After her mind was read, the spoiled brat became the darling of the whole group.

Xie Ansheng could hardly contain himself and burst into laughter twice.

He stepped forward, affectionately took Xie Xing's hand, and helped her up from the ground, laughing, "Good girl, good girl, you are truly your father's lucky star."

"This thing you gave your father will elevate our Xie family to a higher level!"

"Master?" Madam Xie looked at Xie Ansheng in astonishment.

What exactly is it that caused Xie Ansheng's attitude to change so drastically?

Xie Yuze looked at the ledger in Xie Ansheng's hand and found it somewhat familiar.

It feels like I've seen it somewhere before.

However, his mind was in a real mess at the moment, and he couldn't come up with a solution no matter how hard he tried.

Xie Ansheng ignored Madam Xie and patted Xie Xing's hand gently, saying, "Good Xing'er, I was too busy to pay attention to you before, but I won't do that anymore."

"If anyone bullies you or you suffer any injustice in the future, just tell your father."

Xie Ansheng's face was so full of smiles that wrinkles were practically forming.

Even the system was somewhat impressed: "Your dad changes his tune so fast!"

There is no true affection.

In Xie Ansheng's eyes, you are a favored daughter because you are useful.

You're useless. You're invisible in the Xie family. Even your marriage is just a tool to help the family maintain relationships.

Beneath this facade of warmth lies a chilling undercurrent of self-interest.

But this was just right for Xie Xing.

She lowered her head and obediently said, "I was just lucky. If it weren't for my brother, I wouldn't have been so lucky to find it."

"It would be best if I could help my father."

Xie Xing had already planned it out on the way here.

The ledger is on her person; sooner or later, Luo Hanfeng will take it away.

However, if she hands over the ledger to Xie Ansheng, she can not only gain his favor and elevate her status in the Xie family, but also use the Xie family's resources to achieve her desired goals in the future.

It can also draw a wave of hatred from Luo Hanfeng.

This move directly hit Luo Hanfeng's Achilles' heel.

She refused to believe that the pervert would like her and lower her hatred level because of this.

Xie Ansheng's face darkened as he glared at the two brothers kneeling on the ground. He said coldly, "Although I don't know what you two brats are up to, you almost killed your own sister, so you can't go unpunished."

"After you come out of my study, each of you will receive ten strokes of the family rod."

Xie Xing's eyes lit up.

Xie Yuhe and Xie Yuze looked up at Xie Ansheng in astonishment, both of them incredulous: "Father?"

Madam Xie also reacted strongly, and she quickly pleaded, "Master, why resort to family discipline? They've all returned safely, haven't they?"

Compared to Xie Xing, who didn't listen to her much, Madam Xie naturally felt more sorry for her two sons.

Upon hearing this, Xie Ansheng immediately snorted coldly at her: "Hmph! A woman's view!"

"If you continue to be so clueless, you won't need to manage the household affairs anymore; my mother will take over!"

"Xie Ansheng!" Madam Xie was bewildered, but extremely angry.

That old bastard actually wants to relinquish her power!

Xie Ansheng didn't explain to her, and coldly said to his two sons below, "Now come to my study."

After saying that, Xie Ansheng turned and left.

Although he was a military general, he was not a reckless fool who knew nothing. He had three sons. His eldest son was the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, his second son inherited his mantle and became a military general, and his third son, although he appeared to be a playboy, was actually skilled in martial arts.

Xie Mingzhu, the daughter of the Xie family, has been praised by everyone since childhood.

Besides demonstrating that Madam Xie was well-mannered, it also shows that Xie Ansheng was intelligent.

He has family ties, but not many.

For him, family interests took precedence over kinship.

How could a general who plans and strategizes on the battlefield be someone who knows nothing?

What Xie Yuhe and Xie Yuze did is truly unbelievable.

Xie Ansheng couldn't possibly not have suspicions.

Xie Yuhe and Xie Yuze exchanged a glance, thinking to themselves that it seemed they could no longer hide everything from each other and it was time to tell the whole story.

The two got up from the ground and followed behind Xie Ansheng and the other person.

Madam Xie and Xie Xing were left staring at each other, wide-eyed.

Madam Xie was still furious. Seeing Xie Xing's disheveled and pitiful appearance, she had nowhere to vent her anger. She wanted to vent it on Xie Xing, but she held back the words.

She's her own child, she's her own child.

She gave birth to him with great difficulty; he was her own flesh and blood!

Thanks to this, Madam Xie managed to suppress her anger.

She asked coldly, "What happened to you today? Why are you in such a sorry state?"

Xie Xing clasped his hands in front of his abdomen and obediently said, "Mother, my brother took me to the ship but abandoned me. In order to survive the assassin's dagger, I had no choice but to wear a dancer's clothes and blend in with the dancers and singers."

"He only survived by jumping off the boat and into the water."

"What?!" Madam Xie screamed in disbelief.

She had never suffered much hardship. In the Grand Tutor's mansion, she was a pampered young lady who was cherished and spoiled. After marrying into the Xie family, apart from the occasional nitpicking from Old Madam Xie, the greatest suffering she had ever endured was almost losing half her life when she gave birth to Xie Xing.

Now she's being told that her biological daughter not only dressed as a dancer but also jumped into the water to survive.

Her two brothers were as if they were dead.

Madam Xie's chest heaved, and she swayed slightly. Fortunately, the nanny beside her caught her quickly, preventing her from collapsing.

Xie Xing tilted his head and looked at her blankly.

I don't understand why she reacted so strongly.

Could it be because she was dressed as a dancer that Madam Xie felt ashamed?

Thinking of this, Xie Xing shrugged helplessly.

You can't blame her for that.

She'll die if she doesn't wear clothes, what will she do?

Fortunately, Madam Xie did not confront Xie Xing as he had expected. Instead, she gritted her teeth, her expression somewhat unpleasant, and said, "Since things have come to this, don't embarrass yourself here. Hurry up and go back to your courtyard."

Xie Xing couldn't wait to get back.

She gave a perfunctory bow, then turned and went back into the courtyard.

Madam Xie watched Xie Xing's departing figure, standing there motionless for a long time.

Seeing this, Zhang Mama couldn't help but say, "Madam, if you care about Miss, you shouldn't speak to her like that. What if Miss misunderstands you?"

Madam Xie snorted coldly and retorted defiantly, "I feel sorry for her?"

“That brat causes trouble wherever she goes. Not only did she almost lose her life, but she also made me get scolded by Xie Ansheng.”

"I'm already quite good at controlling my temper."

That's what she said, but Madam Xie's eyes still held a lingering fear.

Granny Zhang sighed, "Madam, Miss is, after all, your own daughter."

Madam Xie refused to listen any longer. She turned around and walked into her own courtyard, muttering to herself, "Those two brats are getting more and more unruly."

"Even if you don't like Xie Xing, she's still your own sister. How can you abandon your own sister and leave her to fend for herself?!"

"Go tell the steward to add ten more strokes to the family discipline."

Granny Zhang: "..."