Lian'er died
Upon seeing the maidservant beside Lian'er and the letter she handed over, Xie Sili knew that Lian'er had made her choice.
She wanted to use her own death to awaken Xie Sinan's conscience, or perhaps she wanted to help Xie Sinan see Huang's true colors.
Although she had never met Huang, she knew from occasional news that she was a hypocrite with a wolf's heart. One of the reasons she had a good reputation in Chang'an over the years was that she treated the son left behind by the Left Chancellor's first wife well.
But no one knew that the so-called kindness was nothing more than a disguised form of praise and suppression, making him a spoiled brat second only to Jun Qiyu, an illiterate "dull tyrant," and a stepping stone for Xie Siyu.
Everyone in Chang'an knew Xie Siyu, the eldest son of the Prime Minister's family, but no one knew that Xie Sinan was the true eldest son.
Because of Xie Ling's obstruction, Huang Shi was publicly recognized as the second wife of the Prime Minister's family, but she still did not gain Xie Ling's approval. To this day, Huang Shi and her children have not been added to the Xie family's genealogy.
After reading the letter in her hand, Xie Sili turned her gaze to Xie Sinan beside her. "Want to take a look?"
Sensing Xie Sinan's emotions, she handed him the letter. "Even now, I don't like her. Imagine if I hadn't appeared, you would have died in six months. What use would it have been to apologize to you before you died?"
“Brother, she will be your first stepping stone. Remember what I said before.” As she spoke, she glanced at the little maid standing beside her. Just as she was about to speak, she heard the little maid say, “This servant didn’t hear anything.”
Xie Sili looked at her, then glanced at Lüzhu standing beside him. Lüzhu stepped forward and with a flick of her wide sleeve, the maid fell into Lüzhu's arms.
"Little sister..." Xie Sinan said, sounding a little nervous.
Noticing Xie Sinan's emotions, Xie Sili raised an eyebrow slightly. "Brother, do I look like a lawless outlaw?"
Seeing the slight confusion in his eyes, Xie Sili reached out and patted his shoulder. "I am not someone who would take lives lightly. She just fainted."
After fainting, you will forget what you saw and heard when you wake up.
Xie Sili led Xie Sinan slowly toward Qinse Residence.
Given Huang's current personality, she naturally doesn't want to lose Xie Sinan, her sharpest weapon. She can use this as a pretext to make her brother a pawn planted beside her, even though she doesn't need that pawn.
"I'll have to trouble you then, brother." Xie Sili looked at Xie Sinan and said seriously, "Given the Huang family's personality, they certainly won't abandon you as a sharp weapon right now."
She didn't get a reply from Xie Sinan, but she saw him lower his head slightly and hear him whisper, "I'm sorry."
She reached out and patted Xie Sinan on the shoulder.
a long time.
She heard Xie Sinan's voice.
"If I could stab my own sister with this sharp blade under his gaze, she would be happier than anyone else."
Xie Sili looked at him and nodded with a smile.
"Just agree to her request when the time comes."
Not receiving a reply from Xie Sinan, she continued, "Don't worry, I don't take Huang's methods seriously."
She had barely finished speaking when she felt Xie Sinan pull her into his arms, and heard his apologetic voice above her head, "I'm sorry."
Suddenly, Huang's idea came to Xie Sili's mind.
She wanted Xie Siyu to marry Princess Anning, but what if Princess Anning liked her brother?
Thinking of this, she shook her head again.
Princess Anning is the female protagonist in the original book. She should marry the male protagonist Jun Qiyu and eventually become his empress.
Although the book doesn't reveal their final fate at the end, the remaining unread extra chapters likely depict heartwarming scenes of the family living together peacefully.
Xie Sili and Xie Sinan soon appeared at Qinse Residence.
Qinse Residence is in an excellent location, boasting the best lighting and scenery within the Prime Minister's residence. The two of them had just reached the entrance when they heard arguing coming from inside the courtyard.
Upon hearing Xie Siyu's voice, Xie Sili gestured for him not to act rashly. Only after confirming Lian'er's actions did Xie Sinan kick open the courtyard gate.
Xie Sili noticed that in Lian'er's eyes before she died, there was guilt, love, but no regret in her gaze towards Xie Sinan. She used her body to pave a broad road to prosperity for Xie Sinan.
It all depends on Xie Sinan's decision.
"Nan-ge'er..." A fleeting hint of nervousness crossed Madam Huang's face, but it vanished quickly, replaced by the composed demeanor of the lady of the Prime Minister's residence. "Why are you here?"
"I just heard from the servants that Lian'er has bothered Mother again, so I came here." Xie Sinan looked at him, unfazed by praise or criticism, his calm eyes showing no fluctuations, as if the one who died in front of him was not his concubine, but an ordinary person who had nothing to do with him.
"It's those servants gossiping again." Madam Huang still had a smile on her face. "It's given Nan-ge a good laugh."
"If you upset Mother, just drag her out and beat her to death with sticks. That way, you won't offend her eyes." Xie Sinan said these words casually.
"Lian'er is a concubine that my mother gave me. If you don't like her, just send her away. Why let this lowly servant's blood stain my mother's courtyard?" Xie Sinan stood there without even glancing at Lian'er.
"What are you saying, Nan-ge'er? How could I hold a grudge against a maid? It was just an accidental fall, who knew it would kill someone." His words were full of dissatisfaction with Lian'er, but his emotions were not visible on his face.
"Since she was your concubine, why don't you take her back and give her a proper burial? It would be a shame that you promoted her to be a concubine. It's just a pity that she was too beautiful and had no good fortune to enjoy such a favor." Madam Huang did not look at the dead Lian'er when she said these words.
The expression on her face seemed to suggest that Lian'er's life was worthless in her eyes.
Xie Sili noticed a fleeting hint of anger in Xie Sinan's eyes when Huang Shi uttered those words.
“Mother is right. It is my pity that I am not fortunate enough to receive your grace.” Xie Sinan smiled and looked at Madam Huang with a hint of respect, as if nothing had changed from before.
Noticing Huang's gaze, Xie Sili was about to speak when she heard her voice, "Sister Li, what brings you here?"
Xie Sili coughed a few times before speaking, "After waking up, I heard that my grandfather and stepmother had a conflict. I grew up under their care all these years. They are getting old. If they have any unpleasantness with my stepmother, I hope she can be more understanding. After all, at their age, they are practically halfway to their graves."
“My grandfather is a man praised by everyone in Yuzhou City. From the city lord to the common people, everyone knows that my grandfather has always been like this.” As she said this, her gaze remained fixed on the direction of Huang Shi.
She keenly sensed the emotions that Huang Shi did not outwardly express.
"My grandmother raised my father for many years, and twenty years ago she went to Yuzhou City to raise me. It seems that my stepmother has forgotten that as a daughter-in-law she should pay her respects to her husband morning and evening." Xie Sili smiled at Madam Huang.
Xie Sili didn't give Madam Huang a chance to speak, but continued, "Grandmother is getting old. When I went to pay my respects today, she asked me about it."
She brought the old lady out at this opportune moment.
Although Madam Huang did not like the old lady, she would never cause trouble at this time.
“What Sister Li says is true.” Madam Huang gave an awkward smile. “I will definitely remember to pay my respects to Mother tomorrow.”
Xie Sili glanced at Xie Sinan and then turned to leave, leaving the rest to be done by himself.
After seeing Xie Sili turn and leave, Huang Shi, though unaware of how much the two had overheard, still instructed Xie Siyu and Xie Siyao to leave. Despite their reluctance, they complied and left.
Lian'er had already been instructed by Xie Sinan to be taken away by Xie Liang.
"Nan-ge'er, how is your relationship with Li-jie'er now?"
Sensing the emotion in Huang's words, Xie Sinan lowered his head and said in a low voice, "I don't get along with her. How can someone in such a sick state be my sister?"
Thinking of the news he had heard about Xie Siyao marrying the Third Prince, he spoke up without hesitation, “Mother, Sixth Sister is born with the destiny of a phoenix, and the Third Prince has also made many achievements in the court. The First Prince is too ambitious and will definitely not become the Crown Prince, and the Second Prince has no interest in that position. The current favorite is the Third Prince.” Xie Sinan smiled.
"If the Third Prince becomes the Crown Prince, the Sixth Sister will become the Crown Princess. Then, in the future, she will be the Crown Princess..." Xie Sinan didn't finish his sentence, but he believed that Madam Huang would understand what he meant.
As he expected, Mrs. Huang wore a bright smile, as if she could already see that future.
Seeing this, Xie Sinan continued, "Mother, only a girl like Sixth Sister is worthy of being my sister."
A slight smile played on Huang's lips. "How are Nan-ge'er's preparations for the big exam going?"
“Mother, my studies are far inferior to my fifth brother’s. With someone like me around, I’m just a stepping stone for him.”
The image of Xie Sichuan flashed into Huang's mind.
He had never been in Chang'an, so Xie Siyu didn't know much about his studies or coursework, and he couldn't figure out his background either.
"How is Chuan-ge'er doing in his studies?" she asked.
"I don't know." Xie Sinan shook his head with regret. "I heard from the teacher that my fourth brother is temporarily participating in the major exam, but I don't know anything else about him."
He had long heard of the Longmen Academy in Yuzhou City. A single student there could easily outshine the students in Chang'an City. Although it was located under the emperor's nose, very few of them actually pursued scholarship; most were just wasting their time.
The fact that the son of a noble family had attended Longmen Academy was a source of pride and prestige for others.
Seeing Huang's hesitant expression, Xie Sinan suddenly recalled what Xie Sili had said before. He glanced at Huang and said softly, "Mother, is there anything you wish to instruct me on? It is my duty as a son to do my part to help you."
“After all, I am not your biological mother.” Huang sighed as she spoke, “You grew up under my care since you were little, and you know how I have treated you…” She didn’t finish her sentence.
“Mother, the kindness of raising is greater than the kindness of giving birth. Besides, if it weren’t for you, I would probably be dead long ago.” Xie Sinan said respectfully again. “Mother, just give the order. I will do anything, even if it means going through fire and water.”
Only then did Mrs. Huang show a satisfied smile.
“Nan’er, if your grandfather wants to take you away from the Prime Minister’s residence, how about you go with them?” Madam Huang asked softly.
"It's not that your mother doesn't like you, it's just that your mother..."
"Mother wants me to monitor Grandfather's family, right?" Xie Sinan's words separated the Prime Minister's residence from Xie Ling and his family, and she understood Huang's plan.
“It’s not about surveillance, it’s just that your grandparents are getting old, and having you by their side would be a good way to look after them, since Li’er is frail.” Madam Huang pretended to be troubled. “Your grandfather insists that I’m the one who harmed Li’er, but she’s not his biological daughter, so how can I keep her under control? Now it’s all my fault.”
"Mother, rest assured, I will naturally keep an eye on my third sister when the time comes." Xie Sinan said respectfully, "and I will also help you take good care of Grandfather and the others."
He paused slightly, then asked with a hint of doubt, "The New Year is just around the corner. If they leave the Prime Minister's residence, where can they go? Wouldn't it be a waste of Mother's good intentions if they leave?"
Huang never imagined that they still had connections with Siyuan. She assumed they were just saying it because they had nowhere else to go. "It's just talk. They have nowhere to stay in Chang'an. It's just a pretense to make me treat Third Miss sincerely."
“Mother is right. But my third sister is just an outsider, why should Mother care about her?” Xie Sinan looked at Huang Shi with a smile on her face.
After leaving Qinse Residence, Xie Sinan turned to leave and his eyes met Huang's.
Under her gaze, he turned and left.
“Madam, this is an attempt to deal with the Third Young Master.” Bai Wei stepped forward and said, “As expected, the Second Young Master is just as he said before, completely obedient to you.”
"Of course." Madam Huang chuckled. "It would be excellent if the second son could stay by Xie Sili's side. If he gains her trust, he can become a sharp blade in my hands. Killing them would be a piece of cake!"
Bai Zhi and Bai Wei exchanged a glance, then stepped forward and said, "Madam is right. After all, you are still the one who calls the shots in this Prime Minister's residence!"
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