The Husband I Snatched Is Not Right!-Chapter 329 - 326: Wei Zhao’s Sense of Responsibility
The Wei Family Army saw the General approaching and retreated to hide in the shadows.
Xiao Huaian wasn’t angry when blocked.
Not only did Wei Zhao’s study block him, but even his father, Duke Zhongyong’s study did too.
The study is indeed a crucial office place.
He had been stopped for over ten years.
He was already used to it.
It’s fine, just let him be a good-for-nothing.
The good-for-nothing raised two jars of wine and smiled at Wei Zhao.
"This is top-grade bamboo leaf green wine, taken from my dad’s cellar. Today, let’s have a good talk! You ask for some good dishes to go with the wine, it’s getting late, and I’ll just stay in your guest room and not go back."
As Xiao Huaian spoke, he noticed something was amiss.
Because Wei Zhao walked over.
Xiao Huaian’s eyes widened: "You!"
Wei Zhao showed no intention of hiding anything from him, looked up, and coldly met Xiao Huaian’s eyes: "What did you see?"
Xiao Huaian suppressed his shock and played along: "I... saw nothing."
Wei Zhao: "That’s good."
"After all, it’s dark, and it’s human nature to see things wrongly."
Xiao Huaian: ...
It is dark.
But you have money to burn, this Lan Garden is brightly lit!!!
Wei Zhao calmly said: "You came at the right time."
Saves him the trouble of finding him.
"Tell me what unclear movements the various prefectures in Shangjing had after my accident."
Xiao Huaian readily agreed: "Alright."
He began speaking right away.
"The Yang Family on Guandong Street, that Old Master Yang is eighty-seven years old, his hands shake even when he eats, but he refuses to admit he’s old. Three months ago, he took a concubine. This concubine is not from a decent family; she’s a thin horse from Yangzhou, said to have a slim waist, good looks, and quite the charm. Old Master Yang drank several bowls of deer blood that night to revive his vigor but got too excited and died of a sudden heart attack right there on the bed."
Wei Zhao’s face darkened: ??
Xiao Huaian acted as if he didn’t see: "It’s said that when the servants noticed something wrong and rushed in, the two were still connected. The thin horse was both shocked and scared, but her looks were irresistible. Finally, it was Yang’s sons who came to pull them apart. I guess they took a liking to the concubine; otherwise, why would they be reluctant to discipline her?"
Wei Zhao’s expression remained unchanged.
Xiao Huaian, however, was full of anecdotal evidence.
Such disgraceful things, he seemed to know as if he had seen them himself.
"By the way, years ago, you joined the military, and that bastard from the Dong Family secretly bad-mouthed the Wei Family, saying every one of you was short-lived, and you’d soon sacrifice yourself. When the news of your death reached Shangjing, he was dragged to a corner and beaten no less than seven times by your admirers, always ending up with a bruised face for a month, and the last time, his family jewels got kicked."
"I don’t know if they were broken, but his bedroom affairs were ruined. He’s the eldest, yet doesn’t have an heir."
Xiao Huaian winked, "You won’t believe it, but the Dong Family’s ancestor actually asked the newly married eldest daughter-in-law to bear a child with the younger brother and got the consent of the clan elders. The Dong Family’s legitimate second son was to inherit both houses."
"It sounds unreliable, yet the child born in the future would definitely be of the Dong blood."
Xiao Huaian: "Clearly, they could wait for the second son’s house to have a son to adopt, but they insisted on letting the second son sleep with his sister-in-law."
Wei Zhao remained expressionless.
Xiao Huaian’s grin grew wider as he spoke.
"Do you know Chu Liulang? He’s Zhou Yurou’s betrothed fiancé."
"He’s quite scandalous too; his backyard is so crowded that women can barely fit. About half a year ago, I saw him touching his biological sister’s hand, and there was something wrong with his eyes. I was puzzled then."
"But within two months, that sister was married off by the Chu elders."
If someone says there’s no funny business, who would believe it?
How can it be that the elder siblings aren’t married, but the younger sister is?
Xiao Huaian proudly said: "I sensed something was off at that time and privately told people to keep an eye on them. Isn’t that a coincidence?"
He let out a sardonic laugh.
"Within a month after marrying over, she was pregnant. The hired doctor took a bribe and deliberately said fewer months."
"That Zhou Yurou is probably still clueless; by the time she marries, that little sister-in-law would be ready to pop. Who knows if the child will call Zhou Yurou auntie or mother-in-law in the future."
Xiao Huaian chuckled: "The Chu Family is supposed to be an illustrious family, and they put up a good front in front of the Holy Emperor, but behind the scenes, they’re a mess."
He had so much to say, even sighed.
"In this house, if you compare the high walls to face, the lower they’re built, anything happening inside can be seen by passersby. So they keep their dignity and dare not commit crimes. The higher the walls, the more distinguished the family. The dark secrets inside become countless; outsiders can’t see, so they hide them well. Once outside, they all appear decent."
Wei Zhao didn’t want to hear a word.
But he thought if Yu Tingwan were here, maybe she’d find this invigorating.
His gaze grew colder, with no emotion left.
"You know quite a bit about the neighborhood’s gossip."
Wei Zhao looked at Xiao Huaian.
"Don’t play dumb, you know I’m not interested in these scoundrel tales."
Xiao Huaian paused his words.
Still roguishly carefree.
"What are you talking about?"
"I’m like Ning Yunling and your cousin; if you’re asking which young master is with which girl, or which lady is having an affair, maybe I can chat with you all night. But if you’re asking about officials secretly forming cliques, how would I know?"
Wei Zhao: ...
You really don’t hold back, do you?
To belittle yourself, you’re even putting yourself on par with the brainless idiot Ning Yunling?
Wei Zhao, running out of patience, was unwilling to waste more words: "One hundred taels."
"Wei Zhao, you overestimate me."
"Two hundred taels."
Xiao Huaian responded without hesitation: "I really don’t have that ability. Don’t forget, I was always at the bottom in the Imperial College exams!"
He said this with smugness.
"The tutors at the Imperial College, which one didn’t call me thick-headed?"
Indeed, he always calculated to score just enough to not be last, so he could outscore the second last by one question. Always securing the second last spot.
Wei Zhao: "Five hundred taels."
Xiao Huaian was silent: "You’re serious?"
Wei Zhao looked at him plainly.
Xiao Huaian spoke quickly: "I won’t take advantage of you, one thousand taels plus I’ll handle another task for you."
It was indeed a good deal.
Wei Zhao said calmly: "Shunzi, give him pen and paper. Stay and watch him write it all before settling the bill."
Wait a second.
Xiao Huaian: "Are you in a hurry!"
Wasn’t I supposed to speak?
"I wasn’t busy."
Just talking nonsense, Xiao Huaian couldn’t stop. If he wanted to talk seriously, Wei Zhao doubted he’d finish in one night.
Don’t look at Xiao Huaian acting carefree, but when you need him to do something, especially when he’s paid, he absolutely delivers value for money.
Wei Zhao replied perfunctorily: "Now I am."
The wind was strong, blowing his robe.
He raised his hand to adjust it, walked a few steps, then stopped.
"I’m different from Heir Xiao."
"After all, I’m married, and when it gets dark, I don’t loiter around outside."
Xiao Huaian: ...
"What? Is there a curfew in the city, or did your sister-in-law set a rule for you?"
"No?"
Wei Zhao sighed: "But as a husband, I’m always conscious."
He smirked, as if considerate: "Forget it, Heir Xiao wouldn’t understand after all, being a lone soul. Why even ask?"
