LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 7: approached the gate
After lunch, Chi Ying worked on embroidery at home, taking care of Baili Zan's calico cat.
Initially skinny, the cat had grown plump from sharing meals with Baili Zan. It curled up lazily beside Chi Ying, basking in the sun.
Chi Ying named it Xiao Taosu because its back was mostly yellow with black spots, resembling a walnut cookie sprinkled with sesame seeds. Baili Zan found the name hilarious yet fitting.
Xiao Taosu was affectionate, seeking attention from everyone except Cui Yi. Especially fond of Chi Ying, it spent the afternoon cuddling in her lap.
Today was no different. Hearing that Cui Yi was visiting Cheng's residence, Chi Ying ate alone and resumed her needlework.
The warm spring sun made her drowsy. Stretching, she got up to stretch when the steward appeared.
"Madam, there are two people claiming to be relatives from Your Highness's maternal family requesting to see you."
Chi Ying was surprised: "Maternal relatives? Male or female? Did you ask their names?"
The steward replied honestly: "Yes, one male and one female. The man is called Xie Yong, and the woman is his sister, Xie Yuchan."
The late Empress Xiaoling's surname was Zhong, and Consort Duanshi was her aunt's daughter, surnamed Ye. Where did these Xies come from? Confused, Chi Ying realized she knew little about Cui Yi's maternal family.
"I'll go see."
As Chi Ying walked toward the courtyard, Xiao Taosu clung to her leg, forcing her to carry it along to meet the alleged relatives.
The Wu王府 was a six-courtyard compound. As Chi Ying reached the central courtyard, she heard a loud voice shouting:
"Why are you taking so long to announce us? Are we supposed to stand here all day? How rude! Wait until Brother Yingrong returns and sees how you treat us!"
The voice belonged to a girl, seemingly around Chi Ying's age or younger, but with a bold personality, daring to address Cui Yi by his given name!
Hurrying, Chi Ying approached the gate.
Three servants were dealing with a noisy girl and a silent young man. The girl, though petite, exuded an intimidating presence, hands on hips, scolding the servants: "Dare you stop us from entering? We've traveled thousands of miles to find Brother Yingrong. If he finds out how rudely you treated us, you'll regret it!"
Chi Ying smiled and intervened: "Miss, why argue? Since His Highness isn't here, the servants must be extra cautious. It's not their fault."
Xie Yuchan glared: "Whose fault then? My brother and I have been standing here for hours without even a sip of water. Are you blaming us now?"
Chi Ying sighed inwardly at her fiery temper but maintained her smile: "Please come inside. Arguing at the gate isn't proper."
Xie Yuchan huffed and strutted in, scrutinizing Chi Ying: "Was the steward referring to you? Are you Brother Yingrong's Princess?"
"No, I am..."
"You don't look like it."
Xie Yuchan sized her up dismissively: "You're just a maid holding a cat. Brother Yingrong's mother was the Empress. He would marry a gentle and beautiful lady, like me."
Chi Ying's lips twitched, unsure how to respond. The steward angrily clarified: "This is our Madam!"
Xie Yuchan showed no fear, her disdain deepening: "So, a concubine? Hmph, not much better than a maid. Thinking you can rule the Wu王府 just because you share his bed? Think again!"
The steward fumed: "How dare you!"
Several servants prepared to eject her.
"Calm down, calm down!" Xie Yong finally spoke, trying to defuse the situation, "Yuchan is young and speaks without thinking. Please forgive her, Sister-in-law!"
"Brother!" Xie Yuchan stomped her foot, "Why are you groveling to these servants?"
Xie Yong glared weakly: "They're not servants, call her Sister-in-law!"
Clearly, he lacked authority, his reprimand hollow.
Xie Yuchan scoffed: "Sister-in-law? Ha! A cat-holding maid? I won't call her that."
"What cat-holding maid?"
Amid the commotion, the sound of hooves signaled Cui Yi's return. Seeing the crowd at the gate, he frowned: "What's happening here?"
Chi Ying breathed a sigh of relief: "Your Highness, two people claiming to be relatives from your maternal family are here. I wasn't sure if they were genuine..."
"Brother Yingrong!" Xie Yuchan pushed past Chi Ying, eyes shining: "I've wanted to see you! Auntie must have told you about me, right?"
Cui Yi swiftly steadied Chi Ying, his gaze icy: "Who are you?"
Xie Yuchan, undeterred, moved closer: "I'm Yuchan. Surely Auntie mentioned me? Brother Yingrong—"
"Outrageous!" Cui Yi exploded, pushing her back: "Who gave you permission to use my name?"
Xie Yuchan, shocked, stared wide-eyed: "Brother Yingrong..."
Seeing Cui Yi ready to strike, Xie Yong rushed forward, kneeling: "Your Highness, please forgive her. She's young and ignorant. Please don't blame her!" He tugged at his sister's sleeve: "Apologize!"
Xie Yuchan, tears brimming, stared at him incredulously.
Woof woof, he simply refused to kneel. Ji Yi's face was expressionless as he said, "Somebody."
"Your Highness, don't be impulsive," Chi Ying hurriedly stopped him from having the man thrown out. "Since Young Master Xie claims to be a relative from Your Highness' mother's family, we should at least hear him out. If he isn't a relative, then that's fine, but if he is, it would be bad to hurt the relationship." Ji Yi's face turned livid, but he did not insist. Chi Ying then turned around and gently said to Xie Yong, "Young Master Xie, please rise. Let's go inside and talk."
Xie Yong wiped his sweat and thanked her profusely, getting up shakily and pulling his sister along as they followed Ji Yi, who didn't even glance at them, into the gate.
The Wu Wangfu rarely had guests. Ji Yi sat in an armchair in the main hall, one hand supporting his chin, his eagle-like eyes scanning back and forth over the Xie siblings.
"Commoner Xie Yong, this is my younger sister Yuchan. My father is Xie Xiao, the governor of Xuancheng, and my mother is the younger sister of Consort Duan," Xie Yong bowed respectfully while standing below the platform, despite being offered a seat by the host. "My father heard that Your Highness recently got married and specially sent fifty bolts of Yunjin silk, ten jars of special aged wine, two boxes of dried prawns, and two boxes of pearls as wedding gifts. I hope Your Highness will accept them kindly."
So they were Consort Duan's nephews. Chi Ying mentally mapped out the complex family relationships. She thought that Consort Duan was Empress Xiaolian's cousin, and Xie Yong's mother was the cousin's younger sister. Such distant relatives could still manage to send gifts, and no one would believe there wasn't some ulterior motive.
Ji Yi coldly asked, "Where are the gifts?"
Xie Yong bowed and replied, "Your Highness, they are temporarily stored at the inn. Just give me an order, and I can bring them over anytime."
Ji Yi casually said, "Go ahead."
Xie Yong: "..."
Ji Yi frowned, "What?"
Xie Yong quickly waved his hands, "No, no, I'll go right away!" He rushed out of the main hall.
Chi Ying felt both amused and exasperated. People who never interacted with you suddenly show up with gifts; they must have some request. This blunt prince, however, didn't bother asking about their intentions and just told them to bring the gifts. His temper really needed to change.
With Xie Yong gone, Xie Yuchan stood below the platform, twisting her sleeves nervously, tears welling up in her eyes. Chi Ying couldn't bear to see it any longer. Despite the harsh words Xie Yuchan had spoken earlier at the door, she was still a guest and a relative of Ji Yi's mother's family. So she said, "Miss Xie, please sit down and rest for a bit."
At the sound of her voice, Xie Yuchan immediately glared at her hatefully. Ji Yi slammed the table, "What kind of look is that!"
Xie Yuchan burst into tears at his shout, sobbing uncontrollably. Chi Ying felt a headache coming on. After failing to comfort Xie Yuchan, she turned to Ji Yi, "Miss Xie is still young, Your Highness, please don't be too harsh, don't scare her."
Ji Yi sneered, "She spoke rudely to you at the door, yet you're pleading for her."
Chi Ying smiled helplessly, "How can I argue with someone younger than me?"
Perhaps realizing she had a point, Ji Yi didn't shout again and chose to ignore it. But Xie Yuchan continued crying incessantly, and soon Ji Yi's patience ran out. He slammed the table and stood up angrily, "Are you done crying!"