Chapter 31: The Nephew Courts Death

As soon as Yaowu said those words, an abrupt silence fell around him.

First, it was Madam Wei—her once gentle expression instantly turned cold. Although she said nothing, the frosty gleam in her eyes made it clear that she disliked this nephew, even felt disgust toward him.

Granny Zhao, who stood beside Madam Wei, also frowned deeply. The wrinkles on her face bunched up, unable to hide the contempt in her eyes.

Looking further beside Madam Wei was the Marquis of Chengming. He lowered his head and repeatedly wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. He opened his mouth several times, hesitated, thought for a moment, and finally chose to remain silent.

Next were the servants of the Marquis’ residence surrounding them. Amid their fear, a trace of schadenfreude flickered in their expressions.

The ignorant child was about to get what was coming to him.

Once Yaowu had scanned the room, his gaze returned to Yao Yao’s face.

Yao Yao was indeed angry, but her chubby little face made it hard to take her seriously. When he noticed a red mark between her brows, Yaowu’s desire to cause trouble was stirred once more.

He had always been the little tyrant of the family. Even Yaowen, who was born six months before him, didn’t dare to challenge him.

Madam Xie had always doted on him the most, spoiling him into a lawless brat.

But now, he was in the Marquis’ residence. The residence had a Shizi (heir apparent), who was also his older cousin.

From the moment they entered, his mother kept tugging him aside, warning him to behave and, above all, not to provoke this cousin.

But he didn’t think this cousin of his was anything special—just someone with a slightly higher status. Besides, his grandmother still liked him the most!

Yao Yao frowned, clearly displeased as she stared at Yaowu.

Yaowen had already stepped aside, leaving Yaowu alone in the center, being judged by the entire family.

Xie Yixing’s phoenix eyes were haughty and icy. The cold glint in his gaze was as sharp as a blade, and a violent aura surged from his body. A flicker of killing intent even flashed across his jade-like face.

When Yaowu met his chilling gaze, a strange tingling ran down his scalp.

But when he remembered that his grandmother was present and would surely back him up, he brazenly put his hands on his hips and shouted at Xie Yixing and Yao Yao, “Why are you all staring at me? Did I say anything wrong? Isn’t she just a servant of the Marquis’ residence—your lackey?”

Yao Yao couldn’t hold it in any longer. Her round little face grew red with indignation, and her large deer-like eyes flickered with sparks of fury.

“Brother Persimmon is Yao Yao’s family!”

She declared this with bold certainty, puffing out her cheeks to make herself look fiercer.

“Family? What kind of family could she be to him?”

Yaowu clutched his belly, laughing loudly, eyes full of disdain.

Hearing Yao Yao’s response, Madam Xie, who had been sitting on the side enjoying the spectacle, could no longer hold back. She joined in with mockery, “Oh dear, I’ve lived more than half my life, and it’s the first time I’ve heard of a servant forming a family bond with the master!”

She didn’t forget to glance toward Madam Wei, her words laced with sarcasm as she reminded, “You’re the mistress of the Marquis’ household. How could you let a servant get so bold as to overstep her place?”

Madam Wei was already in a foul mood. Seeing the Xie family come and immediately try to suppress Yao Yao made her feel both protective and furious. The anger she had been holding back was now boiling over, and before she could stop herself, she retorted, “If Mother feels I’m not managing the household properly, you’re welcome not to come at all.”

That sentence lit a fire under the old lady. She slammed her teacup down and shot up from her seat, shoulders trembling as she pointed at Madam Wei.

“Is this how you speak to your mother-in-law? I haven’t asked you for a single day of care these past six or seven years, and now I come all the way here to help with your confinement and care for the baby until his full moon—and you dare chase me out?! Go ask around in the capital, where can you find a daughter-in-law like you? Dalan, look at the good wife you’ve married!”

The old lady’s words came flying like bullets, as though she had installed a bean-firing machine in her mouth.

Madam Wei was angry but no match for the old lady’s verbal barrage. She had no choice but to swallow the bitterness.

The Marquis of Chengming was in an even tougher spot, caught between his wife and his mother. No matter whom he sided with, it would be wrong.

He could only force out a dry laugh. “Peace in the family brings prosperity. It’s not a big deal—just have Yaowu apologize to Yao Yao, and it’ll be over.”

If he couldn’t persuade his mother or his wife, surely he could handle his nephew?

But upon hearing her son’s suggestion, the old lady widened her eyes in disbelief.

“Dalan, what did you just say? Have Yaowu apologize to who? Yao Yao… is that the name of that brat? You’re telling your own nephew to apologize to a servant girl?!”

Even Yaowu frowned in disbelief, his chubby face turning red with fury, eyes full of resistance.

“Uncle, are you kidding? Why should I apologize to her? She’s just a servant girl! Back home, I can beat and scold girls like her at will, and no one would make me say sorry!”

He was full of confidence and showed no hint of remorse.

The Marquis of Chengming again wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, growing more nervous as he looked at the back of his son.

From where he stood, all he could see was his son’s back.

Thank heavens—it was only his back.

Because if he saw the expression on that face, he wouldn’t believe his eyes.

All these years, everyone in the residence had tread carefully around his son’s temper, never daring to stir things up when he was angry.

They were terrified he might act rashly and make some shocking decision—one even ten oxen couldn’t pull him back from.

And yet today, someone not only poured oil on his son’s fury but even lit the match.

These people clearly had a death wish.

The Marquis quickly slapped his own face, muttering under his breath, “Ptui ptui ptui! What nonsense am I saying? Not auspicious!”

He glanced at Madam Wei, clearly signaling he wanted no part in this anymore.

After all, his son never listened to him.

His son had always been distant, and he didn’t want to push him even further away.

Seeing her own son stay silent and even cast her a pleading look as if saying “save yourself,” the old lady grew puzzled.

Why did it feel like in this entire grand Marquis’ residence, not one word from anyone actually held weight?

Instead, it was this usually quiet eldest grandson that everyone seemed afraid of.

Though the old lady had heard that this eldest grandson was spoiled rotten, beyond the control of both his parents, she didn’t think it was such a big deal.

She blamed it all on Madam Wei for failing to discipline her son, letting him grow up like this.

Especially just now—when he hadn’t even greeted her properly and brought along a rude little girl to upset her precious grandson—she became even angrier.

But before she could scold Madam Wei, Xie Yixing suddenly moved.

A cold gust swept through the room. Even the heavily layered old lady felt a chill down her spine.

Before she could react, her beloved grandson let out a bloodcurdling scream.

“Ah! Ah! Ahhh!”

As the old lady finally regained her senses, she saw a sharp dagger pressed tightly against the fatty neck of her precious grandson.

The blade gleamed coldly—just the slightest move, and it would slice into Yaowu’s skin and start bleeding.

The entire room froze. No one dared to breathe loudly.

At that moment, behind Xie Yixing’s arm, Yao Yao moved her lips slightly.