Thirteen House, Fragrant Court.
In the middle of the flower garden.
A beautiful woman wearing a golden hairpin and palace attire was sitting in a pavilion, looking at the hundreds of flowers in full bloom outside the pavilion.
Beside her, there were also two maids waiting upon her.
"It should be nearing the end of the year right?"
The beautiful woman picked up the teacup beside her and took a gentle sip. One of the maids beside her quickly said, "Reporting to Madam, it is nearly mid-December now, only a few days until the end of the year."
"When the year ends, it will be time for the entire family to worship our ancestors again."
"Are the tributes prepared already?"
"They have all been prepared and were sent to the storehouse earlier, the Master had asked about them before."
The maid replied honestly, her head lowered as she spoke, her gaze fixed on the table in front of her, not daring for her eyes to wander.
"Has the Beast Garden been contacted?"
The woman thought of something else and asked. The maid immediately said, "The people from the Beast Garden sent word that Doctor Sun Xiang who specializes in beasts left the mansion some days ago."
"Hmph, these dog slaves."
The beautiful woman let out a cold laugh, "When it comes time for them to be loyal, they have disappeared without a trace."
"The Northern Spirit Dog that was reserved by young master Du earlier was snatched away by the maid from the Eldest House. They really don't understand the rules."
As the woman spoke coldly, the two maids kept their eyes lowered in silence, not saying a word.
It was evident that this woman usually commanded great prestige.
"When the Su Family pays respects to our ancestors after the new year, after Lantern Festival has passed, it will be time for the spring hunt a month later."
"I was thinking of training a good dog in the next two and a half months to help young master Du take the top spot in the spring hunt, but now the Beast Garden has let me down."
The woman slammed the teacup in her hand onto the table. At the same time, the golden hairpin inserted in her hair bun shook as she said coldly, "What good slaves!"
"I don't care, for the spring hunt on the fifteenth day of the second month next year, Du must take first place. I don't care if you have to steal or trick someone, you must find a good spirit dog for Du."
"We're all family, why fight over these things?"
At this moment, a modest and gentle looking man walked into the pavilion.
Seeing this man, the woman let out a cold humph, "It's because of those dog slaves from the Beast Garden!"
"The matters at the Beast Garden are not entirely Doctor Sun's fault. I heard that Fifth Brother was also there. It was Fifth Brother who gave away that spirit dog."
"How can you be all smiles when your son's reserved spirit dog was snatched away by someone else?"
The woman glared at her husband. The man smiled carefreely, "As long as everyone is safe and sound, my lady, that's the most important."
"My son was born unloved by his father and masters. As his mother, I want to fight for some benefits for him, yet I get scolded instead."
Speaking till here, the woman also took out her handkerchief to dab the corners of her eyes.
"My lady!"
The man put his arm around his wife and also glared at the nearby maid, indicating for her to leave first.
The two maids bowed and retreated out of the pavilion in small, quick steps.
But before the man could speak, a miserable cry was heard that made the man shudder. It also attracted the woman's gaze.
"Oh my, whose cries are so heart wrenching!"
The man let go of his wife and looked towards the crying. The woman glared at her husband before tidying her clothes and sitting up straight, "It's probably a servant who has suffered an injustice."
"Drag them out later to be fertilizer for the flowers. Then no one would dare cry like this again."
As the couple spoke, a petite figure rushed into the pavilion, crying.
Seeing the newcomer, the man's expression changed instantly. He rushed forward anxiously, "Isn't this my favorite little niece? What's wrong?"
Scooping the rushing Su Qiluo into his arms, the thirteenth-ranked Su Xiuning of the Su Family bounced Su Qiluo lightly as he said gently, "Tell Thirteenth Uncle who bullied you. Thirteenth Uncle will break their dog legs!"
Hearing her husband say this, the woman couldn't help but glare at him again.
This shameless thing. He has never been so anxious when his own son's belongings were taken, yet he becomes like this as soon as the maid from Eldest Brother's house cries. In the end, is his own son his flesh and blood, or is this maid his flesh and blood?
"Thirteenth Uncle!!!"
Su Qiluo wailed loudly, "I have wronged you, Thirteenth Uncle!"
"What's wrong, what's wrong?" Su Xiuning's brows furrowed. With his thumb he lightly dabbed Su Qiluo's tears from her eyes with his sleeve.
Seeing this, the woman at the side twisted Su Xiuning's arm and handed him her handkerchief.
"Your sleeves are so dirty. Use the handkerchief!"
"The lady thinks of everything!"
Taking over the handkerchief, Su Xiuning smiled as he used the handkerchief to wipe Su Qiluo's tears and mucus. At the same time, he sat down on the stone stool in the pavilion.
"Little Luo. Tell Thirteenth Uncle, how have you wronged Thirteenth Uncle?"
"I...I...I hit Thirteenth Brother!"
Upon hearing Su Qiluo's words, the woman who just offered her handkerchief immediately changed her expression.
"You hit Du, how is Du now?"
"Why did you hit him?"
"Don't be agitated, woman. Ask her clearly first."
Su Xiuning soothed his own wife and gently asked Su Qiluo.
"Little Luo, why did you hit your Thirteenth Brother?"
"I..I was using the toilet in the latrine, but Thirteenth Brother barged in with Twelfth Brother and Tenth Brother. "
As soon as these words came out, Su Xiuning's face darkened instantly. The woman also changed her expression.
"I got scared and beat all of them."
"I even beat them until they were bleeding."
"Thirteenth Uncle, do you think I beat Thirteenth Brother to death?"
Su Qiluo grabbed tightly onto Su Xiuning's clothes and sobbed softly with uneven breaths. Evidently, she cried very sadly.
Du ke who had silently followed and was by the side gave Su Qiluo a mental thumbs up.
Maid, when it comes to acting, you're awesome!
"It's fine, it's fine!"
Su Xiuning, whose face was black, comforted Su Qiluo, "That scoundrel, daring to peep at you in the toilet. It would be fine even if you beat him to death!"
"Master, you shouldn't say that. Du is also your son!"
Seeing this, the woman quickly spoke up to defend her son. Yet, contrary to his usual behavior, Su Xiuning glared at her.
"If not for your excessive spoiling of him normally, would he dare to commit such beastly acts?"
"Little Luo is only seven years old. Yet that scoundrel dared to force his way into the toilet with his brothers to peep at her. What would happen when he grows up?"
"Don't say anymore. I'm going to find Eldest Brother to apologize now!"
"Ah?"
The woman was stunned. She wanted to stop him but Su Xiuning had already carried Su Qiluo out of the pavilion.
Du ke took one look at the alluring woman before wagging his tail to follow Su Xiuning.
The beautiful woman remained stunned for a moment before realizing what happened. She chased wildly after her husband.
"Master, Master, Master, don't be rash!"
"He's our own flesh and blood son, don't be rash!"
But how could she catch up? She could only watch helplessly as her husband carried someone else's daughter further and further away.
............
Central Island, Su Family Hall.
"You're saying the maid beat the kids from Thirteenth House, Twelfth House and Tenth House?"
Su Family Patriarch and Su Qiluo's father, Su Xiuming frowned as he looked at his third younger brother, Su Xiuwu forced out a bitter smile, "Twelfth House's ribs were smashed. He nearly injured his heart pulses. If not for my timely rescue, the consequences would have been unimaginable!"
"Hmph. That maid has been pampered too excessively normally!" Su Xiuming let out a cold humph before feeling a headache coming on.
With his own daughter beating the children from the branch families like this, how was he to explain!
Tenth House and Twelfth House were still easy to manage, but Thirteenth House's sister-in-law would be difficult to handle.
He wouldn't be able to get off with light injuries on this matter.
"Where has that maid gone to?"
Su Xiuming asked Su Xiuwu, Su Xiuwu spread his hands and smiled bitterly: "I don't know."
"I only know that the maid left XiuWu Pavilion crying and went somewhere, but I don't know where she went."
"Crying?"
Su Xiuming, whose heart skipped a beat, frowned, and paced back and forth in the council hall as well.
"Is she hurt?"
Stopping in his tracks, Su Xiuming asked worriedly. Seeing his eldest brother like this, Su Xiuwu also sighed inwardly.
Earlier he had behaved so angrily, and now he was worried about his daughter again.
This fickle daughter slave!
"Family head!"
At this moment, a guard walked into the council hall and said in a low voice: "The young master of the Thirteen House is here, and he brought the young miss."
"What?"
When Su Xiuming heard what his guard said, he directly said: "He came to confront me."
"Eldest brother, why did the maid run to the Thirteen House?"
Su Xiuwu tasted something different and blinked. Yes, how did his maid run to the Thirteen House?
He was worried when he heard that his maid had run away crying, and his thoughts were unclear.
"Let's go out and see!"
Su Xiuming waved his hand and took his brother out of the council hall.
As soon as the two of them walked out of the council hall, they saw Su Xiuning with a dark face, holding Su Qiluo.
Seeing Su Xiuning like this, Su Xiuwu and Su Xiuming looked at each other. This little Thirteen was usually gentle and treated his subordinates amiably. There was no news that he had ever made such an expression.
This time his face was so ugly, could it be...
Su Xiuming's heart thudded. Before he could even speak, Su Xiuning was the first to open his mouth.
"Eldest brother, I have failed to discipline my son. He frightened little Luo."
"However the family law requires that undutiful son to be punished, just do it. I will act as if I never gave birth to that son!"
"Huh?"
Su Xiuming was also stunned. Why did Su Xiuning say something very different from what he heard?
After looking at his third brother, Su Xiuming's eyes were full of questions. Su Xiuwu was even more confused.
Don't look at me, I'm also puzzled!