Chapter 1341: Wuhu Taking Action, Countless Challenges
Editor: Atlas Studios
At this point, Xiahou Zheng’s framing had completely failed.
In the past, he had misjudged. This second brother was simply a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He usually pretended to be aloof from worldly affairs and was more obedient than anyone else, but he was sinister and cunning.
Throughout the entire process, he did not say a word to absolve himself. He did not even take any credit for himself and pushed it all to the two elders.
However, in the end, his adoptive father forgot to denounce him at all. Instead, he became even more certain of his loyalty and ability.
Once he was validated, suspicion about him was broken.
On the other hand, Xiahou Zheng had landed in trouble. Why was he so aggrieved?
Xiahou Zheng, who had been reprimanded fiercely, came out in a sorry state.
Xie Jinnian didn’t leave, looking like he was waiting for him.
“Are you waiting to see me make a fool of myself?” Xiahou Zheng said angrily.
In the past, he might have pretended to be magnanimous as his eldest brother, but tonight, the two of them had fallen out. There was no need for him to pretend to be peaceful.
Xie Jinnian smiled. “Is there a need to wait to see Brother make a fool of himself? I’ve seen enough just now.”
This was the first time Second Brother had spoken to him with such sharp words. He did not hide his disrespect for his eldest brother.
Xiahou Zheng narrowed his eyes. “Do you think you’re qualified to shout at me after joining the Hundred Flowers Palace? Don’t be used by others without knowing it.”
Xie Jinnian said calmly, “Brother, did I really instigate what happened tonight?”
Xiahou Zheng choked.
But how could he admit his mistake?
There was a kind of person who only allowed himself to bully others. Yet he would not tolerate it if others resisted.
He was so domineering that one had no words his behavior.
Xie Jinnian was not a person who would waste his energy, nor would he argue with a stubborn person. It was clearly Xiahou Zheng’s fault, so why was he blaming him?
It didn’t matter what Xiahou Zheng thought.
Every word he said had a purpose.
Xiahou Zheng snorted. “You’re not that brilliant. You’re just relying on Foster Father believing you.”
Any other adopted son would not have been able to achieve such an effect with all of Xie Jinnian’s words tonight.
Because they didn’t have Xie Jinnian’s image of being aloof from worldly affairs for so many years.
Xie Jinnian smiled. “Big Brother is right, but Foster Father trusts me the most. What should I do?”
Xiahou Zheng clenched his fists tightly.
After getting rid of Xiahou Yan, he thought that he only had to guard against Yun Lin. He did not even take Madam Ru’s son seriously.
After all, he was so young. It was uncertain if he would grow up.
After tonight, he realized that his second brother was not easy to deal with.
Xie Jinnian didn’t even say goodbye to his brother. He turned around and left.
After Xiahou Zheng returned to the courtyard, he called his trusted secret guard over. “Keep an eye on Xiahou Jin. Once he does anything, report to me immediately!”
“Yes!”
In the afternoon, Xie Jinnian slept in his room.
At night, he went out, saying that he was going to buy bird food.
Everyone in the residence knew that Xie Jin loved to raise birds.
But it was already dark. Why buy bird food at this time?
Xiahou Zheng felt that something was wrong and asked the secret guard to continue keeping tabs on Xiahou Jin.
An hour later, the secret guard returned to report. “Eldest Young Master, Second Young Master didn’t go to buy bird food. He went to a brothel!”
Xiahou Zheng asked, “Is it the Drunken Dreams Pavilion?”
That was his granduncle’s territory.
The secret guard said, “No, it’s another small brothel. The level is very low, and the people who go are all commoners. Moreover, I realized that he changed his clothes and is no different from ordinary islanders.”
“Oh?” Xiahou Zheng narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Second Brother is a particular person. He never goes to such places. He finds it dirty, let alone such an unorthodox place… He didn’t notice you, right?”
“No!”
The secret guard said firmly, “However, Second Young Master is very cautious. He has two extremely powerful experts by his side. Several times… I almost lost him.”
Xiahou Zheng said coldly, “You’re so sneaky. It’s obvious that you’re up to no good.”
At this moment, another secret guard came over. “Eldest Young Master, bad news. Something happened to Second Grandfather!”
Xiahou Yi’s courtyard was flooded.
Someone had started the fire. There was also spilled fire oil on the windowsill.
The other party had really splashed the place. It was dry and gra.s.sy. He only needed a little kerosene to burn down two houses at the same time.
However, what was strange was that even though there were so many experts, they did not discover how the arsonist infiltrated the courtyard and left without leaving a trace.
What was worse was that Xiahou Yi’s treasure map was gone.
Because the fire was too big, in order to prevent the treasure map from being burned, Xiahou Yi had no choice but to order someone to move it.
It was clearly placed in another safe place, but in the blink of an eye, it was gone!
However, Xiahou Yi had never mentioned the treasure map to Xiahou Zheng.
Xiahou Zheng had no idea that the treasure map in his adoptive father’s hand was fake. Half of the real treasure map was in his granduncle’s hand and had been stolen tonight.
He thought that the other party purely wanted to burn his granduncle to death.
Xiahou Zheng’s first reaction was that someone he knew had committed the crime.
This was because only those who were familiar with his greatuncle’s courtyard knew where the most suitable place to burn was.
When someone hated someone the most, it was easy to suspect them. They wished they could pin all the bad things on him.
As for the motive, it was not within his consideration.
Xiahou Zheng’s hatred for Second Brother’s exceeded the animosity he felt for Yun Lin.
It was for no other reason than that Yun Lin was a biological son. Xiahou Zheng had never won from the beginning.
Second Brother had always been stepped on by him, so it was even harder for him to accept his sudden turn of events.
In other words, he could treat Yun Lin as an opponent, but Second Brother was only worthy of being a straw dog.
Xiahou Zheng said coldly, “Lead the way. I want to see if he’s behind it!”
–
In an inconspicuous brothel, Xie Jinnian asked for the best room on the second floor.
However, it was still very simple and filled with the smell of cheap cosmetics.
The procuress sent the courtesan over. Xie Jinnian didn’t fancy her and asked the procuress to bring her down and dress her up before coming back.
He was generous.
The procuress hurriedly went to prepare.
This dressing took more than two hours.
Ye Xun brought his own cushions and tablecloth and spread it clean for his young master.
Xie Jinnian sat by the window and listened to the music in the lobby from time to time, as if he was enjoying it.
Ye Lang curled his lips. “She’s much worse than the girls of Drunken Dreams Pavilion. She’s not good-looking!”
Ye Xun said, “Shut up!”
Xie Jinnian smiled. “You like the girls from Drunken Dreams Pavilion?”
Ye Lang said honestly, “Miss Liuying is not bad, but her net worth is too high.”
Xie Jinnian smiled and said, “Then earn money well. If you earn enough, go find Miss Liuying.”
Ye Lang nodded. “Aye!”
Ye Xun elbowed his brother. “Don’t you know that Young Master hates that kind of place the most? If you dare to go, don’t work beside Young Master!”
Ye Lang felt wronged. “Didn’t Young Master… ask me to go?”
Xie Jinnian smiled but said nothing.
Suddenly, a parrot disguised as a crow rode its golden eagle carriage and circled down domineeringly, landing steadily on the windowsill.
The little crow jumped down valiantly and flapped its small wings proudly.
The golden eagle placed the sheepskin scroll in his mouth on the table.
Xie Jinnian picked it up and took a look. “Is this my granduncle’s treasure map? You really got it.”
The little crow was proud. “Ji!”