Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Zhuang Nainai didnât understand. âWait, then whoâs Xiao Caibai? Isnât she a member of the Xiao family?â
Cheng Sizhe laughed. âYes, Xiao Caibai is the daughter of the adopted child, Xiao Guyun. When Xiao Qiâs wife gave birth to Xiao Muqing all those years ago, it had been a hard pregnancy, and she experienced difficulties getting pregnant thereafter. Xiao Muqing, on the other hand, had been weak since she was born. Since Xiao Qi had been unable to get a son, he put all his hopes on Xiao Muqing and even groomed a few sons-in-law for her. When Xiao Muqing grew up, she was to choose a husband from one of them.â
Zhuang Nainai was shocked speechless from all that she had heard.
Did Xiao Qi think that he was picking a harem for an emperor? He even groomed a few sons-in-law?
But it was obvious that the results hadnât been stellar.
Cheng Sizhe continued, âXiao Muqing had been weak from a young age, and she was also rather introverted and rebellious. She had many arguments with Old Mr. Xiao; on the other hand, Xiao Guyun had been mature and understanding, and she had gained the favor of Old Mr. Xiao. When Xiao Muqing passed away, Old Mr. Xiao had no choice but to let Xiao Guyun get someone to marry into the family, and that was how she managed to give birth to Xiao Caibai.â
So, that meant that Xiao Caibai and Xiao Guyun had no blood relation to Xiao Qi?
But even so, the Xiaos had only them left. They were the successors of the Xiao family!
Zhuang Nainai furrowed her brows. âThen the grandfather that Xiao Caibai was talking about...â
âThat would be Old Master Xiao, or Old Mr. Xiao. Heâs got a weird temper â it was enough that he got the child of Xiao Guyun to have the surname Xiao, but he also insists on her calling him her grandfather.â
Zhuang Nainai was speechless.
An image of a stubborn old man floated into Zhuang Nainaiâs mind.
With Cheng Sizhe having spoken so much, Zhuang Nainai finally understood what was going on. Mi Nuo had always told others that she was the child of Xiao Muqing, and if that were true, it was plainly obvious who Old Master Xiao would choose as his successor!
On one hand, there was a foster child. While he had raised her since she was young, they ultimately had no blood relation.
On the other hand, there was his blood-related granddaughter!
So, Mi Nuo was severely threatening Xiao Caibai and her motherâs status in the Xiao family. It was no wonder that Xiao Caibai had been so brutal toward Mi Nuo!
But...
âIs Mi Nuo truly the daughter of Xiao Muqing? Why are you so sure?â
As far as Zhuang Nainai knew, Mi Nuoâs mother should be Li Yufeng! Why was she Xiao Muqingâs daughter?
âWell, this Xiao Muqing had had some relation to your father, Gu Deshou,â Cheng Sizhe replied. âI heard that Xiao Muqing had fallen in love with your father, but Old Master Xiao didnât approve of them being together. So Xiao Muqing had eloped with your father, and they apparently met with a car accident on the way. Nobody got a hold of their whereabouts thereafter, and everyone had been sure that they hadnât survived the car crash. With regards to Mi Nuoâs claim that sheâs Xiao Muqingâs daughter... I donât really buy it, though.â
âWhy?â Zhuang Nainai was curious.
Cheng Sizhe said, âBecause Xiao Muqing... had poor health, and purportedly had a lot of difficulties in conceiving.â
Difficulties in conceiving...
The mention of those three words made Zhuang Nainai suddenly recall something that Li Yufengâs sister-in-law had told her.
She had said that Gu Deshouâs girlfriend had a lot of difficulties in conceiving, and so Li Yufeng had hidden her pregnancy. When the truth was made known, however, then Gu Deshou and his girlfriend had split.
That meant that the girlfriend of Gu Deshou in this case was Xiao Muqing?!
But if that was the case, then who was Mother Zhuang? Who was her mother, Zhuang Meiting?!
More than that, Gu Deshou had been developing his business within the country all these years. Why hadnât the Xiao family come knocking on his door?