Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 697 - 698: Eerie (2)

"Affection?" Xiao Yancheng began to laugh, looking at Fourth Master Xiao, he said, "When have you ever shown me affection, Fourth Brother?" As he spoke, he tugged at his own empty sleeve, "This is what you call affection."

Fourth Master Xiao furrowed his brow tightly, looking back at him, replied, "Don’t talk to me about these things. If not for fear of upsetting our mother, you lost more than just an arm back then."

Xiao Yancheng shook his head, replying mockingly, "Indeed, I should thank you for your mercy." He said, pacing forward to speak softly before Fourth Master Xiao, "However, like you, Fourth Brother, I regret showing mercy back then."

Fourth Master Xiao squinted his eyes, his breath suddenly grew colder. Xiao Yancheng saw this and became even more delighted, "You know, when father died, he stared with wide eyes... His expression is etched in my mind, so clear all these years... He couldn’t believe he would die at my hand after all. I told him he wouldn’t be the only one to die by my hand, to go to rest assured, I would take care of our mother and the family."

Fourth Master Xiao clenched his fists tightly, almost crushing them!

Xiao Yancheng still smiled, saying, "He called me a beast, and yes, I am a beast." Suddenly, he turned to look at Fourth Master Xiao, "But if I am a beast, he taught me to be one, and you all forced me!"

"No one has ever forced you. You lived in the Marquis Mansion for twenty years, what difference did our mother make between you and us siblings, when has she ever forced you, all was your choice!" Fourth Master Xiao said calmly, his gaze falling on the courtyard.

"My choice?" He found it extremely laughable, "You wouldn’t understand my feelings. What wrong did my mother commit, she was just an ordinary woman from the Miao Family, merely for falling in love with him, she ended up being imprisoned for twenty years. Do you know how I felt when she died in my arms? Dead because of living..." he paused, "No... worse than death!"

Fourth Master Xiao responded nonchalantly, "If she was an ordinary woman, why would she resort to such despicable means, what she has today is her own doing!"

"Yes! Her own doing." Xiao Yancheng laughed, saying, "Then he deserved to die even more, a man who dreads death, should have died long ago."

Fourth Master Xiao suddenly turned to look at him, murder flashing in his eyes, Xiao Yancheng showed no retreat, raising an eyebrow, "Fourth Brother, do you want to kill me? Go ahead, kill me... Killing me will avenge him!"

Fourth Master Xiao was full of rage but did not move, he suddenly turned around and walked outside. Xiao Yancheng, however, called out to him, "Fourth Brother, shall we make a bet?"

Fourth Master Xiao paused in his step, listening to Xiao Yancheng from behind, "If I win, I want you to personally inscribe my mother’s name on the Marquis Mansion Dowager’s position. If I lose..." He said, full of triumph, "I leave myself at your disposal!"

Fourth Master Xiao did not look back while Xiao Yancheng laughed, "Don’t be in a hurry, the game has just begun!"

Xiqiu came down from the bed and said to Xing and Min, "You should go back to sleep now, tomorrow let your two uncles take you riding, would that be good?"

"Really?" Xing’s eyes lit up upon hearing, looking at Xiqiu in confirmation, "Can we really go riding?" Xiqiu smiled and nodded, Xing jumped around and hugged Xiqiu’s leg, a face full of sweet smiles, "Thank you, Fourth Aunt!"

Xiqiu patted his head, Min also chuckled beside them.

Tong Quanzi was wiping a dagger with a cloth, he had been doing this three or four times a day these past couple of days, always sighing, "Can’t go to Jiangnan, can’t go to Wei Hui, even Shandong isn’t allowed!" He said while pleadingly looking at Xiqiu, "Sixth Sister, could you speak to the Great Governor, let me go to Wei Hui, even Shandong will do, killing a few bandits would feel satisfying, much better than being stuck at home."

Xiqiu laughed, saying, "You’ll just have to stay home quietly." Seeing his dejected expression, she added, "Fourth Master said that after this year, you’ll be sent to Xuantong."

"Really?" Tong Quanzi’s face was full of surprise, "Did the Great Governor truly say that?"

Xiqiu smiled and nodded.

Tong Quanzi nearly jumped up with joy, "I’ll go tell Master Brother." His five or six master brothers were all in the outer courtyard right now.

As they were speaking, Tianjing suddenly entered from outside, reported through the door, "Madam, an eunuch has come from the palace, passing on the Empress’s command, summoning you to the palace."

"Now?" Xiqiu had Chunliu open the door, standing at the entrance, looking at Tianjing, she asked, "Which eunuch has come, has she left?"

Tianjing bowed his head, replying, "He is surnamed Guan, serving by the Empress’s side." After a pause, he added, "He’s still in the outer courtyard, waiting for you there."

Xiqiu furrowed her eyebrows deeply, full of doubt, already near 7 p.m., why would the Empress summon her to the palace at this hour? 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Did he mention anything?" Xiqiu asked.

Tianjing shook his head, replying, "I asked, but the eunuch only said the Empress invites you, knowing nothing further."

Xiqiu’s suspicion grew, a late-night summons without explanation, "Invite him in."

Tianjing responded affirmatively and hurriedly left, returning shortly with the eunuch from the palace into the courtyard. The man was short, thin, fair-skinned without a mustache, seemingly in his early thirties, holding a horsetail whisk, standing in the courtyard. Xiqiu came out and smiled, asking, "The Empress summons at night, might I ask, eunuch, do you know why the Empress summoned me?"

Chief Guan raised his head but kept his eyes lowered, replying, "We are mere servants, what would we know of our master’s intentions? Fourth Madam Xiao, you should prepare and follow me!" His tone carried an air of arrogance.

Xiqiu studied his expression, smiled and nodded, "Then please wait in the outer courtyard, I must make some arrangements as I am pregnant, and the Great Governor is not at home." Chief Guan replied, "Fourth Madam should not keep the Empress waiting."

Xiqiu furrowed her brow even tighter, nodded, "Certainly!" She then looked at Tianjing, "Escort Chief Guan for tea in the outer courtyard."

Tianjing replied affirmatively, led Chief Guan out the door, as Xiqiu’s gaze swept over Chief Guan’s form from head to toe, she was helped back into her room by Chunliu, who was also full of doubt, "Madam, why would the Empress summon you now?"

Xiqiu couldn’t understand either, the city was near curfew, traveling in and out was not easy, what urgent matter could the Empress have that needed her presence?

She couldn’t help but think of Fourth Master Xiao. Fourth Master Xiao had only left the palace three hours ago; he hadn’t mentioned anything about further palace matters. Besides the disappearance of Princess Rong and her son, and Prince Rong being missing, she couldn’t fathom what else it could be. Moreover, she was not familiar with the Empress, apart from a ruler-subject relationship, there was no other interaction.

She couldn’t think of any reason or possibility.