Chapter 4: The Past of Xiao Fu

  After leaving the Lingfu Villa at Miaofeng Mountain, Xiao Chengyan got into her carriage, while Ling Yuqing and the other two mounted their horses. They proceeded to Pingjing at a leisurely pace. Although they didn't exactly have a lively conversation, it could be said that both host and guests were pleased.

  After entering Pingjing, the three of them bid farewell to each other and went their separate ways. After parting with Ling Yuanqing and Bai Lixi, Xiao Chengye led his horse, protecting the carriage where Xiao Chengyan sat, all the way back to their own home.

  After passing through several long streets, they had already arrived at the entrance of Chaoyang Alley. However, Xiao Chengye suddenly heard a few light knocks coming from inside the carriage beside him. His sword-like eyebrows slightly raised, Xiao Chengye gently pulled on the reins, and in an instant, he was close to the window. After the curtain moved, Xiao Chengyan's soft and pleasant voice came through: "I wonder if big brother has any important matters tomorrow?"

  Xiao Chengye heard this and immediately understood a bit. He responded loudly: "If nothing unexpected happens, it should be none!"

  A soft and gentle voice came from inside the carriage: "Since that's the case, tomorrow at noon, sister will be waiting for you with wine at Huifang Pavilion. I hope brother won't miss the appointment!"

  Xiao Chengye smiled and was about to say a few teasing words, but thinking of the several attendants following him, he swallowed his words and only responded with a smile. As the two were talking, they had already arrived at the entrance of their home, where someone was waiting for them. Seeing the carriage return, they hurriedly welcomed them and escorted the two into the Xiao mansion's main gate. After entering, Xiao Chengye stepped forward to the front hall, while Xiao Chengyan, surrounded by a group of maids, went around the screen wall and headed straight to the inner courtyard to pay respects to her mother.

  Xiao Xian got up early the next morning, still following her usual routine. She first went to pay respects to her mother, Madame Lu, and had breakfast with her. After chatting with Madame Lu for a while, she bid farewell and returned to her own courtyard. Seeing that it was already late, she instructed her personal maid, Qing Liu, to prepare several delicate dishes and a pot of pear blossom tea in the small kitchen, and then sent them over to Huifang Pavilion.

  At noon, Xiao Xian got up and walked slowly into the back garden, where a beautiful artificial hill made of Taihu stone stood in front of her. As she stepped around the hill, she saw the Hui Fang Pavilion.

  Huifang Pavilion, as the name suggests, is a small pavilion where talented people gather. The small pavilion is located in the back garden of Xiao Fu, surrounded by fresh flowers planted in all seasons, and although the four seasons change, this place is always full of fragrance and hidden scent. At the time of autumn, it was the season when osmanthus fragrans bloomed and chrysanthemums were in full bloom. On the side of Huifang Pavilion, various famous varieties of chrysanthemum flowers competed to open, vying with each other for beauty, plus the fragrance of osmanthus, making a beautiful scene.

  Just as she gazed intently, she saw that there was already someone inside the pavilion at this moment. Looking at his tall and straight figure, it turned out to be her own brother.

  Xiao Chengyan had already arrived, so Xiao Cheng naturally quickened his pace. When he reached the pavilion, he opened his mouth and laughed: "Big brother forgive me, today I'm late!"

  Xiao Chengye was originally facing away from her, but at this moment, he heard these words and couldn't help but smile. He turned his head around and looked at Xiao Chengyan with a glance: "The guest has arrived, but the host hasn't, you're not doing very well as the host today!"

  Xiao Chengxian burst out laughing: "We are originally one family, why distinguish between host and guest? Big brother's words are really too impolite!"

  Xiao Chengye knew that this younger sister was sharp-tongued and quick-witted, but actually had no intention of arguing with her. The words just now were just joking around. He waved his hand and smiled: "Forget it! Today I'll just have to be the host!" As he spoke, he pulled down his sleeves and sat down calmly in the pavilion. Xiao Chengyan saw this and smiled slightly, then sat down beside him.

  She dismissed the maid and personally picked up the wine jug, first filling a cup for Xiao Chengyan, then pouring one for herself. Only then did she raise her cup with a smile: "Please drink this cup to forgive your sister's late arrival!"

  Xiao Chengye heard this and burst out laughing. He raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp, and Xiao Chengyan also followed suit.

  After putting down his wine cup, Xiao Chengye also didn't bother to beat around the bush and directly asked: "Yesterday you repeatedly invited me to come, but what do you want to know about Miss Ling Jiu?"

  Xiao Chengxian also knew that his elder brother had always disliked beating around the bush, so he smiled and said: "Those who gave birth to me are my parents, those who understand me are my elder brothers!"

  Xiao Chengye couldn't help but laugh at her, and only then did he say: "To be honest, this Ninth Miss of the Ling Manor is indeed a rare talent in Pingjing! Even I didn't think of it until yesterday, but later on, I vaguely remembered some things!"

  Xiao Chengxian knew that her elder brother had extensive social connections and was well-informed, so although he humbly claimed to have only vaguely remembered some things, what he knew couldn't be too little. He hastily said: "I think the ninth young lady is quite compatible with me, I'd like to make friends with her!"

  Xiao Chengye's sword-like eyebrows furrowed as he listened, his original intention was to simply say a few words and slightly satisfy his sister's curiosity. However, after hearing this, he couldn't help but elaborate in detail. After a brief moment of contemplation, he said: "This Ninth Miss is an illegitimate child, you should know that by now..." Seeing Xiao Chengyan nodding, he continued: "However, you might not know that this Ninth Miss was kidnapped as a child and wasn't reunited with the Ling family until two and a half years ago due to a coincidence!"

  Xiao Chengxian was stunned for a moment: "Was she kidnapped?" She asked incredulously, almost not daring to believe her own ears. The Xiao family had never been prosperous, and her parents only had two children, her and Xiao Chengyan. For nearly a hundred years since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Xiao family had already produced two empresses, so the hopes for her were extremely high, and the way she was raised was also very different from that of ordinary girls.

  It's precisely because of this that Xiao Xian understood that for people of their social status, even if they were born out of wedlock, they would still be extremely precious and have at least three to five maidservants by their side. In such a situation, it was simply unbelievable that she could still be abducted by that rascal.

  Xiao Chengye saw his sister's eyes move slightly, with a look as if she had realized something, and couldn't help but smile. He lightly waved his hand at her before continuing: "Does Wan'er still remember the imperial examination three years ago?"

  Xiao Chengxian didn't expect him to suddenly change the subject and bring this up, after a brief moment of stunned silence, he reluctantly nodded.

  The so-called Keju Enbang is a kind of reward given by the Great Zhou Dynasty to scholars. The objects of this reward are old scholars who have been tested for many years but have not yet passed. In the early days of the Great Zhou, martial arts were highly valued, and in order to encourage people to study, Emperor Taizu issued the "Encouragement to Study Act", which encouraged people to study. According to the law, any scholar who had been tested for many years but had not yet passed, and was over 60 years old, could enter the capital as an official according to the Enbang. The Enbang is issued every 12 years.

  Looking at Xiao Chengye with a hint of surprise, Xiao Chengyan furrowed her brow and complained: "Big brother, can you stop being so mysterious now?"

  Xiao Chengye shook his head and said, "After this young lady was kidnapped from the capital, she was sold to a Xu family in Wan Prefecture. The Xu family was quite wealthy, although they had wives and concubines, but no children. When they got her, they treated her like a treasure, overjoyed beyond measure. After the master's wife passed away, he also gave up on having an heir and devoted himself to raising her. Three years ago, when the imperial examination results were announced, the old master thought of entering the capital to seek an official position, so he brought her with him into the capital. But unexpectedly, soon after entering the capital, he contracted a cold and died."

  Xiao Chengxian sighed upon hearing this, her words filled with a hint of sympathy.

  Xiao Chengye smiled and said, "After the old scholar's death, the Ninth Miss handled his funeral affairs, but she was left with no money. She had to pawn a jade pendant that had been with her since birth, which had her name engraved on it. It just so happened that this pendant was sent to the Xiao family's pawnshop. The old lady of the house immediately recognized it and was shocked."

  The old lady he mentioned was actually the current Ling family's Xiao Shi old lady. This old lady was the younger sister of the Xiao Fu old master, and she married into the Ling family in her early years. Her eldest son was Ling Zhao, who was also the father of Ling Yuanqing and Ling Yuandai.

  Liu Mei's eyebrows furrowed again, and Xiao Chengdao said: "So that's it! But she just returned home so easily, why did she move to the Miaofeng Mountain villa again?"

  Xiao Chengye slightly shook his head: "This matter is the family affairs of the Xiao family, originally it has nothing to do with my Xiao family, Yan'er don't make unnecessary troubles!"

  Xiao Chengyan actually knew that her brother's words were reasonable, but she always felt a sense of discomfort in her heart, as if there was something stuck in her throat. After a moment of silence, she finally couldn't help but speak out: "In my opinion, this abduction case is quite suspicious, why doesn't the young lady care?"

  Xiao Chengye couldn't help but laugh: "Silly girl, when the lady found out about this matter, it was already a done deal. Besides, there's no evidence for this matter, and if we were to investigate thoroughly, it would be hard to avoid causing trouble at home. As for whether we can find her back, that's another story..." He said, but he himself couldn't help but sigh, saying: "As the saying goes, one kind of rice feeds a hundred kinds of people. In this world, there are many families who treat their children like slaves, beating and scolding them at will, or even abusing them to death!"

  Xiao Cheng softly hummed a tune, but said: "How others are, I don't know! However, this Ninth Miss, I have indeed made friends with!"

  Xiao Chengye saw her determination and could only smile, saying no more.