Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Rumors in the Wind

“Thank you, madam, for protecting my elder sister,” said Fu Shinian.

Madam Xiao wasn’t surprised that Fu Shinian would consider this aspect; even if Fu Shinian didn’t say it, both parties understood tacitly.

After all, that matter wasn’t glorious.

“This matter isn’t worthy of thanks,” Madam Xiao said. “It happened in my mansion, and it was the dirty scheming of an unfilial son from my mansion. No matter what, he belongs to my mansion, and I have a responsibility.”

Fu Shinian shook his head and said, “Madam, you could have chosen not to intervene. Besides, everyone knows Xiao Fengxing has nothing to do with you.”

The old Marquis Changping was known in the capital for favoring his concubine and neglecting his wife.

At that time, Aunt Liu was quite an influential figure in the Marquis’s residence.

Xiao Fengxing naturally grew up under Aunt Liu’s care.

What good could come from being raised by Aunt Liu?

If Madam hadn’t intervened and let Fu Mingzhu fall prey to the schemes, forcing her into marriage with the Marquis’s family, no one would associate this matter with the Madam.

In her dreams, even Madam didn’t intervene.

Perhaps it was because the Fu family had no relationship with Madam in the dream, so she was unwilling to interfere, or perhaps because she didn’t know about Xiao Fengxing and Lin Qingqing’s affairs in the dream.

She might not even have known about Xiao Fengxing’s scheming, which allowed him to succeed.

But none of that matters now.

What’s important is that Madam is now aiding the Fu family.

“Madam, I will never forget Xiao Fengxing’s scheming, and I can’t swallow this insult,” said Fu Shinian. “Just because he didn’t succeed in his schemes doesn’t mean I can pretend it never happened.”

“When he was still engaged to my sister, he had an affair with Lin Qingqing. Now that the engagement is broken, he wants to be with Lin Qingqing in glory, which I can’t stand,” Fu Shinian said. “Xiao Fengxing and Lin Qingqing are meant for each other.”

“So they don’t cause harm to anyone else,” Fu Shinian said.

Now, she was going all out, expressing all her thoughts.

After all, whatever she would do in the future would be detrimental to Xiao Fengxing.

As long as Xiao Fengxing remained within the Marquis’s residence, she could never circumvent it.

Instead of letting Madam find out later and ruin her relationship with the Marquis’s family, she might as well lay it all out now.

Even if Madam didn’t agree, at least she could appear open and honest.

She was betting that Madam equally despised Xiao Fengxing, unwilling to see him succeed so easily.

After all, who would like or be willing to help the son of a woman who spent her whole life hoping for her son’s demise to inherit everything and oppressed her for half a lifetime?

Judging from Fu Shinian’s assessment of Madam, she was a person who clearly hated evil and despised it strongly.

“Madam,” Fu Shinian said, “I want to seek your approval.”

“Mine?” Madam asked.

“Xiao Fengxing is ultimately a member of the Marquis’s house,” Fu Shinian said. “I want everyone to know about his affair with Lin Qingqing, to know they were involved while he was still engaged to my sister, so their marriage cannot be glorious nor accepted by anyone’s blessings.”

“However, in doing so, Xiao Fengxing is likely to tarnish the reputation of the Marquis’s house,” Fu Shinian said. “Madam has taken great care of me, and I cannot act solely for myself without considering the Marquis’s house.”

“So, I want to seek Madam’s approval,” Fu Shinian said.

Madam remained silent for a while and then said, “And if I disagree?”

“Then I’ll think of another way,” Fu Shinian said. “I will eventually come up with a way that doesn’t tarnish the Marquis’s house yet affects Xiao Fengxing and Lin Qingqing.”

Fu Shinian said, “I can’t swallow the humiliation brought on my sister by Xiao Fengxing and Lin Qingqing’s plotting. Whatever they intended for her to endure, I will return to them.”

“You child,” Madam sighed, “all this talk is fine with us, but you mustn’t say such things to others.”

“In today’s world, it’s better to appear a bit hypocritical. If you voice your hatred, people will call you malicious.”

“Yes,” Fu Shinian nodded. “I only dare speak of this to you and the Marquis.”

It implied she didn’t consider them outsiders.

Madam was overjoyed at this, not feeling in the least that Fu Shinian’s resolve to retaliate against Xiao Fengxing was inappropriate.

“Don’t bother devising other complicated strategies,” Madam said happily. “I understand your feelings.”

When she was younger, didn’t she wish to give Aunt Liu a taste of hardship?

But now, with age and the entire Marquis’s house in her hands, no matter what, Aunt Liu can’t escape her grasp.

And Aunt Liu has become very well-behaved now, leaving no handle for her to seize, which is why she hasn’t taken any action against her.

Last time, although Madam didn’t catch Aunt Liu red-handed for scheming against Fu Mingzhu, it didn’t mean Madam didn’t want to warn her to behave and stop meddling.

So now Fu Shinian’s proposal was precisely to Madam’s liking.

“Don’t worry about us,” Madam said. “You’ve already mentioned that people have long since separated Xiao Fengxing from us and never believed he had any connection with me. If he scandalizes, others will say he was raised by a concubine, and it’s no surprise. They won’t think I failed to raise him well.”

“Besides, he already caused a scandal during Ying Yue’s birthday celebration. If something arises with Lin Qingqing now, people won’t be surprised either,” Madam Xiao said. “What do you intend to do?”

“I’ve already arranged for people to watch the Lin Mansion. Lin Qingqing cannot always come to the Marquis’s estate to meet Xiao Fengxing, and will surely meet him elsewhere. As long as it’s public, I can orchestrate for others to witness it,” Fu Shinian said. “By then, it will be impossible for Xiao Fengxing to silence the rumors.”

“Why make it so complicated?” Madam Xiao interjected. “And wait for Lin Qingqing to meet him.”

“Lin Qingqing came here today; I’m afraid she won’t come out for some time,” Madam Xiao said. “Didn’t Xiao Fengxing say he wants to propose to the Lin family after being listed?”

Earlier, Fu Shinian had mentioned this to Madam Xiao, which is why she was eager to promptly expose Xiao Fengxing and Lin Qingqing’s affair.

“So it can be done before being listed,” Madam Xiao calculated. “It’s rather fortunate; my birthday is next month.”

“I initially didn’t plan a grand celebration, just a small gathering at home with a few old friends and your family for some merriment,” Madam said. “Given the circumstances, let’s make it grand. I’ll drop a hint about possibly arranging another match for Xiao Fengxing.”

“Lin Qingqing will surely be anxious,” Fu Shinian said.

“Indeed,” Madam Xiao nodded.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep