"Moreover, ever since Young Master Xiao returned a month ago, he had not even been given a courtyard of his own. He had been living in the servants' quarters all this time, yet he had never uttered a single complaint."
Butler Li spoke slowly.
The moment those words were spoken, the entire place fell silent, as still as death.
Xiao Zhentian's pupils abruptly contracted, and he froze where he stood as though turned to stone.
Xiao Chen!
In the vast Zhenbei King Manor, he did not even have a courtyard that belonged to him?
How was that possible?
Even collateral descendants of low standing in the Zhenbei King Manor had luxurious private courtyards of their own.
Xiao Lingtian alone possessed three courtyards in different locations, allowing him to change residences whenever he pleased.
Yet Xiao Chen, the legitimate eldest son of the Zhenbei King Manor, had been made to live in the servants' quarters?
Wen Wanrong turned around in shock as well, utterly unwilling to believe what she had heard.
Her eldest son had been back for so long, yet he did not even have a courtyard in the Zhenbei King Manor?
And she, his mother, had remained completely in the dark until now.
This was simply the greatest joke under heaven.
Tears streamed down Wen Wanrong's face in sorrow.
Thinking back on it now, ever since Xiao Chen had been brought home, she seemed to have done nothing but stay by her younger son's side. She had never once gone to see where her eldest son lived.
As a mother, she was truly far too unqualified.
No wonder her eldest son had wanted to sever their mother-son bond today!
"Li Qi, you have some nerve! Young Master Xiao has been back for so long, yet you never arranged a courtyard for him. What crime should you be punished for?"
Seeing Wen Wanrong so heartbroken, Xiao Zhentian immediately bellowed in fury.
Li Qi's face instantly turned pale. He dropped to his knees and explained, "My lord, please quell your anger. Young Master Xiao came to this old servant and claimed he was conveying your verbal order, saying that the Young Master was to live in the servants' quarters."
As soon as his words fell, everyone present changed expression, shock filling their eyes.
Xiao Lingtian had done it?
He himself possessed three of the finest courtyards in the manor, yet he had made his biological elder brother—the man who had saved his life—live in the servants' quarters?
If the Zhenbei King had truly ordered it, that would have been one thing!
But judging from the Zhenbei King's reaction, he clearly knew nothing about it!
Most likely, Xiao Lingtian had falsely conveyed the order!
And for more than a month now.
The Zhenbei King and his wife had remained utterly unaware.
That could only mean they had not even visited their eldest son's residence once.
They had neglected him to the extreme!
At that moment, quite a few servants could not help but feel a trace of pity.
Xiao Chen had it far too miserable in the Zhenbei King Manor!
He had it worse than even servants like them!
At the very least, they would not be schemed against by their own kin!
"Lingtian, was this your doing?"
Wen Wanrong questioned him with reddened eyes. Fine beads of cold sweat appeared on Xiao Lingtian's forehead, and his body stiffened slightly.
"Mother, he is only a good-for-nothing. How is he worthy of a courtyard belonging to the Xiao Family? I..."
Xiao Lingtian gritted his teeth.
A cold, stern look immediately surfaced on Wen Wanrong's face as she rebuked, "Shut your mouth! He is your elder brother, your blood relative! How dare you treat him like this?"
At that moment.
She was truly furious!
She had never imagined that the younger son she had painstakingly raised for over a decade would do something so vile!
Was this still the flawless, perfect child she had held in her heart?
Seeing the fury in his mother's eyes.
Xiao Lingtian froze, and then a trace of venom flashed through his gaze.
In the past, no matter how grave a mistake he made, his mother had never spoken harshly to him even once. Yet now, for the sake of Xiao Chen, that useless trash, she was actually so enraged with him?
That piece of trash truly deserved to die!
"Mother, he is only a useless cripple with a shattered dantian. You..."
The more Xiao Lingtian thought about it, the angrier he became, and the words slipped out.
"Insolence! You are still stubbornly refusing to see reason? He is not useless—he is your elder brother! If he had not risked his life to block that strike for you back then, you would have died long ago!"
"Your aptitude is good, but no matter how good it is, you are merely Top-Tier Heavenly Realm. He, however, was born with a King Physique. If he had not saved you, would it be your turn to stand here mocking him?"
"We left him in Desolate Town for three years without asking after him, and we already owe him far too much. Now that he had finally returned to reunite with our family, you still tried every possible way to target him. You have gone too far!"
"Ever since he returned, he treated us with respect and love at every turn, and he yielded to you in everything. Had he not done enough? And you? What did you do? You stole his fiancée and arranged for him to live in the servants' quarters? No wonder he wanted to sever all ties with us today! If it were me, I could not remain in such a family either!"
Wen Wanrong completely erupted.
Seeing his mother like this, Xiao Lingtian trembled from head to toe in fright, not daring to say another word.
As she spoke.
Wen Wanrong's tears began falling uncontrollably once more. Her heart aching with guilt, she said, "I have truly failed as a mother. My son suffered such enormous grievances, yet I knew nothing of them. I even worked with all of you to make him give up his marriage agreement!"
"I clearly knew how much he liked Ye Qingxuan, yet I still made such an excessive demand of him! I am not human! I deserve to die!"
Ever since Xiao Chen had returned.
She had always felt that she did not share much affection with this child.
After all, Xiao Chen had been away from home for far too long.
Wen Wanrong had devoted her whole heart to Xiao Lingtian.
When Xiao Lingtian proposed that Xiao Chen give his marriage agreement to him.
She had hesitated.
She felt that doing so was somewhat cruel to Xiao Chen.
After all, he liked Ye Qingxuan so much.
But when Xiao Lingtian went an entire day without eating and gained a trace of haggardness on his face.
Her heart softened!
She compromised!
She believed that Xiao Chen was the elder brother and had an obligation to yield to his younger brother.
As for a wife.
They could find him another one later.
Xiao Chen was so obedient.
He probably would not object.
Unexpectedly, this became the final straw that broke the camel's back.
Xiao Chen completely erupted over this matter.
Thinking of this.
Wen Wanrong was overwhelmed with guilt.
She had always believed she had not favored either of her sons, yet everything she had done had been absurdly biased.
Her eldest son had suffered in Desolate Town for three years, and she had not even asked about him once.
Her younger son merely went without food for one day, and she had been heartbroken beyond measure!
No wonder Xiao Chen had been so resolute about severing ties with them today.
If anyone else had been in Xiao Chen's position, they likely would have been unable to endure it either!
Why had she, as a mother, been so excessive?
Once, she had loved her eldest son so dearly too.
Was it because he had saved his younger brother, been ambushed by enemies, and had his dantian shattered?
Did that mean she should despise him?
At last, she saw her own hypocritical face clearly. She was in such agony that regret came too late!
Glancing at Wen Wanrong, who was nearly crying herself unconscious, Xiao Zhentian's eyes flashed with distress. He stepped forward to comfort her. "Madam, Lingtian was wrong this time, but he is still young. He has not seen Xiao Chen in so many years, so it is understandable that he could not accept him right away. We can teach him slowly!"
In truth, he also felt that Xiao Lingtian had gone too far in this matter!
But Xiao Chen had now become a cripple, leaving Xiao Lingtian as the only remaining sapling!
The future of the Xiao Family rested entirely on his shoulders.
Xiao Zhentian could not be too harsh on him either!
The instant he finished speaking.
Wen Wanrong suddenly raised her head, cold severity flashing in her eyes. "Xiao Zhentian, Chen'er was driven from home by him, yet you are still defending him?"
"He is your son. Is Chen'er not your son too?"
"Are you worthy of being a father by acting like this?"
"I am telling you all, if you do not bring Chen'er back to me, I, Wen Wanrong, will never let you father and son off!"
After saying that.
Wen Wanrong transformed into a streak of light and vanished directly before Xiao Zhentian and his son.
She was also a formidable martial arts expert.
"Madam, you..."
Xiao Zhentian was dumbfounded.
Wen Wanrong, who had always been gentle and refined, had actually flown into such a rage over Xiao Chen this time!
In such a short time.
Father and son had broken apart!
Husband and wife had turned against each other!
Even Xiao Zhentian, whose cultivation reached the heavens, found it somewhat unbearable.
A trace of weariness flashed through his eyes.
"Father, what is Mother doing? It was only one useless cripple who left. Why is she so upset? Do you not still have me?"
Watching Wen Wanrong's departing figure, Xiao Lingtian not only failed to recognize his mistake, but also poured all his resentment onto Xiao Chen.
If not for that useless trash.
His parents' hearts would have been tied entirely to him!
How could they possibly have gotten angry with him?
Before you continue