The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]
Chapter 422: A Poisionous Game

Chapter 422: A Poisionous Game

*Xu Feng probably rolling around in the grass somewhere, ’Never trust an old snake!’*

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The atmosphere in the room was charged with tension, yet a sense of stability seemed to underpin the emotions swirling within. Xuan Yang’s thoughts churned like turbulent waters, while his grandfather’s gaze flickered between him and the two imposing figures standing silently in the background.

Jia and Jun, the shadowy presence in the room, seemed to blend seamlessly into the background, their watchful eyes darting to and fro as they observed the unfolding conversation.

Xuan Muchen’s occasional glances towards them did not go unnoticed, and Xuan Muchen couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that their presence evoked.

These were some of the men who had been around Xuan Yang for nearly a decade. They were recruited one by one after Xuan Jian, but were not officially adopted into the family like the latter.

It was customary for young masters to have servants attend to their needs, but there was something about Jia and Jun that set them apart. Not just them, but the six men, including Xuan Jian all had a similar aura.

Their demeanor was too stern, their presence too imposing, reminiscent of the guards that surrounded royalty and the highest nobility.

Xuan Muchen had spent years pandering to the royals to stabilize his foothold in the capital after their family relocated a generation prior. Although now his idiot of a son was ruining their image.

At least Xuan Yang had academic talent and a cautious nature, he was well suited to politics and scholarly pursuits, but it made him harder to manipulate.

As Xuan Yang grappled with his own internal turmoil, he found himself questioning his own perceptions of his family.

Despite his deep seated distrust for his relatives, particularly the women of the family, a flicker of doubt crept into his mind when it came to his grandfather.

Was Xuan Muchen truly as villainous as he had always believed? This grandfather was often a "silent bystander" in his childhood "experiences," but that didn’t mean he didn’t agree with Lady Xuan and Xuan Muyang’s treatment of him.

It also didn’t mean he cared for Xuan Yang in an authentic way. He was likely always just a pawn. The old snake’s words, dripping with subtle cunning, planted seeds of uncertainty in Xuan Yang’s mind, stirring up a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

It seemed like his father’s heart kicked in after years of chilling void. Despite his deep distrust for his family, Xuan Yang wanted a stable family for his children.

There would be no Xu Feng, only himself, Xuan Jian, and Xu Zeng. Only they would be his children’s closest relatives...

For a brief moment, Xuan Yang entertained the notion of a stable family dynamic, of having an elder figure on their side for the sake of his children.

He was torn between conflicting loyalties.

Beneath it all, Xuan Muchen’s true nature shone through like a slithering serpent, his words laced with calculated intent.

"Why hasn’t Xuan Jian come for you yet?" The question hung in the air like a whisper. Xuan Muchen’s eyes gleamed with a predatory glint, his cunning nature hiding behind his seemingly loving show earlier. "Your last letter to him was opened 5 days ago, more than enough time to get from Yilin to Jinghua."

The old man might have shown some emotion today, but he was still a snake, not quite a fox, but slippery enough to pull one over on many back in his political days. Xuan Yang was usually hard to deceive, only because he refused to converse with them freely.

Xuan Muchen truly looked highly on this grandson, but he couldn’t help himself, he was truly a snake, and manipulation was his forte.

Xuan Yang’s jaw tightened slightly as he struggled to maintain his composure in the face of his grandfather’s probing inquiry. The mention of Xuan Jian’s letter ignited a spark of defiance within him.

Unluckily for the old man, there were two snakes in the room... there was also Jia and Jun, but they didn’t count. Xuan Muchen’s servants had been dismissed after their game, but Xuan Yang kept Jia and Jun close.

He had never let his guard down.

There was an old wise snake, but he was a truly talented young and spry snake—Xuan Yang couldn’t help himself, he did something Xu Feng had taught him, he rolled his eyes at the old snake.

A snake was always a snake, and Xu Feng always rebuked Xuan Yang for being too observant when it didn’t suit the silver haired fox and his intentions.

Xuan Yang wanted to show his little fox how useful he was among his Xuan clan and how he was even more useful in the political spheres of Jinghua. He wanted to show Xu Feng how much he was worth, and how he could help the ger and their children... but it was too late.

He couldn’t show his lost lover, but he could provide for his family. He would make sure they lived a good life before they left the continent.

This was one of the few things keeping Xuan Yang moving. It was his motivation to interact with the people of the Xuan family.

The thought of somehow showing Xu Feng he could care for their children, their shared lover, and his brother, was the main purpose that was keeping Xuan Yang from breaking down again.

Without waiting for a reply, the old snake continued as he took in the distant look in Xuan Yang’s eyes. Maybe if he spoke softly enough Xuan Yang would unconsciously speak up?

"The Bai and Deng families have been parading around some tea recently, and I hear your..." The old man should have been trying to coerce him, but Xuan Yang was able to see the disdain in his eyes as he skirted around Xu Feng.

There wasn’t disgust in every utterance of his ger’s name and title, but this time it seemed like he felt the connection he was insinuating at, a bit far fetched.

Too bad Xuan Muchen was actually on the right track.

"Your, wife, is very close to the branch head of the Bai family. They are good study friends. Is there any way he could procure some tea from the Bai child?"