Chapter 86.3

The next morning, she woke up to a white, misty scene outside.

Ruan Mingfu ran out excitedly. “Is it snowing?”

“It’s frost,” Xie Yanzhao corrected.

The frost had settled so thickly that it resembled a thin layer of snow. Ruan Mingfu reached out to touch it, but it quickly melted into water, leaving her fingertips cold. Only then did she realize that what had been a beautiful frost flower was now just a wet patch on the leaves.

“You’re not dressed warmly enough again.”

Xie Yanzhao draped a coat over her shoulders.

“Aww,” Ruan Mingfu sighed in disappointment. “I thought it was snow.”

“It’ll snow in a few days,” he reassured her.

With frost this thick, snow was inevitable.

Ruan Mingfu obediently put on the coat. The black fabric made her skin look even fairer, almost like jade. She had made this coat herself, and though it was black, the details were intricate.

She slipped her cold hands into Xie Yanzhao’s.

He, indulgent as ever, held her hands tightly until they warmed up.

“Oh, looks like we arrived at the wrong time.”

At the sound of this voice, Xie Yanzhao’s forehead veins instinctively twitched.

Turning around, he saw the face he disliked most—Andre.

“You again?” Xie Yanzhao asked coldly.

“I come and go as I please. What’s it to you?” Andre shot back, looking straight at Xie Yanzhao with a challenging expression. “Don’t think I don’t know. This estate is part of Miss Ruan’s dowry, you shameless pretty boy.”

His words were full of provocation as he glared at Xie Yanzhao.

Fists clenched, Xie Yanzhao wanted nothing more than to punch Andre’s smug face.

Ruan Mingfu sighed inwardly.

An immature man provoking Xie Yanzhao constantly—no matter how calm her husband was, there would be a breaking point. Seeing that the two were about to fight, Ruan Mingfu quickly intervened.

“Baron Andre, is there something you need?”

He clutched his chest dramatically, his gaze sorrowful as he looked at Ruan Mingfu.

“Miss Ruan, you wound me deeply. After knowing each other for so long, you still won’t call me by my first name…”

Xie Yanzhao immediately pulled Ruan Mingfu closer. “Then die of heartbreak,” he muttered.

At this point, he could hardly contain his desire to strangle this guy. If it weren’t for the fact that Andre was a foreign guest, he would’ve beaten him several times already.

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

Seeing that the two were about to quarrel again, she quickly pulled Xie Yanzhao’s arm.

“Andre…” Ruan Mingfu swallowed the word “baron” despite his sorrowful gaze. “What brings you here this time?”

This time felt a bit unusual, as even his shadow, Finny, wasn’t with him.

“There’s an exchange event in the capital, and I’d like to invite you to be my translator,” Andre said, dropping the playful demeanor and becoming serious.

“Mr. Andre, my husband and I are quite busy, so I’m afraid I can’t take on your translation duties,” Ruan Mingfu declined. “As far as I know, there are many talented individuals in the Foreign Ministry. If you ask, they’ll be happy to help.”

Andre dramatically clutched his chest. “Miss Ruan, how could you reject me? You’re breaking my heart…”

Xie Yanzhao stepped forward. “If Baron Andre doesn’t mind, I’m willing to help.”

“You?” Andre dropped the act, his disdain evident.

He acted as if Xie Yanzhao was invisible, his gaze lingering on Ruan Mingfu with a tender look.

“Miss Ruan, I hope you’ll seriously consider my proposal and give me your answer tomorrow,” Andre said before hastily leaving to avoid being chased off by Xie Yanzhao.

Ruan Mingfu felt a sense of disbelief. “You can’t go!”

Xie Yanzhao firmly held Ruan Mingfu’s hand, insisting on his stance.

“Okay, okay, I won’t go,” Ruan Mingfu replied with an exasperated expression.

Princess Xie has spoken. What else can she say?

…

After dinner, the two of them, along with Xie Ming and Xie Yan, headed to the courtyard. Upon entering, they found Xie Donglou and Xie Xilou’s family already busy with preparations.

Seeing Xie Yanzhao felt like seeing a long-lost son to them.

“Yanzhao, why are you back so soon?”

“Who are you…” Before Xie Yanzhao could respond, a voice interrupted, “Are you the young master?”

Aunt Zhang looked at Xie Yanzhao, her eyes turning red.

“Wow, you’ve grown so big. Comrade Xiao… Bai should be relieved.”

The Comrade Bai here certainly cannot be Bai Qianzhu. The one Aunt Zhang is referring to is Xie Yanzhao’s biological mother.

“You’re… Aunt Zhang?”

“Yes, that’s me,” Aunt Zhang replied. Her gray hair and wrinkled face reflected a lifetime of care. “I feel relieved to see you grow up like this.”

Aunt Zhang was a distant relative of Commander Xie and had been invited to care for Xie Yanzhao since he was born.

Years ago, when Aunt Zhang’s son had an accident and injured his leg, she had to return to care for him. As a result, Bai Qingzhu specifically chose Bai Qianzhu to replace her. But who could have known she picked a cunning wolf? During the year Xie Yanzhao spent under Bai Qianzhu’s care, it was Aunt Zhang who helped him.

In the end, she informed Grandpa Bai, or else Xie Yanzhao wouldn’t be where he was today.

“This must be your wife?” Aunt Zhang said tearfully, looking at Ruan Mingfu. “She’s lovely…”

Xie Yanzhao was at a loss for words. “Aunt Zhang, please don’t cry.”

“I’ll listen to you and stop crying,” Aunt Zhang wiped away her tears, looking at him with pride.

“Seeing you like this makes me feel at ease,” she said, turning to the couple. “You two should live well together and avoid quarrels. Young lady, if he ever upsets you, just tell Aunt Zhang. I’ll definitely help you teach him a lesson!”

Ruan Mingfu lowered her head slightly. “He hasn’t bullied me…”

“That’s good,” Aunt Zhang said, patting Ruan Mingfu’s hand. “Seeing you both happy like this would make Qingzhu feel content as well.”

Mentioning Bai Qingzhu brought a somber mood over everyone.

“Aunt Zhang, where do you plan to go?”

“Well…”

With Commander Xie gone, the house would be taken back. Where could Aunt Zhang go besides returning to the countryside?

“Why don’t you come stay with me?” Ruan Mingfu suggested. “It’s tough for Guan Jiu to manage alone. It would be nice for you to have each other for company and help me keep an eye on the house.”

Knowing how much Aunt Zhang meant to the dog man, Ruan Mingfu realized it was a kind favor she could do.

“Is that really okay?”

To Aunt Zhang, Xie Yanzhao might feel closer than her own children.

“Let’s settle this,” Ruan Mingfu said, seeing their hesitation. “However, we’ll be in Wancheng for a while, so we might not be back quickly.”

“That won’t do! I’m just an old woman, I can’t keep bothering you both.”

Aunt Zhang waved her hands repeatedly.

“Aunt Zhang, just stay,” Xie Yanzhao said, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. “I want to eat the pea cake you make.”

Upon hearing this, Aunt Zhang’s tears began to flow again.

Looking at the scar on his face, Aunt Zhang’s emotions were even more stirred.

“Okay, I’ll make it right away!”

She wiped her face, turned, and headed to the kitchen without Ruan Mingfu being able to stop her.

“Aunt Zhang is just like that,” Xie Yanzhao said, watching her retreating figure as if recalling his joyful childhood. “Let her be busy.”

Ruan Mingfu nodded.

As time passed, more guests arrived. Ruan Mingfu stood beside Xie Yanzhao, feeling like her face would freeze from smiling.

Several people cast curious glances her way.

Ruan Mingfu chose to ignore them.

“Yanzhao, you’ve grown up.”

A middle-aged couple stood in front of Xie Yanzhao, their attitude kind and their gaze warm, as if looking at their own child. Then they turned to Ruan Mingfu, eyes filled with admiration.

“This must be your wife? That kid Xu Zhu told me about her in his letter, and I didn’t believe it. I can’t believe it’s true!”

So that was it, they were Xu Zhu’s parents.

Sure enough, Xie Yanzhao greeted them, “Uncle, Aunt.”

“Yanzhao, you should come over more often. I won’t disturb you today since you’re busy.” 

Xie Yanzhao nodded, “Slow down.”

After some time, as the crowd thinned, Xie Yin suddenly barged in, glaring at Ruan Mingfu. “Why didn’t you inform me about such a big event? Am I not part of the Xie family?”

Xie Donglou and Xie Xilou, along with all the other Xie family members present, exchanged glances, thinking, Do you really not know your own standing in the family?

Ruan Mingfu remained silent, exasperated by the unreasonable confrontation. “Do you need another slap to remind you of your place?” she retorted, causing Xie Yin to shrink back slightly. However, her resentment only deepened as she glared back.

“…It was always like this,” Xie Yin muttered, possibly still feeling the effects of Commander Xie’s kick. She looked pale and worn out, contrasting with her usual fiery self. Running over had left her breathless, and after just a few words, she appeared even more exhausted.

“Xie Yin, we haven’t settled our scores with you yet, and you dare show your face here?” Xie Donglou’s temper flared. The mere sight of her brought back memories of her despicable mother, leaving him in no mood to be polite.

“Second…Second Uncle.”

When Commander Xie was still alive, she had always looked down on them. Now, her tone was almost pleading.

“Don’t call me that,” Xie Donglou shot back. “Zeng Erya, I am not your uncle.”

Hearing the name “Zeng Erya” sparked humiliation in Xie Yin’s eyes. She wanted to retaliate but had to suppress her anger given the current situation.

“Uncle, I’m now called Xie Yin. My father acknowledged me as his daughter.”

“Whoever acknowledges you, go ask them for help.”

Xie Yin frowned. Commander Xie was gone, so who could she turn to?

“I don’t care! I’m still part of the Xie family, and I deserve my share of what belongs to my father.”

Her true intentions were laid bare. Ruan Mingfu, sitting nearby and eating the sweet pea dessert made by Aunt Zhang, couldn’t help but reflect on Aunt Zhang’s exceptional cooking skills, which kept her in the Xie household. However, with everything going on, she couldn’t bring Aunt Zhang back to Wancheng right now.

A flicker of concern crossed Ruan Mingfu’s beautiful eyes.

“You shameless woman!”

Even the usually good-natured Xie Xilou was furious at Xie Yin.

“Don’t even mention it, third brother,” said An Yuzhu, casting a disdainful glance at Xie Yin, who was sitting on the ground looking pitiful. “Both you and your mother are disgraceful, but you—how do you have the gall to make such a demand?”

“I don’t care! If you won’t give me what’s mine, I’ll sue you!”

Bai Qianzhu’s sentence had already been handed down, and she was lucky that she was not executed. Unfortunately, she would spend the rest of her life in prison.

Xie Yin shivered at the thought of how haggard Bai Qianzhu had become when she last saw her.

Following Bai Qianzhu’s instructions, she hurried over with a bankbook containing her secret savings.

“Go ahead and sue! I’m just waiting for you to do it!”

If Xie Yin were a man, Xie Donglou would have already slapped her across the face.

“Your mother killed your dad! How can you, a murderer’s daughter, come here to fight for their property? You have no shame—ugh!”

An Yuzhu glared at her, frustrated.

Honestly, the shamelessness of that mother-daughter duo never ceased to amaze her. She felt confident she could handle any outrageous situation in the future.

“Wait, Xie Yin is the biological child of the eldest brother!”

An Yuzhu was taken aback, unable to process the shocking revelation.