Xie Zhi’an returned to the manor late at night, the rain having eased somewhat.
A servant reported to him that Meng Min had relapsed today, and Xie Yushu had taken care of her all afternoon.
Now, Meng Min was feeling better and had insisted that Xie Yushu stay for dinner.
He was stunned, thinking he must have misheard.
It was normal for Meng Min to relapse, and for Xie Yushu to care for her.
But Meng Min actually invited Xie Yushu to dine with her?
What surprised him even more was that the servant said it was Meng Min herself who had specially requested Xie Yushu’s presence today.
Hadn’t Meng Min hated her the most?
She hadn’t even allowed her to stay for a meal after the wedding ceremony.
Changing his clothes quickly, he hurried to Meng Min’s courtyard, only to find it quiet and still, with just a faint lamp lit inside.
Zhen Nanny stopped him at the door.
“Master, Madam isn’t feeling well today and has already rested. Would you prefer to rest in the study tonight?”
Xie Zhi’an was momentarily taken aback.
He and Meng Min were very close; it was rare for her not to wait to dine with him, let alone send him to the study to sleep.
Even when Meng Min was seriously ill before, if he didn’t stay in her room, she would send ginseng soup and bird’s nest to him with guilt.
He knew well that Meng Min had always felt a need to make up to him over the years—making up for not bearing him a son, and for refusing to allow him to take concubines.
So, even when sick, she would still tend to him and stay by his side.
But today, she unusually sent him to the study.
Puzzled, he asked, “Is Madam seriously ill? I want to see her.”
“Master,” Zhen Nanny bowed and blocked him again, lowering her voice, “Madam is a light sleeper. If you enter, she will surely be disturbed. She took medicine and only just managed to fall asleep.”
Being stopped twice out of concern for Meng Min left Xie Zhi’an’s expression stiff.
He couldn’t get angry, so he refrained and asked instead, “Did Yushu stay behind to care for Madam?” Yushu used to keep vigil through the night before.
Zhen Nanny replied, “Miss Yushu stayed until Madam took her medicine, then left just now.”
“Just left the manor?”
Xie Zhi’an frowned.
“That daughter is getting more and more unruly.”
At least she should have come to pay respects to him before leaving, right?
Zhen Nanny explained, “Miss Yushu served Madam all day and was very tired. Madam said there was no need to visit you and told her to rest at home. She believes you wouldn’t blame Miss Yushu for such a small matter.”
Xie Zhi’an’s face darkened, suspicion filling his heart.
“Why has Madam grown so close to Yushu?”
Zhen Nanny remained composed, saying, “A person’s heart grows flesh and blood. Madam always knows who truly cares for her.”
Is that so?
Xie Zhi’an was somewhat confused but thought about it. Indeed, Yushu had diligently cared for Meng Min these years.
Since Jia Ning left, Meng Min should be moving on and getting closer to Yushu as a daughter.
That’s not bad—at least she wouldn’t be crying every day, requiring his constant consolation.
Understanding a woman’s little heart, he turned and left.
When he reached the study, the lights weren’t even on, let alone the bed made.
Usually, Meng Min would instruct someone to prepare everything for him in advance.
Today, none of that was done.
Could it be that she was really so ill she couldn’t get up?
Xie Zhi’an called a servant to prepare the bed for him, but his heart grew heavy.
What kind of Marquis was he, to end up like this?
Forbidden to take concubines, without even a personal maid to attend him.
Since Jia Ning had left, the vast manor felt utterly lifeless.
Who wouldn’t want to have children to carry on their line and be surrounded by sons and daughters?
He wanted to have several legitimate sons and daughters with Meng Min, but her health was so poor—what else could he do?
The Yong’an Marquis Manor carriage rolled through the damp streets, heading toward the Pei Mansion.
Xie Yushu leaned back in the carriage, drowsy, when suddenly the system’s voice startled her awake.
“Congratulations, host. You have gained 1 Green Hat Value point, from Pei Shilin.”
Her eyes snapped open.
So Song Jie had come to the Pei Mansion to pick her up?
This was going to be lively!
She quickly lifted the carriage curtain to look out.
In the drizzle, the coachman had just turned down a street, and not far ahead was the Pei Mansion.
She vaguely saw a carriage waiting outside the main gate, flanked by a line of black-clad guards.
Could it be Song Jie’s carriage and men?
How dare he pick her up at the front gate!
He was clearly disregarding the Pei family’s authority!
Suppressing a smile, she told the coachman, “Go around to the back gate. I’ll enter from there.”
Though puzzled, the coachman obeyed and redirected the carriage.
The moment the carriage stopped by the back gate, she heard Yin Ya’s voice.
“Madam! You’re finally back!”
Yin Ya hurried to the carriage with an umbrella, helping Xie Yushu down.
“You wouldn’t believe how chaotic it was here! Xizhi Mammy made Jin Ye and me split up to greet you at the front and back gates. Luckily, you came in the back! Otherwise, you’d have run into the Prime Minister’s men!”
“What happened? Tell me quickly.”
Xie Yushu asked eagerly as she walked inside.
Yin Ya led her down a quiet path before explaining, “The Prime Minister’s men came to fetch you again—Cang Shu was waiting at the back gate with a carriage, but you weren’t there. The gate servant reported it to Pei Young Master, who was furious and stormed the back gate with men to confront Cang Shu, saying she was copying Pei Shilin’s behavior. “
“Frowning, he gruffly said, ‘My brother Shilin’s case is already with the authorities. If he’s guilty, he’ll be punished. Our Pei family doesn’t need the Prime Minister’s interference. Please don’t come harassing my wife anymore.’”
Xie Yushu couldn’t help but laugh at the vivid picture.
Pei Shilin actually dared to speak to Song Jie like that?
Even a coward has his limits?
Or maybe he felt emboldened today after being favored at the Yong’an Marquis Manor, thinking he could rely on the Marquis’s family now?
“Pei Young Master even said that if Song Jie lacked morals and shame, he’d make a scene so all of Bianjing would know how the illustrious Prime Minister was bullying other men’s wives.”
Yin Ya continued, “Cang Shu left after that, and we thought it was over. But just now, Song Jie stormed in with a crowd through the front gate of the Pei Mansion! He said since Pei Young Master accused him of taking someone else’s wife, he’d prove it right then and there!”
So intense!
Xie Yushu quickened her pace into her courtyard, seeing Xizhi Mammy pacing anxiously and Xiao Dao and Zhao Feng standing grim-faced at the gate, as if guarding against intruders.
“Miss Yushu!”
Xizhi Mammy hurried over and grabbed her arm.
“You should leave quickly—go back to Yong’an Marquis Manor!”
She secretly wanted to stay and watch the drama unfold.
“Don’t be afraid, Mammy. It’s better if they fight,” Xie Yushu said excitedly without stopping, pulling Yin Ya forward.
She also told Xiao Dao, “Go ahead and find a place where you can watch without being noticed.”
Xiao Dao looked puzzled for a moment.
Xizhi Mammy nervously scolded, “Such foolish excitement, you actually want to go forward?”
Then, still worried, she followed close behind.
When Xiao Dao helped Xie Yushu find a good vantage point, they heard Pei Shilin’s furious roar.
“Prime Minister, you’re going too far! You storm into my Pei family and demand I hand over my wife?!”
Xie Yushu parted the leaves to look toward the main courtyard.
The brightly lit courtyard was filled with seven or eight of Song Jie’s black-clad guards. Some of the Pei family’s men were knocked down, while others tried to block the intruders.
Song Jie sat upright on a chair in the middle, with the stern Cang Shu holding an umbrella beside him.
Opposite them was Pei Shilin’s mother, Li Huixian, crying, and Pei Shilin himself, pale-faced with fury, shielding his mother as he glared at Song Jie.
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll report you to the Imperial Court, exposing the Prime Minister’s bullying and kidnapping of a wife for all to see?”
Despite the furious roar, Song Jie only smiled coldly, resting his chin on his hand.
Leisurely, he said to Pei Shilin, “Pei Tan Hua, you have a poor memory. Have you forgotten that your wife was the one who came to my residence on her own?”
“That was a moment of foolishness!”
Pei Shilin admitted stiffly, then argued, “I’ve reconciled with Yushu now. Why does the Prime Minister keep pestering her?”
Song Jie’s expression darkened.
“Reconciled? Has Xie Yushu really forgiven you?”
“Of course.”
Pei Shilin finally regained some dignity and deliberately said, “She not only understands my difficulties but has sworn to live well with me and never see you again.”
Song Jie’s eyes grew colder.
Hidden in the corner, Xie Yushu heard the cheerful system voice.
“Congratulations, host. You have gained 1 Green Hat Value point, from Song Jie.”
Her useless husband had really stirred up Song Jie’s spite quite effectively.
Song Jie sneered sarcastically, “You believe her vow? She swore to me last night that she would only love me for life, no matter how nameless or unofficial our relationship, and never leave me.”
What a nauseating lie.
Xie Yushu felt goosebumps from disgust.
What was Song Jie imagining?
But then she heard the system report again.
“Host, you have gained 1 Green Hat Value point, from Pei Shilin.”
The lie was well crafted.
Pei Shilin, disgusted as well, angrily denied, “Do you think I’d believe your words? If Xie Yushu really loved you, why would she ask for a large sum of silver every time she came to your residence?”
Song Jie was speechless, his face darkening with coldness, unable to refute.
Pei Shilin grew more confident and sneered, “I’m not afraid to tell the Prime Minister that Xie Yushu has said she detests you utterly. If it weren’t for me, she wouldn’t be tending to you even if she died.”
“Host, you have gained 2 Green Hat Value points, all from Song Jie.”
The system marveled.
Clearly, Song Jie was rattled.
His eyes devoid of any smile, he stared at Pei Shilin like a venomous snake, fully aware that what Pei Shilin said was likely true.
Xie Yushu was forced to care for him and wouldn’t have come for so much silver if she had any affection for him.
She cared for Cang Shu more than for him.
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