Chapter 2320: Certain

“Wei, don’t let your anger get the better of you,” Madame Qiao scolded with a sigh. “It seems Xuan still holds a grudge. She’s being petty. Let her calm down for now. We’ll give it a few days and address things then.”

Qiao Wei, filled with frustration, snorted but held her tongue.

Qingyan bowed and departed, leaving them to their thoughts.

“Mother! This—”

“Enough!” Madame Qiao’s demeanor hardened with a smirk. “It’s to be expected.”

“What do you mean?”

“Isn’t it typical of that little girl to show her true colors? She’s always been stubborn. The more she acts out, the more anxious she is. We’ll see her soon enough and she’ll have to listen to us eventually!”

Outsiders often saw a big difference between those with a maternal family and those without, especially from the perspective of influential families eyeing Shao Yunduan.

Madame Qiao wasn’t foolish. She understood this logic even if she didn’t fully accept it yet.

“But she will have to accept it in the end,” Madame Qiao declared with a confident sneer. “Just wait and see!”

Qiao Wei thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. “You’re right. I’ll settle the score with her when the time comes.”

She was determined to claim everything Qiao Xuan had. Ever since they were children, she had considered herself superior to Qiao Xuan—like the clouds in the sky compared to Qiao Xuan’s mud. Why should Qiao Xuan now be so high and mighty? She believed Qiao Xuan deserved to be trampled underfoot for the rest of her life.

Officer Qiao, along with his son-in-law Miao Cong, had been touring Hangzhou City. As they neared the end of their visit, they headed toward the backyard of the government office.

To his surprise, Officer Qiao encountered a servant at the entrance of the alley, who then led them to the inn.

Miao Cong was astonished. “An inn? Father, how can we stay at an inn? I was not aware that you and Mother were living outside instead of with your daughter and son-in-law. This doesn’t make any sense. And Lord Shao and Madam Shao seem to have no sense of propriety at all.”

Officer Qiao’s heart sank, and he was momentarily speechless.

The servant smiled obsequiously. “Old Master, Madam said that as you are here in your capacity as County Magistrate, it would be appropriate to stay in the inn for a few days, just like the other County Magistrates. This way, it will be clear that Lord Shao treats everyone equally and avoids any negative remarks about him.”

Officer Qiao, still flustered, felt a wave of relief upon hearing this explanation. He nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes, that’s perfect! It’s only right that we respect the arrangements and show consideration. Let’s head to the inn first…”

Miao Cong looked on with a mix of confusion and resignation. “… Sigh, well, if that’s the case.”

He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. It seemed strange for his biological father to be treated this way. Yet, with his father-in-law’s authority in play, he felt compelled to go along with the situation, despite his reservations.

“Dad, then these gifts—”

“Let’s bring it back to the inn first. We’ll talk about it later.”

“Uh, that works too…”

Miao Cong swallowed the words he wanted to say and had no choice but to nod.

When they arrived at the inn, Officer Qiao asked his daughter and son-in-law to go back to the room and asked Madame Qiao impatiently, “What happened?”

Madame Qiao sneered. “Xuan is a hot-tempered girl!”

Officer Qiao frowned. “Did you tell her —”

“We didn’t even get through the door.”

“What!”

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