Chapter 146: It Was Her Uncle Who Made a Move on Her

Third Aunt San hugged Xiang Xinyao tightly, her face full of heartache.

Third Uncle San family had no daughters, so ever since Xinyao was little, they cherished her like their own.

But things were different with her eldest uncle’s family. He had one son and four daughters. His family embodied the preference for sons over daughters, spoiling their son to no end while treating their daughters harshly and strictly.

He envied Xiang Xinyao’s father and her third uncle.

He envied her father for having three sons in a row, and then, finally, a daughter.

Now, all three sons had made a name for themselves.

Even though the little daughter had only recently been found, her exquisite beauty alone was enough to incite jealousy.

What especially fueled his envy was that this little girl was even betrothed to the virtuous Prince Xian. The future of Xiang Tianyang’s family would surely be prosperous and glorious.

Her eldest uncle, Xiang Tianao, looked at her with jealousy so intense it was impossible to hide.

Xiang Xinyao looked at him, a trace of coldness flashing in her eyes.

Suddenly, long-buried memories surged back to her.

They were hazy memories from when the original owner was three years old.

Though those memories were unclear, she could still vaguely piece together her uncle’s face.

She remembered now!

It was this beast in human clothing, her uncle, who had acted against her.

He was the one who, back then, covered the original owner’s mouth and abducted her from her mother’s side to hand her over to traffickers!

Xiang Xinyao’s gaze grew colder as she looked at Xiang Tianao.

In all the years she’d been gone, her eldest uncle must have made some moves.

The specifics of what he’d done could only be learned by asking her father privately.

But now, in front of her parents, uncles, and aunts, she had no intention of letting her uncle off.

Her gaze turned icy. “Uncle, why did you take me from my mother’s side and hand me over to traffickers eleven years ago?”

Everyone was stunned.

Xiang Tianao’s face turned ashen.

Impossible!

Back then, Xiang Xinyao had been barely over three years old.

How could she possibly remember?

“You—don’t talk nonsense. When did I ever take you?” Xiang Tianao’s eyes darted away, a wave of panic rising within him.

Xiang Xinyao’s voice grew colder. “Don’t think that just because I was barely over three at the time, I’ve forgotten everything. True, I don’t remember many details, but I remember your face.”

“You—you’re spouting nonsense!”

“Oh? If you think I’m spouting nonsense, then why are you panicking?”

Xiang Tianao tried to feign calmness. “I’m not panicking. If I didn’t do it, why would I panic?”

However, no one present was a fool; everyone could see his unease.

Xiang Tianyang and Xiang Tianlei looked at him in shock and disbelief.

This was their blood-related elder brother, Xinyao’s uncle.

How could he be so cruel?

To act against his own niece.

Xiang Tianyang, a shrewd man, realized, “No wonder! No wonder you were so eager to have your youngest daughter adopted into my family after Xinyao went missing. You wanted to secure the marriage agreement Xinyao had since childhood!”

After Xinyao disappeared, Xiang Tianao had frequently visited Xiang Tianyang’s home, always bringing his youngest daughter along.

He had hinted on numerous occasions that he wanted to have her adopted by Xiang Tianyang.

His youngest daughter was only a year and a half older than Xinyao.

His eldest daughter was older than Mo Jinnan, so a match was out of the question.

At the time, Xiang Tianyang was only the Minister of Public Works, a third-rank official.

Meanwhile, Xiang Tianao was merely a merchant and could never hope to marry into the royal family.

To rise quickly, his best option was to connect his daughter to the royal family.

But he had never been given the chance.

Although Xiang Tianyang served in the court, he was an honest and upright official who would never help Xiang Tianao.

(NOTE: if some of you guys are bewildered, Xiang Tianyang is the father of Xiang Xinyao. If I’m not mistaken his name is already in the previous chapters. That’s all, enjoy readinggg!!)

After much contemplation, Xiang Tianao ultimately decided to target Xiang Xinyao, whom Xiang Tianyang’s family cherished dearly.

His plan was simple: as long as Xiang Xinyao disappeared, and Xiang Tianyang adopted his youngest daughter, the marriage arrangement with Prince Xian would transfer to his daughter. He was her biological father, and once she rose to glory, naturally, she would repay him.

But fate had other plans.

Xiang Tianyang was unwilling to adopt her and never gave up on finding Xinyao. Even after he and his wife adopted Xiang Xinyu, he refused to take in Xiang Tianao’s youngest daughter.

Xiang Tianao was furious, grinding his teeth in resentment, but he was powerless.

In the following years, Xiang Tianao’s family rarely interacted with Xiang Tianyang’s family. When they did, they were cold and sarcastic, never showing a kind face.

Out of consideration for the bond they shared as blood brothers, Xiang Tianyang didn’t take his brother’s attitude to heart.

Furious, Xiang Tianlei cried, “Elder brother, Yao’er is your own niece. How could you do this to her?”

Realizing he could no longer hide it, Xiang Tianao let out a cold snort. “Hmph! It’s because she’s my niece that I didn’t kill her. I only had the traffickers take her away. Had I known she’d be found someday, I should’ve choked her to death back then! I was too soft-hearted at the time; otherwise, the marriage arrangement with Prince Xian would’ve belonged to my Qingqing!”

Xiang Yuqing—Xiang Tianao’s youngest daughter—had already come of age, with a steady stream of suitors, but Xiang Tianao had turned them all down. He hadn’t given up yet; he was waiting. Waiting for Mo Jinnan to propose, intending to reveal then that Xinyu was merely the adopted daughter of the Xiang family.

However, before Mo Jinnan could propose, Xinyao had been found. Years of scheming had come to nothing, leaving him resentful.

He came today to see if Xinyao, after suffering for eleven years in the countryside, still had the standing to be by the virtuous prince’s side.

Yet, when he saw Xinyao’s flawless face, his hatred and jealousy flared even more intensely.

The dead girl didn’t look as though she’d been worn down in the countryside for eleven years; instead, it was as if she’d been pampered that whole time.

That smooth, radiant skin certainly didn’t seem like it belonged to someone who grew up enduring hardships.

Back then, he had paid the traffickers a hefty sum, instructing them to take her as far away as possible, preferably to a remote, poverty-stricken village.

But upon seeing her today, she didn’t look as though she’d suffered at all.

It was enough to make him sick with anger!

Bai Jing burst into tears, furious. “Xiang Tianao, you’re nothing but a beast! What did Yao’er ever do to you? How could you be so heartless, tearing our family apart for eleven years?”

Xiang Tianao sneered. “She didn’t offend me, but her engagement to Prince Xian is intolerable. What did I do wrong? Tianyang serves in the court but refuses to help me. I want to rise to prominence too; I want to bring honor to my family name. Do I not deserve the chance?

If only Qingqing could marry Prince Xian, then all that wealth and glory would belong to me, Xiang Tianao!”

With a sharp smack, Xiang Tianyang stepped forward and delivered a resounding slap to Xiang Tianao’s face.

“Yao’er’s engagement to Prince Xian was arranged by the late emperor and Consort Helian. Do you really think that getting rid of Yao’er would mean that marriage could pass to your daughter? Even when I adopted Xinyu, I never once thought of having her replace Yao’er. You thought that by adopting Qingqing, you’d secure this marriage? Who do you take Consort Helian and Prince Xian for? Are you prepared to face the charge of deceiving the emperor?”