Dark tide surges

  Xiao Cong Rong and a few others returned home after dark, the two guards sent them to the courtyard gate and went to rest. Chun Xiang pushed Xiao Cong Rong inside while saying: "Miss, today we were lucky to meet Master Chu, otherwise we would have lost face! Now that the Third Prince has taken a liking to you, who will we ask for our monthly silver in the future?"

  "I'll think of a way!" Xiao Zong comforted her, turning the corner and suddenly seeing Old Master Hou pacing back and forth under the moonlight, seemingly deep in thought.

  "Grandfather, are you waiting for Rong'er?" Xiao Zongrong waved his hand to let Chunxiang and the others go down, and he himself rolled forward in his wheelchair. Feeling a bit guilty, he had not told the Xiao family about his automatic leave, which was also an act of self-will.

  "Where have you been? Why are you so late?" Old Master Hou's tone was one of rebuke, but his face was full of concern as he stepped forward to help push her wheelchair.

  "Grandfather, I did something today that might make you very angry. I don't dare ask for your forgiveness and am willing to accept punishment!"

  "What's wrong? Speak up!" Old Master Hou pushed her to the stone bench in the courtyard and sat down, looking at her on an equal level.

  Xiao Congrong stared into his eyes, recounting everything that had happened at the Sanwang Fu today. When she finished, she said: "I acted on my own initiative, beheading first and reporting later, knowing I have no respect for authority. Please, grandfather, punish me!"

  Old Master Hou was taken aback, chuckled wryly for a moment, reached out to pat her head, and teased: "You still know how to show no respect to your elders! Not bad, not bad, Rong'er has grown up, you never used to talk like this before! In the past, when you did something wrong, you wouldn't admit it even if your father beat you until you jumped all over the courtyard... Now you can take the initiative to admit your mistakes, it's worth Grandpa doting on you!"

  "Grandfather... will you support Rong Er's decision?" Xiao Zong asked tentatively.

  "Foolish child, when Grandfather brought you back, he said that if you were willing to return, he wouldn't stop you. If you wanted to leave, he would support you too! However... foolish girl, since you've been abandoned by the Third Prince, it will be difficult for you to marry in the future..."

  Although Old Master Hou was a renowned general of his generation, he couldn't withstand the pain of his beloved granddaughter's heartache. Her eyes were filled with pity and self-reproach!

  That expression made Xiao Zong's heart warm, as if he saw his father's shadow. He comforted him, "Grandpa, there are people who don't dare to marry, but there must be someone who dares... If no one marries her, Rong'er can live alone by herself, it's not a big deal!"

  "Alas... it's all Grandpa's fault. He should have taken you with him to broaden your horizons, or else he would have cured you of your infatuation. Now... alas!"

  He shook his head and said straightforwardly: "Rong'er, have you heard about the Fifth Prince's selection of a consort?"

  Xiao Congrong immediately understood the reason why Old Master Hou was waiting here, and proactively said: "Grandfather, I know about this matter. Rong'er can swear to you that today's request for a divorce has absolutely nothing to do with the Fifth Prince. Rong'er never thought of becoming his princess, neither in the past nor in the future!"

  "Rong'er, don't be too anxious, Grandfather didn't mean anything else, just asking... As a young lady, you're not familiar with the outside situation... To avoid trouble, since it's unintentional, it's better for the princes to keep their distance..."

  Old Master Hou sighed and patted Xiao Congrong's shoulder, saying: "Wait for Grandpa to deal with this matter, and in a few days, I'll take you to see a doctor!"

  "Ah, good!" Xiao Zong looked at Old Master Hou's departing back, his tall figure slightly hunched. She suddenly had a premonition that this imperial consort selection was already turbulent before it even began...