Chapter Eighteen: The End of the Show

Xue Fanzhi was, after all, the legitimate daughter of the Xue family. Even if Xue Yang disliked her, he could cripple her, kill her, send her to a convent, or marry her off, but he could never send her to be a servant girl—such disgrace was unbearable for the Xue family.

Yet Xue Yang misunderstood the situation, thinking this prince must have taken a fancy to Xiao Ba. It was a pity she wasn't Yue Niang, but since Xiao Ba had served as a maid, perhaps she would become a concubine—not the principal wife, so there was nothing worth fighting over. Perhaps, if she served well, she might pave the way for Yue Niang.

With this in mind, he cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Your Highness Ninth Prince, for thinking so highly of her. Whenever you wish, I will send someone to deliver her to you."

The Xue family was speechless.

Xue Fanzhi glared furiously at Xue Yang. Had this old fool gone mad?

Minglan covered her mouth and laughed, her tone dripping with sarcasm, "Master of the Xue family, you really would send her over? The Xue family is a noble house; when did you ever consider sending a daughter to be someone's servant?"

She then looked at Xiao Yi and said, "Ninth Brother, Fanzhi is my sworn sister. If you need a maid, I’ll give you one, but don’t do such heartless things."

Once again, the Xue family was stunned. Xue Fanzhi was actually the sworn sister of Princess Zhaoyang? Did this mean their family now had royal connections?

This news needed careful digestion!

So, why had the princess come to the Xue household?

Minglan continued, "I came here just to see my sister, not to send anyone to be a servant!"

The Xue family thought: Precisely!

Xue Yang's mind was whirring with calculations: one option was to have a daughter become a prince's maid, the other was to have her as the princess's sworn sister. Of course, royal connections were ideal, but what if the maid became a concubine? What if she bore a child? If the Ninth Prince ascended the throne, the concubine who bore his child would become a consort.

Then Yue Niang could enter the palace and claim the child, and if that child became emperor, Yue Niang would be a noble empress dowager.

By this calculation, sending a daughter to be the Ninth Prince's maid might be even better.

Xue Yang was torn, unsure how to decide his daughter's future, when Xue Qiu could no longer bear it. He cupped his hands and smiled at Xiao Yi, "You truly jest, Your Highness. Ba Niang has been pampered since childhood; she would never serve you well, only anger you!"

Xiao Yi tilted his head, "Of course I was joking. Did you all take it seriously? How could I ask a noble daughter of a prestigious family to be a servant girl? Isn't that right, Master Xue Yang? Ha ha!"

The Xue family was speechless.

Xue Fanzhi was speechless.

Xue Yang was deeply ashamed, his face flushing a deep liver-red.

As the head of the family, Xue Yang’s embarrassment became the Xue family’s embarrassment. The atmosphere in the hall was awkward indeed.

Minglan came to his rescue.

She called out, "Ninth Brother, enough. Ba Niang is my sister, I’ve already acknowledged her. How could my sister ever serve you as a maid? From now on, I’ll protect her. If you dare bully her, you’ll answer to me!"

Clearly, she was joking, but those who heard were astounded.

Princess Zhaoyang had twice declared Ba Niang her sworn sister; surely this was settled?

Xue Qiu, a man of the world, knew such bonds required clan leader approval, and Princess Zhaoyang was still a child, so it wasn’t official—but it was certain they were true friends.

Xue Qiu politely said, "Thank you, Princess, for your favor towards Ba Niang. I am deeply honored. Though I have nothing worthy to offer, may I invite Your Highness to stay for a meal? We're welcoming Ba Niang and her companions, and we've just slaughtered a sheep. Would the Princess do us the honor?"

Remembering Xiao Yi was also present, he quickly added, "Your Highness Ninth Prince, would you honor us as well?"

Xiao Yi laughed, "It was Brother Jingren who invited me to eat mutton. Zhaoyang and I came for the aroma. Old General, don’t think less of us for our greed!"

Xue Fanzhi thought: So it was my elder brother who invited him.

In her previous life, she hadn’t interacted with Xiao Yi at this time, so she never knew how her brother grew so close to him.

She only knew that after their engagement, Xiao Yi often invited her brother to climb mountains and fish.

But her brother disliked such activities, preferring to train with Second Uncle.

It seemed they’d known each other before, and their relationship was quite good.

Xue Jingren was inwardly anxious: When did I meet the Ninth Prince, let alone invite him to eat mutton? Surely the prince was mistaken?

Or perhaps he really had followed the aroma? That would be quite greedy.

Whatever the reason, if the prince claimed he was invited, then so be it. It would be foolish to deny it now.

The Xue family was once again astonished. Princess Zhaoyang had acknowledged Ba Niang as her sworn sister, the Ninth Prince was friends with Xue Jingren—why were all these noble connections tied to the main branch? Had their ancestral tomb been blessed? But it was the same tomb for all—how exasperating!

Only Xue Yang’s face darkened for a moment, which Madam Jin noticed. She knew it was because there was no benefit for Xue Jiaoyue, and Xue Yang was displeased.

…

The Xue family’s punishment of their daughter was interrupted by the arrival of royal guests. To accommodate them, everyone else was dismissed.

The reception was managed by Xue Qiu and Xue Yang, along with some key figures, who settled in the pavilion of the rear garden.

The Old Madam, seeing Xue Fanzhi injured, found an excuse not to attend and commanded the women of the main branch, especially Madam Jin, Xue Jiaoyue, and Xue Fanzhi, to return to their rooms and reflect.

Then the Old Madam, accompanied by more than ten servants brought from the ancestral home, retired to the Longevity Hall along the central axis of the Xue residence prepared by Xue Qiu.

Rest was the pretext; at most she closed her eyes to meditate. Sleep eluded her.

Her trusted nurse, Madam Jiang—her dowry maid—saw the Old Madam reclining, her brow tightly furrowed. She dismissed the leg-massaging maid and took over herself.

"Are you tired, Madam?" she asked quietly.

The Old Madam opened her eyes, her tone weary, "Tired, indeed. How could I not be after such a long journey?"

She had arrived before Xue Fanzhi and the others, not because her party was swift, but simply because she didn’t wish to travel with Madam Jin and the rest.

Despite hurrying, she arrived only half a day earlier. Even after resting, the fatigue of such a journey couldn’t be relieved by a day or two of sleep—especially now that she was old.

Madam Jiang gently advised, "Why not sleep after lunch? A warm meal will soothe your stomach."

Supported by Madam Jiang, the Old Madam sat up and gazed at the unfamiliar southern scenery beyond the window. "In the carriage, I dreamed of the old family master. He blamed me for failing to guide his son, saying the Xue family would eventually fall in my hands. When I awoke, I kept wondering—have I been too domineering, made mistakes these years?"

The Xue family was still standing, but Madam Jiang heard the unease in her words.

She comforted her, "The eldest son is only muddled in small matters; he’s clear-headed when it counts."

"You believe that?" The Old Madam sneered, "If he’s confused in small things, he’ll be even more lost in big ones. Once, he listened to me, and because I told him to divorce Lady He, he never again did anything satisfactory. If he truly ruins the Xue family, the blame is mine. I have failed our ancestors!"