Chapter 40: Emptying the Marquis Manor

The next day, just before dawn.

Xie Yixing had just opened his eyes when he heard the steady, calm breathing beside him. He gently pulled the blanket up over the little girl sleeping on the inside and thoughtfully tucked the corners in for her.

Yao Yao, when she slept alone at night, would always kick the blanket off.

Worried that she might catch a cold, Xie Yixing brought her to his own bed to take care of her himself.

Although the servants of the Wei household were not as quick and efficient as those in the marquis manor, the little heir’s cold expression was enough to make them feel nervous.

Moreover, Wei Dalang had repeatedly instructed them to take good care of his nephew and Miss Yao Yao, so the servants assigned to attend Xie Yixing were on full alert and did their best.

Seeing the young heir get out of bed, the maid waiting outside the screen quickly carried a kettle and poured hot water into the basin.

There were no fewer than seven varieties of soap pods laid out on the table, each with a different fragrance, and all brand new.

Everything Xie Yixing needed for washing up had been newly purchased.

This was enough to show how much the Wei family valued the young heir.

Even for Yao Yao, Wei Dalang had ordered the servants to purchase a set of flower-engraved copper basins for her.

After Xie Yixing finished washing up, he returned behind the screen and glanced at Yao Yao, who was still lying on the bed.

The little girl was sound asleep, clutching the pillow he had just been using.

Not wanting to wake her, he left the room quietly and gently.

Outside in the courtyard, the people he had sent to return to the marquis manor had already come back.

A guard respectfully handed over a tightly wrapped bundle.
“Young Master, this is what you asked for.”

After speaking, the guard placed the bundle on a stone table beside them. Nurse Wu would take it into the house for him later.

“And the people I wanted?” Xie Yixing asked coldly.

The guard respectfully replied, “They’re all waiting outside the back gate.”

Last night, while the Xie family was busy suffering from stomach pain, the guards took advantage of the chaos and had the servants almost completely empty out the marquis manor.

Some things that couldn’t be moved or were too valuable had been locked up.

As for those that were portable and valuable—none were left behind.

Even Yao Yao’s boxes and boxes of clothes and jewelry were carefully carried out.

At this point, the marquis manor was practically bare.

“Have the men move everything in,” Xie Yixing ordered.

He had already informed Wei Dalang the night before that he would be bringing some things from the marquis manor.

At the time, Wei Dalang didn’t think much of it and agreed, assuming his nephew was just used to his own things and uncomfortable switching to new ones.

But then he was awakened by loud banging sounds. Lifting the covers and throwing on a robe, he stepped into the courtyard and saw a group of unfamiliar faces carrying boxes through the rear of his compound.

For a moment, Wei Dalang thought they were being robbed—but when he looked up, he realized it was already daylight.

What kind of thief made that much noise?

Once he came to his senses and asked the servants, he found out these people had come from the marquis manor.

And everything they were carrying had been arranged by the young heir.

The usually calm Wei household instantly became lively.

Originally, Wei Dalang had planned to return to their hometown soon, so most of the supplies were to be sent back, and he hadn’t intended to purchase many new items. But after this whole operation, the previously shabby Wei estate suddenly looked rich and luxurious.

Even the Marquis of Chengming and his wife, upon waking and seeing their familiar servants and the furniture and ornaments in the room, were momentarily confused.

If the servants hadn’t reminded them that they were still in the Wei residence, they would have thought they had been carried back to the marquis manor in the middle of the night.

Over at the marquis manor, after a whole night of turmoil, almost everyone looked fatigued.

Especially Yaowu—his headache hadn’t gone away, and now he had abdominal cramps again.

After just one day, the old madam thought he had already lost weight and couldn’t even eat properly.

The two elders, feeling distressed, immediately sent someone to fetch some pastries from the kitchen, hoping he’d eat something.

But when the old servant got there, the kitchen was completely empty.

Even the iron pots and spatulas used for cooking were gone.

Even worse, the firewood piled by the wall had been soaked with water and was now too wet to use.

The old servant ran out of the kitchen and looked around, but not a single soul was in sight.

After checking several courtyards, they found every door locked, and even the ornaments in the main hall had vanished.

In one night, the entire house had been swept clean like locusts had passed through—nothing was left.

When the old madam heard about it, she no longer cared about her stomachache. Clutching her belly with one hand, she paced furiously around the courtyard.

Seeing that everything matched the old servant’s report—and was even worse—she was dumbfounded.

Not even a single teapot had been left for them.

Only now did the old madam realize: they had been schemed against.

Just as she was overwhelmed with anxiety, Xie Erlang’s wife, Yun-shi, rolled her eyes and suddenly asked,
“Isn’t it time for Eldest Brother’s stipend to be issued?”

The old madam’s pale face finally regained some color. She swallowed a mouthful of crude medicine given by the street doctor, felt her stomach ease a bit, and hurriedly ordered her two daughters-in-law to help her wash up and change.

She was going to personally go to the Ministry of Revenue to claim her eldest son’s stipend.

With her son’s noble title, they were sure to receive plenty of good things.

With silver in hand, what couldn’t be bought in the capital?
Who would still care about used belongings?

The day after tomorrow was New Year’s Eve.

The old master of the Wei family had changed into a new dark red robe and sat at the head seat, looking around at the room full of people. His mood also brightened.

Though he had four sons and one daughter, two of his sons couldn’t come back for the new year, and his daughter was already married off. Over the years, only his eldest son had kept him company.

But this year, even his daughter had returned. The old master was slightly sentimental, thinking how wonderful it would be to have the whole family reunited.

Aside from occasional letters, he hadn’t seen his other two sons in a long time.

He hadn’t even been able to help with their weddings—he had only contributed money.

Watching as Xie Yixing held Yao Yao in his arms while she happily chewed on pastries early in the morning, the old master couldn’t help but sigh,
“What a good appetite this child has.”

Though Yao Yao ate a lot, she was quiet when eating. She never disturbed anyone and enjoyed her food with relish.

Seeing her eat so heartily made everyone else at the table feel hungrier too.

Even the old master himself ate an extra corn cake and drank half a bowl more of soup than usual.

The more Wei Dalang looked at Yao Yao, the more regret he felt.

It was all his fault for not keeping the Tian-shi (Lady Tian) in check and letting her raise their daughter like that.

He had told Tian-shi many times that the child was at a growing age and needed to eat more, but Tian-shi insisted that Hui-jie’er maintain her figure and not eat a bite too much.

Now, Hui-jie’er was skinny as a bamboo stick.

To put it nicely, she was like a delicate willow swaying in the wind. But to put it bluntly, people might think the Wei family was abusing their daughter.

Thinking about how Hui-jie’er was still missing, Wei Dalang’s mood sank. He used the excuse of going out to buy supplies to search the streets again.

He combed through half the city but still found no trace of Hui-jie’er. Disappointed, he returned home.

Just as he walked in, hands behind his back, he spotted a shadow in a snow pile.

He quickly stepped over and yanked out a scruffy young boy like picking up a chick.

Recognizing his son’s face, Wei Dalang’s eyes darkened.
“I told you to study—what are you doing hiding here?”

The young boy, dressed in a patterned winter jacket, glared at Wei Dalang with resentment and defiantly shouted,
“Dad!”

Then he accused, “My sister’s missing, Mom got beaten—it’s all because of them!”

“Why did you let them stay in the Wei house for New Year?!”