Chapter 491: Would You Even Acknowledge Relatives from the Lower Classes?

Chapter 491: Would You Even Recognize Such Low-Class Relatives If They Showed Up?!

Wei Shuangyan’s sobbing fit interrupted the argument between the Princess Consort of Jiping Commandery and Wei Zihang.

Wei Zihang brushed off his second sister’s weeping.

His second sister and Yu Chongen had this same drama for years, with several dramatic meltdowns every year.

At first, the Princess Consort of Jiping Commandery had pitied Wei Shuangyan and agreed to her requests.

After all, the daughter of a commandery prince would never lack suitors.

But once Wei Shuangyan cooled off and reconciled with Yu Chongen, she would come back to the Princess Consort and say she still wanted to marry him.

After this happened too many times, even Wei Zihang, who had heard it several times, stopped taking it seriously.

So now, Wei Zihang made a mocking face at his second sister: "Changed your mind *again*?"

Wei Shuangyan was furious: "Are you seeing this?!"

The Princess Consort of Jiping Commandery was already irritated by her disobedient son, and now Wei Shuangyan came whining at her. The two of them arguing gave her a headache, and she snapped: "Enough! Look at the state of you two! This lovey-dovey nonsense is embarrassing! Both of you, get out!"

When their mother lost her temper, neither Wei Zihang nor Wei Shuangyan dared to speak another word and slinked out the door.

Once outside under the corridor, the siblings glared at each other, both too stubborn to yield.

Wei Shuangyan, seething with anger, snapped at her brother: "What are you looking at?!"

Wei Zihang snorted coldly: "Second Sister, chill out! There are plenty of men in the world besides Second Brother Yu. If you really don’t like him, move on already! What’s the point of coming to Mother to take back your words over and over again?!"

Wei Shuangyan was livid: "What right do you have to meddle in my affairs with him?!"

She then sneered, "As for that no-name stray you’re so obsessed with, she’s just a trashy nobody! Who knows what kind of bloodline she has? So what if she’s been enfeoffed as a Township Lady? Who can guarantee no shady relatives will come knocking in the future? If some trashy nobody shows up at the door, would you even acknowledge them?!... With that, she can forget about ever entering our commandery prince’s residence in a proper wedding procession!"

"Second Sister, shut up, Ugh!!" Wei Zihang was so angry he nearly jumped up, almost coming to blows with Wei Shuangyan.

Yu Xingxing knew nothing of the mess going on in the Jiping Commandery Prince’s residence.

The day after returning home, she dropped everything and rushed to the remote mountains where Daxisipo lived in seclusion.

Near Daxisipo’s secluded dwelling was a hot spring. Yu Yongbai had previously arranged for a hot spring pool to be dug, making it convenient for Daxisipo to soak whenever she pleased.

When Xingxing arrived, Daxisipo was soaking lazily, looking quite comfortable and not at all like someone who was ill.

However, upon closer inspection, despite the warmth of the water and the rising steam, Daxisipo’s face was unusually pale.

As soon as she saw Xingxing, Daxisipo grumbled: "Weren’t you just here a couple of days ago? Why are you back again?"

"I heard you were sick—you nearly gave me a heart attack!" Xingxing crouched by the edge of the pool, her voice full of concern. "Grandma Da Xi, why do you look so pale?"

Daxisipo shrugged it off: "Just tested some poison. It wasn’t a big deal."

Xingxing’s face paled further, and she stubbornly insisted on checking Daxisipo’s pulse: "Grandma Da Xi, if you don’t come over, I’m jumping into the pool right now!"

Daxisipo, unable to resist Xingxing’s persistence, sighed and shuffled over to the edge of the pool, extending her wrist.

After taking Daxisipo’s pulse, Xingxing confirmed that, as Daxisipo had said, there were signs of poisoning, but with proper rest and care, it truly wasn’t serious.

Only then did Xingxing relax and withdraw her hand, but she couldn’t help scolding: "...Grandma Da Xi, you’re not young anymore. How can you still test poisons on yourself? I know you’re skilled and bold, but you have to take care of your health too..."

Granny Da Xi snapped, "Enough, enough. Such a young thing, nagging like an old granny."

Though her words were full of disdain, her eyes twinkled.

Seeing Granny Da Xi was alright, Xingxing let out a sigh and sat by the hot spring pool, kicked off her shoes and socks to soak her feet in the warm water. "I'll stay tonight and keep you company."

Granny Da Xi glanced at her. "Your third brother is leaving for the spring examinations tomorrow. Is that alright?"

Xingxing smiled. "You said it's tomorrow, didn't you? I’ll stay with you tonight and go back early in the morning to see him off—perfect timing."

Granny Da Xi said nothing more, but her lips quirked up, showing she was in rare high spirits.

After a good soak in the hot spring and with Xingxing’s company, Granny Da Xi’s mood improved greatly, and by evening, she looked almost like her usual self.

That night, Xingxing cooked, whipping up dumplings filled with eggs, shrimp, and tofu—Granny Da Xi’s favorite.

Granny Da Xi, thrilled, demanded a drink. After some thought, Xingxing warmed a small pot of herbal liquor for her, allowing only that modest amount.

In rare high spirits, Granny Da Xi didn’t complain about Xingxing’s restrictions and simply agreed.

The two sat by the stove, enjoying the warm dumplings and sipping the wine before settling into bed together, their warm bedding pushed together. They chatted about recent insights on medicinal herbs, perfectly at ease.

But late at night, a fierce wind rose in the mountains, banging the door like thunder. Xingxing jolted awake and was about to get up to check when Granny Da Xi, sleeping on the outer side, sleepily patted her. "It’s fine. The mountains are always like this. Don’t worry about it."

Xingxing lay back down, but after a while, she could faintly hear voices carried on the wind.

Silently, she lay there, watching Granny Da Xi.

She knew Granny Da Xi must have her reasons for ignoring it.

Granny Da Xi clearly heard it too but only murmured with closed eyes, "Ignore it."

Xingxing softly replied, "Alright."

Yet the knocking persisted, growing more insistent.

After a while, Granny Da Xi suddenly opened her eyes, her face darkening as she sat up.

Xingxing blinked in confusion.

Granny Da Xi sleepily patted her gently, as if soothing a child. "You stay put. I'll check."

As Granny Da Xi got up and shrugged into her robe, Xingxing followed.

"I’ll go with you," she whispered.

Granny Da Xi’s home was tucked deep in the mountains—rarely did any travelers pass by.

Saying nothing more, Granny Da Xi went to another room to grab something before heading to the courtyard gate, lantern in hand. Raising her voice, she called, "Who’s there?"

The person outside, finally hearing a response, stammered excitedly.

He explained he had been hunting in the mountains, chasing prey when he fell off a cliff and was injured. Waking up late at night, cold and badly hurt, he nearly died in the wilderness—until he spotted the small cottage in the depths of the mountains...