Chapter 63 Adoption?
The courtyard fell silent for a moment.
The door of Ruixuelou creaked open.
Xie Sangning, dressed in plain brocade clothes, without any hairpins or jewelry, stood under the porch with her hair loosely tied up.
The sunlight slanted across her face, making her features appear even more refined and elegant.
Her gaze swept over Xie Wulu's brand-new imperial examination robes, finally settling on his face, showing neither joy nor anger.
"My cousin has passed the imperial examination, congratulations!" Her voice was not loud, but every word was clear. "However, as I said before, watch your address. I don't have a younger brother, so don't call me that."
Upon hearing this, Xie Wulu's face darkened.
"Elder sister!" Xie Wulu stepped forward, her eyes filled with resentment and defiance. "Grandmother has already prepared a banquet at Fushou Hall to celebrate my passing the imperial examination."
"As the eldest daughter, shouldn't my elder sister make an appearance and please our grandmother?"
His gaze was fixed on Xie Sangning.
After passing the exam, he had been looking forward to seeing how Xie Sangning would react when she found out, but she remained calm and even prepared a congratulatory gift for him according to the rules, leaving no room for criticism!
This made Xie Wulu unwilling; this was not the outcome he wanted!
But if Xie Sangning went to see her grandmother...
Xie Wulu couldn't wait to see what Xie Sangning's usually calm and composed face would look like if she lost her composure!
Xie Sangning chuckled and said, "Grandmother has prepared a banquet, so I will go ahead myself."
Her gaze swept past Xie Wulu and turned to Wang Shi, "Second Aunt, you've worked hard for many years, taking care of your cousin. Now you can finally relax and enjoy your life."
These words sounded like a compliment, but they inexplicably stung Wang's heart.
Before she could savor the words, Xie Sangning had already turned around, finished speaking, and returned to her inner room.
The door closed gently, shutting out the noise and all sorts of stares from the courtyard.
Xie Wulu stared at the tightly closed door, her face so dark it could drip water. She didn't even bother to say another word to him!
She treated him as casually as if he were a beggar! She didn't take him seriously at all!
Madam Wang tugged at his sleeve and lowered her voice: "What's she so smug about? After today, let's see how she still acts like the legitimate daughter! Come on, let's go to Fushou Hall!"
——
Inside the Fushou Hall, the old lady sat upright on the carved Luohan couch at the head of the table, holding a string of sandalwood prayer beads in her hand, her gaze occasionally sweeping towards the door.
On either side below, the second family members were all beaming with joy, and Xie Wulu looked particularly smug.
“Mother, look at Wulu’s demeanor,” Madam Wang said, covering her mouth with her handkerchief and laughing. “He’s a Jinshi now, his whole demeanor is different!”
The old lady's face showed relief: "Yes, our Xie family has finally produced a promising son. Don't worry, you must work even harder in the future and bring glory to the family."
"Grandmother, rest assured," Xie Wulu bowed, "I will certainly live up to your expectations and share the burdens of the Xie family and my uncle!"
With a soft rustling of the curtain, Xie Sangning entered with Ru Chun and the other three.
She remained dressed simply, with only a lustrous jade hairpin tucked diagonally into her hair, complementing a matching jade bracelet on her wrist. Her elegance was like that of a woman who had stepped out of a painting, completely out of place with the deliberately piled-up rich and festive atmosphere of the room.
"Granddaughter greets grandmother." She curtsied gracefully.
"Sang Ning is here, please have a seat." The old lady's smile faded slightly as she gestured to the empty chair below her.
Xie Sangning sat down as instructed, took the tea offered by the maid, lowered her eyes and sipped it lightly, as if the surroundings had nothing to do with her.
Unable to contain herself, Madam Wang was the first to speak up: "Sang Ning, it's not that your aunt is criticizing you, but today is your brother's big day, and your outfit... is a bit too plain!"
Those who know you say it's because you're aloof, but those who don't might think you're deliberately trying to bring bad luck! Ultimately, it just means you're not really interested in this happy occasion and aren't genuinely offering your congratulations...
Xie Sangning frowned slightly, somewhat annoyed, and glanced at Ru Xia.
Upon seeing this, Ru Xia immediately exclaimed, "Oh my, Second Madam, what you're saying is really strange! My ears aren't working well, but I think I just heard you call out something about 'brother'?"
She exaggeratedly picked at her ear: "This servant dares to remind you that our young lady is of noble birth, and her own elder brother is the legitimate young master of the manor, Young Master Sang Yu!"
"The younger brother you mentioned—Young Master Wulutang—is indeed surnamed Xie, but he's from the second branch of the family! The difference in social status between the legitimate and illegitimate sons is a huge barrier to the entire General's Mansion!"
"Miss has explained it countless times already: she doesn't have a brother! Since you can't understand what Miss is saying, then Miss doesn't need to respond to you, Second Madam! I'm too lazy to bother!"
Ru Xia's voice was filled with undisguised sarcasm and disdain. Her gaze swept over Xie Wulu, whose face was ashen, before returning to Wang Shi, who was trembling with anger: "What? Second Madam, are you getting old and your memory has deteriorated to the point that you can't even distinguish between basic human relationships and the hierarchy between legitimate and illegitimate children?"
"Or... is it that your ears are just for show, only listening to what you want to hear, and pretending to be deaf to what you don't want to hear? Or... is it that you have too many thoughts and feelings that you've become obsessed with, trying to force your son into someone else's home, and your mind has become muddled?"
Upon hearing this, everyone in the second branch of the family became restless.
That was indeed their idea, and even the old lady blushed.
A surge of shame and anger rushed to Xie Wulu's head.
Wang's expression changed several times, and she gave the old lady a wink.
The old lady stopped fiddling with her prayer beads.
She cleared her throat, looked at Xie Sangning, and said with an undeniable air of authority, "Sangning, you are really outrageous! How can you speak to the master of the manor like that! You should be taught some manners!"
"However... I called you here today because there is an important matter I want to discuss with you."
The hall fell silent immediately, and everyone's eyes were focused on Xie Sangning.
“Your father is far away at the border, and your elder brother… you know Sang Yu’s health; he’s not capable of handling things.” The old lady sighed, her tone heavy. “Our General’s Mansion’s century-old foundation cannot be left without a successor!”
Xie Sangning sat still, his expression unchanged, listening quietly.
Seeing her composure, the old lady frowned slightly and simply stated directly: "Wu Lu is a gifted child, and now that he has passed the imperial examination with flying colors, his future is limitless."
"Grandmother is thinking of choosing an auspicious day to open the ancestral hall and adopt Wulu into your father's name, registering him under your stepmother's name, so that he can become your and Sangyu's younger brother!"
"In this way, the Xie family line will be continued, and Wulu will be given a respectable title and a bright future! What do you think?"
As soon as the old lady finished speaking, the second wife's heart jumped into her throat! They had finally waited for this moment!
Xie Wulu suppressed his excitement, straightened his back, as if he could already see the day when he would become the eldest son of the General's Mansion and wield great power.
He looked at Xie Sangning defiantly, waiting to see her lose her composure, become angry, or plead.
Xie Sangning gently put down her teacup.
“Grandmother, my maid Ruxia naturally knows the hierarchy among the masters of the General’s Mansion, but what master is the Second Branch? She’s just a commoner.”
Xie Wulu's chest heaved violently upon hearing this!
She, Xie Sangning, still looks down on him!
Or perhaps he was just a commoner!
Why does Xie Sangning look down on him?!
"Also, Grandmother said she wants to adopt my cousin to Father? Sang Ning, did you hear that right?"
"Exactly!" the old lady declared firmly. "Sang Yu is not up to the task of managing this family business! Wu Lu is the most suitable candidate!"
"Suitable? A mere second-class scholar, seventeenth place, is he suitable to be the legitimate son of my general's mansion?"
Xie Sangning couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh, her laughter full of sarcasm.
"Is Grandmother joking?"
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