A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 918: Dealing with Lady Yao

Then she continued to read on, and it was the second piece of good news.

’Lady Yao, having embezzled dowry and unwilling to return the rights of the housekeeper to Mother, was ordered by Father in anger to be moved out of the main courtyard!’

’Now she’s living in the worst courtyard of the residence! Crying all day long!’

Xia Ruqing was somewhat shocked.

For so many years, Lady Yao had acted recklessly.

Father turned a blind eye, unwilling to stand up for Lady Wen or his children.

Yet now he was willing to stand up for his legitimate wife.

It seems that back in the day, he and his first wife had a very deep affection for each other!

"But something doesn’t make sense!"

"If he truly loved his legitimate wife, he should have treated her children well!"

"How could he let them live such a miserable life in the backyard?!"

Xia Ruqing thought and thought but came up with nothing.

"Forget it!"

The thoughts of old conservative men in ancient times, she couldn’t fathom them and didn’t want to guess!

Just a stingy father, so be it.

No way to be filial, no need to kick him when he’s down, he might as well be... a stranger!

What Xia Ruqing didn’t know was.

A thousand miles away, that stingy father was not thinking this way.

On the twenty-sixth of the twelfth lunar month.

It should have been a day when every household was joyfully preparing for the New Year.

The atmosphere at the Xia Residence was very heavy.

The reason was simple!

Lady Yao’s dowry was retrieved, and she was thoroughly neglected by Old Master Xia, cast into the most secluded back courtyard.

Life was too miserable, and she was really not reconciled.

So, while Lady Wen was busy preparing for the New Year, she went to trouble Xia Caiying!

She thought Xia Caiyang was still as cowardly and useless as she was in her childhood, weak and easily bullied.

Unexpectedly...

Xia Caiying seemed like a changed person.

Not only did she resist fiercely, but she also brought the matter before Old Master Xia.

As a scholar, Old Master Xia never liked to get involved in the affairs of women in the backyard.

But this didn’t mean he lacked brains.

After being an official for so many years, he still understood the gravity of right and wrong!

What is Xia Caiying’s status now?!

The soon-to-be legitimate daughter-in-law of Minister Yang’s Residence, the future lady in charge of the Minister’s Mansion!

Don’t even mention Lady Yao.

Even a small prefect like himself couldn’t afford to offend her!

So...

Old Master Xia was infuriated just seeing Lady Yao.

"You!"

"You can’t even settle down for a single day!"

Cai Yang knelt nearby with tear-filled eyes.

"I implore Father to do justice!"

"In the past when I was small, Madam bullied me and humiliated me, and I tolerated it! But now that I’m about to get married, Madam is still so brazen, it’s as if she doesn’t care about me at all!"

"Father, I refuse to swallow this grievance!"

Xia Caiying spoke while crying.

Seeing her cry, Old Master Xia couldn’t scold her, and urged her to rise quickly.

Yet Cai Yang was very determined.

"If Father doesn’t stand up for me today, then I won’t get up!"

After all, it’s not his reputation at stake, let’s see who’s more embarrassed!

Old Master Xia was indeed so angry his teeth were grinding.

But he dared not reprimand, so he had no choice but to continue venting his anger on Lady Yao.

"You truly are!"

Lady Yao lowered her head, the slightly exposed face already showing her distress!

Saying with a guilty conscience.

"My lord, this concubine was kind, but... Second Miss seems to have a great grudge against me! Right after entering, she..."

"Stop spouting nonsense!"

Xia Caiying’s swollen eyes suddenly sharpened, glaring fiercely at her.

"Upon entering, you accused me of being unfilial, saying that after living in the Capital City for years and coming back from afar, I didn’t pay respects to you!"

"You even said, if not for the fact that I’m already betrothed, you wouldn’t be so courteous!"

"Father! Father, you must stand up for me!"

"These things were all bestowed by Noble Consort, I’m really not in a position to give them to others!"

Xia Caiying spoke while crying, appearing pitiful.

Lady Yao was so angry her nose smoked!

When did she say such things?!

"You little wench, lying with your eyes open!"

Cai Yang hurriedly crawled over and clung tightly to Old Master Xia’s clothing.

"Father, I did not lie, I have Noble Consort’s letter here, if you don’t believe me, feel free to open and read it!"

Saying this she took out a letter from her bosom and raised it above her head.

Old Master Xia was somewhat hesitant, but still took the letter and began to read.

The handwriting on the letter was very clumsy, lacking any style, merely neat!

After glancing momentarily, Old Master Xia frowned deeply.

’How is it so unsightly, is this truly from his legitimate daughter’s hand?’

While hesitating, he noticed a small, delicate plum blossom imprint on the bottom corner of the sheet.

Upon careful inspection, it was the name of his eldest daughter, Xia Ruqing.

What was there not to believe?

After swiftly scanning the contents of the letter, he coldly raised the letter above Lady Yao’s head.

"This is a private exchange between the two sisters, what more do you have to say?!"

"And you desire such trinkets?"

Lady Yao was really feeling guilty now!

Oh, she had nothing more to say?! She originally just went to stir trouble.

Unexpectedly, the trouble wasn’t stirred, it only led to embarrassment.

Such bad luck.

Yet she couldn’t openly defy Old Master Xia.

She could only plead pitifully.

"My lord, this concubine dares not again!"

"This concubine...will never again go out unnecessarily!"

After saying she turned to Xia Caiying.

"Good girl, I...I’ll never..."

Xia Caiying coldly chuckled:

"In the future, I ask Madam to keep her distance from me, otherwise..."

"I won’t be as weak and easily bullied as my elder sister!"

Old Master Xia felt somewhat suspicious upon hearing her words.

"Weak and easily bullied? What do you mean?!"

Xia Caiying coldly chuckled but didn’t reply.

Old Master Xia didn’t insist, but raised the letter and asked.

"Lady Yao, explain to me! What’s the meaning of this?!"

Lady Yao looked up in deep confusion, looking innocent.

"My lord, what did the young lady write? Heaven and earth know! This concubine, in the past regarding them..."

"Does Madam still intend to deceive Father?"

Xia Caiying sneered as she turned away.

"Reporting to Father..."

Then, she recounted the ordeals her siblings and she had suffered over the years.

’Slightly embellishing’ the evil actions of Lady Yao.

Old Master Xia listened with his eyes wide open.

"Is all this true?!"

Xia Caiying nodded.

"It’s true!"

"Father, the letter in your hand is evidence!"

"Big Sister, as she lacked a mother, didn’t learn to read and write, so ... even now as a Noble Consort, she’s not very good at writing!"

"Father! Big Sister is our family’s legitimate lady!"

Xia Caiying was about to cry, exhausted!

Old Master Xia was struck by lightning.

"Indeed, she is this old master’s legitimate daughter, favored Noble Consort of the current Emperor!"

She can’t possibly not be able to write!

Luckily the Emperor hasn’t blamed it.

This is simply...

A sheer disgrace!

"Lady Yao!"

Old Master Xia furiously roared.

"Did you not say to properly teach Xia Ruqing how to write and read in the backyard?!"

"Is this how you taught her?!"

Lady Yao looked innocent.

"My lord, women’s lack of talent is virtue! This concubine didn’t teach her scholarly pursuits, taught her needlework instead!"

Xia Caiying angrily pointed at her.

"You’re lying! My elder sister is poor in embroidery too, she pricked her finger just embroidering a flower!"