I Became the Eye Candy: Four Bigshots Claimed to be My Dad?

A surge of panic washed over Old Madam Xiang.

"Mother, she beat up Prime Minister Gao like that! When she wakes up, she’s going to come settle scores with us. We’re never getting our things back from the gambling den. What are we going to do?" Xiang Mingli burst into tears.

The sight of him only annoyed Old Madam Xiang more. "All you do is cry! Go find your older brother, now!"

"Alright, alright." Xiang Mingli turned to run out the door.

"Wait."

"Mother, what is it?"

"Take a knife with you. With your older brother’s temper, he’ll never give in unless you give him a good scare."

Xiang Mingli nodded vigorously. "I understand. I’m on my way."

"Old Madam, should I serve breakfast?" a maid asked softly.

Old Madam Xiang waved her away, then paused. A sense of unease crept over her. "You, go get a dagger for me as well."

The maid understood perfectly. She turned and retrieved a patterned dagger from a drawer.

Old Madam Xiang took the dagger and hid it in her sleeve. ’Her second son’s whining alone won’t be enough to move her eldest,’ she thought. ’I’ll have to handle this myself.’

「Front Courtyard」

Xiang Minghou never expected to run into Elder Gu before he even stepped through his own gate. ’Elder Gu has been visiting the General’s manor far too often lately,’ he thought.

"Ah, Minghou, how are things at the border?" Elder Gu asked, shamelessly following him inside.

"You’re in charge of commerce, Elder Gu. Since when did you take an interest in military affairs?"

"But of course! If war breaks out, the merchant caravans can’t get through. So, I came to make some inquiries." He was clearly just making conversation.

Seeing his earnest expression, Xiang Minghou revealed a little. "The situation at the front is not good. The Emperor intends to appoint me as the commanding general."

"Excellent! When do you leave? My eldest grandson, Gu Shuo, is also heading to Yu State in a few days. The two of you could travel together for a stretch."

Xiang Minghou’s brow furrowed. "Elder Gu, do you know where the conflict is?"

"The south...?" Elder Gu actually knew the answer quite well.

"Your true intentions lie elsewhere, Elder Gu." ’He was being sent north; Yu State was in the opposite direction!’

"Heh heh, look at me. I’m getting old. Plus, I waited all night at the palace gates for the little lass. My head’s all foggy. I really must go home and catch up on my sleep." As Elder Gu spoke, he turned to leave. Xiang Minghou said nothing. The old man then clutched his head and swayed unsteadily. "Oh, dear, oh, dear... I can’t... My head is spinning..."

Xiang Minghou sighed in resignation and stepped forward to steady him. "Just for one day."

"Wonderful." A wide grin instantly spread across Elder Gu’s face.

Xiang Minghou knew all about Elder Gu’s schemes. He was reluctant, but the man was old, after all. Seeing as he had waited half the night at the palace gates for Pangtuan, Xiang Minghou decided he could tolerate him this once.

’Elder Gu dotes on Pangtuan so much, yet from his words, it seems he’s still unaware of her circumstances.’

’Knowing Gu Shuo, he probably wouldn’t say anything. Elder Gu’s affection for Pangtuan is genuine, and that’s for the best.’

"Older Brother... Older Brother!" A wailing cry rang out.

Xiang Minghou’s brow, already furrowed, deepened into a scowl at the sound.

"Older Brother, you’re finally back!" Xiang Mingli sobbed, running up to him.

"Look at the state of you," Xiang Minghou rebuked.

"Older Brother, if you had come back any later, you might not have seen Mother and me again!" Xiang Mingli wailed, a mess of tears and snot.

Hearing this, Xiang Minghou thought something terrible had happened. "What’s wrong?"

"It’s all because of that little wi— that Ye Qianning! Damn her!"

"Xiang Mingli, you had better watch your words. This is my final warning." The mention of Ye Qianning made Xiang Minghou’s expression darken.

Elder Gu had long known what kind of people the Xiangs were. His expression was full of contempt. "Ah, Minghou, you didn’t see it. While you were away, your mother—right in front of Zhanfu and me—kept calling the girl a ’little wild seed.’ She even threatened to kick her out of the Xiang family."