Kai Yuan blinked at Bai Suihe, "I just wanted to see you."

Bai Suihe took a deep breath, emptiness is form, form is emptiness, yet now her mind was completely blank...

Even though she wasn’t the original owner, hearing such heartfelt words from a god-like man, she couldn’t quite resist.

Fortunately, reason prevailed, "Stop with your silver tongue, hurry to the old lady and apologize properly, or I don’t know what accusations I’ll face."

Thinking of her mother’s character, Kai Yuan came to his senses. Since his parents’ passing, compounded by their actions toward him before they passed away, he had long lacked the usual filial affection for them, forgetting that before the family upheaval, the first thing upon returning home was to report to the main courtyard.

"I forgot for a moment," Kai Yuan said, expressionless.

Bai Suihe couldn’t help but roll her eyes at his calm demeanor, "You better not say that outside, forgetting to visit your own mother just to see your wife, I don’t want to be accused of being a femme fatale."

Bai Suihe touched her cheek, admitting she was good looking, but not the kind to seduce others, such accusations weren’t hers to bear.

"Don’t worry, I’ll clarify," Kai Yuan already stood up and began walking out, fearing that if he didn’t leave soon, Bai Suihe might kick him.

Moreover, matters in the house needed to be dealt with, and there were hard battles to fight ahead.

Upon reaching the main courtyard, he heard the sound of a cup smashing. His mother’s disdain for him was really as undisguised as ever.

With a cold smile, he didn’t wait for the maid to announce him, directly lifted the curtain and entered.

"Mother, your son has returned." After speaking, he didn’t wait for Xu Huizhen to talk, finding himself a seat.

"You unfilial child, upon returning, you went to find that seductress, do I even matter to you as your mother?"

Kai Yuan, "After days of travel, I’m filthy, so I dared not disturb Mother.

Initially thinking of cleaning myself up first, but hearing how much Mother was thinking of me, upon being summoned, I came right away."

The old lady squinted at him; this attire looked no different from when he was inside the house, merely an excuse of his own.

"Oh, then why didn’t I see you do this before?"

"Previously, your son was immature; henceforth, I shall take my elder brothers as examples, follow them, learn how to honor my parents.

This trip has brought me benefits thanks to Mother’s blessings, and I’ve had realizations, your son previously had many transgressions, I will self-reflect in the future, not causing trouble for my two elder brothers." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The old lady looked puzzled, what’s wrong with the third son today? Why did she not understand these words?

"What do you mean? Are you having difficulties with your brothers?"

Kai Yuan ignored her interrogation, "Previously, I always thought of honoring my parents, the best things were meant to be presented to them first, unaware that this would trouble my two elder brothers, causing them burden.

From now on, I shall not stand out, only take my elder brothers as models."

He genuinely was filial before, when traveling, he would buy anything good to bring home, his mother praised his filial piety with a smiling face but complained to his father behind his back, saying that when traveling, he didn’t know how to be frugal, extravagantly spending the family’s silver.

He was merely using the family’s silver to show filial affection, way too opportunistic.

Yet little did he know all this silver was earned by his own hustle between places, exploiting the price difference of goods and had nothing to do with the family’s business.

However, she’d turn around and distribute a significant portion of these purchases to the Xu family, showing filial piety. Such double standards, it was his own blindness for not seeing through.

The old lady summoned him so quickly mainly to prevent him from sending the purchased items to the third house.

However, she was disappointed, this time he brought nothing, having silver means he must plan for what’s ahead.

"..." The old lady realized Kai Yuan was done talking and remained seated there without further indication, immediately understanding his hidden meaning.

This renegade son, truly didn’t bring back anything, or had things already been sent to the third house?

"Was this trip unsuccessful for you?"

"Everything went smoothly; managers in various estates followed their duties. They will bring account books and receipts to the house by the month’s end," Kai Yuan replied formally.

"..." Xu Huizhen didn’t know how to continue the topic; she couldn’t openly ask her son for things she deemed beneath her.

No wonder she wasn’t fond of him, lacking discernment.

She glanced at Nanny Zhou, who immediately understood her intent, quietly exited, then hurried back after a while, whispering into Xu Huizhen’s ear, making her expression even uglier.

She initially thought this scoundrel had sent things to the third house, who would’ve known he returned home empty-handed.

She hoped the items he brought back would convert into some cash to give an explanation to the Xu family.

"If that’s the case, then you may leave," with nothing in hand, Xu Huizhen also didn’t want to look at this unfilial son, but making concessions to him wasn’t possible either.

Talking about taking his elder brothers as examples, just an excuse for his lack of filialness.

She forgot most of the gifts she’d received over the years were from this deemed unfilial son.

Kai Yuan didn’t linger. Mother enjoyed being pretentious, but it was just a matter of days left; as her son, avoiding awkwardness was also the greatest sense of filial piety.

Seeing Kai Yuan leave, Xu Huizhen then asked Nanny Zhou, "Do you feel that both of the third couple have been acting strange?"

"Third young master is indeed somewhat out of line this time, maybe he was stimulated by something, for saying he will imitate the two elder brothers.

The eldest and second young masters pursued scholarly paths; is it possible the third young master holds grievances over it?"

"What grievances could he have? He was unruly since childhood, not suited for studies.

Now he manages household affairs, unlike his elder brothers who burned the midnight oil studying, his life is quite comfortable. Look at him, tall and brawny, because he has no worries.

If he complains, it indeed reflects poor character."

Nanny Zhou, knowing the old lady’s bias, was accustomed to hearing such comments.

She didn’t intend to speak for the third young master either, "Perhaps this time he was upset somewhere, give it some time."

"He was upset? Just because he’s upset, does he have the right to act like I don’t exist?" Xu Huizhen’s anger spiked again, showing further displeasure, "I need to discuss with the head of the family. Keeping him managing household affairs isn’t sustainable; while we’re still around, he stays under protection, but when he has his own family, do we want him out on the streets begging, tarnishing the Gu family’s reputation."

"What does the old lady imply?"

"Of course, he should go out and find work; he has a family and is soon to be a father, should become independent."

Nanny Zhou, "... The matron is wise."

Xu Huizhen seemed to have found a new way to deal with Kai Yuan, her previous displeasure faded somewhat, "When the master returns, make sure he’s informed to come to my quarters."

Nanny Zhou promptly agreed; being the old lady’s confidant, she only had to follow orders.