Xie Wanyun stood at the door, her long hair disheveled and her face pale. A few days of vegetarianism and Buddhist chanting had thinned her figure considerably. Her once fitted skirt had become much looser, and her round cheeks had become slightly less round. Her right hand, folded behind her, was twisting a string of small-leaf red sandalwood Buddhist beads.
"Playing tricks!" Wei's expression of shock faded, and she demanded, "Who allowed you out? Didn't we tell you to stay in the Buddhist temple and reflect on your mistakes?"
Qin Su'an's brows were twisted into a "川" shape, and he did not hide his disgust towards Xie Wanyun at all.
The concubine Liu Yun'er's face was even paler, as if she was afraid that she would hurt the child, so she held the child behind her and took a protective attitude.
Xie Wanyun's gaze did linger on the child for a while longer.
The thought of her newborn baby, who was left in the snow by Qin Su'an to be eaten by wild dogs, made her feel very happy.
She couldn't help but tighten the beads in her hand, which slightly eased the heart-wrenching pain. She walked over the threshold of the hall and took a seat.
Wei's face darkened. "That's ridiculous! The elders allowed you to take a seat without your permission, but you took it without permission. Have you swallowed all the etiquette and rules?"
"Rules?" Xie Wanyun looked at Wei, the corners of her pale lips twitching, her eyes grim and filled with a certain Hua Yan coldness. "My daughter-in-law returned to the capital and entered the palace when she was nine years old. She stayed by my great-aunt's side and was taught by the maids in her palace. I've never heard of any family adopting an heir without waiting for the mistress to be present."
She is the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo, and her family is full of loyal and brave people.
Thirteen years ago, the Northern Barbarians raided the border. The Xie family led their troops to defend the border city. When the reinforcements arrived, only Xie Wanyun was left out of the family of more than a hundred people.
But her great-aunt was the current empress dowager, and the emperor conferred the title of princess on her. She was raised in the palace by her great-aunt, and her status was second only to that of a royal princess.
If it weren't for the accident at the banquet five years ago, it would have been impossible for her to marry Qin Su'an.
However, Madam Qin and Mrs. Wei disliked her because she was born in the frontier and did not understand the etiquette and rules of the aristocratic families in the capital.
"You..." Wei was choked by the rebuttal.
"Alright, we're all family, there's no need to follow so many rules." Old Madam Qin smoothed things over and asked, "Have you figured it out?"
Xie Wanyun gently turned the Buddhist beads without answering.
Madam Qin sighed, "You were injured earlier, so it's difficult for you to get pregnant again. It's fine if you don't allow me to take a concubine, but you don't agree to adopt Quan Ge'er. Are you going to leave the Qin family without a successor?"
Liu Yuner cannot be taken as a concubine.
This means that the child can only be included in the family tree if he or she is registered under Xie Wanyun's name.
"I know the rules. I can't be childless." Xie Wanyun nodded and suddenly smiled. "So I picked a date."
"Oh?" Madam Qin was slightly surprised and said quickly, "Tell me about it."
Qin Su'an also looked at her in surprise and was suddenly stunned.
Ever since she lost her son, no matter how beautiful Xie Wanyun looked, she could not hide the deathly silence and gloom surrounding her.
For some reason, today she was dressed much more simply than usual, and her face was paler than usual, but it only accentuated her graceful features, especially her naturally upturned eyes. Her gentle smile was both charming and deadly.
Xie Wanyun didn't keep it a secret, "The ninth day of the coldest month."
"The ninth day of the cold month?" Wei hadn't expected that day to be a good day, and couldn't help but frown. "It's only the beginning of September, and there are still more than two months until the cold month. What kind of auspicious day is it that's worth waiting so long for?"
Qin Su'an thought of it and his face gradually turned pale.
"It's not an auspicious day." Xie Wanyun smiled, "It's my son's death anniversary."
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