After getting married, she spent every night alone in her room; when she asked for a divorce, he kne

The ancestral hall is located in the southwest of the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion, backed by the library, with a 10-foot-wide bluestone drying ground in front, and a pair of bluestone lions on both sides. The drum-shaped stone is carved with lotus patterns, exuding a majestic and solemn aura.

The three gates in the center are vermilion, with a large black plaque with gilded inscription "[Xiao Clan Ancestral Hall]" hanging high above the main gate.

Xiao Jinghan kept his word and had been kneeling in the ancestral hall since last night.

The servants of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion were used to the Third Young Master kneeling in the ancestral hall. The steward, Zhou Yu, even thoughtfully brought him some heat-relieving soup, fearing that Xiao Jinghan might suffer from heatstroke and faint in the ancestral hall.

As noon approached, the weather grew increasingly hot and humid. Xie Qinghe pushed Xiao Jingting in a wheelchair, and together with Xiao Jingzhuo, they came to visit Xiao Jinghan.

From afar, they could see Xiao Jinghan's lonely yet stubborn figure, which also seemed a little pitiful. Xiao Jingzhu couldn't help but complain, "Grandmother is too cruel. In the sweltering heat of summer, she makes Third Brother kneel like this in the ancestral hall!"

Xiao Jinghan was resting with his eyes closed when he heard Xiao Jingzhuo's voice. He opened his eyes, yawned, and said, "What's all the noise about? You scared me half to death."

After saying that, he placed his hands on the ground and adjusted his kneeling position.

He had been up all night, not even having time to change his outer clothes, and knelt directly on the bluestone slabs of the ancestral hall, a layer of weariness and dejection emanating from him. But this dejection did not diminish his spirit in the slightest; on the contrary, it accentuated his integrity, making him all the more captivating with his quiet and unconventional demeanor.

Xie Qinghe looked around and, taking advantage of the guards' inattention, stuffed two cushions under Xiao Jinghan's knees, muttering, "Third brother, what exactly did you do to offend Grandmother? Why don't you apologize to her properly and ask her to forgive you?"

"Yes, Third Brother, kneeling like this all the time isn't sustainable!" Xiao Jingzhuo said. "Third Brother, you have no idea what kind of rumors are circulating outside! Some people are even saying that you fought with that Muktaiji for Liu Yunze! They claim that your unmarried status and the discord with your wife after marriage are all because you've always been infatuated with Liu Yunze!"

"What kind of nonsense are these rumors!" Xie Qinghe covered her ears. "We absolutely mustn't let Grandmother hear about this, otherwise, who knows how angry she'll get!"

Xiao Jingzhu stuck out his tongue and said nothing more. Xiao Jingting looked at Xiao Jinghan with a deep gaze and said, "I'm going to the Buddhist hall. You two stay here."

He turned his wheelchair, eager to leave, but Xie Qinghe caught up and asked, "Jingting, don't you have anything to say to your third brother?"

Xiao Jingting ignored him and walked away without looking back.

"Oh, really," Xie Qinghe said. "Third brother, don't take it to heart. Your eldest brother has always been like this."

Xiao Jinghan chuckled, "Sister-in-law, you don't need to explain, I understand."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingting, who was about to leave the ancestral hall, paused, glanced at Xiao Jinghan expressionlessly, and then left without looking back.

He dismissed his attendants and, alone, steered his wheelchair through the library and into the Buddhist hall.

Yuan was copying Buddhist scriptures in the Buddhist hall when she saw Xiao Jingting arrive. She put down her pen and said, "Jingting, you've come."

"Yes, Mother."

Xiao Jingting turned his wheelchair forward, and upon seeing this, Yuan's confidants all retreated and tightly closed the door of the Buddhist hall.

Madam Yuan sat gracefully on a lotus throne, her smile gentle, like a Guanyin statue. She extended her hand to Xiao Jingting and asked, "The weather has been rainy lately. Is your leg alright?"

After saying that, she gently touched Xiao Jingting's legs, which had already lost all feeling.

"My leg injury is thanks to Xiao Jinghan."

"What are you afraid of?" Yuan said. "Even if you lose your legs, you still have me."

Xiao Jingting's eyelashes trembled, and his hand hanging at his side suddenly tightened.

"Mother, my legs have been hurting a lot lately."

He leaned forward, grabbed Yuan's hand, and pulled the Bodhi seed bracelet off her wrist. "Mother, please save your son!"

"Okay, your mother loves you."

Madam Yuan smiled calmly and pulled Xiao Jingting into her arms. "Is this better?"

"I feel much better." Xiao Jingting closed his eyes. "Only with my mother can I find a moment of relaxation."

"Then spend quality time with your mother."

Madam Yuan stroked Xiao Jingting's face and said, "I heard that your grandmother made him kneel in the ancestral hall again?"

"Yes," Xiao Jingting said. "He offended his grandmother for some reason and was punished by her to kneel in the ancestral hall."

"He's still so disobedient, unlike you, who's so well-behaved." Madam Yuan stared blankly at the door and said, "I also heard that that bitch wasn't pregnant at all; it was all a play she staged herself."

"That's right," Xiao Jingting said. "Xie Qinghe said she lied about being pregnant to save her grandmother."

"You've all been fooled by her. She clearly just wants his favor and attention, which is why she claimed to be pregnant. I've seen plenty of scheming women like her."

Madam Yuan slowly slipped her hand into Xiao Jingting's arms, saying, "My son, it's very cold here."

Xiao Jingting tightened his arms around her. "Then Mother, please hold me even tighter."

"Hmm." Madam Yuan slid off the lotus seat and sat familiarly on Xiao Jingting's lap, rubbing his chest while murmuring softly, "I went to so much trouble to send her abortifacient, only to find out she wasn't pregnant at all. I really overestimated her."

"So, he actually doesn't like her, right?"

Madam Yuan gently bit Xiao Jingting's ear, causing him to shudder and hug her tightly. "Mother, do you like him that much? Don't you like me at all?"

Madam Yuan hooked her arm around Xiao Jingting's neck, her smile alluring and wanton. "I like you, of course I like you. Come, let me take a good look at you..."

After saying that, she took off her clothes and dragged Xiao Jingting to the ground...

-

At noon, the servants guarding Xiao Jingting went to the dining hall for lunch.

After waiting outside the ancestral hall for a long time, Ying'er finally seized the opportunity and peeked out, saying to Liu Yuansheng behind her, "Miss, they've all left! We can go in now!"

Liu Yuansheng, carrying a food box, looked around to make sure no one was around before pulling Ying'er into the ancestral hall.

The ancestral hall was solemn and dignified. Liu Yuansheng held her breath and tiptoed behind Xiao Jinghan, patting him on the shoulder.

Xiao Jinghan had already recognized Liu Yuansheng's footsteps. He turned around, smiling and complaining, "You've finally arrived. I thought you'd forgotten about me."

He pulled the cushion from under his knees and tossed it to Liu Yuansheng, "Sit down."

Liu Yuansheng then knelt on the cushion, opened the food box, and took out the food inside.

"Hmm, quite a feast." Xiao Jinghan picked up a toothbrush, then picked up a bowl of rice and wolfed it down. "I'm starving! Why did you take so long to get here?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuansheng quickly made a shushing gesture to Xiao Jinghan, and then pointed to the ancestral tablets.

Xiao Jinghan followed Liu Yuansheng's gaze and laughed, "What are you afraid of? They are all my ancestors and elders, they dote on me! They wouldn't dare come out and scare me, would they?"

Liu Yuansheng was so anxious that he wanted to cover Xiao Jinghan's mouth, but he had to use his mouth to eat, so he simply lowered his head and ignored him.