Chapter 808: So Furious I Vomited Blood

The eldest Nie recovered and said, "Xiao Feng, are you still angry about yesterday’s incident? If you’re not satisfied, I’ll send your sister-in-law away and have your brother apologize to you."

The second brother Nie followed closely behind the eldest brother and said, "Xiao Feng, we just arrived at Shengjing, and it’s the holiday season. Where do you want us to move to?"

Nie Xiaofeng smiled coldly and said, "There are inns outside, or you can rent a house. As long as you have money, there’s no need to worry about finding a place to live. This is the good thing about Shengjing; even during the holidays, if you have enough money, you can find a place to live."

The eldest Nie and second Nie’s faces turned stiff.

They certainly didn’t want to move out.

How would they leverage the power of the General Mansion if they moved out?

The second brother Nie glanced at the eldest brother and said, "It’s precisely because you’re alone in Shengjing that we’re here to support you. It’s like the saying: ’Brothers fight tigers together, father and sons march onto the battlefield.’ People might look down upon you if you’re alone in Shengjing. With us here, everyone knows you’re not alone, and they won’t dare bully you. You mustn’t, due to yesterday’s misunderstanding, act foolishly."

Nie Xiaofeng said, "No need for the eldest brother and second brother to worry. Who says I’m alone in Shengjing? My battlefield comrades, my mentor, my mother, and my grandmother’s family are all in Shengjing. They are all my family. In Shengjing, no one dares to bully me."

The second brother Nie became anxious and said, "Are they the same? They don’t bear the Nie surname. Outsiders, even if close, will become enemies over a dispute, unlike real brothers. Just like my eldest brother and me, we fought last night due to a misunderstanding, yet today we can make peace. Can those people compared to you do the same as my eldest brother and me?"

"Between brothers, even if there’s a misunderstanding, it can quickly resolve. Even if you wish the other dead, it can quickly dissipate."

Nie Xiaofeng heard this and almost laughed out of anger.

Why hadn’t he noticed earlier that his second brother was so shameless?

The eldest Nie nodded, "Your second brother is right. The name Nie cannot be written without certain strokes. You and I share the same blood, something outsiders can never match. I and your second brother have abandoned the family business to come to Shengjing specifically so that you’d have someone to consult in case of trouble. If you ask us to leave the mansion and others find out, wouldn’t that invite ridicule? You’re a deputy general; if you gain a reputation for being narrow-minded and unable to tolerate even your brothers, it might harm your future prospects."

The eldest Nie wasn’t thick-skinned.

The eldest Nie genuinely thought this way.

No matter how much Nie Xiaofeng hated them, he couldn’t sever ties with them for the sake of his future.

Kicking them out of the mansion might spread the reputation across all of Shengjing the next day that Nie Xiaofeng disrespects his elder brothers.

Even his real brothers aren’t recognized; how would those battlefield comrades trust him?

Nie Xiaofeng said, "No need for the eldest brother and second brother to worry about this anymore. The eldest brother and second brother aren’t afraid of being talked about, concerned for my family line. Why should I fear gossip about not being able to tolerate brothers?"

"It was said to be a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding. Back then, bad news was constantly coming from the border, and you went missing. Everyone said you sacrificed at the battlefield. I discussed with your second brother about adopting a child for you for your family line’s sake. We weren’t unable to raise a son; why would we adopt one? Wasn’t it for you? Why can’t you appreciate this?"

"As an elder brother, I always think of you, no matter how you view it. After all, I’ve done what an elder brother should do. If you insist on making this family fall apart, I, as the eldest brother, must teach you a lesson. Now you’ve become a deputy general and have skills, but don’t forget you bear the surname Nie; your achievements belong to the Nie Family."

The eldest Nie couldn’t stand it, adopting the demeanor of the eldest brother to lecture Nie Xiaofeng.

Nie Xiaofeng sneered coldly and said, "Stop putting on the eldest brother act. Your words sound nice, but three years ago when I was penniless at home, weren’t you encouraging Father to separate me out? Now that I am a deputy general, you cling onto me relentlessly. Now I ask you and second brother to leave the mansion. If you drag your feet, don’t blame me for being ruthless."

The second brother Nie became anxious, complaining that the eldest brother shouldn’t have put on the eldest brother act.

"Xiao Feng, let’s discuss this among the three of us brothers. Eldest brother’s words have never been easy to hear since childhood; don’t take them to heart. We can leave the mansion now, but it’s difficult if Father finds out. Father is old and can’t be angered; a bout of anger pains his heart. Can you let this matter slow down a bit? My eldest brother and I are unfamiliar with Shengjing; finding a residence is not easy. Once we find a place, we’ll move out," said the second brother.

Nie Xiaofeng bluntly refused.

"If you think it’s troublesome, I’ll let the mansion steward help you find a place to live. You just need to pay."

After speaking, Nie Xiaofeng called in the steward to assist the two brothers in finding somewhere to live.

The eldest Nie and second Nie saw that Nie Xiaofeng was unyielding; their tempers were almost exploding.

They had just arrived, and the General Mansion wasn’t even warmed up yet before being kicked out.

The General Mansion was a place they absolutely couldn’t leave.

Once they leave, coming back won’t be simple.

Nie Mingyuan got wind of the situation and rushed out to stop it.

"Unworthy son."

"You might as well drive me out too. You’ve succeeded; your General Mansion is beyond our reach."

Nie Mingyuan hadn’t expected Nie Xiaofeng to kick the two sons out from under him.

Nie Xiaofeng expressed his disdain for Nie Mingyuan’s applying moral pressure to keep the two brothers and said to Nie Mingyuan, "Since Father is reluctant to part with the two brothers, you should leave with them. You always said the eldest brother and second brother are the backbone of the Nie Family and you’d rely on them in old age; so I won’t fight with them."

"Unworthy son."

Nie Mingyuan was so angry he was about to spit blood.

"I’m not dead yet, and you are already forcing your two brothers. If I die, who knows how you might bully them?"

Nie Mingyuan’s heart was full of fire.

Last evening’s warm family reunion was disrupted by Gu Baishuang’s arrival.

In the morning, enduring the anger, he went to reconcile with Gu Baishuang. Unexpectedly, Gu Baishuang refused to see him, sending an old woman to say she was unwell.

Who among wives adopts such an attitude toward their husbands? Even a princess wouldn’t.

He had already been humble, but Gu Baishuang showed no respect.

Frustrated from his encounter with Gu Baishuang, he was intercepted on his way back to his room by the two daughters-in-law, saying Nie Xiaofeng wanted to kick them out of the mansion.

Addressing Nie Mingyuan’s questioning, Nie Xiaofeng showed no panic and said, "Father, you should live well then. Protect the two brothers from being bullied by me."

Nie Mingyuan was so angry that he spit out blood.

He truly spit out blood.

For the past six months, he’d been trying to save some family assets for the two sons, coming up with all sorts of methods to carry silk southward, his body accumulating ailments from hard work.

In the midst of autumn, returning to Yan Guan Town, he discovered Gu Baishuang had gone to Shengjing to seek shelter with the son; he traveled to the north without pausing.

Both water and land routes, a journey encumbered with obstacles, severe cold and harsh snow, left his body utterly exhausted.

Thinking of having Nie Xiaofeng find a good doctor to treat his health upon arrival at Shengjing, he hadn’t been treated before an outbreak ensued, leaving Nie Mingyuan unbearably overwhelmed.