Chapter 24 I am my brother Xie Dang. How long will it take for him to discover his beloved...?
Thank you twice in one summer
Xie Panxin was extremely anxious.
His expression remained unchanged, and without asking any questions, he said, "Then I'll ask Uncle Dumb to boil some water first."
He walked ahead of Xie Dang, pushed open the courtyard gate, and said, "These are all old teas, please don't find them offensive, brother."
Xie Dang's sharp gaze was fixed on him, but Xie Pan remained calm and composed, showing no sign of guilt.
Was he overthinking things? Xie Dang wondered.
Even if he's overthinking it, he still has to go in and see!
The gate was open, and the elegant courtyard came into view.
Xie Dang looked around, finding nothing particularly unusual. He was surprised that Xie Pan had dug a cellar in Tingzhu Pavilion; it looked like a cellar, yet had a doorway outside, which was rather strange.
Xie Dang glanced at Xie Pan, who then lowered his eyes to explain, "Uncle Ya is getting older and loves to eat fruits and vegetables, which can be stored in the cellar."
Xie Dang nodded.
He knew the mute man; he had grown up with his aunt. Since they were destined to be apart, the mute man kept a respectful distance.
When the clansmen caused trouble, Uncle Ya injured his throat while protecting the women, and was completely unable to speak.
Although he was a servant, their bond was very deep. Xie Pan valued loyalty and righteousness, so it was somewhat unexpected that he would make such a plan for the mute man.
Xie Dang understood and withdrew his questioning gaze.
They then walked even deeper into the courtyard without any hesitation.
Xie Pan clenched his fists at his sides. Just then, the mute man emerged from the cellar, carrying a melon in his arms. Seeing his two masters, he hurriedly bowed respectfully, and Xie Dang returned the bow with elegant manners.
As Xie Dang turned his head to look in the other direction, the mute man gently shook his head at Xie Pan. Xie Pan's eyes flickered slightly, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Xie Dang walked forward on his own, and to Xie Pan's surprise, Xie Dang pushed open the door to the main room without any politeness.
Xie Pan's back was tense, and his knuckles turned white from the exertion.
Xie Dang held his half-brother in high regard and did not step into the main house.
But as soon as the door opened, a sweet fragrance wafted out, smelling somewhat familiar yet different. He frowned and looked around again; the furnishings inside were all ordinary, with no special decorations for women.
Is he overthinking it?
There was an inconspicuous side door next to the room, which Xie Dang glanced at.
After hesitating for a while, he stepped forward and pushed the other side away with a raised hand.
In the small backyard, a vegetable garden has been planted.
There was a table and stools in the corner, and next to the table and stools were hoes and shovels, as well as a wooden swing and a charcoal brazier for warming oneself.
It must have been the place Xie Pan allocated to the mute man.
There's a swing?
Xie Dang chuckled, not expecting his half-brother to have such a childlike side.
Xie Dang patted his half-brother's arm, his eyes filled with apology.
How could he have barged in without a care after hearing that his half-brother was hiding a woman in his courtyard?
You've really lost your mind!
But because he was his elder brother and also respected as a marquis, he said nothing.
He and his half-brother were inseparable, and his half-brother should understand him.
Xie Pan remained taciturn as always, and saw his elder brother off at Tingzhu Pavilion.
After his elder brother had walked away, he gently closed the courtyard gate, the hinges turning with a soft creaking sound.
Xie Dang suddenly stopped, a strange feeling welling up inside him. He turned around and looked back.
Xie Pan was unaware of this and hurried into the main room.
The mute man also walked towards him, gesturing. Xie Pan finally felt relieved after seeing him clearly. But his anxiety returned in an instant.
The mute man said she went out, but where did she go?
His heart ached unbearably. Where had she gone? Why hadn't she informed him?
After all this time, doesn't she still trust him?
It's not that Xia Ru doesn't trust Xie Pan, but what she did this time... is out of character for her usual gentle and virtuous nature.
Xia Rushi began to care about how she appeared in Xie Pan's eyes, though she didn't know when it started.
She didn't want to be that fierce, tigress-like woman.
Although she knew it perfectly well, she was still aware of it.
Moreover, Xie Pan shouldn't get involved in this matter.
Given Xie Pan's temperament, he'd probably hug her again, silently soaking her clothes.
Let's try to coax her later.
The guards surrounded Xia Rushi, keeping her in the center for protection.
Xia Ru glanced at Wei Mingzhao and instructed, "Mingzhao, go and catch that bastard!"
He then instructed, "Keep your voice down."
This was the first time Aunt Jia had ever called him that!
Wei Mingzhao is full of energy!
He needs to go back and curry favor with Xie Wanyan. Xie Wanyan is a very vengeful person. Even though they have two children now, she still remembers what happened before and hasn't fully opened up to him. It's as if she's always preparing to separate from him.
Wei Mingzhao was wronged!
Filled with remorse, if only I could go back in time, I'd want to slap myself a hundred times. Even if I was afraid of implicating her, why didn't I talk to her properly back then?
It hurt her after all.
Wei Mingzhao was very skilled at this kind of work, having done it many times before in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He went into the room, took a handkerchief, and covered the boy's mouth and nose. The boy struggled for a few moments before becoming still.
Wei Mingzhao looked around. The house seemed unremarkable, but the furniture, bedding, and clothes he wore were all unusual.
He scoffed, grabbed the boy, threw him to the ground without mercy, and stuffed the rag into his mouth.
In the dead of winter, he glanced at the boy wearing only his nightgown, his eyes showing no emotion.
They didn't seem to lose out, going to their door several times. This mother and son probably have ulterior motives!
Xia Ru kicked open the door, startling the woman on the bed who shivered and woke up.
Behind them, someone was holding a torch. The torchlight illuminated their backs, allowing Xia Rushi to clearly see Lin Shi's face, but Lin Shi couldn't make out who was opposite her. They only sensed that the scene was exceptionally grand.
"Are you from the Lin family?" Xia Rushi asked.
Madam Lin nodded timidly, clutching the brocade quilt to cover herself, and asked in a trembling voice, "Madam, is there some misunderstanding?"
Misunderstand?
Xia Ru smiled.
If all the investigations hadn't yielded the same result, she might have been fooled into thinking she had wronged an innocent person.
He scrutinized Lin Shi for several more moments. Her frail and delicate appearance was so pitiful. Was this Xie Dang's taste now?
Compared to Wei Mingzhao, Xia Rushi appeared much more refined, taking the initiative and sitting down opposite him.
As soon as she sat down, Madam Lin saw Xia Rushi's face clearly. Her pupils contracted sharply, and she bit her lip, softly calling out, "Sister."
This disgusted Xia Ru to no end.
Her brow was furrowed so tightly it looked like a knot was forming. "Don't bite or bite randomly."
Who is your sister?
"You should know why I have come to find you."
Xia Ru looked around the room. Everything in the room was somewhat familiar, and it was quite jarring. She narrowed her eyes and scoffed inwardly.
Lin knew this, of course. She slumped her delicate shoulders, but her eyes darted around where no one could see, a hint of smugness in them.
Looking up again, she appeared innocent and indifferent. "Sister... Madam, it was all my fault back then. Please don't be angry with the Marquis."
“At that time, my husband was poisoned and was about to die, so he entrusted me to the Marquis. Coincidentally, the Marquis also wanted to cause trouble, so I stayed in the Marquis’s courtyard. But the spy was really annoying, coming day and night.”
Lin looked up and glanced at her cautiously before saying, "That's why we had no choice but to share a room."
What a helpless situation!
Xia Rushi's hand, which was resting on the table, was itching so badly she wanted to hit someone!
"Continue," Xia Ru said coldly.
Lin glanced at Xia Rushi's face again, then covered her face in embarrassment, looking ashamed to be seen. "That night was the fifteenth of the first lunar month. We were all missing our families, and we drank too much rice wine, and then...and then..."
Lin bit her lip, as if she couldn't continue.
Xia Rushi coldly accepted her unfinished meaning: "Then she rolled onto the bed and gave birth to an illegitimate child."
Upon hearing this, Madam Lin, who had been feigning weakness, suddenly looked up like a mother tigress protecting her cubs, her almond-shaped eyes burning with fervor. "Madam, that is the Marquis's bloodline, extremely noble."
Xia Ru smiled.
Unlike Xie Dang, she didn't have the tenderness to pity women. She went straight up, grabbed Lin Shi's long black hair, and dragged her out.
Lin was dragged to the ground and pulled forward, her scalp throbbing painfully. She hurriedly reached out to break free, looking utterly disheveled.
But Xia Rushi is the daughter of a military general; she's not someone to be trifled with, so why would we give her a chance?
They dragged her into the courtyard, away from the charcoal in the bedroom. The biting wind instantly pierced through her thin nightgown. Lin was shivering from the cold and was about to plead when she caught a glimpse of her son's terrified face. Her expression changed drastically, and ignoring the pain, she rushed towards her son.
Xia Rushi complied and let go of her hand.
The guards tried to step forward, but Xia Rushi stopped them.
Mrs. Lin hugged her son tightly; this was the son she had gone through so much hardship to bring into the world.
His face turned red from the cold, but his body was freezing.
Xia Ru glanced at her: "If you don't tell the truth..."
Xia Rushi dusted off her smooth long fur coat and said nonchalantly, "Then your good son, the Marquis's bastard, will freeze to death in this courtyard."
Xia Rushi's people were all around.
The small village was so quiet it seemed uninhabited.
Lin was incredulous. The Marquis had clearly described the Marquis's wife as the most understanding, dignified and generous woman!
"If you won't speak, then you'll just have to freeze."
Xia Rushi said calmly, "Let's see who can't take it first, you or your precious son."
Xie Conglin was shivering from the cold, his eyes rolling back and almost glued together.
He was freezing cold, but felt incredibly hot all over, and struggled to take off his clothes.
Seeing this, Lin gritted her teeth and said, "Speak! I'll talk!"
Xia Ru chuckled, "Tie them all up and take them away!"
Lin stared in astonishment, her face filled with shock.
Xia Rushi laughed again: "Are you still waiting here for your lover to come and rescue you?"
So Xia Rushi came with her people under the cover of night, and left under the same night.
They come and go like the wind.
In this small village, it seems that nothing has been left behind.
After Xia Rushi took the person away, she did not rush to ask any more questions.
Wei Mingzhao had a secret prison. After he sent people to separate the mother and son and lock them up, Xia Rushi sat outside the Lin family's prison cell, carefully watching the frail and helpless woman through the bars.
She had no other intentions; she just wanted to see.
What was so special about this person that made him so easily destroy what she thought was a perfect marriage?
Xie Conglin.
The child's name is Xie Conglin.
How could Xie Dang agree to this name?
This is tantamount to slapping Xia Rushi in the face!
Lin must have caught a chill, because she fell into a deep sleep.
Xia Ru scoffed. She's been raised so meticulously all these years, and she can't even withstand a little cold? Back then, she carried Lang'er and led Wan Yan by the hand, walking alone in the wind and snow to find Xie Dang.
"Find a doctor to take a look at her."
Xia Rushi left after saying that.
She had many more questions for Lin, and she was also curious about how long it would take for Xie Dang to realize that his beloved was missing.
Xia Rushi walked out of the dark prison, and after this ordeal, the cold moonlight shone on her.
Just like her mood.
Sometimes she thought, "We've come to this point, what good will knowing do?"
But then she thought, even if she dies, she should die knowing why!
Even if she were to break ties with Xie Dang, she would have no fear.
Anyway, "she" is already dead, so even if Xie Dang remarries, it will be a second marriage!
Xia Rushi didn't let anyone follow her and strolled alone in the night.
But then he saw a tall figure standing in the wind and snow.
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Author's Note: Next Chapter Preview:
Xie Dang narrowed his eyes and saw Xie Pan drive his horse into the city, but not towards the Marquis's residence.
He followed quietly.
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