"Of course I know what I'm talking about. This matter has been carefully considered by me, so there's no need for Lord Xu to persuade me further."

"Since that's the case, I won't say any more. Just make up your mind, Young Master Xie."

Seeing that he didn't seem to be joking, Xu Yuze didn't ask any more questions, took the package, and the guards tactfully left the room.

After a cup of tea.

Xu Yuze put down his pen, blew on the ink on the paper to dry it, and then picked up the official seal and stamped it on the two documents.

Looking at the contents of the document, he couldn't help but sigh:

"It is truly remarkable that Young Master Xie has gone to such lengths for Miss Lin!"

Since taking office as prefect, Xu Yuze has not only read the classics, but also frequently consulted local gazetteers.

He knew that this custom existed in some regions.

But this custom doesn't exist in the Northwest, let alone in the capital.

Even ordinary farm men couldn't do this, let alone the famous Xie family scions in the capital.

He admitted that he couldn't do that.

Only after receiving one of the documents did Xie Muqing feel a sense of reality.

Right now.

He was genuinely grateful that Xu Yuze had come along, as it made things much easier for him in handling the matter.

"Thank you very much, Lord Xu!"

"You're too kind, young master."

After saying goodbye to Xu Yuze, Xie Muqing took the documents and pushed open the door of the east wing room.

Although Pei Ling didn't know what had happened to her mother-in-law, she saw that she was depressed all day and knew that she was in a bad mood.

Worried that the children would bother her, she took them to the west wing to play, leaving her mother-in-law with some alone time.

Therefore, at this time, only Madam Xie was in the east wing.

Upon seeing Xie Muqing enter the room, she immediately stood up, and her dull eyes instantly brightened as if it were daytime.

"Qing'er! Have you forgiven your mother?"

Xie Muqing avoided those expectant eyes, slowly walked up to her, and said softly:

"Your son has come today to show you something."

"What is that?"

At this moment, Madam Xie was still unaware of the seriousness of the situation.

He looked completely calm.

She thought that her hunger strike had worked, softening his attitude and making him come to care about her health.

Xie Muqing faced her and slowly unfolded the document he had been holding in his hand in front of her.

"Official marriage certificate!"

"W-What do you mean?"

Madam Xie did not look at the documents, but looked up at her son, a look of doubt on her face.

He met her questioning gaze.

Xie Muqing revealed a mocking smile, and his words were as cold and ruthless as ice knives.

"From now on, your son will no longer bear the surname Xie, nor will he be the legitimate son of the Xie family. From now on, your son will take your surname, and his name will be Lin Muqing. Although your son has changed his surname, as long as you are at peace, your son will still fulfill his filial duties and will take care of you in your old age."

Madam Xie thought he was just saying things to her in anger, but her gaze was still involuntarily drawn to the document in front of her.

When she finished reading the contents of the document in front of her, her eyes widened in surprise!

After confirming the seal on the document was genuine, a piercing scream echoed throughout the room:

"Qing'er! Have you gone mad?! How can you do this to your father, to the ancestors of the Xie family?!"

Seeing her suddenly reach out, Xie Muqing quickly put the document away, stopping her in time.

“Even if Mother tears up the document, I can still get the government to write another one. As for your concerns, I will explain them to them after I go down. Father is so righteous. If he knew that the entire Xie family was able to survive because of Madam, he would be very grateful to her. He should be able to understand why I changed my surname. Besides, I didn’t make everyone in the Xie family change their surname.”

"Unfilial descendants—"

This time, the blow to Madam Xie was much greater than the last one!

After all, last time it was the government that forced them.

Besides, if he makes a comeback in the future, he can simply divorce and remarry.

However, this time the surname change was at the son's own request. With this document, the son will no longer be considered part of her family!

He can never change his surname back...

Unable to bear it any longer, Madam Xie's eyes rolled back and she fainted completely.

Worried that something might have happened to her, Xie Muqing invited Yang Shengjie over. After hearing that he was alright, only suffering from anger, she felt relieved.

After instructing his two younger sisters to take good care of him, he took the documents and returned to the main house.

At this moment, Lin Yan had just finished washing up.

When she saw him enter the room, she only glanced at him briefly before quickly looking away and drying her wet hair.

She didn't utter a single word throughout the entire process.

Xie Muqing slowly walked over, sat down beside her, silently took the handkerchief from her hand, and gently dried her hair.

Because he had practiced martial arts since childhood and possessed profound internal strength, the wet hair in his hand dried up in no time.

Touching her dry hair, Lin Yan once again marveled at the benefits of having internal energy, and her resentment towards him lessened considerably.

Thinking of the piercing scream I had just heard from the side room, I took the initiative to start a conversation:

"Is your mother alright?"

Seeing that she was still willing to care about her mother, Xie Muqing felt even more guilty. He suppressed the bitterness in his heart and handed the documents to her.

"It's nothing serious, I just showed her this document. My mother will definitely not cause you any more trouble in the future. Tomorrow I'll have someone take it to the town and the county seat to change the information on the household registration."

Lin Yan was extremely curious.

She wondered what kind of document could elicit such a strong reaction from the usually dignified Madam Xie.

When Lin Yan saw the contents of the document, she was so surprised that she couldn't close her mouth, and her round almond-shaped eyes widened.

"What—what were you thinking?!"

Seemingly feeling that this was not enough, Xie Muqing took the token out of the cabinet and handed it to Lin Yan.

"And this token can mobilize the Xie family army left behind by my father. I suppose you already know about it, and I've given it to my wife as well."

"What...what are you doing?"

Lin Yan was completely dumbfounded.

She always felt as if Xie Muqing was giving his last words...

"I've figured it out. I'm just a spoiled brat, only good for living off women. Now I have nothing left. If my wife doesn't want me either, then there's no point in me living..."

When it comes to playing the victim.

Xie Muqing had long since become skilled through practice, and in an instant, his captivating peach blossom eyes were filled with tears.

Meeting his gaze, Lin Yan felt as if the things in her hands weighed a ton, and all the resentment she felt towards him vanished completely.

"You've gone to such lengths, if I were to abandon you, how would I be any different from those scumbags?"

Xie Muqing didn't know what "scumbag" meant. He was about to ask when Lin Yan interrupted him:

"By the way, you said your mother was also deceived. Who gave her the poison?"

"He is a monk named Chunfeng from the Yunding Temple."

"Also a monk?!"