Bad Reputation

Xie Bin was unmoved.

"Which emperor isn't like this? Which one of them really took back the rights of the aristocratic families? Even if he wants to, can he do it? As long as you don't become that traitor, all of the aristocratic families will be united. Who would be afraid of the emperor?"

"Without the support of the aristocratic families, do you think Emperor Taizu will be able to secure his position?"

"Now that the empire has stabilized, he wants to get rid of his supporters and take back the rights of the aristocratic families— it would depend on whether he can take it back in the first place."

"Don't scare me. I've eaten more salt than you have eaten rice!"

… That's because I have a small appetite. Xie Xian drank his tea silently and thought.

"The Xie family has always had a lot of connections with the various aristocratic families. Because of you, the Xie family is about to cause its own downfall!" Xie Bin had never been so embarrassed in his entire life. He had such a nephew, whose body was weak, yet so capable of attracting trouble. Sooner or later, he would die of exhaustion.

He finally understood, whatever Xie Xian did to curry the emperor's favor for the sake of the Xie family's future. He felt that Xie Xian was purely enjoying the feeling of being an accomplice.

He didn't care about the Xie family, nor did he care about him, Xie Bin.

"Xie Xian, I'm warning you for the last time. If you still don't repent and insist on doing things your way, I will join forces with the Clan Head to expel you from the Xie Clan!"

By that time, if the emperor didn't mind his bad reputation, he could continue to use him if he wanted to. After all, it had nothing to do with the Xie family anymore.

"I understand."

'I understand,' he said, and not, 'I shall do as I'm told.'

Xie Bin left in a huff.

"Take care, Uncle."

Xie Xian stood up respectfully to send him off. He did not bring up that a member of the Xie family had also been punished by the beatings, it seems like he had not heard the news yet. Otherwise, Xie Bin would not have let him off so easily tonight.

After he finished his sentence, he sat back in his chair and gently sipped the warm tea.

No matter how powerful a person was, how would he have the guts?

Even the change of dynasties was only a matter of time. The rulers of the world had already taken turns to sit on the throne. Why did the aristocratic families think that they could always enjoy riches and honor and forever maintain their status?

What rights did these people born with high positions and generous rewards have, allowing them to eat and wait for death, enjoying supreme authority, and arrogantly looking down on others while oppressing them?

What was the meaning of living?

They were just parasites of the country.

Times had changed, but the eyes of the aristocratic families were forever fixed on their most glorious moment. They… had fallen behind the times.

The old would eventually be replaced by the new. If they could not see this clearly, it would not be a loss if they were replaced.

At this moment, Mingyue entered the room with a white porcelain bowl. "Young Master, this is the bird's nest porridge Madam sent over. She told you to drink it while it's hot."

"So it's true this time?" Xie Xian smiled. The corners of his eyes were slightly raised, and his eyes seemed to be dyed with the color of spring.

Mingyue couldn't help but mutter in his heart. He's almost 20 years old, yet he still hasn't married anyone. He doesn't even bother to speak to people outside, yet he's full of affection in front of them. Why bother?

"Madam said that if the doctor keeps pestering you, Madam will ask Old Madam to step in." Mingyue lowered his voice and continued, "Madam also said…"

"Did Madam say it or not? Uncle has already left, there is no need for you guys to say it out for everyone to know."

"I'm just afraid that Young Master will be at a disadvantage. After all, the doctor is an elder and has an advantageous status, so it's not good for you to reject him. With Madam's instructions, Young Master doesn't have to give in every time…"

Xie Xian shook his head. "I can settle it here. There's no need to trouble Old Madam. Old Madam is already old. No matter how ridiculous Uncle is, he is still her son. Why should Old Madam worry about her children and grandchildren at her age?"

… You also have to be strong enough to solve this problem. Mingyue was really afraid that this Doctor Guang Lu would suddenly become so drunk that he would not be able to control himself and tear their Young Master apart.

The Old Madam and Madam had been worried about their Young Master's health for quite some time now. They had no choice outside, but at home, they wanted nothing more than to put him behind them and protect him like their eyeballs. The eldest son and eldest grandson of the eldest branch was the most doted on by the Old Madam.

If he had to be honest, his Old Madam's body was tougher than their Young Master's. He might as well push Old Madam in front of them and see if the doctor still dared to come over to create trouble from time to time!

"You're just too easy to talk to. Anyone would dare to bully you."

Mingyue grew up by Xie Xian's side and had the support of Old Madam and Madam, so he was merciless when nagging at Xie Xian. "You shouldn't have followed him to the Prince's mansion. Since the decree has been passed down, Assistant Minister Pan can go wherever he wants. He will drag you wherever he goes— if it wasn't for that Master Qu who was agile just now and blocked in front of you, the Wang family would have punched you!"

"Why didn't you consider about your body…"

Xie Xian frowned slightly and sighed helplessly. "Alright, Mingyue, you're only fifteen years old. You're getting more and more naggy like an old man. I'm a little tired. Have you heated up the water yet? I want to take a shower."

He knew his mother's intentions. Mingyue was lively and quick-witted. She wanted to send him by her side to liven up the atmosphere at all times to prevent him from being too depressed.

'Exactly, it's also a sweet burden for him to be too active.'

He was still young, and the position he was in determined that his vision would definitely not be the same as his, nor could he understand his decision. He only cared about the Young Master's body, and… only his body.

That was why anyone who made him work hard was Mingyue's enemy.

He had to go to the Wang family.

However, there was no need to be so ruthless in punishing him on the spot. After all, he was injured with a broken wrist. It was fine if he was with the emperor, as he could simply delay it.

However, Pan Shuo was determined to teach the Wang family a lesson. If they wanted to fight, there was no reason for Xie Xian to change his mind.

"Young Master." Not long after, Mingyue came back with an anxious look on his face. "The doctor is coming back here. What should we do?"

His uncle had been waiting for him for more than two hours. He did not know that there were people from the Xie Clan among those who had been dismissed. Now that he had suddenly returned, it seemed like someone had gone up to him.

"Tell Uncle that cold breeze blew on me and I am not feeling well, so I will be sleeping first. I will personally go to the second branch to see Uncle tomorrow."

Xie Xian leisurely drank his bird's nest porridge. "Stop him."

###

Xiao Baoxin slept all the way until dawn. Even Cai Wei, her personal maid, was amazed.

There was a storm all over the city. Rumors were flying everywhere early in the morning. Although she didn't leave the residence yesterday, she knew about it all. News of the Yuan family despising their Miss had already spread throughout Jiankang City.

First, she was involved in a gang fight. Later, she was arrested and sent to the magistrate office. Although she came out in one piece, her reputation was ruined!

It was true that she wanted to annul the engagement, but she wanted to find Yuan Chen's fault and gain the moral high ground. She did not expect to send her own mistakes into the hands of another person!

Seeing that her Miss had finished a set of punches in high spirits, Cai Wei finally couldn't hold back anymore.

"Miss, what should we do in the future? Your reputation is already bad. What if you can't get married?"

Great, someone finally ruined her good mood early in the morning.

Xiao Baoxin thought that her good mood would last for a day or two, but in the end, she personally buried it in the hands of the people around her.

"It's okay. If you can't get married either, you can become a nun with me." Xiao Baoxin smiled like the spring breeze. At that moment, all the flowers in the courtyard lost their splendor.

"In the future, we can solicit donations everywhere, enjoy a commoner's meal, and experience the beautiful scenery of the world. How wonderful would that be? It's a hundred times better than being trapped in a cage of luxury."