Even the crown prince is getting a marriage of convenience? Why are you in such a hurry to stop bein

Liu understood and nodded repeatedly.

"Son, don't worry, Mother understands. Mother will definitely make things glorious for you. This banquet was originally something the young master owed us. With this opportunity to reconcile, if the young master knew, he would probably want to add a few more fancy dishes to each table."

Wang Fugui nodded. "That's right, that's exactly the point."

To allow Liu and her son ample time and space to move around, Xiao Lie went to Qingtan Temple for a few days on the day he received the letter, ostensibly to fast and bathe and to transcribe scriptures for the deceased.

Upon hearing this news, Liu and her son were both surprised and delighted, feeling that this was a godsend.

Liu was as if in a dream. She held her son's hand and asked repeatedly.

"Son, what a coincidence! How come he didn't go before, but he went now?"

Wang Fugui became even more smug, "Doesn't this just prove that even Heaven is on my son's side?"

"Mother, this is an extremely auspicious omen. It means that my career will be smooth and successful. This banquet is just an appetizer."

Mrs. Liu was overjoyed. She patted her son, feeling both excited and grateful.

"You...you've finally waited for this. I knew my son was no ordinary person."

"Mother, don't worry. When your son becomes a high-ranking official and receives a great reward, I will definitely ask for an imperial title for you."

The mother and son were overjoyed, completely unaware that their every move had been exposed to the same person's watchful eye for the past few days.

Xiao Lie slumped back in his recliner, gave a lazy "hmm," and said indifferently, "I understand."

On the tea table around him were various kinds of wine, tea and snacks. Rather than saying he came to the temple to practice asceticism, it would be more accurate to say he came to the temple to enjoy blessings.

Three days later, at the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, lanterns and decorations were everywhere, and banquets were being held continuously. In the midst of a joyous atmosphere, Liu and her son were eagerly trying to please a man.

"Lord Wang, what do you think of my son's employment situation..."

With a loud "bang," a huge sound came. Liu looked impatient. When she turned around, she found Xiao Lie standing behind her with a large group of people, his face as black as the bottom of a pot, also looking impatient.

Liu trembled slightly and spoke ingratiatingly.

"Your Highness, why are you back?"

Xiao Lie gave a cold snort, his tone laced with sarcasm.

"If I hadn't come back, how would I have witnessed this spectacle? Guards, throw all my things out of here, don't dirty my Zhenguo Duke's mansion."

Lord Wang's eyes darted around, and he immediately realized that this banquet had not been approved by Prince Xiao at all. With a sullen face, he simply bowed to Xiao Lie and hurriedly left, leaving Liu and her son with a back view that they could not call back no matter what.

Wang Fugui was furious and ran up to Xiao Lie, accusing him, "Cousin, what are you trying to do? Do you know that we almost reached an agreement with Lord Wang?"

"Oh?" Seeing the smug look on Wang Fugui's face, he smiled sarcastically and said in an icy voice, "That's none of my business."

"Guards, throw these two out of here! Don't you understand? Do you want me to do it myself?"

The servants of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion hesitated, unsure how sincere Xiao Lie's order was. But when they heard him urge them again, they knew that Xiao Lie had made up his mind and, disregarding everything else, immediately dragged the two men outside.

Wang Fugui struggled incessantly, his eyes wide open, and he shouted.

"What right do you lowly servants have to touch me? I am the young master's cousin, the true master of the Duke's mansion. If you touch me like this, I will sell you all off one by one in the future, leaving not a single one alive..."

Sixteen couldn't stand it anymore and immediately went up and slapped Wang Fugui several times. Wang Fugui quieted down, but Liu started wailing.

"You bastard, how dare you hit my son? I'll fight you to the death!"

"Let me tell you, fortunes change, and what goes around comes around. Don't underestimate a young person's potential..."

Even Xiao Lie couldn't hold back this time and stepped forward to slap her a few times.

"Are you all too weak? Hurry up and throw them out."

Seeing that she and her son were about to be pushed out of the courtyard, Liu twisted her thigh and screamed loudly.

"I...I'm so unlucky. I became a widow at such a young age, and after struggling to raise my two children, I was betrayed so suddenly. Just because I'm not their biological mother, does all the kindness I showed them in raising me mean nothing?"

"And my son, he's your cousin, your blood relative, how dare you treat him like this."

She took pictures of her thighs, and the more she screamed, the more horrible it became.

"What a misfortune for our family, what a misfortune for our family..."

Just then, a gentle yet slightly serious male voice suddenly rang out.

"What happened? And Liu, what's going on here?"

Jiang Heng, dressed in a warm and understated blue brocade robe, looked even more handsome and refined.

Xiao Lie rolled his eyes speechlessly.

Which noble young master waits until the family across the street has some domestic troubles before coming to their door?

"Your Highness, this is a private matter of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, so there's no need for you to concern yourself with it."

"Oh, but it seems that Lady Liu and her son have something to say. Perhaps we should listen to their opinions first?"

Upon meeting Jiang Heng, the isolated and helpless Liu mother and son felt as if they had encountered a savior, and they couldn't wait to embellish the whole story that had just happened.

Jiang Heng hesitated, frowned slightly, and finally his face turned cold as he spoke in a deep voice.

"Your Highness, even if you are favored by the Emperor, I have no choice but to step in and speak a few words of justice when faced with such injustice."

"Our dynasty was founded on the principle of governing the country through filial piety. Although Liu is not your biological mother, she has acted as your mother for many years and is your elder sister, so she is no different from a mother to you. Wang Fugui is also your blood brother."

"Even if you are cold-hearted, you should still ignore the two of them. If you really drive them out, then I will have no choice but to report you to the Emperor in the Golden Palace."

Xiao Lie squinted for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"Then go ahead, I'm just afraid His Highness Prince Kang won't go. If you don't go, you'll be a coward."

"You..." King Kang stormed off in a rage, "You just wait!"

"Speak," he said, waving his hand and leaving with Liu and her son.

The next day, news of Xiao Lie's disrespect for his elders and his shoving and physical altercation with them spread throughout the capital.

At the herbal tea stalls and inside the taverns, people were everywhere talking about gossip.

"Hey, did you guys hear? I heard that kid laid a hand on his aunt and cousin."

"Tsk tsk, this Young Master Xiao is too heartless. We've lived together for so many years, aren't we already family? For a mere meal, he beat up his own elders and brothers. This Young Master Xiao is truly despicable."

"Who says otherwise? I'm afraid that Liu and her son were also bullied in the past when they were in the mansion."