A life of ups and downs is pure joy

Lin Qinghuan looked at his younger brother Lin Ancai in shock as he grabbed the whip in Xiao Bowen's hand.

"Ancai...Brother Ancai..." Xiao Qiannan, who was covered in injuries and had been enduring the pain silently, broke down and burst into tears when she saw Lin Ancai.

"What do you mean, nephew?" Xiao Bowen asked Lin Ancai with narrowed eyes.

"Qiannan is a girl and can't stand such a beating from Uncle Xiao. I hope you will think twice." Lin An let go of the whip in his hand and bowed in response.

"This is our Xiao family's business. My dear nephew, you are worrying too much." Xiao Bowen handed the whip in his hand to the housekeeper next to him and said with a serious face.

"It's not that An Cai is overreaching, it's just that this is also my brother-in-law's intention. An Cai came before my brother-in-law to deliver the message. At this time, he and Brother Fan are already in the Duke Shen's mansion."

Lin Ancai lowered his head to look at Xiao Qiannan, and Liu Rong and Liu Xi beside him hurried forward to help Liu Ji and her daughter who were slumped on the ground.

"You unfilial son, if it weren't for Yi'er, I would have beaten you to death today." Xiao Bowen's tone softened when he heard this.

"Since it is my husband's wish, Xier, quickly take Nan'er to the back hall to treat her injuries. I think her injuries are very serious." Lin Qinghuan walked forward with concern and wiped the blood from the corner of Xiao Qiannan's mouth with a handkerchief, then glanced at the cruel Xiao Bowen with a reproachful look.

"Hurry, hurry...I'm so heartbroken." Liu Ji quickly agreed. Xiao Bowen didn't say much seeing the situation. After all, the child was his own flesh and blood. Now that he calmed down, he felt very distressed when he saw the child covered in blood.

"You guys go get some hot water." Aunt Chen also quickly ordered the maid next to her to work. A group of people surrounded Xiao Qiannan and went to the back hall. The girl walked in while looking back at Lin Ancai, the uninvited guest tonight.

Lin Ancai also went to the main hall with Xiao Bowen, and the maid served tea to them.

"My dear nephew, have you been to Duke Shen's mansion? How is the young Duke's injury?" Xiao Bowen was so angry that he was confused, but now he calmed down a little.

"Uncle, Nan'er's mediocre kung fu can't hurt Shen Xin. It's just a superficial injury." Lin Ancai said.

"That's good, that's good." Xiao Bowen said a little embarrassedly. After all, what his only daughter did was far from what a lady from a noble family would do. It was too unexpected.

When Lin Ancai arrived today, he was a little surprised that the family rules and regulations of the Xiao Mansion were a little too strict. No matter how naughty he and his fourth sister were since childhood, they would never be whipped. But now he was very worried that his sister would be wronged in the Xiao Mansion. The more he thought about it, the tighter his brows frowned.

"Uncle, the rules of the Xiao Mansion are indeed stricter and more numerous than those of our Lin Mansion. My elder sisters have been very caring and my father always beat them since they were young. Now that my weak sister has married into the Xiao Mansion, I'm afraid she can't stand the new family rules..." Lin Ancai said deliberately tentatively.

"Don't panic, nephew. Huan'er and Nan'er are naturally different. They have completely different temperaments and personalities. The family rules will never apply to Huan'er." Xiao Bowen said with a smile. The old fox naturally understood Lin Ancai's intention.

"It's not that I'm suspicious, but this is the first time Ancai has seen a woman being whipped since she was a child. She was really surprised. It must have hurt a lot. I have always regarded Qiannan as my own sister, so I feel a little bit sorry for her."

Lin An just remembered Xiao Qiannan's tearful face and felt a little reluctant. If it wasn't the inappropriate time, he would definitely go and see how serious the girl's injuries were.

"Nan'er has been naughty and mischievous. She should be punished and taught her a lesson. Her mistakes are my fault. If I don't punish her properly, how can I have the face to go to Duke Shen's mansion again?"

Xiao Bowen looked worried again. His own daughter had gotten into such trouble. What should he do about the child's marriage with the Shen family? He could only wait for his two eldest sons to come back before discussing the matter.

Lin Qinghuan came from the back hall to the main hall to look for his younger brother. He stepped forward to pay his respects to Xiao Bowen, then took his leave with Lin Ancai.

"When did your husband come to look for you?" Lin Qinghuan asked as she sent Lin Ancai to the gate of the Xiao Mansion.

"I happened to be on patrol today and met my brother-in-law and Second Brother Xiao when they came back. He asked me to come to the Xiao Mansion first. It turned out that the assassin from the Shen family was Xiao Qiannan." Lin Ancai said.

"I really didn't expect Nan'er to do this. Fortunately, you arrived in time. Looking at the look on my father-in-law's face, he was going to give Nan'er a good beating today. It scared me just looking at him." Lin Qinghuan said with some fear.

"How is she?" Lin An was silent for a while and then asked again.

"She was originally heartbroken, but when you came, she was both crying and laughing. Seeing it, I felt like I was going crazy too. Nan'er's behavior is good or bad for her. Do you think the Shen family's marriage plan should be called off?"

Lin Qinghuan asked with a worried look on his face.

"Do it or not? My brother-in-law will know when he comes back. Does the Xiao family always beat their own children like this? Isn't this a civil servant's mansion?" Lin An just remembered what happened just now and asked in confusion.

"Well, my husband was also punished by the family before. Several sticks were broken. I don't like this kind of family punishment at all. Speaking of this, I want to have a good talk with your brother-in-law. My child must never be threatened by this kind of family punishment in the future. It is simply inhumane."

After Lin Qinghuan finished speaking, he subconsciously glanced at Yun Xiang, the girl next to him, and saw that she just lowered her head and whispered to Chu Xia and the other one.

"Don't worry, sister. If you are bullied in the Xiao family, I will come to take you home. And... and... forget it, it's okay. I'll go back first." Lin Ancai hesitated to speak, then mounted the white horse led by Qibao and rode away.

Lin Qinghuan watched Lin Ancai leave, then turned back to look at the gate of the Xiao Mansion and whispered softly, "Ancai, don't worry, sister will take care of her for you."

As soon as Xiao Yi and Xiao Fan returned to the Xiao Mansion, they hurried to Xiao Bowen's study.

"The marriage between the Xiao and Shen families cannot be cancelled, but now that Nan'er has made such a fool of herself, we can't let her break the rules before she even enters the house. She is also my only daughter and your sister. What do you two think about this?" Xiao Bowen gestured to his two sons to sit down.

"Duke Shen didn't mean to reject the marriage outright. He just said that marrying into the Xiao family is indeed a happy event for both families. However, he also emphasized that Nan'er is too naughty, perhaps because she is still a little young." Xiao Yi said in a low voice.

"Then what does this old fox mean? We in the Xiao family only have this one girl. Does it mean we have to wait until Nan'er is a few years older before we can discuss this matter in detail?" Xiao Bowen asked curiously.

"Dad, Duke Shen now wants us to make our own decision. There are more than one unmarried daughters in our Xiao family." Xiao Fan glanced at his elder brother and said to his father.

Xiao Bowen looked at him for a moment, "You only have one relative... Are you talking about Xi'er?"

"Dad, Xier was adopted by our mother when she was a child. Her name in the family tree is not Liuxi." Xiao Fan said.

"I need to discuss this matter with your mother." Xiao Bowen pondered for a moment and said, "You should go back and rest first."

After Xiao Yi and Xiao Fan bowed and walked to the door of the study, Xiao Bowen called out again, "Yier, did the child from the Lin family send you a message today?"

"An Cai? It's indeed what the child meant." Xiao Yi nodded and said.

"Okay, you go ahead."

In Qingyin Pavilion, Liu Ji wiped the tears from her face and looked at Xiao Bowen with resentment.

"Nan'er is your biological daughter, Master, how could you have the heart to kill her?"

"If you hadn't spoiled her to be unruly over the years, would she have acted so recklessly now? If it weren't for the kind-hearted child of the Shen family who gave in to her, her mediocre skills would only hurt herself." Xiao Bowen said angrily.

"I only have this one biological daughter, so what if I spoil her a little? Ordinary girls from ordinary families are brought up with care. My Nan'er must be different from others. The master himself dotes on her, so why do you scold me now?" Liu Ji said while wiping her tears.

"You are a woman who knows nothing. Nan'er made a fuss and ruined a good marriage." Xiao Bowen looked at Liu Ji's face and couldn't bear to continue being angry with her.

"Isn't that even better? Nan'er didn't want to marry the kid from the Shen family in the first place, and the master knows that she has someone in her heart." Liu Ji secretly raised her eyes and looked at Xiao Bowen and said.

"She is so young, what does she have in mind? The Shen family's current intention is a marriage of convenience, but Nan'er is not suitable." Xiao Bowen looked at Liu Ji and said in a soft tone.

"Are there any other girls in our Xiao Mansion?" Liu Ji looked at Xiao Bowen in confusion and asked.

"Madam, please think about it again." Xiao Bowen looked at Liu Ji, holding her shoulders and said.

"Master...you are not planning to take advantage of my Xier, are you?" Liu Ji asked Xiao Bowen in disbelief.

"In the eyes of outsiders, Xier is not called Liuxi, her name is Xiao Qianwen." Xiao Bowen said word by word.

"No, no, I promised my sister to take good care of Xier and find a good husband for her. How can you ask her to get married now without any reason?" Liu Ji waved her hands and said quickly.

"Isn't Shen Xin a good choice for a son-in-law?" Xiao Bowen asked back.

"If Xier had been chosen from the beginning, he would have been a good husband. But now he's like a substitute bride. How can I tell my Xier and Ronger about this?" Liu Ji screamed in a raised voice.

"Xi... Wen'er is much more sensible than Nan'er and won't make you worry so much. You should find a way to tell her about this matter. I can also explain to the Shen family. Wen'er is registered under your name and is also the eldest daughter of the Xiao family." After Xiao Bowen finished speaking, Liu Ji looked at him with a worried face.

"master…"

"That's what has happened. It's late today. You should go to bed early. I'll go see how that unfilial son is doing." After saying this, Xiao Bowen left Qingyin Pavilion.

Liu Rong knocked on the door and walked in.

"Rong'er..."

"Eldest sister, I...I heard everything."

"Xier, how should I...how should I talk to her?" Liu Ji asked Liu Rong with a frown.

"Sister, just tell the truth. Although Xier calls you aunt, she is nominally your daughter. A girl should get married when she grows up, so she will naturally listen to you. If the Shen family treats her well, it will be a very good destination for her." Liu Rong knew that no one could change the decision made by the Xiao family father and son.

"But I always feel sorry for Xier," said Liu Ji.

Liu Rong shook her head. "Perhaps this is the only way to save Nan'er. Look at how miserable she is now."

Liu Rong felt very sad when she thought of the injured Xiao Qiannan, and her words made Liu Ji burst into tears again.

Lin Qinghuan sat in Luoyi Pavilion with an uncertain mind, staring at the door.

"Husband, you are finally back."