A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 479: Not Yet Met

Desiring wealth over life, Lady Yao clenched her teeth tightly, shamelessly refusing to admit anything."I don’t care, what’s gone is gone!"

Xia Tingfeng said calmly, "Lady Yao, are you certain you want to deny it? Don’t you have a guilty conscience?"

Lady Yao swallowed hard, standing her ground forcefully and righteously. "Deny? How have I denied anything! That item was a reward bestowed by the Emperor, given to both me and the Old Master! Is there any doubt about that? Besides, the Emperor’s word is as precious as gold; when he gives a reward, would he ever take it back? It must be you! You see others cursing my husband and me, and you come to loot us amidst the fire..."

"Old Master!" Lady Yao grew more and more aggrieved as she spoke.

Old Master Xia became furious and slammed the table. "Enough!! That gold and Silver originally belonged to Tingfeng, and it should be returned to him!"

Old Master Xia retained the pedantry of a scholar and cared little for the smell of copper coins.

Lady Yao was startled. She felt wronged but dared not retort.

Meanwhile, Xia Tingfeng calmly sat back down. "All right... Father and Mother need not argue anymore! Consider that sum of gold and Silver as Tingfeng’s price for his life! If you truly desire it, then from now on... Tingfeng’s life will be his own, with no relation to the Xia Family!"

In other words, he intended to sever ties with the Xia Family. This was a family he had long since been disappointed with. It was better not to have them at all!

Old Master Xia was dumbfounded. Then, his face turned a shade of green with anger. "Audacious! You were born a Xia and will die a Xia’s ghost. How could you speak such words? Have you no regard for your ancestors?"

Xia Tingfeng scoffed. "How can Father have the face to mention our ancestors? I, Xia Tingfeng, wasn’t it you who cast me out of the family? Wasn’t it you who personally disowned me as your son?

"Wasn’t it you who barred me from the ancestral hall?

"What right do you have to accuse me of being unfilial!"

Old Master Xia’s eyes bulged, rendered speechless. Indeed, it was all his doing, but...

"You...!" he stammered. "Rebellious, absolutely rebellious... Xia Tingfeng, are you determined to cut ties with the Xia Family?"

Xia Tingfeng smiled instead of getting angry. "Father has forced this upon me!"

Old Master Xia’s face turned pale. He stood up shakily and slammed the table. "Servants! Bring out those chests of gold and Silver!

"If you are so eager to break away from the Xia Family, then I, the Old Master, will stubbornly refuse!

"Quick, servants, carry the items up here!"

Outside, several servant boys hurriedly complied.

Xia Tingfeng remained seated, a sigh of relief washing over him. Fortunately, he could get the items back! Even if he had to throw those treasures away, he would never leave them for Lady Yao!

When Xia Tingfeng left, he hired a carriage and took away a chest of gold ingots and a chest of Silver Taels.

Lady Yao knelt on the ground as if her soul had been lost. But... what could she do? Seeing Old Master Xia’s darkened face, she didn’t dare to cry or make a scene. She could only hold it in, waiting until she returned to the back courtyard to wail loudly and curse Xia Tingfeng tens of thousands of times.

Of course, it was all in vain.

「...」

After Xia Tingfeng took the items, he went straight to the palace. He requested an audience with the Emperor to return all the items.

"Emperor, your subject has not died. Please take back these rewards!"

Zhao Junyao was busy reviewing documents. Seeing Xia Tingfeng come in to discuss this matter irritated him immensely. "As a ruler whose word is law, you ask me to take back what I have rewarded?"

Xia Tingfeng insisted stiffly, "Emperor, I cannot accept these items!"

Zhao Junyao grew even more impatient. "If you don’t want them, deal with them yourself, but in any case... I will not take them back!"

Xia Tingfeng was somewhat stunned and wanted to say more, but Zhao Junyao hurried him out. "I am busy! Beloved Minister Xia, go back and recover from your injury!"

It had been some time since he had properly reviewed the petitions, and a large pile had accumulated!

Powerless, Xia Tingfeng had no choice but to agree.

Later, having no other option, Xia Tingfeng used the gold and Silver to purchase grain as military provisions.

When Zhao Junyao heard of this, he was torn between amusement and exasperation. "This fellow," he muttered, "he really is..." So single-minded!

But... I would request another two dozen such ministers!

Xia Tingfeng returned safely.

The campaign against the bandits came to a successful conclusion.

The marriage agreement with the Ni Family also remained in place.

In mid-June, the two families settled on the engagement, with the wedding set for the end of the year.

The storm had passed smoothly, and everything returned to its original state.

「...」

Before one knew it, half of June had gone by.

The injuries on Xia Tingfeng’s body had also almost healed. As long as he didn’t do any heavy labor or martial training, his daily activities were completely unimpeded.

Since the Emperor had granted him a long vacation, he was recuperating at home.

He was still residing at Zheng Qianhu Manor. Though called Zheng Qianhu Manor, it was, in reality, a small residence they had bought for a little over a hundred taels of Silver. There was just one courtyard, and the rooms were closely packed and quite cramped.

Thankfully, none of the four men minded, feeling content with having a place to live. Especially since their eldest brother was safe and sound. They were cheerful every day, laughing and jesting. The small courtyard was lively and bustling.

This day, Xia Tingfeng was reading and writing in the courtyard.

Suddenly, a servant boy came in from outside, saying he was delivering a letter.

Xia Tingfeng took the envelope and frowned. "Who sent the letter?"

The servant boy quickly whispered, "I am a servant of the Ni Family. This is a letter from Miss Ni to Marquis Xiahou!

"Miss has instructed that it must be delivered into your hands!"

Xia Tingfeng glanced at the elegant handwriting on the envelope, and his brow smoothed out. "I understand, you may leave now!"

The servant boy scurried away.

Xia Tingfeng tore open the envelope and first looked at the signature—it was indeed from Ni Manxue. The corners of his lips involuntarily curved up in a tender smile.

Then he read the content of the letter.

It turned out that although Ni Manxue had returned home, she was still keeping an eye on Xia Tingfeng’s situation. Every few days, she would secretly send someone to inquire. After all, the engagement had been set, and Lady Ni turned a blind eye to it.

Once she learned that his health was greatly improved, Miss Ni decided to tell him about Miss Ye’s matter. After all, his true life-saver was Miss Ye, not herself. No matter what, he had the right and deserved to know the truth.

Miss Ni recounted the day they had entered the woods, encountered a Tiger, were saved by Miss Ye, and met him at Miss Ye’s residence. All these details she wrote down meticulously, revealing everything to Xia Tingfeng without reservation.

「...」

After reading the letter, Xia Tingfeng was deeply moved.

It was not because of Miss Ye Tang, whom he had not yet met. But rather, because of Miss Ni’s frankness and honesty. The debt of saving a life is immeasurable. If she had taken credit for this deed, she would have been surrounded by countless halos of glory. She herself would have won the affection of her future husband before even stepping through the door, making him indebted to her, repaying her sentiments. What a huge temptation! Some crafty young ladies from boudoirs might do such a thing. Even if they did not, they likely would not take the initiative to speak of these matters.