To save face, Lu Tianxun had no choice but to agree with General Xiao's view. Then he took his leave and left the Xiao Mansion.
Xiao Jinghan looked at Xiao Duo standing aside. He knew that Baozi (Xiao Duo's nickname) wouldn't beat someone for no reason.
"I'm going to the academy," Baozi said, thinking that his father was about to scold him.
"Since the dean has come to our home, you should tell me what happened. In the future, when you beat someone, make sure they can't find their way to our home," Xiao Jinghan said, pulling Xiao Duo to sit down.
Xiao Duo didn't want to talk about it. He was a man. How could he get angry because of such a thing?
"Your mother has just given birth to your little brother. You don't want to make her angry, do you?" Seeing Baozi's stubborn look, Xiao Jinghan brought Yi Qing into the conversation.
Xiao Duo looked at his father angrily.
Xiao Jinghan knew that Baozi had compromised. "Okay, let's figure this out. When your mother knows about it, I can speak up for you."
"They said that mother would not like me anymore after giving birth to the little brother," Xiao Duo explained reluctantly.
In Xiao Jinghan's eyes, Baozi had always been mature and steady. He didn't expect that his son would get angry because of such a thing. "So you got angry?"
"I'm not angry. My mother is not that kind of person. That's why I beat them."
Xiao Jinghan thought that when Baozi seriously flattered someone, he was really invincible. "Even if you have a younger brother, you are still the eldest legitimate son of the Xiao family and his elder brother. In the future, you should protect your brother."
Xiao Duo nodded reluctantly.
"Is it because the emperor bestowed a lot of things?" Xiao Jinghan asked.
Xiao Duo didn't say a word, which meant he agreed.
"You are the eldest legitimate son. He is too young now. You should take care of his things first. Go to Jushuang and check the list of the bestowed items. Put them in your private treasury first," Xiao Jinghan ordered.
Xiao Duo thought for a while and nodded. Since he was the elder brother, he shouldn't care too much about such small things.
It was not until late at night that Xiao Jinghan had a chance to take care of Yi Qing. During the day, Mrs. Di and Mrs. Fan were there, so he had no chance at all.
"Let's go to the Southern Border," Yi Qing whispered, leaning against Xiao Jinghan after feeding the baby.
"You are still in confinement," Xiao Jinghan thought Yi Qing was too impatient.
"Precisely because I'm in confinement. You don't know. They are all so cautious around me. I'm almost scared to death. They keep asking me to drink soup. I've vomited. I'm a doctor. I know everything. They even bring me some strange things. I can't stand it anymore," Yi Qing said, feeling aggrieved.
Seeing Yi Qing's helpless look, Xiao Jinghan said, "If you don't like it, just don't let them come."
"But she is your mother," which was exactly what made Yi Qing feel embarrassed.
"It doesn't matter," Xiao Jinghan didn't care about this.
He only left a few people Yi Qing trusted and directly refused all visitors.
When Yi Qing gave birth to Xiao Duo, Xiao Jinghan didn't think much about it. But now with the birth of Xiao Ran, Xiao Jinghan planned to hold a month - old feast for him. After discussing, they decided to only invite a few close friends for a meal.
Normally, the addition of a new member to the General's Mansion would be a big event. But because there had been too many disturbances in the capital recently and everyone was in a state of self - defense, few people came to offer their congratulations.
The Ghost Lord was not in a hurry to go to the Southern Border either. Anyway, Yi Qing couldn't go there in her current state. After the Ghost Floating Mountain had suffered such a heavy blow, he didn't have to worry about the people from the Ghost Floating Mountain being a threat to him.
Actually, if he hadn't been poisoned, staying in the General's Mansion would be quite nice. Leisure really made people decadent.
In a blink of an eye, a month had passed. News came from Licheng that the Northern Di tribe had cut off relations with Prince Nian and compensated a large number of horses and cattle. Only then was the matter of Prince Nian over.
"Then, can't Prince Nian's body be buried back in the Northern Di tribe?" Yi Qing sighed after learning the result.
Xiao Jinghan nodded. "Since they have cut off relations, it's impossible for them to ask for the bones."
"He schemed so hard for the Northern Di tribe. He didn't expect to end up like this, did he?"
"If one doesn't follow the right path, no matter how great one thinks the goal is, it will never see the light of day."
Yi Qing thought it made sense.
Why did Prince Nian do this? In the end, he died in a foreign land and was betrayed by everyone.
"Have Prince Nian cremated and send his ashes back to his family," Yi Qing suggested.
Xiao Jinghan thought for a while and nodded.
The best way to win a battle was to attack the enemy's mind.
Prince Nian had used this strategy when he came to the capital. To minimize the losses, the Northern Di tribe cut off relations with Prince Nian and didn't even allow him to be buried in the imperial mausoleum. This would surely chill the hearts of Prince Nian's lineage. Sending back the ashes would constantly remind them of this incident.
The emperor didn't object to this. Under the pretext that Yi Qing had a good relationship with Princess Lazhuo, a servant from the General's Mansion was sent to deliver the ashes. In this way, it had nothing to do with the court.
These days, the Ghost Lord came around from time to time, which made Xiao Jinghan guard Yi Qing all the time.
"Hey, what do you think of me adopting your son as my godson?" the Ghost Lord asked Xiao Jinghan.
Xiao Jinghan ignored him.
"Our Ghost Floating Mountain is a powerful force. Your son will have an extra backer in the future," the Ghost Lord had never liked children before. But seeing Xiao Ran change from being so ugly to a bit cute, he suddenly took a fancy to children.
"I think you want to use our General's Mansion as your backer," Xiao Jinghan said coldly.
The Ghost Lord thought that Xiao Jinghan was judging him with a mean - spirited mind. "Our Ghost Floating Mountain has never been afraid of your court."
"Anyone who is willing to risk their life can carry out an assassination."
The Ghost Lord didn't want to talk to Xiao Jinghan anymore. He then turned to discuss with Yi Qing. "You should think it over. Having an extra godfather means having an extra way out."
"Isn't it more like having an extra dead end?" Yi Qing was even more sarcastic than Xiao Jinghan. "Your Ghost Floating Mountain got involved in the power struggle between the Northern Di tribe and the Great Jin Dynasty this time. I'm afraid your lair is gone."
The Ghost Lord felt that they were bullying him. He turned around and left.
It was really true that a tiger that has fallen on hard times is bullied by dogs. He was the terrifying Ghost Lord that made people in the martial arts world tremble with fear. But now it was so difficult for him to adopt a godson.
Many people came to congratulate on Xiao Ran's month - old feast. However, Xiao Jinghan didn't receive all of them. He only invited some close friends, and even the emperor came.
This time, the emperor prepared two gifts, making up for the one for Xiao Duo. Although Xiao Duo looked cold on the surface, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up.
The queen also came. Looking at the queen's state, Yi Qing thought that the queen had been doing well recently.
While everyone was celebrating Xiao Ran's month - old birthday in the front yard, the emperor and Xiao Jinghan went to the back yard.
"On your way to Southern Fujian this time, go and check on the territory of Marquis Chunan," the emperor whispered.
"What happened?"
"A spy reported that the son of the Prince of Min appeared in the territory of Marquis Chunan."
"What?" Xiao Jinghan was surprised. "Is the news reliable?"
"He is still a child. He has grown up and changed a lot. But if Marquis Chunan has really done such a thing, there must be other movements in his territory. You just need to pay attention. If something really happens, just send back a message."
Xiao Jinghan nodded.