Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 425 Housework

"What happened? Xie Mingchen has always been a man of simple tastes, what did the Xie family do?"

"I don't know, the Xie family is very tight-lipped. Xie Mingchen isn't the talkative type either. I only found out yesterday when I visited his house. There's a huge handprint on his face. I don't know how hard the person who hit him used, it's all swollen."

Speaking of this, Chunyu Shuang also felt helpless. If she hadn't discovered it by accident, she didn't know how long Xie Mingchen planned to keep it a secret.

These people had fought side by side for so long; they were closer than family, even if they weren't. Yet, when faced with such a major event, Xie Mingchen's first reaction wasn't to ask them for help, but to hide in his house and quietly heal his wounds. It's likely that when they see him again, he will be a completely unharmed Xie Mingchen.

Sigh, Xie Mingchen is a good person in every way, except he's a bit too indifferent. Call it being unambitious or indifferent to fame and fortune, but he just doesn't seem to care much about himself or others. Are all medical students like this? But she's seen some imperial physicians in the Imperial Hospital who are extremely interested in wealth, fame, and power.

Jiu Que frowned upon hearing this. Xie Mingchen was also her friend. Why didn't he tell everyone when something happened to him? If something really went wrong, who wouldn't help him?
"Why don't we go check on him? I doubt someone like Xie Mingchen would tell us why he got injured."

The two hit it off immediately, quickly changed their clothes, and left the palace for Xie Mingchen's residence. As they reached the street corner, Jiu Que saw a simple, unadorned blue cloth carriage with a veiled coachman sitting on the shaft. Upon seeing someone approaching, the coachman immediately lowered his head. Jiu Que paid no attention and went straight to Xie Mingchen's house.

The gatekeeper was a lame old man, and probably a little hard of hearing. Chunyu Shuang called out several times before he heard her, and hurriedly came over to open the gate.

Upon seeing Jiu Que, whose clothes, though ordinary, were still made of extremely expensive fabric, the old man couldn't help but show a look of horror. He recognized him; wasn't this His Highness Prince Chen? He had actually slighted His Highness…

Before he could beg for mercy, Jiu Que and Chunyu Shuang waved their hands and walked into the courtyard like the wind.

The two women used to frequently gather at Xie Mingchen's place, so they could find his residence without needing anyone to guide them. Previously, Xie Mingchen only had one master in his household, and only a handful of servants, making the house rather quiet. But this time was different. Before they even reached Xie Mingchen's usual living room, they heard a commotion erupting from within. They exchanged a glance, and recalling the unusual tension of the old gatekeeper earlier, they immediately understood. Someone had come to cause trouble for Xie Mingchen, and the person who could silence the gatekeeper was likely none other than Xie Mingchen's family.

One was a prince of the imperial court, and the other was a high-ranking official. Both were considered top-notch heroes in the outside world. At this moment, they slowed down and tiptoed to the window of the living room to eavesdrop.

Fortunately, the window was open, allowing the sounds inside to escape without obstruction.

"...Do you think you're still that clueless little kid you used to be? Whether you admit it or not, you're surnamed Xie! From birth to death, you're a member of the Xie family. As a member of the Xie family, you have to contribute to the Xie family! Who in our Xie family isn't like that?! You've always been stubborn, cold-hearted, and ungrateful to your parents. We only released you before because you were still young, but now you're twenty! Look at all the families and clans out there, which family has a son like you, almost twenty and still without a fiancée?! When I was your age, your older brother and sister were already born!" It was the suppressed voice of a middle-aged man, whose tone suggested he was either Xie Mingchen's elder or his father.

The two eavesdroppers exchanged a glance, feeling somewhat uneasy. Logically, this was someone else's family matter, and it wouldn't be appropriate for them to interfere rashly. However, someone as taciturn as Xie Mingchen would likely only suffer in front of such an eloquent elder. But to their surprise, Xie Mingchen, unlike his usual reserved and sparing with words, retorted sharply, his arguments logical, well-founded, and every word a gem!
“Of course I can’t compare to my father. When my father was my age, he did have an older brother and two older sisters. But I only have one father, but five mothers. Oh no, to be precise, one first aunt and four second aunts. My father can be a groom twice in one day, but I don’t have that ability, nor can I do it. My father should just pretend he doesn’t have a son like me.”

"Snapped!"

"presumptuous!"

"Has this started?" Jiu Que's heart tightened. A deathly silence filled the room, followed by a slightly young male voice.

“Third brother, you can’t say that. It’s common for men to have multiple wives and concubines. Father is the head of the Cui family, and he has the responsibility of ensuring the continuation of the family line. Besides, have your concubines treated you badly? Our Cui family has always had harmonious relationships between wives and concubines, and there has never been any infighting among our children. Let’s not talk about others, but about me. Third brother, have you ever treated your elder brother badly?”

"...Brother, there's no need to change the subject. This is your forte. I already said before that I would never participate in the competition for the next head of the family. It's none of my business who becomes the head of the family. I'm only devoted to medicine and have no desire to get involved in family affairs. If there's nothing else, you can leave. I have important matters to attend to."

“What important business could he possibly have? He’s just a lowly imperial physician, yet he’s acting all high and mighty. Doesn’t he know the difference between Heaven, Earth, the Ruler, Parents, and Teacher? No matter what, I’m still your father! Can you disobey what I say? You have to do this whether you like it or not! It’s settled!”

The Xie family head angrily made a hasty conclusion. Xie Mingchen closed his eyes, clenched his hands tightly, and pressed his fingertips against the tender flesh of his palms, almost piercing the skin.

Xie's eldest son, standing nearby, glanced at them and offered words of comfort with a gentle smile.

“Father, Third Brother. We are family. Why should we let such a small matter cause such unrest in the household? Third Brother, you don’t know, but Father really cares about you. Otherwise, he wouldn’t send things to you every few days. Look, even though you’ve been away for so many days, the house is still spotless. Isn’t that thanks to Father’s constant attention?”

"Besides, you've had it easy these past ten years. Which young person in our family can live as freely as you? Even if you don't care about your siblings or your parents' upbringing, you should at least think about your grandfather, right? He's always been thinking about you. And your aunt, she's been away for many days, chanting sutras and praying in the Buddhist hall. Don't you want to go back and see her?"