News from the palace traveled fast.
Before the afternoon was over, the entire imperial palace knew that Fifth Prince Si Tu Yan’s Chong Xi had been a success!
The fool, who had already stepped one foot through the gates of hell, was unexpectedly saved by the Xie family’s nine-year-old legitimate daughter!
Now, it was rumored that this nine-year-old Little Imperial Consort was the reincarnation of a little lucky star. Not only had she saved the Fifth Prince’s life, but she had also delighted His Majesty during her trip to the palace.
For a time, all sorts of gossip flew about, and countless eyes were fixed on the prince’s residence, especially curious about the legendary lucky star, the Little Imperial Consort.
When Xie “Lucky Star” Yuantang heard this news, she was crossing her legs and eating lychees that Si Tu Yan had peeled for her. Her little mouth was stuffed full as she mumbled, “What else? What else did they say?”
The maid Bai Fu, brought by Qu Gonggong, smiled and said, “There wasn’t much else, but many people have sent invitation cards to our residence. Gonggong said those people are just trying to sound things out. Since you and His Highness are both recovering from your injuries, it’s best not to see them.”
“Mmm,” Xie Yuantang nodded. Qu Pei was indeed experienced. In less than half a day at the prince’s residence, he had cleared out all the wicked servants who used to bully their masters and replaced them with a batch of trustworthy people.
Bai Fu and Hong Qu were the maids Qu Gonggong had assigned to serve Xie Yuantang. She heard they were originally study companions for a princess in the palace. Bai Fu was sharp and steady, while Hong Qu was cheerful and straightforward. Both were very efficient.
Xie Yuantang looked at the Si Tu Yan-brand big dog beside her, who was concentrating on peeling lychees, and asked, “Didn’t you say Uncle found you attendants from the Yan family before? Where are they?”
If attendants from the Yan family had been with him, how could Si Tu Yan have ended up in such a miserable state?
Si Tu Yan’s hands, which were peeling a lychee, paused. “Yan Feng went back to his hometown to visit family, and Yan Mo was injured.”
Xie Yuantang subconsciously assumed he had also been injured by Du Wei. After a moment’s thought, she said, “Is he good to you? If he is, we can go visit him after we return from my family visit.”
If she could even bring Si Tu Yan back to life, she was confident she could heal an attendant’s injuries.
Of course, that was on the premise that the person was useful.
Si Tu Yan hesitated for a moment before nodding.
For the next two days, Xie Yuantang recuperated at the residence. She also entered her portable laboratory twice—once to retrieve her Dissection Knife, and another time to bring out the head of Zero Little Zombie.
Finally, the day of the bridal homecoming visit arrived.
Before they left, Si Tu Yan saw Xie Yuantang sneakily stuffing something into her sleeve and asked curiously, “Wife, what are you bringing?”
Xie Yuantang gave a perfunctory reply without looking up. “A homecoming gift.”
“But aren’t the homecoming gifts already loaded onto the carriage?”
Xie Yuantang raised an eyebrow and mysteriously waved her sleeve. “How can that be the same? Those were all prepared by Qu Gonggong. But what’s in here…”
“This is a surprise gift package I’ve carefully selected for my dear little sister!”
Si Tu Yan blinked and suddenly said, “I have a gift too! I’m going to get it!”
Just as Xie Yuantang was about to stop him, she saw him dash into the study with a swoosh. A moment later, he reappeared before her with another swoosh and handed her the Black Pottery Jar in his hand. “I spent a long time finding this. It’s for Wife’s sister.”
“What ‘Wife’s sister’? That form of address is disgusting to two people at once…”
Xie Yuantang grumbled as she casually opened the jar, but her face broke into a smile the moment she saw what was inside. “Excellent, excellent, we’ll give her this! Hahaha, husband, you’re truly brilliant!”
Praised, Si Tu Yan was so happy his Peach Blossom Eyes curved into crescents. He was just short of wagging his tail!
The two of them dawdled for a long time, and it was almost noon by the time they reached the Xie Residence.
Xie Zhaoqing was leading Wei Lian and Xie Yumo at the entrance to welcome them, and none of them looked happy.
Heaven knows they had been standing there for almost the entire morning!
And yet that wretched girl Xie Yuantang was only just arriving!
“Daddy… Yumo is so tired!”
Xie Yumo was standing next to Xie Zhaoqing, holding out her hands and whining for him to carry her when, suddenly, Xie Yuantang’s head popped out from the carriage.
“Oh my! Isn’t this my dear great daddy!”
The clear, loud shout gave Xie Yumo such a fright that she jumped.
Her foot slipped, and with a splat, she fell right on her bottom!
Tears immediately welled up from the pain, and she looked at Xie Zhaoqing aggrievedly. “Daddy, big sister scared me…”
Unfortunately, neither of her parents had time for her at that moment.
Xie Zhaoqing’s expression was grim, while Wei Lian’s face was pale as she stared at Xie Yuantang in shock and uncertainty.
The girl could really speak again! But she had clearly forced that bowl of Dumbness Drug down her throat with her own hands, how could this be possible…
Xie Yuantang stood on the carriage, her large eyes sweeping over Xie Zhaoqing, Wei Lian, and Xie Yumo in turn. A sudden impulse surged within her!
She felt an incredible sense of familiarity! And an incredible… itch in her hands!
“This subject and his family respectfully welcome Your Highness the Fifth Prince and the Imperial Consort.”
Xie Zhaoqing led Wei Lian and the others in bowing to Xie Yuantang. Glancing at the jealous and resentful look on Xie Yumo’s face, Xie Yuantang blinked and said with a grin, “Daddy, carry me into the residence!”
“What?”
Xie Yumo’s composure instantly shattered. “Can’t you walk on your own? Daddy only carries me, he won’t carry you!”
Xie Yuantang tilted her head, her big eyes looking at Xie Zhaoqing. “Is that so, Daddy?”
Xie Zhaoqing was slightly taken aback. This was the first time this daughter, whom he had never paid any attention to, had acted coquettishly with him.
Glancing at Qu Gonggong, who was following behind her and Si Tu Yan, Xie Zhaoqing didn’t overthink it. He took two steps forward and picked up Xie Yuantang. “Of course not. Daddy will always be Yuantang’s daddy.”
Watching Xie Zhaoqing carry Xie Yuantang into the residence, Xie Yumo was so angry her little face was about to turn green!
Xie Yuantang covered her mouth, feigning innocence, and said with naive purity, “Little sister, why do you look so awful? Could it be that you’re jealous? Although you’re not the Xie family’s legitimate daughter, Daddy usually treats you like his own. He’s just carrying me for a moment today, and little sister can’t even tolerate that?”
Many commoners had gathered outside the Xie Residence for the homecoming visit today, and upon hearing this, they immediately began to whisper among themselves.
“Exactly, that Xie Yumo is just a fake young miss, yet she’s still clinging to the Prime Minister as her father. How shameless!”
“Isn’t that right? The Imperial Consort is already so pitiful, and she can’t even tolerate her being home for less than a day. You can just imagine how she usually throws her weight around.”
“Look at the wound on the Imperial Consort’s face. I heard it was that concubine who hit her! What a sin!”
Xie Yumo trembled with anger. She had never been pointed at and gossiped about like this before.
On top of that, her bottom hurt. Crying and holding her rear, she limped inside.
A wicked glint flashed in Xie Yuantang’s eyes as she exclaimed, “Little sister, why are you covering your bottom with your hand? Don’t tell me you pooped your pants!”
“You’re the one who pooped your pants! I, I…”
With her loud shout, the surrounding servants’ gazes toward Xie Yumo instantly turned strange.
Their eyes kept darting toward her bottom.
Xie Yumo’s face flushed with anger. “What are you looking at? I didn’t poop my pants!”
Just then, Si Tu Yan walked by, pinching his nose. “But you really do smell a little stinky!”
“But Wife said I can’t make things difficult for others at a time like this.”
“So… mm-hmm, you’re right. You didn’t poop your pants. The air in your house is just too stinky.”
Xie Yumo: “…”
After speaking, Si Tu Yan quickened his pace to catch up with Xie Yuantang, so he didn’t notice the increasingly sinister look in Xie Yumo’s eyes.
Watching the two of them walk away, Xie Yumo turned around with a ferocious expression and whispered to Wei Lian, “Mother, didn’t we prepare something before? It’s time to put it to use.”
“Today? Won’t that be too risky? Your father said…”
Wei Lian was a little worried, but Xie Yumo sneered, “Father is so charmed by her he can’t even tell north from south. If we don’t fight for ourselves now, we’ll just become the next Leng Yunwan and Xie Yuantang.”
Wei Lian was slightly stunned. Looking at the father and daughter walking away, she finally nodded and turned to head for the rear courtyard.
Xie Yumo sneered and muttered under her breath, “Bitch, just you wait!”
“Who are you calling a bitch?”
A cold, sinister voice sounded. Xie Yumo subconsciously turned her head, only to see that Si Tu Yan had somehow circled back and was now looking down at her.
Those Peach Blossom Eyes, usually clear and innocent, were now dark and gloomy, profound and bone-chilling