Chapter 261 - 257: Madman and Madwoman 21

Chapter 261: Chapter 257: Madman and Madwoman 21

Wu Chufeng laid out the Wu Family’s current situation.

Wu Daniu had to take his entire family and leave the General Mansion. Because they had saved up a substantial amount of silver, they could still afford to move into another large residence.

As for Wu Chufeng, because he was the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War and had taken the initiative to gather evidence in this matter, his official position was safe for now. He was now the highest-ranking official in the Wu Family.

The whole affair was both the cause of the family’s rise and its fall, and Wu Daniu was at the center of it all.

"Does your father regret what he did?"

Ji Xiaosong was just curious; she had no intention of kicking him while he was down.

"He doesn’t regret it. If the country goes to war in the future, they’ll likely ask him to return."

Wu Chufeng was quite nonchalant about it. "The reason Your Majesty didn’t take more drastic measures is that the only scholar who got the exam questions was Li Zhixiao. When Xiao Mumu threatened the official back then, all she got were the basics needed for Li Zhixiao to pass the exam and become a scholar."

"I’m guessing Li Zhixiao won’t survive this. As for Xiao Mumu, her death is just a matter of time."

Ji Xiaosong didn’t think the Emperor would let Xiao Mumu and the Wu Family off the hook. ’Threatening an exam official? They must have a death wish!’

"You guessed right. Your Majesty does intend to deal with Li Zhixiao. But we should just pretend we don’t know anything about it. Besides, in a month, you and I will be married."

Wu Chufeng had no time to worry about Li Zhixiao’s affairs. He had exposed the matter of Li Zhixiao and Xiao Mumu obtaining the exam questions simply to satisfy his own conscience.

Now that all that was taken care of, Ji Xiaosong’s grudge was avenged. All that remained was for him to enjoy his own life.

"Does it sadden you that General Wu went to such lengths for Xiao Mumu and the others?"

Ji Xiaosong thought of Wu Chufeng’s past. Seeing his life compared to the favored life of Wu Wanqing, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

"I used to be. But I think that with you by my side in the future, I probably won’t be sad anymore."

Wu Chufeng looked at Ji Xiaosong. He always felt a sense of peace whenever he was with her.

He couldn’t quite explain where this sense of peace came from.

It just felt... as if they were destined to be together.

*

Wu Chufeng’s mood was much lighter as he left Ji Xiaosong.

As he rode his horse, Ji Xiaosong’s words echoed in his mind, and a smile unconsciously touched his lips.

However, the moment he returned to his own residence, the smile on his face froze instantly.

In front of the mansion’s gate, Wu Daniu stood with a group of people, his expression grim. Behind him were Wang Cuihua, her two sons, and several servants.

Seeing Wu Chufeng return, Wu Daniu immediately strode forward, his tone laced with dissatisfaction. "Chu Feng, what took you so long? We’ve been waiting for ages!"

Wu Chufeng frowned, his tone cold. "Father, why are you all here?"

Wu Daniu snorted, a hint of reprimand in his voice:

"What? You’re my eldest son. Why can’t we come here? Are you telling me you won’t even let us in the door?"

A wave of irritation washed over Wu Chufeng, but he kept his expression calm.

"Father, you misunderstand. I just wasn’t expecting you to arrive so suddenly."

Wang Cuihua, who had been standing to the side, stepped forward, her voice tinged with grievance. "Chu Feng, we had no choice. The General Mansion has been returned to His Majesty. We have nowhere else to go, so we could only come to you."

Wu Chufeng glanced at her, his voice chilly.

"Aunt Wang, that’s not quite right. Doesn’t Father still have several other residences? How can you say you have nowhere to go?"

Wang Cuihua was taken aback by Wu Chufeng’s words. Her expression changed slightly, but she quickly forced a smile.

"Chu Feng, your father is getting old. Those other residences are all remote and inconvenient to live in. Your place is close to the Imperial City. If we live here, we can look out for each other."

Wu Chufeng sneered, his tone laced with sarcasm.

"Aunt Wang, how interesting. If Father is getting old, why don’t you take him to one of those residences to rest and recuperate properly? Why must you insist on squeezing into my place?"

Wang Cuihua’s face turned pale with anger at his words, but with Wu Daniu present, she didn’t dare lash out. She could only lower her head, her voice full of grievance.

"Chu Feng, your words are truly hurtful. We’re a family..."

Seeing this, Wu Daniu’s expression darkened further, his tone tinged with anger.

"Chu Feng, how can you speak to your Aunt Wang like that? At the very least, she is your elder!"

Seeing them like this, Wu Chufeng knew he had no choice but to let them in today.

As Wu Daniu’s eldest son by his principal wife, he couldn’t have people accuse him of being unfilial.

He had just moved into this residence yesterday, and today Wu Daniu and the others had already shown up at his door.

Wu Chufeng took a deep breath, suppressing his irritation, and said coldly:

"Since Father and Aunt Wang have put it that way, come in. But there are some things I need to make clear first."

Seeing Wu Chufeng relent, Wu Daniu’s expression softened slightly. He nodded. "Fine, speak."

Wu Chufeng swept his cold gaze over Wang Cuihua and her two sons, his voice carrying a warning.

"Father, you can move in, but you must abide by my rules. If anyone causes trouble here, don’t blame me for being discourteous."

Wang Cuihua’s two sons, Wu Wenxuan and Wu Wenhao, immediately looked displeased upon hearing Wu Chufeng’s words.

Wu Wenxuan was sixteen this year, tall and thin with a hint of arrogance in his eyes.

He snorted, his tone mocking. "Brother, you’re really putting on airs! We’re your own younger brothers. What’s with this attitude?"

Wu Wenhao was thirteen. Though young, he had been spoiled by Wang Cuihua since childhood and had an arrogant, domineering personality.

He pursed his lips, his tone disdainful. "Exactly! Brother, don’t think you’re so great just because you’re an official now! We’re members of the Wu Family. We’re doing you a favor by moving in!"

Wu Chufeng gave them a cold look, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Members of the Wu Family? When have you ever treated me like a member of the Wu Family? Have you forgotten how you treated me when we were children?"

Wu Wenxuan and Wu Wenhao were choked by his words, their expressions flickering for a moment before they reverted to their usual arrogance.

Wu Wenxuan sneered, "Brother, how interesting. Who remembers things from childhood? Besides, you’re doing fine now, aren’t you? Why bring up the past?"

Wu Wenhao chimed in, "Yeah! Brother, you’re the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War now. How can you be so petty?"

Wu Chufeng let out a cold laugh, his voice frigid.

"Petty? If you think I’m petty, you’re more than welcome not to move in. My humble home can’t accommodate such grand figures as yourselves."

Seeing the atmosphere grow increasingly tense, Wu Daniu quickly tried to smooth things over.

"All right, all right, that’s enough out of everyone! Chu Feng, Wenxuan and Wenhao are young and don’t know any better. Don’t lower yourself to their level."

Wu Chufeng shot Wu Daniu a cold glance, his tone laced with sarcasm.

"Father, they’re young? Wenxuan is already sixteen, and Wenhao is thirteen. Are they still young? If you think they don’t know any better, then you should teach them properly. This is not a place for them to run wild."

Seeing Wu Chufeng’s firm stance, Wang Cuihua was filled with resentment, but she could only swallow her anger and say with a hint of grievance:

"Chu Feng, Wenxuan and Wenhao are your brothers, after all. Can’t you be a little more lenient?"

He gave her a cold look, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Aunt Wang, how interesting. Don’t you know perfectly well why they treated me that way in the past?"

Wang Cuihua was choked by his words. Her expression changed, but she quickly forced a smile.

"Chu Feng, that’s all in the past. You’ve misunderstood me for so many years, but I won’t hold it against you. Besides, you’re the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War now. Why lower yourself to arguing with children?"

Wu Chufeng sneered, his voice cold.

"In the past? Aunt Wang, if you think the past can just be written off, you are sorely mistaken. I, Wu Chufeng, am not the type to forget the pain once the wound has healed."

Wu Daniu grew irritated seeing Wu Chufeng’s resolute attitude.

He knew that Wu Chufeng’s resentment toward Wang Cuihua and her two sons couldn’t be resolved in a day or two.

He sighed, a note of resignation in his voice. "Fine, Chu Feng, I promise you. Wenxuan and Wenhao will follow the rules. Just let them move in."