Chapter 293: Fighting for Favor

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The three little ones squatted in the courtyard to catch crickets.

It was dark. No one knew how they saw the crickets.

Xiaohu caught a big one and came over to show it off to his brothers.

Unexpectedly, compared to Dahu and Erhu, the younger brother was still the younger brother.

Xiaohu was unhappy and shook his head. “Hmph, I won’t catch it anymore! I’ll go ride a horse!”

The stone lion was too tall for him to climb up. He used his hands and feet, sweating profusely.

It was Dahu and Erhu who came over. The two brothers supported his butt with all their might and pushed him up.

Xiaohu rode the mighty and domineering stone lion in satisfaction and shook his head proudly.

“Dahu, Erhu, come over too!”

Sometimes he addressed them as his brothers, sometimes by name.

The small ancestral hall was remote and there were no unrelated people around. Other than the white-robed man, the secret guard, and Yuchi Xiu, there was only an old nanny who had served Matriarch Wei for many years.

“The young masters are so lively.” the old nanny said. The secret guard said, “It wasn’t like this in the past.”

The old nanny looked at him in confusion.

The secret guard deliberated for a moment and felt that the old nanny was one of them and could be trusted, so he told her about the young masters’ past he had heard from Yuchi Xiu. “At first, it was very tragic… especially tragic… They were as thin as monkeys… They didn’t say anything when they met people…”

The three little ones were tired of playing and began to look for Su Xiaoxiao. The three of them walked in and grabbed Wei Ting’s hand. “I want Mother.” Wei Ting remained silent and looked at Matriarch Wei silently.

Old Madam Wei said kindly to the three little ones, “Sleep in Great-Grandma’s room, okay? Great-Grandma’s room has a lot of delicious food and fun things. Whatever you want, Great-Grandma will get it for you.”

“I want mother,” Dahu said.

“Mother,” Erhu said.

Xiaohu was about to cry.

Although they had fun during the day and were fine with anyone, they only wanted Su Xiaoxiao at night.

Wei Ting had spent a lot of effort to bring them out tonight.

“Mother…”

The three of them wanted Su Xiaoxiao, and there was a weak cry in their voices. Their little heads rubbed against Wei Ting’s legs anxiously.

Xiaohu began to scratch his head.

Looking at the three of them’s uncomfortable and aggrieved expressions, Matriarch Wei’s heart ached.

In the end, Matriarch Wei let Wei Ting leave with them.

Looking at the disappearing figures in the night, Old Madam Wei did not retract her gaze for a long time.

Nanny Li brought a cloak to Matriarch Wei’s side. “It’s cold at night. Be careful not to catch a cold.”

Nanny Li draped the cloak over Old Madam Wei.

Matriarch Wei’s eyes flickered. “The children are so strong, like calves.” Nanny Li said, “I heard that when Young Master first found them, they almost died.”

Old Madam Wei frowned.

Nanny Li said, “Young Master probably didn’t want you to be sad, so he didn’t tell you. When Young Master found them in a cellar, the wet nurse was already dead. The three of them were lying beside the corpse. I don’t know how long they’ve been hungry for, but they were only left with their last breath.” Old Madam Wei’s heart clenched.

Nanny Li said in a low voice, “After coming out, the three young masters were stunned like three frightened quails. They were not strong and were only skin and bones. Their behavior… was also different from ordinary children.”

“After Young Master was by their side for a while, they improved a little, but they only became normal after he found them a stepmother.” Old Madam Wei frowned. “You mean that girl from the Qin family?”

Nanny Li nodded. “That’s her.”

Matriarch Wei snorted coldly. “Hmph, did that kid deliberately get someone to fabricate these for you to hear? He wants to use you to blow the wind beside my

ear! ”

Nanny Li said, “Matriarch, Fu Su is your person.”

Fu Su was the secret guard driving the carriage beside Wei Ting.

Old Madam Wei said with a dark expression, “He has long sided with outsiders. If he was really on my side, would he have hidden that girl’s background? If not for the Third Prince secretly letting me know, I wouldn’t have known that my grandson had married the enemy’s flesh and blood!”

Nanny Li hesitated for a moment and said, “Third Prince has ulterior motives.”

Matriarch Wei said without thinking, “Of course, he doesn’t have good intentions. There’s no need for him to sow discord. The hatred of killing my husband is irreconcilable. I won’t let my grandson marry the Qin family’s girl for the sake of military power! I can’t sacrifice my grandson!”

Nanny Li muttered to herself, “It’s not a sacrifice. Young Master is quite willing…

Nanny Li sighed. “What about the young masters? If we really let her marry someone else, will the young masters be given the surname of someone else and call someone else Dad?”

Matriarch Wei’s fatal point was hit.

Early the next morning, Emperor Jing Xuan summoned Qin Canglan to the palace again.

Qin Canglan sighed. “I didn’t know that Your Majesty had such an intimate relationship with me.”

Emperor Jing Xuan was speechless.

Emperor Jing Xuan had called Qin Canglan over to discuss the matter of the Protector Duke’s Estate.

He first asked for some details about Su Xiaoxiao in the countryside, especially about Mr. Wei.

Su MO had long sent Qin Canglan Old Master Su’s “confession”, so Qin Canlan naturally would not answer wrongly.

Emperor Jing Xuan continued, “Since she was married, why didn’t you bring him along when you entered the capital? Could it be that… your son doesn’t want this son-in-law anymore?”

Qin Canglan could only wish that were the case. He couldn’t wait for Su Cheng to chase that kid from the Wei family out of the house.

However, things did not go according to his wishes. He was the one who was chased out.

Qin Canglan had a regretful expression. “It’s not that they don’t want to take care of him, but he’s sick and can’t travel. He’s recuperating in the countryside.”

“Is it that serious?” Emperor Jing Xuan asked. Qin Canglan sighed. “Yes, he might go one day.”

He really wanted to strangle Wei Ting to death.

Seeing that the topic was getting heavier, Emperor Jing Xuan stopped. He changed the topic and said, “I want to see your son.”

Qin Canglan’s mood fell. “Your Majesty, my son once witnessed his biological mother’s tragic death and can’t recall that past until now. I don’t want him to be agitated and have yet to acknowledge him.”

If Emperor Jing Xuan was a tyrant, he could have invited Su Cheng into the palace.

However, he was a wise ruler. It was not good to force this situation.

Emperor Jing Xuan said, “Then it won’t be too late to bring him to the palace for me to see after you have reunited.”

Qin Canglan cupped his hands and said, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Emperor Jing Xuan glanced at him. “You won’t make me wait too long, right?” Qin Canglan paused and said, “No.”

“That’s good,” Emperor Jing Xuan said. “Your biological son is the Protector Duke. I won’t withdraw this imperial edict. However, Su Cheng has grown up among the commoners. I’m afraid it’s difficult for him to become an official in the court. What do you think?”

Qin Canglan’s eyes moved as he cupped his hands and said, “Your Majesty is right.”

After leaving the palace, Qin Canglan went to the Marquis of Zhenbei’s Estate and told the Old Marquis about the conversation in the imperial study.

Emperor Jing Xuan spoke very vaguely, but Qin Canglan was not stupid. Generals just did not like to play tricks, but it did not mean that they were not capable of doing so.

What Emperor Jing Xuan meant was that Su Cheng would be an idle Duke and not have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of his life. The military power would continue to be handed over to Qin Jiang.

The Qin family had earned military power with blood and tears. Instead of handing it to others, it was better to hand it to his brother. After all, Qin Jiang was of the Qin family’s bloodline.

In addition, Qin Jiang had also been nurtured as the heir for many years.

“You agreed?” the Old Marquis asked.

Qin Canglan said seriously, “Of course not! Even if Cheng’er grew up in the countryside and has never learned the art of war, am I not still alive? I can teach him! If Cheng’er refuses to learn, there’s still Ergou! You don’t know how fierce Ergou is!”

The Old Marquis had only been to Pear Blossom Lane once and had not spoken much to Su Ergou. At this moment, he could not help but be jealous of Qin Canglan.

When he recovered, he would definitely steal the children into the residence!

He could teach them too!

The Old Marquis asked, “Did His Majesty agree?”

Qin Canglan said, “His Majesty didn’t agree.”

The Old Marquis wondered if Qin Canglan spent a long time talking in vain and panicked. “How did His Majesty decide?”

Qin Canglan sighed. “His Majesty said that at my age, it is unknown how many years I can teach Cheng’er. I said that if I’m gone, there’s still you. If you’re gone, there’s still Su Yuan. In the end, someone can teach Cheng’er. His Majesty said that he firmly believes in my abilities, but he’s not sure if Su

Cheng is a talent that can be taught?”

The Old Marquis was unhappy. “Why not? Cheng’er was very smart when he was young!”

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