Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 728 - 729: The Past (Part 2)

Fourth Master Xiao frowned deeply without speaking, yet his gaze flickered. Xiao Yancheng sneered...

Xiqiu and Mrs. placed the record books down with a start, neither speaking for a long time. Eventually, Mrs. stood up from her chair and looked at Xiqiu, saying, "I’m heading back."

"I’ll see you out." She and Mrs. walked side by side out of the study, as they reached the walkway, Mrs. stopped and looked at Xiqiu, saying, "You should go back." With that, she left with the maid and servant.

Xiqiu stood in place. Chunliu came out, seeing Xiqiu’s unpleasant expression, asked worriedly, "Madam, are you alright?"

"Let’s go back." Xiqiu was supported by Chunliu and returned to the study again, where she put back each of the items Mrs. had earlier taken out from the box. She re-locked the box. Her mind still lingered on the past of the Grand Dowager. She was very curious as to why the Old Marquis let Naduo plant the Gu poison on him a second time, was he willing or completely unaware?

She was more inclined towards the former, perhaps the Old Marquis also had feelings for Naduo. For a lover from another tribe, the Old Marquis’s heart must have been conflicted and tangled. He knew very well that in such times he couldn’t stay in Miaojiang, nor could he take Naduo back. The only thing he could do was to assure Naduo that he would treat their child well.

But from Naduo’s perspective, she might have already lost trust in the Old Marquis. She used such an extreme method to make the Old Marquis promise to treat their child well.

So what about the Grand Dowager, upon learning about such matters, what could her feelings have been?

She couldn’t help but empathize, wondering what she would do if she were in that position, being humiliated and pregnant, enduring torment for a year, while the Old Marquis marries another woman and bears children, even developing mutual affection. What would she feel? She pursued from miles away through hardships, wasn’t it for love? Yet her love was met with such treatment and hurt from afar.

Xiqiu questioned herself, perhaps she wouldn’t have done the shocking deeds as the Grand Dowager, but towards such a man, even for the sake of the bigger picture, her heart might not love as before, she might even grow to hate him.

If it really was like this, then could it explain why the Grand Dowager remained calm after learning Xiao Yancheng had killed the Old Marquis with his own hands? She didn’t reprimand Xiao Yancheng, only sending her to a separate residence to recuperate. Perhaps in her heart, there was a flash of malicious thought, the Old Marquis took the Gu poison for Naduo’s promise, binding father and son together, wasn’t this a betrayal to the Grand Dowager...? Ironically, in the end, the Old Marquis still died, poisoned by his and Naduo’s son, did the Grand Dowager perhaps observe coldly?

She sighed and shook her head, suddenly understanding the Grand Dowager’s attitude towards Xiao Yancheng, she was neither excessively evil nor entirely kind. She fully protected her love and family, hurting others, yet she herself was equally hurt.

Placing the box behind Fourth Master Xiao’s desk, Xiqiu closed her eyes, leaning there, life’s every crossroads presents different choices. How your life ends up, ultimately returns to the choices you made!

She then thought of Fourth Master Xiao, her heart aching even more. He was only in his teens back then, young and reckless, but faced with such an unbearable "truth," how could he not be angry? In shock and fury, he chose rebellion, loathed himself, mingled with vagabonds, indulged in nocturnal revelry, numbing himself. Yet Xiqiu could imagine, at that time, he must have felt helpless, lonely, in pain; the father he revered wasn’t as mighty as imagined, the heroic mother wasn’t as flawless as appeared, the genial and broad-minded brother wasn’t as sincere as seen, and even he himself might be disgraceful and shameful.

The harmonious Marquis Mansion before was just an illusion, the exquisite exterior wrapped in contemptible past.

That’s why he lived wantonly, indulging himself for so many years.

She let out a long sigh, wondering about Miaojiang, unsure if Fourth Master Xiao found the Grand Dowager and Xiao Yanyi.

She hoped all misunderstandings could be resolved, so everyone could return to their rightful place, and calmly face their closest ones.

The Grand Dowager, Xiao Yanyi, Fourth Master Xiao, Xiao Yancheng too!

Thinking of this, she picked up the pen to write a letter to Fourth Master Xiao.

The standoff in Wu Luo Jungle continued, with the war’s outcome seemingly predictable. Miaojiang, along with Prince Rong’s troops numbered only eight thousand, while Cheng Chong commanded a full thirty thousand soldiers.

Prince Rong looked ashen, glancing at Xiao Yancheng, his gaze full of inquiry. The decision to ambush Fourth Master Xiao in Wu Luo Jungle was his, now Prince Rong naturally questioned him.

Xiao Yancheng’s brows knotted, his gaze lowered, thoughts spinning rapidly in his mind.

Cheng Chong strode towards Fourth Master Xiao, asking in a low voice, "Shall we wipe them out?" This was an excellent opportunity to capture Prince Rong and Xiao Yancheng. What worry could there be about Miaojiang’s war, just wait for military honors.

"Do as you see fit." Fourth Master Xiao stood with his hands behind his back, glanced at the confronting armies with gleaming cold steel, nodded, "Keep Prince Rong." After saying this, he no longer looked at the crowd, hands behind his back, walked to the other side, sat down leisurely, and closed his eyes for rest.

Cheng Chong chuckled, clasped his fists towards Fourth Master Xiao, "Received orders!" Fourth Master Xiao was letting him have the military merits.

"All Miao Clan soldiers present, now the general gives you a chance for redemption." Cheng Chong shouted loudly, "Surrendering will spare your lives, and rewards will be based on status, highest being a thousand acres of fertile land and a thousand cattle and sheep!"

A buzz filtered through from the Miao Army’s camp.

The curved knives in hand involuntarily loosened slightly.

Prince Rong was enraged upon hearing this, looked at Cheng Chong and shouted, "Despicable! Using such low tactics." After speaking, he glanced at Xiao Yancheng, who remained unresponsive, and couldn’t help but draw the blade from his waist, raising it high, swung hard, "Kill them for me! Rewards will be ten gold for each head!"

At such close quarters, Cheng Chong looked at Prince Rong and laughed loudly, pointed at him and said, "Prince, you’re obviously a novice, don’t bluff. If you surrender, I may not reward you, but I assure you the journey back to the capital will be slow, letting you live a few days longer."

Prince Rong was furious, "Shut up! What lowly status do you have to speak to me!"

Cheng Chong raised his brows, taunting intention evident. He waved his hand nonchalantly and said, "Stop wasting time, fight! Don’t delay the Great Governor and I from drinking!" With that, he waved, and the impatient Han Army rushed forward, nearly twenty thousand troops fighting amid the dense forest.