among them, the two little ones were naturally smart, quick-witted, sweet-mouthed, considerate, and so on.

In the beginning, Xiao Yuanshi only sent people to inquire about his eldest son.

Then, he received news of his grandson and granddaughter, along with a portrait.

He didn’t know what he was thinking at that time, but he asked the people in North City to draw a few portraits every month and then ask about the children.

He had persisted for more than three years like this. He missed his grandchildren very much.

He reached out to touch the portraits of the two children and suddenly said, “I’m going to the capital.”

Every time he wrote about how King Yi brought the two children out to play, how the two children made King Yi happy, he would be extremely sad.

He was their biological grandfather, and now that the matter of adoption had been ruined again, he suddenly wanted to see his biological grandchildren.

Seeing Xiao Yuanshi like this, the old man and the old lady were no longer surprised.

In the beginning, they were still cursing in their hearts. If he had known this would happen, he would not have done it in the first place. He had already broken off the marriage, so why was there a need to pay so much attention?

But now, they pitied their son and felt that he was possessed.

When they heard that he was going to the capital, the two of them were stunned. “What for?”

Xiao Yuanshi kept the portrait and the letter. “I’ll go if I want to.”

The old lady frowned. “You’re not thinking of visiting these two children, are you?”

“Their grandfather is King Yi now. What’s the point of you going?

How much money would it cost to go to the capital?

Xiao Yuanshi’s face darkened. This was the last thing he wanted to hear. “King Yi isn’t even their biological grandfather.”

He was.

That b*stard King Yi was too despicable. He stole his wife and children, and now he even stole his grandson.

Old Madam Xiao rolled her eyes and muttered, “You’re not even as good as King Yi. At least he’s still a grandfather on the surface. What kind of grandfather are you, a grandfather who’s cut off from his family?”

Xiao Yuanshi was furious when he heard this. He smashed the things on the table. “I said I’m going to the capital. It’s none of your business.”

Then, he instructed his personal attendants to make arrangements. He only wanted to see his grandchildren personally.

Seeing his second son like this, Old Master Xiao tugged at Old Madam Xiao and sighed. “Let him be.”

If he went to see them, they would not acknowledge him. Only then would he give up completely and return safely. In the future, he would give the title to Dalang and the family property to his nephews.

Only then did the old lady not say anything else. She thought that when Second Brother went to the capital, she would secretly transfer the ownership of the shop to her eldest and second grandchildren.

In the capital, Xiao Hanzheng came back from the yamen and had dinner with Shi Qingluo.

He smiled and said, “That little girl coaxed the Emperor to the point of making her the county head. Today, my colleagues are all looking at me with envy and jealousy.”

“You can also be like Dad and show off your daughter,” Shi Qingluo chuckled.

King Yi’s grandfather’s favorite thing to do in North City was to bring the three little ones out to show off. Many people were envious and wanted grandchildren or children of the same kind.

Xiao Hanzheng laughed. “I am not as shameless as my father.”

Shi Qingluo laughed. “That’s true.”

Her little husband’s personality was indeed much more reserved than King Yi’s, although they were both equally dark.

Xiao Hanzheng was very busy after that. After he started working in the

Ministry of Revenue, the Minister of Revenue almost left everything to him.

The Minister of Revenue knew that Xiao Hanzheng would be his successor in the future, so he did not try to suppress him, but instead gave him some advice.

It was obvious that Xiao Hanzheng had a bright future ahead of him. He was going to be a scholar, so it was better to be friendly than to be hostile.

Xiao Hanzheng also accepted the Minister of Revenue’s kindness and quickly joined the Ministry of Revenue.

Of course, there were also those who were unhappy and jealous and tried to sabotage him behind his back, but he resolved them all.

With a lord, two princesses, a county head, and a village head in his family, and his achievements in the northern border, Xiao Hanzheng had become a popular candidate to befriend after he was transferred back to the capital.

Both the First Prince and the Second Prince were looking for an opportunity to win Xiao Hanzheng over, but he had avoided them all.

Although the Crown Prince did not take the initiative to rope him in, he had shown goodwill.

The Crown Prince was quite satisfied with Xiao Hanzheng, who was a royalist.

He asked his cousin, who had been transferred back to the capital, to spend more time with Xiao Hanzheng.

Xiao Hanzheng was not only busy with the Ministry of Revenue, but also with the construction of the Craftsman College.

After Xi Rui returned to the capital, the dean of North City’s Craftsman College was also replaced.

His talent in machinery was already very high. This time, the Emperor directly transferred him to the Ministry of Works as a fourth-grade manager.

This was a complete promotion. From an unranked dean to a fourth-rank official, it made many people jealous.

Especially for those who were rich kids, they had to perform the scene of their biological grandfather and father taking turns to educate them every day.

“Xi Rui, the number one silkpants in Jingdou, can turn over a new leaf. Why can’t you?”

“He’s a fourth-grade official the moment he comes back. He’s almost as good as your father. Can’t you learn from him?”

“I was so angry when I went to court today. Prince Xi showed off his son. We’re both fathers with foppish children. Can’t you be like Xi Rui and let me have a chance to go out and have some face?”

“Xi Xinheng really raised a good son. Why don’t I have this fate? When I see you, I want to stuff you back into my mother’s womb and rebuild you.”

“State Duke Xi, that old fellow, specially came to me today to praise his grandson. I’m so angry. When are you going to get on the show, you b*stard?”

The silkpants were miserable. They scolded Xi Rui at home every day. You’re not a good silkpants. Why are you going up there?

In the past, their grandfather and father had taught them not to get involved with people like Xi Rui. Now, they had to follow Xi Rui more. It was too difficult for them.

Xi Rui had attracted the hatred of the silkpants in the capital, and he had been very happy these days because he and Baili would be getting married in a few days.

The Xi Family’s betrothal gifts were sent over a few days after the Xiao Family went to the capital. They were no less than the betrothal gifts of a prince marrying a concubine. They were so thick that it made people jealous.

This also showed that the Xi Family was satisfied with Xiao Baili.

Shi Qingluo had started preparing Xiao Baili’s dowry three years ago, and it was not just any ordinary dowry.

Xiao Baili was a princess now, so Shi Qingluo had prepared 168 sets, all of which were good stuff.

On the day of their wedding, the ten miles of red silk would dazzle everyone’s eyes..