The Eldest Daughter is Delicate and Pretty, How Can She Be a Malicious Supporting Character - Chapter 96

Chapter 96: New Year’s Eve

“Jiaojiao, try this cherry meat. You’re too thin, you need to eat more.” Madam Pei’s face was filled with love as she picked up a piece of cherry meat for Pei Lingyi. The meat was tender and had a beautiful red color, making one’s mouth water.

At the eight-immortal table, Madam Pei’s attention was almost entirely focused on Pei Lingyi, even more so than on Pei Qingyan. It was clear that she truly loved her daughter.

The others at the table, except for Concubine Bai, who looked a bit resentful, didn’t show much expression.

“Jingzhi, why do you look so unwell? Didn’t you go to Full Moon Tower with Jiaojiao this afternoon?” Pei Qingyan was suddenly pointed out by Madam Pei, and he quickly responded, “I’m fine, Mother. I was just thinking about something.”

Prime Minister Pei glanced at his son and snorted. “Now that the emperor has decreed your marriage to Miss Jiang, don’t have any wild thoughts.”

“After the wedding this spring, General Wei Yuan will set out. You’ve earned your position as a Yulin guard through your three years of hard work.”

“But you need to be careful with your actions, as many people are watching you. If you don’t want to implicate your family, you need to be cautious.”

Although Prime Minister Pei’s tone was cold, his concern for his son was evident.

Madam Pei intervened, smoothing things over. “Enough, tonight is a family reunion dinner. Let’s not talk about official business. Master should say less, and Jingzhi knows what he’s doing.”

Pei Qingyan listened to the lecture, and his hand under the table clenched involuntarily. He knew he was in the spotlight now.

The Wei Yuan General’s mansion only had one daughter, Jiang Shuyan. When the emperor decreed the marriage in the palace, he hadn’t expected this at all.

General Wei Yuan was stationed at the frontier, and even though he held military power, he was too far away to respond quickly to any issues in the capital.

The emperor’s intention behind this marriage was to warn the Pei family: if they had any ulterior motives, he wouldn’t hesitate to take action.

Moreover, he was now a fifth-ranked Yulin guard, responsible for protecting the palace city defenses. Any mistake would send him tumbling into an irrecoverable situation.

The emperor was putting the Pei family in a precarious position, and despite their current prosperity, there were hidden dangers lurking beneath the surface.

Pei Qingyan thought about this and became increasingly anxious. But since it was a family reunion day, he couldn’t let his emotions affect his family.

He forced a smile and joined in the conversation at the table.

Pei Lingyi glanced at him briefly before lowering her eyes. She knew exactly what her brother had been thinking about earlier. Before they returned from Full Moon Tower, her brother and Miss Jiang had seemed calm on the surface, but there were undercurrents beneath.

She was curious about what had really happened earlier.
Was it as she had suspected?

She decided to put the matter aside for now and planned to ask her brother about it when she had the chance.

Tonight was New Year’s Eve, and families all over the capital were gathering to eat reunion dinners. However, there were places that didn’t feel the festive atmosphere.

The Prince An’s mansion.

This mansion stood tall in the capital, looking like any other noble household on the outside.

The roof was adorned with intricate carvings, and the eaves were grand, exuding an aura of wealth.

Today was New Year’s Eve, and red lanterns hung at the entrance to celebrate the occasion.

The tall figure of a man slowly stepped up the stairs, each step etching memories firmly into his mind.

He had lived here for over ten years, but this mansion had never shown him any warmth since his birth.

Xiao Wu followed behind Xiao Yan, looking up at the mansion. The relationship between the Heir and Prince An was almost like they had severed ties.

But as members of the royal family, they couldn’t truly sever ties. The conflict between them was intense, and the emperor had to build another mansion, the Xiao mansion, to accommodate the heir.

Xiao Wu had joined the mansion later, and the butler, Uncle Geng, hadn’t explained the situation between Prince An and the Heir in detail.

He just said not to mention Prince An in front of the Heir.

This New Year’s Eve, the Heir was supposed to stay in the palace, but for some reason, after visiting the empress dowager, he didn’t stay. Xiao Wu thought he would return to the mansion, but unexpectedly, the carriage stopped here.

“Should I knock on the door, Your Highness?” Xiao Wu asked from behind, unsure of the crown prince’s intentions. But since they had come here, he believed the heir must want to go in.

“Wait here, I’ll go in alone.” The man’s voice was low and calm, but in the lively atmosphere of New Year’s Eve, it sounded somewhat cold.

“Knock knock knock.” The red door was knocked on, and soon, an old servant opened it. He clearly recognized Xiao Yan, and when he saw him, he was taken aback, his eyes reddening. “Your Highness, you’ve finally come back.”

“Take me to see him.” Xiao Yan didn’t respond to the old servant’s words, his expression cold and detached, like he was looking at a stranger. It was clear who “he” referred to.

After his mother passed away, he never called him “father” again because he didn’t deserve it.

The old servant wiped away his tears, paused for a moment, and then said, “The Prince is in the alchemy room. I’ll take you there.”

Hearing that Prince An was still in the alchemy room on New Year’s Eve, Xiao Yan’s face showed a hint of sarcasm. Was he trying to concoct a pill to bring Lu Yan’er back to life?

Unfortunately, heaven wouldn’t pity a man as weak and indecisive as him.

After passing through several courtyards, they finally reached the alchemy room. Xiao Yan observed the mansion’s layout and found it similar to other princely mansions, except for the many talismans and symbols of alchemy. It was like a Taoist temple.

The old servant seemed nervous, knowing that Prince An’s temper had grown worse over the years, especially when it came to being disturbed during alchemy.

But looking at Xiao Yan’s stern face, he steeled himself and announced, “Prince, the Heir has arrived.” The air seemed to freeze for a moment, and the old servant’s heart was racing.

He thought that despite their differences, father and son could resolve their issues if they sat down and talked.

Soon, a weak voice came from the closed door, “Let that beast come in.”