Chapter 13

Tang Qingxuan couldn't believe he actually asked such an indecent question. Her face turned red as she said, "You were naturally wearing pants at the time!" As soon as she said this, she immediately realized she might have fallen into his trap.

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "I was wearing pants, so what could I do by stuffing her head between my legs? Tang Tieshan, what do you think I was doing?"

"This... you..."

Hu Xiaotian said, "You must have thought I forced your sister to do that kind of thing with her mouth..."

"I didn't, I didn't think my sister would do that kind of thing with her mouth..." The two engaged in a back-and-forth, though they didn't explicitly say what kind of thing it was, everyone present knew exactly what they were talking about. All the women in the room blushed and their hearts raced. Tang Qingxuan was so embarrassed she wished she could die on the spot. My foolish brother, you are truly stupid to fall for this scoundrel's trick so easily!

"You're lying! Swear to heaven, if you ever thought that, may your entire family suffer a terrible fate!"

Tang Tieshan opened his mouth wide, but he didn't dare take such a curse, and he was left speechless.

Seeing his son unable to speak, Tang Wenzheng cursed his son for being useless and was angry at Hu Xiaotian's insolence. He coldly snorted and said, "Lord Hu!" to remind Hu Xiaotian that he was being too excessive.

At this moment, Hu Buwei felt as refreshed as if he had drunk iced mung bean soup on a hot summer day. He repeatedly exclaimed how refreshing it was, clearly seeing Tang Wenzheng's face turn iron blue and hearing him call him, but he pretended to notice nothing.

Hu Xiaotian pressed Tang Tieshan relentlessly, giving him no chance to catch his breath: "Did you ever think that?"

Tang Tieshan, pushed to the limit, blurted out, "Yes, I did think that!" The room erupted in gasps, and several elders slowly shook their heads, clearly disappointed in Tang Tieshan. Tang Qingxuan's mind went completely blank, feeling numb from the roots of her hair to the tips of her toenails, not knowing what she was thinking or doing.

Hu Xiaotian opened his mouth wide, looking almost as if he could fit a duck egg inside, and shouted, "Do you have any humanity? Thinking that about me is one thing, but to think it about your own sister is truly despicable!" Then he bowed to the Prefect Hong Baiqi and said, "Lord Hong, the matter is clear. It's all because Tang Tieshan has a dirty and corrupt mind, and all the lies were fabricated by him."

Tang Tieshan, unable to respond to the reprimand, finally said after a long pause, "Isn't it true that you kidnapped my sister?"

Hu Xiaotian replied, "You brought so many people and called me a lecher, wanting to kill me. If I didn't leave, would I just stand there and let you cut me down?"

"But you kidnapped my sister..."

"I couldn't fight you, and you wouldn't listen to my explanations. I had to use this method to make you listen."

"But why did you bring my sister here? What else could it be but to have ulterior motives?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed heartily, "Good question!" He took a step toward Tang Tieshan and stared at him intently, "If I say that I and your sister are completely innocent, would you believe me?"

Tang Tieshan angrily said, "No one would believe you!" As soon as he said this, he realized he had been tricked again, and his face turned purple with anger.

Hu Xiaotian smiled, "It seems you hope I would do something improper to your sister!"

"You're talking nonsense! You're a lecher!" Tang Tieshan was so angry he wanted to punch Hu Xiaotian's hateful face. It's not the fear of a formidable opponent, but the fear of a foolish teammate. Tang Tieshan's situation worsened the more he spoke.

Hu Xiaotian said, "You call me a lecher, Tang Qingxuan, have I ever done anything improper to you since you came to the Secretary's residence?"

Tang Qingxuan was speechless. This guy's eloquence was too strong. She was clearly in the right, but now she felt cornered and at a loss for words.

Muru Feiyun said, "Lord, Miss Tang is still an unmarried young lady, and some things are too embarrassing to say."

Hu Xiaotian said, "She is unmarried, and I am also unmarried. She cares about her reputation, and I care about my integrity. You Tang family keep calling me a lecher, saying I had ulterior motives with Tang Qingxuan. To be frank, I had plenty of time to do something improper when I brought her here. Did I? Tang Qingxuan, tell them, did I do anything improper to you?"

Tang Qingxuan was speechless, feeling extremely aggrieved, and let out a cry, bursting into tears.

Seeing his daughter in such a state, Tang Wenzheng could no longer contain his anger and said, "Lord Hu, please have your son show some restraint!"

Hu Buwei said, "I will discipline my son. Xiaotian, explain clearly in front of everyone, did you do anything improper to Miss Tang?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "I don't know what 'improper' means. People are different, and their perspectives on the world and standards of good and evil vary. I only know what is good and what is bad. I truly don't understand what 'improper' means. Miss Tang, why don't you teach me how to do something improper."

Thud! Tang Qingxuan fell straight to the ground, truly fainting from anger. Everyone was focused on Hu Xiaotian and didn't react in time.

Tang Wenzheng rushed forward to pick up his daughter, tears streaming down his face, "Daughter... wake up, wake up..."

The three Tang brothers, enraged, rushed forward to fight Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian was fearless, knowing that Prefect Hong was there, and these three fools couldn't cause much trouble. Muru Feiyun hurriedly held them back.

Tang Wenzheng, pinching his daughter's philtrum and shaking her, finally managed to wake her up. She sobbed, "Unfair... Father... I want to go home..." At this moment, Tang Qingxuan felt as if she had been stripped bare, with no dignity or self-respect left. All she wanted was to go home as quickly as possible. She had initially wanted to seek justice, but now she only hoped this scoundrel would leave her alone.

Hong Baiqi sighed, "Gentlemen, let me speak!"

Hu Buwei, having the upper hand, maintained a high posture and smiled, "Lord Hong, please speak!"

Tang Wenzheng didn't object, tightly holding his daughter, feeling dejected. With the odds against them, it was futile to argue. The fact that his daughter's innocence was not compromised by this young scoundrel was a great relief amidst the misfortune. The rest was less important.

Hong Baiqi said, "I think this was a misunderstanding. Young people are hot-blooded and can easily come to blows over a few words. I have been an official for many years and have seen this kind of thing often. Fortunately, we arrived in time and no serious incident occurred. Since no one was injured, I suggest we let this matter drop."

Tang Wenzheng's eyes were filled with anger, but he dared not openly react in front of the two officials.

Hu Buwei, having the upper hand, just listened with a smile, saying nothing.

Hong Baiqi said, "What do you think, gentlemen?"

Hu Buwei sighed softly, "We are all officials serving the same court. We must not let this small matter damage our relationship. Regardless of the cause of today's incident, it was wrong for my son to bring Miss Tang to our home. This matter is more our family's fault." Although he made a concession, his words did not admit any wrongdoing. He first said the cause was unclear, then mentioned his son bringing Tang Qingxuan to their home. Tang Wenzheng heard clearly and cursed in his heart, "Old scoundrel! It was clearly your wicked son who kidnapped my daughter, yet you say he brought her here. You twist the truth and confuse right and wrong. Despicable man! I, Tang Wenzheng, am ashamed to be in your company."

Hu Buwei said, "I will take responsibility for all the losses today." He turned to Hu Xiaotian and said, "Xiaotian, go and apologize to Uncle Tang!" With this, he declared the matter over.

The three Tang brothers naturally disagreed with this resolution but were stopped by their father's gaze.

Hu Xiaotian slowly approached Tang Wenzheng and bowed deeply, "Uncle Tang, I am young and may have offended you. Please bear with me!"

Tang Wenzheng reluctantly nodded. He didn't want to stay in the Hu residence for a moment longer, stood up, and said, "Lord Hu, Lord Hong, I have matters to attend to. I'll take my leave." He bowed and left without another word. The Tang siblings, seeing their father leave, naturally followed. Tang Tieshan and Tang Ticheng, harboring a grudge against Hu Xiaotian, pointed at him angrily as they left.

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "What about the straw pavilion?"

The two brothers, hearing him mention the straw pavilion again, turned and fled.

Hong Baiqi, seeing the matter resolved, felt greatly relieved. He didn't linger, gathered his men, and bid farewell to Hu Buwei before leaving.

Hu Buwei saw Hong Baiqi off and looked at the devastated back garden, shaking his head.

Hu Xiaotian, who had appeared beside him, looked at the straw pavilion that had been reduced to ashes and said with a grin, "Father, are we just going to let the straw pavilion matter go?"

Hu Buwei suddenly reached out and grabbed his ear, "Wretch, look what you've done!"

Hu Xiaotian cried out, "Ouch, ouch! Let go, let go!"

Hu Buwei released his ear and lightly patted him on the back, not really hitting him. Though he scolded his son, his eyes were full of affection. Today's performance by his son had pleasantly surprised him. He had never imagined that his son, who had been mentally impaired for sixteen years, could display such strength upon regaining his senses. His performance was truly brilliant and awe-inspiring. Hu Buwei looked at the straw pavilion, now reduced to ashes, and said, "Straw pavilion, court! Your mind is sharp."

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Thank you, Feng Yixiang, for your generous support! I am delighted to welcome the third alliance leader of the medical community! I also request your recommendations!

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