Chapter 63: Suspicion

Hearing this, Yuan Xi smiled and said, "Of course, they are all women from good families."

"These women were snatched from the families of the gentry near Luoyang during the Southern Xiongnu's looting. There are many from the great clans of Yingchuan and Runan among them."

"If women of the gentry class are stranded outside, it will also affect the reputation of the family, so I brought them to Ye City and asked my father to arrange for their placement according to the situation."

After Yuan Xi finished speaking, before Yuan Shao could say anything, Yuan Shang's eyes went dark.

He suddenly realized that the group of women Yuan Xi brought was not the same group as the singing girls being trained in Beixin City!

Yuan Shang had long learned from the news sent by his informant in Beixin City that when Yuan Tan and Xun Chen arrived in Beixin City, Yuan Xi had found maids to serve him in bed.

So he subconsciously thought that the women Yuan Xi brought this time were the same group as the maids in Beixin City, all of whom were used to be given away for forming alliances.

When the two talked about it on the road, Yuan Xi asked Yuan Shang if he was interested. Yuan Shang wanted to dig a hole for Yuan Xi, so he went along with the flow and chose four at the time.

He didn't expect that Yuan Xi, who looked honest, had set a trap for himself!

Using women of the gentry class as concubines can be a big deal or a small deal. Although the gentry will not say anything on the surface, they will definitely feel uncomfortable in private if it involves women of their own clan.

This damned guy is openly trying to trick me!

Could it be that Yuan Xi knows about my secret sabotage?

Yuan Shang quickly wanted to get up, thinking that he had to send the four women back quickly, otherwise, if people found out, his carefully cultivated reputation would be damaged!

As soon as his body moved, he realized his mistake and cursed himself inwardly, how could he be so out of control!

If he really left, wouldn't it be obvious that he had a problem?

Thinking of this, he forcibly stopped his body, sat still, and a calm smile appeared on his face.

Seeing this, Yuan Xi secretly admired him. His third brother was so calm at such a young age. No wonder he was so appreciated by Yuan Shao. His predecessor, who was weak in character, could not compete with him at all.

However, this also has something to do with his background. A son is valued by his mother. If his mother is of humble origin, the son will naturally be weak in character from childhood and easily fall into despair.

On the other hand, Yuan Shang, whose mother's clan has great power, has a natural self-confidence from the inside out. Even if he suffers setbacks temporarily, he can regroup. This kind of opponent is extremely difficult to deal with.

More importantly, behind them, there are counselors from aristocratic families supporting them. These aristocratic families have extensive connections and are well-informed about many things, so they can make complex plans on this basis and thus control the overall situation.

What Yuan Xi is now fighting against is Yuan Shang's huge power. All he can rely on is the knowledge of later generations.

Yuan Xi's brain was running fast. Based on the history of later generations, he guessed that the Yingchuan gentry supported Yuan Tan, and the Jizhou gentry supported Yuan Shang. He had no chance of winning if he simply competed with them in scheming.

So his chance of winning is to make the other party misjudge and make the wrong response, so that the situation moves in the desired direction.

At this time, Yuan Shao spoke.

"If those gentry women are looted by the Xiongnu or stranded outside, it will indeed damage the reputation of the gentry."

"Three-tenths of the world's gentry have already belonged to my Yuan family. In the near future, my Yuan family will be a model for the world's gentry. Sending back the gentry women at this time is also a great help."

"You have done a good job in this matter."

Madam Liu gritted her teeth secretly. This time, many gentry families will owe Yuan Xi a favor. His reputation among the gentry will spread!

She couldn't let this little dog be arrogant any longer!

She gave Yuan Shang a wink, but Yuan Shang was thinking about how to send the four women back as soon as possible. He was absent-minded and didn't see Madam Liu's hint.

Madam Liu gritted her teeth secretly and had to force a smile and said, "Xi'er has saved so many women. Isn't there anyone willing to repay Xi'er?"

"Even if they are daughters of the gentry, after being looted by the Xiongnu, there should be many who have no home to return to. Xi'er is almost twenty years old. If he doesn't even have a concubine, it will be a laughing stock."

"I saw Xi'er bringing a disfigured maid with him when he entered the mansion?"

"This woman's appearance is unbearable, which is really detrimental to the Yuan family's face. Why don't I give you two maids who accompany me, and you can send that ugly woman away."

Yuan Xi thought to himself that the two maids were probably spies, and only a fool would want them.

He bowed and said, "Please let Mother know that the woman saved my life on the battlefield. In order to repay her, I will temporarily keep her by my side."

Madam Liu still wanted to speak, but Yuan Shao directly said to Yuan Xi, "These are all trivial matters. I called you back this time because I am preparing to marry you."

Yuan Xi thought to himself, here it comes.

According to his predecessor's memory, although the Zhen family had lost both parents early and the male offspring were sparse, they were still a prominent family. They also participated in the business of Ye City, so it can be said that they had a lot of background.

However, judging from the degree of hostility of Yuan Shang and his mother towards him, it was impossible not to obstruct it.

This is also good. If his reputation spreads, causing Madam Liu and Yuan Shang to become jealous of him, they will naturally try to adopt him out, so as to lose the inheritance right of the Yuan family.

He bowed to Yuan Shao and said, "The Zhen family is a prominent family. I thank Father for his kindness."

Hearing this, Madam Liu gritted her teeth even more.

She forced a smile and said, "Although the Zhen family is good, I heard that their head of the family has been dead for more than ten years, and the eldest son and second son also died early."

"The only male offspring of the current family, Zhen Yao, is only in his twenties. Most of the Zhen family are orphans and widows. Will it become a burden for Xi'er?"

Hearing this, Yuan Shao thought for a while and said, "What Madam said is not without reason."

"Now there is indeed some gap between the Yuan family and the Zhen family."

Yuan Xi cursed inwardly, Madam Liu is really a bitch.

He respectfully said, "May I ask Father, has there been an agreement with the Zhen family about this matter?"

"If we promised the other party but then go back on our word, wouldn't it be detrimental to the reputation of our Yuan family?"

Yuan Shao nodded and said, "I did mention it to Zhen Yao's mother."

Yuan Xi said righteously, "Since this is the case, it is not good to break the agreement."

"Since Father has promised the other party, even if the daughter of the Zhen family is disabled or ugly, I will fulfill my promise and marry her."

Ugly my head!

Madam Liu and Yuan Shang cursed inwardly at the same time. The two had already placed spies in the Zhen family and knew that Zhen Mi's appearance was unparalleled and a rare beauty!

Madam Liu and Yuan Shang also learned from the spies in Beixin City that Yuan Xi had taken in dozens of beautiful maids and hid them in the mansion to indulge in pleasure every night. How could such a person be willing to marry an ugly woman?

Yuan Xi clearly knew the details of the Zhen family's daughter, but he was getting the benefit and still pretending to be good!

That's not right!

Madam Liu and Yuan Shang became suspicious. How did Yuan Xi know?

He has been away for three years and has never had any correspondence with the Yuan family. How could he know about the Zhen family's affairs?

Even if he and Yuan Tan joined forces, Yuan Tan has been fighting outside for many years, and his power in Ye City is only some gentry counselors. He should not be bored enough to inquire about the unimportant news of the Zhen family.

Yuan Shang narrowed his eyes. His second brother was definitely not the kind of person who completely obeyed his father, so his words must have known the details of that Zhen Ji in advance.

The question is, what means did he use?

Planted spies?

Is it the Zhen family, or the Yuan family, or even his own subordinates?

Yuan Shang's face darkened. No matter which possibility, it showed that his second brother had his own power in Ye City!