Xia Ruqing, clad in a light green gauze dress, was holding a handkerchief. Wiping her tears while holding onto Zi Yue’s hand, she staggered in from outside.
"Father!"
Old Master Xia hurriedly stood up and straightened his clothes. "Qingqing, what brings you here?"
Old Master Xia’s face was full of smiles. After all, this was his biological daughter, whom he had neglected over the years. She harbored resentment in her heart. If she vented a little, he would accept it. As long as it did not harm the innocent, anything went! This little ancestor was not someone he could afford to offend now!
Seeing her father’s "concern," Xia Ruqing wept again, her tears falling as if they cost her nothing. Her eyes were red and swollen.
Zi Yue, I told you to smear a little chili on the handkerchief, but I never expected you to use so much!!
On the surface, she wept as she spoke. "Father, my intentions were good. My younger brother and sister are excessively overweight; even the Imperial Physician said it’s unhealthy. I thought it would be helpful to assist in reducing their weight. Mother agreed too! Who would have thought, upon arriving here, she would slander me like this!"
Saying so, Xia Ruqing wept even more fiercely, her shoulders heaving.
County Magistrate Xia wasn’t a fool. He, of course, knew there was more to it than this. But... but with his daughter saying so, he had to believe her, and he had no choice but to believe.
Therefore, with a stern face, he scolded Lady Yao. "Qingqing has good intentions, why can’t you appreciate it? Weiwei and Ruyi do indeed need to lose some weight!"
Xia Ruqing immediately stopped crying and hastily curtsied to express her thanks. "Thank you, Father, for understanding your daughter’s painstaking effort!"
Old Master Xia quickly turned to the side, not daring to accept her gratitude.
Lady Yao was incredulous. "But even if they need to lose weight, they shouldn’t be kept from eating. They are only four years old, my lord!"
Xia Ruqing hurriedly explained, "They weren’t forbidden to eat. I specially prepared a table full of vegetarian dishes and invited them to eat! But Father, they look down on what I had prepared!"
Having said that, Xia Ruqing started to cry again. "Even in the palace, the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress advocate frugality, but in our residence, they demand to eat chicken, duck, fish, and luxuries like shark fin and bird’s nest every meal! I never expected Mother to be such an extravagant and pampered person!"
These words made County Magistrate Xia lose face. And yet, Old Master Xia was a man who cared deeply about face.
Lady Yao wanted to argue back but received a slap on the face from Old Master Xia. "You ignorant fool, even the Emperor lives modestly. What, do you consider yourself more important than the Emperor?"
Lady Yao covered her face, utterly shocked. "My lord, you..."
Old Master Xia, impatient, waved his hand dismissively. "Go on, go on, hurry back! I’m busy!"
Lady Yao had never suffered such humiliation, having lost face in front of her children and with that vile Xia Ruqing still present. How was she to face anyone from now on? With this thought, she made a scene again. This time she cast aside all concern for appearances, standing with hands akimbo, pointing at Old Master Xia’s nose and cursing loudly. "Good for you, Mr. Xia! After all these years, after bearing and raising your children, this is how you treat us mother and children!"
Old Master Xia was so angry that his nose seemed askew. He had been cursed at before. But that was at home, without outsiders, where fights would be followed by reconciliation. But now? He had urgent matters to attend to, and his children were present, yet Lady Yao showed him no respect.
Blinded by rage, Old Master Xia slapped her face two more times. "Get out! Just get out of my sight!"
Lady Yao was left reeling from the slaps, seeing stars in her vision. She was subdued by Old Master Xia. The Old Master couldn’t afford to offend her on account of me. He had even mentioned divorcing me before, she thought. Thinking so, she was so frightened that she covered her face, not daring to cry.
"Hurry back now, I’m busy!" Old Master Xia barked. "This place is no place for women!" As he spoke, Old Master Xia gave an order, "Someone, escort Madam back!"
"Yes!"
Several Government Officials responded, approaching Lady Yao. "Madam, if you please!"
Though Lady Yao was utterly reluctant, she had to take her children and leave.
After she returned, there was naturally another huge uproar.
「We will not elaborate on that for now.」
After Lady Yao left, only Xia Ruqing remained in the Yamen.
Old Master Xia was somewhat embarrassed, unsure of what to say. He hadn’t treated her well before, and trying to curry favor now felt like fawning—something he couldn’t bring himself to do. But continuing to ignore her seemed improper as well. My future is at stake! he thought. I’ve been the County Magistrate for so many years, I’ve had enough, and I yearn to rise another step higher!
After much deliberation, he gritted his teeth. A broad smile once again spread across his face. "Qingqing must be tired; it’s hot outside. There’s no hurry, sit down and rest before you go!"
Look at this greasy, middle-aged man in front of me, trying to ingratiate himself, Xia Ruqing thought. I feel like vomiting! But then again, only this so-called father can give Lady Yao the most painful blow.