Chapter 10

When Granny Fan arrived, Mi Yao was entertaining guests.

Upon hearing that the Xiao family was not in charge, she guessed that she would inevitably have to meet a female guest who had a good relationship with the Xiao family.

Therefore, she was not surprised to see that the Ma family mother and daughter walked unimpeded from the Xiao family's gate to her room without any prior notice.

She was not yet married to Xiao Chuan, so she did not live in the inner courtyard, but in the west wing of the main courtyard.

Two days ago, as soon as she arrived at her lodgings, she noticed something. Her room was quite large and clean, but there was hardly any furniture.

Besides the bed, there was only a faded floral and bird screen.

The screen looked old, but it had a frame made of sandalwood. It seemed that the person who renovated her residence thought the house was simple, but had limited knowledge and did not know what good things were.

When she saw that Xiao Yi and the other two were all wearing fine silk jackets and golden necklaces around their necks, she became even more certain that the thick, old-fashioned Lu silk quilt on the bed in the side room was something someone had deliberately done to make her feel neglected and to provoke her anger.

The person who would do such a thing is unlikely to be a servant in the manor who receives a monthly salary; they must be someone who has influence over Xiao Chuan but doesn't welcome her arrival.

When she met the critical and scrutinizing gazes of the Ma family mother and daughter, and saw the meticulously dressed Ma's wife, she even understood why they didn't welcome her.

The male protagonist may be a widowed king, but he can't possibly be without a woman who is fond of him.

Grandma Ma knew that Yu was beautiful, but she never expected her to be this beautiful.

To make a grand display, she deliberately chose the time when Yu Nu had just woken up from her afternoon nap. Both she and her daughter wore their finest clothes and the most exquisite jewelry.

However, the elegance brought by the clothes paled in comparison to that of a true nobleman.

Several charcoal braziers were burning in the small hall where guests were received. Mi Yao wore a light purple long coat with a white magnolia cross-collar and a matching silk skirt.

She was dressed simply and wore no expensive jewelry, except for a jade hairpin carved with a white magnolia flower on her hair.

Her outfit didn't look particularly luxurious, but it exuded a refined elegance that set her apart from others.

Add to that her face, which glows without any embellishment, and she's practically the fox spirit a storyteller raves about.

Granny Ma was still indignant, but Ma Xiaoniangzi, who planned to marry Xiao Chuan, was even more furious.

"Why are you dressed like this to entertain guests! My mother and I carefully selected our clothes and jewelry to come see you. You're not from a prestigious family, so why aren't you as polite as we are?!"

Sensing that Madam Ma was deliberately picking a fight, Mi Yao gently deflected her, saying, "This is how we, from a prestigious family, dress to entertain guests."

"How could this be?"

Even though she hadn't met many noble ladies, she knew that noble ladies had a certain air about them and wouldn't just wear casual clothes to meet guests.

Mi Yao covered her mouth and chuckled: "How am I supposed to explain this? If Ma Xiao Niangzi were also from a prestigious family, she would understand."

She tried to suppress her laughter, but Yu Xiu next to her burst out laughing.

Ma Xiaoniangzi knew that Mi Yao was mocking her, and her face turned red with anger. When she heard Yu Xiu's laughter, she turned her anger towards her.

"What are you laughing at, you little brat!"

“Madam Ma, the emerald I wear around my neck is far more valuable than all that stuff in your hair. You can’t even tell the difference between a mistress and a maid, so how could you possibly understand my elder sister’s attire?”

Yu Xiu was tense in front of Mi Yao, but that didn't mean she felt like a servant girl when she was outside.

Even though she was an illegitimate daughter, she was still an illegitimate daughter of the Yu family. People like the Ma family mother and daughter were only worthy of speaking to her in a humble manner when they were in Jiangnan.

"As a guest, you should remember the rules of being a guest. Pretending to find fault with the host will only make you look like you come from a lowly background."

"You're going to keep talking like this, young lady. Just because Chuan is from a certain background doesn't mean my daughter and I are from the same background. Even Chuan respects me as an elder. Do you not even look down on the owner of this mansion?!"

"That's right, my brother and Brother Chuan are good brothers, and Brother Chuan has always treated me differently. The relationship between our Ma family and the Xiao family cannot be ruined by just any woman!"

The mother and daughter kept talking. Yu Xiu looked down on them, but she was also afraid that they really had a deep relationship with Xiao Chuan and that she would cause trouble for Mi Yao.

Seeing that she was weak, the Ma family mother and daughter became even more arrogant.

“In the past, Brother Chuan always left the management of the Xiao family to us. He treated my mother like a dear elder. If you are so arrogant, when Brother Chuan comes back and finds out, he will beat you to death.”

“I am not just any woman who came here. I am the woman Xiao Lang has proposed to marry. As for who will manage the Xiao family in the future, I believe that Xiao Lang is handsome and capable and would not be foolish in this matter. In the future, when you visit, please ask someone to inform your family. Such etiquette is something that you can understand even if you are from a prestigious family.”

As she finished speaking, Mi Yao paused, then said with a half-smile, "As for killing me, wait until Xiao Lang kills me for you, then you can put on that attitude for the next person who enters the sect. I'm alive now, so it's not my place to be arrogant in front of my elders whose surname is Ma, not Xiao."

Busy digesting the territory he had taken in Jingzhou, Xiao Chuan hadn't slept for several days. He originally planned to return to his residence, take a day's rest, and then appear to complete his marriage with Mi Yao. However, as he passed by the front hall, he happened to hear Long Zhang Feng Zi.

Knowing that his appearance at this time would inevitably cause a disturbance, he paused before leaving when he saw Granny Fan, who was taking care of Shan Jie'er, walking in this direction, crying and sobbing.

"What happened?"

A deep male voice suddenly rang out, and seeing a tall, black figure appear beside the previously deserted Taihu rock, Granny Fan was so frightened that she sat down on the ground.

"You stupid slave, even the garrison commander can't recognize you!"

Upon seeing the old woman in front of him retreat in fear, Pu Qing shouted and revealed Xiao Chu's identity.

His shout not only made Granny Fan stop in her tracks, but also caused several people inside the room to rush out upon hearing the noise.

As soon as the door opened, a cold wind rushed in, and Mi Yao frowned uncomfortably. Hearing Ma Niangzi call out "Brother Chua" twice in surprise, she reluctantly put on her cloak and walked towards the door.

Xiao Chuan had clearly just arrived in Yizhou. His black fur coat covered half his face, and he looked travel-worn. Even from a distance, she could see his red eyes.

Mi Yao really didn't want to stand outside in the cold wind, so when she met Xiao Chuan's eyes, she said, "Young master, come in and have a cup of hot tea?"

"Oh dear, what happened? Why are you crying like this?!"

When Granny Ma saw Xiao Chuan's gaze fall on Mi Yao, she slapped her thigh and pointed at Granny Fan, making everyone look. "What grievance did you suffer? With Governor Xiao here, why don't you speak up quickly? You are the nanny who takes care of Shan'er. If you suffer grievances, what difference is there between you and Shan'er suffering grievances!"

Granny Ma was surprised that Xiao Chuan would return at this time, and she hurriedly urged Granny Fan to complain.

"That's right, Granny Fan, if you've been wronged, you must explain it to Brother Chuan and let him stand up for you!"

Hearing Granny Ma address Xiao Chua as "Envoy Xiao" instead of "Young Master Chua" from the flower hall just now, Mi Yao found it somewhat amusing, and a smile appeared on her face.

"Is Granny Ma's maiden name Fan?"

Noticing the resemblance between Granny Fan and Granny Ma's features, Mi Yao asked.

Why are you asking this?

Upon hearing Mi Yao's question, a look of panic flashed in Granny Ma's eyes, but after thinking about it carefully, she realized that it didn't matter if she and Granny Fan were relatives.

Why couldn't she introduce one of her own relatives to be Xiao Shan's nanny?

"You two look alike, I was just asking casually."

After saying that, seeing that Xiao Chua did not seem to have any intention of going inside for tea, and that she could not bear the cold wind outside, Mi Yao curtsied to him and said, "Now that you have returned, my lord, it is not appropriate for an unmarried person like me to presume to take charge of entertaining guests, so I will excuse myself for now."

After saying that, he turned and left, his back view elegant and without the slightest trace of lingering affection.

The Ma family mother and daughter were taken aback by her departure and were momentarily at a loss, unsure whether to call out to keep her or to be thankful that she wasn't in their way and hadn't caused Xiao Chuan to become infatuated with her beauty and become biased.

Turning her gaze away, Xiao Chuan looked at Granny Fan: "Is Shan'er alright?"

Xiao Chuan's eyes were like those of a hawk. When he stared at her, Granny Fan felt like a criminal who had committed a serious crime. She dared not utter any more words and quickly said, "Don't worry, Magistrate, the young lady is fine."

Hearing that her daughter was alright, Xiao Chuan looked at the Ma family mother and daughter: "I am tired from the journey. If you have any words to say, please tell me."

Leaving Director Pu Qing behind, Xiao Chuan strode forward without stopping even when Madam Ma called after him.

Madam Ma dodged her foot: "Brother Chua's heart and soul have been bewitched by that vixen!"

“Madam Ma, please be careful with your words. It’s none of your business if the magistrate goes to rest. If Madam Ma has nothing else to say, then Pu Qing will see him off.”

"Who says I'm fine? My Tiger Head is still having fun with Xiao Xiaolang. We'll leave after the brothers have had their fun."

"My second brother didn't get enough rest this morning and is sleeping now. Tiger Head knocked on the door several times but couldn't wake him up, so he ran out of the mansion with his servants."

Xiao Yi felt uneasy when he saw Ma Hu causing trouble in their courtyard. He had Xiao Liang hold Xiao Shan, lock the door, and pretend to be asleep. He ignored Ma Hu and waited until he got bored and left. He only rushed over when he learned that the Ma family mother and daughter had come looking for Mi Yao.

He arrived too late; Mi Yao had already left, and he missed the chance to greet his father who had returned home.

"How could you let Tiger run away? What if he gets cold in this weather! You're so old and you can't even keep an eye on your little brother. Are you jealous because Tiger and Xiao are so close, and you deliberately drove Tiger away!"

Grandma Ma looked down on Xiao Yi, an orphan with no parents, and wanted her grandson to play with Xiao Liang.

But Xiao Liang didn't know why, he really treated Xiao Yi as his own brother. Even when he was told that Xiao Yi was an orphan he had picked up, it didn't work. He just listened to Xiao Yi.

"No matter how old he is, he only needs to look after his own younger brother. What kind of nonsense is it for him to look after your child?"

Yu Xiu was afraid that the Ma family mother and daughter would talk nonsense in front of Xiao Chuan, so she made an excuse to go back to the flower hall to get something and returned.

Seeing that Xiao Chua was not there, she was about to leave when she heard Granny Ma open her mouth and howl wildly. Xiao Yi, who had been humiliated by her before, lowered his head and looked like he was just going to let her scold him.

Feeling that he was spineless, Yu Xiu couldn't stand it and snorted: "Being scolded by others in your own home, you don't act like a host at all. No wonder others dare to bully you like that."

"You little brat, what right do you have to interrupt your elders when they're speaking!"

Knowing that Mi Yao didn't take Granny Ma seriously, Yu Xiu naturally wouldn't tolerate it: "According to your logic, anyone who is older is my elder and can put on airs and lecture me?"

"Who said you? I was talking about Xiao Dalang!"

Granny Ma was afraid of Yu Xiu's sharp tongue. She thought that all noble ladies were well-mannered and polite, but she never expected that the two Yu sisters would be like this.

They are utterly impolite to people.

“What does he know at such a young age? If you think he did something wrong and want to scold him, go find my brother-in-law and let him hear how you scolded your son for being ignorant for the sake of your grandson.”

"Madam Ma, Madam Ma, please come in."

Granny Ma scolded the eldest son, and Pu Qing also found it unpleasant to hear, but he was a servant, while the Ma family mother and daughter were guests, so it was inconvenient for him to speak up.

Just then, Yu Xiu appeared and came to the rescue.

With their grandson absent and the host family too busy to entertain guests, the Ma family mother and daughter had no choice but to leave reluctantly. As Grandma Ma was leaving, she gave Granny Fan a meaningful look.

Yu Xiu snorted, but she hadn't said anything yet.

Then Xiao Yi said to Granny Fan, "Granny, what are you doing here if you're not taking care of Shan'er? If you feel it's too much trouble and you feel wronged taking care of Shan'er, I'll mention it to my father when he has time and ask him to replace you."

Yu Xiu pouted, thinking he was spineless and pathetic, and now that he was acting like a master, she didn't like it either.

She's just an orphan, why should she call her "elder sister" "mother" in the future?