Chapter 67 Rumors Spread
Xie Wulu's face was deathly pale. He bit his lower lip hard and tasted the rusty, metallic taste of blood.
He clearly saw the undisguised weighing and choosing in his grandmother's eyes. He understood, he understood completely.
With such a gem before him, he, a mere piece of rubble, didn't even deserve to be noticed by his grandmother.
He is worthless in the face of better options.
Adoption? Legitimate son? The future of the General's Mansion?
It's all over.
All his paths were blocked by Xie Sangning and cut off by the old lady herself.
"Oh, right."
Xie Sangning seemed to suddenly remember something and curtsied to the old lady, saying, "I almost forgot to tell Grandmother that Father sent a letter home the day before yesterday and will arrive in Jinjing City next month."
A single, casual remark was like a bucket of ice water poured over the second wife's head, thoroughly chilling her.
"Next month... next month..." Wang murmured unconsciously, her eyes completely lifeless, as if all her energy had been drained away, and she slumped in her chair.
They only knew that Xie Zhenting was about to return to Beijing, but they had not heard any news. The second wife's family was the least willing to let Xie Zhenting come back.
Now that they have the exact time, the second wife's comfortable days are numbered. They only hope that Xie Zhenting can return to the border as soon as possible after his return.
Oh no, even without Xie Zhenting, Xie Sangning alone ruined their good days.
Xie Wulu suddenly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Xie Sangning, filled with resentment and malice.
In front of Xie Sangning, he became a complete joke!
Fortunately... fortunately, I have passed the exam and can now serve as an official in the imperial court. From now on, I will no longer be an ordinary citizen!
Even if he can't compare to those students, he's still better than Xie Sangyu!
Let Xie Sangyu come back; it'll only make me look better.
Thinking of this, Xie Wulu felt a little more at ease.
Xie Sangning took in the second wife's expression, nodded slightly, said nothing more, and turned to leave.
The world where only the second wife is injured has been achieved.
——
The following day, a good show unfolded in the capital.
Yunlai Teahouse has launched a new play – "The Theft of Gold".
The new play attracted many people who were out for a morning stroll or morning tea to stop and watch.
In no time, the seats were filled.
The waiter in the teahouse shouted enthusiastically: "A new show is about to begin! A once-in-a-century tale! A six-year-old child cleverly steals a fortune, but his ten-year plan is exposed in a single day! Don't miss this exciting spectacle!"
In a private room by the window on the second floor of the teahouse, Xie Sang sat quietly.
Ru Chun stood by and whispered, "Miss, everything is arranged. The script is written according to the outline you gave us, without a single word changed."
"Hmm." Xie Sangning picked up her teacup and gently blew away the foam. "Let's wait and see what happens."
After careful consideration, Xie Sangning determined that the person who had stolen ten years' worth of silver from the Lin family was Xie Wulu.
When Xie Sangning first learned of it, she couldn't believe it either.
She underestimated Xie Wulu; at only six years old, he had already devised such a scheme and successfully carried it out.
Unfortunately, no evidence was found that could definitively convict Xie Wulu.
If you report it to the authorities, it will be useless without evidence.
Why not use a theatrical approach to force Xie Wulu into a dilemma?
If he causes trouble for the teahouse and himself, it would be tantamount to admitting that he is the child who stole the gold in the play, and then he would be unable to become an official.
Ten years of hard work will be in vain, and he will never be able to shake off his status as a commoner.
If he held back, and let the rumors spread, enduring the pointing fingers and insults, the word would spread like wildfire, which would definitely have a huge impact on Xie Wulu's reputation.
This will also affect Xie Wulu's entry into officialdom.
How can someone of questionable character be allowed to serve as an official in the imperial court?
Throughout history, public opinion has been the most powerful weapon of destruction.
Since Xie Wulu likes to use drama to control public opinion and has made the old lady want to adopt him, then let's give him a taste of his own medicine.
——
Soon after, "The Theft of Gold" reached its climax.
The sound of gongs and drums made people's hearts tighten.
On the stage, the scholar, who had just been dressed in red and colorful decorations, was beaming with pride.
The next moment, the truth struck like a thunderbolt—he was actually a gold thief!
A buzz of discussion arose from the audience, the debate boiling over.
"How could a six-year-old child have such a vicious heart?"
"Ten years! Using the name of a legitimate daughter, she swindled her maternal grandfather in Jiangnan out of hundreds of thousands of taels of silver!"
"He hid the stolen money well, but pretended to be upright and honest in front of others. What a 'young talent'!"
"Now that fame and fortune are in hand, and it seems like I'm about to achieve great success... hey, the mask has finally been broken!"
"The Marquis's residence... the second branch... tsk tsk, this opera sounds so familiar!"
"Could this be an allusion to... that newly appointed scholar from the Xie family?"
"No wonder! I knew it! The second master of the Xie family is just idle at home. Where would Xie Wulu get so much money to associate with powerful people..."
“Normally, Young Master Xie is quite generous when it comes to spending money.”
As the tea smoke curled upwards, their eyes met, and a tacit understanding was exchanged.
——
Upon hearing about this from other young ladies from prominent families, Xie Wuyou hurriedly sought out Xie Wulu at Songtao Pavilion.
"Bang!"
Xie Wulu slammed the scroll in his hand to the ground, his eyes bloodshot!
"Xie Sangning—!" he roared, "You bitch! You ruined ten years of my hard work!"
Ten years of forbearance, ten years of scheming! The path to success he paved for himself was within reach!
But this toxic play turned them into dust!
He wanted to rush to Ruixue Tower to settle accounts with Xie Sangning, but was stopped by Wang Shi who arrived on the scene!
"My son! You can't go!" Madam Wang hugged her furious son tightly, her voice hoarse. "Didn't you hear what they're saying outside?! If you show your face, the fake will become real! Your academic achievements... your academic achievements will be truly gone!"
Xie Wulu struggled, like a beast bound by an invisible net.
Of course he knew!
But even if he doesn't go, he can only quietly wait for his reputation to deteriorate! Everyone will despise him!
This was Xie Sangning's open scheme, leaving him with no way out!
No solution!
The roars faded, leaving only desperate murmurs that drifted through the deathly silence of the west courtyard:
"It's over...it's all over..."
It all turned out to be a pipe dream, leaving behind only the city's scorn and condemnation.
"My God! Could it really be true?! That man from the second branch of the Xie family, who seems so respectable, has actually done such a despicable thing behind the scenes?!"
The discussions spread and escalated rapidly, like a plague.
Everyone who watched the play subconsciously equated the treacherous and greedy "second son of the royal family" who stole the identity of the legitimate daughter to swindle money with Xie Wulu, who had just passed the imperial examination and was riding high!
Xie Sangning chuckled lightly, "Life is like a play, and a play is like life."
This ambiguous effect was exactly what she wanted.
Evidence? She may never get conclusive evidence.
But people's hearts, especially the public opinion in the capital and the officials who love to make wild guesses, don't need solid evidence at all.
Ru Xia excitedly reported, "Miss, it's done! Everyone's talking about it, and all the blame is being placed on Xie Wulu!"
As expected.
The real show has only just begun. How will the Ministry of Personnel handle Xie Wulu without provoking public anger?
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