Chapter 81: Is This Still His Pedantic Big Brother?

Chapter 81: Is This Still His Pedantic Big Brother?

Xiao Yuchen and Xiao Yuming had a dinner that was both frustrating and delightful. Frustrating because they could look but not eat; delightful because they watched Tang Shuyi and Xiao Yuzhu eat with joy.

Before leaving the Shi'an Garden, Tang Shuyi reminded them to take good care of their injuries, suggesting that they would soon be able to enjoy hotpot again, as if they were particularly fond of it.

The brothers left with mixed feelings, while Tang Shuyi cheerfully took Xiao Yuzhu for a digestive stroll in the yard.

“Big brother and second brother seemed upset,” Xiao Yuzhu commented with a laugh.

“Thinking they can still enjoy the good life after making mistakes? That’s wishful thinking,” Tang Shuyi retorted.

Xiao Yuzhu nodded in agreement, smiling.

After a few laps around the yard, it was time to rest. They returned to their rooms to wash up. Tang Shuyi lay in bed, hoping her sons would stay out of trouble for a while since they were injured. However, the very next day, she was confronted with new troubles - the investigation into the person associated with Princess Changping had yielded results.

“The man’s name is Kong Wenzhe, born to the Kong family of the Yitong tea merchants, the seventh son of the current head of the family, born to a concubine,” reported Steward Zhao. “Half a year ago, he was presented to Princess Changping, and since then, the Kong family has been elevated to imperial merchants.”

Frowning, Tang Shuyi asked, “Does our marquis’s residence have any feud with the Kong family?”

Steward Zhao shook his head. “There’s no enmity between our residence and either the Kong family or Kong Wenzhe. He acted on someone else’s orders.”

“Whose orders?” inquired Tang Shuyi.

“Liang Jian’an,” replied Zhao.

Just as she suspected!

Tang Shuyi had previously guessed that the Liang family was likely involved, given the heavy loss they suffered last time. But how had this illegitimate son of the Kong family become entangled with the Liangs?

Steward Zhao provided the answer. “Kong Wenzhe’s maternal aunt has a sister whose daughter is a favored concubine of Liang Jian’an.”

This sounded convoluted. Tang Shuyi clarified, “So, Kong Wenzhe’s cousin or niece is Liang Jian’an’s concubine.”

“You could say that, but in major clans, relationships with the maternal families of concubines are not officially acknowledged,” explained Steward Zhao.

Official recognition was one thing, but private relations were another. Having a powerful maternal family could be a significant advantage for a concubine.

Tang Shuyi fell silent for a moment before asking Zhao, “Have you informed Yuzhen?”

Zhao nodded. “Someone has already reported it to the eldest young master.”

Tang Shuyi acknowledged this with a hum, gesturing for Zhao to leave. At this moment, Xiao Yuming, who had been sitting quietly by the side, clenched his teeth and said, “Mother, why don’t we just kill Liang Jian’an?”

He felt that killing the Second Prince might lead to severe consequences, but if it were Liang Jian'an, the repercussions would probably not be significant.

Tang Shuyi, however, was somewhat speechless, wondering why there was always a quick jump to thoughts of murder. Watching Xiao Yuming's face seething with killing intent, she said, "Murder doesn't solve problems."

"Then what do you plan to do, Mother?" Xiao Yuming asked.

Tang Shuyi lowered her gaze and pondered for a moment before leaning in and whispering, "I have a plan, but I'm not sure yet if it can be implemented. Don't act rashly, and don't let your elder brother act rashly either. Moreover, he mustn't know about my plan."

Xiao Yuming was taken aback. "Why can't elder brother know?"

After all, this matter was directly related to him.

"I can't tell you for now," Tang Shuyi whispered again, "You focus on healing. If my plan goes into action, I'll need your strength."

Xiao Yuming's eyes brightened, and he whispered back, "Understood. These next few days, I'll make sure to watch over elder brother and prevent him from making any moves."

Tang Shuyi hummed in response, "You're injured, go back and rest well. Don't stay here with me."

Xiao Yuming, excited about receiving his first task from Tang Shuyi, obediently departed. After he left, Tang Shuyi instructed Cuicloud, "Arrange for someone to notify Guanyougen in the western mountain villa, and have him go to Chongguang Temple to offer prayers a day later."

Cuicloud immediately went to carry out the orders, and Tang Shuyi said to Cuizhu, "Prepare, we'll go to Chongguang Temple to offer prayers the day after tomorrow."

"Understood."

After Cuizhu left with a response, only Tang Shuyi remained in the room. She leaned back on the brocade couch and closed her eyes to rest, contemplating her plan to kill two birds with one stone. Its success hinged on how deeply Liubiqin felt for Xiao Yuchen.

However, Tang Shuyi felt that the chances of her plan succeeding were high.

In the Qingfeng Pavilion, Xiao Yuchen had already found out that it was Liang Jian'an who had instigated Kong Wenzhe. The veins on his clenched fists seemed to pulsate angrily. An inner voice kept howling, urging him to kill them, to kill Liang Jian'an.

This fury reached its zenith, causing a momentary dizziness in his brain. But, it was during this dizzy spell that he suddenly calmed down. He remembered what Tang Shuyi had told him: that a person's actions are always driven by emotions, and those who are, are doomed to fail.

The wound on his shoulder throbbed painfully, bringing him to complete sobriety. Just then, Xiao Yuming limped in.

Seeing him, Xiao Yuchen asked, "You heard?"

"Yeah, I just ran into Steward Zhao," Xiao Yuming lied smoothly.

Xiao Yuchen didn't suspect him and added, "Mother must know by now too."

Xiao Yuming remained silent, and Xiao Yuchen added, "We can't keep expecting mother to solve every problem that arises."

"What are your thoughts?" Xiao Yuming asked softly.

Xiao Yuchen shook his head, then bowed his head in silence. After a while, he looked at Xiao Yuming seriously and said, "Fight fire with fire."

Xiao Yuming, stunned for a moment by his words, said, "You want Liang Jian'an to become a chief consort to Princess Changping? Although he's not bad-looking, he's too old, and he doesn't possess Minister Qi's kind of charisma."

Xiao Yuchen gave him a sideways glance, "I'm well aware that Princess Changping wouldn't fancy him."

Puzzled, Xiao Yuming asked, "Then how do you plan to fight fire with fire?"

"Liang Jian'an schemed against me simply to disgrace me and our household. I'll make sure he suffers a great humiliation in return," Xiao Yuchen said through gritted teeth.

"What do you plan to do?" Xiao Yuming asked further.

Xiao Yuchen leaned in closer and whispered, "What if Liang Jian'an and that Kong Wenzhe were caught in the act?"

Xiao Yuming's mouth fell open. He hadn't expected Xiao Yuchen to come up with such an idea. Was this really his old-fashioned elder brother?

Xiao Yuchen continued, "Competing with Princess Changping for a chief consort, she surely won't be pleased. Besides, when the scandal about his homosexuality spreads, especially involving his concubine's cousin, even the Second Prince's reputation will be nearly ruined."

Xiao Yuming frowned, feeling that his brother's method was satisfyingly effective, but what should he do?