Chapter 31 I am who I am Xie Pan only said one sentence, "My sister-in-law's funeral..."
Thank you twice in one summer
Xia Rushi was almost at the entrance of Shi'an Garden, and she could even see the hanging flower gate, but she stopped.
The old lady saved her face last night, and she's being considerate of her again today.
Why were the servants changed?
Isn't it just to make it easier for her to walk in the future?
She had lived with her mother-in-law for many years and knew her mother-in-law's temperament.
Therefore, she had to go to Shian Garden first, no matter what, to give her mother-in-law an explanation.
He hesitated for a moment, staring at the door for a while, then turned back to look in the direction of Tingzhuxuan.
If we don't go back and stop them, I'm afraid the two of them might fight and cause serious injury.
Xie Pan's personality will definitely cause him to suffer.
The thought flashed through her mind, and Xia Rushi hadn't yet realized that she had already shown favoritism towards one side.
The faint sounds of swords and spears clanging could be heard from that direction, and Xia Rushi grew anxious, her palms sweating.
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps were heard.
Looking back, she saw her mother-in-law hurrying out of the hanging flower gate. Upon seeing her, her eyes lit up, and she ran a few steps to grab her hand, saying, "Come on, come on, let's go put out the fire."
He muttered to himself, "I'm not as good as you."
Xia Rushi was stunned, and then warm water vapor rose in front of her eyes.
Back at the Marquis's residence, her only worry was that her mother-in-law would resent her for causing trouble in the family. Her mother-in-law treated her like her own daughter, and she didn't want to become estranged from her. But she felt truly wronged, and she also had to stand up for her two children!
She was nervous and anxious, but she never expected that her mother-in-law would still have the mind to tease her the moment she saw her.
My heart felt both warm and sad.
I hate Xie Dang even more now!
If it weren't for his inability to control his spending, their lives would be so much better! Why would they be so separated and estranged?
The old lady knew her daughter-in-law's temperament; she was hardworking and patient, and rarely lost her temper. If her son hadn't gone too far, things wouldn't have come to this.
She's not some old, blind, unreasonable woman; she's just as she is.
If you can't make it work, then don't. No one is indispensable.
Besides, there's always a price to pay for doing wrong.
The old lady advised her, "We've known each other for so many years, I don't blame you, and you shouldn't overthink it. This is a family matter of our Marquis's mansion, and outsiders have no right to interfere. Anyway, we only have these two sons, you can choose either one, and I should thank you for keeping the good stuff in the family."
These words brought tears to Xia Rushi's eyes.
The old lady exclaimed again, "Don't cry! If you cry, those two boys will come after me and fight me to the death!"
What kind of talk is that!
Xia Rushi was annoyed.
The old lady said, "Alright, alright, you're quite thin-skinned. If you don't want to talk about it, then don't. I've paved the way for you. You should rest for a couple of days and come back to take charge of the household affairs. Your good son has also driven Qingqing away. My head is throbbing every day."
Xia Rushi: "..."
They soon arrived at Tingzhuxuan.
Pushing open the door, I found that the courtyard wall had indeed collapsed, with bricks scattered all over the ground.
Standing at the entrance of Tingzhuxuan now, and looking over the collapsed courtyard wall, you can see the vermilion gate of Xie Dang's main house not far away.
The old lady glanced at Xia Rushi, as if to say—you'll see.
Xia Rushi was speechless and choked with emotion.
The two fought fiercely, both flushed and panting. Hearing the commotion, they looked over and saw the two at the door. Without hesitation, they sheathed their swords behind their backs and pretended nothing was wrong.
Xia Ru looked at Xie Pan at first glance and carefully examined him from head to toe.
They breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that he was not injured.
This scene was clearly witnessed by Xie Dang. Xie Dang's eyes suddenly turned bloodshot, and he gripped the sword hilt tightly, making a creaking sound.
Today, Xie Pan also broke his usual silence. In front of the old lady, when Xie Dang's gaze was fixed on Xia Rushi, he took a step back and completely blocked Xia Rushi's figure.
They were even locked in a standoff with Xie Dang.
"That's my wife!" Xie Dang gritted his teeth.
No matter what Xie Dang said, Xie Pan only said one thing: "My sister-in-law's funeral has been held."
Xie Pan was completely unyielding and stubborn.
What else could those words mean? According to etiquette and law, Xie Dang and Xia Rushi's marriage was over.
If she doesn't acknowledge it, who can prove that Xia Rushi is Xia Rushi?
Xie Dang naturally refused to compromise.
How could he possibly give up on the person he had been searching for for nearly a thousand days and nights, now that he had found him so close?
The two sides are locked in a standoff, neither willing to yield.
Just then, someone rushed over.
It was Xie Dang's trusted confidant left in the secret prison. The confidant was led to the outside of Tingzhu Pavilion by the steward. After stepping through the door and glancing at the scene in the courtyard, he quickly lowered his head, not daring to look any longer.
He walked up to the Marquis and explained his purpose, "My lord, they said they would summon you if you went there."
The courtyard was quiet, and even though the man wasn't speaking loudly, everyone could hear him clearly.
Xia Rushi chuckled sarcastically, thinking that Lin Shi was quite clingy.
But with the old lady still standing there, it was one thing to disrespect Xie Dang, but one had to give the old lady some face. So he refrained from saying anything that might offend Xie Dang.
Although he didn't speak, the mockery and disdain in his eyes were clear.
The old lady noticed this and gently closed her slightly cloudy eyes. "Xie Dang, my Marquis Zhongwu's residence is not a place where random people can come and go as they please."
Upon being called by his full name, Xie Dang quickly looked at his mother.
Seeing his mother looking at him calmly, as if unsurprised that he had caused such a big mess, Xie Dang's face felt tight and hot.
Knowing that Jia'er was looking at him, Xie Dang replied in a deep voice, "I know Mother, I don't want anyone else to come in."
The old lady hummed in agreement and took An Mama's arm, "I got up early today, so I'll go back to rest first. You all go ahead and do your work."
Having gone through thick and thin with the old Marquis, these were nothing more than minor squabbles in her eyes.
As he reached the entrance of Tingzhuxuan, he turned back and instructed, "Bring me the results when you return. I also want to hear what happened."
They were looking at Xia Rushi, not Xie Dang.
Xie Dang looked downcast.
Neither his mother nor Jia'er believed him.
He was speechless and unable to defend himself.
Xie Dang looked at Jia'er, his throat tight, "Go now?"
Having already learned his lesson, he was absolutely unwilling to be alone with Lin again. He also wanted Jia'er to see that he had no ulterior motives towards Lin.
Upon hearing this, Xia Rushi turned to Xie Pan and said, "Come with me."
Upon hearing this, Xie Dang's face instantly darkened. Having held a high position for many years, his imposing aura suddenly surged forth.
Xie Pan was not afraid. He had nothing but his courage to protect her.
The three sat in the carriage in an odd formation.
Xia Ru leaned against the wall of the room, closing her eyes to rest. Two equally tall men stood on either side, silently staring at each other, neither willing to give way.
The atmosphere was strangely tense and awkward the whole way, but Xia Rushi slept soundly.
The carriage swayed and wobbled, and soon arrived at the dark prison.
After the car came to a stop, Xie Dang and Xie Pan got out one after the other, and both turned around and reached out their hands to Xia Rushi.
Xia Rushi didn't even glance at Xie Dang, and jumped out of the car while holding onto Xie Pan's arm.
Xie Dang's expression darkened further, his back teeth clenched tightly. His sharp gaze seemed capable of killing!
As soon as the door to the dark cell opened a crack, the voice of a madwoman, crying and laughing, could be heard from inside.
A desperate, reckless scream: "Let my son go! Just give him the antidote, and I'll tell you everything you want to know!"
Then came Wei Mingzhao's lazy voice: "Wait a moment."
Xie Dang looked at the guard standing to the side, who hurriedly replied nervously, "It is Lord Wei interrogating people inside."
There was still a hint of fear in his voice.
Lord Wei is particularly skilled in interrogation, and his methods are ingenious and ruthless.
Most of those who have been interrogated by Lord Wei end up going insane.
Let alone the criminals, even their own people guarding outside are terrified when they hear about it!
Anyway, he thought the woman inside was probably going to go crazy this time.
Wei Mingzhao had no idea that others were criticizing him behind his back; he was only able to make this trip today because Xie Lang had given him something good.
The medicinal juice came from the Western Regions; it was said that if you drank it, you would be able to answer any questions.
The thought of his wife waiting for him at home caused him to accidentally administer too much medicine.
Wei Mingzhao clicked his tongue twice, sighing deeply.
But he didn't show it on his face, instead fiddling with a white porcelain bottle behind his back.
This porcelain vase was also given to me by Xie Lang. He said, "Who did this Lin family offend?"
Inside are carefully selected man-eating gu. If it comes into contact with a person and is activated, it will cause the person to have the hallucination of being bitten, like ants gnawing on a steamed bun, causing extreme itching and pain, until the anxiety and fear reach the limit and they die.
Wei Mingzhao sighed and muttered, "Of all people to mess with, you had to mess with Aunt Jia."
Xie Lang and he, neither of them are good people. Not to mention he's practically Aunt Jia's son!
We must avenge Aunt Jia.
In just one day and night, Lin was already on the verge of collapse from all the torment.
The Embroidered Uniform Guards have many ways to make people feel uncomfortable without biting them, and they can make people feel like they are dying but not being able to live.
At this moment, Madam Lin is in dire straits herself and worried about her son. After seeing the Marquis leave yesterday, she became disheartened and had no intention of resisting anymore.
Hearing the commotion outside, Wei Mingzhao saw the stone door behind him creak open, letting in sunlight and three figures.
He twitched his brow. "Speak. Speak carefully, or else you'll have to decide whether this Gu worm lands on you or your son."
Upon hearing this, Lin's expression changed drastically. She hadn't expected there to be so many ways to torture someone!
She was tied to a wooden frame, her clothes covered in blood and saliva, looking utterly wretched.
She was so exhausted that she couldn't tell day from night, and her mind was a complete mess. In despair, she closed her eyes and started from the beginning.
"My Lin family was once a prominent clan in the border region..."
Although they later declined, they were still a powerful force in the area. However, they kept a low profile and never showed off, so even the people who had lived there for generations rarely knew about them, let alone after the border became chaotic and people came and went.
“That day I was strolling in the market when I saw a handsome man who was unforgettable at first sight… I tried to get close to him, but he was very wary, rarely interacted with outsiders, was quite mysterious, and always walked alone.”
"But then I discovered by chance that he was actually very close to my childhood friend. So I asked that friend..."
What Lin said later was similar to what Xie Dang said.
“I tried every means to get close to him, and he was a kind and good man. Because of his guilt towards my friend, he was always lenient with me, and I used that leniency to get closer to him. He was quite fond of me.”
“He would always stare at me blankly, and I knew he was looking at other people through me. Later, as we got to know each other better, he told me that he missed his wife and children at home, and that's when I found out that he was actually married.”
"So what if I get married? It's not like this is my first time doing this. I'm very experienced. No man I've ever set my sights on has ever escaped my grasp."
Lin's words were incoherent: "I actually failed him and it took me several years to finally get what I wanted."
At this point, Madam Lin actually laughed, "Indeed, how could such a heroic man not be married? But how could I give up on someone I've set my sights on? I have great patience, and finally waited until the day he got drunk..."
"Living under the same roof, I actually managed to get my hands on him."
She laughed hysterically and told him everything, "So what if I really didn't do anything? I'm lucky to have his child, so he can never get rid of me for the rest of his life! Even if he didn't want to, didn't he still bring us back to the capital with him?"
Lin laughed heartily, "I have his child, I have his child, he will never be able to escape my grasp for the rest of his life."
This sudden outburst of behavior is completely unlike his usual gentle demeanor.
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.
The veins on the side of his neck and the space between his eyebrows throbbed violently with anger.
The dignified Marquis Zhongwu was so thoroughly outmaneuvered.
What a joke.
Xia Rushi's eyes were filled with sarcasm, and then she heard Wei Mingzhao ask, "Since you have achieved your goal, why did you then target the Lady of the Marquis?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Lin calmed down again, first repeating the question in her murmur, and then smiling.
"Naturally, it's Lord Marquis..."
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Author's Note: Next Chapter Preview:
Xie Dang was incredulous. These words were like a rain of arrows that had materialized, causing him to take two steps back.
"What did you say?"
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