Chapter 72: On the verge of a mental break down

On the bustling South Main Street, there were all sorts of shops on the right aisle with the mansions for the newly-promoted nobles on the left.

Compared to the capital, Nanxi county wasn’t that flourishing.

The old Xiao family was also a little dazzled along the way.

No wonder Shi Qingluo said that the capital was the golden nest. It wasn’t just because of this.

Some of the things sold along the aisles were things they had never seen in Nanxi county.

This made them curse Second Son Xiao and Ge Chunru many times in their hearts.

On the road, Xiao Yuanshi maintained a stiff smile and did not take the initiative to ask them why they came to the capital.

They were still on a main street and he did not want to lose his face.

Along the way, he also met some colleagues or their family members.

As Xiao Yuanshi followed a group of beggars, those who were interested in gossip could not help but ask about their relationship.

Every time before Xiao Yuanshi spoke, the people of the old Xiao family would proudly announce that they were the relatives of General Xiao, and some were his biological parents and brothers.

Hence, everyone looked at Xiao Yuanshi with a hint of surprise.

Xiao Yuanshi was getting famous.

His days in the general’s residence weren’t bad, but his parents and brothers looked like poor beggars.

Others couldn’t help but think of it like this.

Xiao Yuanshi could barely maintain the stiff smile on his face.

He really wanted to poison them until they became mute.

He kept explaining to others that his parents and brothers had been robbed by bandits along the journey, which was why they ended up like this in the capital.

If he did not explain this clearly, he would definitely be doomed the next day.

Recently, he had made significant contributions in the imperial court, and had gained more status in front of the emperor.

Because of this, some were jealous and became wary of him.

A civil official who wasn’t on good terms with Xiao Yuanshi asked in surprise, “If that’s the case, why didn’t General Xiao personally send someone to fetch his parents and family members to the capital?

“A general’s residence shouldn’t be lacking in these people, right?”

Xiao Yuanshi choked. Just as he was about to explain, Eldest Grandson Xiao interjected.

“My parents missed my second uncle, so we came to the capital to look for him. That’s why he didn’t send someone to fetch us.”

They finally didn’t say something wrong, Xiao Yuanshi thought to himself.

However, when Mdm Wang continued, his face couldn’t help but darken.

Mdm Wang said, “His wife doesn’t like that we come to his residence, so we didn’t dare to come in the past either.”

Mdm Wu added, “Now, it’s because our father and mother really miss their second son too much. That’s why we were forced to sell our house and land and rushed to the capital to see him.”

Shi Qingluo had told them earlier.

If they wanted to establish a foothold in the capital and the general’s residence, they should first pull down Ge Chunru’s status and let Old Lady Xiao and the sisters-in-law take control of the general’s residence.

Moreover, ever since they knew Ge Chunru’s true identity, the women of the old Xiao family despised her a lot.

Most importantly, she stopped them from living a good life in the capital and wanted to control the finances of the general’s residence alone.

She was grudging against them, meaning that she hated them.

Thus, before entering the general’s residence, they started to tarnish Ge Chunru’s reputation.

The person who asked this question gave a disapproving look. “A daughter-in-law who actually doesn’t like your husband’s parents to come home. This is too unfilial.”

The other passers-by who were watching the show also looked at Xiao Yuanshi with disapproval, “General Xiao, you are the one at fault. Your parents raised you up. How can you not stop your parents from entering the capital just because your wife dislikes it?”

“That’s right. Your parents miss you. They actually sold their houses and land to come and visit you. You and your wife are doing too much.”

In this era, filial piety held the highest priority.

Therefore, everyone despised General Xiao and his wife’s actions.

No wonder after Xiao Yuanshi had been conferred as a general, nobody had not seen his family before.

It turned out that his wife despised them, so he gave in to her.

Even though they heard that Xiao Yuanshi doted on his petite wife, he had no reasons to be unfilial to his parents!

Moreover, they did not expect that Mrs Xiao, who was praised by the women in the family for being gentle and virtuous, had a hidden identity.

As everyone began to condemn him and his wife as unfilial because of his elder and third sisters-in-laws, Xiao Yuanshi really wanted to throw them out of the capital immediately.

So he immediately explained,” My two sisters-in-law had misunderstood, Chunru did not think like this. Previously she also suggested that after we settle down, we’ll pick up my parents to live in the capital.”

Of course, there was no such thing. However, it was difficult for him to back down now.

Then, with a face full of guilt, he said, “I also did not know that father and mother actually sold their land and houses to come and visit because they missed me. I have let them down.”

As soon as he finished speaking,

Eldest Son Xiao took the initiative to look relieved and patted his shoulder.

“It’s okay. From now on, you just have to be filial to your father and mother.”

Xiao Yuanshi was wearing a light grey embroidered robe today.

As Eldest Son Xiao patted, a dirty palm print instantly appeared on his shoulder.

He was so disgusted that he wanted to slap him to the ground.

However, he could only act like he was a polite brother in public. “Big brother is right.”

Old Lady Xiao turned around and pulled Xiao Yuanshi throbbingly. “My second son, in the future, the two of us will depend on you.

“Back then, your father and I couldn’t bear to eat, so we wanted to save a mouthful for you.

“We also supported you to become a general to protect your family and the country.

“Now that you have grown up and know how to show filial piety to your parents, as your mother, I am really happy.”

This was what Shi Qingluo had taught her. She recited it in exact phrases in public.

As for not being willing to eat and saving some for him to eat, this was obviously a lie.

Although the Xiao family wasn’t very rich, they hadn’t reached such a stage yet.

Although they didn’t place much importance on their eldest son and pampered their youngest son, they didn’t treat their second son harshly either.

It wasn’t too far-fetched to the extent that he was left with a hungry stomach, so naturally they wanted him to show his filial piety.

Shi Qingluo said that since she was speaking as his mother who had a higher status than him, he absolutely couldn’t refute her.

The outsider would also think that she was a sensible old lady.

In the future, when she went out to, ahem ahem, spread the news that her daughter-in-law was unfilial, more people would believe her.

As expected, when Xiao Yuanshi heard her words, he felt as if he had constipation.

When did his mother become so intelligent? To be able to say such words.

Most importantly, they were all making it up.

In the past, he was the least dotted child at home, so how could they eat less to save for him.

On the surface, he was forced to join the army.

The old couple could not bear to let their eldest and third sons go. So they were left with him.

Now, in her mouth, they were all prioritising him.

The other people from the old Xiao family even agreed actively.

It was as if they and their parents had suffered so much for him to become a general.

Xiao Yuanshi wanted to vomit blood. These people were too shameless.

The key wasn’t that he was afraid they became shameless, but that they were shameless and becoming smart at the same time…

If Old Lady Xiao and the others beat and scolded him in front of everyone, or if they were in the village where he expressed his unwillingness to bring them into the capital, he could give an aggrieved and helpless look.

He could make everyone sympathise with him for having such parents and brothers.

Who knew that this group of people would suddenly go off track from their usual actions?

At this moment, he was on the verge of breaking down.

But he had no choice but to put on an act and put on a smile. “It was all thanks to my father and mother back then. Of course, I have to be filial to them.”

If he didn’t say this now, even if he said the truth, probably no one would believe him.

The next day, he would definitely be labelled as an unfilial son.

So even if his mother made it up, he had to acknowledge embarrassedly…