Chapter 169 - 168: Making a Scene and Acting Unreasonably

Xia Ruqing’s lips curved into a confident smile.

"Whatever!"

"Zi Yue, let’s go!"

With that, she issued another command.

"Without my order, no one is allowed to bring food into the mansion!"

"Yes!"

Zi Yue bowed her head with a smile.

Back at her residence, Xia Ruqing instructed, "Send the roast chicken, roast duck, pancakes, and everything else to Maternal Aunt Wen!"

She had barely finished giving the order when Maternal Aunt Wen walked in from outside with Xia Caiying.

The moment Maternal Aunt Wen stepped inside, she knelt.

Xia Ruqing was startled.

"Maternal Aunt, what are you doing? Please, get up quickly!"

Maternal Aunt Wen shook her head with a smile.

"Eldest Miss, you are the legitimate daughter, and I am merely a concubine. By right, you are the master!"

Xia Ruqing shook her head.

"What are you saying? My mother passed away young. If not for your help, both openly and secretly, Jingfeng and I wouldn’t be where we are today."

During those difficult times, she still managed to spare a bite of food for my brother and me.

That truly wasn’t easy!

Maternal Aunt Wen said with teary eyes, "Eldest Miss, I know you are capable now. You are from the palace and enjoy the Emperor’s favor!"

"During your stay in the mansion, you’ve also shown great care for my daughter and me!"

"I’m truly grateful that you keep us in your thoughts, but..."

Xia Ruqing pulled them up and asked, "Maternal Aunt, what is it you wish to say?"

After thinking it over, Maternal Aunt Wen spoke, "Eldest Miss, I must say this, but please don’t misunderstand me."

"Mm, please speak."

Maternal Aunt Wen then said, "Eldest Miss, I know you harbor resentment, but... have you considered who Lady Yao will vent her anger on if you leave?!"

With that, she lowered her head and hugged her daughter.

"My daughter and I are used to hardship. No matter what, as long as we have something to eat, we mother and daughter can survive!"

"But it’s different for the Second Young Master. He..."

"He’s still studying and needs to achieve his scholarly honors. He cannot withstand such turmoil!"

Lady Yao may be shameless, but the Second Young Master cannot afford to lose his reputation!

Hearing this, an inexplicable bitterness welled up in Xia Ruqing’s heart.

She began to truly observe this woman, who had always been unassuming yet possessed incredible resilience.

It was only then she realized Maternal Aunt Wen was not as simple-minded as she appeared.

She was benevolent, wise, kind-hearted, and even treated others’ children as her own.

Xia Ruqing took her hand and said slowly, "Maternal Aunt, you truly treat my brother and me as your own children."

Feeling embarrassed, Maternal Aunt Wen lowered her head and gestured modestly.

"Eldest Miss, you overwhelm me. You were just children. How could I stand by and do nothing? Besides, when your mother was alive, she treated me very well too!"

Xia Ruqing smiled.

"Alright, Maternal Aunt, don’t be embarrassed. Rest assured, I won’t let Lady Yao interfere in Jingfeng’s affairs anymore."

Maternal Aunt Wen finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"That’s good!"

Xia Ruqing continued, "And Lady Yao won’t dare to bully you and your younger sister anymore!"

Maternal Aunt Wen was somewhat surprised.

"Ah? Why? Eldest Miss, once you leave..."

"Maternal Aunt, how could I be so foolish as to seek my own relief at the cost of pushing you into a fiery pit?"

"Then, Eldest Miss, what do you plan to do?"

Xia Ruqing blinked.

"It’s a secret!"

...

Lady Yao, her two children in tow, rode in a carriage towards the Yamen, seething with anger.

Old Master Xia was overwhelmed with anxiety.

The Emperor had given him three days to investigate the child trafficking case thoroughly.

But half a day had passed, and the subordinates he’d sent out hadn’t returned yet.

The sun outside was scorching, making the room feel like a steamer.

Dressed in his thick official robes, he paced back and forth within the inner office of the Yamen, his clothes soaked with sweat.

"Master... Master, save me!"

Her voice choked with sobs, Lady Yao led her two children in, crying and wailing as they entered.

County Magistrate Xia was quite surprised.

"What are you doing here? And why did you bring the children? This is no place for you. Go back quickly! Whatever it is, we can discuss it tonight!"

Consumed by rage, Lady Yao was in no mood to listen to such words.

In front of her children, she abandoned all pretense of decorum and wailed uncontrollably.

"Master, this life is unbearable!"

"Master, you should just divorce me! I can’t stay in this mansion any longer!"

Old Master Xia grew alarmed.

"What’s wrong? Speak!"

Lady Yao peeked at him. Seeing County Magistrate Xia sweating profusely, she assumed he was worried about her, and a wave of secret delight washed over her.

Heh! Master, at least you have some conscience, not letting the children I bore for you suffer for nothing!

With this thought, she became even bolder.

Seeing no one else around, she sat on the floor and began her routine of crying, causing a ruckus, and threatening to hang herself.

"Master, the Eldest Miss’s status is too noble! I am not fit to serve her! I am guilty!!"

"You should just divorce me!"

"It’s just... my poor Weiwei and Ruyi!"

The two four-year-olds, apparently used to their mother’s antics, showed no fear. They simply stood there, watching their mother’s performance with great effort!

"What on earth happened?!"

Old Master Xia already had a pressing task and was feeling anxious.

Seeing Lady Yao beating around the bush, he grew even more agitated.

When Lady Yao saw that Old Master Xia was about to lose his temper, she finally stopped her wailing.

Wiping her tears, she recounted the events, adding plenty of embellishments.

She particularly emphasized that "her children hadn’t even had lunch."

"The Eldest Miss is too much! She gave all of Weiwei’s and Ruyi’s things to Maternal Aunt Wen!"

"That’s one thing. My children and I may have humble lives, but... we shouldn’t be starved to death!"

Old Master Xia breathed a sigh of relief.

"I thought it was something serious! So it’s just this trivial matter."

"Qingqing harbors resentment, so what’s wrong with you enduring a little grievance?"

"Aren’t you usually quite understanding? Why are you being so unreasonable now!"

"If she took the food, couldn’t you just ask the kitchen for another serving?"

Lady Yao seemed to have been waiting for this very sentence.

The moment Old Master Xia asked, she immediately burst into loud wails and complaints again.

"Master! The Eldest Miss has taken over the kitchen and won’t let them cook for us! Look, Weiwei and Ruyi are so thin from hunger!"

At her gesture, Xia Weifeng and Xia Ruyi started crying loudly.

"Father! That Xia Ruqing is a vile woman; she won’t let the kitchen cook for us!"

"That’s right, Father! Mother sent someone to buy us food from outside, but that vile woman snatched it away!!"

"Father! She’s awful! Drive her away!"

"No! I think she should be locked up in prison!"

That two four-year-old children could utter such malicious words.

Lady Yao certainly had her methods.

...

Old Master Xia found this somewhat hard to believe.

"Is what you’re saying true?"

Just as Lady Yao, wiping her tears, was about to add more fuel to the fire, a sudden sound of footsteps came from outside, followed by a clear and melodious voice.

"Mother, you truly are two-faced. You didn’t speak like this in front of me, your daughter!"