Chapter 45: Putting Shoes on Yaoyao

The old madam’s body was stiff, her shriveled lips slightly parted, and her bulging, lifeless eyes were completely devoid of light.

Madam Yun snapped out of her daze and hurried forward to support her.

But just as she got close, she heard the sound of water.

Looking down, she saw that her newly made shoes were stepping in a puddle of yellow liquid, and her light-colored skirt had also been stained.

Did the old woman… wet herself?

Madam Yun’s ears turned bright red in an instant, and she wished she could vanish into the ground.

She had come here to ask for money—not to be humiliated like this!

She turned to the Marquis of Chengming with a sudden glint in her eyes. “Big Brother, Mother was frightened and fell ill!”

She couldn’t wait to get rid of this hot potato.

“Hurry and have Sister-in-law bring Mother back to the Wei residence and find a physician to look after her!”

Among the Xie family’s women, only Madam Yun was still conscious. That useless Xin shi had fainted and hadn’t woken up since.

And the old madam was soaked in her own urine—just a little bit on her clothes was enough to make her feel nauseated. How could she possibly carry her back?

Besides, seeing a doctor cost money!

Everything in the capital was expensive—this shouldn’t be their burden to bear!

Madam Wei handed Yaoyao to Nanny Zhao and stepped forward alone.

She wore only a thin layer of makeup on her face, which made her appear even more graceful and coolly stunning.

She was a natural beauty. Even in plain clothes and minimal accessories, she couldn’t hide her fairy-like elegance.

The fading light cast a glow on her figure, and the white jade hairpin by her temple looked fresh and refined.

Madam Wei, who rarely lost her temper, suddenly darkened her expression, her lips forming a mocking smile.

The cold gleam hidden in her eyes was like tiny needles—her gaze seemed pure, yet when it fell on others, it carried an invisible pressure that made it hard to breathe.

Even the Marquis of Chengming had never seen Madam Wei like this. He hesitated, not daring to speak rashly.

She frowned and gave Madam Yun and her mother-in-law a contemptuous glance, then said coldly, “Second Sister-in-law, this is my maiden home. It’s not appropriate for Mother to stay here.”

This whole incident had made things crystal clear to her.

Her mother-in-law had never liked the Wei family from the beginning!

And she had never liked her either!

All for a bit of petty profit, they had been willing to ruin her reputation and drag the Wei family down with them!

Madam Yun’s plump face twisted with anger. “Sister-in-law, a life is at stake! Are you really going to just stand by and watch Mother die?”

“Nonsense!”

The Marquis of Chengming glared fiercely at Madam Yun.

Then he turned to his wife, walked over to take her hand, and said firmly, “Don’t worry, I won’t let them into the Wei residence.”

This incident had also opened his eyes to his own place in the family.

Since he was young, his parents had always told him he was the eldest and should be filial to his parents and support his younger brother. Even the money he earned through hard labor was taken—three-quarters of it went to his mother.

With the remaining quarter, he barely scraped by on buns and pickled vegetables.

And even so, the family was never satisfied. They thought he earned too little, too slowly, and even considered marrying him off into a wealthy landlord’s family for a hefty dowry.

Later, he joined the army and survived countless battles.

When his parents saw he was successful, they made him pay for his brother’s schooling, marriage, and children.

He once thought a family shouldn’t be so calculating. Taking a few losses was no big deal.

But he never expected that his sacrifice would end up dragging his wife’s family down.

Disappointment flickered in the Marquis of Chengming’s eyes, but he said nothing. He simply ordered his men to borrow a donkey cart from a nearby vendor, placed the old madam and Xin shi on it, and told Madam Yun to take them away.

Madam Yun didn’t want to exert herself but didn’t dare defy the Marquis.

Though he was her husband’s elder brother, he was also a marquis of the capital.

Years of military training had given him an intimidating presence.

Madam Yun immediately lowered her gaze submissively, but in her peripheral vision, she caught sight of a figure near the mouth of an alley.

A young man in a deep purple brocade robe stood there, his face cold and stern. The chill in his eyes made her shiver uncontrollably.

A terrifying thought flashed through her mind.

It’s him! He’s the one who released the snake to scare us!

He’s a monster!

Fear pooled in Madam Yun’s eyes like a dark dot, and she imagined that dot would soon turn into a massive snake ready to devour her whole.

She grabbed the cart and fled in panic.

At that moment, Yaoyao was still watching Big Flower Snake leave, completely unaware of her surroundings.

The little snake in her arms, upon learning that it could stay, immediately slithered onto her shoulder, coiled itself into a spiral, and lifted its head proudly.

Nanny Zhao forced herself to suppress her fear and gave a stiff smile. “Yaoyao, where do you want to keep Little Flower Snake?”

It was already winter, and snakes hibernate.

They couldn’t afford to let the snake get lost in the Wei residence—it might scare someone to death.

Yaoyao tilted her chin in thought and said seriously, “Little Flower Snake is my good friend. It’ll sleep with me!”

What?!

Nanny Zhao’s eyes went wide.

If it slept with her, wouldn’t that mean it was also sleeping with the little heir…

She couldn’t believe the young heir would allow a snake in his bed…

Wait, where was the heir?

With such a commotion in the estate, where had the young heir gone?

Once the Marquis of Chengming had cleaned up the scene and everyone returned to the Wei residence, Old Master Wei, upon hearing the whole story, was so furious that he slammed his cane down and smashed it. He pounded the table, shouting, “The Xie family is bullying us because they think the Wei family has no one in court! They don’t respect us at all!”

The Marquis of Chengming immediately knelt and apologized to his father-in-law. “I apologize on behalf of my mother. After the New Year, I will send them back to our hometown and never let them enter the capital again.”

After all, the New Year was just a couple of days away. He couldn’t order his men to abandon their families and escort his relatives out of the capital right now.

Hearing his son-in-law’s promise, Old Master Wei’s rage subsided a little.

Before he could say anything, a crisp young voice suddenly came from the doorway: “Let them leave tomorrow.”

Everyone turned toward the door in unison.

Xie Yixing had taken off his deep purple cloak. His handsome face was laced with a hint of cold cruelty.

The Marquis of Chengming noticed the chill radiating from him and was just about to ask where he had been, but Xie Yixing walked straight past him and went to Madam Wei’s side. “Mother.”

Madam Wei was used to her son’s resolute demeanor, but this time, she faintly sensed something hidden behind it.

Still, she didn’t probe further. She smiled lightly and said, “You just got back from outside. You must be cold. Go sit by the fire with Yaoyao.”

At that moment, Yaoyao was behind the screen, being held by Nanny Wu as she changed out of her wet socks and shoes.

When they returned to the residence, Yaoyao had stubbornly refused to be carried. She insisted on waddling on her short little legs with Little Flower Snake to stomp in the snow.

As a result, not only her socks but even her pants were soaked.

Nanny Wu fetched fresh trousers and socks. Just as she pulled the new cotton pants onto Yaoyao’s chubby little legs—her tiny feet still bare—Xie Yixing walked in.

He immediately saw Yaoyao’s bare feet, her soft, smooth skin resembling peeled lychees—white tinged with pink.

Nanny Wu looked up and noticed the young heir enter. She opened her mouth to speak, but then followed his gaze toward the small flower snake peacefully sleeping on a cushion by the fire.

She gasped sharply.

With the young heir’s temperament… wasn’t he going to roast the snake?

Nanny Wu shut her eyes, afraid to watch.

But in the next second, Xie Yixing simply withdrew his gaze and focused entirely on Yaoyao.

The coldness in his eyes melted into gentle warmth.

Seeing Yaoyao pick up a piece of pastry from a jade plate to bring to him, he immediately pressed her shoulders down, stopping her from walking barefoot on the ground.

Then, with a sidelong glance at the stunned Nanny Wu, he slightly lifted his chin and held out his palm. “Give it to me.”