"Who cursed you? What does cursing have to do with your hand hurting?"
Xiao Chu glanced at the commotion nearby, immediately grasping the key point in Mi Yao's words.
"That child named Ma Hu cursed me. His words were foul, so I raised my hand to strike him. His skin is thick and rough, and it hurt my palm when I hit him."
Mi Yao showed no intention of concealing her actions. As soon as Xiao Chu asked, she truthfully recounted everything.
Her honesty made Xiao Chu pause mid-step, shifting his gaze from ahead to her.
He paid little attention to the neighbor's children, but vaguely remembered the Ma family boy was even younger than Xiao Liang. She struck a four-year-old child, and now she wanted him to stand up for her?
For a moment, Xiao Chu didn't want to proceed forward, wishing only to leave this place to avoid being dragged into meaningless disputes.
But it was too late to leave now. Seeing Mi Yao playing the accuser first, Grandma Ma anxiously rushed forward with her grandson, showing Xiao Chu the slap mark on Ma Hu's face.
"Commander Xiao, look how young my grandson is. How could this vicious woman bring herself to hit him?"
"Exactly, Xiao Lang, you see? His curses must have been utterly unbearable to make such a delicate young lady like me so furious that I gave him such a hard slap."
"You woman twisting right and wrong! You hit my grandson, and now it's my grandson's fault?!"
"If it's not his fault, then it's yours. Not knowing how to raise a child properly, both old and young coming to someone else's home to make trouble. I've never heard of guests where the elder hits the young master of the household, and the younger curses the future mistress of the house."
After coldly delivering these words, Mi Yao turned to Xiao Chu with renewed softness, again tugging at his sleeve: "Xiao Lang, them bullying me is no different from bullying you."
Hearing Mi Yao mention "the elder hitting the young master of the household," Xiao Chu turned his attention to Xiao Liang and Xiao Shan.
Seeing Xiao Liang's tear-streaked face, he knew she was referring to him.
"What happened?" Xiao Chu looked at Xiao Liang.
"What else could happen? My Tiger was kindly playing with him, but he didn't appreciate the goodwill and instead hit my Tiger, injuring him."
Grandma Ma spoke first, and after she finished, Ma Hu nodded along, pointing at Xiao Liang: "Second Young Master hit me first."
"Children's quarrels aren't serious matters. They should just apologize to each other."
Pan spoke next, "Tiger, will you apologize to Second Young Master first?"
It was clear Ma Hu feared his mother Pan somewhat, so even though Pan's expression was gentle, Ma Hu moved reluctantly toward Xiao Liang with clear displeasure, preparing to apologize as she instructed.
"In that case, Xiao Liang should be the one to apologize."
Xiao Chu coldly stared at Xiao Liang. Mi Yao felt his gaze wasn't that of a father looking at his son, but rather like looking at an enemy.
Thinking fathers were all like this, Mi Yao initially intended not to interfere. But seeing Xiao Liang clenching his fists, sobbing as he prepared to apologize to Ma Hu…
Considering how practiced Grandma Ma and Ma Hu were at this back-and-forth, and how many times Xiao Liang must have suffered such injustices, she finally spoke: "Second Young Master, tell me what really happened? Not for others to hear, but for me. Although I didn't slap that ugly boy for your sake, I became involved in this matter because of you."
Hearing Mi Yao speak up, Xiao Chu glanced sideways at her.
"Madam…"
Xiao Liang remembered he still couldn't call Mi Yao mother. She said she hadn't hit Tiger for his sake, but he felt she had done it for him.
Pursing her lips, Xiao Liang trembled between sobs as he spoke to Mi Yao: "It was Tiger Head who tried to take my things. I didn't want to give them to him. When Grandma Ma saw this, she called me stingy and told me to hand them over. I refused, so Tiger Head started crying and making a scene. Later, when I wasn't paying attention, Grandma Ma snatched the treats. After Tiger Head tasted them, he said they were cold and unpleasant, called me a beggar, threw them on the ground, and stomped on them. That's why I pushed him…"
As he spoke, Xiao Liang couldn't hold back his tears. He stole a glance at Xiao Chu and, seeing the stern expression on his face, stiffened with fear.
"You're talking nonsense! Who took your things?"
Grandma Ma, seeing the matter nearly settled only for Mi Yao to stir trouble by letting Xiao Liang spout lies, was so enraged she wanted to shove him.
"Stop her," Mi Yao instructed Shi Ya.
"No one took his things. Tiger Head just saw the snacks and wanted a taste. After having a couple of bites of Second Young Master Xiao's treats, the young master got stingy and hit my Tiger Head."
"That's not true! You took them! Those were treats the Madam gave to my younger sister. She hadn't finished them, so I hid them in my room to nibble on when I was hungry. Tiger Head found them by rummaging through my things."
Hearing that the incident was sparked by the treats she had given, Mi Yao beckoned to Xiao Liang. "Come here. You've told the truth. Your father isn't a fool who can't distinguish right from wrong or who would side with another child to bully his own. He won't let you suffer unjustly."
After speaking, Mi Yao met Xiao Chu's gaze and smiled charmingly. "Xiao Lang, hurry and stand up for us. Don't forget your promise to take good care of this delicate flower of yours."
Grandma Ma itched to claw Mi Yao's fox-like face.
How could there be such a shameless woman, acting coy and coquettish in front of a man right before everyone's eyes? What difference was there between her and a brothel courtesan?
While Grandma Ma seethed with hatred, Pan felt uneasy. In her previous life, she hadn't paid attention to Mi Yao's behavior when she first arrived at the Xiao residence, but she remembered that Mi Yao, preoccupied with her missing lover, had been cold and dismissive toward Xiao Chu. In their previous wedding, she had even caused a scene by refusing to bow during the ceremony.
Yet now, Mi Yao's gaze was soft and tender, nothing like the aloofness she had shown Xiao Chu before.
A beauty's icy demeanor could make men yield, let alone Mi Yao's coquettish act—her soft, sweet tone was like a hook, tugging at one's heart.
"Second Young Master Xiao hit my Tiger Head, and you hit him too! If Commander Xiao is to stand up for anyone, it should be for us! You Jiangnan woman, cunning and deceitful, spouting nonsense!"
"Xiao Lang, just look at her!"
Mi Yao didn't argue with Grandma Ma, merely tugging at the hem of Xiao Chu's sleeve.
"It's getting late. If there's nothing else, Grandma Ma should take your grandson home."
Xiao Chu's words clearly sided with Mi Yao. Defeated, Grandma Ma flared her nostrils like an old ox. "For Commander Xiao's sake, I'll let Tiger Head's grievance slide today. But for Second Young Master to lie at such a young age is unacceptable! Commander, you must discipline him properly at home and not let others lead him astray!"
With that, Grandma Ma carried her grandson away, leaving Xiao Liang standing there, anxious and uneasy.
He didn't dare tell his father that he hadn't lied, knowing it would be useless. He could only await his father's punishment.
With the opponent gone, Mi Yao felt no joy in victory. Instead, she was so frustrated she wanted to kick Xiao Chu.
What was wrong with him, treating his own son like an enemy? No wonder, in the book, the original host had found it so easy to have Xiao Liang and the others killed.
Speaking of which, the original host's fate was truly unjust. With a father like Xiao Chu, who had such a despicable nature, he should have been pleased by his child's death. Why pretend to be grief-stricken and have the original host—his benefactor—executed by a thousand cuts?
"Go back."
Xiao Chu didn't punish Xiao Liang, merely impatiently shooing him away.
"You go back too."
After Xiao Liang left, Xiao Chu met Mi Yao's gaze but showed no intention of engaging further with her.
"I'm still upset. Staying in the room will suffocate me."
"You were the one who hit someone. What do you have to be upset about?"
Xiao Chu frowned, unsure what Mi Yao was fussing about. His cold demeanor worked on Xiao Liang and the others, but Mi Yao simply ignored it, forcing him to patiently ask what she actually wanted.
"When I hit him, he was physically hurt. But he's a four-year-old child—he'll forget the pain in a moment. Yet when he insulted me, he wounded my heart. Tell me, which hurts more: the heart or the body?"
Before Xiao Chu could respond to Mi Yao, he glanced at Pan, who had stayed behind instead of leaving with the Ma family grandmother and grandson.
"Is there something you need, Madame Ma?"
Noticing Xiao Chu's gaze, Pan smiled coyly. "It's been so long since I've seen Ninth Brother. Nothing major—I just wanted to chat with you about everyday matters."
Mi Yao's unusual behavior stuck in Pan's throat like a fishbone. Even knowing the timing was poor, she wanted to insert herself between the two, preventing Mi Yao from continuing to play the coquette in front of Xiao Chu.
"Madame Ma, Xiao Lang isn't actually asking if you have business—he's hinting that you're being an eyesore and should leave first. We, an engaged couple, have private matters to discuss. Xiao Lang is reserved; if outsiders are present, he can't set aside his pride to comfort me."
Mi Yao detested the Ma family and naturally wouldn't exclude Pan. Moreover, Pan seemed to have forgotten her own son, stubbornly fixated on catching up with Xiao Chu—clearly, she had ulterior motives.
After a pause, she continued, "Has Madame Ma forgotten that Ma Hu is your biological son? He lacked manners, got slapped, and was driven away by the host. Instead of disciplining him, you linger here. No wonder he turned out the way he did."
Pan's smile stiffened on her face.
After all, she was Zhao Tianhe's adopted daughter—how could Mi Yao treat her so disrespectfully?
It was as if aside from Xiao Chu, whom she deemed worthy of lowering her stance for, Mi Yao looked down on everyone else.
"Lady Yu has just arrived and doesn't know many things. My life in the Ma family has been far from satisfactory." As she spoke the last sentence, Pan glanced at Xiao Chu.
"Why look at Xiao Lang when you say you're dissatisfied? Did he make you dissatisfied?"
Impatient with Pan's persistent pestering, Mi Yao said bluntly, "If you have feelings for Xiao Lang, then step aside for now. I have matters to attend to here—can't you come back at another time tomorrow?"
"We're getting married tomorrow."
Xiao Chu reminded her.
As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt he was asking for trouble—and sure enough, Mi Yao retorted, "If a man is determined, he can whisper sweet nothings to someone else even moments before the wedding night. What does getting married tomorrow matter?"
She paused, then grabbed the hem of his robe. "Young master, do you enjoy watching women fight over you or what? I'm eager to lodge a complaint—hurry up and clear a space where I can do so."
Xiao Chu had no desire to hear Mi Yao's complaints, nor did he wish to stay and reminisce with Pan.
Forced to choose between the two, he said to Pan, "Thank you for your efforts in assisting with the wedding preparations, Madame Ma. However, Lady Yu here is unlikely to appreciate your kindness. Please return home for now. I will send someone with compensation for your help today."
After Pan left, Xiao Chu coldly stared at Mi Yao, truly feeling he had married a troublesome woman.
She was unwilling to manage household affairs, yet when someone came to assist, she would speak up and drive them away.
"What do you want? Should I dig out the heart and liver of that Ma family boy to compensate for the malicious words you suffered?"
Xiao Chu's tone was sarcastic, but Mi Yao pretended not to notice: "If Xiao Lang is willing to do so, I would naturally be satisfied."
"Yu Mi Yao, I despise overly troublesome people, regardless of whether they are women or whether they are beautiful."
Xiao Chu's narrow eyes seemed coated with thick layers of ice, cold and sharp.
He didn't care how much Mi Yao stirred up trouble with others, but whatever trouble she caused must be resolved by herself, not brought before him, requiring him to act as some impartial judge to determine right and wrong.
"Call me E'e."
Facing Xiao Chu's warning, Mi Yao lifted her lips in a radiant smile, reminding him.