Chapter 264: The Huo Family Father and Daughter Turn Against Each Other
"Are you really unwilling to help me?" Huo Xiaoxiao suddenly changed her usual tough demeanor, cupped her face in her hands, and looked at Shi Tou with starry eyes.
Stone is sweating bullets, don't you know that acting cute is shameful?!
"Sister! You're my own sister! I didn't say I wouldn't help you, but I can help you with anything except making me queen!" Shi Tou felt that she was a very principled person, and helping her was definitely the right thing to do. As for how to help, that would require careful consideration.
The so-called "long-term plan" means that Huo Xiaoxiao is talking and Shi Tou is listening, while Han Shiyi... cough cough, won't pay any attention to that girl!
No one expected that at this moment, a major event would occur.
"Young Miss! Something's happened!"
Huo Xiaoxiao frowned, signaling Shi Tou and Han Shiyi not to speak for the time being, and then she turned and walked to the door.
Shi Tou knew that Huo Xiaoxiao's subordinates were all very shrewd and capable, so if they were still shouting and yelling at the door even though she had clearly ordered them not to disturb her, it meant that something really had happened.
"What?!"
Sitting in the small dining room, Shi Tou and Han Shiyi exchanged glances, having only heard Huo Xiaoxiao's exclamation. But even that single exclamation revealed the horror in Huo Xiaoxiao's voice.
Not long after, Huo Xiaoxiao returned. But she was completely different from when she left. Now she looked terrified, and her whole body seemed to be trembling.
"Sister, what happened?" Shi Tou couldn't help but ask, while secretly wondering if something had happened to the royal family again. Father and son killing each other? In her previous life, she had seen plenty of palace dramas like this. Just think, if a son wanted his father's position, killing his father was probably the best way.
It has to be said that Stone's guess was quite accurate. However, she guessed the most important point wrong.
"The third prince is dead."
"What?!" Shi Tou and Han Shiyi screamed in unison, their voices no lower than Huo Xiaoxiao's earlier cry: "Oh my god, you're kidding!"
Huo Xiaoxiao's face was deathly pale, even her lips were ashen: "A joke? Heh, I wish it were a joke! The Third Prince died at this time. No one can escape responsibility!"
"What do you mean?" Stone was also confused. It was only after a moment that she realized that the third prince of the royal family was her own brother, whom she had never met.
"The Queen only had two sons and one daughter. Now her daughter..." Huo Xiaoxiao glanced quickly at Shi Tou, "Both of her sons are dead, one of whom was the one she was most looking forward to! Tell me, wouldn't the Queen be furious?"
"Is she furious?" Stone murmured. The death of the Third Prince had shattered all her hopes, so it was understandable that she would be furious. "What...what will happen to her?"
Huo Xiaoxiao clenched her fists, cold sweat pouring down her forehead: "The question isn't what will happen to her, but what will happen to us?"
Seeing Shi Tou's bewildered expression, Huo Xiaoxiao slammed her fist on the table: "Why can't you understand? The Queen supports the Third Prince, and the Qin and Lin families also support the Third Prince! Think about it. Now that the Third Prince is dead, what will happen to the Qin and Lin families?"
"Not good at all... Ah! I was wrong!" Seeing that Huo Xiaoxiao was about to explode, Shi Tou couldn't help but cover his head and run away: "I know, revenge! The Queen will take revenge!"
Huo Xiaoxiao gasped for breath, clearly quite shaken by the news: "The problem is... who to take revenge on!"
"Who killed the Third Prince?" Seeing that Huo Xiaoxiao had finally quieted down, Shi Tou let out a long sigh of relief. "That's not right. Wasn't it said that the Third Prince was in poor health? Could it be that he actually died of illness?"
"How could that be? The Third Prince is in poor health, but not to the point of suddenly dying! The problem now is that all of us are suspects!"
"ah?"
"Think about it, if the Third Prince dies, who will be the biggest beneficiary?"
Shi Tou started scratching her eyes like a mosquito coil. Honestly, she wasn't a scheming person at all; at most, she'd watched a few palace intrigue dramas in her past life. Seeing that Huo Xiaoxiao was about to explode again, Shi Tou could only bite the bullet and speak: "The King? No, he wouldn't kill his own son, would he? Then you... cough cough, I'm just kidding! Yi Siyue! Yes, it must be that bastard! Only that bastard would do that!"
Han Shiyi silently wiped her sweat from the side. Even if she admitted that she was a clueless person, the person who was really least likely to take action was Yi Siyue.
“It can’t be Yi Siyue.” Huo Xiaoxiao said calmly, trying to keep herself composed. There were still many things to do in the future: “He is the least likely person.”
"Why?"
"With the Third Prince dead, His Majesty the King will also benefit; at least for now, his throne is safe. Our alliance will also benefit, because only the true Sixth Princess remains of royal blood in this world. And you…"
Stone gasped sharply, "Me? What does this have to do with me? I didn't do anything!"
“You are the most likely candidate! With the Third Prince dead, and the Queen being your biological mother, she certainly won’t believe that you were the one who did it, and then you can rightfully become Queen!”
Stone felt like she was going to have a cramp. Did they have to be so cruel? She had absolutely no illusions about becoming queen! And, honestly, she had never even met her unfortunate brother!
"So, you're the most suspicious person!" Huo Xiaoxiao's face was extremely close to Shi Tou's. Shi Tou felt that she was really about to collapse. What kind of mess was this?!
"I just..." Before he could retort, Han Shiyi suddenly pulled Shi Tou away. Shi Tou stared at her dumbfounded: "What's wrong?"
"Xiaoyi, it suddenly occurred to me. We already know about this here, but what about other places? I... I'm worried about my mother!" Han Shiyi said with difficulty, "I need to go back now!"
"Wait!" Huo Xiaoxiao didn't let her leave successfully. Instead, she called over her trusted subordinate from outside, whispered a few instructions, and then sent someone to report the news immediately: "Other places shouldn't find out so quickly. At least the Han family won't know so fast!"
Han Shiyi bit her lip. Although she still looked worried, she didn't do anything more outrageous.
Shi Tou knew that the mother and daughter had a very good relationship, and he was a little worried: "Sister, aren't you going to make some preparations?"
"Prepare what? Let me tell you, the more you do now, the more suspicious you'll become!" Huo Xiaoxiao's eyes were filled with a chilling light. "Besides, I'm not in charge of the Huo family anymore. Let me tell you the truth, I don't plan to get involved in this matter. Let my father worry about it!"
"You really..." Shi Tou hesitated, knowing Huo Xiaoxiao's background and how, having lost her mother at a young age, she was deeply attached to her father. But now...
The group of people here were all in a heavy mood, not wanting the worst to happen to be yet to come.
As evening fell, Huo Xiaoxiao was summoned to Grandpa Huo's room, where she remained for several hours. Shi Tou was very worried about Huo Xiaoxiao, while Han Shiyi also received news that her mother had been taken away by her brother, and Han San also sent word that she should stay at the Huo family home and not leave.
Finally, Shi Tou couldn't resist any longer and quietly pulled Han Shiyi closer to Grandpa Huo's room. This was thanks to her previous experience living in the Huo family; otherwise, she might not have been able to evade the guards and reach Grandpa Huo's courtyard so easily.
Grandpa Huo's courtyard was brightly lit. Just as Shi Tou was hesitating whether to go in, Huo Xiaoxiao's shrill scream suddenly rang out: "It's her! It's actually her! How dare you?! That's His Highness the Third Prince! You…"
"Xiaoxiao!" Grandpa Huo's imposing voice rang out: "You people outside, what do you want to hear?"
Shi Tou was startled, but thinking that she had the ring space anyway, she wasn't afraid. Pulling Han Shiyi inside, Shi Tou naturally looked at Huo Xiaoxiao standing in the center of the reception room: "We are Miss Huo's guests, but she hasn't returned yet, so we came to check on her."
Grandpa Huo's sharp eyes were fixed on the stone: "What an excellent guest, managing to find my way here without anyone leading the way. Tsk tsk..."
Shi Tou knew that Grandpa Huo was starting to have doubts, but she didn't care: "I've been to the Huo family before."
Grandpa Huo didn't say anything more, but turned his gaze to Han Shiyi's face: "Miss Han?"
"Hello, Grandpa Huo, I am the eleventh young lady of the Han family." The Han family has many young masters and ladies, and Han Shiyi does not think she is famous enough to be remembered by the old man of the Huo family: "My name is Han Shiyi."
"Oh? Han Shiyi, the one who crippled Lin An?" Grandpa Huo raised an eyebrow, but ultimately let the matter drop: "Xiaoxiao, since you have guests, why don't you go and keep them company?"
Huo Xiaoxiao seemed not to have heard Grandpa Huo's words at all, and stared straight at her father standing to the side: "Father, what do you plan to do about this? My sister, my dear sister, she has caused such a big trouble, are you really not going to do anything about it?"
The reception room was silent; no one uttered a sound.
After a long while, a small voice emerged: "Sister, I know you've always disliked me. But you can't pin this on me, can you? I'm your own sister!"
It is Huo Yi, the real Huo Yi.
Huo Xiaoxiao's face showed a mocking expression: "My own sister? That's hilarious. My mother could never have given birth to a bastard like you!"
"Enough!" Huo Xiaoxiao's father finally lost his temper: "What exactly do you want? She's your sister! Can't you act like a proper older sister?!"
Huo Xiaoxiao was stunned for a moment, then her face turned deathly pale: "Really? It's all my fault? Okay, it's my fault. I killed her biological mother, I made her suffer for so many years, I made her illegitimate, I hindered the relationship between you and your father!"
"Huo Xiaoxiao! If you dare say another word, believe me, I'll kick you out!"
Chapter 265 A Thorn in the Eyes, a Burden in the Flesh
"Kicked out of the house?" Huo Xiaoxiao pursed her lips, her face full of anger. "You really are my good father? You kicked me out of the house? And then what? Is this the next heir of the Huo family?"
"What do you think?" Clearly, Huo Xiaoxiao's father was truly enraged: "I don't only have one daughter, and you can forget about threatening me with those words again!"
Huo Xiaoxiao clenched her fists, her body trembling slightly: "Threat? How could I dare to threaten you! Or is it that you've always taken my words as threats?"
"Isn't that right? It's either you or her, isn't that what you said?"
"Yes, that's what I said. I'm still the same now, it's up to you to decide." Huo Xiaoxiao knew very well that things had come to this point, and she had no way out. Moreover, even if she wanted to back down, there were probably people who wouldn't allow it.
Huo Xiaoxiao's father looked intently at her, a knowing expression on his face: "Xiaoxiao, you are indeed very clever and capable. When you were five, I wanted to remarry, and you used that as a threat. I gave in because you were so young. When you were seven, I brought Xiaoyi and her mother home. I thought you had finally grown up a bit, but what happened? You actually plotted to kill Xiaoyi's mother! When you were ten, you used the same trick to completely drive Xiaoyi away! You really are..."
"What about me? Why are you stopping talking?"
"Do I need to explain what you're doing?!" Huo Xiaoxiao's father, reaching out to pull Huo Yi close, was already furious. "You're not a child anymore! I can no longer convince myself with your childish excuse. You are my daughter, and so is she! As an older sister, it's one thing that you're unwilling to dote on your younger sister, but you've repeatedly framed her! Fine, fine! Since you insist that I choose between you and her, then this time I'll choose Xiao Yi!"
Huo Xiaoxiao stared blankly at her father, the two of them standing face to face, locked in a stalemate.
"Alright, you two are father and daughter after all, why make things so tense!" Grandpa Huo finally spoke. But upon hearing this, Huo Xiaoxiao felt a chill run from her feet to the top of her head. She knew that this time, she had probably lost: "Xiaoxiao, let bygones be bygones. This time, let Xiaoyi stay. She... she is, after all, your sister."
A look of dejection suddenly appeared on Huo Xiaoxiao's face. She closed her eyes and didn't say anything.
"Xiaoxiao, you need to know that you are my eldest daughter, and I have never said that I want Xiaoyi to be the heir of the Huo family. You've been overthinking things all along." Seeing his usually strong-willed eldest daughter like this, Huo Xiaoxiao's father finally softened a little. Actually, he didn't really want to force Huo Xiaoxiao away; he just wanted his two daughters to live together peacefully.
"You want me to be a real sister to her?" Huo Xiaoxiao finally spoke, but her tone was sarcastic.
Trying to ignore the intriguing tone in Huo Xiaoxiao's voice: "Yes, think about it yourself. Other families also have several sisters. Take the Han family for example, how well the brothers and sisters get along! Why can't you accept Xiaoyi? She's your own sister!"
"Really?" Huo Xiaoxiao turned to Han Shiyi: "Ms. Han, how are you and your sister?"
Han Shiyi was stunned for a moment, then asked in confusion, as if she didn't understand what Huo Xiaoxiao was saying, "That's strange. I have older brothers and sisters, but no younger sisters? Um, I don't even have any cousins."
If it weren't for the inappropriate occasion, Shi Tou really wanted to laugh. Han Shiyi was the eleventh young lady of the Han family, and there were twelve young masters and ladies in the direct line of the Han family in this generation, including Han Shier. However, everyone knew about Han Shier's background, and Han Shiyi was deliberately excluding her.
Stone understood what she meant, and so did the others.
Huo Xiaoxiao's father's expression changed. He probably hadn't expected Han Shiyi to say that. Just as he was about to say something, Huo Xiaoxiao preemptively asked, "Where's Han Shier? Who is she to you?"
Han Shiyi looked at Huo Xiaoxiao innocently: "Huh? Her? The maid? Oh dear, Miss Shi, do you know what a child born from the mating of a human and an animal is called?"
Stone's lips twitched: "Probably a bastard! But your partner... cough cough, has really heavy tastes."
If Huo Xiaoxiao's father's face was only slightly unpleasant before, it was now ashen.
"Actually, I've never understood why children born to wives and other men are looked down upon, while children born to husbands and other women are included in the family genealogy?" Huo Xiaoxiao surprisingly played along well with the two of them: "Think about it, what do men feel about their children? They're all born from their wives, after all. But women? They're not from their own wombs, yet they're treated like their own children. Pfft, is that even right?"
"Huo Xiaoxiao!"
Shi Tou glanced at the person who was furious and decisively decided to play along, since she didn't have a good impression of him anyway: "Should I say, have you lost your mind? Expecting children who are not born of the same mother to live peacefully and lovingly? Cough cough, I don't expect those men to think from a woman's point of view. I just think, if he had half-siblings, could he get along with them?"
"Probably not." Huo Xiaoxiao nodded in agreement. "But some people are lucky; after all, they have a father who has been faithful to them from beginning to end."
Grandpa Huo's wife passed away more than 30 years ago, and since then he has never remarried or had any children out of wedlock. It's worth noting that people in this world generally live long lives; many live to be two hundred. Grandpa Huo is only in his early sixties this year, and more than 30 years ago, he was a very eligible bachelor!
"Xiaoxiao..." Grandpa Huo sighed, "Actually, you already had an idea, didn't you? What do you want? Tell me, and we'll discuss it."
Shi Tou looked at Grandpa Huo with a puzzled expression. In fact, she felt that the biggest change since she came back was in Grandpa Huo. In the past, Grandpa Huo doted on Huo Xiaoxiao and had a decisive personality. Once he made a decision, he would do it directly without ever consulting her.
"My thoughts?" Huo Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow. "I don't have any other thoughts. Anyway, I can see that Huo Yi will not leave, or rather, my father will not send Huo Yi away again."