Outsiders?
Grandpa Xiao, eyes closed in rest, felt infinite sorrow.
His daughter treated her only biological daughter like an outsider, yet asked him to treat her as his only kin.
What sense did that make? What logic?
In the end, wasn't it still about this courtyard?
Was it any different from his two elder brothers?
"It's precisely because there are too many traces of your grandmother and mother's lives here that I gave it to Tiantian, so she could experience the warmth of home."
"If you have nothing else, leave. You're giving me a headache."
"Dad~"
"Get out."
"Dad~"
"A Yuan, drag her out."
"Fine, I'm leaving."
Her father was truly annoyed. Xiao Wei stopped pestering and stomped her foot, turning to leave.
Grandpa Xiao sighed.
Xiao Shuyuan also sighed, "I didn't realize it before, but after interacting with the young lady, looking at the Madam now... alas, all that's left is sighs."
"Who says not?"
Grandpa Xiao opened his eyes. "A woman in her forties being coy and naive can be terrifying. I used to think that for a young lady, that sort of innocence was the most endearing."
"But Tiantian's coolness, competence, playfulness, and sharpness, all blended together, forming a multi-faceted personality, is the kind of character most suited to be the sole heir and pillar of a family."
...
Xiao Wei walked out of the main hall. Hearing sounds from the east wing, she tiptoed closer.
She was startled by a figure that suddenly appeared by the wall.
She patted her chest, "What are you doing? Sneaking around like that, you scared me."
Li Zhengguo glanced at her sideways, "This is my home. What are you doing sneaking around?"
"Nonsense, you're talking nonsense. This is my home, where I grew up."
"What you're talking about is the past. What I'm talking about is the present."
"Don't get smug. I won't let you have your way."
Xiao Wei turned to leave, but someone called her back. "Ms. Xiao, if you want to look, do it openly. Come in."
Xiao Wei looked at the composed woman by the door. This was her daughter, nineteen years younger than her, yet she was so calm and collected, more like an elder than herself.
She wanted to refuse, but then heard someone call her, "Weiwei, it's good you're here. Come in and we can discuss. This courtyard, you are the primary heir."
Xiao Wei raised an eyebrow at Tian Jing, "Did you hear that? As soon as I prove my father made the will and changed the owner under your deception, all your plans will fall through."
"What did you say?"
Uncle Xiao walked to the door in surprise, "Weiwei, the owner of this courtyard has already been changed?"
Xiao Wei was also surprised, "Uncle, you didn't know?"
Tian Jing kindly made space.
"I'll leave the reception room for you. You two can have a good talk, and then decide how you want to negotiate with me."
"We're going to lunch now. You two chat slowly. Zheng Ge, help Grandpa come out for lunch."
Uncle Xiao desperately wanted to smash the reception room in anger. This courtyard was already under Chen Jing's name.
And Chen Jing had left them here, to go for lunch.
No.
Uncle Xiao's lips suddenly curled into a smile. "Weiwei, come in and keep your uncle company."
"Oh, okay."
Xiao Wei's mouth watered at the mention of food.
She had arrived late in the morning and only managed to eat the thin layer of congee left at the bottom of the pot with Aunt Xu.
Aunt Xu had scraped and scraped, managing to get two half bowls. Angrily, she had picked up a bowl, intending to slam it on the ground, but Aunt Xu stopped her. "If the young lady doesn't drink it, I will. Afeng cooks very well."
Seeing Aunt Xu eat the half bowl of cold congee in two gulps as if she hadn't eaten for a long time, Xiao Wei doubtfully picked up the other half bowl.
After a mouthful of the unremarkable vegetable congee, she understood Aunt Xu's insistence on returning for breakfast.
She had eagerly awaited lunch but was excluded.
Entering the reception room and seeing Aunt Xu serving tea, she quickly winked at Aunt Xu, signaling her to go to the kitchen.
Aunt Xu shook her head slightly. The young lady had ordered her to be exclusively in charge of making tea and serving guests, to entertain the elder uncle and second uncle properly. She couldn't leave her post.
More than half a month ago, after following the young lady's instructions to pass a message, she had quickly obtained the poison she had given the master from the messenger. She knew then that her fate would not be good.
As expected, when Ah Guang went out to invite the elder uncle and second uncle in, the young lady had specifically instructed her to treat the elder uncle and second uncle with the same hospitality she had shown the master.
Although the words seemed innocuous, as she was boiling water to make tea, the young son-in-law handed her a small paper packet.
She secretly opened it and felt relieved. The dosage was only for one use for the master, but for four people, the effects would be slow. She wouldn't be implicated, and the young lady would be fine.
As long as the young lady was fine, the master would be fine, and her husband and A Yuan would be fine.
Humans are not unfeeling.
After all these years, she had developed some affection for that pair of father and son.
Moreover, as long as the elder uncle and second uncle didn't have an episode here, they wouldn't suspect her, and her son would be safe.
Aunt Xu's refusal disappointed Xiao Wei, who glared at her with anger and spoke directly, "Leave it to me. Go eat quickly, and save some for me."
Seeing both the elder uncle and second uncle looking at her, Aunt Xu reluctantly put down the teapot.
"Elder uncle, second uncle, please chat slowly. I'll be back shortly."
With the annoying person gone, Uncle Xiao called their two servants to watch the door.
Then, he beckoned his niece closer, his tone extremely gentle, like a kind elder caring for his junior, "Weiwei, who has the ownership of this courtyard been changed to?"
Xiao Wei pouted, "It's that unfilial daughter again, who's tricked my father into doing whatever she wants."
Uncle Xiao asked again, "Did you see the deed?"
"No," Xiao Wei shook her head. "My father has changed; he doesn't listen to anything I say anymore."
Uncle Xiao's tone became even gentler, "Weiwei, what is your daughter's name?"
"Chen Jing."
"That's not right? Wasn't she sent to a farming family? Didn't the farming family change her surname? Yesterday, I heard her say that only Tian Jing was here."
"What does uncle mean?"
Uncle Xiao's smile remained unchanged, "If the owner is Chen Jing, then say she's called Tian Jing. If the name is wrong, this courtyard cannot be hers."
"If the owner is Tian Jing, then say she should be called Chen Jing. If her surname is Tian, it has nothing to do with you, and naturally nothing to do with your father. She has no right of inheritance."
"That's right!" Xiao Wei clapped her hands excitedly. "Uncle is brilliant; how could I not have thought of that? Uncle, what are you here for?"
"We're here to see you. If you can't secure this courtyard, your second uncle and I will still try to fight for it for you."
"Uncle is still the best to me."
Uncle Xiao's smile deepened, "You are our niece, after all. Who else would I be good to? You're like this... like this..."
Xiao Wei nodded repeatedly.
In the dining room, Aunt Xu nervously recounted being driven out by the young lady.
Tian Jing waved her hand, "Sit down and eat."
"Miss, she... she asked me to save some food for her."
"It's already been saved for her, don't worry."
Her biological mother, unless she was being completely unreasonable, wouldn't intentionally starve her or torment her.
She also feared divine retribution for gratuitously mistreating an elder.
However, getting to eat the vegetables from the backyard was impossible. Letting her taste Sister Feng's cooking was already a great kindness.