Chapter 2719

The atmosphere in the room was heavy, far from calm. Hong Haixin had indeed harbored such a plan, but she had intended to keep it secret. her calculation was precise: she would wait until the child born to her beloved grew up. Then, she would find an opportunity to trigger the "Red Thunder" incident, bring the child back, and install her as the heir. However, the first prerequisite was that the child must be born safely. More importantly, this plan absolutely could not be known to Madam Xing and her two sons.

Although Madam Xing was not from a major family within the Seven-Colored City, she was the legitimate daughter of a prominent aristocratic family from a large city outside. Her natal family, the Xing clan, stood firmly behind her. If she had no valid reason to strip Hong Xiao and Hong Lei of their heir status, the Xing family would never let her off the hook. Therefore, her original plan was to proceed step by step.

But now, the plan could not keep up with the changes. she was certain that someone in the shadows had discovered the truth about her beloved. They had misled her into thinking she was in trouble. In her panic, she had naturally sought her out. Who could have imagined that this was merely a conspiracy?

"Madam, A-Xing is carrying my child. Please do not speak nonsense," Hong Hai said.

"Nonsense?" Madam Xing smiled faintly. If not for her pale complexion, her demeanor might have seemed cheerful. "I am only asking you one thing: Are you plotting against my two sons? Do you intend to give everything in the Hong family to the child of your beloved A-Xing? Why do you dare not answer me directly?"

Hong Hai licked his lips and forced a response, "Madam, you are overthinking it."

"I am not overthinking. I am simply asking for an answer. Is it that difficult?" Madam Xing looked at Hong Hai with a serious expression. She demanded an answer and would not allow her to evade.

Hong Hai looked at Madam Xing. "Madam, I will not do anything that betrays the Hong family."

"Is that so?" Madam Xing nodded. "Is that your answer?"

Madam Xing’s gaze was cold. "Hong Hai, you refuse to answer directly because you know in your heart that I have already guessed the truth. You have already made your decision."

Madam Xing spoke calmly, "The Hong family is indeed good, but my sons can also choose to reject it. However," she continued softly, "if my sons are to reject the Hong family, they must first not be your sons, Hong Hai. If they take my surname, Xing, they can take nothing from the Hong family."

"Madam, what do you mean?" Hong Hai asked directly.

"I am giving you a choice," Madam Xing said, meeting his gaze. "Either you give up everything in the Hong family and live with your beloved, or you let the two sons take my surname. Then, you will sign a separation agreement with me. I will take the two sons and my dowry and leave. Make your choice."

Hong Hai knew Madam Xing was strong-willed. Although she did not have much romantic love for her, years of marriage had forged a bond of familial affection. Hearing her words, her mood darkened. "Madam, I hope you are joking."

Madam Xing sneered coldly. "Hong Xiao’s personality is actually very similar to yours. You say Hong Xiao is unfilial, but in truth, you have not set a good example. Women should never make things difficult for other women. If you think I would make things difficult for A-Xing because of your infidelity, I am incapable of that. Similarly, after Hong Xiao and Qingxia fell in love, Qingyun did not look down on it. Qingyun could give up Hong Xiao, and naturally, I can also give up on you."

"Mother," Hong Xiao said, feeling somewhat resentful at his mother’s evaluation of him.

Madam Xing glanced at Hong Xiao. "Do not feel resentful, and do not think you are without fault. In fact, if you were not my son, I would slap you away. A good man must first keep himself clean. No one forbids you from being with Qingxia, but you must first clarify matters with Qingyun. Even if Qingyun was missing at the time, you should have told me so I could send people to find her, rather than helping Qingxia hide the truth."

"Mother," Hong Xiao said, "but Qingxia said Qingyun was in grave danger. The Hundred-Change Forest is so dangerous, so I did not tell you."

Madam Xing said calmly, "That is why I say you are a fool. You held onto sesame seeds and lost watermelons; you kept gravel and lost pearls. Of course, since you are my son, although I disapprove, I cannot say much. I will simply take you away and slowly teach you again."

Watching Madam Xing’s demeanor, Zhu Yanyi commented, "I feel that Hong Xiao becoming this way has little to do with Madam Xing."

The Emperor and Empress nodded. "I think Madam Xing said something very well: 'Why should women make things difficult for women?' When a man is promiscuous, the ultimate fault lies with the man. It has nothing to do with the women."

Zhu Yanyi hummed in agreement. "Hong Hai looks like a decent person, but how can she do things so beastly?"

"That is why they say, 'You can know a person’s face, but not their heart,'" the Fairy Empress said.

At this moment, Hong Hai seemed to have fallen into the same awkward situation as his son. He could see that Madam Xing was serious.

To be honest, if separating from Madam Xing meant he could be with his beloved, he was willing. But if that were the case, he first had to cease being the head of the Hong family.

A-Xing was gentle, but she was a widow and her concubine. Unless a major incident occurred on her side, her child could not be brought back. At best, she could only be a concubine. How could she bear to let A-Xing be a concubine?

However, she could not separate from Madam Xing. she knew that although Madam Xing’s personality was not perfect, she held a significant position in the Hong family, largely because the Xing family supported her.

If Madam Xing separated from him, the Xing family might become his enemy. Especially since Madam Xing proposed taking the two sons with her.

Although he had several concubine-born sons, his legitimate sons were only Hong Xiao and Hong Lei. Since A-Xing could never become his principal wife, he would absolutely not allow anyone to take the position of A-Xing’s child. Therefore, Hong Xiao and Hong Lei could not leave.

Madam Xing and Hong Hai had been married for many years. She understood what her expression meant. Seeing Hong Hai’s reaction, what more did she need to understand?

Madam Xing sighed and said, "Hong Hai, let us part on good terms."

Hong Hai shook his head. "Madam, can we discuss this at home?"

Madam Xing replied, "There is no need to discuss it at home. If we separate, and the children take my surname, then Hong Xiao can marry Qingxia as he wishes. It will not affect the Hong family’s affairs, right? And the child of your beloved can openly become your heir. Is that not so?"