Volume One, Chapter Five: Ungratefulness

Xiao Boqing suddenly snapped in anger, “What good is that so-called Linglong General? In the end, she’s utterly useless!”

“Father…” Xiao Aoyu’s beautiful eyes trembled, shocked that her own father would speak of her this way.

“Father is right. Sister, you’ve always been so proud and arrogant, looking down on everyone, but when trouble arises, you just wilt!” Xiao Chen also complained.

They had set such high expectations for Xiao Aoyu, and now the gap between reality and those expectations was unbearable.

“What does this have to do with me?” Xiao Aoyu asked in astonishment.

“What does it have to do with you? Aren’t you a member of the Xiao family? I’m telling you, you must fix this—otherwise, I won’t recognize you as my daughter!” Xiao Boqing gritted his teeth.

He knew that only Xiao Aoyu had any hope of resolving this matter.

“Sister, aren’t you close to Prince Liang? Go find him—maybe he can help!” Suddenly, Xiao Chen remembered something and spoke up.

“Yes, go immediately. Don’t even bother with dinner!” Xiao Boqing’s eyes lit up.

He understood that no matter how capable his daughter was, she would eventually marry into another family. No matter how impressive she was, she belonged to someone else.

That’s why he had been using his authority all this time to pave the way for Xiao Chen.

He had hoped that her position as Linglong General would benefit her brother, yet in the end, it was all for nothing.

Still, it was a small mercy that she was close to Prince Liang—a silver lining amid misfortune.

Xiao Aoyu felt a surge of grievance.

Though her position as Linglong General was gone, not a single person comforted her.

Instead, her father blamed her and told her to seek out Lin Wangzhi.

No matter how formidable she was on the battlefield, she was still a woman—and now she felt on the verge of tears.

At dinner time, she didn’t eat, nor did anyone call her. She went alone to the Prince Liang’s residence.

At the Liang Prince’s estate, under the Willow Blossom Pavilion, a burly man with a resolute face and dark skin approached briskly.

“Yuer, why did you come now without telling me in advance?”

“Wangzhi!” Seeing him, Xiao Aoyu finally broke down, throwing herself against his firm chest, tears soaking her dress.

If anyone else saw this scene, they would be utterly shocked.

A heroic woman of renown, crying like a helpless maiden?

Only in front of Lin Wangzhi could Xiao Aoyu reveal this vulnerable side of herself.

“Yuer, what’s wrong? Why are you crying so sadly? Tell me what happened…”

Lin Wangzhi gently patted her back, his deep gaze filled with concern.

His voice was magnetic, rich, and tender—the perfect weapon to captivate a woman’s heart.

“Wangzhi, I, I…” Xiao Aoyu seemed to find solace in him, pouring out everything.

“I was dismissed from my post…”

“What?” Lin Wangzhi was stunned, his body stiffening.

Xiao Aoyu recounted the day’s events, eagerly awaiting his comfort.

Learning that both Xiao Aoyu and Xiao Boqing had been removed from their positions, Lin Wangzhi’s expression darkened.

“Cough, cough, you’re not joking with me, are you?” Lin Wangzhi forced a laugh.

“No!” Xiao Aoyu said, feeling wronged.

Lin Wangzhi looked uneasy; his earlier joy vanished.

He wondered if it was because of him that she had been dismissed.

“Wangzhi, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” Xiao Aoyu worried he might be ill.

Lin Wangzhi shook his head, sighed, and said, “Yuer, don’t worry. I will find a way to help you with this dismissal.”

Xiao Aoyu was overjoyed and hugged him tightly. “Thank you, Wangzhi. I knew you cared for me the most! Let’s get engaged these days—I…”

“By the way, Yuer, I’ve been very busy lately, as you know. It might be a few more days before we can arrange our matters.” Lin Wangzhi interrupted her.

“Ah? Is that so?” Xiao Aoyu felt a pang of disappointment but quickly brightened, knowing Lin Wangzhi was likely busy preparing for his ascension.

That was wonderful!

“Yes, I will notify you later. I have guests now, so I must go.”

“Alright, then rest early. Don’t overwork yourself.” Xiao Aoyu tenderly cared.

After Lin Wangzhi left, Xiao Aoyu returned to the Xiao family home.

She vaguely sensed that if she wanted a lasting future with Lin Wangzhi, she needed to hold some status.

After all, Lin Wangzhi was a feudal prince and might one day ascend the throne.

At that time, she would be empress, so she had to build her own power.

This matter had to be resolved.

Upon entering, she overheard Xiao Boqing cursing furiously.

Xiao Chen and others in the family looked flushed, as if deeply hurt.

“This is outrageous! It must have been him!”

“That scoundrel, so ungrateful!”

“Our family treated him well, yet he’s so heartless!”

Xiao Aoyu approached in surprise. “Father, what’s wrong?”

Xiao Boqing said nothing, but Xiao Chen told her what they had discovered this afternoon.

After hearing it, Xiao Aoyu could hardly believe it. “You mean Lin Che entered the palace this morning?”

“Exactly. A friend within the palace informed me. It must be him, poisoning the emperor against us!” Xiao Boqing was furious to the point of near madness.

The Great Zhou was a land of ceremony and propriety. Xiao Aoyu had risen to fame but abandoned her husband. Surely, he would exaggerate and slander them before the emperor!

Abandoning wife and child was a grave crime; abandoning a husband was even worse.

Xiao Aoyu understood.

She had offered him silver, but he refused and instead reported her to the emperor?

She had helped him out of kindness, only to be repaid with betrayal!

“Sister, look at the kind of husband you ended up with!” Xiao Chen complained, itching to confront Lin Che.

A wave of anger and disappointment surged in Xiao Aoyu’s heart.

“Lin Che, you have truly let me down!”

“Do you think your actions will make me regret divorcing you?”

“Your tricks are utterly detestable, as childish as the man himself.”

“Your behavior will only backfire, erasing the last shred of goodwill I had left for you!”

Xiao Aoyu was certain this was Lin Che’s ploy to win her back.

She despised him profoundly.

Moreover, did he not know she was with Prince Liang now? Yet he dared behave like this—was he not afraid of incurring Prince Liang’s wrath, risking the death penalty?

He must be so infatuated with her he would risk everything.

Such foolish devotion only made Xiao Aoyu see him as incompetent.

“The urgent matter now is to find a way to show the emperor Lin Che’s true, vile face, and prove our innocence!”

“Indeed, I’ve never met such a despicable man!”

“By the way, what did Prince Liang say?” Xiao Boqing suddenly remembered and asked.

“Wangzhi said he would try to find a solution,” Xiao Aoyu hesitated. “But I think the emperor is still angry these days, so it’s not good for Wangzhi to intervene yet. We need to think of a plan ourselves.”

“That’s right. The emperor is probably still furious. Going now would only increase resentment,” Xiao Boqing said. “It might even affect the succession!”

Xiao Aoyu gritted her teeth. “Where has Lin Che gone? Find him and tell him to come here.”

Xiao Chen’s eyes brightened. “Exactly! That guy loves my sister so much. If she says a few words, he’ll definitely rush to clear things up! Then we won’t need Prince Liang’s help.”

Xiao Boqing neither agreed nor disagreed. “Then hurry and find him!”

To them, Lin Che was always a useless man. The only reason he accused them was because he still loved Xiao Aoyu and wanted to win her back.

So as long as Xiao Aoyu spoke kindly, he would obediently comply like a dog.