Chapter 51: New Year Feasting

Because of the New Year, the entire city was adorned with lanterns and decorations, bustling with festive cheer—everywhere except near the prison, which remained bleak and desolate.

There were only a few scattered shops near the prison, and with the New Year approaching, people didn’t want to pass by and invite bad luck, so the shopkeepers had all closed early.

By nightfall, even the night watchmen avoided the area.

As the Marquis of Chengming stepped into the prison carrying a food box, a cold, sinister gust of air sent chills down his spine.

The drowsy jailers instantly sobered up when they saw his shadow on the wall. “My Lord, you…”

The Marquis handed over the food box and rubbed his hands to warm them. “It’s the New Year. You few on duty should enjoy a bit of festivity too.”

The jailer eagerly opened the box, and upon seeing the top layer filled with meat dishes and wine, he was both touched and thrilled. “It’s always you, my Lord, who treats us best.”

“All right, go get some rest. I’ll keep an eye on things here—nothing will happen.”

The jailer quickly called the others and left.

Once the place was clear, the Marquis of Chengming headed toward the deepest section of the prison.

That was where the prisoners awaiting execution after the New Year were kept.

He immediately spotted the members of the Yu family, huddled in a corner.

Yu Min’s already gaunt face had become nothing but skin and bones. His clothes were in tatters, but the pride in his eyes still remained.

Beside him was a young man, his face darkened from hardship, a visible whip mark on his chest.

The Marquis’s expression darkened.

Hadn’t he warned the prison not to lay a hand on the Yu family?

Who dared disobey?

Before the Marquis could speak, the boy beside Yu Min noticed him. His eyes lit up and then dimmed again, and he hoarsely called out, “Uncle Xie.”

Yu Ziqian glanced at his father, but Yu Min merely raised his eyes calmly, without any other reaction, so he dared not rise on his own.

The Marquis scanned the situation in the cell and waved Yu Ziqian over.

Yu Ziqian hesitated until Yu Min gave a nod. Only then did he step forward and take the bundle from the Marquis through the iron bars. “Inside are some clean clothes and medicine, along with a bit of silver. Use the money to smooth things over with the jailers. Life will be a bit more bearable.”

The Yu family’s women had been sentenced to exile and were being held in another prison for the time being.

The male members were still condemned to death and had to stay in the high-security ward.

After accepting the bundle, Yu Ziqian looked up at the Marquis with cautious eyes but an urgent voice. “Uncle Xie, my sister—?”

The Marquis choked up. “She’s… she’s doing well.”

“Really? That’s good then.”

Only then did Yu Ziqian finally smile, returning to his father’s side and whispering a few words.

Perhaps it was the mention of his beloved youngest daughter that brought a faint warmth to Yu Min’s otherwise cold and indifferent gaze.

The Marquis lowered his head in guilt.

Before the Yu family was raided, Yu Min and his wife had gone to great lengths to send their youngest daughter out of the mansion and entrusted her to his care. But he was still a step too late—she disappeared.

These past days he had been investigating human traffickers thoroughly, all in the hope of finding little Wei.

He had scoured the neighboring provinces, caught nearly all the traffickers, and still found no trace of her.

Could it be that little Wei was already…?

The Marquis dared not think further.

He knew well that the case against the Yu family was already sealed, irreversible.

After the New Year, the male members of the Yu family would be executed, and the women exiled. All he could do now was ensure they lived a little more comfortably in their final days.

And little Wei—he would continue searching, hoping to reunite the family one last time.

The Marquis didn’t return until well past midnight.

After briefly washing up and getting into bed, he pulled Wei-shi into his arms and said hoarsely, “Brother Yu lived his life with integrity. Who would have thought it would end like this?”

Wei-shi gently patted his shoulder in comfort. “Those who schemed against the Yu family will one day suffer the consequences.”

The Marquis’s anger flared at the thought of the newly appointed Vice Minister of Revenue.

He had heard that the man’s engagement to Princess Qingyun was set for right after the New Year, and their invitation had already arrived at the marquisate.

The Marquis hadn’t planned to attend, originally intending for Wei-shi to send a gift and be done with it. But now he had changed his mind.

He would go in person—take the whole family, in fact.

He wanted to see for himself just how heartless that ingrate was. After causing the deaths of dozens in the Yu family, he could still shamelessly marry a princess?

In the blink of an eye, it was New Year’s Eve.

Rumor had it the city streets would be filled with fireworks that night, and little Yaoyao had been looking forward to it since morning.

The Wei residence was lively and bustling.

Servants carried trays of freshly fried meatballs, stuffed sausages, and marinated dishes back and forth, filling the air with mouthwatering aromas.

Suppressing her urge to sneak into the kitchen for a taste, Yaoyao obediently sat by the bed as Nanny Wu dressed her in a light pink brocade jacket. The jacket’s hem was trimmed with a circle of white fur, soft as a bunny’s tail.

Around her neck was a rose-pink collar made from white fox tail fur, smooth and silky, making her skin appear even more snow-like.

Peeking out from beneath the collar was a golden choker.

Delicately crafted and small, it had several little gold bells hanging from it.

This design was one-of-a-kind in the entire capital!

Every time Caiwei saw the golden choker, she couldn’t help but marvel at its exquisite craftsmanship.

She had heard it was custom-designed by the young heir himself, who drew the pattern and had it made by a goldsmith. It had only arrived the day before.

Yaoyao used her chubby little hands to fiddle with the tiny bells on the choker, which jingled like silver flowers. She couldn’t resist squeezing them again and again.

Her plump white wrist wore a white jade bracelet gifted by Wei-shi, the jade clear and of obvious high quality.

Just as Yaoyao finished changing, Xie Yixing returned from outside.

After taking off his outer robe and washing his hands, he came over and sat her on his lap to help comb her hair.

Fifteen minutes later, Yaoyao, feeling the two little buns on her head, beamed brightly.

Along with the choker, a few boxes of new hair accessories had arrived—each one in the latest style.

When Xie Yixing clipped a pearl hairpin into her bun and saw the delicate, adorable girl in the bronze mirror, he smiled knowingly.

Wei-shi was also all smiles today. She had styled her hair into a tall bun and adorned it with the jade hairpin Marquis Chengming had bought from the jewelry store.

Her dark green long robe was newly made and specially chosen to match the hairpin.

The moment she saw Yaoyao, Wei-shi couldn’t help but scoop her up. She immediately noticed the golden choker around Yaoyao’s neck and, without needing to ask, knew exactly who had given it.

Recalling how many clothes and accessories Yaoyao had gotten recently, Wei-shi frowned slightly, wondering if her son’s private stash of money was running low.

Before Xie Yixing could come asking for more funds, she sent someone to fetch some gold and fine fabric from her own stores and deliver them to him.

With some time before sunset, Wei-shi had other matters to attend to, so she told Yaoyao to play in the courtyard.

Xie Yixing took her for a walk around the garden, and along the way, people kept offering her snacks.

Granny Zhao handed her a freshly fried meatball. “Just out of the pan—still crispy. Try it, Miss Yaoyao.”

As soon as Yaoyao swallowed the meatball, Chef Shen came over with a plate of newly created lotus root patties. He handed her one eagerly. “Try this, little girl, and tell Uncle if it’s good!”

Before she could even finish chewing the lotus patty, Caiwei rushed over from the kitchen with a meat pie for her to try.

Seeing her belly get rounder and rounder, even the little flower snake hiding in her pocket started hiccupping from being overfed. Xie Yixing immediately halted the group’s overenthusiastic feeding, scooped the little girl into his arms, and swiftly led her away.