"Cough."
Fang Yi's words and Xun Er's gaze almost made Chu Xiao choke on his tea.
Goodness, as expected of a mother and son, their thoughts were surprisingly in sync.
"Nalan Yanran's mother is named Mu Xuan. She is from the Mu family, a Dou Wang Family in the Imperial Capital. She also joined the Nalan Family through marriage, and her relationship with our aunt is just average," Chu Xiao explained.
Xiao Yan was hearing this for the first time, wearing a look of intense curiosity.
Could there be some hidden story behind this?
"What do you mean 'average'? They were at odds," Fang Yi didn't hide anything, saying with a displeased face, "Your father and I were childhood sweethearts. She was burdened with a marriage alliance to the Mu family, and she claimed I stole her man. Ridiculous."
There really was some juicy gossip!
Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Zhan, who awkwardly pinched his nose.
Chu Xiao: Case closed. So, pinching one's nose is hereditary.
"That woman Mu Xuan was clueless. I didn't agree to that marriage back then, but the two families' old patriarchs insisted on the alliance," Fang Yi said with a displeased face. "See? This embarrassing incident happened, but the outcome actually looks pretty good."
"It's all in the past, it's all in the past," Xiao Zhan poured tea for Fang Yi, his face fawning.
Fang Yi's parents were the guards of Xiao Lin, the Xiao Family's former Dou Wang patriarch. Both were Dou Ling powerhouses who were poisoned and sacrificed while fighting the Chuyun Empire with Xiao Lin.
Fang Yi was raised as a daughter by Xiao Lin. Because her talent was better than Xiao Zhan's, she received more cultivation resources. Later, she married Xiao Zhan and successively gave birth to Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, and Xiao Yan.
Xiao Zhan was an only son, with an older sister who was Chu Xiao's mother.
Originally, Chu Xiao's father, a Loose Cultivator, was supposed to marry into the Xiao Family, but he died protecting the pregnant Fang Yi. Therefore, Chu Xiao did not take the Xiao surname but followed his father's surname.
"Then, when Nalan Yanran came to annul the engagement, could it have been her mother instigating her from behind?" Xun Er guessed aloud.
"No, Mu Xuan died on the battlefield of the Chuyun Empire ten years ago," Fang Yi's eyes flashed with admiration. "In this regard, their Mu family truly has no cowards."
"Perhaps because she had no mother from a young age, Nalan Yanran was spoiled to be so arrogant today. I even held her when she was a child; she was a cute and obedient child."
These words made everyone fall silent.
Chu Xiao, on the other hand, was thinking that if it weren't for his Transmigration causing a butterfly effect, Fang Yi would also have died from difficult childbirth when giving birth to Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yanzi, Nalan Yanran, and Xun Er all had fathers but no mothers, and Zi Yan was the same.
However, they were much better off than Little Fairy Doctor, Medusa, and Ya Fei, who had neither parents.
Sigh, it seems he himself was also an orphan?
"Eat, eat," Fang Yi, seeing the atmosphere turn cold, waved her hand to change the subject. "Although my cooking is not as good as Xiao Er's, it's still very good. Today is Xiao Er's birthday, so he shouldn't have to cook himself."
"Madam's cooking is the best in the world," Xiao Zhan immediately put food into his bowl.
Fang Yi's eyes filled with a smile, but she feigned displeasure, saying, "Are you saying that because you want me to cook for you all the time?"
"How could that be? Even if I like it, I can't eat it often. It depends on Madam's mood," Xiao Zhan showered her with flattery.
Chu Xiao raised an eyebrow slightly, picked up his chopsticks, and put a leg of a colorful chicken into Xun Er's bowl: "Xun Er, eat more. This chicken, combined with first-grade medicinal ingredients, nourishes both Yin and Yang."
"Thank you, Brother Chu Xiao, you eat too," Xun Er smiled sweetly and put fish into Chu Xiao's bowl.
The two exchanged food, occasionally glancing at each other, creating a sweet atmosphere.
Xiao Yan: ?
Why do the two of them make me feel so redundant?
I shouldn't be here; I should be under the table.
"Teacher, do you feel I'm redundant?" Xiao Yan asked in his mind.
"You call me Teacher already?" Yao Chen's light laugh came. "Aren't you going to test my strength?"
"That was just an excuse for my cousin," Xiao Yan said, a little embarrassed.
Existing in a Soul state, at his peak, his strength was at least a Dou Zong, and he was an Alchemist who looked down on six-grade Alchemists. This was a powerhouse beyond the level of the Gama Empire; harming him and the Xiao Family would be effortless.
Although he was unwilling to be a useless person for three years, his Heart-Nature had indeed been tempered. If it brought him the opportunity to become a disciple of such a powerhouse, it was simply a great gain.
"You're not redundant, hehe," Yao Chen stroked his beard. "I'm here to accompany you."
Xiao Yan: "."
Why did that feel even more heartbreaking?
"Xiao Er, you take Xun Er back."
After eating and drinking to their fill, Fang Yi, with a smile in her eyes, let Chu Xiao and Xun Er leave.
Xiao Yan, who had been sitting on pins and needles, also quickly got up, ready to bid farewell. He still wanted to chat with Chu Xiao.
"Sit down!" Fang Yi slammed the table, staring at Xiao Yan. "Your mother still has something to tell you."
Xiao Yan's legs went weak, and he sat down immediately, casting a pleading look at Chu Xiao.
In the past, the latter would have helped him out, but today, he directly pulled Xun Er up, bowed to Xiao Zhan and Fang Yi: "Uncle, Aunt, Xiao Er (Xun Er) bids farewell."
The two exchanged a smile, holding hands as they left, making Fang Yi almost burst out laughing.
Her nephew had finally opened his mind. A good girl like Xun Er should be held onto; how could she just be a younger sister?
"Mom, what do you want to tell me?"
After Chu Xiao and Xun Er left, Xiao Yan asked eagerly.
"You can leave after sitting for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea," Fang Yi waved her hand dismissively.
"Huh?" Xiao Yan didn't understand.
Xiao Zhan also couldn't bear to look at his foolish son, sighing, "Your mother doesn't want you to ruin Xiao Er and Xun Er's good thing."
"What good thing?" Xiao Yan was puzzled. "Does that Xiao Xun Er have this ability?"
"Yan Er, you'd best dispel your hostility towards Xun Er," Fang Yi's expression turned serious.
"Why?" Xiao Yan was in a bad mood.
He should be the one with the best relationship with his cousin.
Fang Yi didn't answer but instead asked, "Yan Er, if Xun Er becomes your cousin-in-law in the future, what will you do?"
"Impossible!" Xiao Yan suddenly stood up, feeling this was unacceptable.
If this woman became his cousin's wife, and he had to call her cousin-in-law, wouldn't he be completely suppressed?
"Why impossible?" Fang Yi served soup to her foolish son. "Are Xun Er and Xiao Er not a good match?"
Xiao Yan: "."
He really wanted to say 'of course,' but honestly, this woman's appearance, temperament, and Cultivation talent were all outstanding.
He truly couldn't say against his conscience that they weren't a good match.
So, he had already lost?
"Understood, right?" Fang Yi smiled. "You must be more polite to your future sister-in-law."
Xiao Yan: "."
"And Xiao Er has also opened his mind now," Fang Yi smiled. "Before, when I asked him, he always said he only saw Xun Er as a younger sister. You, this scoundrel, were even more clueless, always messing things up next to them."
"Today, he is even more considerate of Xun Er; it's not the feelings of a brother towards a sister. Good, good."
Xiao Yan: I wasn't even this sad when I got my engagement annulled.
After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Chu Xiao saw Xun Er to the entrance of her small courtyard.
The two looked at each other and spoke in unison: "Xun Er (Brother Chu Xiao)."
"You first."
"Then I'll go first."
"No, you go first."
After a few identical exchanges, the two suddenly laughed.
Ling Ying: Question: Will Gu Yuan be relieved to see this, or will he kill me for entertainment?