Chapter 16

Xiao Baoxin and her mother had heard of Xie Xian’s reputation for flattery. However, Madam Xie didn’t believe it.

Firstly, they all had the surname Xie. Secondly, judging from his face, such a handsome young man was definitely not someone who would flatter others.

Xiao Baoxin, who knew the truth, burst into tears. Her mother was foolish and sweet, and she had an appearance complex. How had she lived with her father all these years? At the very least, her father was not considered handsome. At most, he looked decent.

As for Xiao Baoxin, she was used to hearing people say different things in front and behind her back, so she naturally did not believe what others said.

A human mouth was the most unreliable.

“I have to be worried, my good nephew.” Madam Xie’s eyes lit up as she took the cue to please him. “I don’t even dare to step out of the residence now. Don’t you see how others look at me?”

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Although she was complaining, the way Xie Xian addressed her as Aunt made her feel excited and emotional.

Those who knew her would think that she had been tortured by the public’s words, while those who did not would think that she was a masochist, who loved the feeling of being pointed at and criticized.

“No matter what, we can’t distort the truth. If it’s our fault, we’ll admit it. We can punish Eldest Young Master however we want, but we can’t blame him for everything.”

Even if he wanted to hit his parents or scold them, he would need to dare to do so. His father’s martial art skills would not be able to kill him!

If it wasn’t their fault, they wouldn’t admit it!

“I’m so worried that I can’t eat or sleep well. Good nephew, our family doesn’t only have the Eldest Young Master. He also has a younger brother and sister. Second Young Master is young and a man. It’s not a big deal for him to be delayed for two years, but my daughter’s looks are unparalleled. She’ll be 17 years old after October this year. She’s even engaged. If these gossips led to some slip-up and caused the marriage to go awry, I’d even want to die.”

Alright, after complaining to her for the entire morning, she was repeating it in front of a stranger.

At that time, Xiao Baoxin really wanted to say that it would be great if there was a slip-up in the marriage arrangement and that they could not get married. Otherwise, she would have to spend a lot of effort to catch Yuan Chen in the act before the marriage could be canceled.

However, on second thought, she realized that her mother had been mentally tortured in the past few days, so she did not want to add to her burden.

Who would have thought that she would confess her thoughts to an outsider…

Just the word ‘aunt’ and she had given up her intelligence?

After all, they were talking about the private matters of her daughter, so it wasn’t appropriate for him to say too much. Xie Xian lightly sipped on the warm tea and didn’t take the opportunity to pick on Madam Xie.

“It’s obvious that the emperor asked me to come here,” Xie Xian said slowly, as if he had never heard of Madam Xie’s complaints and worries.

“Assistant Minister Xiao’s matter caused a huge ruckus. The Cai Family caused a ruckus in front of the emperor and refused to let go. The emperor was very annoyed, so he instructed me to come and investigate.”

So he was sent here by the emperor?

Madam Xie had been sitting upright, afraid that she would be belittled for having poor manners and etiquette. Now that Xie Xian had expressed his intentions, she straightened her back even more. If it weren’t for the chair on her back, she would have directly leaned over.

“Then what are the Emperor’s intentions? You see, I’ve already said what I should and shouldn’t have said. Actually, this matter… is indeed Eldest Young Master’s fault, but he also knows that he’s wrong. Good nephew, you should report this to the Emperor.”

If it was for Xiao Baoshan, Madam Xie wouldn’t waste her breath on him. However, wouldn’t her two children suffer with him?

She had to plan for this.

She couldn’t let Xiao Baoshan affect her own children’s marriage, right?

Eldest Young Master Xiao didn’t feel that he was wrong, but at least he knew that this matter was serious.

In the past, she only thought that this person was old-fashioned and did things by the book and did not know how to be flexible. Who knew that because of a woman, such a thing happened and even his future was implicated.

In the end, he couldn’t even meet his mistress and formed a rift with his wife…

Xie Xian was utterly defeated.

It was a little hard to imagine that someone who worked beside the emperor could be so stubborn. Even at this point, he was still greedy for an official position and was unwilling to let go. He did not have any political sensibility at all. In his opinion, he should retire and rest at home early, lest his lack of intelligence caused his death in front of the emperor in the future.

“It’s obvious that they won’t spout nonsense in front of the emperor. However, even if they don’t say anything, it doesn’t mean that others won’t gossip in front of the emperor.”

“In this world, there are so many people who gossip! By criticizing our Xiao Family, what do you think they can get?”

Madam Xie was troubled. This matter concerned her beloved Baoxin’s marriage and the Xiao Residence’s reputation! “Good nephew, you must speak up for us in front of the emperor. Aunt is begging you.”

Xiao Baoxin: …

Her mother did not intend to let go of this relationship at all. She wanted to use her status as a relative to pull some strings.

She now knew who Xiao Baoshu took after, being able to bow and submit just as he pleased.

Xie Xian obviously could not tell that the dignified Madam Xie was such a soft figure. She actually begged a junior for help.

Indeed, one could not judge a book by its cover.

“Don’t worry, Aunt. I’m working for the emperor, so I naturally don’t dare to be careless. I’ve already gone to the Changgan, met that woman, and also went to the Cai Family…”

“They have definitely smeared our Xiao family’s reputation!” Madam Xie was furious. Alright, he had already made a round of visits, so he must have heard a lot about the Xiao family.

“Of course. However, I am not a biased person, neither is the emperor.” Xie Xian reassured her.

After hearing this, Madam Xie obviously understood and her expression softened.

“Don’t blame me for being impatient. It’s just that you haven’t seen how those noble ladies in the entire Jiankang City look at me. I’m getting calluses from hearing their sarcastic words.”

Madam Xie was indignant. “Ultimately, it’s all Eldest Young Master’s fault. He’s leading a good life, yet he still wants to bring back all the promiscuous women… I’m not afraid of being a joke, but I’m just his stepmother, so there are many things I can’t say. Madam Cai comes from an aristocratic family, and she acts extremely arrogant in front of us. This time, not only did her heart get hurt, but her face was also hurt…”

“After all this commotion, the Cai family didn’t care if Madam Cai was dead or alive. They didn’t even send someone to take a look even though she has been recuperating in the residence.”

Madam Xie paused for a moment. In the end, she was still a soft-hearted person. “All women in the world are the same. It’s fine if they meet a good person, but if they meet a heartless person, they are equally pitiful.”

Xie Xian put down the teacup and pondered.

“The one who started it must be the one who resolves it. If Aunt wants to settle this mess, I’m afraid we’ll have to start with the couple.”

Madam Xie’s eyes lit up when she heard that. She was instantly in high spirits. “Good nephew, give me an idea. I’ll listen to you on what to do.”

Inside, Xiao Baoxin also pricked up her ears, but she was also curious about the purpose of Xie Xian’s visit.

Normally, they had never interacted with the Xie family except for the so-called aunt whom her mother was on good terms with. At most, they would occasionally meet at social events.

He had specially come to the Xiao Residence today to visit his relatives, but she actually did not believe it.

Her family was in the limelight right now, and it would be bad if he got involved. For Xie Xian to be able to thrive beside the emperor, he was definitely not an ordinary person.

So what was he here for?

She did not believe that he was helping his relatives.