The Phoenix is Back - Chapter 29

Chapter 029 Harmonious Harmony
The next day, when Xiao Xiwei went to pay his respects to the Matriarch, he mentioned this matter.

The matriarch stared at Xiao Xiwei and said with a gloomy expression, “Who told you to say this?”

“Granddaughter doesn’t dare to deceive grandmother. Yesterday, my aunt came to look for Xiwei.” Xiao Xiwei stood up and lowered his eyes.

The matriarch’s expression darkened as she smashed the red coral bead string in her hand onto the table. “She’s quite an abacus!”

“Grandmother, don’t be angry.” Xiao Xiwei saw that Old Lady Jun was angry and hurriedly poured a cup of tea for Old Lady Jun.

The matriarch gave Xiao Xiwei a sidelong glance, but she still didn’t brush her face. She raised her hand to pick up the tea she handed over and took a sip.

“Grandmother, if you don’t mention anything else, is there anything that Grandmother doesn’t like about Aunt Shu Mei?” Seeing that Old Granny Jun’s expression seemed to have eased up a lot, Xiao Xiwei pursed his lips and whispered to her.

The matriarch frowned slightly.

If one didn’t mention that Zhou Shumei was engaged, that child was beautiful and had a gentle temper. It was really hard to find any mistakes.

“The most important thing for a family like ours is reputation.” The matriarch picked up the red coral bead string on the table and said in a calm voice.

That means I don’t hate her.

“Grandmother is right.” Xiao Xiwei got up and half squatted on the red sandalwood couch in front of Matriarch. He raised his hand and gently pinched Matriarch’s feet. “I was thinking the same thing as Grandmother. I just saw that Father was busy all day and didn’t even have anyone who knew how hot and cold he was. If Mother was still around …”

Speaking of Chen shi, Xiao Xiwei’s hand paused and her voice gradually lowered.

The matriarch was also stunned, holding the coral bead string for a long time without saying a word.

Xiao Xiwei pinched his leg for the matriarch and didn’t say anything else. She knew that there were some things that only needed to be pointed out, but if she said too much, it would make people suspicious.

After leaving the old lady’s quiet garden, Xiao Min walked a few steps and saw Xiao Min leading the two girls to stand at the corridor corner. Obviously, she was waiting for Xiao Min.

Sure enough, Xiao Min greeted her with a few steps when she came out. “How about it? What did Matriarch say?”

Xiao Xiwei pursed the corners of his lips and did not answer.

Xiao Min’s expression changed slightly. “What, could it be that the Matriarch doesn’t agree?”

Xiao Xiwei smiled. “Grandmother didn’t say anything.”

“Nothing?” Xiao Min frowned and couldn’t help but feel a little confused.

Xiao Xiwei smiled and said, “Auntie, grandmother’s birthday is coming in a few days. Whether this matter succeeds or not, we’ll talk about it after grandmother’s birthday!”

Xiao Min’s eyebrows gradually relaxed. “That’s right, we should wait for the matriarch to celebrate her birthday.”

The matriarch didn’t say anything, but she didn’t say anything against it. This meant that this matter was still feasible.

“Speaking of which, aunt has been here for a few days. Have you visited mother?” Xiao Xi raised his hand slightly and caressed the tassels hanging by his ears, as if he had said it unintentionally.

Madam Li?

Xiao Min raised her eyebrows slightly and smiled faintly, “I went to Hua Jin Garden a few days ago, but the servants said that sister-in-law is ill, so it’s not convenient to meet guests, so …”

Xiao Xiwei smiled sweetly. “I think mother’s illness should be cured in the next two days.” With that, she gave Xiao Min a faint glance and led the girl away.

Xiao Min looked at Xiao Xiwei’s back and gradually knitted her eyebrows.

Inside Shuying Pavilion, the sun is bald.

Crawling tigers covered the entire corridor. Golden sunlight jumped on the emerald green leaves, bringing waves of refreshing coolness.

Seeing that the matriarch’s birthday was coming, all sorts of trivial matters in the mansion were pressing down on her. Fortunately, Nurse Liu was helping her, and Hong Yu’s injuries were healed. This allowed her to steal some time to rest.

Not long after she sat down, Bi Yun rushed into the courtyard and shouted from afar, “Miss, Eldest Young Master … Eldest Young Master is back!”

Xiao Xiwei was both surprised and delighted. She stood up and quickly walked towards Bi Yun. “What did you say? Has Big Brother returned?”

“Yes, we’re heading towards the Old Lady’s quiet garden.” Bi Yun nodded vigorously.

“Quick, let’s go to the Tranquil Garden.” Before Xiao Xiwei could finish his sentence, he hurriedly walked out of the courtyard.

Jingyuan.

The matriarch held onto a youth’s hand, tears streaming down her eyes.

“You brat, I thought you were playing wild in Wu City. I can’t remember a grandmother in the capital!” The matriarch said as she wiped away her tears.

The youth was about seventeen or eighteen years old. He wore a navy green robe. His sword-like eyebrows pierced into his temples, and his bright eyes carried a wanton and straightforward smile. “Grandpa, you can’t forget about grandmother. Grandpa wants to come back! But grandpa won’t let you! If it weren’t for saying that you want to come back for grandmother’s birthday, grandpa would still be pulling me to train in the military camp!”

“That damn old man, I don’t know how his heart grows! It’s fine if he doesn’t come back, but you’re not allowed to do anything! Look at your appearance … It seems like you’re a lot thinner than last year.” The young and old lord held Xiao Xiyang’s hand and touched his bronzed face, feeling heartache.

“Grandmother blamed Grandfather. Grandfather thought of a good idea a month ago. He asked me to guard Wu City for him. He came back to the capital to take a look! I thought, how could Grandfather take over such a good thing? He packed up his bags and ran out overnight!” Xiao Xiyang laughed loudly.

“Look at this! It really doesn’t look serious!” The matriarch extended her hand and heavily nodded at Xiao Xiyang’s forehead.

Xiao Qi was ordered to garrison WuCheng, no letter must not return to the capital. How could she not know this? She knew that Xiao Xiyang’s words were teasing her, but when she thought of her husband who was far away in Wu City, she couldn’t help but feel a little sad.

His health had deteriorated over the past few years, and he didn’t know if he could last until the day he returned.

As soon as Xiao Xiwei entered the room, he saw the handsome man with a single glance. Looking at his still flying eyebrows, tears immediately gushed out of his eyes.

“Big brother …”

Right, I almost forgot to tell sister that just now, there was a secret report that Zhong Yong was ambushed by the Northern Desert rebels on his way back to the capital and had already died. What a pity. Originally, he knew of the grievances suffered by his sister and wanted to return to the capital to make the decision for her … Sister, look, now you’ve killed your own brother!

Xiao Xile’s words seemed to ring in his ears again.

“Oh, what’s wrong? I’ve come back with great difficulty, but you’re crying like a little kitten. Don’t you welcome me back, big brother?” Xiao Xiyang stretched out his hand to pinch Xiao Xiwei’s nose and smiled indulgently.

“Big brother” Xiao Xiwei stretched her arms around Xiao Xiyang’s waist, tears flowing even more fiercely.

Xiao Xiyang immediately put away his teasing smile. He helped Xiao Xiwei up and clumsily wiped away the tears from her eyes. “Wei’er, what’s wrong? Who bullied you? Tell big brother, big brother will avenge you!”

Rough palms caressed her cold cheeks with warmth. Xiao Xiwei only felt a burst of warmth rolling on her cold chest.

She wiped her own tears and looked up at the old lady. “Grandmother is here,” she said. “You mean what you say!”

Xiao Xiyang smiled and patted his chest to guarantee, “Of course! A gentleman’s words are irrevocable.”

Xiao Xi smiled and said, “Isn’t it you who bullied me?”

“Me?” Xiao Xi raised his eyebrows and helplessly spread out his hands, “When did I bully you?”

“Didn’t you just say I was like a kitten?” Xiao Xi pouted slightly.

Xiao Xi was slightly stunned, and then he smiled, “Does this count?”

“Even if!” Xiao Xi raised his chin slightly and unconsciously smiled brightly.

“Grandmother.” Xiao Xiyang turned his gaze to the old lady.

Seeing the two grandchildren quarreling in front of him, the matriarch felt that she was in a good mood. She involuntarily laughed and pointed at Xiao Xiyang, “It’s your fault! How could a big brother say that his sister is like a flower cat!”

“Look, grandmother also said that you bullied me!” Xiao Xiwei walked over to the old lady and pulled her arm. He looked at Xiao Xiyang proudly and smiled.

“Good, good, good. My good sister, big brother said the wrong thing. I’ll give you a gift in this room.” Xiao Xiyang smiled, took two steps back, and bowed to Xiao Xiwei seriously.

For a moment, the people in the room laughed and looked happy.

“Big brother is back.” A crisp voice suddenly pierced in.

Xiao Xiwei turned around and saw Xiao Xile walking in wearing a pink embroidered butterfly dress with a smile like a flower.

“Yes.” Xiao Xiyang nodded, “It’s good that you’re here. I brought back some gifts from Wu City. You and Xiwei can choose together.” As he spoke, he ordered someone to bring up the gift.

There were all kinds of exquisite jewelry made of ivory on the plate. The jewelry was carved with exquisite workmanship and sparkling luster.

Xiao Xile only took a glance and her eyes immediately lit up.

“Thank you, big brother.” She smiled happily and thanked him. Then, she stretched out her hand to the plate with the jewelry on it.

“Sister, please wait a moment.” Xiao Xiwei suddenly spoke.

The smile on Xiao Xile’s face stiffened. Her face was a little embarrassed, and she unwillingly pulled her hand back. “Elder sister, do you want to choose first?”

Xiao Xi smiled and said, “How could this be? Brother brought these gifts back to us. However, Brother probably doesn’t know that Fourth Sister has also returned to the manor. Should we ask Fourth Sister to choose them together?”

The corner of Xiao Xile’s mouth twitched. Looking at so many exquisite ivory jewelry on the plate, every one of them was exquisite and precious. If there was one more person, they would have to give out quite a few. He couldn’t help but feel heartache.

“So fourth sister has also returned to the manor. That was really my negligence.” Xiao Xiyang smiled.

“Cuiping, call fourth young miss over.” The matriarch instructed.

“Yes.” A girl dressed in green walked out.

Xiao Xi smiled and walked to the chair as if nothing had happened.

Xiao Xile stared at the jewelry, her eyes almost bleeding.

Such a good thing was worthy of that bitch!

The matriarch also felt that Xiao Xile’s expression could not help but cough a few times and coldly glanced at her.

The more she looked at her granddaughter, the more she felt that she was like her mother … her eyelids were shallow and she couldn’t stand on the stage at all! Compared to Xi Wei’s dignified and steady demeanor, it was simply the difference between heaven and earth.

Xiao Xiwei picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea. The corner of his eyes caught a glimpse of the obvious dissatisfaction with Xiao Xile in the old lady’s eyes, and the corner of his lips curved into a faint smile.