Chapter 146: Stirring Up Trouble

In the flower hall, Jiang Xuening sat on the left side and glanced at the person sitting to her right. She couldn’t help but wonder: He appeared tall and lean, but how could he have such appetite?

She had anticipated he might come looking for her, but not this quickly.

It had only been a couple of days.

Xiao Dingfei hadn’t brought the bothersome butler in with him. He took a sip of tea, closed his eyes in apparent enjoyment, and said with a smile, “Didn’t you say you would take care of me, Second Young Lady?”

Jiang Xuening sneered, “You remember that clearly.”

Xiao Dingfei held the tea cup with both hands and sighed, “Second Young Lady, you have no idea. I have no one to turn to in the capital. This morning, I even offended my so-called father in the Golden Throne Hall.”

Jiang Xuening responded, showing interest, “Oh?”

Xiao Dingfei then exaggeratedly recounted the events of the morning’s court session. He showed no remorse; instead, he danced animatedly and seemed proud, as if he had accomplished something significant.

Jiang Xuening knew this man was trouble.

In her previous life, Xiao Dingfei had been very close to her. The reasons were twofold: First, she was in conflict with Xiao Shu and the Xiao family, and the enemy of her enemy was her friend. Second, Xiao Dingfei judged people by their appearance and was a shameless flirt, while she enjoyed teasing and manipulating people, making them quite the pair.

She liked someone like Xiao Dingfei.

He was a sharp tool that often forced the Xiao family into difficult positions while they could do nothing about it. Even someone as composed as Xiao Shu often ended up taking medicine to calm down because of him.

As for this life…

Jiang Xuening noticed Xiao Dingfei’s gaze constantly wandering to her face whenever he spoke. She realized that his preference for looks hadn’t changed. The other reason for his approach might be her connection with the Yongyi Marquis Mansion.

The Marquis Yongyi’s mansion is the family home of Xiao Dingfei’s mother, and Yan Lin is his cousin.

Who in the capital doesn’t know about her good relationship with Yan Lin?

Just thinking about Yan Lin made Jiang Xuening feel a bit down. When she snapped back to reality, she heard the person in front of her speaking more and more exaggeratedly, saying that even the emperor was almost moved to tears by him, and Xiao Yuan was so angry he stomped his feet and cried…

The boasting was reaching the heavens!

She felt a headache coming on and had to interrupt in time, “Young Lord, I already know. So what do you want me to do for you?”

Xiao Dingfei was in the middle of his bragging spree, even wanting to say that the person named Xie should kneel before him. Suddenly interrupted, he felt a bit unhappy. But when he looked up and saw the girl who interrupted him with her red lips and white teeth, radiant like the morning sun, and dazzling like a lotus emerging from the green waves, with her delicate curved eyebrows gently drawn into his heart, he felt a tingle in his heart, a sense of complete comfort, and forgot all his displeasure.

He leaned toward her ingratiatingly, “It’s nothing much, I just want to ask for some advice.”

Jiang Xuening raised an eyebrow, “Advice?”

Xiao Dingfei counted on his fingers, “Look, I have a strict father, a competitive sister, an ambitious brother, and a scheming stepmother. Sigh, as soon as I come back, they definitely won’t be happy and will try to mess with me. I heard that you were also a notorious troublemaker in the capital back then, causing your entire household unrest as soon as you returned. I originally wanted to learn from you. But then I thought about it, the Xiao family is much more formidable than the Jiang family, right? Do you think I should play it safe for now, protect my life, get familiar with the place first, and then deal with them?”

Jiang Xuening: “…”

How did she become a “notorious troublemaker”?

Xiao Dingfei blinked, “What’s wrong, is something not right?”

Jiang Xuening smiled, “No, it’s nothing. I was just thinking that it might be useless even if you try to play it safe.”

Xiao Dingfei was puzzled, “Why?”

Jiang Xuening, with an air of experience, slowly said, “There’s a lot to learn in this. You have to understand that people tend to pick on the weak. If you show weakness from the start, everyone will think you’re easy to bully. From then on, you won’t have any peace, and everyone will want to step on you. Think about the life you led in Tianjiao. Now that you’re back in the capital, back to your own home, do you want to live even more miserably than in Tianjiao? Then why did you come back? Besides, you’ve already offended them, so what’s the use of hiding?”

Xiao Dingfei nodded, “Makes sense.”

Jiang Xuening looked at him, not believing he hadn’t thought of this himself.

But aren’t people just pretending to be what they’re not?

She smiled and said, “Young Master Dingfei, do you have any ambitions in this world?”

Xiao Dingfei blurted out without hesitation, “Eat the best, drink the spiciest, sleep with the prettiest, live happily, and no one can make me go back to a hard life!”

Hmm.

The same answer as in her previous life.

Jiang Xuening felt reassured, with a genuinely kind smile, she said, “Then do you know who is hindering you from living a good life?”

Xiao Dingfei thought to himself, “Who else but that bastard surnamed Xie,” but on second thought, without Xie Wei, he wouldn’t have today’s life.

But he couldn’t say that to Jiang Xuening.

He put on an attentive expression, “Who?”

Jiang Xuening bluffed, “It’s the Xiao family.”

Xiao Dingfei became serious, “How so?”

Jiang Xuening guided him patiently, “Do you know the Marquis Yongyi’s mansion?”

Xiao Dingfei said, “I know, it’s my maternal family, but they’ve fallen.”

Yes, they’ve fallen.

Jiang Xuening slightly lowered her gaze, recalling the day of Yan Lin’s birthday when the Xiao siblings both appeared at the banquet, their words and actions, and later Xiao Yuan’s arrogant behavior.

Her expression turned a bit colder.

But she didn’t show it. In a blink, she smiled again and continued, “I feel sorry for you, Young Lord. After being away from the capital for twenty years, someone else has taken over your nest. Xiao Ye, born of a concubine, acts as if he were the rightful heir, throwing his weight around the capital before even securing his position. The siblings are both extremely arrogant, occupying your title, your position, spending your money, and enjoying your pleasures! Just thinking about it, I can’t stand it. If the Marquis’s mansion were still around and Madam Yan hadn’t died from her worries, she would have stood behind you, supporting you. How could it be possible for some Duke to scold you in the Throne Hall? If it weren’t for Madam Yan marrying him back then, he probably wouldn’t have even secured his position as Duke. A bunch of ungrateful scoundrels! Young Lord, as a dignified man, you shouldn’t show weakness in front of these beasts, right?”

Xiao Dingfei pondered, “Indeed, I shouldn’t.”

Jiang Xuening looked at him, knowing that he was scheming something, and probably didn’t have good intentions coming to her today. But she didn’t mind using each other a bit, so she said slowly, “If you’re new to the capital and don’t know how to cause trouble, why don’t I teach you?”

Xiao Dingfei finally smiled brightly, “Miss Jiang, you are really too kind to me.”

After all that, this was exactly what he wanted to hear!

He didn’t dare to cause trouble on his own. Who knows if that Xie fellow might use him as a scapegoat? But if he “learned” some tricks from Jiang Xuening, then Xie couldn’t blame him, right? 

Moreover, thinking about it, although Xie never told him what to do with the Xiao family, if he really acted like a coward, Xie would surely be sneering at him internally even if he didn’t say it out loud.

Immediately, Jiang Xuening raised her voice and told the servants outside to get lost. Once they were gone, she called Xiao Dingfei to come closer and whispered with him for more than half an hour.

Xiao Dingfei nodded frequently.

When he finally took his leave, he was all smiles. Looking at Jiang Xuening was like looking at a deity in a temple. 

He clasped his hands and said, “The emperor has rewarded me with many things. They should be delivered soon. I will have them brought over as a token of my respect for you, Miss Jiang.”

Jiang Xuening felt quite pleased as well, exchanged a few polite words, and watched him leave the hall.

*

The carriage from the Duke’s mansion had been waiting outside for who knows how long.

The steward and the coachman looked grim, huddling their necks in the cold night wind, shivering. Seeing Xiao Dingfei walking out of the Jiang mansion with a spring in his step, they almost ground their teeth to pieces in anger!

Xiao Dingfei cannot be ignored.

After bidding farewell to Jiang Xuening, he became arrogant as if he had been granted a reprieve from death. He looked down on everyone, not even bothering to glance at them. 

He hopped onto the carriage and said, “What are you all standing there for? This young master is going back to the mansion.”

The steward was almost knocked unconscious by anger.

However, having gained some experience and position in a place like the Duke’s mansion, he could endure it. 

Moreover, he thought that someone like Xiao Dingfei would never achieve greatness. When he reported back to the lady of the house, if she was pleased, there might be a big reward.

So he suppressed his anger all the way, only looking forward to returning to see how the young master and the lady of the house would deal with this rascal.

The Duke’s mansion was one of the prestigious families in the capital, occupying half a street. The vermilion-colored doors with lion-shaped door knockers looked exceptionally majestic.

At this moment, the mansion gates were wide open, but the carriage had to go to the side gate.

When Xiao Dingfei got out of the car, he saw it and raised his eyebrows. He completely ignored the steward’s guidance and walked straight towards the main gate.

The steward was startled and blocked Xiao Dingfei’s path, “Young Master, this main gate is not for you.”

Xiao Dingfei was not a person with a good temper.

He was a straight shooter. 

With a cold smile, he kicked the old man who was being difficult, “Damn you! I was personally appointed as the royal son by the late emperor twenty years ago. Call me another disrespectful name, and I’ll chop off your head and present it to the palace! See who will give you justice!”

Although the steward accompanied him back, he felt that Xiao Dingfei was not very sociable, but he didn’t expect him to be so arrogant. How could he have anticipated that as soon as he got out of the car, he would change his attitude and kick him directly?

His knee hurt, and he was knocked over like a gourd rolling, covered in dust from the ground, his head also hitting the steps in front of the main gate, causing him to cry out in pain.

Xiao Dingfei didn’t even spare him a glance. He had seen much worse and ruthless things. This was nothing, not even worth acknowledging. He even couldn’t be bothered to move aside, casually stepping on the man’s chest as he ascended the steps.

The gatekeepers were already dumbfounded. Who would dare to stop him?

So they buried their heads and watched him walk in.

At this moment, the eunuch who came to deliver rewards had just left the palace, and the people of the Xiao family were all gathered in the hall. The dishes on the table had already cooled down.

Xiao Yuan’s face was extremely ugly.

Xiao Ye had broken a leg in Tongzhou and was sitting there with his injury.

The Duchess, Lu Shi, was a few years younger than Xiao Yuan. She still had a charming appearance, well-maintained, but there was inevitably a hint of gloominess between her brows due to her gathered eyebrows.

Xiao Shu specially came out of the palace today.

When she heard the news that Xiao Dingfei had returned to the capital, the Empress Dowager had already fainted. The imperial physician diagnosed it as being too emotionally excited. 

The Kunning Palace announced to the outside world that the Empress Dowager fainted from joy upon seeing the return of the Xiao family’s bloodline.

But Xiao Shu knew that it was not the case at all.

For the entire Xiao family, even for the royal family, the words “Heir Dingfei” were like a curse, capable of arousing the deepest fear in people’s hearts, making them feel shocked, angry, and afraid.

As soon as Xiao Dingfei kicked the steward and walked in through the main gate, someone hurried in to inform.

Xiao Yuan sneered as soon as he heard it.

He was determined to teach this unfilial son a lesson, to discipline him properly. So he deliberately put on a cold demeanor, sitting still as he saw someone coming in, only saying, “You finally decided to come back!”

Xiao Dingfei walked all the way from the main gate to here, feeling that the Xiao family mansion was really too big. Everything he saw, the rockeries, pavilions, carved beams, and painted buildings, were all magnificent, simply luxurious!

Thinking that all of this would belong to him in the future made him extremely happy.

So when he walked through the door, he had an extremely sincere smile on his face, “Ah, everyone is waiting for this heir? You all are so sensible. This heir is just thinking that since he just returned, he should set some rules for you all. But now, I’m too lazy to look for each of you.”

What?!

Xiao Yuan’s eyes almost popped out, caught off guard and not knowing how to respond.

Xiao Ye was the most unhappy person.

In the past, who in the capital dared to disrespect him, the future heir prince of the Duchy? His parents had always told him that after he came of age, he could rightfully ask the emperor to appoint him as the heir.

But now, out of nowhere!

To think that he was told that his brother, who had saved the emperor and was appointed as the prince by the late emperor, was still alive!

When he saw Xiao Dingfei, his eyes turned red, and he cursed, “Who do you think you are to set rules? There’s still our father here! Don’t you need to pay your respects to father first?”

Only then did Xiao Dingfei notice someone beside him.

He couldn’t help but turn his head, looking left and right.

He didn’t feel much about the other party’s rebuke. After all, being beaten and scolded since childhood as a beggar, he wasn’t someone who could be easily provoked with just a few words.

Just looking at him, he felt that this young master was a bit inferior. Although his eyes and eyebrows were good-looking, combined they seemed sharp and sinister, with a petty demeanor. 

Even though he had never wanted to admit his relationship with the Xie family, he couldn’t compare to Xie Wei, who was at least better than him in terms of bearing.

Xiao Dingfei shook his head involuntarily, sighed, and said, “Come here.”

Xiao Ye was stunned, not understanding what this person meant.

Xiao Shu looked at his demeanor and, for some reason, remembered the blatant frame-up of You Yue by Jiang Xuening in the palace. She frowned imperceptibly.

Seeing that he didn’t come over, Xiao Dingfei thought that this little guy wasn’t easy to fool.

So he walked over and naturally stepped on the table full of delicacies in front of him, picked up a chicken leg from the plate, took a bite, and smiled, “Why are you so nervous?”

Xiao Ye was sitting, and he was stepping on his table.

This was clearly an insult!

Xiao Ye had never suffered such humiliation before. 

He coldly smiled, wanting to humiliate him, “Truly learned the manners of scoundrels and villains from the slums—”

But Dingfei didn’t even wait for him to finish his sentence!

In the brightly lit hall, there was a crisp sound of “slap”!

Xiao Dingfei mercilessly slapped him with his right hand. The force was so strong that it made his head tilt, almost stumbling to the ground!

“Ye’er!”

“What are you doing?!”

Two angry shouts of alarm sounded almost simultaneously. Xiao Yuan and Lu Shi never expected him to suddenly attack Xiao Ye. Unable to sit still any longer, they stood up abruptly, glaring at him!

Xiao Shu wasn’t feeling well either.

When had she ever seen such a ruffian?

The severity of that slap caused half of Xiao Ye’s face to swell up, a horrifying sight!

Her eyelids twitched, and she said in a cold voice, “Brother Dingfei just returned home, yet you can’t even tolerate your own siblings. If this spreads out, won’t it tarnish our family’s reputation?”

Xiao Yuan walked towards Xiao Dingfei with a stern face.

Xiao Dingfei glanced at him and then turned to see Xiao Ye, who had just managed to sit up straight again after being slapped by him earlier. It seemed like he was about to say something, but a low chuckle came from his throat. He then backhanded another slap!

In the hall, Xiao Yuan and the others simply couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

The servants outside the hall were even more frightened!

Xiao Dingfei lifted Xiao Ye, who seemed like he was about to faint, and turned to Xiao Yuan with a smile that was not a smile, saying, “I advise you to calm down. You should know that I, as a significant person brought back by Master Xie, am relied upon by the emperor to gather information on the extermination of the Tianjiao sect. If you dare to lay a hand on me, I can turn your two ‘legitimate children’ into ‘bastards’!”

Xiao Yuan, overwhelmed by the situation, felt dizzy and unsteady, almost collapsing. His wife, Lu Shi, rushed to support him, crying out in fear. 

Lu Shi was both scared and anxious, tears streaming down her face as she hurried over to support Xiao Yuan, crying, “Lord, what’s wrong with you!”

It took Xiao Yuan a while to catch his breath, trembling as he said, “What… what do you want to do in the end!”

Xiao Shu, usually a clever person, had imagined countless scenarios of Xiao Dingfei’s return to the Xiao family, but none matched the scene before her now.

Dealing with someone who didn’t play by the rules made everyone feel helpless.

But she was relatively calm, tightly squeezing her fingers together, forcing herself not to erupt, and putting on a smile, saying, “The emperor values Brother Dingfei, and the position of the heir prince belongs to Brother. In the future, the Duke’s mansion will also belong to Brother. We are family, and we should share both honor and disgrace. Brother doesn’t need to be so wary of me and my brother…”

“If you, a stinking bitch, dare to call me ‘Brother’ again, I guarantee you won’t know how you’ll die in the future.” Xiao Dingfei felt that the word “Brother” sounded extremely hypocritical. Although she had a pretty face, every inch of her, from her hair to her clothes, exuded a nauseating falseness. Just looking at her made him feel nauseous. 

He couldn’t help but mutter under his breath, “Damn, even if she stripped naked and begged me, I wouldn’t touch her.”

Though it was a mutter, his voice was not low.

Xiao Shu, educated in poetry, literature, and etiquette, had never heard such vulgar language. In an instant, her face changed drastically!

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