Chapter 3: Father, Do You Not Feel Guilty Saying That?

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The Duke of Sheng grew angrier the more he thought about it, pointing at Sheng Xingye’s nose and unleashing a barrage of harsh scolding.

“Are you feeling quite pleased with yourself now? Tell me, what do you do all day but loaf around and cause trouble? In the entire capital, how many noble sons your age have achieved so little? Your third brother passed the provincial exam at eighteen and ranked in the second tier by twenty-six. As for your eldest brother… your eldest brother…”

The Duke’s brow furrowed as he spoke of his eldest son.

“The eldest is, of course, different from the third.”

Beside him, the Duchess twisted her handkerchief with a stern expression.

“He is the heir apparent, bearing the entire burden of the Duke’s household, capable of managing affairs independently from an early age, unlike the third who focuses solely on scholarly pursuits…”

Seeing the two begin to compete again over their favored sons, Sheng Xingye curled his lips in boredom.

Here we go again.

Sure enough, the Duke immediately turned and fired back at the Duchess.

“How dare you say that! They are both your children, yet even a joyous occasion is ruined by him! It’s as if he fears our Duke’s household too peaceful, afraid I won’t be reported by the censors!”

The Duchess felt wronged yet unwilling to yield.

Was her son hers alone to raise? Besides, though the sixth son was hers biologically, he was mostly brought up by her stepmother-in-law during childhood.

The stepmother-in-law had deliberately taught the sixth son so poorly; though she felt both heartache and regret, she also quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

The eldest was the legitimate firstborn, self-disciplined, courteous, modest, and reserved.

Yet the Duke stubbornly ignored his merits, his eyes and heart fixed on the third, the illegitimate son, even contemplating registering the third as hers.

Fortunately, the sixth son was born soon after, strong and intelligent, and the Duke never mentioned re-registering the third again.

But she dared not relax, focusing most of her energy on the eldest while managing the entire household, inevitably neglecting the sixth.

The Duke was furious over this.

Later, citing her only daughter’s marriage and lack of descendants, the stepmother-in-law took the sixth son to raise, and she did not oppose it.

Only after the eldest was named heir apparent and the third sent off as an official did she have time to properly raise her youngest.

But the sixth son had already been spoiled.

He was not close to his biological mother either.

Yet, after all, he was still a part of her flesh and blood.

Though she blamed the sixth son’s lack of ambition, she resented the Duke even more for always disparaging her two legitimate sons by comparing them to the third illegitimate one.

“This matter can’t be blamed on the sixth alone. Since when does any woman strike her husband on their wedding night? Even the barbarian women from distant lands wouldn’t be so rude.”

The Duchess came from the Grand Tutor’s household, where etiquette and rules were paramount.

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Regarding Yun Zhaozhao, the betrothed daughter-in-law, she had felt little before, but now she harbored some disdain.

“Exactly,” Sheng Xingye nodded in agreement.

At last, his biased mother had said something fair for him.

“What exactly do you mean by ‘exactly’?”

The Duke of Sheng, fuming, blew out his beard and glared, scolding like a disappointed father, “How can you say that! The Yun woman is still just a woman. Since ancient times, a woman’s world revolves around her husband. Which wife doesn’t wish for harmony and love? If your actions weren’t despicable, why would she strike without cause?”

“Father, do you feel no guilt saying this? Don’t you know that madwoman’s nickname is ‘Little Club’?”

The Duke was momentarily speechless, snapping back, “And your reputation isn’t any better! Everyone in the capital knows you, the sixth son of Sheng, is a reckless playboy!”

“No matter what, this marriage was a huge loss for me. Father, can’t you compensate your son somehow? A silver note or a shop would do; if not, some gold, jewels, rare books, or famous paintings—I wouldn’t refuse.”

“Compensate, huh?”

The Duke laughed bitterly with rage, “Fine, fine, I’ll compensate you right now!”

He raised his foot to kick, but Sheng Xingye had anticipated this and turned to run.

While running, he grumbled, “Father, you really ought to stop resorting to violence when you lose an argument! And never again accuse your son of living off the family without contributing. This marriage is my greatest contribution!”

The Duke of Sheng, red-faced and veins bulging with anger, pointed after him, muttering for a long time only two words: “Ungrateful son! Ungrateful son!”

At Kuang Garden.

Yun Zhaozhao, unaware that her convenient husband had gone out to put on a scene, was happily feasting with two maids in the bridal chamber.

“Xiaodao, didn’t you say he’d be back soon?”

Jinchui, chewing on a chicken leg, mumbled the question.

“Maybe something delayed him.”

Xiaodao considered, “Miss, shall I go outside to find out?”

Before she finished, the door suddenly slammed open.

Four people, eight eyes, all exchanged glances.

Yun Zhaozhao quickly averted her gaze.

Tsk, unbearable to look directly.

How long had it been? And already such a handsome face ruined.

“What are you all doing?!”

Sheng Xingye gritted his teeth and asked sharply.

Yun Zhaozhao looked puzzled. “Eating, isn’t it obvious?”

This is hopeless.

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Could it be that this guy’s face was exchanged for his IQ?

Intelligence is hereditary, after all.

She began to worry about the idea of borrowing seed.

Sheng Xingye: “……”

He was furious!

That cursed woman—left alone on their wedding night, and unlike other women who might feel sad or angry, she was here stuffing herself with the maids as if nothing had happened.

Did she even consider him her husband at all?

“Burp~”

In the tense silence, Jinchui suddenly let out a loud burp after finishing his meal.

Xiaodao was silently annoyed.

She should have dragged him out sooner.

“A household of servants with no distinction of rank—General’s mansion truly is well raised!”

“You—”

Jinchui barely got the word out before Xiaodao pulled him away, muffling his protests.

“Sheng Xingye, are you taking your anger out on my maid?”

Yun Zhaozhao’s usually calm face darkened.

“Hah! It’s true what they say: like master, like servant! The master behaves outrageously, and the maid is coarse and rude, no respect for rank or rules! If this were our Duke’s household, such ill-mannered servants would have been beaten with rods long ago…”

“Crack, crack!”

Yun Zhaozhao cracked her knuckles, her fingers making sharp sounds.

Suppressing his anger and… fear, Sheng Xingye stiffened his neck and said, “…They would be beaten out!”

Yun Zhaozhao stood up and walked toward him step by step, smiling faintly though her eyes held no amusement, tapping his chest.

“I don’t care what the Duke’s household rules are. As a person of Yun Zhaozhao, I only follow my own rules. Understood?”

Sheng Xingye was so enraged by her arrogant tone that steam seemed to rise from his head.

Fortunately, reason prevailed.

He hurriedly backed away several steps, then stomped his foot and argued loudly, “Nonsense! A woman marries into her husband’s family. Since you married into our Duke’s household, you must abide by its rules, or else, hmph, family discipline will be enforced!”