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

"Boss Gu?" Baixiang saw Gu Shuo standing in the courtyard the moment she stepped outside.

Hearing her voice, Peony and the other ladies came out as well.

Gu Shuo stepped forward. "I was just at the gate and heard the ladies say you plan to go to the border with Xiang Minghou?"

"That’s right."

"The General is so gravely injured. If we travel with him, we can take good care of him on the road."

The ladies all chimed in at once.

Gu Shuo waited for them to quiet down. "When Xiang Minghou awakens, he will not be going to the border."

"Not going to the border? Then where?"

"He has his own business to attend to. It’s absolutely impossible for him to bring all of you with him."

Peony looked at Gu Shuo, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Boss Gu, if you have something to say, please say it directly."

"I do indeed have a matter to discuss with you ladies. May we speak in private?"

"Alright."

—

The next day, the sun rose slowly.

Men from the Ministry of Revenue and the yamen arrived at the General’s estate. Government soldiers knocked on the door, but for a long time, no one came to open it.

"What’s going on?" Lord Song wondered aloud.

"Hmph. Men, break down the door," Fang Rui of the Ministry of Revenue ordered with a cold snort.

Although Lord Song had no personal connection with the Xiang family, he had always respected Xiang Minghou. Hearing the order to smash the door, he protested, "Lord Fang, General Xiang is gravely injured, and there are few people in the estate. We should wait a little longer."

"What ’General’? Xiang Minghou is worse than a beggar right now," Fang Rui spat contemptuously. "All those officials whose homes are being confiscated barricade their doors. Lord Song, you’re truly too kind-hearted."

Lord Song replied with displeasure, "Lord Fang, one should always show some restraint."

"You think Xiang Minghou still has a chance to make a comeback? Not in this lifetime. Even if he’s lucky enough to survive a hundred military lashes, he’ll be crippled for life."

"Hmph."

"Men, break it down! And remember, no one from the General’s estate is allowed to take anything from inside. Not a single blade of grass, not a single piece of wood."

As soon as Fang Rui finished speaking, four soldiers rushed forward and forcibly smashed the estate’s main gate open. The troops poured inside.

Fang Rui gave Lord Song a frosty look. "After you, Lord Song."

Lord Song flicked his sleeves, wanting nothing more to do with the man, and did not enter the estate.

"Lord Song, in that case, I won’t stand on ceremony." Fang Rui stepped into the estate.

"My Lord, there’s no one in the estate."

"Impossible! They must be hiding. Go search!"

After a while, the soldiers all rushed back to the front courtyard. "My Lord, we found no one."

Fang Rui was startled. "The silver, the valuables... are they all still here?"

"My Lord, all the money and property in the estate are still here. Even the clothes in every room haven’t been touched."

"Did you search carefully? Are you certain there isn’t a single person?"

"Not one."

Fang Rui considered this for a moment. ’It’s highly likely Xiang Minghou didn’t make it. He must have died, and the estate staff panicked and fled in such a hurry they didn’t even have time to take anything with them.’

"Seal the estate and take down the ’General’s Estate’ plaque."

"Yes, sir."

And so, the General’s Estate remained, but the Xiang family was gone.

Dean Chen, Gu Shuo, Qian Fanji, and Zhan Chi had worked through the night making arrangements. As soon as the city gates opened in the morning, several carriages departed from the Capital City.

When the Beili Emperor learned of this, his primary concern was whether or not Xiang Minghou was dead.

The Royal Hidden Guards reported that Xiang Minghou had suffered a persistent high fever that night. His old wounds hadn’t healed, and his new ones were severe. Dean Chen had hastily left the city, apparently to seek medical help. In all likelihood, the general was not going to survive.

—

「Two days later. Fengjiang City.」

In the carriage, Xiang Minghou stared at the letter in his hands, his expression overcome with emotion.

’His daughter isn’t dead. She isn’t dead...’

"There are still many mysteries surrounding this matter, but I have always firmly believed that her message was for us to wait—to wait for her to return," Dean Chen said, explaining the entire situation to him.

Xiang Minghou clutched the letter. "I believe. I’ll wait. No matter how long it takes, I will wait."