Chapter 61
Yuli’s heart sank. She subconsciously looked at Xie Yao and saw that his expression was deep and inscrutable, with no emotion at all.
He had said just now that he still had a mother and two younger sisters at home. He should have informed them in advance, but not a single person had come to greet them. Even if the female dependents were not supposed to go out, there should have been a steward or someone similar.
Yuli couldn’t imagine how half-siblings in a family with three wives and four concubines got along, especially when their mothers’ statuses were so different. The children of the legal wife were surely much more favored than the children of the concubines.
Besides, Xie Yao’s birth mother probably wasn’t even a concubine. He was an illegitimate son.
The words “illegitimate son,” Yuli had thought of them many times before. According to modern law, illegitimate children and legitimate children had the same inheritance rights. But in terms of human relationships, an illegitimate son would surely be despised. His birth was the result of a violation of human ethics.
Besides, in this feudal era, he had no inheritance rights. In a family that valued reputation, he couldn’t even see the light of day.
But he had not sunk into depravity because of his birth. He had worked hard all the way to get to where he was today. Yuli firmly believed that although he was an illegitimate son, it was not his fault.
However, now that she was about to meet his legal mother, Yuli finally realized that his existence was indeed an indelible harm to some people.
It was understandable that they didn’t like him and didn’t get close to him.
But now he was her husband. She couldn’t control what others did. She only cared about his feelings.
Yuli pulled her wrist free and instead held his fingers, holding them tightly.
Xie Yao looked at her. She gave him a gentle smile. He tightened his fingers, his expression unchanged.
Yuli was even more convinced that this was not a trip to exchange feelings. She would just quietly observe.
They entered the residence hand in hand. There was not a single guard or servant in sight. The screen wall was carved from white jade, and the kirin stone carvings on the left and right were about seven feet high, with solemn faces and conspicuous fangs, which made one feel a sense of awe.
Yuli had never seen such a residence before. There were no such powerful and noble families in Xihe County, and the Xie Residence was just an ordinary commoner’s large house. Now that she saw these, she finally had some concept of a so-called large family.
Then they walked on, and the scenery was completely different from the Xie Residence.
It was clear that it had been carefully built, but it was built on a grand and lofty scale. Although it was now desolate, it was not desolate. The grass and trees were still there, but they were growing in a mess, with no one to take care of them, like a park that had once been built with a lot of money, but with few visitors, and the people who took care of it had let it go.
Yuli knew that the people in this family, especially the men, had all been convicted for political struggles and had been executed by Xie Yao.
Previously, she had only treated it as a scene from a TV drama, where the confiscation of property and beheading flashed by. Now that she saw this still imposing, but dilapidated and desolate residence, she had a clear understanding.
A family that had once been full of masters and countless servants, a family of bells and tripods, now not a single person could be seen.
And all of this was Xie Yao’s doing.
The hand he was holding suddenly went a little numb, and her palm was slightly sweaty.
“Are you tired from walking?” Xie Yao suddenly asked.
Yuli felt a chill all over. She didn’t even look at him and hummed in agreement.
“Let’s rest for a while.”
Xie Yao let go of her hand, then held her wrist again, and pulled her to a pavilion to sit down.
Yuli sat down, and Jingyu and Xiyun came over.
Yuli let out a sigh of relief for no reason. It was good that the two of them were here.
It was clear that Jingyu’s expression was a little heavier than usual, and Xiyun was even more like she was in a strange environment, very cautious.
But it was good that she was just a guest and would be leaving soon. She would not be staying for long. In the future, she would be with Xiyun and Jingyu in the Xie Residence, free and relaxed.
She turned to Xie Yao again. He and she were like people from two different worlds, but they had already come to this point. He had completely accepted her world and was also actively letting her know him. That was a good development.
Later, when Xie Yao told her about his past and his origins, no matter how miserable his childhood was, she would not show any pity. No matter how cruel and bloody his career was, she would not show any fear. As long as she kept herself steady, she should be able to stabilize his emotions.
If there was anything unexpected, in the worst case, she would also keep her expression steady and give him the most positive feedback.
Yuli cheered herself up and stopped her wild thoughts, concentrating on how to maintain her expression and not let Xie Yao see her emotions, just like him at this moment.
“Are you ready?” Xie Yao asked.
Yuli imagined herself as a professional receptionist and said with a smile, “Mm, I’m ready.”
When they reached a courtyard, they finally saw a few people.
Before Yuli could see their faces clearly, they had already retreated to the side of the road and knelt down respectfully, their bodies prostrate on the ground, motionless.
Xie Yao ignored them and led her straight in.
Yuli also treated it as normal and did not pay any attention.
After passing the few people, she held him and asked, “Is this your legal mother’s residence?”
Xie Yao nodded.
Yuli moved her hand. “Let’s hold hands again when we come out.”
Xie Yao looked at her and let go of her hand.
The scenery in the courtyard was a little warmer than outside. Some flowers and trees were planted, and it was clear that someone was taking care of them. Before they even entered the main hall, they smelled a strong scent of sandalwood.
The sky was gloomy, with no sun. When they walked under the eaves, the light became even dimmer.
In the room sat a middle-aged woman, without any makeup, wearing a cyan cloth robe. Beside her stood a young lady about the same age as Jingyu. They should be Xie Yao’s legal mother and half-sister.
Madam Wei held a string of purple sandalwood prayer beads and was constantly turning them.
Her daughter, Xie Chunzhi, on the other hand, had her lips tightly pursed and stood on the side, her head bowed, but her eyes were looking up at Yuli.
Yuli was wearing a light turquoise dress, a warm jade-colored jacket, and a cyan-green hibiscus-shaped velvet flower on her skirt. She had no makeup, and her chignon was simple, with only a cyan jade hairpin.
Her attire was very simple, but her figure was graceful and moving, her neck was long and slender, her skin was snow-white, and her face was beautiful and otherworldly.
She had guessed that the beauty this brother of hers was going to bring would be a beauty, but Xie Chunzhi had not expected her to be so… peaceful. She had thought she would be a glamorous and arrogant woman, or a humble and timid one. After all, if this brother were to marry, it would either be a good family’s daughter he had snatched, or a woman of the world who had latched onto his power.
Xie Chunzhi looked at her for a long time. Yuli sensed her gaze and smiled at her.
Xie Chunzhi immediately looked away and pursed her lips even tighter.
Madam Wei on the side, on the other hand, just glanced at Yuli and stood up to bow to Xie Yao.
Yuli stood beside him, a little surprised, but Xie Yao stood and accepted it, and Yuli did not move.
Xie Chunzhi also followed and bowed, but she was young after all and not as experienced as her mother. Her cheeks were puffed up, and her brow relaxed and tightened, tightened and relaxed. It was clear that she was unwilling.
Xie Yao lowered his eyes to look at the mother and daughter, his gaze cold for a moment.
He did not tell them to rise for a long time. Yuli felt it was unbearable and secretly tugged at his sleeve.
“You may rise,” he finally said.
Xie Chunzhi stood up straight at once. Madam Wei was still unhurried, her movements full of a calm and peaceful air, as if she had really entered a Buddhist monastery and was unmoved by anything.
After the two of them stood up, they did not speak.
Xie Yao looked at them. Xie Chunzhi showed some timidity and moved a little closer to her mother.
Yuli found it extremely strange. She maintained a polite surface and took the initiative to speak. “I have prepared some small gifts for Madam and Miss Xie. Jingyu, help me take them out.”
Jingyu placed the two brocade boxes by the table and withdrew to the door, her head slightly bowed all the time, not even looking at the mother and daughter.
“Thank you,” Madam Wei said.
Xie Chunzhi, on the other hand, stared at Jingyu for a while, wanting to say something, but did not dare to.
The scene fell silent again. Yuli felt very uncomfortable. She looked at Xie Yao and found that his eyes were cold, as if he were displeased.
He had no blood relationship with this Madam Wei in the first place, and this half-sister seemed to be bowing out of fear of his status, but was actually very dissatisfied.
Xie Yao had come here for her, which was simply a torment. It was too awkward. Yuli didn’t want to stay for another moment.
“Husband, I have met your family. Take me for a walk somewhere else,” Yuli said to him with a smile.
The prayer beads in Madam Wei’s hand stopped.
Xie Yao hummed in agreement and took her to turn and leave.
Madam Wei did not turn the prayer beads again for a long time. She turned back and sat down, closing her eyes.
After a long time, a sneer flashed across her lips.
Xie Chunzhi opened the brocade boxes on the table and saw a jade Buddha in one box and a gold hairpin in the other.
The gold hairpin was for her, and the jade Buddha was for her mother.
“They are quite thoughtful. It was probably that girl Jingyu’s suggestion,” Xie Chunzhi said, holding the gold hairpin in her hand.
“Throw it away,” Madam Wei suddenly said.
Xie Chunzhi paused, then put the gold hairpin back.