Chapter 182
"I didn't say anything." The Old Princess looked into the distance.
Although she felt some of Zheng Qiaoshu's behavior was improper, considering Zheng Qiaoshu was a young girl infatuated with love, she didn't see it as a major issue.
Her own son was handsome and had been popular with young girls since childhood.
It was no surprise to her that her niece had taken a fancy to her son.
She just hoped there wouldn't be any improper intentions.
Nanny Luo stood by with her head bowed, understanding that The Old Princess had likely begun to feel some wariness towards the young mistress.
After all, the young mistress had been visiting the study and inquiring about the Prince's affairs at The Old Princess's place far too frequently.
"Keep an eye on her. If necessary, send her away, back to her family!" The Old Princess reclined on the chaise lounge, squinting her eyes, and added.
Failing to recruit The Old Princess as an ally, Zheng Qiaoshu was extremely annoyed.
But restrained by still being in the An Prince's residence, she didn't dare to act recklessly.
"Send a message to our master. I will go to the Treasure Pavilion later," Zheng Qiaoshu whispered to Chu'er.
Chu'er nodded and quietly left the Prince's residence.
Li'an County
Huo Yunlan, yawning, arrived outside the Huo family study and asked with some confusion, "What's the urgent matter calling me here?"
"Eldest Sister, why isn't Second Sister here?" Huo Yunzhi asked with a frown.
For some reason, she felt the courtyard was eerily quiet.
"Perhaps she's in a bad mood. Let's see what Fourth Brother wants." Huo Yunlan thought that after her second sister personally caught her husband with Du Qiuniang, and raised a child for over three years only to find it was the product of that adulterous pair, anyone would be in a foul mood.
"Calling us here at this hour, I wonder what Fourth Brother's matter is." Huo Yunzhi felt somewhat impatient, as she was still thinking about how to deal with the troublesome Chen family.
Originally, she thought Chen Sanlang wasn't bad-looking.
She didn't even mind dealing with his difficult family.
But now, compared to that Prince, Chen Sanlang simply paled in comparison.
When she could clearly choose a better option, why would she settle for the inferior one?
Thinking of this, she wished she could shake off the Chen family as soon as possible.
"Probably to discuss how to explain things to the Zhu family," Huo Yunlan thought for a moment and figured that was likely the only matter needing discussion.
"What is there to explain? Zhu Yunxian scheming against Second Sister is obvious, isn't it? Even that Zhu Maosheng is the bastard son he had with Du Qiuniang. It's pitiful, our little nephew was abandoned by his own father and a mistress right after birth." Thinking of this, Huo Yunzhi was also very displeased.
She might not get along with Huo Yunyao, but she was still her own blood sister. She could bully Huo Yunyao, but others could not.
"Besides, we only threw Zhu Yunxian into the lake to teach him a lesson, we didn't take his life. He got off easy!" Thinking further, Huo Yunzhi felt dissatisfied again. That man deserved to be drowned in a pig cage to quell her hatred.
"That's true. We should be the ones demanding an explanation from the Zhu family." Huo Yunlan thought it over and agreed with Huo Yunzhi's logic. If anyone should demand an explanation, it should be them from the Zhu family.
After all, her sister was the greatest victim.
At this moment, Huo Yunlan completely forgot that the incident happened because Huo Yunyao had tried to frame Li Zhiwei in the first place.
"Strange, didn't they say Fourth Brother wanted to see us?" Huo Yunlan looked around but didn't see anyone.
"Fourth Brother?" Not waiting for Huo Yunzhi's response, Huo Yunlan called out towards the study.
"Don't you think something feels off?" Huo Yunlan finally felt uneasy and asked Huo Yunzhi.
Huo Yunzhi just stared intently at the half-open door of the study, her heart fluttering with panic. Could something have happened to Fourth Brother?
But no matter what, she had to go in and see.
"Miss Huo." Xu Heming emerged from the study at that moment.
Huo Yunxuan was already tied up and thrown on the ground inside, his mouth gagged. He desperately wanted to warn his two sisters to leave immediately but couldn't make a sound.
"Your Highness? Why are you here?" Seeing Xu Heming, Huo Yunzhi felt a flash of joy, but her expression quickly turned grim.
This man had just come out of her brother's study.
What was he doing inside?
Huo Yunzhi looked at Xu Heming in horror. What had he done to her brother?
"Qingsong, bring the wine," Xu Heming clapped his hands and said.
Soon, someone escorted Huo Yunxuan out.
"Mmph... mmph... mmph..." Huo Yunxuan frantically tried to signal to the two of them.
"What have you done to my fourth brother?" Huo Yunlan glared angrily at Xu Heming and demanded.
"Isn't it obvious what I've done? What I did seems quite clear, doesn't it?" Xu Heming looked at Huo Yunlan and said, "I heard you wanted to take my son back to be a slave for your daughter?"
Huo Yunxuan, who had been struggling, suddenly stopped. He looked at his eldest sister in disbelief. He never imagined that not only did Second Sister scheme against Li Zhiwei, but Eldest Sister also wanted to harm the An Prince's heir.
Did the Huo family burn some incredibly lucky incense in a past life?
To end up with two such fools?
Huo Yunxuan completely forgot his own audacity in selling fake wine to the An Prince and even encouraging him to gift it to his future father-in-law.
"They say, every debt has its debtor, every grievance its cause. Miss Huo the Third, you may leave first." Xu Heming looked at the silent Huo Yunzhi beside him.
"Stop pretending to be kind! Release my brother immediately! Even if you are a Prince, you can't treat my brother like this!" Although Huo Yunzhi felt her words might not achieve much, she was truly worried for her brother.
"I already said every debt has its debtor. I'm merely seeking revenge." As Xu Heming spoke, he smugly patted Huo Yunxuan's cheek.
"If my brother has wronged you in some way, we can offer compensation." Huo Yunzhi thought the Huo family had plenty of money. Perhaps this Prince was after the Huo family's wealth?
"That's right, our Huo family has plenty of silver. Release my brother now!" Huo Yunlan also caught on and quickly added.
"Do I look like someone short on silver?" Xu Heming sneered at the ignorant sisters.
"Your Highness." Qingsong soon returned with two people, each carrying a pot of wine.
"You want to save your brother, don't you? If you two drink these two pots of wine, perhaps I'll be in a good mood and let him go!" Xu Heming finished and signaled Qingsong to give the wine to them.
"Mmph mmph mmph......" Huo Yunxuan shook his head wildly.
The wine was tainted. He dared not imagine the consequences if his eldest and third sisters drank it.
"If we drink the wine, will you let my brother go?" Huo Yunzhi ignored Huo Yunxuan's resistance. She knew the wine was problematic.
But if drinking it could save her brother, she would do so without hesitation.
"That depends on my mood. If you don't drink, I won't force you. But for her, it's a different story." Xu Heming looked at the stunned Huo Yunlan beside him and said.
