Chapter 37 (Minced Meat and Eggplant Casserole…)

Xiao Huaiwu’s remark made the person exiting the carriage pause briefly. However, the woman soon composed herself and stepped down.

She appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six, with a delicate oval face and an exceptional appearance. Her expression was, however, cold, with slightly downcast eyes. From the moment she alighted to when she landed, her movements exuded a frosty demeanor. She stood beside the carriage in a light blue dress, paying no attention to anyone.

She waited until a twelve-year-old boy exited the carriage and then followed him.

“Daughter-in-law greets Mother and Sister-in-law,” she said, her voice cold as ice. She glanced at those nearby. “Third sister, fourth sister, Wan’er, Dongdong…”

The boy, on the other hand, seemed genuine and cheerful, flashing a big smile that revealed white teeth. “Greetings, Grandma, Aunt, Third Aunt, Fourth Aunt…”

He greeted each one in turn. Unlike his mother, he looked directly at Yan Qiushu, and not recognizing her, politely asked with his eyes. After receiving clarification, he greeted her, “Hello, Aunt Yan.”

This was a subtle contrast to Shen Pingyu’s way of showing respect.

One acted out of deep-seated decorum, feeling that courtesy must be upheld.

The other did it because he simply thought it was right.

After this, the woman asked with a slight frown, “Did Pingyu leave?”

Madam Xiao and the others exchanged subtle, hard-to-read looks. Hearing the question, they didn’t refuse to answer, and simply said, “He just left. If you want to find him, you can still send someone after him.”

“I was wondering why you came back today,” Xiao Huaiwu commented, suddenly realizing, “It turns out it was for the Shen family?”

Song Mingdai stared straight ahead, her tone even. “It was on my mind, but it’s alright if I missed him. After all, this is my home as the daughter-in-law of the Xiao family. My husband married me through a formal ceremony. Now my son is the family’s eldest grandson. Why shouldn’t I come back?”

“Hmph!” Xiao Huaiwu snorted angrily and stormed off.

She had taken a leave just to return and see Pingyu off. Now that she and this woman were not on good terms, it was better to leave early.

Xiao Huaiwu marched away, her strides fast and furious, as if carried by a gust of wind. She soon disappeared from the Xiao family’s view.

However, as she walked through a certain street, a little maid approached and knelt in front of her, crying, “General Xiao, please help my mistress. My master always gets drunk and beats people. This time, he beat my mistress so severely that she coughed up blood. She wants a divorce, but he refuses and continues to beat her…”

Xiao Huaiwu’s expression darkened. She followed without a word. “Lead the way!”

“Yes!” The maid got up and guided her through an alley, still crying.

Passersby observed this, shaking their heads with sympathy. “The Xiao family is always the best. Whenever there’s trouble, they’re willing to help out. My relatives had a similar issue—my in-laws tried to sell my aunt for gambling debts. The Xiao family stepped in and resolved it.”

Though others might ignore such situations, Xiao Huaiwu, the Xiao family’s fourth daughter, consistently addressed them over the years. Consequently, the atmosphere in the capital improved, with fewer men beating their wives, and people grew accustomed to her help.

No one expected such matters to arise on the second day of the new year.

But what no one anticipated was that when Xiao Huaiwu followed the maid through several alleys, the woman she met at the destination wasn’t an ordinary person—it was the Third Prince’s wife.

Meanwhile.

Mrs. Xiao sighed at her daughter’s temper, but she didn’t blame her daughter-in-law. Her husband had passed five years ago, and though her daughter-in-law had been living with her parents for the past two years, she never considered remarrying and raised her grandson well. She chose to ignore offenses and said calmly, “Let’s all head inside.”

“Yes,” everyone responded, following Mrs. Xiao back into the house.

Yan Qiushu naturally followed too.

But she lingered for a moment, glancing back at the woman.

The woman walked slowly, appearing indifferent to others. A space seemed to naturally form around her. Even Dongdong, who usually stayed close to his family, quietly moved from Yan Qiushu’s left to the right side, away from her.

It wasn’t out of fear, but rather an unspoken hesitance to provoke her.

Yan Qiushu’s gaze didn’t seem to bother Song Mingdai.

However, the boy beside her noticed and smiled awkwardly before nodding in acknowledgment.

Yan Qiushu smiled back instinctively, then quickly turned away.

When they reached the inner courtyard, everyone returned to their respective quarters.

The boy followed his mother back to the home they hadn’t visited for a long time. As they got closer, his mother’s mood became more somber. The boy frowned, trying to think of something to cheer her up, but nothing came to mind. Finally, he awkwardly said, “Mom, I heard that Aunt Yan, whom we met just now, is really good at cooking. Dongdong has gained weight, too. I just saw him, and he’s really round now! Doesn’t he look like a ball?”

The woman calmly nodded, “Yes.”

The boy lowered his eyes in disappointment and continued walking, feeling downhearted.

“Mom is so hard to please!” he thought.

Song Mingdai, the cold and beautiful woman from before, is the wife of Xiao Huaian, the second young master of the Xiao family. Her father holds a minor official position at Dali Temple but gained real influence there through her son-in-law’s connections.

Back then, many in Kyoto spoke enviously of Xiao Huaian and Song Mingdai’s marriage, with some feeling a hint of jealousy. 

Most of the men in the Xiao family are known as Confucian generals. Although not all were as skilled in both civil and military matters as Xiao Huaiting, they were well-educated, well-mannered, good-looking, and came from a distinguished family. They were considered ideal husbands by many.

Song Mingdai’s marriage was seen as a harmonious and admirable union.

But their happiness didn’t last. In a battle five years ago, Xiao Huaian and his two brothers-in-law were killed. The once-envied family was now the subject of pity and sighs.

Yan Qiushu didn’t know the specifics.

All she knew were bits and pieces picked up from conversations in the inner quarters. 

Before the deaths of the male Xiao family members, Xiao Huaiting was regarded as an excellent son-in-law by many noblewomen. Unfortunately, due to the family’s heavy losses, the emperor grew wary and began to control their military power. This left Xiao Huaiting isolated at twenty years old.

Yan Qiushu paused in her thoughts, surprised at what came to mind. She refocused on the second courtyard, her expression revealing her surprise.

Thinking about Song Mingdai in her memories, the words that often came to mind were gentle, talented, and reserved. She hadn’t expected her to become so cold and withdrawn after five years, shutting herself off from the world.

But her manner of speaking now resembled that of a woman concerned with managing the household and competing for status.

The eldest grandson of the Xiao family…

This was the first time Yan Qiushu had heard this term. What did it imply?

Xiao Huaiting was currently unmarried. The country was in a transitional period; the old emperor was weak, and the younger princes were maneuvering for power. The nation’s enemies wouldn’t miss this opportunity amidst internal chaos. In the next few years, Xiao Huaiting would be facing the busiest and most dangerous time of his life.

Considering the risks he bore alone, it was known that his survival odds weren’t high. Without a wife or children, his title would naturally pass to his eldest grandson if he were to die.

Hearing these words now made Yan Qiushu uncomfortable.

Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to dislike Song Mingdai. This didn’t seem like the behavior of a woman like her.

Every word Song Mingdai spoke this time revealed an unsettling incongruity.

“Sister Shu!” Dongdong tugged at her arm.

Yan Qiushu returned to her senses and smiled, “What is it?”