Chapter 42: Even Snakes Fear Humans

Old Madam Xie sat down on the steps of the residence opposite the Wei family’s estate, rubbing her stomach. She slapped her thigh hard, then signaled to her two daughters-in-law to follow suit and sit down like her.

The third daughter-in-law, Madam Xin, was shy and hesitant, unwilling to sit down in public.

The second daughter-in-law, Madam Yun, however, mimicked the old madam exactly—once she planted herself on the stone steps, she couldn’t get back up.

Seeing Madam Xin’s timid demeanor, Old Madam Xie didn’t bother wasting words. She raised her voice and shouted toward the courtyard:

“Wei Minglan!”

“You used my son’s money to glorify your own family!”

“Shameless woman!”

Her yelling immediately piqued the curiosity of passersby.

People began looking up at the plaque above the Wei residence’s gate. Hearing her shouting “Wei-shi” again and again, they could half guess what kind of dispute was happening between the two families.

Even nearby neighbors were stirred. Servants slipped out the back gate to eavesdrop and returned to gossip with their masters.

By the time the news reached the Wei residence’s rear courtyard, Madam Wei was strolling through the garden with Yaoyao in her arms.

Hearing that her mother-in-law had brought along two sisters-in-law to make a scene, Madam Wei panicked and looked at Nanny Zhao. “Send someone to notify the marquis.”

At that moment, the Marquis of Chengming was at a jewelry shop, carefully selecting an accessory.

He had just picked up a plain green jade hairpin, delicate and shaped like a lotus root. He was about to pay when a servant from the Wei residence burst in. “Young master, your mother is causing a scene in front of the Wei residence gate! You should come quickly!”

The marquis’s expression darkened. He immediately opened his pouch, dumped out some silver, slipped the hairpin into his sleeve, clasped his hands behind his back, and rushed after the servant.

Within the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the front of the Wei residence was packed with people.

All were there to watch the spectacle.

The Wei family’s main gate was tightly shut. Madam Wei stood behind the door, pacing anxiously. The sweat from her palms had soaked through her handkerchief.

Wei Dalang had just finished settling Old Master Wei and was rushing toward the gate when he spotted a figure darting off in the distance.

He called out, “Xing ge’er, where are you going?”

Xie Yixing stopped upon hearing Wei Dalang’s voice and turned slightly.

The six-year-old boy’s handsome face carried a trace of menace, like a beast preparing to pounce. Especially at such a close distance, Wei Dalang suddenly felt a chill from those sharp, indifferent black eyes. Unease crept into his heart, and he instinctively hunched his shoulders, lowering his voice to warn, “Xing ge’er, it’s chaotic outside. Don’t go out.”

Xie Yixing said nothing but gave a slight nod.

After Wei Dalang left, Xie Yixing headed straight into a bamboo grove.

The secret guards from the marquis’s manor were already waiting there.

“Young master, how would you like to handle this?” one asked.

Xie Yixing narrowed his eyes, brows sharp as arrows, a wicked glint in his gaze. “Where is it?”

The guard lifted a bamboo tube beside his foot and cautiously opened it, bending down to let Xie Yixing look inside.

Xie Yixing glanced at it briefly and saw seven or eight small snakes inside.

Some were black-and-white, others yellow-and-green, all tangled together—a colorful, writhing mass.

He pulled out a clean handkerchief and spread it in his palm. “Give me one.”

Hearing the command, the guard hesitated. “Young master, the snakes you asked us to catch are all venomous.”

If the young master were to get hurt, he wouldn’t be able to explain it to the marquis.

“I know,” Xie Yixing replied, his whole demeanor exuding restrained violence, sending chills down the guard’s spine.

Unable to meet the young master’s gaze, the guard used a bamboo stick to pick what looked like the least venomous yellow-green snake and placed it gently in Xie Yixing’s palm.

The snake, sensing the warmth through the handkerchief, twitched slightly.

The guard’s heart leapt into his throat. “Young master, be careful.”

Xie Yixing ignored him. He curled his fingers slightly and, with precision, gripped the snake by the throat, trapping it in his palm.

Then he looked up at the guard. “The others—send them back to the manor.”

Though the young master hadn’t explained in detail, the guard understood what he meant.

Since the young master had him catch them, they would be used.

Still, he didn’t understand why he was ordered to go all the way to the outskirts of the capital to catch snakes.

And not just any snakes—he had to find baby ones.

He had scoured several nests to find these newborns.

One of them, the one currently in the young master’s hand, was the only one of its kind.

The guard couldn’t guess what the young master was planning, but he knew one thing for certain: whenever the young master gave orders, someone always ended up suffering.

Taking the bamboo tube with the rest of the snakes, the guard left.

Xie Yixing lowered his head, staring at the yellow-green snake that was flicking its tongue at him.

It didn’t seem pleased to be gripped by the neck, its beady eyes glinting with a cold light.

In the next moment, its gaze met a pair of cold, sharp black eyes.

Those eyes were like obsidian, impossibly deep, filled with terrifying light.

Xie Yixing simply stared at the snake for a few seconds—long enough to scare it into retracting its tongue and curling up into a ball, hanging its head obediently.

Satisfied with its submission, Xie Yixing’s lips curled faintly.

But when the snake saw him smile, it grew even more terrified, tucking its head into its coils, trembling.

Unaware of the snake’s fear, Xie Yixing naturally slipped it into his sleeve and made his way toward the back gate.

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At the Wei family’s main gate—

The Marquis of Chengming had just rushed back. From a distance, he could already hear his mother loudly insulting and slandering his wife. His face, already clouded, darkened even more.

Surrounded by onlookers enjoying the show, he felt thoroughly humiliated.

As the saying goes, “Family shame should not be made public.” What his mother was doing now was dragging both the Marquis’s household and the Wei family’s name through the mud!

“Mother!” he called out sternly.

He ordered the guards to disperse the crowd and walked straight toward the old madam.

Inside, Madam Wei finally relaxed upon hearing her husband’s voice.

Yaoyao was sitting on Nanny Wu’s lap. Madam Wei had considered sending her back, but since her son had gone off somewhere and she didn’t dare leave Yaoyao unattended, she brought her along.

Even though she was worried, Madam Wei still thoughtfully prepared fruits and pastries for Yaoyao.

Afraid she might get cold outside, she also instructed the servants to keep loading charcoal into the brazier by Yaoyao’s feet until it was heaped high.

Ginger tea had been boiled in the kitchen. Madam Wei had a small cup poured out for Yaoyao.

The little girl held the warm cup in her chubby hands, her palms immediately warmed.

She took a small sip—just one—and the spiciness tingled her tongue.

She looked up at Madam Wei and noticed the worry etched in her brows, then glanced at Nanny Zhao beside her, who also had a furrowed brow.

Although she didn’t know exactly what had happened, she instinctively began to worry too.

Yaoyao jumped down from the nanny’s lap, carefully cradling her little cup of tea.

Her little heart thumped nervously.

She trotted over on her short legs to Madam Wei, offering the cup of tea. “Ginger tea is sweet. Auntie Wei, drink it and you won’t be angry anymore.”

The cold fingertips of Madam Wei brushed against Yaoyao’s warm little fist. Hearing her sweet, caring words, Madam Wei’s heart instantly softened.

Yaoyao really was like a little cotton-padded jacket—if only she could have had a daughter like her.

Madam Wei’s attention shifted, and she crouched down, wanting to fix Yaoyao’s collar.

Just as she crouched, she noticed the pastry crumbs around Yaoyao’s mouth.

Using a handkerchief, she gently wiped her clean and said softly, “Auntie Wei won’t drink it. Yaoyao should drink it.”

Yaoyao lifted her chubby hand again and used her soft fingertips to smooth out the crease in Madam Wei’s brow.

Just then, a commotion suddenly erupted outside the gate.

“A snake!”

“A huge snake!”

“Help!”