A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 446: Lost

The Xia Family arrived in Capital City on this day, and Xia Tingfeng went early to greet them.Shedding the attire of the Imperial Forest Army, he was dressed in a tight-fitting black outfit, a narrow cloud-patterned belt cinching his waist. His sharp, defined features had long since shed their youthful immaturity.

Tempered by the slaughter of countless battles, an innate martial prowess now marked his features, and a trace of icy fierceness still lingered in his eyes.

All this was completely absent in the Xia Tingfeng who had once been a street ruffian.

Atop the city wall, he stood with his hands clasped behind him, squinting as he gazed into the distance, letting the whistling breeze gently lift his robe.

In the distance, a procession of carriages approached slowly, about a dozen in all.

It was unknown who all were seated within, but the leading carriage likely carried Old Master Xia, because he recognized the old coachman driving it.

His robe fluttering, he strode down from the city wall.

The carriages came to a slow stop before the city gate.

The old coachman dismounted, pulled back the curtain, and as expected, Old Master Xia descended from the first carriage.

Seeing this, Xia Tingfeng promptly stepped forward, clasped his fist in his palm, and knelt on one knee.

"Greetings, Father!"

Though he had rarely uttered the word ’Father’ growing up.

Though his father had always treated him harshly and had even threatened to disown him if he caused any more trouble.

Yet, in the end, the ties had not been severed.

A father and son were, after all, father and son.

The current Emperor governed with filial piety as a cornerstone, and the concept of filial respect was inescapable; nor had Xia Tingfeng ever thought to escape it.

A man should stand tall and upright; this was his responsibility.

And so he knelt openly and proudly.

Old Master Xia, on the other hand, felt rather uncomfortable.

My son is now a high official in the Capital City, one who serves the Emperor directly! The thought filled him with fear. His knees grew weak, and he felt an impulse to kneel.

But he could not kneel, nor could he put on the airs of a father.

So, how should I treat this eldest son of mine?

Old Master Xia stood there, somewhat torn.

Ultimately, it was Lady Yao, swaying her slender waist and flamboyantly dressed, who emerged from a carriage behind and shamelessly stood beside Old Master Xia.

Speaking in a voice deliberately feigned to be youthful and delicate, she said, "My lord, the Eldest Young Master is paying his respects to you. Why not tell him to rise quickly? The ground is so cold!"

Having said this, she moved to help Xia Tingfeng up herself.

"Eldest Young Master, please rise!"

Her attitude was a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn from before!

Xia Tingfeng remained unmoved, his gaze fixed only on Old Master Xia.

Lady Yao’s interruption seemed to jolt Old Master Xia’s mind clear.

Looking at Xia Tingfeng still kneeling on one knee, he promptly cleared his throat.

"Rise!"

"Thank you, Father." Xia Tingfeng then stood up.

Throughout this exchange, he did not spare Lady Yao a single glance.

Lady Yao, unconcerned, sized up Xia Tingfeng from head to toe, her face wreathed in smiles.

"Oh my, the Eldest Young Master is truly remarkable now! If I saw you on the street, I surely wouldn’t recognize you. Wouldn’t you agree, my lord?"

"Just look at this paragon of talent! Such a pleasing sight!"

Old Master Xia, his expression extremely unnatural, nodded awkwardly.

"Yes! I wouldn’t have recognized him!"

I never anticipated that I, a scholar, could father a son who would become a General. Yet, even as a General, he’s ultimately still a coarse and rash man. At best, he hasn’t shamed his ancestors, but it’s not enough to bring them glory. Old Master Xia thought with lofty disdain. In this disdain, he gradually regained his composure. No scholar in the world doesn’t look down on Military Generals. They all consider them brutish and rash; only scholars are truly superior! Old Master Xia was certainly no exception. Thinking this, he felt even more clear-headed. Even if his son is a high-ranking official, it shouldn’t make me feel apprehensive or awed. The only one who could truly make me apprehensive is probably the Emperor backing him! So, a degree of politeness is still required.

After a round of pleasantries, Xia Tingfeng led everyone to the residence he had purchased.

The residence wasn’t large, at least not as large as the original Xia Residence, and its location wasn’t ideal either.

About ten carriages lined up and entered the alleyway.

An uninformed onlooker might have thought it was a family moving to settle down here.

In fact, they were just here to attend to some matter.

These ten or so carriages held those for Old Master Xia, Lady Yao, the young masters and young misses, and the servants, along with those carrying goods.

All in all, that was the lot.

However...

Xia Tingfeng looked around and was surprised to find no carriage for Maternal Aunt Wen, nor for his second younger sister.

Hadn’t they come?

He hurried to seek confirmation.

Old Master Xia stroked his beard, stating as if it were a matter of course, "They didn’t come. Someone has to stay at the residence. Besides, as a concubine, she ought not to leave the house!"

Xia Tingfeng’s heart felt as if it had been drenched in icy water, swiftly becoming cold and hard.

His gaze was like a knife cutting through ice, frigidly intimidating.

"Maternal Aunt Wen might not be able to come, but why couldn’t my second sister come!"

He claims she shouldn’t leave the house? Weren’t Lady Yao’s two children brought along?

Old Master Xia felt extremely uncomfortable under Xia Tingfeng’s piercing stare, his gaze flitting uncertainly toward the window.

"You..."

"Your maternal aunt couldn’t bear to part with your second sister, so... she didn’t bring her!"

Upon hearing this incredibly far-fetched excuse, Xia Tingfeng’s eyes suddenly sharpened, his teeth clenched.

"Father, you..."

"Hmph!"

BANG! A resounding noise echoed as his fist, solid as rock, smashed into a stone statue by the door!

With a loud CLATTER, fragments broke off the stone statue; as the wind blew, dust and powder were swept into the air.

Old Master Xia’s eyes widened.

"Heh..."

That... that’s made of stone! He could actually... shatter stone with his fist! That’s... truly... Huh? Why do I feel a chill down my spine?

Old Master Xia hastily offered a placating smile.

"Tingfeng!"

"According to tradition, for your wedding, your maternal aunt is not supposed to be here. But rest assured, everything at home is well arranged!"

"Now, your mother and your maternal aunt can coexist peacefully. She’s staying at home with the Butler, the servants, and your second sister!"

"Everything is fine; you have no need to worry!" Old Master Xia rambled, trying to soothe him.

Xia Tingfeng’s rage gradually subsided, the icy resolve in his eyes slowly receding.

"It had better be so!"

His gaze shifted, and with a cold, stern face, he approached Lady Yao.

"I won’t dwell on what you’ve done in the past!"

"But if I discover you mistreating my maternal aunt again, you will regret it!"

Lady Yao’s legs had already gone weak; shivering, she quickly offered a fawning smile.

"Eldest Young Master, you must be joking. These past two years, I’ve gotten on very well with Maternal Aunt Wen. I... I will never again..."

As she reached the end, she truly couldn’t muster a smile. Her lips trembled, and she could hardly speak coherently.

Finally, she almost knelt, her face a picture of misery.

"Eldest Young Master, I wouldn’t dare do it again!"

Standing to the side, the Third Young Master and Third Young Miss, namely Xia Weifeng and Xia Ruyi, were utterly baffled.

"Mother! Why are you afraid of this man?"

"Yes, Mother! Who is he? He’s so fierce! Father, hurry and have him arrested! He’s threatening our mother!"

Old Master Xia: "..."

"Don’t talk nonsense! He is your eldest brother!"

Xia Ruyi pouted, thoroughly unconvinced.

"I don’t have an eldest brother. Mother said I only have one older brother!"

Old Master Xia glared, exasperated.

"You two little brats..."