The Reborn Aristocrat's Daughter-Chapter 239 Xiao Family News (1)_1

Jin Meixia, unable to maintain her smile amidst the back-and-forth chatter of the people around her, hurriedly drank some water and excused herself, claiming she had something to attend to before leaving.

As soon as Jin Meixia left, the expressions on the faces of the ladies from the great families changed immediately, all displaying a mix of schadenfreude and disdain. Jin Meixia, who usually relied on her status as the Xiao Family’s leading lady, had often put on airs in front of these people.

However, because of their consideration for the Xiao Family, even though they were not fond of Jin Meixia, they would still greet her with smiles and even went out of their way to please her every time they saw her.

After Jin Meixia hurried back to the Xiao Family, she wanted to find her husband, Xiao Yongxin, but the servant reported that the Family Head was in the study.

With no choice, Jin Meixia had to return to their room first. When Xiao Yongxin was acting as the Family Head, he had established a rule that women were not to appear casually in the study and disturb the Family Head’s work.

At this moment, Xiao Yongxin was in the study with a dark expression, holding a sheet of paper while sitting in the chair at the desk. The floor was littered with the shards of broken porcelain.

"Call Xiao Li for me," Xiao Yongxin commanded in a deep voice, shouting to someone outside.

"Yes," came the response from outside.

Soon, Xiao Li appeared in the study. "Father, you wanted to see me?" he asked with the utmost respect.

"You worthless thing, what have you been learning all this time? You can’t even outdo someone who has never been exposed to these subjects," Xiao Yongxin said, as he threw the piece of paper in his hand at Xiao Li’s face.

Xiao Li casually picked up the paper; it was the summary of their recent studies, clearly showing his own performance compared to Xiao Muli’s current performance.

As Xiao Li looked at the paper, a malevolent expression crossed his face. He had been watching Xiao Muli’s performance intently. Every time he saw the teachers looking at Xiao Muli with surprise and delight, the gloom at the bottom of Xiao Li’s eyes deepened.

But none of that had as great an impact on Xiao Li as seeing this paper with his own eyes. The hand holding the paper clinched tighter and tighter, almost to the point of tearing the paper apart.

However, the vicious expression on his face disappeared instantly, replaced by a cynical one. "Oh, is it about this? I’ve known about it for a long time."

"You’ve known about it for a long time? If you knew, then why did you produce such a result?" Xiao Yongxin slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and furiously glared at Xiao Li. "And what is that expression for? Is that the attitude you should have towards me, your father?" "Ha, you ask me about my attitude towards you? Well, I must ask you, what is your attitude toward me, your son, and toward my mother, your wife?" Xiao Li, abandoning his previously respectful demeanor, asked firmly. And he didn’t give Xiao Yongxin a chance to speak. "You can mess around outside, seek pleasures as you wish, I won’t meddle. But, please remember to wipe your mouth after you’re done and take care of those women of yours." Thinking back to when he was seven, and he and his mother were confronted by a woman his father was keeping outside, who said distressing things to his mother in his presence, Xiao Li remembered vividly how his mother was provoked by that woman and had a miscarriage on the spot. He was stunned by the blood flowing from his mother’s body. And since then, Xiao Li became increasingly gloomy.

Xiao Li closed his eyes briefly and then opened them again, filled with hatred as he said, "And, dear father, you’re now so afraid of Xiao Muli taking the position of Family Head. Shouldn’t I be more worried about your bastards outside coming to claim the position of Family Head?"

Xiao Yongxin, upon hearing Xiao Li’s words, was shocked, his eyes widened. He opened his mouth, only managed to utter the word "you," but couldn’t seem to say anything else.

"Dear father, I will take my leave now," Xiao Li said, no longer wanting to lay eyes on his father, afraid that he wouldn’t be able to restrain himself from confronting him, questioning why he treated his mother, himself, and his unborn siblings the way he did.

Before Xiao Muli came to the Xiao Family, Xiao Li had always been respectful to Xiao Yongxin, his father. He knew that for him and his mother to secure a place in the Xiao Family, he had to win over the Patriarch Xiao. Without the position of the Family Head, he and his mother would be replaced by his father’s illegitimate sons from outside, and they would have no place to stay in the Xiao Family. He also knew that to win the position of Family Head, he needed to gain his father’s trust and affection.

So, no matter how much discontent he had towards his father Xiao Yongxin in his heart, he kept it concealed.

When Xiao Muli first arrived in the Xiao Family, because he learned Xiao Muli was there to compete for the position of Family Head, Xiao Li felt a great sense of responsibility and hostility towards Xiao Muli. But gradually, as he recognized Xiao Muli’s excellence, his hostility faded. He began to think that if Xiao Muli became the head of the Xiao Family, it would not be a bad outcome.

Because it would deal a heavy blow to Xiao Yongxin. Considering Xiao Li’s deep-seated hatred for Xiao Yongxin, this was a result he was quite willing to see.

After leaving the study, Xiao Yongxin remained standing in a daze for a while before slowly sitting back down in his chair. He had been shocked by the hatred in Xiao Li’s eyes and the words that had just been spoken. He had never imagined that Xiao Li would know about his children outside.

On another side of the Xiao Family, Xiao Muli had finished his lessons for the day and returned to the courtyard he shared with his grandfather, Old Master Xiao. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw his grandfather and Elder Master Xiao enjoying tea, playing chess, and having a conversation.

"Brother, what kind of tea is this? It tastes even better than the Great Red Robe I have at home," Elder Master Xiao commented after taking a sip of tea.

"Oh, this tea? It was a gift from a dear friend’s granddaughter; I’m not certain what type it is. But indeed, this tea is better than any other I’ve ever had. After having this tea, I can hardly stomach any other," said Old Master Xiao with a hint of pride.

"That’s the truth. Look at me, now I come to your place every day for tea," Elder Master Xiao said, taking another sip of tea before placing a chess piece on the board.

"Ah, Muli is back," Old Master Xiao was about to say more, but upon seeing his grandson at the entrance, he swallowed his words.