Chapter 14: Chapter 11: The Male Lead Cried Too

Wen Ranchen did not return directly to the Imperial Palace, but first made his way to the General Mansion. He had originally planned to personally collect the cloth from the fabric shop in the morning, yet unexpectedly, his teacher called him to the Imperial College, leaving him no choice but to send his personal servant, Lv Yang, to fetch it.

Upon reaching the General Mansion, Wen Ranchen could not find Lv Yang anywhere, despite having instructed Lv Yang to await his return at the mansion.

Wen Ranchen summoned the steward and asked, “Hasn’t Lv Yang come back yet?”

Unexpectedly, upon hearing these words, the steward’s face turned noticeably tense.

Growing up in the General Mansion, Wen Ranchen was no stranger to what such an expression entailed. His brows furrowed, “Is it Aunt?”

Lowering his head, the steward spoke in a somewhat helpless manner, “Yes, Master, there is truly no way to defy the mistress’s wishes…”

Hearing the word “mistress,” Wen Ranchen frowned but said nothing more, only instructed, “Take me there.”

Two years ago, Wen Ranchen’s mother unexpectedly passed away. General Wen, without any desire to remarry, elevated Aunt Qiao, the only other woman in the house with children, to the status of equal wife.

Though she was an equal wife, the General did not insist that Wen Ranchen call Aunt Qiao his mother, allowing Wen Ranchen to continue addressing her as “Aunt” as habit dictated.

This was the crux of the conflict between Aunt Qiao and Wen Ranchen. Aunt Qiao felt that the whole General Mansion disrespected her because of Wen Ranchen, while Wen Ranchen believed she had usurped his mother’s position. The General remained uninvolved, his sole focus on nurturing Wen Ranchen into his heir.

When Wen Ranchen arrived at Aunt Qiao’s courtyard, he found Lv Yang kneeling, clutching the cloth he had been sent to collect in the morning, its original wrapping now torn and scattered all over the ground.

Aunt Qiao reclined in a chair on one side, sipping tea leisurely as she spoke, “Ranchen’s belongings are my belongings as your mistress. How is it that a servant lacking discernment serves the young master?”

Lv Yang lowered his head, yet did not retreat an inch in his reply, “This task was assigned by the young master to me, there is no reason to subject it to the mistress.”

“Insolent servant, punish him!”

“Stop!” Wen Ranchen strode forward, shielding Lv Yang behind him. His small stature already carried the authority of a superior, “Aunt, I fear you lack the authority to discipline the Princely Heir’s people.”

Upon seeing Wen Ranchen’s return, Aunt Qiao’s expression turned somewhat awkward, seemingly not expecting him to return so early. Moreover, realizing Wen Ranchen referred to himself as “Princely Heir,” her hand involuntarily clenched.

That the position of Princely Heir was decided so early, the General was forcing her hand.

“Ranchen, I saw this servant being unruly and just thought to help discipline him for you.”

Wen Ranchen maintained a cold demeanor, “I’m unaware of what unruliness Lv Yang has committed.”

Aunt Qiao paused, unable to respond immediately, as Lv Yang had not actually behaved in any unruly manner. She had only heard that the fabric was meant for the Princess and intended to deliberately ruin it to provoke Wen Ranchen.

After all, the gift had not yet been delivered, and later she could simply claim it was accidentally damaged.

After a moment of contemplation, Aunt Qiao resumed a smile at Wen Ranchen, “I found his sneaky demeanor odd, so I followed him. Who knew he would casually tamper with the owner’s items, so I brought him here out of anger.”

Seeing Wen Ranchen’s glance, Lv Yang shook his head immediately.

Wen Ranchen was inherently skeptical of Aunt Qiao’s words, and mocked, “Aunt, you really have a mind for intrigue. So could Aunt demonstrate for the Princely Heir what precisely ’sneaky demeanor’ looks like?”

Aunt Qiao felt insulted, barely able to hold her smile, “Ranchen, to be your maternal figure…”

“My servant does not need Aunt’s concern and despite being the mistress, your status does not qualify you to be the mother of the General Mansion’s Princely Heir.”

Wen Ranchen spoke deliberately, aware that Aunt Qiao’s greatest insecurity was her status, hitting her where it hurt. Aunt Qiao’s discomfort from his words would likely be significant.

Normally, upon hearing such words, Aunt Qiao would immediately turn hostile, revealing her displeasure even if she wouldn’t act against Wen Ranchen. Yet now, she unexpectedly displayed a look of grievance?

Why?

Wen Ranchen suddenly realized something, turning his head swiftly, indeed, his father had returned.

Wen Jingming had gone to battle at fifteen, fathered Wen Ranchen at sixteen, and now in the prime of life, stood tall like a pine, his presence as vigorous as the blazing sun, beneath his sword-shaped brows, his eyes shone cold and penetrating emotions hidden within.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep