Chapter 323: She Is Your Only Sister
Chapter 323: Chapter 323: She Is Your Only Sister
Second Madam Xie was thunderstruck.
Her cries were anguished, almost wailing, as she pleaded with Second Master Xie.
"Husband, we’ve been through so much for so many years, and you’re going to divorce me over this one thing? You can’t do this!"
Second Master Xie’s face was livid. He completely ignored her pleas.
A house servant presented paper and a brush. He dipped the brush in ink and began to write.
Xie Suzhi held Shen Ningning and sighed softly.
’He didn’t want his younger brother to make an impulsive decision.’
However, if the Emperor were to discover that the Xie family had disregarded the greater good by allowing the Second Madam of the house to use Evil Magic to curse the female general fighting on the border...
Then their political enemies would surely seize the opportunity to impeach them, accusing the Xie family of being disloyal and treacherous!
The problem would become far more severe then.
Second Madam Xie dropped to her knees before Second Master Xie.
She could see he was dead set on abandoning her.
And so, she cried, "Husband, do you remember when I gave birth to Yuan Jiu? I was in critical danger from blood loss, and we nearly both died."
"I barely managed to survive, and the doctor said I would never be able to have another child."
"You can divorce me—remarriage is allowed in our Cangyun Country—but if I go home with a ruined body, unable to bear children, what family will have me?"
As she spoke, she wept tragically.
Second Master Xie’s fingertips, holding the brush, froze. His face was grim, and he said nothing.
Second Madam Xie continued to sob. "Yuan Jiu was smaller and weaker than other children from the moment she was born."
"Husband, do you remember? When she was two, she had a relentless fever, and you carried her to find the doctor. It was pouring rain that night, and even though Yuan Jiu was so sick, she was worried about you getting wet and tried to hold the umbrella for you with her little hands."
At the mention of their only child, Second Master Xie closed his eyes, his brows furrowing in utter agony.
Second Madam Xie wailed inconsolably.
She pounded on her shoulders in a show of remorse.
"I was wrong to do this, but Yuan Jiu is still in Changzhou, hoping that when she comes back one day, her mother and father will love her just like before."
"Husband, if you divorce me, Yuan Jiu, a young lady, will never be able to hold her head high for the rest of her life. When she seeks a husband, who will ever respect her?"
Second Madam Xie whimpered in grief, slumping to the floor as she knelt, filled with immense regret.
CRACK! The Calligraphy Brush in Second Master Xie’s hand snapped in two.
His fists were clenched, and his breathing was heavy and ragged, a clear sign of his anger and helplessness.
"It is Yuan Jiu’s misfortune to have a mother like you." After a long silence, he spoke, his voice cold and hoarse.
Second Madam Xie lowered her head and sobbed, "I was wrong. I’ll never dare to do it again. Husband, please, just forgive me this one time!"
Second Master Xie was silent. After a moment, he raised his head and looked at Xie Suzhi.
"Big Brother..."
Xie Suzhi raised a hand, cutting him off.
He said calmly, "You don’t need to worry about my opinion. This is your family matter. She is your wife. How you deal with her is your decision. Whatever you decide, I will understand and support you."
Second Master Xie’s eyes were red. At that moment, he felt deeply ashamed.
’As a son of the Xie Family, it was one thing that I couldn’t wield a sword or spear, unable to kill enemies on the battlefield to serve the country.’
’Now, I’m also a cripple, doing nothing but causing trouble for my big brother, Xie Suzhi.’
When he looked at Second Madam Xie again, his gaze held even more hatred and disgust.
"For Yuan Jiu’s sake, I can refrain from divorcing you for now."
"But from this day forward, we will live in separate courtyards. I truly cannot bear to look at you any longer!"
"Furthermore, you will clean the ancestral hall every day and kneel before the tablets of the Xie Family ancestors to repent for all the wrongs you committed today. Do you agree or not?"
How could she possibly refuse?
As long as Second Master Xie didn’t divorce her and cause her to be unable to hold her head high in the Capital City, she was willing to do anything!
"I agree, I agree!" she nodded hastily.
After the intense emotional rollercoaster, Second Master Xie only felt exhausted.
So he cupped his hands at Xie Suzhi and said, "Big Brother, I will return to rest now. I will have my personal attendant, Ah De, handle the remaining matters for me."
Xie Suzhi nodded. "Alright, you may go. I’ll have the Divine Doctor come by later to check your pulse."
Ah De pushed Second Master Xie’s wheelchair away.
Shen Ningning watched Second Master Xie’s departing figure, feeling a little worried.
She hopped down from Xie Suzhi’s lap.
"Godfather, I want to go check on Second Uncle." ’If Second Master Xie is feeling unwell, my Spirit Grass and Spiritual Spring might be able to help.’
Xie Suzhi looked at Shen Ningning with a gratified expression and patted her little head with his large hand.
"Alright, Ningning, you may go. Stay in the manor tonight and have dinner with Godfather."
Shen Ningning agreed and trotted after Second Master Xie on her little feet.
Xie Ming’an watched her retreating back.
’This little one... she hasn’t even given me a proper look since she got back from the Divine Woman’s place.’
Xie Suzhi stood up and said to Xie Ming’an in a cool tone, "You, come with me to the study."
With that, the father and son left, one after the other.
No one said a word to Second Madam Xie.
Once they were in the study with the door closed, Xie Suzhi began to scold him coldly.
"The Divine Woman’s place is so dangerous. Since you knew Ningning was going, you should have informed me beforehand. Your methods are still immature. What if you were careless and Ningning got hurt?"
Xie Ming’an lowered his gaze slightly, frowning as he listened to the reprimand.
He really wanted to say that his father probably hadn’t seen how, when Shen Ningning went out, even if she didn’t bring her wolves, she always carried a long snake in her bag.
Xie Ming’an had identified it: the snake had a triangular head and four sharp fangs. It was highly venomous!
That Divine Woman had been so scared she’d wet her pants.
’Who would dare to harm Shen Ningning?’
However, he didn’t say it out loud. In Xie Suzhi’s eyes, even if Shen Ningning were surrounded by a pack of wolves, she was still a poor little thing who could be harmed by outsiders at any moment.
Xie Ming’an cupped his hands. "I know I was wrong."
"Actually, I also have something to say to you, Father. This time, please don’t blame Shen Ningning for going to see the Divine Woman."
He knew that Xie Suzhi despised charlatans like the Divine Woman more than anything.
Anyone in the family who associated with a Divine Woman would surely be severely reprimanded.
Therefore, Xie Ming’an explained on Shen Ningning’s behalf.
He told Xie Suzhi that the little one didn’t go out of curiosity.
But rather because she wanted to expose the Divine Woman’s scam.
Hearing Xie Ming’an speak up for Shen Ningning, Xie Suzhi raised his eyebrows in a rare show of surprise.
Xie Suzhi’s expression softened slightly as he slowly sat down in his chair.
"Has the sun risen in the west? You’re actually explaining things for Ningning?" Before, Xie Ming’an had been nothing but prejudiced against Shen Ningning.
Xie Ming’an pressed his thin lips together. His handsome, cold eyes were just like Xie Suzhi’s.
He said, "I’ve said it before, I wasn’t deliberately targeting her in the past. Since I understand the full story this time, of course I have to clarify it for her."
"It’s not about shielding her or being biased. It’s about fairly stating the reasons."
Xie Suzhi finally nodded, gratified.
He said, "You should be like this in the future, too. As your father, I want you to be biased and protective of Ningning. No matter what happens, you must defend her first and foremost."
"Because she is already part of our family. She is your only sister."
At this point, Xie Suzhi began to cough heavily.
He covered his mouth, waving a hand to dismiss Xie Ming’an and gesturing for him to leave.
Xie Ming’an had wanted to say more, but seeing Xie Suzhi like this, he could only cup his hands and take his leave.
He also instructed a servant to send in a pot of hot tea.
His father never mentioned it, but he could feel that his coughing fits were becoming more and more frequent.
Xie Ming’an returned to his own courtyard.
Sitting at the table, he took out Xu Jingxi’s crescent jade pendant. A deep question flickered in the dark depths of his eyes.
’If Shen Ningning isn’t a child of our Xie family...’
’...then what is the relationship between Xu Jingxi, who possesses a jade pendant exclusive to the sons of the Xie Family, and our family?’