Chapter 1019 - 996: Honor Amidst Chaos 64

Chapter 1019: Chapter 996: Honor Amidst Chaos 64

Xiao Yuan and Xiao Jin listened to what Nanny Zhou said, and both appeared quite unsettled.

Especially Xiao Jin, who was first shocked and angry, then covered his face and cried: "No wonder, no wonder even though we are legitimate sons, she didn’t like us at all. It turns out, we weren’t even born by her."

Xiao Yuan’s right hand moved slightly a few times, and his tense face finally relaxed: "Forget it, it was all fate’s doing. When we split the family branch, it was actually for the best."

Xiao Jin looked up, trying to force a smile, but this smile was uglier than crying.

"What are our real parents’ names?"

Xiao Yuan asked Nanny Zhou.

Nanny Zhou then mentioned two names.

Xiao Yuan nodded: "I’ll have someone fetch some good wood from the mountains and make spirit tablets for offerings. From now on, our family’s ancestral hall will have the tablets of our ancestors and biological parents. As for Old Master and Old Madam, the first and second branches can take care of them. After a hundred years, they should also be honored by them."

Indeed, since the branch was divided, it is natural to honor one’s own ancestors, and honoring one’s biological parents is proper. There’s no reason to honor the divided uncles and aunts.

"This is as it should be."

Xiao Jin nodded quickly.

Xiao Ling, however, had a harder time accepting it.

He held his head: "I... Third Brother, Fourth Brother, how are we not real brothers?"

Xiao Yuan immediately put on a stern face: "Nonsense, how are we not brothers? Since you came out with us, Old Si and I are your real brothers, and you’re part of us whether you admit it or not."

Xiao Ling’s complexion improved a little.

Xiao Yuan then helped him up, asking softly: "If we also adopt you into our branch, would you be willing?"

Naturally, Xiao Ling was willing: "I am willing, I truly am."

He had no affection for Old Master at all.

Growing up, he understood many things and knew that back then, when his concubine mother died early, Old Master played a part in it, and Old Madam certainly meddled as well.

Added to all the recent headaches caused by those two, Xiao Ling didn’t want to acknowledge them long ago.

"Good."

Xiao Yuan finally smiled and patted Xiao Ling’s shoulder: "From now on, you are our branch’s legitimate younger brother."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ling was unbelievably happy.

He knew the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate was significant. In many families, an illegitimate child was half a servant, while a legitimate child could walk anywhere with pride.

If Xiao Ling became legitimate, his children in the future would also be of the legitimate line, making a big difference.

Moreover, if Xiao Yuan successfully ascended that position in the future, as his legitimate younger brother, the rewards would be different.

Anning, seeing Xiao Yuan receiving Xiao Ling’s endless gratitude, smiled and stood out: "Congratulations Sixth Brother, today is truly a double blessing. One, our husband and Fourth Brother have clarified their true origins, and the other, we have gained another legitimate younger brother in our family."

Xiao Yuan and Xiao Jin both laughed.

Anning then called Chun Xing over: "Take Nanny Zhou down to wash and rest, and let Yun’er lead people to the small kitchen to make some food and wine."

Chun Xing laughed and escorted Nanny Zhou to a guest room to freshen up.

Another maid went to ask Xiao Yun to prepare food in the kitchen.

Once the four people in the room sat down again, Anning discussed with Xiao Yuan: "Husband, once Nanny Zhou has rested for a while, I will take her to West Street. It’s not enough for just us to know this matter. We must let the people on West Street know and expose the true faces of Old Master and Old Madam."

Xiao Yuan thought for a moment: "Alright, I’ll go with you."

Anning waved her hand: "You and Fourth Brother and Sixth Brother are busy with official duties, no need to go. I’ll go together with Fourth Brother’s wife. Also, remember to amend the family records, and register Sixth Brother as legitimate."

Xiao Yuan nodded: "I know this."

Xiao Ling sat there, truly so happy that his smile stretched to his cheeks.

Xiao Jin also felt quite relieved in his heart.

He clenched his right hand tightly, thinking that finally, they were free from those burdens and no longer had to worry about the first branch causing trouble. In the future, they would be the legitimate line of the first branch of Duke Ping Mansion, while Old Master’s side would just be the second branch.

Being the legitimate line of the first branch, they wouldn’t need to support the second branch’s uncle’s family after the branch split, and even if Old Master wanted to make trouble, he had no reason to do so.

After all, he had his own sons and grandsons, with no reason to let his nephews provide for him.

Thinking this, Xiao Jin also laughed.

As for whether what Nanny Zhou said was true and who their real parents were, Xiao Jin would be a fool to dwell on it.

After a while, Xiao Yun came with the dishes.

She came in, set the dishes, and then stood aside waiting.

Xiao Yuan led Xiao Jin and Xiao Ling to sit at the table, and Xiao Yun poured wine for the three of them.

The three were hungry and started eating. Xiao Ling praised: "Our Yun’er’s skills have improved greatly."

Xiao Yun laughed: "Sixth Uncle, have a drink. This wine was brewed in the summer and buried in the backyard, only dug out the other day. How does it taste?"

Xiao Ling hurriedly took a sip: "This wine is good, the best wine Sixth Uncle has ever tasted."

He praised and shamelessly asked Xiao Yun: "Can Yun’er give Sixth Uncle a jar to take home later?"

Xiao Jin took a sip of wine and also asked: "Is there more of this wine so Fourth Uncle can take some home too?"

Xiao Yun said: "I only brewed ten jars in total, this is the second one we’re drinking, there are eight left. I can spare two jars for Fourth Uncle and Sixth Uncle, but no more after that."

"You stingy thing."

Xiao Jin said with a laugh: "Fine, then spare one for Fourth Uncle."

Xiao Jin didn’t sit for long, having a couple of drinks and some food before saying he had to leave.

Anning knew he must be going back to discuss matters with the Hui Family, so she arranged for someone to escort him back to the mansion.

Xiao Ling, with a large capacity for alcohol, drank about ten cups and seemed unfazed. Instead of going home, he returned to the military camp after the meal.

Xiao Yuan did not leave but went to take a rest.

Anning had the maid clear away the leftovers, sent Xiao Yun to play, and returned to her room to freshen up.

She changed clothes and washed her face when the Hui Family arrived.

Upon entering, the Hui Family member said: "I never expected that the origins of the men in our two families would turn out like this. I always wondered why Old Madam looked at us the way she did, as if we were nothing. Turns out, we’re not her own, no wonder."

They sat down heavily, took a few sips of water: "You’d think, even if Mr. Four and Third Brother aren’t her biological children, they still call her Aunt. They’re more endearing than bastards, yet she still doesn’t like them. I really don’t understand her."

Anning sighed: "If they had shown even a little kindness to our men, things wouldn’t be this way now. But it’s all fated, it’s pointless to dwell on it. The most important thing now is to take Nanny Zhou to West Street to clarify this matter, and tell Old Master that if he causes trouble again, we won’t handle it. There’s no reason for a nephew to support an uncle’s family."

The Hui Family nodded: "In my opinion, we shouldn’t be supporting them at all, they should find work and earn their keep."

"There’s no need to be so ruthless."

Anning smiled: "Otherwise, many would say our men are heartless. We should support them, it’s not like it costs much silver."

That made sense, the Hui Family nodded.

They also felt a weight lifted off their hearts.

Even though the branch was split, as long as Old Madam was her official mother-in-law, there was a huge burden pressing down on them. If Old Madam wanted her to follow the rules or feigned illness to summon her to care, she had to comply.

But things were different now; she was no longer an official mother-in-law, just an aunt. She had her own daughter-in-law, and there was no way she could target the nephew’s wife.

"Ah, I even feel like the sky is bluer."

The Hui Family said with a smile.

Anning replied: "Tomorrow, I’ll arrange for us and the Lin Family to go watch an opera together."

"Sure, I’ll definitely go."