Chapter 45 - 45: A Pity

Translator: 549690339

After Xiao Jing ‘ai heard the news of Yang Shao’s promotion, he was already shocked speechless.

In his previous life, at least Yang Shao would only receive a mission from the Pcngcheng Magistrate in the early spring of the next year, bringing Xiao Baoxin out of Jiankang City in a sorry state. It was unknown whether Xiao Yun or King Jiang Xia was involved in this, but Yang Shao had never been a general in his life!

Everything that was happening now was completely different from what she knew in her previous life.

Xiao Jing ‘ai panicked. What was the point of her rebirth? The advantage was gone!

She was eager to find out the news outside, but she didn’t know what Xiao Baoxin had said to Madam Xiao, so that Madam Xiao had been guarding against her these days like she was guarding against a thief. She used the excuse that she was sick to let her recuperate and didn’t even let her out of the manor.

The news about Yang Shao was only found out after Bi Yu contacted her mother, who was guarding the second gate, and asked around for half a month.

With such a lag in information, she was afraid that Xiao Baoxin and Yang Shao were secretly in cahoots. Even if the child was born, she might be the last to know.

Xiao Jing ‘ai did not allow herself to make such a mistake, so she specially made the date cake that she had learned from pleasing Yang Shao in her previous life and sent it to Mrs. Xiao. She spoke gently, wanting to lift the ban.

However, Madam Xiao did not buy it. As long as there was any possibility of interfering with her daughter’s marriage, she would not let it go.

Xiao Jing ‘ai could only choose a time when Second Master Xiao was at home to find him. He only said that he was in good health and that he had made an appointment to meet up with Zhou Siniang of the Imperial Chancellor’s family half a month ago.

Mrs. Xiao refused without hesitation.

However, Second Master Xiao was not a heartless person. Usually, he would not be able to remember it if he was not in front of her. However, when he saw that it was his daughter after all, and her big watery eyes were looking at him pitifully, he could not take it anymore.

His face fell.

These few years, the Xiao brothers had been prosperous. Xiao Yu had already become a censor. The Xiao family was originally from a small family. No matter how cold they were, they did not have the confidence. They brought up Xiao Baoxin on the spot.

When Xiao Jing ‘ai heard that it was indeed Xiao Baoxin’s doing, she gritted her teeth and cried on the spot. She wished she could die to prove her innocence.

Second Master Xiao’s temper flared up when he saw this. Xiao Baoxin was like a pearl and a treasure to the First Master, but his motherless daughter was not a weed on the roadside. No matter what, his blood flowed in her body. He would not allow others to bully her like this.

However, he was an uncle, and it wasn’t appropriate for him to directly go to the eldest branch and his niece. He vented all his anger on Madam Xiao.

A person’s reputation is like a tree’s shadow, not to mention a wife’s reputation, how can she live in the future? Wouldn’t she be trampled under her husband’s feet?

“In the end, she’s not your own daughter! If it was your daughter, you would be able to hear the wind and rain. If anyone said something unpleasant, would you really lock her up at home?”

“Yes, Miao Rong is my daughter, not yours!”

The two of them quarreled over Xiao Jing ‘ai’s reputation and the question of whose daughter it was. In the end, they parted on bad terms.

Since Xiao Jing ‘ai was reborn, she had made up her mind to befriend Madam Xiao and her daughter. It was good for her reputation and would also be beneficial to her in the future. He didn’t intend to offend the Xiao mother and daughter. At least, he didn’t want to offend them so early.

However, she had no choice. If she didn’t take this step, she would be trapped in the residence. Even if she had all her tricks up her sleeve, there was nothing she could do.

After Madam Xiao and Second Master Xiao quarreled, she fell ill. She was sick all the way until Old Madam Xie’s birthday. She could only entrust Xiao Miaorong to Madam Xie and go with the chief branch.

Xiao Jing loved Second Master Xiao’s words, so he thickened his skin and went to the main branch with Xiao Miaorong.

Xiao Miaorong knew that it was Xiao Jing ‘ai who was playing tricks on her, causing her parents to be on bad terms. She didn’t have a good face for Xiao Jing’ ai, and the sisterhood that she usually had was blown away by a gust of wind.

Xiao Jing ‘ai took the initiative to express goodwill, but Xiao Miaorong treated her like air and didn’t even bother with her. After a long time, Xiao Jing’ ai felt that she was too ashamed, so she let her be. He would only wait for a long time to pass before appeasing Xiao Miaorong.

The two of them awkwardly got into Madam Xie’s carriage. Xiao Baoxin smiled at Xiao Miaorong and beckoned her to sit beside him. He didn’t even look at Xiao Jing ‘ai. He didn’t have the slightest intention of repairing the tension. He couldn’t be bothered to do anything on the surface.

“Come, sit with Auntie.”

Madam Xie didn’t know what was going on, but she only knew that it was a small conflict between girls. She didn’t want to embarrass Xiao Jing ‘ai, so she greeted her with a smile.

If it weren’t for Madam Xie, Xiao Jing ‘ai would have laid her cards on the table with Xiao Baoxin.

She must have been reborn, right? That’s why she used such a sinister move!

Xiao Baoxin and Xiao Miaorong were not people who gossiped, so they did not start a war of words with her on the spot. They pretended that Xiao Jingai did not exist. The two of them chatted softly and laughed loudly. It did not take long for them to arrive at Wuyi Alley outside the Qinhuai River.

It had been three to four years since the Xie family had held a banquet in the residence.

The last time was when Attendant Xie was still alive. The aristocrats and important officials of the court had come to the banquet and almost blocked the traffic on the Qinhuai River. It was as crowded as a market, and it would definitely cause a ruckus for a few days.

But now, it was completely different from before. They sat on the ox cart and had no obstacles along the way. They almost did not meet anyone of the same path.

The Xie Clan of Black-clothed Alley was a top-notch aristocratic family since they crossed south. Their mansion was extremely luxurious.

Old Madam Xie received guests in the main hall. When Xiao Baoxin arrived, the hall was already filled with people. There were both young ladies and daughters-in-law. When they saw them enter, the noise in the hall immediately weakened by 50%.

Old Madam Xie was sixty years old. Her hair was white, but her body was strong. Her eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s.

She was originally not in the mood to celebrate her birthday, but she could not resist the filial piety of her descendants. It had been more than three years since Xie Shizhong passed away. She wanted to use this opportunity to liven things up and relieve Old Xie Furen’s boredom. Old Xie Furen had no choice but to agree.

Old Madam Xie obviously liked Xiao Baoxin very much. She grabbed Xiao Baoxin’s hand and put on the jade bracelet on her hand. She kept praising her as a beauty, so beautiful that it was pleasing to the eye.

“Take it back and play with it. If you don’t like it, put it in the box.”

Xiao Baoxin quickly thanked her. Although Old Madam Xie was throwing all kinds of praises at her face, she could hear the words in her heart.

“What a pity.”

She didn’t know what ‘unfortunately’ meant.

Immediately after, Xiao Jing ‘ai and Xiao Miaorong came forward to offer their congratulations, while Xiao Baoxin retreated to the side.

Xiao Jing ‘ai relied on her harmless face to tease Old Madam Xie. She then took out two incense sticks and gave them to her and Xiao Miaorong. Although they couldn’t be compared to Xiao Baoxin’s, they weren’t bad either.

He chatted with Madam Xie for a while. Afraid that the girls were bored, he let them go out to the backyard to play. The men were separated in the front hall and would not disturb them.

Xiao Baoxin and Xiao Miaorong walked out of the main hall side by side. Behind them, three or four girls walked up. They deliberately lowered their voices to speak, but their voices were just loud enough for people to hear.

“She was born to be a vixen, relying on her face to curry favor everywhere.. How can you be worthy of my brother?”