Sure enough, she no longer insisted. Instead, as if she had found a kindred spirit, she took my hand and began to vent her grievances.
"Aunt Mei still manages half of the household affairs. Those words you retorted her with today truly spoke to my heart. I have long wanted her to leave, but I just couldn't bring myself to say it, for fear of losing face, and lest the consort think I am cold and unfeeling."
I picked up my teacup and slowly blew away the floating tea leaves, remaining silent. She was only here to help out temporarily anyway. We couldn't keep her here for a lifetime. At the end of the day, this family simply cared too much about keeping up appearances.
The consort, Xiao Shun, prided himself on being a gentleman, yet he was indecisive. The princess, on the other hand, had a cowardly disposition, constantly terrified of offending anyone. As a result, it was always their own people who suffered grievances. In comparison, that bastard Xiao Yu was actually better. Though he gave no face to his own family, he certainly never spared any face for outsiders either.
"Fortunately, you have married into the family. This is perfect now."
With a trusted confidante entering the household, reclaiming the household management rights became a matter of course, and no one could find any fault with it. Looking at her delighted expression, I couldn't help but want to smile. This mother-in-law of mine was truly easy to please.
Having settled the household management rights, she probed again with caution.
"Then will you still pursue the matter of Xiao Lang? Do you want your father-in-law to force him to go to the marquis's manor and apologize?"
I saw the anxiety in her eyes. She was afraid of my father, who served as the commander of the military and police office.
"No, there is no need. Since I have married Xiao Yu, this matter is settled. Making a big fuss out of it would instead make it seem as if I am still entangled with him."
The princess let out a long sigh of relief, her entire body visibly relaxing. But in the next second, her heart leaped into her throat again. She lowered her voice and asked, "How are you and Xiao Yu getting along? That rascal didn't mistreat you, did he?"
She knew her son's temperament all too well. He had been spoiled and put on a pedestal since childhood, supercilious and incredibly arrogant. She didn't know if his two years of confinement had changed him at all.
"I didn't suffer any mistreatment. He is actually doing quite well."
His image flashed through my mind, and the corners of my mouth curled up. "He looks fierce, but he is actually just a paper tiger. No matter what, he wouldn't bully the weak."
Well, this was also thanks to my ability to handle him, but there was no need to tell my mother-in-law that.
"That is good. That is good."
The princess patted her chest, completely relieved. The two of us chatted for another quarter of an hour before I stood up to take my leave, followed by maids carrying armfuls of gifts.
When I reached the door, I paused, recalling the venomous look Aunt Mei had just given me. I felt it was necessary to warn this sweet but naive mother-in-law of mine. I turned around, my expression serious.
"Mother, Aunt Mei refuses to leave, and I'm afraid her intentions aren't simple. It is not money she is after. It is Father. You must keep a close eye on her and never give her a chance to get close to Father."
After all, in the original novel, this Aunt Mei actually succeeded. She even got pregnant with his child. What was more interesting was that Xiao Lang and the people from the Count of Yongcheng's estate strongly defended her, forcing my mother-in-law to bite the bullet and accept this disgusting match. As for my father-in-law, who only knew how to play the good guy, he absolved himself of all blame by simply claiming he was a poor judge of character.
"Aunt Mei's target is actually the Prince Consort."
Princess Yunyang was shocked, clearly stunned by this massive bombshell. She still couldn't quite believe it. "Could there be some misunderstanding?"
Misunderstanding? I smirked in my heart. I decided to add more fuel to the fire.
"How would I dare to talk nonsense about this? Father-in-law must have noticed it long ago. If you don't believe me, just go and ask him."
Anyway, I couldn't stand my indecisive father-in-law either. It was the perfect chance to cause some trouble for him.
"What? He knew about it all along? That Xiao Shun, how dare he play dumb with me!"
"Mother, please calm down. Have a good talk with Father. I'll head back first."
Slipping out of the courtyard, I finally felt my body aching all over. Though I claimed I wasn't tired, that bastard Xiao Yu had tossed and turned me all night. Even a body made of iron wouldn't be able to take this.
At the same time, over in the imperial prison.
"Guiyuan stayed behind at the manor to keep an eye on things. I brought this for you. These dishes were prepared yesterday for the banquet guests. Although they are leftovers, it is so cold that they haven't spoiled. Please make do with this."
Xiao Yu curled his lip in disgust. "Yesterday's leftovers?"
Oh well, they were from his own wedding banquet after all. It would indeed be inappropriate not to have a few bites. He picked up a roasted chicken leg and took a bite, washing it down with Weiyao wine.
Babao grinned mischievously beside him. "You have no idea how furious the eldest young master was. He was smashing things in his room to vent his anger."
Hearing that Xiao Lang had suffered a setback, Xiao Yu's mood improved greatly. After taking two sips of wine, he asked casually, "How is Yaoyao? Did that boy Xiao Lang find trouble with her?"
The hatred of having one's wife stolen was something no man could endure. After last night, he knew that feeling all too well. How could Xiao Lang swallow this insult?
"Find trouble? Yes, someone did find trouble during the tea serving ceremony."
"Huh?"
Xiao Yu slammed the chicken leg down. In that instant, the dark cell seemed to plunge to freezing point. He lifted his eyelids. His gaze was as sharp as a blade. The hostile aura, forged from surviving a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, frightened Babao so much that he nearly fell to his knees.
Babao swallowed hard and quickly explained. "It was the second young mistress who picked a fight with someone else."
Xiao Yu was silent for a moment, then slowly and methodically wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth.