Xiao Chu naturally had no leisure to call her by her personal name and flirt with her in the cold wind.
Seeing that she wasn’t intimidated by his threats, Xiao Chu withdrew his gaze.
Those who had never been beaten didn’t know how much a rod hurt when it struck the body. Yu Shaoyang hadn’t yet reached Shu, so for now, he still had to indulge her. Later, he would surely find a way to make her understand every word he said.
Without another word, Xiao Chu flicked his sleeve and left. Watching his broad, V-shaped back recede into the distance, Mi Yao’s smile slowly faded after a moment.
She didn’t know if she had managed to make Xiao Chu eat humble pie, but she still felt stifled.
“Have you ever heard whether Xiao Chu had a grudge against his deceased elder brother?”
Knowing that Yu Xiu usually enjoyed digging up private matters within the manor, Mi Yao asked her as they walked toward Tingsong Courtyard.
“The Xiao family servants haven’t mentioned this. If Elder Sister is curious, Xiu’er can go and inquire about it.”
Though displeased that Mi Yao wanted to meddle in the Xiao family’s affairs, Yu Xiu truthfully shared all the information she had gathered. “I’m not sure whether Brother-in-law had a grudge against his elder brother, but the servants in Xiao Manor all know that Brother-in-law isn’t very close to the three children. It’s said that before the Old Lady Xiao passed away, she forced Brother-in-law to register the two children under his name. He was unhappy about it, so he treats them coldly.”
“If he didn’t like being called ‘Father,’ he wouldn’t have taken in any adopted sons,” Mi Yao replied.
She didn’t believe Xiao Chu disliked the little radishes; instead, she thought this was his way of raising children.
He was often away and had no time to care for them meticulously, so he simply let them grow like wild beasts, not relying on him.
It was clear he didn’t care much for the Ma family, nor was he the kind of fool who valued others’ opinions over his own.
Even so, understanding this didn’t make her think any better of Xiao Chu.
To blame his own child in front of them when they were clearly wronged, just because of outsiders’ words—no matter what his parenting methods were, his head was full of water.
The three little radish siblings shared Tingsong Courtyard.
It was the courtyard farthest from the main residence.
Aside from its remote location, the courtyard itself was quite nice, thoughtfully positioned with all the rooms facing the sunlight.
It was evident that the courtyard was regularly cleaned, and the plants and flowers in the yard were thriving—the servants hadn’t been slacking off.
But what was the use of tending to flowers and plants if the young masters were beaten and no one intervened?
Mi Yao’s anger only subsided when she entered Xiao Liang’s room and saw him and his younger sister sleeping side by side, their heads touching.
Usually, the little radish would hide at the sight of her two brothers, acting as if she didn’t know them to avoid being carried away. But now, with Xiao Liang wronged, she clung tightly to his hand. Hearing movement, she opened her eyes briefly and, upon seeing Mi Yao, didn’t let go of her brother’s hand. Instead, she nuzzled his cheek and pressed even closer to him.
Seeing this, Mi Yao gently stroked the little girl’s cheek. When the child pushed Xiao Liang’s face toward Mi Yao’s hand, she reached out and caressed his cheek as well.
Both little faces were equally smooth and plump.
“Alright, sleep now.”
Only after the little radish closed her eyes again did Mi Yao leave the room.
“After the Second Young Master returned, he spoke with the young lady in the room for a while, and then they both fell asleep,” Xiao Liang’s nurse explained to Mi Yao. “I changed the Second Young Master’s clothes and washed his face. The kitchen has prepared porridge, and it will be brought over when he wakes up.”
Observing Zhou Momo's unease, Mi Yao had no intention of making things difficult for her.
She simply felt that Xiao Chu truly lacked discernment when it came to selecting household management staff.
This Zhou Momo wasn't the wet nurse who had raised Xiao Liang, but rather the widow of one of Xiao Chu's subordinates. Having been driven to desperation by her in-laws, she had sought refuge with Xiao Chu, who then assigned her to care for Xiao Liang.
A woman who had been bullied to the brink of survival in her marital home naturally couldn't assert herself around Xiao Liang either.
Her character was decent enough, but she was timid and conflict-averse. When problems arose, she longed to seek help but dared not speak up, only wandering aimlessly by the roadside like a headless fly.
"Knowing how to keep yourself occupied is sufficient. No manor has so much silver to spare that it would support a crowd of useless servants living idly and eating for free."
Mi Yao wasn't just reprimanding Zhou Momo—she swept her gaze over all the servants in the courtyard, particularly lingering on Mama Fan, who looked guilty.
Neither of these older women were wet nurses. While Zhou Momo at least tried her best with Xiao Liang, Mama Fan had come to Xiao Manor to retire comfortably based on her familial connection to Grandma Ma.
"With no young lady to attend to, Mama Fan, your days have become quite leisurely—either sleeping the day away or chatting with relatives over sunflower seeds. Your life appears more carefree than mine, and I'm narrow-minded enough to find such indulgences hard to tolerate."
"Young lady, I've been wronged! I tidy the young lady's changed clothes every day…"
"Or should I be the one doing it instead?"
Mi Yao curled her lips mockingly. "Don't expect me to constantly instruct you on how to perform your duties. I came here to be the mistress, not to teach you how to be servants. Use your brains and consider how you should conduct yourselves daily to deserve the monthly wages you receive. If today's negligence repeats itself, I dislike listening to excuses—those who should be expelled will be expelled, and those who should be sold for replacements will be replaced."
Knowing that without a permanent household manager to maintain oversight, the effect of her warnings wouldn't last long, Mi Yao returned to her chamber and began her bathing ritual. As she smoothed scented balm over every inch of her skin, she focused on the luxurious sensation, trying to let physical pleasure override her growing frustrations.
Children would grow up one way or another—as long as she didn't repeat the original host's mistake of getting them killed, their care shouldn't become her responsibility.
If she yielded to momentary pity, they would inevitably become her permanent burden.
Meanwhile, Xiao Chu, their father, would perfectly evade his duties, completely absolved from managing his own children.
However much she might sympathize with the children, she would never forget: she came here to be a pampered wife, not a self-sacrificing supporting character existing merely to convenience the male lead, Xiao Chu.
After her bath, Mi Yao reclined on the daybed, applying whitening and moisturizing creams from head to toe.
Once her skin had fully absorbed the treatments, noticing there was still an hour before dusk, she instructed Shuang Hua and the others to search for dried henna blossoms: "If you can't find any, other brightly colored flowers will suffice."
When Xiao Shan returned to Mi Yao's quarters, she found her at the table preparing a small mortar—already filled with soaked henna petals and alum, crushed into a paste ready for nail dyeing.
Curious, Xiao Shan leaned over the shallow agate dish, twitching her nose as she sniffed the mixture.
"I added peony dew to it—what you smell is the fragrance of peony and henna."
After explaining, Mi Yao watched Xiao Shan nod in understanding, then paused thoughtfully before adding, "How is your second brother? Since you're here, does that mean he's recovered and no longer upset?"
Xiao Shan continued to nod, standing straight and stretching out her hand to indicate a height slightly taller than herself.
"Are you saying your eldest brother came back to comfort him, and then he stopped feeling wronged?"
Xiao Shan nodded.
Seeing that Mi Yao had no further questions, she climbed back onto the stool, widening her eyes to watch the red mud being scraped onto the silver tray.
"This is for dyeing nails. I'll dye yours first."
Noticing Xiao Shan's curiosity and wanting to see how the color would turn out herself, Mi Yao took Xiao Shan's plump little hand, dipped a small purple-haired brush into the liquid, and carefully applied it to her rice grain-sized fingernails.
The original host had excelled at delicate calligraphy, and after inheriting her memories, Mi Yao had tried writing with a brush. Thanks to the muscle memory in her fingers, her handwriting was nearly identical to the original host's.
However, she had little interest in brush calligraphy. Aside from that one attempt after transmigrating, this was only her second time holding a brush.
It had to be said that the original host's childhood training was incredibly useful. Even on fingernails as small as little radishes, she could control the brush to apply color without spilling over the edges.
Seeing Xiao Shan's eyes grow brighter at the sight of her red nails, Mi Yao had Shi Ya wrap her hands, then proceeded to paint her own fingernails and toenails.
"If you like it, you can all paint yours too."
With their fingers and toes wrapped in satin, Mi Yao and the little radish (Xiao Shan) lay on the bed unable to move. Noticing there was plenty of material left, Mi Yao said to Shuang Hua and the others.
Even girls who normally disliked adornment would develop an interest after watching Mi Yao busy herself with it daily. Knowing Mi Yao was generous in this regard and never minded her maids beautifying themselves, Shi Ya and the others soon had their fingers wrapped too.
By the next day's wedding, when Xiao Chu first saw Xiao Shan's reddened fingers, he thought she had injured them, but upon closer look realized the red was dyed.
Though peculiar, she was immensely proud, spreading her hands to show her brothers.
Having learned his lesson from Xiao Shan, when he saw Mi Yao's maids all working with affected grace, their fingers reddened as they gestured delicately, he understood the situation.
But when the bridal sedan chair revealed that creamy jade hand, and his gaze fell upon the vibrant red at her fingertips, he unconsciously tightened his grip. Only when he heard the culprit's pained gasp did he release his hold with satisfaction.
Though Xiao Chu's wedding had been arranged hastily, thanks to Zhao Tianhe's early preparations, it was anything but slipshod.
The manor was decorated with lanterns and streamers, the main gate adorned with gold-foiled double happiness symbols on horn lanterns, while even the stone lions guarding the entrance were wrapped entirely in red silk, their necks tied with large red bows.
Red velvet carpets welcomed guests from the main entrance onward, with crimson silk lanterns lining the reception path throughout the entire manor.
Having married from afar, Mi Yao's bridal sedan was carried from Xiao Manor, paraded twice around Yi Zhou city, then returned to Xiao Manor.
After arriving in Yi Zhou, Mi Yao hadn't left Xiao Manor due to the cold weather.
But this time, seated inside the bridal sedan, she gained concrete understanding of Xiao Chu's reputation in Yi Zhou.
Initially she thought the spectators had gathered because of Xiao Chu's adoptive father's fame, but listening to the commoners' discussions along the way, she realized they were scattering grains and copper coins specifically for Xiao Chu.
Before and after Xiao Chu quelled the Jingzhou rebellion, Yi Zhou had received numerous refugees from Jingzhou. Additionally, Xiao Chu had long garrisoned Yi Zhou, repelling countless invasions from Tufan.
Thus while Zhao Tianhe enjoyed prestige as Jiedushi in Shu lands, Xiao Chu as Town Envoy was no less esteemed.
Amidst the lively cheers of the common folk and the continuous shower of grains, Mi Yao failed to notice the force in Xiao Chu's grip. It was only after they entered the mansion and she lowered her gaze to see her reddened skin that she couldn't help but complain inwardly: Xiao Chu must have never held a woman's hand before, applying such clumsy strength as if molding her clay-made hand every time he touched it.
With Xiao Chu's parents absent, the couple only needed to pay respects to Zhao Tianhe in the wedding hall.
Holding a round fan with a sandalwood frame, gold-and-silver embroidered mandarin ducks, and jade tassels symbolizing marital bliss, Mi Yao listened for a long while to guests on both sides praising the bride's graceful elegance and perfect match with the groom. When she was finally escorted to the bridal chamber and seated, regardless of whether Xiao Chu recited the customary fan-removal poem, she spared him the trouble by unhesitatingly setting down the round fan to relieve her sore arm.
After putting down the fan, she noticed a gaze fixed upon her. Mi Yao looked up at Xiao Chu, who wore a golden crown and silver fish pouch.
Their eyes met, yet neither spoke.
She refused to indulge him. If he wouldn't speak first, she'd compete in this game of stillness with him. After studying his eyes thoroughly, she shifted her attention to his nose bridge, then his thin lips.
Only when she had finished counting the gems and pearls adorning his golden crown did Xiao Chu finally open his mouth.
"I'll go entertain the guests. You wait here."
Wait for what?
Mi Yao tilted her head adorned with vermilion hairpins. Had he not gotten his fill of her beauty? Did he expect her to maintain this appearance so he could admire her more upon his return?