Chapter 30 I am me, that's his wife! He's not dead yet! ...
Thank you twice in one summer
Xie Dang was struck dumb.
His mind snapped out of his anger, and his first thought was, how long have they been like this?
Jia'er is not a soft-hearted person; she has very clear boundaries, like a tigress protecting her territory.
How long have they been together? It's gotten to this point?
He initially thought Xie Pan was plotting something, but the scene before him stung his eyes.
Kari actually...
She actually has feelings for Xie Pan too?
Xie Dang's ears rang, and he staggered back two steps, his foot hitting a pebble. The usually agile and nimble Marquis Xie had fallen to the ground in such a disheveled manner with a dull thud.
But none of them looked in that direction.
Xie Pan lowered his eyes and stared intently at Xia Rushi, as if there was nothing more important in the world than this, even if he would be shattered to pieces in the next moment.
Xia Rushi was gently applying medicine to Xie Pan, focusing on stopping the bleeding first.
Suddenly, there were hurried footsteps outside, and the next moment someone knocked on the courtyard gate of Tingzhuxuan.
The mute man appeared out of nowhere, like a ghost. After seeing Xie Pan nod, he opened the door a crack.
The person who came was none other than Granny An, who was standing beside the old lady.
Granny An was the old lady's dowry maid, accompanying her through thick and thin. She held a high position in the household, only being dispatched by the old lady and rarely showing her face.
How did I get here?
The masters of the manor rarely visit Tingzhuxuan!
The mute man was startled for a moment, then quickly hid.
Interestingly, all three people in the courtyard remained silent. Even Xie Dang didn't utter a sound; not only did he remain silent, but he also nonchalantly maintained his slumped posture, showing no intention of getting up.
"The old lady was in a good mood today and made some walnut shortbread. She suddenly remembered that the second master liked to eat it, so she asked me to bring it over. The second master came back late and must be hungry, so he'll have something to eat before going to sleep."
Granny An smiled, handed the food box forward, and left.
It seems they really did send these walnut pastries.
After taking a few steps, seeing that Uncle Ya was still standing there in a daze, Granny An waved her hand and urged, "Quickly close the door and get some rest."
The mute man snapped out of his daze and closed the door.
The night was quiet, and Tingzhuxuan was not large.
The three of them heard it clearly.
It was the middle of the night, and dawn would break in no time.
They weren't there to deliver pastries and urge them to rest; they were clearly there to tell them to stop making a fuss.
Do you like walnut cookies?
Xia Rushi suddenly asked Xie Pan.
Xie Pan shook his head. Although he liked sweets, he always felt that walnuts had a strange taste and would cause him to get rashes after eating them, so he would not eat them unless necessary.
Xia Rushi's heart tightened suddenly; she loved to eat.
The old lady treated her almost like her own daughter.
She then realized that the old lady knew she was in the Marquis's residence. It was also a way of letting her know that she was aware of the situation.
Instead of revealing it, they carefully covered it up for her and sent someone to remind her overnight.
Xia Rushi was moved, and when she looked back at Xie Dang, some of her emotions were like light clouds, blown away by a gust of wind.
The old lady treated her well, and Xie Dang treated her no badly either.
It's just that we can't get over it together. She's already come this far, why should she dwell on the pain of the past?
After thinking it through, his gloomy eyes brightened.
She gripped Xie Pan's wrist tightly.
Xie Pan had no idea what she was thinking; he only felt like a kite floating in the sky. Whether she would take pity on him and bring him back into her arms, or let go of him altogether, was entirely up to her.
He looked at his brother, whose gaze was fixed, and wondered to himself, what difference is there between them?
Having instantly let go of many thoughts, Xia Ru looked at Xie Dang again, but before she could speak, Xie Dang said in a deep voice, "I disagree."
What do you disagree with?
Xie Pan was stunned; she clearly hadn't said a word yet.
But in an instant, I realized that this was the tacit understanding that came from their 20 years of working together. After understanding this, I felt a pang of sadness.
He subtly took a step forward, quietly blocking her path.
Even if it only covers a corner of your clothes.
Xia Rushi didn't notice Xie Pan's subtle actions.
Instead, upon hearing Xie Dang's words, he gave a mocking laugh, "What's the use of your disagreement? I don't agree to you having a child with someone else either. You're about to die and you're still spouting this nonsense."
Xie Dang blushed and then turned pale.
"You, the dignified Marquis Xie, actually let a woman scheme against you? Don't you feel ashamed to tell anyone?"
Xia Ru showed no mercy, beating him mercilessly, "If you said you had no feelings for her whatsoever, who would believe you?"
This is what she hates most: "If you have feelings for someone else, we can part amicably. I was also raised by my parents, and if we can't get along, I can find someone else. Why should I put up with your nonsense?"
As he spoke, he became angry again, feeling a headache and buzzing, and his vision went black, making it impossible for him to stand.
Xie Pan immediately noticed and put his arm around her shoulder, "Don't be angry, don't be angry, is your head hurting again?"
Xie Pan put one arm around her and gently pressed her temple with the other. Xia Rushi closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief, so Xie Pan asked carefully, "Are you feeling better?"
He then stroked her chest, which was heaving with anger.
Xie Pan was single-minded when he did this, only worried that she might choke on her breath and exert too much force, but Xie Dang saw it differently.
Seeing them like this, Xie Dang's blood vessels in his eyes burst, and his entire eye turned red!
That's his wife!
He's not dead yet!
Xie Dang slowly got up. His sword was kicked to the other side by her. He looked around and saw the axe and shovel in the corner.
He bent his fingers.
As if sensing something, Xia Rushi opened her eyes, her gaze sharp as a blade. Xie Dang's outstretched hand fell back down.
"Xie Dang, you know I can't live with you anymore."
Xia Ru said calmly, "We've been together for many years, and you know my personality."
"No matter why you took in the Lin family in the first place, it's a done deal now. Even if this child was conceived by chance, he still carries the blood of both of you, and you know I can't accept that."
Xie Dang's lips moved slightly.
"Besides, after you returned to your residence, how many times did you lose focus because of this mother and child? How many times did you worry about them? I don't know."
Seeing that Xie Dang was about to speak, Xia Rushi raised her hand to interrupt, "Let me finish speaking first."
She paused, swallowing the bitterness in her throat, "Even if I force myself to reconcile with you, these things are like needles, pricking into my flesh every day."
Xia Ru looked at Xie Dang, her eyes clear. "I can't be nice to others but not to myself. I want to live the rest of my life cleanly and simply, not eat half-cooked meals every day."
Xie Dang understood, and his hands, hanging by his sides, trembled.
He wanted to say something, but found that words were so powerless at this moment.
"I have never loved anyone else; you are the only one in my heart."
Ignoring the presence of others, the high-ranking and powerful Marquis Xie choked up as he spoke.
Is it pity, unbearable pity, or being tricked into wandering off?
Xia Rushi shook her head upon hearing this, "That's no longer important."
How can it not be important?
How could it not be important?!
Xie Dang's phoenix eyes, which were exactly like Lang'er's, instantly turned blood red. He opened his lips and gasped for breath, as if he couldn't catch his breath.
"I only have one request for you not to interfere: two years ago in winter, I was being chased and almost lost my life. Please do not be biased towards the Lin family."
After saying that, she concluded the matter, "Go back to your courtyard and rest. We're tired today and need to get ready for bed."
"How could you think I would side with her? She's done so much for me. She's done so much for me!"
Xie Dang murmured, his eyes filled with pain.
Xie Dang was dejected, like a lion abandoned by its mate.
Xia Rushi ignored him and took Xie Pan's hand as they walked towards the bedroom.
Xie Pan was stunned, and followed her as if his soul had left his body.
As Xie Pan stepped into his bedroom, he inexplicably turned back to look at his brother.
The elder brother remained standing there, motionless, as if he were possessed.
It looked like she was crying, but it also looked like she was laughing.
"Close the door."
Xia Ru glared at him, "Don't you feel cold?"
Xie Pan quickly closed the door.
It doesn't matter if he's cold or not, but she can't get cold.
Hearing this, I was filled with regret, realizing I hadn't even noticed if she had caught a cold.
I quickly reached out and held both of her hands; thankfully, they were both warm.
Xie Pan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Exhausted tonight, Xia Rushi went to bed to sleep.
Xie Pan, however, sat on the footstool, holding a sharp sword in his arms, facing the bedroom door like a door god.
It was as if he would protect his treasures immediately if anyone broke in!
Xia tried to persuade him, but to no avail, so she let him do as he pleased.
By this time, I had a terrible headache and my mood was fluctuating wildly, so I turned over and fell asleep.
Xie Pan blew out the candles after she fell asleep.
In the courtyard, Xie Dang seemed to have just woken up, slowly turning his head and staring intently at the dark bedroom.
When I woke up the next day, it was already noon.
Xie Pan wasn't in the room, so Xia Rushi took a nap and finally recovered.
After washing up, she ate the breakfast that the mute uncle had brought.
The porridge I had for breakfast this morning was hot.
After finishing her breakfast, she combed her hair, tying it up and securing it with a hairpin. Then, after changing into her most elegant attire, she opened the door to her bedroom.
Xie Pan was not in the courtyard either; no one knew where he had gone.
There were still dried bloodstains on the stone slabs in the courtyard. Xia Ru looked down at them for a while, lost in thought, before stepping out of the courtyard.
The usually unnoticed mute man quickly came out and gestured in front of her.
Xia Rushi couldn't understand sign language, but she could see the worry in the mute man's eyes.
She smiled at the mute man, "We have to get out eventually; we can't hide here forever."
The mute man still refused to move aside.
Xia Ru felt helpless; both master and servant were incredibly honest.
She had no choice but to say, "It's not good for Xie Pan to stay here any longer. I have to go see the old lady."
Seeing that the mute man did not move, Xia Rushi assured him again, "I will definitely protect myself. When Xie Pan returns, I will be safe and sound."
The mute man understood, and only then did he reluctantly step aside.
Xia Rushi was unaware that the Marquis's residence had undergone significant changes.
As she walked toward Shian Garden, she found it strange that there were so many unfamiliar faces among the servants of the Marquis's mansion.
She had been in charge of the Marquis's residence for many years, and she knew at least 80% of the servants there, if not all of them.
There wasn't a single familiar face in all this time?
She sensed something was wrong and quickly called out to the unfamiliar maid when she encountered her again.
The young maid stopped in her tracks, seeing the person who had been invited was as beautiful as a fairy, and quickly lowered her eyes, waiting quietly for the question to be asked.
Judging from his appearance, he must be the master of the Marquis's mansion.
The maid thought to herself, "No one else would grow up like this."
"Which department are you from?" Xia Ru asked.
The maidservant respectfully replied, "Reporting to my mistress, I just arrived this morning, and the steward hasn't assigned me to any courtyard yet. The steward told us to wait until my mistress comes to choose."
Xia Rushi frowned, sensing that something was amiss.
How many new recruits are coming this time?
The maid shook her head: "I don't know how many, but there are a lot."
Seeing that her master was kind and gentle, the maidservant mustered up her courage and spoke more, "I heard that the master of the Marquis's mansion has accumulated good deeds and released all the original servants from their indenture. If they have nowhere to go, they can go to work in the estates and shops under the Marquis's mansion."
"Everyone was overjoyed; they were all kowtowing and expressing their gratitude at the entrance of the Marquis's residence this morning!"
This unexpected windfall, which freed him from slavery, is certainly not a happy thing!
"I'm new here, but I used to work in the Marquis's residence."
The young maid smiled shyly, "The job at the Marquis's mansion is really good. The steward said that if we newcomers work hard, we might also receive some favor one day!"
Xia Rushi: ...
I never expected such a big thing to happen so soon after I got up.
She didn't realize that she was thinking too soon.
Before we even reached Shian Garden, there was a loud bang from behind.
Soon servants came running.
"What happened? Which courtyard had an accident?"
Xia Rushi hurriedly asked.
Servant: "It seems to be Tingzhu Pavilion."
Xia Rushi's heart sank: "What happened to Tingzhuxuan?"
The servant nodded, realizing how absurd his own words were.
He scratched the back of his head. "The Marquis and the Second Master were practicing martial arts when they smashed open the courtyard of Tingzhu Pavilion...?"
Xia Rushi: ...
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Author's Note: Next Chapter Preview:
Even his brother's wife was a fake!
Xia Ru looked at Xie Dang and saw that his face was as black as the bottom of a pot.
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