Chapter 51: Minister Xu, Your House is So Cheap

Minister Xu arrived at the General's Mansion.

As soon as his wife stepped out of the carriage, she ran crying to Qinghe Garden.

Minister Xu, with a face full of worry, glanced at the back of the General's Mansion. Qinghe Garden was in the northwest, while Mozhu Garden, Princess Royal Xiaoyao's residence, was in the southeast.

Over the years, he had visited the General's Mansion many times. Although he would bow and show respect to the princess on the surface, in his heart, he looked down on her.

A princess who turned against the royal family for Shangguan Jinghong, disregarding even her own brother and mother, living in the General's Mansion and supporting her family with her dowry.

In the past, Minister Xu thought his daughter had made a good deal.

Not only did Shangguan Jingzhe take in an illegitimate child, but his daughter could also frequently bring back jewelry and silver from the General's Mansion, even buying them a house.

"Ah, Minister Xu!" A voice greeted him, and someone bowed to Minister Xu before turning to walk towards Mozhu Garden.

"Uh, uh!" As Minister Xu was lamenting the twists of fate and worrying about what to do next, he casually responded and turned to leave. However, just as he turned, he froze: "Y-you, you..."

Deputy Director Xiaohai of the Inner Palace Service Department turned around, smiled slightly, and then walked briskly towards Mozhu Garden.

"... " Minister Xu’s face turned ashen as he stumbled into Qinghe Garden.

"Ruzhen, my dear, how did this happen? Why are you so disheveled?" Mrs. Xu wailed.

"Mama, I want to divorce Shangguan Jingzhe. I don't want to suffer in the Shangguan household anymore. He's not a good person, and he deserves it for sneaking into Mozhu Garden at night!" Xu Ruzhen cried.

"Don't say that, Ruzhen. Don't ever say that again." Mrs. Xu immediately covered Xu Ruzhen's mouth, shaking her head: "Right now, we don't know Shangguan Jingzhe's true identity. If you keep saying he went to Mozhu Garden at night, you and the children will be implicated. Lusting after the princess and sneaking into her residence is a capital offense!"

"Waaah!" Xu Ruzhen sobbed, "I want to go home, I want to return to the Xu family with you!"

"Go back, go back where? !" Minister Xu stormed into the room, slamming the door shut. He glared at Xu Ruzhen, gritting his teeth: "If I had known your hands would be chopped off, I would have let you lose an arm to Princess Xiaoyao. Now look, the house is gone, and all the money is spent. And in the end, you sold the house to Princess Xiaoyao!"

"What did you say, Father?" Xu Ruzhen stared at her father, eyes wide.

Minister Xu sat down, slamming his fist on the table angrily: "Xiaoyao, the Xia family, how dare they! Humph!"

Mozhu Garden.

Xiaoyao watched as Lady Qin tidied up.

"The little princess has woken up. Here, this jade butterfly is very smooth; play with it!" Lady Qin washed and wiped a jade butterfly, placing it in Baby Ruo Xi's hand.

Baby Ruo Xi smiled at Lady Qin: "Lady Qin understands me best. Yes, this jade butterfly is quite old. I wonder where Uncle got so many interesting things. For this reason alone, I must help Uncle when I go to the palace."

"The little princess is like a little fairy. Who would believe a baby less than two months old can understand people? Look, she's smiling at me!" Lady Qin adored the little princess immensely.

Baby Ling Yue grinned toothlessly, happier still.

She liked anyone who was kind to her mother and uncle. If she could, she would protect them in the future.

"Yue'er!" Shangguan Jinghong entered the courtyard, but was stopped by Dong Ju.

"General, please keep your voice down!" Dong Ju said.

"Is the little princess sleeping again? Why does she always sleep? Besides, a child shouldn't be so delicate!" Shangguan Jinghong was annoyed, his gaze cold as he raised his hand to slap Dong Ju.

"Snap!"

A clear sound rang out as Baiyu, dressed in a light blue robe, appeared, staring coldly at Shangguan Jinghong. "General, what are you doing?"

Dong Ju pouted, silently putting away her steel spike.

Baiyu had given her the spike a few days ago, telling her to use it against bad people. She had already gripped the spike, but Baiyu intervened, leaving her frustrated.

"Commander Bai, I need to speak with the princess about something important," Shangguan Jinghong said through gritted teeth, his face turning green with suppressed anger.

"The princess is playing with the little princess. It might not be appropriate to disturb her," Baiyu replied.

"The little princess is awake?" Shangguan Jinghong grew angrier, taking a deep breath before saying, "I am Xiao'er's father!"

"Oh, right, you are the little princess's father. I almost forgot!" Dong Ju moved aside.

Shangguan Jinghong glared at Dong Ju before stepping into the room.

Baby Ruo Xi lay on the couch, looking up at her beautiful mother.

Her mother was telling her stories about her emperor uncle's childhood.

"When you were young, your uncle was so strict. He wouldn't let me out of the palace gates after dark!" Xiaoyao pouted.

Baby Ruo Xi listened and laughed with her mother.

"My emperor uncle loved you, Mother. I, your daughter, was pitiful. My master said he found me barely alive. If he had been any later, I might not have survived!"

Seeing Ruo Xi's lively eyes and hearing her thoughts, Xiaoyao's eyes welled up with tears.

Her poor daughter. In this life, she would protect her and never let anyone harm her.

"Princess, why are you crying again when telling such a nice story?" Lady Qin offered a warm handkerchief, whispering.

"I was thinking about how much my brother loved me, yet I caused so much trouble. I shouldn't have!" Xiaoyao sniffed, "While sorting through my dowry, I realized half of it was gold and jewels given by my brother!"

For years, her brother faced countless dangers and conspiracies, yet he secretly prepared her dowry.

"Sigh, my uncle is so good. I must protect him too. Great Wei needs protection," Baby Ruo Xi thought, then heard an annoying voice.

"Yue'er, Xi'er!" Shangguan Jinghong pushed the door open and entered.