Chapter 191: A Bunch of Bloodsuckers
To request disownment from the clan meant severing their mother-son relationship. From then on, all glory and favor would have nothing to do with the Xiang family. He was the General; if he left, he would take his title with him, and the Xiang family would be reduced to commoners.
"No... COUGH COUGH COUGH... You can’t, Mother! Don’t let... don’t let Eldest Brother leave the clan..." Xiang Mingli, who had just been beaten, sat bolt upright in alarm, ignoring his pain.
’Without the prestige of the General’s manor, how am I supposed to get by out there?’
Old Madam Xiang came to her senses as well, her tone softening in her panic. "Minghou, I was wrong. I was just being impulsive. I promise, I’ll change."
Xiang Minghou’s expression remained cold. He clearly didn’t believe her; he knew his mother’s character all too well.
’If it weren’t for the promise I made to Father on his deathbed, I would have left this family long ago.’
"Eldest Brother... We won’t do it again. Ye Qianning is my niece... Eldest Brother, please, don’t be rash." Xiang Mingli was quick to back down.
"Minghou, me too. I won’t say another word about Pangtuan. As long as she drops the matter of the rewards, I don’t care whose family she’s from. As long as she’s in the Xiang family, Pangtuan is my eldest granddaughter." For the sake of her grandchildren’s future, the "General’s Manor" plaque could not be lost.
Old Man Gu stood with his hands behind his back, now seeing the Xiang family’s true colors. ’They’re just a pack of leeches,’ he thought. ’I never realized Xiang Minghou was in such a pitiful situation.’
’He risks his life on the battlefield, and if he’s lucky enough to come home alive, it’s only to be bled dry by these cold, heartless people. What a tragedy!’
’The Xiang family really can’t compare to our Gu family.’
Xiang Minghou was tormented. He knew they were lying, but for the sake of the family...
"What rewards?" he asked coldly.
A cunning glint flashed in Old Madam Xiang’s eyes as she hurriedly said, "The items the Emperor bestowed upon the General’s manor a few days ago. I’m the one who keeps the Emperor’s annual rewards safe. Who knew that when Pangtuan came back yesterday, she would throw a tantrum, demanding them? When I refused, she threatened to chop off my hands and Mingli’s!"
’Rewards?’
Xiang Minghou paused to think. The Emperor had indeed bestowed some gifts. "Those rewards were meant for her by the Emperor in the first place. They should be given to her."
"Minghou, the Emperor didn’t give much, just some nutritional supplements. She’s so young, she has no use for them. I just wanted to hold onto them for her and give them to her when she’s older."
"Pangtuan nearly lost her life on Lou Mountain and her body is weak. Send all the gifted supplements to her for her recovery." Xiang Minghou knew exactly what she was thinking and his words offered her no way out.
Old Madam Xiang lowered her eyes in thought, then looked up and started crying again. "Minghou, it’s not that I won’t give them to her. It’s just... the day before yesterday, I was having trouble breathing, so I ate the supplements."
Old Man Gu was left speechless.
’I’ve never seen anyone so shameless.’
"The supplements from the Emperor couldn’t possibly be finished in a few days. Send whatever is left to her."
"Well... there really wasn’t much. Just think, how much could the Emperor possibly give a little girl? It was gone in a few meals. Would I lie to you?"
"General." Du Yi suddenly appeared.
The moment Old Madam Xiang and Xiang Mingli saw him, panic flashed across their faces.
"What is it?"
"This is the list of the rewards from the Emperor a few days ago." Du Yi handed over a register.
Xiang Minghou took it and began to flip through it, his expression growing darker with every page. The list of gifts filled four entire pages. ’And she calls this "not much"?’
’The reward lists for my own military achievements have never been longer than a single page, but this is four full pages. Top-grade bird’s nests, hundred-year-old ginseng, box after box of pills for replenishing qi and blood...’
’If all the rare treasures, antiques, gold, and silver jewelry were laid out, they would probably take up half a room.’
"You call this ’not much’?" Xiang Minghou flung the register at her.
Old Madam Xiang’s face flushed with embarrassment as she inwardly cursed that little bastard for being so thorough.
"Where did it all go?" Xiang Minghou demanded furiously.