Chapter 50: New Year, New Clothes

Although Madam Wei very much wanted to find an opportunity to try, at the moment the only chance was the Winter Feast.

If it succeeded, come spring, he could be sent to the academy to study with children his age.
If it failed—offending someone in the palace, what then?

Madam Wei clutched her handkerchief tightly, not daring to think further.

She had mentioned it to the Marquis, but he rejected the idea.

The Marquis did not believe Xie Yixing could control his temper in the palace. The best approach for now was to have him feign illness and skip the banquet, thereby avoiding contact with the young ladies and lords of the capital, and the princes and princesses in the palace.

In matters like this, Madam Wei generally listened to the Marquis of Chengming.

So after careful deliberation, the two opted for the latter.

Xie Yixing didn’t agree to pretend to be ill, but he didn’t reject the idea either.

The Marquis of Chengming didn’t get a definite answer from his son and was full of unease, yet he was helpless.

Whenever his son made up his mind about something, no one could change it.

Fortunately, he didn’t seem entirely resistant to entering the palace—he just had one request: to bring Yaoyao along.

Truth be told, the Marquis didn’t want Yaoyao to go into the palace.

Not because she wasn’t obedient or sensible, but because she was too young and too soft-hearted. If she suffered grievance or was bullied in the palace, knowing his son’s temper, he’d probably break someone’s arm.

Even if that someone was a prince.

But if he didn’t agree, and his son refused to enter the palace, they’d end up offending the Empress and get dragged into unnecessary trouble.

When Yaoyao heard that she would be going to the palace, a flicker of confusion passed through her clear spring-like eyes.

What is the palace?

Xie Yixing’s gaze fell on Yaoyao’s round little face. Her big almond-shaped eyes blinked innocently and adorably.

The jade-green bells tied to her twin buns swayed as she moved. Her rosy face was as pink and ripe as a piece of fruit, making people want to take a bite and taste the sweetness.

Nanny Zhao stepped forward to wipe Yaoyao’s hands. Seeing her curious expression, she smiled and said, “Miss Yaoyao, the palace is a wonderful place.”

Yaoyao slowly opened her cherry-like little mouth and gently pursed her lips. “Does the palace have tasty food?”

Nanny Zhao nodded, “Of course! The ladies in the palace eat different things every day.”

“But Yaoyao eats different things every day too~”

Yaoyao counted off on her fingers as she told Nanny Zhao, “One day Yaoyao eats carrot buns, one day beef buns, and also lamb dumplings, fresh meat wontons…”

Madam Wei couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

This child truly had buns on her mind all day long. In the palace, those noble ladies dined on delicacies from land and sea—hardly any of them cared for plain buns.

Still, she couldn’t bear to dampen Yaoyao’s joy over eating buns. She called her over and gently smoothed the stray strands by her temples.

Ever since Yaoyao came to the household, Madam Wei had visibly watched her grow plumper.

Though Yaoyao wasn’t skinny to begin with, she now looked like a round porcelain doll.

Luckily, despite her chubby figure, Yaoyao’s features were delicate, and with a little grooming, she was already a budding beauty.

When Xie Yixing heard Yaoyao mention buns, a frown immediately furrowed his brow.

Because Yaoyao loved buns, he’d been eating them for quite some time too.

The thought of having buns again tonight completely killed his appetite.

Fortunately, they were dining at Madam Wei’s quarters tonight. Although it was a simple family meal, Xie Yixing actually had a rare good appetite and ate a full bowl of rice.

Yaoyao, having eaten too many pastries in the afternoon, was full after just half a bowl of rice.

The little flower snake, which Yaoyao had forgotten in the room, had been dozing on the bed all day. When Xie Yixing carried Yaoyao back and set her down, it finally woke up.

Its stomach growled as it slithered drowsily from the bed to Yaoyao’s feet, hissing twice.

Where’s my dinner?

Yaoyao happily shook the food box in her hand and winked at the little flower snake. “I brought sticky rice cake from Auntie Wei’s room. I’ll share a piece with you later.”

Hearing there was a new kind of cake, the little flower snake’s eyes immediately widened.

It started to slither up Yaoyao’s short legs to get fed right away, but the moment it met Xie Yixing’s warning gaze, it instantly backed off and obediently retreated behind the screen, peeking out nervously.

Tomorrow was New Year’s Eve. Although they would enter the palace on the third day of the new year, that didn’t stop them from celebrating the New Year at the Wei household.

Caiwei fetched a set of new clothes from the bottom of the chest that had been prepared in advance—a lotus pink padded jacket embroidered with hibiscus and a double-lotus petal skirt.

Yaoyao’s eyes were instantly drawn to the new clothes. After all, she was still a little girl and loved pretty things.

From craftsmanship to style, the outfit was the trendiest design at the time.

But Yaoyao had more than one such set.

Caiwei skillfully laid out the clothes Yaoyao would wear over the next few days, along with the matching accessories, shoes, and socks.

Pink for New Year’s Eve, red for the first day, orange for the second, and green for the third.

After all, they were entering the palace on the third day. Wearing yellow might risk clashing with the princes or princesses and was considered taboo.

As Yaoyao watched Caiwei pulling out more and more new clothes from the chest—so many that the bead flowers and ornaments nearly spilled off the edge of the table—she couldn’t help but tilt her head.

Are all these hers?

Did she really have that much money to buy clothes?

Suddenly, Yaoyao remembered that the clothes she wore before were all hand-sewn by her eldest sister. Her sister had excellent skills—even the seamstresses in the capital couldn’t compare. The birds she embroidered on silk looked almost alive.

Mother had said, whoever could marry her eldest sister would be truly blessed.

Yaoyao thought so too.

Thinking of her family again, Yaoyao’s nose started to sting with sorrow.

So much time had passed, even her birthday had gone by. Why hadn’t her mother come to get her?

Did her mother truly not want her anymore?

Xie Yixing, who was organizing books nearby, noticed Yaoyao’s downcast expression. His cold gaze immediately shifted to the little flower snake, who was busy munching on pastry.

The little snake sensed his unfriendly stare, quickly swallowed the half-eaten cake on the table, and shook its head in panic, eyes full of terror.

It wasn’t me! I didn’t do anything!

Xie Yixing understood its meaning but didn’t ease his expression one bit.

His emotions were tied entirely to Yaoyao. If she was happy, he was happy; if she was upset, he was even angrier than she was.

As night fell outside the window, Xie Yixing took a small candy the size of a fingernail from the nearby candy box. He unwrapped the pink wrapper and gently held the sweet to Yaoyao’s lips.

Yaoyao instinctively accepted the treat. As the soft sweetness touched her tongue, the grief she had just felt began to melt away.

Xie Yixing stared at the smile curling on her lips and the delight in her eyes. Then he turned back to look at the candy box on the table, making a mental note to ask that Western Region merchant for more next time—they needed to buy several jars. Yaoyao loved them.

It wasn’t until the sky had fully darkened that the Marquis of Chengming quietly exited through the back gate of the Wei residence. He moved silently, holding a bundle in his hands.

After cautiously scanning the area for spies, he quickened his pace and headed toward the prison.