Time travel, quick transmigration

Xiao Huanling understood that even if he was unwilling, he had to go and see his father.

He had barely returned to Biluo Pavilion when his father sent someone over, which showed that someone in the manor was already eager to see him suffer.

With a cold smile to himself, Xiao Huanling stood up from the large chair and walked towards the door.

Butler Xiao Shan looked at Xiao Huanling, who was more mature and composed than before, with a sharper look in his eyes, and greeted him respectfully and politely.

"Fourth Young Master, how have you been?"

Then he added.

"Please come with me to Fushou Hall, so as not to keep the master waiting."

Then they respectfully made way for them.

Xiao Huanling glanced at Xiao Shan, who was slightly hunched over, and then strode away expressionlessly.

Xiao Shan straightened up after everyone left. He glanced at Xiao Huanling's back before taking a step and following after him.

After everyone left, Xiang'er, feeling utterly dejected after being ignored by Xiao Huanling once again, could only carry the bowl of snow lotus soup to the door, gazing sadly in the direction Xiao Huanling had left, tears streaming down her face.

As Xiao Huanling arrived at Fushou Hall, he bumped into Xiao Heng, who had just met Xiao Song, at the entrance.

Xiao Heng was taken aback when he suddenly saw Xiao Huanling, whom he hadn't seen for over a year. He realized that his half-brother, whom he had always looked down upon and disregarded, had changed considerably. He was now more reserved than a hidden sword, ready to unleash its full power. "You're back."

Xiao Heng was somewhat annoyed by his momentary lapse in concentration, and his tone, unlike his usual gentle manner, revealed a hint of coldness and hardness.

Xiao Huanling glanced at him.

"Ah."

Xiao Heng composed himself.

"Go inside, your father is waiting for you."

With that, he stopped looking and walked away with his right hand behind his back in an extremely elegant manner.

Xiao Huanling seemed unconcerned about Xiao Heng's attitude towards him, and walked arrogantly into the Fushou Hall.

Xiao Shan had witnessed the brief exchange between the two brothers and was already used to it. Although he had brought the man over, he did not leave. Based on his past experience, the father and son seemed to be inherently incompatible and would never have peace together. To avoid trouble later, he decided to stand guard outside the door.

Fushou Hall was decorated in an extremely solemn and dignified manner. Xiao Huanling had only seen Xiao Song a limited number of times since he was a child, but the few times that left the deepest impression on him were when Xiao Song summoned him here and he was punished by family law for offending Xiao Song with his words. In his father Xiao Song's words, he was born a stubborn person who did not know how to yield and was not likable.

But the Xiao family, who are his relatives, have never cared about him. Why should he lower himself to please them?

"Your Majesty!"

The man sitting at the head of the table, with graying hair and a beautiful beard, whose handsome features from his youth were still faintly visible, gave a low shout. His face showed no joy at reuniting with his son whom he hadn't seen for over a year.

Xiao Huanling stood there with his back straight. From the moment he entered until now, apart from calling out "Father" in an extremely bland tone, he hadn't even glanced at Xiao Song, who was already furious at the head of the table.

Seeing his son disobey him, Xiao Song, as the prime minister and the pillar of the Xiao family, could hardly save face.

"How dare you! I order you to kneel down!"

Xiao Huanling remained unmoved.

Xiao Song immediately felt a surge of desire, and with a flick of his hand, he swept a cup of tea off the table and onto the floor, making a loud crackling sound.

Xiao Shan, who was waiting outside, felt his heart skip a beat.

"You unfilial son, you've gone too far! How could I have given birth to such a rebellious child..."

Xiao Song clutched his chest and coughed softly.

Xiao Huanling suddenly raised his head.

"You think I'd love to be your son so much? If I could choose, I'd be willing..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Song slapped him across the face, silencing him completely.

When Xiao Song saw that Xiao Huanling's right cheek was instantly red and swollen from his slap, he knew that he had used too much force, causing his hand to tremble slightly.

He was also annoyed at himself for losing his composure. Not daring to meet Xiao Huanling's gaze, he turned away with a slightly bitter expression and returned to his seat at the head of the table.

“I didn’t mean to hit you. If you were as easy to manage as your brothers, and as sensible and ambitious, I would have been more gentle and patient with you.”

"You left home without consulting your father and mother, and you've been gone for over a year. What kind of children are as willful as you? Now that you've returned home, I won't blame you for leaving without permission. You're all grown up now; your two older brothers have both started their own families and even hold official positions in the court. You should settle down. Your mother and I have discussed finding you a good marriage. Get ready, and after you've had your horoscopes matched and the auspicious dates checked, you'll get married next year."

"Once you get married, I'll have your eldest brother arrange a sinecure for you under him. That way, you can live a peaceful life, which isn't bad."

Xiao Song continued talking to himself, as if he could already foresee the scene in the near future where Xiao Huanling would finally understand his parents' good intentions after getting married and starting a family, and that his relationship with his family would ease.

"Father, shouldn't your son be grateful to you and your wife?"

"Don't you find it ironic? In all these years, have you ever cared about me? Do you feel that I have disgraced you, which is why you are so eager to match me with some unknown woman, like some families sell their daughters? Marriage, who you marry, did you even ask for my opinion?"

"Yes, why would you care about my opinion?"

"I'm sorry, but my son cannot comply."

"If you can't stand me, then give me some money and kick me out. Anyway, I'm getting old, and as a member of the Xiao family, I have the right to a share of the family business. Whether I'm well or not in the future has nothing to do with the Xiao family."

Xiao Song could no longer tolerate it.

"You wretched child! You've lost your conscience. We're splitting up the family, but your father isn't dead yet."

"You ungrateful wretch. This marriage was arranged by your mother with great difficulty. Apart from being less attractive, the girl is better than you in every way, including character, family background, and talent. And you are still not satisfied."

"The marriage is arranged. You will get married on the auspicious day. Marriage is a major event, decided by the parents and the matchmaker. You have no right to interfere."

Xiao Song's attitude undoubtedly hurt Xiao Huanling's heart. He had always understood that his wishes were not important in the eyes of the Xiao family, but why did the Xiao family have to deprive him of even his life's most important matter, even his right to like someone?

"Even if I die, don't even think about me, Xiao Huanling, marrying the daughter you arranged for me."

Xiao Song was deeply hurt by the resolute and hateful look in Xiao Huanling's eyes, and his mind went blank for a moment.

"Xiao Shan, what are you still standing outside for? Bring me the rattan cane. Today I'm going to beat this bastard to death..."

He was the only innocent victim to the argument between the father and son; he was caught in the middle, unsure whether to respond or not. Xiao Shan hesitated for a moment.

Receiving no response, Xiao Song, enraged, stood up abruptly, walked up to Xiao Huanling, and kicked him in the knee.

"Kneel down here!"

Caught off guard, Xiao Huanling's leg buckled from the kick, and he did not resist but knelt down.

"Xiao Shan, bring the family discipline. If you don't move, pack your bags and get out of the mansion immediately."

"This unfilial son is so disrespectful and unfilial now because of people like you who have indulged him."

Seeing that Xiao Song was truly enraged, Xiao Shan, fearing that he would be implicated, gritted his teeth and went to the ancestral hall to retrieve a rattan cane.