Chapter 55 Symmetry

"Smack—!"

A crisp, loud slap rang out!

Xie Nuer acted quickly, slapping Xie Wuyou hard across the face!

The force was so great that Xie Wuyou was forced to take several steps back!

Xie Wuyou was completely stunned!

Half of my face went numb instantly, followed by a burning, excruciating pain!

"You...you dare to hit me?!" Her voice changed, and her eyes were filled with disbelief as she looked at Xie Nu'er.

"I'll hit you if I want to, why do I have to pick a day?"

"How dare you defy your superiors and lay a hand on a proper official's daughter! We've already shown mercy by not reporting you to the authorities."

Xie Nuer sneered, her eyes filled with disdain and contempt as she looked at Xie Wuyou.

Xie Wuyou trembled with rage, pointing at Xie Nuer: "You slut who was kicked out of the house, what right do you have to lay a hand on me!"

Xie Nu'er's expression remained unchanged, but she looked at Xie Sangning with a wronged expression: "Sister, are you going to send me away? Why did she say you would kick me out of the house..."

Xie Sangning frowned when she heard the word "slut".

Throughout history, the shame of harlots has been a constant theme.

Xie Sangning stepped forward and, with a forceful movement, Xie Wuyou's face was once again bruised.

"Alright, it's symmetrical now, and it looks much better."

Xie Nu'er covered her mouth and chuckled: "Nu'er will remember this. In the future, when you hit someone, you must hit them symmetrically, otherwise your sister won't feel comfortable watching it."

The two men's back-and-forth banter greatly humiliated Xie Wuyou.

With a dull ache in his face, Xie Wuyou almost roared out.

"You just wait! Once my brother Xie Wulu passes the imperial examination, he will definitely kick you out of the General's Mansion!"

At that time, the only option for the general's mansion was to let his younger brother inherit it!

For the sake of the greater good, Grandmother would naturally not allow Xie Sangyu to destroy the General's Mansion!

My younger brother said he was sure he would pass the exam this time, and whether the second wife could rise to prominence depended on him.

Xie Wuyou also trusted his younger brother. There were a total of twenty-three people who could pass the exam, and his brother only needed to compete for the top three positions.

In the entire city of Nanjing, there are few people who are more learned than the younger brother.

Therefore, during this period, the second wife's family kept a close eye on Xie Wulu and did not go out to cause trouble for Xie Sangning.

Once I get to high school, I'll definitely teach Xie Sangning a lesson!

She couldn't wait to see Xie Sangning's expression when she learned that her younger brother had passed the exam; it was sure to be quite a sight!

Hearing this, Xie Sangning withdrew her gaze and turned to Xie Nuer, saying in a flat tone, "Let's go. We need to pick out the best things for the palace. There's no need to save money for me today."

Xie Nu'er immediately put on a sweet smile: "Yes, sister. Nu'er will listen to sister."

She followed behind Xie Sangning, and when she passed Xie Wuyou, she deliberately stepped on Xie Wuyou's foot with her embroidered shoe.

Xie Wuyou was so angry that he jumped up and down behind them, his eyes filled with such venom that they almost solidified.

Xie Sangning naturally knew that Xie Wuyou was right. Although it was unlikely that he could actually be expelled from the General's Mansion, it was absolutely possible for the Old Madam to take Xie Wulu into the eldest branch of the family.

——

After Xie Sangning and Xie Nuer finished shopping, Xie Nuer received many things she had never touched in her life.

Xie Nu'er's heart trembled, and she instinctively wanted to refuse, saying, "Sister, this...this is too precious, Nu'er..."

"So noisy!"

Xie Sangning frowned impatiently and interrupted her: "What do you think the palace is? A vegetable market? You go in as the legitimate daughter of the General's Mansion, and if you're dressed in shabby clothes and can't even bring out a decent piece of jewelry, whose face will you be disgracing!"

"Take it. Once you're in the palace, put on the show and fight for the favor you deserve!"

"Remember, your reputation is my reputation. Anyone who dares to look down on you is stepping on the threshold of the General's Mansion! Do you understand?"

Xie Nu'er trembled, and without saying another word, she bowed deeply: "Yes! Nu'er understands! Thank you for your kindness, Sister! Nu'er will certainly live up to your expectations!"

The two, accompanied by their servants, were about to head back home.

As they walked to a bustling street corner, they unexpectedly caught sight of a familiar figure—Xie Rubao.

She walked with her head down, followed only by a similarly listless maid. The two of them looked like wilted eggplants.

Xie Rubao looked up and met Xie Sangning's gaze. Her dim eyes instantly lit up: "Sister Sangning!" She ran over.

Xie Sangning's gaze swept over her haggard face, his brows furrowing slightly: "Why do you look like this? Who upset you?"

Xie Rubao pouted, tears welling in her eyes, and stammered, "No...no, it's the Second Princess...she's been summoning me to the princess's residence every day these days, saying she wants me to grind ink for her..."

"Grinding ink?" Xie Sangning raised an eyebrow. "When did you and the Second Princess develop such a deep friendship?"

These words struck a nerve with Xie Rubao, who could no longer hold back her tears as she accused, "Bao'er doesn't know either! Sister! Doesn't the princess's residence have any maids? Why does she have to call me every day! And I'm there for the whole day!"

"That ink stick is so hard and heavy, it's like my wrist is going to break! Look, sister!" She stretched out her right hand, and her originally slender and fair fingers were now swollen and red like freshly pulled carrots.

Xie Nu'er couldn't help but interject upon seeing this: "This isn't grinding ink, it's clearly torturing people!"

Xie Sangning sneered inwardly: Pei Mingyue! Very well! Unable to touch me, Xie Sangning, you're picking on this pushover by my side? Trying to disgust me with such methods?

"From today onwards, you don't need to go. You don't need to go in the future either. Starting tomorrow, come directly to the General's Mansion every day when you wake up."

Xie Rubao's eyes suddenly lit up, but then dimmed again. She shook her head worriedly, "No, no! The Second Princess will definitely think that you, sister, were behind this, and she'll take her anger out on you! I can't cause you trouble..."

Xie Sangning scoffed: "Trouble? This trouble is all because of me. Besides, have I, Xie Sangning, ever been afraid of her?"

“I already have a grudge against her, so this one won’t make a difference. Just come on.”

Upon hearing this, Xie Rubao immediately burst into laughter through her tears. She took Xie Sangning's arm and said, "Thank you, sister! I knew you were the best!"

Meanwhile, inside the Second Princess's residence.

Pei Mingyue was slowly spreading out a sheet of fine Xuan paper, preparing to practice calligraphy and calm her mind.

She waited for a moment, but the familiar figure did not appear, and her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly.

"Where's Xie Rubao? Why hasn't he arrived yet?"

The personal maidservant cautiously reported, "Your Highness, Miss Xie... has not yet arrived."

Pei Mingyue's face instantly darkened, and she slammed the pen she was holding onto the table.

"You little beast, how dare you slack off?"

She turned sharply to the maid: "What are you all standing there for?! Immediately send someone to Minister Xie's residence! Bring the person to me!"