Seeing this scene, the maid immediately tried to fetch the Old Madam, but was stopped by a single glare from Xie Zhaoqing.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Xie Zhaoqing’s voice was icy cold. If the Old Madam were to come out and cause trouble now, the situation would only become more difficult to resolve.
“This servant… this servant…”
The maid trembled, bowing her head and not daring to move again. Xie Zhaoqing snorted coldly and waved his hand, ordering people to take Wei Lian and Xie Yumo away.
Even as she was forcibly dragged away, Xie Yumo still couldn’t understand why things had turned out this way!
Xie Yuantang was still the same Xie Yuantang, so why wasn’t she afraid of them at all since returning this time?
How could she see through their plans at every step and make both Qu Pei and Xie Zhaoqing side with her?
“Xie Yuantang… this is all your fault!”
Xie Yumo glared viciously at Xie Yuantang. Her disfigured face was twisted and terrifying, and she still carried the stench of toads, looking as if she had been fished out of a filthy ditch.
“I won’t let you get away with this! Just you wait, you little bitch… Mmmph!”
Before she could finish her rant, the servants beside her covered her mouth.
Xie Yuantang blinked and waved at her, saying, “Xie Da Hai, take care on your way back! Remember to take a bath. It doesn’t matter if you stink yourself, but coming out to disgust others is just plain rude!”
“Mmmph…!”
Xie Yumo wanted to curse loudly, but unfortunately, her mouth was covered. Her face turned red with frustration, only aggravating the inflammation and pain of her wounds!
Xie Zhaoqing glanced at the two being taken away, then turned to Qu Pei. “Is this resolution satisfactory to you, Sir Eunuch?”
Qu Pei bowed slightly to him and said with a smile, “I am but a lowly servant. How dare I comment on the family affairs of the Prime Minister?”
“Hmph!”
You call that not commenting? You’ve talked so much you could publish a book!
Xie Zhaoqing snorted coldly, then turned to Si Tu Yan. “Is Your Highness satisfied? This humble official will compensate you for the Black Pottery Jar. As for the earthworm…”
When he mentioned the word “earthworm,” Xie Zhaoqing’s lips curled with resentment.
A single earthworm had poisoned and silenced one of his concubines, and to make matters worse, that earthworm had been a gift from the prince.
Where the hell was the justice in that!
Si Tu Yan waved his hand generously. “No need for compensation. Just make sure they don’t bully my wife anymore.”
Xie Zhaoqing forced a smile. “Thank you for Your Highness’s leniency.”
Finally, Xie Zhaoqing turned to Xie Yuantang. He lowered his head, his eyes unreadable, and said coldly, “Have you achieved your goal?”
“What are you talking about, Father? Tangtang doesn’t understand.”
Xie Yuantang tilted her head, smiling like a little sunflower, her voice sweet and crisp. “Oh, right, Father promised to arrange someone to take care of Mother. Don’t forget~”
“If anything happens to Mother, Tangtang will tattle!”
Xie Yuantang took Si Tu Yan’s hand. “Tangtang will tattle to my husband, tattle to Father Emperor, and even tattle to Grand Tutor Uncle!”
“Mhm! I’ll help my wife!”
Si Tu Yan nodded emphatically, then, perhaps realizing his own limitations, frowned and added, “Father Emperor will help my wife too!”
Xie Zhaoqing: “…”
Damn, when did this wretched girl gain so many powerful backers?
Didn’t she just go to bring luck to an idiot? How did she suddenly become bold enough to challenge him?
And worst of all, he couldn’t even win against her!
Xie Zhaoqing was inwardly seething with rage, but his face twitched into an ugly smile as he gritted his teeth and said, “Don’t worry, what I promised you, I will naturally deliver.”
He dared not fail to deliver.
Only then did Xie Yuantang feel satisfied. She turned to Qu Pei and said, “Eunuch, let’s go home. This place is too disgusting—staying here would ruin my appetite.”
“Mhmm, let’s go home to eat,” Si Tu Yan nodded.
Qu Pei stole a glance at Xie Zhaoqing’s expression, suppressing a laugh as he replied, “Very well, this servant will have the carriage prepared immediately.”
Originally, this homecoming visit was just a formality—who could have expected the Little Imperial Consort to turn it into such a spectacle?
“Wait, I still have something to fetch.”
As she spoke, Xie Yuantang carefully stepped over the toads, retrieved Number Zero’s small head from the corner, and hugged it to her chest. “Alright, let’s go now!”
Everyone: “…”
So this thing belongs to you!
“Wife, isn’t this the gift you gave Xie Yumo?”
“Indeed, but she doesn’t appreciate its value. I’m taking it back for us to play with.”
“Great, great!”
After walking a few meters, Xie Yuantang didn’t forget to turn back and wave at Xie Zhaoqing, her smile dazzling (yet irritating) and her voice sweet (yet grating).
“Father, Tangtang will come back to play with you in a few days! Next time, Tangtang will definitely treat you to something delicious!”
Something even better than what Xie Yumo and Wei Lian “enjoyed” this time!
Xie Zhaoqing breathed heavily, his hands trembling with fury behind his back. With quivering lips, he forced out the words, “Just… take good care of His Highness. There’s no need… to return.”
His Xie family couldn’t withstand her torment!
Every time she returned, he felt like he’d lost ten years off his life!
“Tattered shoes~ tattered hat~”
In the carriage on the way back, Xie Yuantang sat with her legs crossed, happily humming a little tune while flipping open a small notebook to write.
“Wife, what are you writing?”
Si Tu Yan curiously leaned over and saw the large characters Xie Yuantang had written:
[Revenge Progress Bar 10%]
“What is this, wife?”
Xie Yuantang replied with utmost seriousness, “Oh, this is my accounting book.”
“Accounting book?”
Si Tu Yan’s Peach Blossom Eyes filled with confusion. “Did you buy this ‘Revenge Progress Bar,’ wife? But why is it only 10%?”
“Because we’ve only completed a tiny bit. Giving it 10% is already me being generous.”
Si Tu Yan blinked his beautiful eyelashes, his handsome face scrunching up in puzzlement. “Wife, why don’t I understand what you’re saying? Am I too stupid?”
Xie Yuantang chuckled and reached out to poke his cheek. “Who said you’re stupid? My husband was so dashing today! Not stupid at all—super impressive!”
“No one has ever praised me like that before. Wife, you’re the first person to ever compliment me.”
Hearing Xie Yuantang’s praise, Si Tu Yan’s handsome face instantly flushed crimson. Shyly, he asked, “Am I… really dashing? Really impressive?Looking at the pitiable young man before her—though he was nine years her senior, in her heart, Si Tu Yan was the novice who needed her coaxing.
But at least he was a pretty novice, far more pleasing to the eye than her zombies!
Xie Yuantang smiled and nodded earnestly. “Of course. Have I ever lied to you?”
“No.”
“Then that settles it!”
Outside the carriage, Qu Pei, who was driving, overheard the conversation inside, and the smile on his lips gradually deepened.
He thought to himself, with the Little Imperial Consort by the Fifth Prince’s side, the Emperor could finally rest assured.
The carriage moved slowly along the way, with Xie Yuantang and Si Tu Yan occasionally looking out at the street and discussing what to eat after returning to the mansion.
Just as they were talking, a sudden sound of a startled horse pierced the air!
The entire carriage jolted violently, and Xie Yuantang lost her balance, lurching forward uncontrollably.
In that split second, she was filled with frustration—this body was far too weak, and she simply couldn’t react in time.
“Madam, be careful!”
At the critical moment, a strong arm suddenly grabbed her, pulling her securely into an embrace.
“Thud!”
With a loud crash, the carriage was forced to a halt.
Outside, a bold and unrestrained male voice rang out: “Well, well! Isn’t this Fifth Brother’s carriage?”