I Became the Eye Candy: Four Bigshots Claimed to be My Dad?-Chapter 37: A Family with 800 Cunning Minds

Old Mrs. Xiang and Xiang Mingli were suspicious. ’How is this child connected to the Changyang Prince Mansion? Does she have a powerful background?’

"Steward, send someone to the Changyang Prince Mansion to retrieve her," Xiang Minghou ordered.

"Yes."

"Eldest, how long will you be staying this time? I’ll have the servants prepare some necessities for you," Old Mrs. Xiang asked.

"The border is stable, and there’s nothing major happening. I should be back for about half a year." Now that he had his long-lost daughter, Xiang Minghou was determined to take a half-year leave to spend time with her no matter what.

Old Mrs. Xiang was stunned. "Half... half a year? Would the Emperor even approve of that?"

"I was fated to be childless. Now I’ve finally found my daughter after she’s been lost to me for so many years. If the Emperor can’t even show a shred of compassion for that, then I’ll resign my post. I have to spend more time with my girl." For over a decade, Xiang Minghou had risked life and limb for Beili without a single break. Even when he returned to the capital, he would handle his official duties and immediately rush back to the border.

The mention of resignation sent Old Mrs. Xiang into a panic. She chided him, "A man’s duty is to the nation first. The Emperor holds you in such high regard. To resign over a child... would that not be a betrayal of His Majesty’s expectations?"

"Mother, you don’t understand, and those with an abundance of heirs understand even less. You don’t need to worry about my affairs. If you have the time, you’d be better off instructing Mingli. He needs to stop running around with his degenerate friends and find something productive to do. That’s what’s most important." Before Old Mrs. Xiang could reply, Xiang Minghou added, "I have been traveling for days without a wink of sleep. I’m going to rest now."

Old Mrs. Xiang’s expression was grim.

"Mother, Big Brother is going to be home for half a year!" Xiang Mingli fretted.

"This is the General’s Mansion, and he is the General. What’s wrong with him staying for half a year? Some things are better left unsaid," Old Mrs. Xiang retorted, turning to rebuke him.

"But... with Big Brother at home, it’ll be uncomfortable for me." Xiang Mingli had been afraid of his older brother since they were children; he never felt at ease living under the same roof.

"Then you can move out," Old Mrs. Xiang snapped, rolling her eyes.

Xiang Mingli immediately shook his head. "Why should I have to be the one to move out?"

"If you don’t want to, then you’ll just have to endure it. It’s only for half a year." Old Mrs. Xiang sighed inwardly. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

’She used to be very fond of her eldest son, but it was impossible for him to have any heirs in this lifetime.’

’For a man to be unable to produce an heir was such a grave matter. Thankfully, she had two sons, so all her hopes for continuing the family line now rested on the younger one.’

Xiang Mingli grumbled under his breath. Since he’d moved into the General’s Mansion five years ago, it seemed Xiang Minghou only came back once every three years, and for a mere three days at that.

And during those three-day visits, he’d managed to bring in all those concubines, who now paraded around the mansion all day in their finery, making a man’s heart race.

While he didn’t dare make a move on them, they were certainly easy on the eyes. But now, the thought of having to see Xiang Minghou every single day felt like being pricked by thorns.

"It’s a good thing that Big Brother has a daughter," Mrs. Wang, who had been silent all this time, suddenly said.

"So what if she really is his biological daughter? She’s still just a daughter. In the future, the General’s Mansion will still have to rely on Si Yan." Old Mrs. Xiang said this as a preemptive warning.

No matter how favored a daughter was, she would eventually marry and leave. A son was still needed to inherit the family estate.

Mrs. Wang smiled at her words. ’We have to settle the matter of having Big Brother adopt Si Yan as soon as possible,’ she thought. ’Otherwise, who knows if another illegitimate son might pop up in the future?’

"Exactly! Our Si Yan has what it takes to be a high official someday," Xiang Mingli said smugly. Having a son certainly gave him confidence!

"Remember to go see the girl tomorrow. Prepare some gifts. Now, don’t just stand around here. Let’s go." Old Mrs. Xiang was mentally exhausted, and she let a maidservant help her as she walked away.

"Yes, Mother. Take care," Mrs. Wang said with a curtsy.

Xiang Mingli snorted, flicked his sleeves, and stormed off.