When Nanny Fan arrived, Mi Yao was in the middle of receiving guests.
Hearing that the Xiao household had no steward, Mi Yao guessed she would inevitably have to meet female guests well-connected to the family. So when the Ma mother and daughter entered without announcement, walking straight from the Xiao gates to her chamber, she was not surprised. She had not yet married Xiao Xu, so she was not lodged in the inner quarters, but in the west wing of the main residence.
Within two days of arriving, she had already noticed certain things. Her chamber was spacious and clean, yet sparsely furnished. Aside from the bed, there was only a faded screen painted with birds and flowers.
Though the screen looked old, its frame was made of rosewood. Clearly, whoever arranged her quarters wanted her to think the room was plain, while she lacked the discernment to recognize the value of what was there. When she saw Xiao Yi and his siblings dressed in fine silk jackets, golden collars gleaming at their necks, she became even more certain: the heavy, faded cotton quilt on her bed was deliberately chosen to make her feel slighted, to provoke her anger.
Such things would not be done by ordinary servants paid monthly wages. Only someone who spoke in Xiao Xu’s presence, yet did not welcome her arrival, would arrange it so.
Catching the Ma women’s critical glances and noting the daughter’s careful adornment, Mi Yao even understood why they were unwelcome.
The male lead might be a “widower king,” but surely he would not be without at least one favored young lady at his side.
Old Madam Ma had known the Yu girl was beautiful, but had not expected her to be *this* beautiful. To put on airs, she had deliberately chosen the hour just after Mi Yao’s nap, and she and her daughter wore their finest clothes and most splendid jewelry. Yet their borrowed grandeur paled before true nobility.
In the small hall where guests were received, several braziers burned. Mi Yao wore a pale violet jacket with white magnolia trim, crossed collar, and a matching gauze skirt. Her attire was simple and elegant. She wore no heavy jewelry, only a jade hairpin carved in the shape of a magnolia flower in her bun. Her attire did not appear lavish, yet it carried a refinement distinct from others. And with that face, glowing without need of adornment, she was like the “enchantress” from a storyteller’s tale.
Old Madam Ma looked on with indignation, while the young Miss Ma, who intended to marry Xiao Xu, was furious.
“How can you receive guests dressed like this! My mother and I carefully chose our clothes and jewelry to meet you. You claim to be from a noble family, yet you show less courtesy than we do!”
Hearing Miss Ma’s deliberate provocation, Mi Yao replied softly, “In noble households, this is how we dress to receive guests.”
“How could that be possible?”
Even with little experience of noblewomen, Miss Ma knew they carried themselves with grandeur, never wearing simple home clothes to meet guests.
Mi Yao covered her mouth and laughed lightly. “How can I explain? If Miss Ma were truly from a noble family, she would understand.”
Her smile was restrained, but Yu Xiu beside her laughed outright.
Miss Ma realized Mi Yao was mocking her, her face flushing red. Hearing Yu Xiu’s laughter, she turned her anger on her.
“You girl, what are you laughing at!”
“Miss Ma, the emerald at my neck is worth more than all your trinkets together. You can’t even tell the difference between a mistress’s maid and a noble’s maid—how could you possibly understand my elder sister’s attire?” Yu Xiu might keep herself in check before Mi Yao, but outside, she did not see herself as a mere maid. Even as an illegitimate daughter, she was still of the Yu family. Women like the Mas, back in Jiangnan, were only fit to speak to her in hushed tones.
“As guests, you should remember the rules of being guests. Pretending to find fault with the mistress only makes your lowly origins more obvious.”
“You little girl, you never stop talking! If Xu is of such birth, then so are we. Xu himself respects me as an elder—do you mean to say you look down even on the master of this household?”
“Yes, my brother and Brother Xu are close as brothers. Brother Xu has always treated me differently. The bond between the Ma family and the Xiao family is not something any random woman can destroy!”
The mother and daughter spoke one after another. Yu Xiu looked down on them, but worried that if they truly had deep ties with Xiao Xu, she might bring trouble upon Mi Yao.
Seeing her falter, the Ma women grew even more arrogant.
“This Xiao household has always been managed by Brother Xu through us. He treats my mother as if she were his own elder. If you act so brazenly, when Brother Xu returns and hears of it, he’ll beat you to death.”
“I am not some random woman. I am the lady Xiao Lang has sought to marry. As for who will manage the Xiao household in the future, I trust Xiao Lang—majestic as a dragon, graceful as a phoenix—not to be foolish in such matters. In the future, when you come as guests, Old Madam Ma and Miss Ma, please announce yourselves properly. Such etiquette does not require noble birth to understand.”
At this last line, Mi Yao paused, her smile faint and mocking. “As for killing me, when Xiao Lang kills me for your sake, you can posture before the next bride. While I live, no elder of the Ma family, not bearing the Xiao name, has the right to be arrogant before me.”
Busy in Jingzhou consolidating newly seized territory, Xiao Xu had not slept for days. He had planned to rest a full day upon returning before appearing to complete the marriage rites. But passing through the front hall, he happened to hear the words “majestic as a dragon, graceful as a phoenix.”
He knew that if he appeared now, his ears would be filled with quarrels. Yet just as he was about to leave, he saw Nanny Fan, caretaker of Shan’er, weeping as she headed in this direction. His steps halted.
“What’s going on?” A deep voice suddenly rang out. From behind the Taihu rock, a tall figure in black appeared.
Nanny Fan was so startled that she fell to the ground.
“You foolish servant, do you not recognize the Commander!” Pu Qing shouted, revealing Xiao Xu’s identity.
His cry not only froze Nanny Fan in place but also drew the attention of those inside. Hearing the commotion, they pushed open the door and rushed out.
Cold wind swept in. Mi Yao frowned in discomfort. Hearing Miss Ma cry out “Brother Xu!” twice in delight, she reluctantly donned a cloak and walked to the doorway.
Xiao Xu had clearly just arrived in Yizhou. His black fur cloak covered half his face, his whole body travel-worn. Even from a distance, she could see the redness in his eyes.
Mi Yao had no desire to stand outside in the cold wind. Meeting his gaze, she spoke: “Langjun, come in and have a cup of hot tea.”
“Oh my, what’s happened here? Why are you crying like this?!”
Old Madam Ma, seeing Xiao Xu’s eyes fall on Mi Yao, slapped her thigh and pointed at Nanny Fan for all to see. “What grievance have you suffered? The Commander is here—speak quickly! You are Shan’er’s nurse. If you suffer, it is no different than Shan’er suffering!”
Old Madam Ma had not expected such a coincidence—that Xiao Xu would return at this very moment—and hurriedly urged Nanny Fan to lodge her complaint.
“Yes, Nanny Fan, if you’ve been wronged you must explain clearly to Brother Xu, let him uphold justice for you!”
Hearing Old Madam Ma call him “Commander Xiao” instead of the “boy Xu” she had used in the flower hall earlier, Mi Yao found it amusing, and a faint smile touched her lips.
“Old Madam Ma, is your maiden family name Fan?” Noticing the resemblance between Nanny Fan and Old Madam Ma, Mi Yao asked.
“What are you asking that for?” Old Madam Ma’s eyes flickered with unease at the question. But after a moment’s thought, she reasoned—so what if she and Nanny Fan were kin? Why shouldn’t she recommend her own relative as Xiao Shan’s nurse?
“You look alike, I just asked casually.” With that, Mi Yao saw Xiao Xu had no intention of coming inside for tea. Unable to bear the cold wind outside, she bowed slightly. “Since my lord has returned, it is not proper for me, not yet wed, to take charge of receiving guests. I shall withdraw.”
She turned and left, her figure graceful, without a trace of reluctance.
The Ma women had not expected her to leave so easily. For a moment, they were at a loss—should they call her back, or be glad she was gone, no longer an obstacle to Xiao Xu’s favor?
Drawing back his gaze, Xiao Xu looked at Nanny Fan. “Is Shan’er well?”
His eyes were as sharp as a hawk’s. Under his stare, Nanny Fan felt like a criminal guilty of a grave offense. She dared not ramble and quickly said, “Rest assured, Commander, the little miss is fine.”
Hearing his daughter was well, Xiao Xu turned to the Ma women. “I am weary from travel. If Old Madam has words, speak them to my attendant.”
Leaving Pu Qing to handle matters, Xiao Xu strode away. Even when Miss Ma called after him, he did not slow a step.
Miss Ma stamped her foot. “Brother Xu’s heart and soul have been bewitched by that enchantress!”
“Miss Ma, mind your words. The Commander goes to rest—it has nothing to do with anyone else. If Old Madam Ma has no instructions, Pu Qing will see the guests out.”
“Who says I have nothing to do? My grandson Hutou is still playing with Second Young Master Xiao. Once the brothers have enjoyed themselves enough, then we’ll leave.”
“Second Young Master didn’t rest well this morning and is now asleep. Hutou knocked several times but couldn’t wake him, so he ran off with his servant outside the estate.”
When Xiao Yi saw Ma Hutou making a racket in their courtyard, he sensed trouble. He had Xiao Liang hold Xiao Shan and lock the door, pretending to sleep. He ignored Hutou until the boy grew bored and left. Only after learning that the Ma women had gone to find Mi Yao did he hurry over. But he arrived too late—Mi Yao had already gone, and he missed the chance to greet his returning father.
“How could you let Hutou run off? In such cold weather, what if he catches a chill! You’re old enough, yet you can’t even watch your younger brother. Is it because you’re jealous of Hutou’s closeness with Second Young Master Xiao that you deliberately drove him away?”
Old Madam Ma despised Xiao Yi, the orphan without father or mother. She wanted her grandson to bond with Xiao Liang instead. But for reasons she couldn’t fathom, Xiao Liang truly treated Xiao Yi as an elder brother. Even when he was told that Xiao Yi was a foundling orphan, he still obeyed him.
“He’s only responsible for watching his own siblings. Why should he look after your child?” Yu Xiu, worried that the Ma women might speak recklessly before Xiao Xu, returned from the flower hall under the pretext of fetching something.
Seeing Xiao Xu absent, she was about to leave, but heard Old Madam Ma shouting. Xiao Yi, the boy who had once caused her embarrassment, stood with his head bowed, enduring the scolding.
Finding him spineless, Yu Xiu snorted. “To be cursed in your own home without showing a shred of a master’s dignity—no wonder others dare to bully you so.”
“You little girl, how dare you interrupt when elders are speaking!”
Knowing Mi Yao did not take Old Madam Ma seriously, Yu Xiu naturally refused to indulge her. “By your reasoning, anyone older than me counts as my elder, and can put on airs to scold me?”
“I wasn’t talking about you—I was scolding Eldest Young Master Xiao!” Old Madam Ma feared Yu Xiu’s sharp tongue. She had thought noble daughters were all bound by rules and politeness, but the Yu sisters were nothing like that. They showed no courtesy at all.
“He’s just a child—what does he know? If you think he’s done poorly and deserves scolding, then go to my brother-in-law. Let him hear how you berate his son for the sake of your grandson.”
“Old Madam Ma, Miss Ma, please take your leave.”
Old Madam Ma’s rebuke of the eldest young master grated on Pu Qing’s ears. But as a household servant, and since the Ma women were technically guests, he could not speak out. Yu Xiu’s arrival provided the perfect relief.
With her grandson absent and the master of the house too busy to entertain, the Ma women had no choice but to leave resentfully. As she departed, Old Madam Ma shot Nanny Fan a meaningful look.
Yu Xiu snorted at the sight, though she had not yet spoken.
Then Xiao Yi said to Nanny Fan: “Why are you here instead of watching over Shan’er? If you find caring for her too burdensome and feel wronged, I’ll mention it to Father when he has time, and have him replace you.”
Yu Xiu pursed her lips. She had always thought him spineless, like a quail, bowing his head under scolding. Now that he showed the authority of a master, she found it just as displeasing.
An orphan, nothing more—yet one day he would be calling her elder sister ‘Mother.’