Transmigrated as the Villainess, She Made the General Blush - Chapter 3

Xiao Wangshu also rose unhurriedly, slightly bending her knees toward the young man and spoke calmly, “Greetings, Second Young Master. Weren’t you out on business? How is it that you’ve returned to the capital so soon?”

The Second Young Master of the Xiao Mansion, Xiao Pingnan.

Prime Minister Xiao Hong’s original wife was not the current Fang Qin’er, but rather Xiao Pingnan’s birth mother of humble origins, Xu Fangrong.

Years ago, Xu Fangrong perished during the turmoil when Xiao Hong seized military power. Afterwards, Fang Qin’er was promoted to the position of the main mistress, and the thirteen-year-old Xiao Pingnan was adopted under Fang Qin’er’s name and raised by her.

Strictly speaking, Xiao Pingnan is the legitimate heir of the Xiao Mansion.

As for Fang Qin’er’s own children, Xiao Wangshu and her younger brother Xiao Fuguang, they only became legitimate heirs of the Xiao Mansion after Fang Qin’er was made the main wife.

Thinking of this, Xiao Wangshu beckoned gently to the young boy in moon-white robes.

Xiao Fuguang was momentarily stunned by her gesture, but then slowly shuffled over and obediently stood by Xiao Wangshu’s side.

“Fourth Sister, Eighth Younger Brother,” Xiao Pingnan returned the greeting with a cupped fist, then answered Xiao Wangshu’s earlier question, “It was just a minor errand to the south, resolved quickly. Thank you for your concern, Fourth Sister.”

Having taken in the subtle interactions between Xiao Wangshu and her brother, Xiao Pingnan smiled, “When I left the capital, you two were still at odds. Mother was worried about it for a while. I told her, there’s no lasting grudge between siblings. See, isn’t everything fine now?”

Xiao Wangshu casually patted Xiao Fuguang’s head, her tone light and easy, “Indeed, when trouble comes, one realizes that family is far more reliable than outsiders.”

In the story, Xiao Wangshu was deeply infatuated, and simply because Xiao Fuguang disliked the Mu Family, she became estranged from her own brother.

First, she fell into the water and injured her head, and after waking, quarreled endlessly with Fang Qin’er; then, she devoted herself to romance, growing ever more distant from her brother Xiao Fuguang.

Later, seeing Xiao Wangshu repeatedly used by the Mu Family, Xiao Fuguang, out of sibling affection, tried many times to pull her away from the Mu Family’s grasp, but was always impatiently rejected by Xiao Wangshu.

The bond between siblings was ultimately worn away by repeated arguments.

“As long as Sister understands,” Xiao Fuguang muttered quietly beside her.

“I’ve been away for over a month, and Fourth Sister has changed quite a bit. Father and Mother said you were frightened after falling into the water; I suppose you suffered quite a grievance when you went to the Mu Mansion for the banquet.”

Xiao Pingnan stepped forward, raising his hand to touch Xiao Wangshu’s head.

Xiao Wangshu stood her ground, neither dodging nor flinching.

As Xiao Pingnan’s palm landed atop Xiao Wangshu’s head, not only was Xiao Fuguang a bit surprised, but even Xiao Pingnan himself was taken aback.

He had assumed Xiao Wangshu’s earlier words were just the complaints of someone who loved but could not attain. Given her proud temperament, she had never acknowledged him, the adopted brother of humble birth, and he thought she would surely avoid his touch.

“I was indeed muddled for a while, letting lard cloud my mind, and caused Second Young Master and my younger brother to worry.”

Every word from Xiao Wangshu carried the air of sudden enlightenment, leaving Xiao Pingnan at a loss for further ways to test her.

At this moment, to outsiders, it looked like a caring brother comforting his sister who had recently been frightened by falling into the water-a beautiful scene of sibling affection.

But only the two within the scene knew that the first round of sparring had ended.

Now, Xiao Fuguang’s gaze shifted to the side, landing on the young boy who was trying to slip away unnoticed.

“Tenth Young Master Mu, you’ve come to the Xiao Mansion as a guest. Instead of staying by your brother’s side, what are you doing in the rear garden?” Xiao Fuguang asked.
To be precise, it was an interrogation.

This Mu Chengyang was a spoiled brat raised by the Mu Family. At such a young age, he dared to frolic in the backyards of various families, teasing the young ladies and maids, paying no heed at all to the boundaries between men and women.

He had been like this since childhood-what would become of him when he grew up?

Just now, seeing that Mu Chengyang was not in the front hall, he hurried to the rear garden, and sure enough, found him here with his sister!

Caught red-handed, Mu Chengyang was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. He immediately snapped, “There’s nothing fun in the front hall. I was just wandering around and ended up here-is that not allowed? My Second Brother and I came to deliver gifts and offer our regards, not to be bossed around!”

These Xiao Family people were truly outrageous. They were guests, not prisoners in the Ministry of Justice Prison!

Xiao Fuguang glanced at the guards around them and continued to press, “Since the two members of the Mu Family came today to deliver gifts and offer their regards to my sister, why is the Tenth Young Master Mu here arguing with her?”

He was two years older than Mu Chengyang and had grown up witnessing all kinds of grand occasions in both the Xiao Family and the Fang Family. Naturally, he spoke with far more composure than Mu Chengyang.

Mu Chengyang’s lips moved for a long while, but he couldn’t squeeze out a single word.

“Fourth Sister, Eighth Younger Brother, when I arrived just now, I saw Second Young Master Mu looking for his younger brother. He must have been searching for Young Master Mu. Why not send him to the front hall first, lest the people of the Mu Mansion get anxious and search all over the estate?” Xiao Pingnan reminded them from the side.

Since the Mu Family had come to the Xiao Mansion, they certainly couldn’t be allowed to wander about freely.

Otherwise, if they saw something they shouldn’t or found something they shouldn’t, how would that be accounted for?

Xiao Wangshu caught the underlying meaning in his words and nodded slightly.

“Very well. It’s not proper for me to fuss with a half-grown child. Second Brother, take him away. And while you’re at it, tell the people of the Mu Mansion that if their etiquette for visiting the injured is to splash water all over the host, then there’s no need for them to visit again-I can’t bear it.”

“Alright. You must be tired today, so go back and rest…” Xiao Pingnan hadn’t finished speaking when a group of armored guards approached them.

The middle-aged man at the front walked with steady steps, his black sleeves swaying in the air, the golden cloud patterns embroidered on his cuffs shimmering brilliantly.

Behind him followed a general and a young gentleman in white.

The general was nine feet tall, clad in armor, with a nose as straight as a peak and features as sharp as if carved by a knife. He exuded a cold, murderous aura, and as he walked, it was as if he brought with him the biting wind and sand of the northern deserts.

The young gentleman in white was entirely different-refined and elegant, a gentle smile at the corner of his lips. With every step, it seemed as if he brought the spring breeze of Jiangnan with him.

“Father!” Xiao Pingnan and Xiao Fuguang turned to the middle-aged man and bowed in unison.

Xiao Wangshu also curtsied, “Greetings, Father.”

Xiao Hong looked at his three children, nodded at them, and said calmly, “Why are you all gathered here, surrounding the guests from the Mu Mansion?”

On the other side, Mu Chengyang was about to rush forward to complain, but Xiao Wangshu spoke first, answering unhurriedly-

“Father, Young Master Mu came to the garden by the pond and startled the ladies, making faces and speaking rudely. For a moment, I didn’t recognize him and mistook him for some petty intruder, so I ordered the guards to detain him. If there was any neglect in our hospitality, I ask the Mu Mansion for their understanding.”

After Xiao Wangshu finished speaking, the young gentleman in white behind Xiao Hong raised his eyebrows slightly, seemingly surprised, and asked in return, “Is that so?”

As he spoke, his gaze fell on Mu Chengyang.