Chapter 322: Second Master Xie Wants to Divorce His Wife
Chapter 322: Chapter 322: Second Master Xie Wants to Divorce His Wife
「Inside the Xie Mansion.」
Xie Suzhi hadn’t even had time to brush the dust and snow from his clothes.
Second Madam Xie came before him, crying, and lodged a complaint against Shen Ningning.
"Big Brother, I know you usually dote on Ningning. She’s young, so it’s inevitable that she’ll make mistakes."
"But this time, she’s been truly foolish. How could she secretly go see the Divine Woman? She even had someone ask Qiulan for the Divine Woman’s address."
Second Madam Xie wiped her tears. "I barely managed to escape that swindler’s trap, so how did Ningning fall right back into it?"
Xie Suzhi sat high in the main hall, his expression deep and unreadable as he remained silent.
Second Master Xie frowned and glanced at Second Madam Xie.
He spoke to Xie Suzhi, "Big Brother, don’t be so quick to get angry."
"Ningning has always been a child with her own ideas. She wouldn’t go astray."
"Why don’t we wait for her to return and then ask her what happened?"
Second Madam Xie choked back a sob or two and nodded quickly, as if she were worried as well.
"Yes, Big Brother, don’t be angry yet. Perhaps Ningning was just too desperate to cure the Crown Prince’s cold affliction and, in her haste, turned to anyone for help, even someone like the Divine Woman."
Second Master Xie shot her a look with his sharp, dark eyes. "That’s enough out of you!"
Second Madam Xie flinched and lowered her head, feigning grievance. "I’m only doing this for Ningning’s own good. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have told Big Brother at all."
As she spoke, she watched Xie Suzhi’s expression from the corner of her eye.
She added, "Back then, when Yuan Jiu was only six, she was punished just for following me to the Divine Woman’s place."
"When we got back, Big Brother made her kneel in the ancestral hall for a full day and night."
"If it’s true that Ningning went to see the Divine Woman, please don’t punish her so severely, Big Brother. She’s so young, she wouldn’t be able to bear it."
A storm seemed to brew in Xie Suzhi’s eyes, which held a piercing gaze that could see into a person’s heart.
His thin lips pressed into a line. He said to Second Madam Xie, "Sister-in-law, there’s no need to remind me in such a roundabout way."
"We’ll know exactly why Ningning went as soon as she returns and we ask her. Until then, you needn’t be anxious. Let’s just wait patiently."
Hearing the calm composure in Xie Suzhi’s tone, Second Madam Xie’s heart began to pound.
’Nothing’s gone wrong on the Divine Woman’s end, has it?’
’As long as I can convince Shen Ningning to return with the so-called antidote for the cold affliction, I can drive a wedge between her and Xie Suzhi.’
Besides, Second Madam Xie had heard from the gatekeeper that Xie Ming’an had already chased after Shen Ningning to stop her when he learned she was going to see the Divine Woman.
’If those two get into another argument, Xie Suzhi is bound to be furious.’
’With Shen Ningning’s pride, after clashing with Xie Ming’an time and again, she definitely won’t want to stay in the Xie Mansion any longer.’
At this thought, Second Madam Xie couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation, a venomous glint flashing in her eyes.
’Shen Ningning was the reason her daughter, Xie Yuanjiu, was now lonely and miserable back in their hometown.’
’She would make Shen Ningning get the hell out of the Xie Mansion!’
Just then, the voice of the housekeeper, Uncle Pang, came from the entrance. "Master, Second Master, the Commandery Princess and the Second Young Master have returned together."
A jolt of delight shot through Second Madam Xie, and the corners of her eyebrows lifted.
She looked excitedly toward the entrance.
She was expecting to see the two of them looking furious, treating each other like mortal enemies.
Xie Suzhi glanced at her impassively, not missing her reaction.
Seeing her like this, his gaze darkened further.
’My second brother’s wife has been nothing but trouble from the very beginning!’
"Father."
"Godfather!"
Shen Ningning and Xie Ming’an entered the main hall at the same time, and they both spoke at once.
It was as if they both had something to report.
Shen Ningning blinked her large eyes and glanced at him.
Xie Ming’an’s narrow eyes paused for a moment before he said, "You go first."
But Second Madam Xie cut in before Shen Ningning could speak, pretending to be anxious. "Ningning, did you secretly go to see the Divine Woman?"
Shen Ningning nodded her small, round head. "Yes."
Second Madam Xie let out a dramatic wail.
"Oh, you poor child, who told you to go to a place like that? Big Brother, you must not get angry with her! Ningning surely didn’t mean to."
Shen Ningning took out two medicinal packets.
"Not only did I go, but I also brought something back."
Second Madam Xie recognized them at a glance—it was the medicine she had gotten from the Divine Woman!
A flash of joy appeared in her eyes, but her face was a mask of feigned shock.
"Ningning, you actually made a deal with a charlatan like the Divine Woman and bought her medicine?"
Xie Suzhi’s face was grim, leaving everyone unable to guess his thoughts.
Shen Ningning looked at Second Madam Xie. ’She seems exceptionally eager today.’
’She’s rushing to say everything herself.’
The little one ignored her, took a step forward, and spoke to Xie Suzhi in her soft, sweet voice.
"Godfather, a while ago I heard that Second Aunt often suffered from abdominal pain, feeling as if her stomach were frozen by nine feet of ice. Even drinking scalding hot tea didn’t help."
"But one day, she took the Divine Woman’s medicine and was miraculously cured."
Second Madam Xie’s expression changed. "Ningning, don’t talk nonsense! When did I ever take the Divine Woman’s medicine?"
Shen Ningning didn’t even spare her a glance, replying simply, "Qiulan, who is always by your side, can testify. If that’s not enough, we also brought the Divine Woman back with us. She’s right outside and can testify too!"
Second Madam Xie’s expression froze.
Over there, Second Master Xie’s sharp brows furrowed. He looked at her and asked, "Didn’t you say you hadn’t seen the Divine Woman in a long time and had already kicked the habit?"
Second Madam Xie stammered, unable to answer.
At this moment, Xie Suzhi spoke up, questioning Shen Ningning.
"What’s the trick behind this medicine?"
"There’s no trick. I just checked it. It’s all normal herbs, but when taken together, they’ll give you a stomachache and make you feel unwell!" the little one replied, blinking her clear eyes.
She added, "After taking it, you’ll feel sick for several days, but taking the medicine concocted by the Divine Woman will relieve the symptoms."
Xie Suzhi sneered.
"This Divine Woman really is a swindler! Creating the illness and selling the cure. With this method, who knows how much silver she’s cheated out of fools!"
As he spoke, his stern gaze fell upon Second Madam Xie, who lowered her head with a guilty conscience.
But she still clung to a sliver of hope.
’She had already suffered the consequences of this medicine affair.’
’Based on her understanding of Xie Suzhi, the worst he would do is give her the cold shoulder and a scolding.’
After all these years, Second Madam Xie had grown accustomed to the Xie family’s cold stares.
Unexpectedly, Xie Ming’an stepped forward and said, "Father, there’s more to this medicine than meets the eye."
"At first, I was also confused as to why Second Aunt would be taking medicine from the Divine Woman for no good reason."
"Only after interrogating her did I learn that when this medicine is mixed with talismanic water and consumed at the Divine Woman’s place, it becomes a form of Witchcraft used to curse people!"
Second Madam Xie’s face instantly turned pale.
She snapped her head up. "Ming An, you’re lying! I didn’t know anything about that."
Xie Ming’an pulled a slip of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Xie Suzhi.
"Father, this person’s birth date and time were found under the Divine Woman’s altar."
Xie Suzhi took it and glanced at it, his expression changing drastically.
He instinctively looked up at Second Master Xie.
Second Master Xie had a bad feeling.
"Big Brother, what is it? Who did she curse? Could it be me?"
Xie Suzhi sighed and had Xie Ming’an give the paper to Second Master Xie.
"See for yourself."
Second Madam Xie was already in a panic and lunged forward to stop him.
"Husband, don’t look! It’s fake! The Divine Woman is trying to frame me!"
Seeing her reaction, Second Master Xie felt even more certain that something was wrong.
He took the slip of paper suspiciously. As he unfolded it, his pupils contracted.
Fang Qingdai. Her birth date and time... he had known them by heart for so many years.
The tips of Second Master Xie’s fingers began to tremble.
He looked at Second Madam Xie, his voice shaking slightly. "What did you curse her with?"
Second Madam Xie knelt sobbing by his wheelchair. "I didn’t... I... I was just afraid she would destroy our family."
Second Master Xie roared in fury, "What exactly did you curse her with!"
Second Madam Xie was sobbing so hard she couldn’t speak, terrified.
Taking advantage of the moment, Xie Suzhi pulled Shen Ningning into his arms, sitting her on his lap as he remained on the chair.
Xie Ming’an said, "Second Uncle, I asked the Divine Woman. Second Aunt cursed General Fang to die on the battlefield, to lose her battles, and for her descendants to be reviled by the Monarch and the common people."
The words struck Second Master Xie’s heart like a bolt of lightning from the heavens.
The sharp eyes beneath his brow became bloodshot and red.
"You," he ground out through clenched teeth, "what a vicious, venomous heart!"
"Qingdai’s family has been generals for generations! When she was three, Old General Fang and his wife died on the battlefield, and her two older brothers also sacrificed themselves one after another for Cangyun Country!"
"Now, with the Changliu Country invading while our nation suffers from repeated natural disasters, the entire country is hoping for a victory. But you—you are the only one hoping for her death! The only one!"
Second Madam Xie was terrified by his frantic rage.
She collapsed to the floor, her lips trembling. "No, it’s not like that, Husband! I was just confused for a moment! I never really wanted her to die!"
"Besides, the Divine Woman... isn’t she a swindler? Her curses can’t possibly work! Husband... please don’t be angry with me. I know I was wrong!"
She scrambled forward, crying, and clung to Second Master Xie’s arm, begging for forgiveness.
Second Master Xie closed his eyes, his chest heaving, unable to calm the towering inferno of rage in his heart.
A moment later, Shen Ningning heard him say, "Bring me a brush. Today, I am divorcing my wife!"