Chapter 303: Minghui
Xiao Xian left the courtyard quietly. The cold wind sobered him up instantly. He walked a few steps up the stone stairs, gusts of wind blowing all around him. In an attempt to curry favor, a servant stepped forward, saying, "You are truly devoted to Lady Qingxiao, Young Master Xiao. You even allow Li Yuanping to boss you around, all for her sake... Everyone can see it. Lady Qingxiao must be deeply moved!"
Xiao Xian nodded with indifference, inhaling the scent of incense wafting through the air in Lijing Town. He was a kind-hearted person, so he did not mind the servant speaking casually and using phrases like "boss around."
The servant, seeing him silent, could only follow quietly. He had indeed hit the nail on the head. Preoccupied with his own thoughts, Xiao Xian rubbed the jade ring on his finger absentmindedly.
Although he was indeed fond of Li Qingxiao, he did not feel that he was as devoted as everyone said he was. His actions were not solely driven by self-interest but were also in the best interest of the entire Mount Yu branch.
"Ancestor Chuchou was always kind toward our branch, but he died of old age last year. Our family lost its support, and my father has become increasingly worried... These years have become more and more difficult..."
Xiao Jiuqing was a charming man with many offspring, many of whom possessed spiritual orifices. Xiao Xian's talent was not particularly good, so he never mattered much to Xiao Jiuqing.
Accompanying Xiao Guiluan to the Li Family that year had changed Xiao Xian's fate. He returned home with two pieces of pastry, wet and sticky, and told his mother everything. Her sharp instincts, honed from years of fighting and scheming in the mansion, quickly identified key points to leverage.
She called Xiao Jiuqing and exaggerated the story to him, delighting him in the process. Caught between fear and uncertainty, Xiao Xian suddenly found himself unable to avoid the Li Family. Rumors began to spread about a fated connection between the two, and Xiao Xian felt compelled to visit the Li Family.
"What kind of fate is this..."