The Humble Family’s Daughter Has A Spatial Pocket!
Chapter 746 - 668: Stepmother Arrives_1

Chapter 746: Chapter 668: Stepmother Arrives_1

Xiqu City was recaptured, and news of the victory spread quickly throughout Daxia, with both officials and commoners alike eagerly celebrating the event.

The commoners cared about the outcome, but it was the process that garnered more attention from the officials.

As a result, that mysterious Mr. Xiao from the Jinling Guard once again came into the public’s eye.

Ningmen Prefecture, Guo Family.

Madam Guo and Guo Xueming were also discussing the matter.

Guo Xueming, "Mother, when Chen Jiarou came to see me yesterday, she mentioned—casually—that many people outside are saying the Mr. Xiao from the Northern Frontier is our cousin."

Madam Guo almost blurted out that it was impossible, but thinking of her husband’s proud and self-satisfied manner whenever he spoke of Xiao Yeyang, she quietly swallowed her words.

Guo Xueming continued, "Mother, I remember that we haven’t seen cousin for about half a year, have we? Even if he’s been busy, he wouldn’t just vanish without showing himself. Do you think the rumors could be true?"

Madam Guo glanced at her daughter, pondered for a long while, and then said, "We’ll have to ask your father about this, he’s bound to know."

Guo Xueming looked doubtful, "Father, he probably won’t discuss these matters with us."

Madam Guo smiled faintly, "Asking him directly definitely won’t do." Saying this, she immediately instructed the kitchen to prepare some food and had the house’s servant deliver it to the barracks.

Watching curiously, Guo Xueming didn’t quite understand what her mother was doing.

By that same afternoon, the servant had returned.

Madam Guo called the servant over for a lengthy inquiry before letting him leave.

After the trusted aide had gone, Guo Xueming came in and, seeing the wistful look on Madam Guo’s face, couldn’t help but ask, "Mother, did you find out anything?"

Madam Guo looked at her daughter and sighed, "I truly didn’t expect that the unruly Xiao Yeyang of our childhood would grow into someone so accomplished."

Hearing this, Guo Xueming’s expression brightened, "Mother, you mean cousin is really that Mr. Xiao?"

Madam Guo nodded, "One hundred percent certain."

Guo Xueming puzzled, "How did you find out?"

Madam Guo smiled, "Didn’t I send food to your father today? Two of the dishes were for Xiao Yeyang. The servant came back saying your father and Xiao Yeyang finished all the food."

Guo Xueming was even more confused, "What’s wrong with that?"

Madam Guo explained with a smile, "The two dishes I sent Xiao Yeyang are the ones he dislikes the most, yet your father claimed they finished them anyway. What does that tell you? It suggests your father is covering for Xiao Yeyang, who wasn’t actually there."

Guo Xueming’s face showed realization, then she looked at Madam Guo with a smile, "Mother is truly clever."

Madam Guo smiled proudly, "I may not understand Xiao Yeyang very well, but your father? I know him like the back of my hand, and I’m hardly ever wrong." Saying this, the smile slowly faded from her face.

"I had thought that without anyone in Zhongzhou to teach or constrain him, Xiao Yeyang would grow up to be a wastrel. I never expected that without those people in the palace to influence him, he would actually get better and better."

Guo Xueming smiled, "Isn’t that a good thing?"

Madam Guo shook her head, "Silly girl, if Xiao Yeyang were a bit more of a dandy, perhaps fewer people would pay attention to him. Now that he’s so accomplished, do you think the number of families interested in him will decrease? The Jiang Family would be the first."

Marrying into the Imperial Family is also a competition and a strategic maneuver between families. The more outstanding Xiao Yeyang becomes, the more families that will get involved, and the more likely the Guo Family will face defeat.

Guo Xueming’s face became still, "Perhaps, we never had a chance to begin with. Cousin already has someone he cares for."

Madam Guo huffed, "Yan Yiyi can never be Xiao Yeyang’s lawful wife. The Yan Magistrate is but a fourth-rank official; do you think the Emperor would arrange a marriage with the Yan Family?"

Guo Xueming fell silent for a while, "But it’s also unlikely for the Emperor to choose his daughter."

Madam Guo said, "...Over the years, our family has gradually withdrawn from the imperial court. When your father’s term as Governor comes to an end and we return to the capital, he’ll likely be given a sinecure and stay at home. Considering how our family has known its place, the Emperor should compensate us to some extent."

Upon saying this, his expression darkened.

"However, we must also be wary. If Yan Yiyi truly bewitches Xiao Yeyang to the point of utter infatuation, and in the event he achieves great merits on the Northern Frontier and foolishly begs the Emperor for a marriage decree, then we will be the ones suffocating with anger."

Guo Xueming was somewhat anxious, "Mother, what should we do?"

Madam Guo pondered, "Don’t rush me, let me think this through."

...

In mid-September, after Daohua handed over a batch of newly made pills to Deshou to be sent to the Northern Frontier, she saw that Gu Jian was listlessly moping and, worried that he might fall ill from stagnation at home, suggested they go out and travel.

Gu Jian’s face lit up with interest. He had barely stepped foot outside for years, tending to his elder sister, and now that she was gone, while his health still permitted, he wished to see the world.

Thus, having left a letter for his family, Daohua put on male attire, and together with Gu Jian, left Taohua Village.

The two traveled without a specific destination, wandering aimlessly to experience the local customs and landscapes and to savor the delicacies of various regions.

In the blink of an eye, October arrived.

One day in early October, several horse carriages stopped in front of the Yan Residence.

"Who are these people? Move along quickly if there’s nothing important. This is the Magistrate’s residence. You can’t just park your carriages here willy-nilly."

A half-gray-haired old lady stepped down from the carriage, her heart beating with some trepidation as she eyed the Magistrate’s grand gates. Yet, recalling that she was the Magistrate’s mother-in-law, her chest puffed up with confidence.

"I am your Madam’s mother. Hurry up and have your Madam come out to greet me."

Hearing this, the gatekeepers looked at one another, puzzled. The current maternal relatives of their Madam were thought to only include two uncles; they had not heard mention of an old lady.

Despite their confusion, the gatekeepers dared not tarry and quickly went back to inform the inner courtyard.

Upon hearing the gatekeeper’s report, Madam Li’s face immediately darkened, and without a second thought, she had a servant shoo the visitor away.

Who could have predicted that this old lady would be so shameless? As soon as she heard that Madam Li did not recognize her, she created a scene by throwing a tantrum, crying and causing a commotion and openly accusing Madam Li of being unfilial. In no time at all, a crowd of onlookers had gathered around to watch.

Within a mere moment, word of the Prefectural Governor’s wife denying her mother had spread through the streets and alleys.

Madam Li, after learning of this, was so furious her face turned an iron shade of blue and she was about to storm out to set things straight.

Seeing Madam Li’s face contorted with anger, Han Xinran was worried that the commotion would only get worse and hastily held her back, simultaneously sending for Yan Wenxiu.

Once Yan Wenxiu arrived, he asked Madam Li, "Mother, is the old lady at the door truly our grandmother?"

Madam Li gnashed her teeth with rage, "What grandmother? Your grandmother passed away long ago. That woman is nothing but a subsequent wife your grandfather took. I never thought she would have the nerve to show up here."

Yan Wenxiu furrowed his brows upon hearing this. He was somewhat aware of the issues with his maternal family; this step-grandmother had not been easy to deal with. His mother and uncles had suffered a lot under her thumb, and she had nearly forced his mother into marrying an old man. It was only after his uncles decided to forsake the family fortune and break away from her that they managed to take their mother with them.

In any family, such matters would lead to cutting off relations, so for this step-grandmother to dare to come knocking was utterly shameless.

After a moment of silence, Yan Wenxiu said, "Mother, we can’t allow her to continue causing a scene. This year is Father’s last as the Governor, and the year-end assessments are upon us. Father’s performance already suffered a blemish due to the missing army provisions. Our family can’t afford to tarnish our reputation any further."

Madam Li frowned deeply, "So we must invite that old witch into our home? You haven’t dealt with her; you don’t know how utterly disgraceful she is. Once you get involved with her, she sticks to you like a dog’s plaster, impossible to shake off."

Yan Wenxiu replied, "Given how things stand, we should still call her inside first. Once she’s within our walls, we’ll have control over the situation."

Madam Li rubbed her throbbing forehead and nodded, "After calling her inside, confine them to a yard. Don’t let them wander around."

Yan Wenxiu nodded in agreement, then quickly left.

...

When Yan Wenxiu arrived at the front gate, he saw Madam Li’s stepmother, Li Wangshi, bringing her children and grandchildren in tow, appearing as if they had come to seek refuge. His heart swelled with revulsion, but he did not show it outwardly. Instead, he silently watched Li Wangshi’s performance until she could go on no longer, then he called them into the residence.