Chapter 1316: Chapter 1112: The Suppleness Around the Fingers of Little Prince Xiao (24)
“He’s out, he’s out, Master, the Little Prince is out!”
“Keep your voice down, I’m not blind. Quickly, quickly, bring my reading glasses.”
At the corner of the street opposite the Weng Mansion, inside a luxurious carriage, the Prince deftly put on his glasses and then fixed his gaze tightly on Xiao Moxi and Ye Yueying in front of the Weng Mansion’s gates.
Earlier today, as soon as Xiao Moxi stepped out, the old Prince brought Huai En along and tailed him all the way here to the Weng Mansion.
“Master, the young lady beside the Little Prince must be Miss Ye! I must say, she really seems just like Young Master Wu described—slender but strong, with an elegant presence like an orchid.”
The Prince’s face revealed satisfaction, “She truly is a girl as rare and beautiful as a crow against the spring snow. My grandson hasn’t gone blind after all.”
Opposite, since the temporary Weng residence was quite small and lacked any back garden, Ye Yueying couldn’t take Xiao Moxi to the courtyard of the elderly Madam Weng. Wary of the Weng family clinging too tightly, she had no choice but to lead him outside.
The area by Weng Mansion was very secluded, with hardly any passersby on the narrow alleyways leading to the street.
Ye Yueying recalled the mont in the living room earlier, thinking of the Weng family’s sycophantic and fawning expressions, her face grew increasingly difficult to look at. As she walked aimlessly down the alley, she mulled over how best to speak.
Xiao Moxi saw her gaze lowered, silent and brooding, and cautiously asked, “Are you upset?”
Ye Yueying snapped back to reality, looked at Xiao Moxi, and said, “My uncle’s family must’ve made you laugh.”
At her words, Xiao Moxi felt relieved—so long as he wasn’t the one who angered her!
“It’s not so bad.” Growing up in the Prince Residence, he’d encountered all sorts of people.
Seeing him remain so agreeable, Ye Yueying felt rather helpless and decided to make her words clearer: “With my uncle’s family, you can’t be too polite. What they’re best at is climbing up by leveraging others.”
At that, she paused montarily.
“You shouldn’t co here in the future, lest they take advantage of you.”
Xiao Moxi remained silent for a mont, then stepped forward to block Ye Yueying’s path. Staring directly at her, he asked, “You don’t want to see ?”
That remark imdiately sent Ye Yueying’s heart into a frantic flutter, like a startled deer. Her eyes flitted nervously, afraid to look back at Xiao Moxi, as she sidestepped him and continued forward, saying, “I… I just don’t want you to be used.”
Hearing this, Xiao Moxi imdiately smiled with confidence. “So that’s what’s worrying you. Then you can put your mind at ease—I’m not soone your uncle’s family can make use of.”
Ye Yueying remained quiet for a mont, recalling the two young ladies of the Weng family. She knew them well enough—Weng Eldest Daughter’s public attempt to snatch a groom had already demonstrated her lack of sha.
Weng Second Daughter was even more cunning. Now with soone like Xiao Moxi appearing, a pri target, who knows what sches those two sisters might concoct?
Even though Xiao Moxi might not fear them, it’s still unpleasant to be targeted by such pests!
“It’s still better to keep so distance. The house is small, and there’s no strict division between the front yard and the rear. With two cousins at ho, there’s bound to be inconveniences.”
Thinking about how the three Weng family won had brazenly appeared in the living room earlier, Xiao Moxi himself frowned upon their lack of decorum. “It is rather inconvenient. Fine then, since you’ve said so, I won’t co in the future.”
Seeing Xiao Moxi respond so decisively, Ye Yueying felt conflicted again inside.
Rationally, she indeed didn’t wish Xiao Moxi to visit—not just because of the Weng family, but because of herself. She knew their relationship wasn’t imaginable and feared that the more often she saw him, the harder it would be to extricate herself from her emotions.
Yet emotionally, she longed for his visits.
At this mont, her internal conflict was intense, leaving her mind in a chaotic swirl.
Noticing Ye Yueying’s conflicted and uneasy expression, Xiao Moxi understood her lack of security, growing up as soone dependent on others. He also knew she harbored concerns about the disparity in their statuses. He thought for a mont before taking the Qilin Jade Pendant from his waist and handing it to Ye Yueying:
“This jade pendant was gifted to by my royal grandfather upon my birth. Now I want to give it to you!”
Ye Yueying looked at the jade pendant, then back at Xiao Moxi, her expression sowhat dazed.
A pendant from the Emperor himself is surely extraordinary. Xiao Moxi giving it to her—did he know what it signifies? Did he understand how much it would make her overthink?
Holding the jade pendant, Xiao Moxi seed a bit embarrassed too, but his gaze remained resolutely fixed on Ye Yueying.
In the carriage opposite, Huai En was bursting with excitent. “Master, the Little Prince gave her a token of love! This trip was truly worthwhile. When the Prince, Princess Consort, and Princess Young Duke return to the capital, we’ll surely have news to share.”
The Prince nodded repeatedly with glee. But seeing Ye Yueying hesitate to accept the pendant, he grew anxious. “Why isn’t Miss Ye taking the pendant? What’s the matter—she doesn’t think my grandson is good enough?”
Ye Yueying felt her heart hamring almost painfully, the pendant before her making her want to accept yet afraid to do so.
At that mont, the Weng Mansion’s gate opened, and Wu Yutang stepped out with an angry expression, accompanied by the Weng family’s father and son.
Seeing the commotion nearby, Ye Yueying hurriedly took the jade pendant and swiftly hid it within her sleeve.
“Hmpf!”
Wu Yutang let out a heavy, disdainful snort, glancing between Xiao Moxi and Ye Yueying. “Oh, the Little Prince hasn’t left yet? I thought you’d already flown off to the heavens.”
Having just handed over the jade pendant, Xiao Moxi was in great spirits. He paid no mind to Wu Yutang’s snide remarks and instead turned to Ye Yueying. “It’s indeed ti for to leave. You should go back.”
After bidding farewell to Xiao Moxi and Wu Yutang, Ye Yueying followed the Weng father and son back through the gate.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Weng Elder Master imdiately began rebuking Ye Yueying: “Yueying, what’s wrong with you? Xiao Moxi barely visits us, and you didn’t even let him have a sip of tea before dragging him off. Is this how you treat guests?”
Weng Madam was waiting by the entrance alongside her two daughters and chid in imdiately, “Exactly, Yueying. We’ve taken care of you all these years. Now that you’ve found so favor, shouldn’t you repay us in kind?”
Ye Yueying ignored Weng Madam’s harsh words and faced Weng Elder Master. “Uncle, in life and conduct, it’s best to rely on oneself. Only then can one endure long term. Don’t you think that makes sense?”
Weng Elder Master frowned. “What are you trying to say?”
Ye Yueying’s expression remained calm. “I an nothing particularly. It’s just… Master Xiao has been a benefactor to the Ye family, and I won’t allow you to exploit his goodwill.”
Weng Second Daughter imdiately let out a disdainful laugh. “Ye Yueying, who do you think you are? You say no and it’s no?”
Ye Yueying shot a cold glare at Weng Second Daughter, causing her to shrink back behind Weng Madam. Then, looking icily at Weng Elder Master, she said, “Uncle, when the Great Grandson summons , you wouldn’t want to speak out carelessly, would you?”
Weng Elder Master’s face darkened, his finger pointing furiously at Ye Yueying. “Are you threatening ?”
Ye Yueying shook her head. “I acknowledge the Weng family’s kindness in taking in. You’re free to squander the Ye family’s wealth, but you absolutely cannot use Xiao Moxi’s na to climb socially.”
With that, she ignored the family entirely and returned straight to Madam Weng’s courtyard.
“Ungrateful! Truly ungrateful! Master, I’ve always said this—the girl is nothing but a thankless wretch. She should’ve been sent away earlier, yet you insisted on keeping her.”
Weng Elder Master glared angrily at his wife, a flicker of regret surfacing in his heart.
Because her father did not secure him the Youzhou Prefecture position years ago, he had always harbored resentnt against him. Thus, when the Ye family faced trouble and his niece arrived at the Weng’s, he chose to turn a blind eye and let his wife mistreat the young girl.
If they had treated her better back then, she probably wouldn’t hold them at such an arm’s length now.
Weng Madam returned to her quarters with her daughters, her expression grim.
Recalling Xiao Moxi’s dashing looks and esteed background, the jealousy in Weng Eldest Daughter and Weng Second Daughter against Ye Yueying burned hotter and hotter, their faces twisting from rage.
Reviews
All reviews (0)