He hadn’t yet cursed out loud before Lady Yao stepped in.
"Old Master, the child is still young, and children often speak without thinking. Why bother taking it to heart!"
Having said that, she glanced at Xia Tingfeng. "Ah... it’s all in the past. Let’s not talk about those unhappy things! We’ve come all this way. Let’s hurry inside, tidy up a bit, and take a rest!"
After speaking, she led the Servants inside. She was utterly taking on the airs of the Family Matriarch.
Xia Tingfeng found her behavior extremely grating, but there was nothing he could do.
After all... he couldn’t exactly drive them out, could he? If he did that, even the Emperor would probably rebuke him for being unfilial. Forget it!
Xia Tingfeng shook his head and followed them inside.
No matter how things were arranged, the courtyard was only so big. They could live however they wanted.
Once everyone was settled in, Xia Tingfeng left, not even wanting to stay for dinner.
He didn’t move in either, choosing instead to squeeze in with Tiger, Rat, and Monster.
In his eyes, that so-called pair of parents weren’t as close to him as these sworn brothers of his. Perhaps it was a case of out of sight, out of mind.
「That night」
As the four of them gathered to drink, Rat, his tongue heavy with alcohol, began to complain, "Big Brother... if... if it were me, I’d just drive them out! Why should the house *you* bought have to accommodate them!"
Monster shot him a glare. "Nonsense! Our Big Brother isn’t some heartless and cruel person!"
"But Big Brother! If they live in that house, how are you going to get married?"
Xia Tingfeng, cradling half a jug of wine, drank sorrowfully under the moon. After a long while, he said in a low voice, his gaze hazy, "I don’t know."
Indeed, he didn’t know. He certainly couldn’t kick them out now that they’d settled in. Moreover, a house they had lived in... he wouldn’t want to live there himself, much less subject Miss Ni to it! He found it tainted! His so-called parents were nothing more than strangers, bound to him only by the dictates of filial piety. The only people in the Xia Family he felt any attachment to were the concubine and his two younger sisters. To him, the rest had long been strangers—worse than strangers, even! Emotionally, there were no ties left.
After a while, the wine was finished.
Xia Tingfeng stood up. "I’ll just have to find another solution!"
There’s always a way. Besides, he was never one to give up easily. As for... that small residence he’d bought for two hundred taels of Silver, he wouldn’t live there again. If Old Master Xia wanted to live there, so be it. If not, he would sell it without a second thought!
The night deepened, and the men dispersed.
This little residence, purchased for one hundred taels of Silver, was even smaller. It had only a single courtyard, with a few rooms huddled closely together, very compact. The rooms were so close, you’d think someone turning over in bed could be heard next door.
Fortunately, they had all endured hardships before, so having a place to lodge, they weren’t unaccustomed to such conditions.
After returning to their rooms, they quickly fell asleep.
Only Xia Tingfeng tossed and turned, unable to find sleep until the latter half of the night, when he finally drifted off.
「Upon moving into the new residence」
Lady Yao was quite smug, truly seeing herself as an official’s wife in the Capital City. After arranging for the family members and Servants, she settled into the main house in the rear courtyard. That was the very courtyard Xia Tingfeng had prepared for Miss Ni. Now that it was occupied by Lady Yao, she was extremely pleased with herself!
The residence wasn’t large, but it was barely adequate.
After all arrangements were made, Lady Yao, like most officials’ wives in the Capital City, would take her carriage out to stroll around. She visited jewelry stores, Cloth Shops, and rouge emporiums, going from one to the next, buying items for their home.
Old Master Xia’s position as a Fifth Rank Salt Transport Envoy was quite lucrative. Having worked it for the past two years, he had amassed some family savings. Small towns had few rarities, but the Capital City was different. With Silver in hand, there were plenty of places to spend it here!
Looking at the exquisite and luxurious jewelry and the lavish dresses displayed in the room, Lady Yao’s heart pounded. Ah, women rarely have much resistance to such things!
"Beautiful, truly beautiful, Old Master... What do you think?"
Old Master Xia looked her up and down, a lecherous glint in his eyes. "Beautiful!"
With that, his hands reached for Lady Yao’s buttocks.
Lady Yao slapped his hand away, glaring at him. "The children are still here!"
Old Master Xia glanced into the outer room; sure enough, Xia Weifeng and Xia Ruyi were still playing. His interest immediately waned.
"Well then, how about tonight..." This small courtyard wasn’t large, but it was pleasantly quiet and secluded; he was very satisfied with it!
Lady Yao’s cheeks flushed. "You old lech!"
「Speaking of the past, when Xia Ruqing first left Jiangnan」
Maternal Aunt Wen had indeed been favored for a time. However, she was ultimately too naive. Lady Yao, as the principal wife, had children, methods, looks, and cunning. If Lady Yao employed even minor schemes, Maternal Aunt Wen was no match for her. Furthermore, Maternal Aunt Wen had indeed aged and her beauty faded. No amount of gentleness could win back a man’s favor in bed. Thus, it didn’t take long for Lady Yao to regain her dominant position.