Transmigrated as the Villainess, She Made the General Blush - Chapter 35

After the birthday banquet ended, the five members of the Xiao Family returned to the Chancellor’s Mansion under the evening glow.

As they entered the mansion, Xiao Hong walked with a light step and a broad smile, clearly having enjoyed a lively conversation with Old Master Gu Cheng at the Gu Mansion.

Fang Qin’er walked beside him, sharing in his joy.

Xiao Pingnan, Xiao Wangshu, and Xiao Fuguang followed behind them. Xiao Pingnan and Xiao Fuguang were still chatting about the events of the banquet, discussing Xiao Wangshu’s calm reaction when she was falsely accused.

The subject of their discussion, Xiao Wangshu, appeared perfectly composed, pondering what kind of digestive soup she should drink later.

The dishes at the banquet had been rather greasy. If she went to sleep without something to aid digestion, it might upset her stomach.

“Let’s assign a few more Guards to Wangshu. She made her stance clear today, and if she doesn’t have enough people with her when she goes out, you won’t feel at ease even if she’s in the mansion,” Xiao Hong said, glancing back at Xiao Wangshu and speaking to Fang Qin’er.

Fang Qin’er also turned to look at Xiao Wangshu, her smile a bit strained. “It’s fortunate you think everything through for her, husband. I’ll take her to pick some out in the next couple of days.”

There were many rules in the rear courtyards of noble families; the number of Guards and Maids assigned to young masters and ladies was strictly regulated.

Usually, Wangshu already had plenty of attendants. If she were given even more Guards, she’d have a privilege unmatched by any other noble lady in the Capital-perhaps even more than the princesses of the imperial clan.

But then… what use was it?

A year at most, half a year at the shortest, and Wangshu would likely no longer be in the Capital.

“All right, it’s been a long day. Everyone go rest in your own courtyards,” Xiao Hong raised his hand, signaling the four of them to disperse.

He himself led Chen Chu and Lu Xuyang toward the study.

Fang Qin’er and the others bowed to him in turn, watching him leave.

—

On the way to the study, Xiao Hong slowed his pace, feeling rather sentimental.

A lifetime spent in war, a lifetime spent seizing power.

Looking back, he realized that for his few children, he had rarely fulfilled his duties as a father.

Among his sons, the second and third were born early, and he had paid them the least attention.

His second son, Xiao Pingnan, possessed the ruthlessness of his own youth; his third, Xiao Dingbei, had the boldness of a battlefield general.

Before he even noticed, the two of them had already grown up.

His seventh son, Xiao Zhenxi, had been frail since birth and couldn’t practice martial arts, but even at a young age, his literary talent was outstanding.

His eighth son, Xiao Fuguang, was clever and steady, excelling in both literature and martial arts, which made Xiao Hong especially fond of him.

These two sons grew up under his watchful eye, so he knew them better and understood their temperaments more deeply.

As for his daughters, his eldest, Xiao Caiyi, was calm and dignified, always helping to ease his burdens. He often felt guilty toward her, but at the time, he truly had no other choice.

His fifth daughter, Xiao Pan’an, was sickly as a child. He named her Pan’an, hoping only that she would grow up safely, and never had high expectations for her.

Later, because Xiao Caiyi was exhausted dealing with palace affairs, he needed someone else to assist her in the palace.

At that time, Xiao Pan’an had come of age and wished to enter the palace as a consort, so he skipped over his fourth daughter, Xiao Wangshu, and let Xiao Pan’an enter the palace instead.

Although Xiao Pan’an was somewhat trapped by her feelings and developed genuine affection for the emperor, she could still help Xiao Caiyi with palace matters, so she was not entirely useless.

Next was his sixth daughter, Xiao Caixing.

She was Xiao Caiyi’s full sister, but died in infancy-the only child he ever lost so young.

That part of the past was best left unspoken.

Of all his children, the one he now felt closest to was, unexpectedly, his fourth daughter, Xiao Wangshu.

The reason he felt close to this daughter was precisely because she was-arrogant, ruthless, and decisive!

The other children only resembled him in certain ways, but in this daughter, he saw a more flamboyant version of himself.
The Fourth, who was once unconcerned with matters of the heart, had now gradually become bold and meticulous, daring to do anything and always leaving himself a way out.

He was so much like his younger self.

“The Tuoba Tribe is loyal to me, but after all, it is a land of wind and sun. How could a daughter raised delicately in the Capital adapt to such a place?”

Xiao Hong stopped by the roadside, inhaling the sweet scent of osmanthus blossoms drifting from the trees.

For a moment, he found it hard to imagine what these fragrant, blooming trees would look like if transplanted to the northern lands.

“Prime Minister, are you worried about the Fourth Miss’s marriage alliance with the Tuoba Tribe?” Lu Xuyang, who accompanied him, asked.

This burly man, over eight feet tall, had a full beard covering his face, with thick, unruly eyebrows exposed, exuding a rugged aura. Beneath his armor was a body packed with sinewy muscle, the very image of a military general.

Lu Xuyang was six or seven years older than Chen Chu, and had followed Xiao Hong nearly ten years earlier than Chen Chu. He was considered an old retainer at Xiao Hong’s side, which was why he dared to speak so directly.

Hearing him mention the marriage alliance, Xiao Hong did not conceal anything and nodded.

“This time, Tuoba Kang has sent his most beloved Little Princess. His sincerity for the marriage alliance could not be clearer. I, too, wish to solidify relations with the Tuoba Tribe. Besides my legitimate daughter, who else could represent my sincerity in this alliance?”

Upon hearing this, Lu Xuyang sighed with some regret and said, “The Fourth Miss’s decisive methods today reminded me so much of you, Prime Minister. If only she were a son, she would surely share more of your burdens.”

It was a pity that the Fourth Miss was a daughter, and happened to be caught up in this Tuoba marriage alliance.

If the Fourth Miss were a son, and the Prime Minister had no suitable legitimate daughter, it would have been possible to select a young lady from a collateral branch of the Xiao Family, adopt her under the Prime Minister and his wife, and marry her into the Tuoba Tribe.

But as it happened, the Prime Minister had a legitimate daughter of marriageable age, and the Tuoba chief had sent his most beloved Little Princess, coming to the Capital to seek a marriage alliance with the Prime Minister’s son.

In such circumstances, the Fourth Miss’s marriage alliance was already a foregone conclusion, difficult to change.

“How could I not wish she were a son?” Xiao Hong sighed deeply, raising his hand to gently touch the delicate osmanthus blossoms on the roadside tree.

Golden petals fell one by one, brushing past his palm and leaving behind a lingering sweetness.

Chen Chu stood quietly to the side, listening in silence as they discussed, hearing them decide Xiao Wangshu’s future in just a few words.

His intuition told him that a woman as unrestrained, sharp, and intelligent as her should not be silenced by a mere marriage alliance.

But reason told him that, faced with the formidable troops of the Tuoba Tribe, she was indeed likely to become that bargaining chip.

“Enough, let’s go. This year’s harvest is mediocre, and the Xianyu Tribe has repeatedly sent troops to raid our borders. I’m afraid the northwest frontier will not be peaceful.”

Xiao Hong withdrew his hand, letting the tiny osmanthus blossoms shake loose from the branches, brushing past his sleeve before finally falling to the ground.

Lu Xuyang followed behind him, offering comfort: “Prime Minister, do not worry. The Third Young Master has already led troops to repel the enemy. He is brave and skilled in battle-before the year is out, he will surely drive back the Xianyu barbarians!”

Xiao Hong replied in a deep voice, “With Dingbei guarding the frontier, such small-scale incursions are indeed nothing to worry about.”

Lu Xuyang asked again, “Then what does the Prime Minister mean?”

Xiao Hong pondered for a long time before saying, “I only worry that their repeated incursions are meant to confuse our judgment.”

Sending small forces to raid the border again and again, only to be repelled each time-this brought no real benefit to the Xianyu Tribe.

The Xianyu Leader was cunning; such abnormal behavior likely concealed a deeper scheme.

Lu Xuyang thought for a moment, then asked, “Then shall I send word to the frontier, instructing the scouts to investigate thoroughly?”

Xiao Hong nodded. “That is all we can do for now. Go ahead.”

…