He was murdered after his family was wiped out and left with no descendants; his whole family knelt

Chapter 76 Deeply Rooted in Love

Xiao Zhijie asked with certainty.

Today, as soon as Qiao Qingshu arrived at the Xiao residence, she stared at him, making him feel extremely uncomfortable.

Afterwards, he sat by the lake, and Qiao Qingshu deliberately bumped into him. After falling into the water, she even pulled on his sleeve to prevent him from getting away.

He couldn't just stand by and watch a young woman drown while he climbed ashore on his own, so he had no choice but to drag Qiao Qingshu ashore as well.

Seeing that he was quick-witted, Qiao Qingshu didn't bother to hide anything and forced a smile.

"So what if it was intentional?"

Xiao Zhijie frowned. He hadn't expected her to admit it so readily. He had thought she would deny it or make up some excuses.

She has admitted that it was intentional.

This means that Qiao Qingshu chose him herself, rather than it being an accident as others thought.

"If you don't want to marry Xiao Chengyan, you must have other ways. Why drag me into this?"

He really had no idea what the eldest daughter of the Qiao family was planning.

Qiao Qingshu thought to herself, "Because you are a short-lived ghost, you died in battle in less than three years after joining the army. Then I can move away from the Duke's mansion with my parents-in-law and live a leisurely life."

But how could she possibly blurt out the truth?

He just shrugged and opened his mouth to say...

"Actually, the first time I saw you at my Qiao family home, I fell deeply in love with you. When we met again at the temple, you teased me and Xiao Er, and the reason I was so angry was because the person I had in my heart at that time was you."

“I know I am engaged to Xiao Er, but I have no feelings for him at all. I only want to marry you. How could I let this opportunity pass by? I must make it happen between us.”

Xiao Zhijie clenched his fists tightly, and his back was sweating.

Hearing these bold and explicit words, I couldn't help but blush.

This was the first time he had ever received such a bold confession from a woman, who was also his future sister-in-law.

He maintained a forced composure, only coughing lightly.

He turned around as if he had something to do and left in a hurry.

Qiao Qingshu watched his departing figure, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Xiao Zhijie was young after all; his face turned bright red after just a few careless words.

Consort Xiande held Old Madam Xiao's hand and said aggrievedly.

"Mother, why did you let Zhijie join the army? Life on the frontier is so hard, I can't bear to see him go..."

Madam Xiao said,

“He is extremely literate. If he participates in next year’s imperial examination, he will surely pass with flying colors. When he becomes an official, he will have to move around the court. A tall tree catches the wind and is too conspicuous. How can he be so ostentatious? It would be more appropriate to arrange for him to join the army, away from the capital and away from all this trouble.”

Consort Xiande frowned in displeasure.

"If you want to stay away from the court and the harem, there are many ways. Why should my son risk his life to fight on the battlefield? Wouldn't it be better to find him a leisurely position and transfer him to a prosperous place to serve as an official?"

Old Madam Xiao sighed.

"Do you think I didn't think about it? I brought it up with him a long time ago. He chose this path himself!"

Consort Xiande sighed.

Thinking that there were still a few months before he joined the army, he thought that if he got married first, the newlyweds would be reluctant to part.

Perhaps Xiao Zhijie will change his mind by then, and we can find someone to persuade him slowly.

After Madam Xing pulled Xiao Chengyan out of the house, they went straight to the main courtyard to find their master.

Unexpectedly, Chunfen stopped him halfway. Chunfen knelt before Madam Xing and begged,

"Madam, please grant me permission to take you into the Second Master's room as a concubine."

Madam Xing was furious and wished she could tear that little hussy in front of her to pieces.

Then Qiao Qingshu came looking for them.

"The Spring Equinox is here, the banquet is over, let's hurry back to the Qiao family home."

Chunfen took two steps back, retreating behind Madam Xing, and murmured,

“Young lady, I’m not going back. Now that I’ve given myself to Young Master Xiao, I belong to him. I want to stay in the Xiao family.”

Qiao Qingshu raised an eyebrow, a playful smile playing on her lips.

"You've already found someone else so quickly? You didn't even ask Madam Xing if she wanted you."

Chunfen looked up at Madam Xing with a nervous and cautious expression.

Madam Xing didn't want Chunfen, that lowly maid who betrayed her master and climbed into his bed; even she found her unlucky.

But then I thought again, if Chunfen were sent back, and she were to go around chewing maggots outside, what would become of the Xiao family's reputation!

It's easier to cook if it's kept close by.

He simply said, "If she wants to stay, then let her stay. We'll pick a day to bring her to Yan-ge'er's room."

Spring Equinox was overjoyed, his lips immediately curving into a wide grin as he kowtowed to Madam Xing in gratitude.

Qiao Qingshu saw through Madam Xing's scheme but didn't expose her. She simply smiled and agreed.

"Now that Chunfen has been settled, I will not force her to return to the manor with me. Consider this maid as a gift to the Xiao family. Chunfen's indenture will be delivered to you, Madam Xing, in a little while."

Chunfen was overjoyed upon hearing this, thinking that it was because of her face that Qiao Qingshu treated her this way.

He had completely lost his previous respectful attitude towards Qiao Qingshu, and his expression had become arrogant.

He didn't even thank Qiao Qingshu, but just looked at her with an arrogant smile.

It has a rather arrogant air about it.

Qiao Qingshu had seen Chunfen's face before in her previous life, so she was naturally used to it and didn't argue with her. She turned around and left.

Madam Xing took Chunfen back to the main courtyard.

The masters of the house were enjoying a good time drinking in the front yard when they heard such big news coming from the back yard.

They were so frightened that they sobered up considerably and hurriedly returned to their own yards.

As soon as Madam Xing entered the courtyard, she saw that Xiao Chengyan had been forced to kneel in the courtyard by his father.

Xiao Zhiheng sat in the middle of the courtyard in a round-backed chair, holding a leather whip in his hand, glaring angrily and cursing.

"You damned brat! You never learn your lesson and dare to do it again! You must have a death wish! What day is it today?! It's the day the Imperial Concubine is visiting her family, and you dare to act like this! If we're not careful, our whole family will lose our heads!"

Enraged to the point of feeling like his lungs were about to explode, Xiao Zhiheng suddenly stood up and began to lash out with his leather whip.

Xiao Chengyan knelt directly in front of him, not daring to dodge, because if he did, he would surely be whipped even more.

He just gritted his teeth and endured it, not daring to utter a sound.

Chunfen stood behind Madam Xing, biting her lip, watching this scene, her body trembling with fear.

When Madam Xing saw her son being beaten, she rushed over to protect him.

"Master, it's no use fighting now! We'd better think of something quickly!"

Xiao Zhiheng slapped Madam Xing to the ground with a backhand.

"How can this be remedied! The eunuch has already been sent by the Imperial Concubine to the palace to request an imperial decree! Your son is unwanted now! The marriage between the Qiao family and the second branch is now a done deal!"

Still not satisfied, he lashed Xiao Chengyan several more times, tearing his clothes and leaving his skin ripped and bleeding.

Spring Equinox had never seen such a bloody scene before, and he screamed in terror.

Xiao Zhiheng looked in the direction of the sound.

Seeing a delicate-browed, pale-faced girl, he asked,

"Who is this! They look so unfamiliar!"

Madam Xing was so frightened that she dared not lie, and trembled as she said,

"The Spring Equinox...that's when she just slept with Yan'er..."

At that moment, a servant came in to report that the Qiao family had sent over Chunfen's indenture.

Xiao Zhiheng took Chunfen's indenture from the servant, squinted, and brandished his whip, angrily rebuking her.

"Come here and kneel down!"

He then instructed the servants and pageboys beside him,

"Tie him up, hang him up and beat him! Beat him until he dies!"

Xiao Zhiheng was annoyed by these vixens. If it weren't for them seducing his son, why would this disaster have happened today!

Since the Qiao family has already sent over the indenture, let the Xiao family do whatever they want with this girl!

Only killing him would be satisfying!