white collar guy from a working-class background
After the preliminary exam at the Enlightenment Hall, Xie Sili and Madam Yang took Xie Sichu, Xie Jingche, and Xie Jingyan back to Siyuan.
Xie Sili hadn't seen the two of them for a long time, so he gave them a warm hug and asked about the outcome. The two of them said there was nothing to worry about.
She was very reassured about Xie Jingche and Xie Jingyan, as Mr. Zhuge had always said that the two siblings had the same demeanor as their father.
When Xie Sili had nothing to do in Yuzhou City, he would sometimes sit for a while under the blank stele.
The entire journey was filled with the voices of Xie Jingche and Xie Jingyan, who were happily recounting to Xie Sili everything that had happened at the academy during this time.
Because of Fang Ye's incident, many students in the academy were also affected, but they became much more well-behaved than before.
When Xie Sili arrived at the entrance of Siyuan, she saw Xie Ling standing there with Qin Shi. They both had kind smiles on their faces when they saw Xie Jingche and Xie Jingyan.
"Great-grandfather, great-grandmother," the two said respectfully, bowing to them.
The Xie couple each led one of them by the hand, and walked them into the Si Garden.
Before she even entered the front hall, she saw a familiar figure in the courtyard.
She stood there, exchanging pleasantries with Bai Lian standing beside her; her relaxed expression revealed her mood.
He even smiled and greeted her when he saw her.
"Sister-in-law Cheng has arrived now." Xie Sili stepped forward and took her hand. "You must have suffered on the journey."
"Where have you suffered?" Sister-in-law Cheng said with a gentle smile. "It is you who have suffered in Chang'an. Miss Bai Lian has already told you everything about your situation."
Noticing the gentle touch on the back of her hand, Xie Sili looked at her and smiled without saying a word.
"Tell Yun Jian that we have guests coming today, so prepare a few more dishes," Xie Sili said to the air. "I just had Green Bamboo buy some wine from Golden Goblet."
"Girl!" Bai Lian's exasperated voice rang out, "Your body can't withstand such abuse."
Xie Sili didn't speak because Xie Ling was present, but only glanced at Bai Lian.
“Li girl, Lian girl is doing this for your own good.”
Hearing Xie Ling's voice from the front, Xie Sili replied in a low voice, "Grandfather, this is my only hobby, you know that."
"Then drink three cups. Don't overdo it three times." Xie Ling's voice sounded helpless yet indulgent.
“Okay.” Xie Sili replied with unusual good temper.
After dinner, Xie Sili took a walk in the garden with Sister-in-law Cheng, telling her about what had happened in Chang'an. She also noticed the emotion on Sister-in-law Cheng's face when she mentioned the name "Zhao Yi".
"The young lady said the Minister of Works' name is Zhao Yi?" Sister-in-law Cheng asked with a hint of doubt. "Has the young lady inquired about the background of this Minister of Works?"
"How would I know?" Xie Sili said, not missing the expression on his sister-in-law's face. "But I have some connection with His Highness the Prince of Yan. What, do you know this Minister of Works, sister-in-law?"
a long time.
Before Xie Sili could speak, she heard Cheng's sister-in-law's voice, "Miss, didn't I tell you before that I have a husband? His name is Zhao Yi. Back then, I brought my parents-in-law to Chang'an to find him, but unfortunately, we encountered such a thing on the way. If I hadn't met you, I wouldn't have had such good fortune."
She glanced at Cheng's sister-in-law and handed her the handkerchief from her sleeve. "Do you think this Minister of Works is your husband? But didn't you say he was missing?"
“I don’t know.” Sister-in-law Cheng’s voice was a little hoarse. “That’s why I want to see him. If it’s him, I’ll ask him why he hasn’t contacted us for so many years. If it’s not him, I should have come to my senses by now.”
Listening to what Sister-in-law Cheng said, Xie Sili gave her a hug and took out a piece of candy from his sleeve and put it in her hand.
"Girl, I'm not a child anymore." Sister-in-law Cheng said, both amused and exasperated, her tone no longer showing the disappointment and sadness she had shown before.
"I'm just a little kid." Xie Sili looked at her and smiled. She held up three fingers and waved them. "I'm only three years old. Please have a piece of candy, sister-in-law."
"Young lady, when can you arrange for us to meet, even just from afar?"
Xie Sili knew very well that the only person she could rely on to untangle this knot was herself. After giving her a precise time, her sister-in-law from the Cheng family told her something and then turned and left.
After she told Jun Qiyu about it, Jun Qiyu said he could arrange it soon.
The meeting place was Xieyuan Tower.
The next day.
Xie Sili appeared at "Meiwu" with Cheng's sister-in-law, who was dressed in her finest attire.
The moment she pushed open the door to the private room, she noticed the emotional outburst from Sister-in-law Cheng, as well as the fleeting look of amazement on Zhao Yi's face.
"Sister-in-law, you stay here and talk to Lord Zhao." Xie Sili looked at Cheng's sister-in-law and patted the back of her hand, indicating that she should not worry.
Just as she was about to turn and leave, she heard Cheng's sister-in-law's voice, "Miss, can you stay here?" There was a hint of pleading in her voice.
She turned and glanced at Sister-in-law Cheng, then led her to sit down opposite Zhao Yi.
"Back then, I brought my parents-in-law to Chang'an to find you, but unfortunately, an accident occurred on the way, and my parents-in-law died far from home. I was fortunate enough to be saved by you, young lady, and I survived. Since you are still alive all these years, why don't you say anything?" Sister-in-law Cheng looked at Zhao Yi with a calm expression, as if all the past events had become history for her after all these years.
Not receiving a reply from Zhao Yi, Sister-in-law Cheng continued, "Husband, if you despise your wife who has shared your hardships, I can understand. After all, I can't offer you any help. I've been searching for you all these years, until yesterday when I heard the young lady mention your name."
"If it really is you, I want an answer, an answer that will completely wake me up." At this point, Sister-in-law Cheng's eyes reddened. "After all these years, can you give me an answer?"
After a long silence, Zhao Yi turned his gaze to Cheng Shi. His eyes held an indescribable emotion, but there was no regret or guilt in them.
Whether he marries Li or abandons Cheng, it is Zhao Yi's choice.
Just as Xie Sili was about to speak, the door to the private room was kicked open. Standing in front of them was none other than Zhao Yi's wife, Li Shi.
Seeing Li raise her hand, Xie Sili tapped her wrist, and saw her hand fall limply to the ground.
"Zhao Yi, who is this woman!" Madam Li glared at Zhao Yi with a ferocious expression. "So you've also followed Prince Yan's example and kept a mistress in a golden house! What a shameless whore!" As she spoke, she turned her gaze to Madam Cheng, who was sitting opposite him, and acted like a shrew.
Xie Sili sat there, glancing indifferently at Zhao Yi sitting opposite her.
Even now, Zhao Yi has no intention of revealing that Cheng is his first wife.
"Lord Zhao, won't you explain yourself?" Xie Sili asked calmly, his gaze fixed on Zhao Yi.
"Explain what?" Zhao Yi retorted, a hint of impatience in his eyes. "I didn't expect Miss Xie to have such abilities."
Xie Sili snorted coldly, no longer looking at Zhao Yi, but instead focusing her gaze on Li Shi.
Just as she was about to speak, she felt Cheng grab the hem of her clothes. When she turned to look at her, she saw Cheng shaking her head.
"Madam, my surname is Cheng, and I am the wife of this Lord Zhao, sharing many hardships." Madam Cheng looked up at Madam Li calmly, her eyes undisturbed. "Lord Zhao and I were young lovers. When he came to Chang'an, I provided him with travel expenses, and I served his parents back in our hometown for nearly twenty years..."
“You’re lying!” Li pointed at Cheng and retorted without thinking. “My father said that my husband’s parents in his hometown had both passed away. How could you possibly be his wife!” She looked at Zhao Yi but received no answer from him.
“I was his lawfully wedded wife when he was young,” Cheng replied to Li with neither humility nor arrogance. “I have been searching for him all these years, but I am of little influence and have never been able to find him.”
She didn't give Li a chance to speak. "Actually, I just want an answer, to ask him why he hasn't cared about his parents' life and death all these years. Now that I think about it, it's all a joke." She raised her hand to wipe away the tears from the corner of her eye, her eyes always fixed on Zhao Yi's direction.
"Husband, say something!" Madam Li said, turning her gaze to Zhao Yi. "Just say one word and I will believe you! I will believe that she is not your wife who shared your hardships."
Receiving no reply from Zhao Yi, Li's voice rose involuntarily, "Husband!"
Zhao Yi slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly. "What do you want me to say? Do you want me to say that your father lied to me, saying that my parents, wife, and children are all dead? Or do you want me to say that your father was the one who caused all of this, that I didn't want to marry you in the first place, that it was your father..."
Xie Sili listened to Zhao Yi's words, and his brows furrowed as he finished speaking.
She really overestimated Zhao Yi.
"That's enough." She slammed her hand on the table and looked at Zhao Yi. Noticing the look he gave her, she glanced at him indifferently.
"Miss Xie, what do you mean by this?" Zhao Yi frowned.
"Even now, Lord Zhao is still blaming others. How cunning of him." Xie Sili met Zhao Yi's gaze with a sneer. "Back when Lord Zhao passed the imperial examination and was favored by Lord Li, he said that he was an orphan with no one to rely on. That's why Lord Li had the idea of marrying his daughter to you."
She had barely finished speaking when she noticed Zhao Yi's gaze, sharp as a blade. "When Lord Li sent people to investigate your identity, you happened to have sent your parents, wife, and children away. Even the deaths of your parents, wife, and children were all caused by you."
"Your goal is simple: to kill them and confirm your identities." Xie Sili raised his voice at the end, "Since you did it but don't dare to admit it, you're such a coward!"
He had barely finished speaking when he noticed Zhao Yi, enraged, grabbing the cup in his hand and smashing it at her!
She took the cup with one hand and scoffed, "Are you feeling guilty?"
"Why should I feel guilty? I have never done such a thing." Zhao Yi gripped the cup in his hand tightly. "It is Miss Xie who is quite cunning, finding a random woman here to sow discord between my wife and me."
After composing himself, Zhao Yi turned his gaze to Madam Li. “Madam, I told my father-in-law about my family situation back then. She is not my wife. My parents died when I was young; they perished in a flood.” He pointed at Madam Cheng with indifferent eyes. “To be honest, I have never seen this person before.”
Just as Xie Sili was about to speak, he heard Cheng's voice, "Fine, since you've said so, then I have nothing more to say." Cheng stood up and bowed slightly to Zhao Yi, her eyes devoid of any emotion.
"Don't worry, Lord Zhao, from now on we have nothing to do with each other." Madam Cheng took her hand and walked towards the door.
“We have absolutely no connection,” Zhao Yi’s voice rang out again. “Please, Miss Xie, don’t do this kind of thing again.”
"Rest assured, Lord Zhao." Madam Cheng turned to look at Zhao Yi. "No matter what happens afterward, please do not regret it."
It wasn't until she left Xieyuan Tower and got into the carriage that Madam Cheng's mood eased somewhat. "Miss, I want to sue Zhao Yi."
Hearing Cheng's words, Xie Sili secretly curled his lips and patted Cheng's shoulder, "Alright, the lawyer will be prepared for you. Whatever you want to do, I will support you from behind!"
"Girl, what benefits do you think I would gain if I did this?" Cheng asked, as if she were asking herself and also asking her.
She put her arm around Cheng's shoulder, a gentle smile in her eyes, "You will become a better version of yourself and have a better future!"
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