Thus, Eldest Grandson Xiao's beloved concubine had a pillow talk with him that night.
She spoke with admiration and adoration that she wanted to meet his cousin.
That was when Eldest Grandson Xiao knew that his cousin and that woman were the ones causing so much news in the capital.
He did not feel comfortable that his beloved concubine praised Xiao Hanzheng non-stop.
Then, he heard that offering the seeds could bring him many benefits.
He was concerned that Xiao Hanzheng would be able to excel from now onwards.
Although he was envious and jealous, he also wanted to take advantage of the situation.
Especially with someone beside him encouraging him to do so, he ran to the old lady's courtyard the next morning.
"Grandma, Xiao Hanzheng, and his wife went to the capital."
Eldest Grandson Xiao told them about the seeds offering.
The old lady and the others were surprised.
They had heard about the heavenly-gifted seeds recently, but they didn't pay much attention to it because they were engrossed in attempting to improve their current status.
They really didn't know that Xiao Hanzheng and Shi Qingluo were behind this.
Eldest Grandson Xiao said indignantly, "Grandma, when Xiao Hanzheng and his wife came to the capital, they didn't even think of coming to the Xiao family to visit their second uncle and to show filial respect to you and your grandfather. It's too much."
This was also what his beloved concubine had said.
She was very suspicious as to why her cousin and his wife did not visit the general's residence or stay for a while.
Old Lady Xiao's face darkened. "These two are unfilial."
Old Lady Xiao had been living very well in the general's residence recently, so she was a little carried away.
Eldest Grandson Xiao immediately urged, "Since they didn't come, let's go and find them.
"They can't just enjoy the huge benefits of offering the heaven-bestowed high-yield seeds themselves. We have to take advantage of this."
Old Lady Xiao made the decision. "Alright, we'll go and look for them after breakfast."
The others also felt that they should pursue this matter.
It would be foolish not to reap such benefits.
Hence, not long after Xiao Hanzheng and Shi Qingluo finished their breakfast with Mr Hou, their housekeeper told them that the old Xiao family was looking for them.
Shi Qingluo smiled playfully. "They came quite fast."
It seemed that the old Xiao family had most likely been secretly manipulated by that woman.
Xiao Hanzheng wasn't surprised.
He was already prepared and asked their housekeeper to invite them in.
In the living room, the two of them sat leisurely and drank tea.
Soon, the old Xiao family came in.
When Old Lady Xiao came in and saw that Xiao Hanzheng and Shi Qingluo were sitting still, she was instantly unhappy.
She put on a haughty look and said, "Aren't you going to greet us, your elders?
"Do you want me to go out and share with others? You guys are too unfilial.
"The aristocratic families in the capital value filial piety the most."
Eldest Grandson Xiao chimed in, "That's right. You guys are too unfilial. I wonder if the emperor will blame you if he finds out."
Shi Qingluo suddenly laughed out loud and looked at the old Xiao family members with a half-smile. "Go on, hurry up and tell him.
"Tell him about our relationship with your family and the reason behind it too."
Sure enough, other people were instigating them.
She had instigated the troublemakers in the Xiao family members to use filial piety to bully Xiao Yuanshi and his wife.
The old Xiao family members were now being instigated to bully them in a similar manner.
However, they were not Xiao Hanzheng's scumbag father.
She continued, "Ex-grandma, have you all forgotten about what happened in the village?"
She emphasized on the word "ex-grandma" strongly.
Old Lady Xiao paused for a moment.
She had really forgotten it.
She snorted coldly. "Even if we are separated from our kinship, I am still your elder."
Shi Qingluo leaned lazily against the chair. "The law didn't state such a thing. If you want to make a fuss, go ahead. We don't care."
The old Xiao family was extremely displeased with her nonchalant look.
Without waiting for them to speak, Shi Qingluo suddenly changed the topic. "You've been here for so long. Didn't you ask General Xiao to help you with some errands?"
It was useless to reason with these troublemakers.
She still had to lure them based on the benefits.
Hearing that, Eldest Grandson Xiao puffed out his chest proudly. "Second uncle has helped to let me be a deputy county magistrate at the northern border.
"He even agreed to let me be the county magistrate as long as I build my portfolio.
"Then he will think of a way to transfer me back to the capital."
Initially, he was against the idea of being a deputy county magistrate on the northern border.
It was so remote and wasn't as good as Nanxi County.
He wouldn't be able to have a good life if he went there.
But his second uncle said that this was the only place that was easier for him to craft some achievements and then be promoted when he came back to the capital.
He thought that it made sense, so he agreed.
His family members would also follow him to the northern border.
Old Lady Xiao smiled and said, "Next time, my eldest grandson will be the most promising one in the Xiao family. My second son said that as long as he performs well, he will at least be a fifth-rank official when he is transferred back to the capital. He may even be able to become a fourth-rank official."
At that time, her precious grandson would be able to glorify his ancestors.
Shi Qingluo was speechless when she heard this.
Even she, who didn't know much about the imperial court, knew that being a fourth-rank official wasn't just about having connections.
Eldest Grandson Xiao wasn't even a tongsheng.
He didn't even have the qualifications to be a seventh-rank county magistrate.
How could he be a fourth-rank official? Who were they trying to bluff? The imperial court wasn't run by Xiao Hanzheng's scumbag father only.
However, it was obvious that they wouldn't listen to her even if she were to share this common knowledge with these troublemakers, who were ordinary people.
Xiao Hanzheng looked at his prideful eldest cousin.
He suddenly spoke, "I've never even heard of a tongsheng being a fifth-grade official, let alone someone who isn't a tongsheng. Moreover, even if you really have the chance to climb up to the fifth or fourth grade, you still have to be alive to do so."
The smile on Eldest Grandson Xiao's face instantly disappeared. "Xiao Hanzheng, don't curse me just because you're jealous of me."
The old lady and the others were also unhappy.
They all scolded Xiao Hanzheng. "Why are you so vicious? You even cursed your cousin.
"We're going to go out and make a scene. Let everyone see how outrageous you are to your elder cousin."
Xiao Hanzheng couldn't be bothered to communicate with them.
He looked at Eldest Grandson Xiao and asked meaningfully, "Does your private part have rashes recently?"
Eldest Grandson Xiao's initially angry face froze. "How did you know?"
He had indeed had rashes recently.
He had wanted to see a doctor, but his beloved concubine had said that it might be because his body was too heaty.
So he didn't think too much about it.
Most importantly, how did Xiao Hanzheng know?
Shi Qingluo added, "Don't forget, my husband is a medical practitioner."
Eldest Grandson Xiao suddenly remembered his cousin was indeed a medical practitioner.
After all, even a young master came from the capital to look for him at Xiaxi village.
Mdm Wang was more concerned about her son's health.
She couldn't help but ask, "Zheng'er, is my eldest son sick?"
With this question, Old Lady Xiao and the others also looked nervously at Xiao Hanzheng.
Xiao Hanzheng nodded and said, "That's right. Not only is he ill, but he also has a bad illness.
"From his facial expression, the symptoms are starting to surface up.
"Come here, let me check your pulse."
He knew that the woman had gotten him a concubine.
He also knew that there was something wrong with his beloved concubine.
Eldest Grandson Xiao's expression was indeed strange, but he still had to check his pulse to confirm if this was the illness he was thinking of.
Eldest Grandson Xiao wasn't stubborn. He immediately walked over, sat down, and stretched out his hand.
Seeing Xiao Hanzheng frown after checking his pulse with a hint of disdain, his heart skipped a beat.
"Hanzheng, what's wrong with me?"
Xiao Hanzheng looked at him and sighed. "Have you been hanging out in brothels or some dirty places recently?"
The old lady asked in a hurry and confusion, "What does being sick have to do with hanging out in these places?"
Xiao Hanzheng did not try to hide it and said bluntly, "He had sexually transmitted infections. If he did not go to those dirty places. How did he contract it?"
Of course, he would not point out that woman's problem directly.
It was too obvious.
The old Xiao family would be even angrier if they had guessed it themselves.
"What?"
"How is this possible?" Everyone in the Xiao family was stunned with disbelief.