Chapter 383: Second Madam Xie Confesses
Chapter 383: Chapter 383: Second Madam Xie Confesses
Late at night in the Xie Mansion.
The bright moon cast its glow upon the brightly lit courtyard.
Kneeling in the courtyard were all the servants and attendants of the family’s second branch.
They were all waiting to be summoned and questioned by the First Master, Xie Suzhi, who was inside the room.
As everyone waited, trembling with fear and wondering what disaster would befall them next, Xie Suzhi’s stern rebuke echoed from within the room—
"Even now, you still refuse to admit it? Did you or did you not kill that maidservant named Wenxiu!"
Inside the room, Xie Suzhi and Second Master Xie sat upright in two Taishi chairs.
The two brothers’ gazes were deep and identically cold.
Kneeling before them were a disheveled Second Madam Xie and the quietly weeping Xie Yuanjiu.
Shen Ningning and Xie Ming’an stood to one side. Behind them, the housekeeper, Uncle Pang, held a tray bearing the blood-stained clothes.
Ever since being brought here, Second Madam Xie had adamantly denied knowing anything about the matter.
Now, facing Xie Suzhi’s harsh questioning, she only continued to weep.
Xie Ming’an took a step forward and said coolly, "Second Aunt, I have already questioned the servants who saw Wenxiu on the day she died. They can all identify these bloody clothes as the ones she was wearing on the day of her ’accidental’ death."
"Furthermore, nearly all the servants in your quarters can attest that after Wenxiu entered your room for night watch, the next time she was seen, she was already dead in the pond. Therefore, I advise you to confess sooner rather than later whether you are the true murderer."
Second Madam Xie laughed through her tears, her voice desolate. She raised her eyes, and though she was answering Xie Ming’an, her tear-filled gaze was fixed on Second Master Xie.
"I am the master, and she was a slave. Since when has there ever been a precedent of a master paying with their life for a servant’s? Even if I did kill her, what do you plan to do to me?"
Xie Suzhi’s thin lips tightened, his gaze turning frigid.
"The Emperor is recuperating in the side courtyard, yet his peace has been disturbed by a dispute over a blood-stained garment. You even dared to cast slander upon the Emperor himself."
"The Li Family has already been sentenced and banished to the Northern Desert. The Emperor has also ordered that the source of the bloody clothes must be traced and the true culprit found."
"This is no longer a simple matter of you killing a maidservant. We could have handled this properly, but sister-in-law, you’ve caused a huge disaster this time!"
Xie Suzhi’s words were like a sharp blade, completely severing the last of Second Madam Xie’s sanity.
She let out an agonized shriek, her eyes bloodshot from crying. She strained so hard that the veins on the back of her hands bulged.
Second Madam Xie looked utterly crazed.
Xie Ming’an sensed something was wrong. He frowned instinctively and moved to shield Shen Ningning.
Suddenly!
Second Madam Xie lunged at Xie Yuanjiu, who was beside her, and viciously choked her.
"What dead end are you trying to force me into?! Why did you have to harm me the moment you came back? Why? I’m your own mother! What good does this do you?!"
As she was being choked, the whites of Xie Yuanjiu’s eyes began to show, and her face quickly turned a purplish-red.
Second Master Xie’s expression changed. He rushed forward to pull her away. "Let go!"
Second Madam Xie was like a woman possessed, her eyes crimson as she viciously choked Xie Yuanjiu’s neck.
She repeated endlessly, "I was so good to you, why are you doing this, why! Why do you all treat me like a burden? Why didn’t I just strangle you to death that day!"
Shen Ningning was frightened by the sight. The little girl instinctively reached out her chubby little hand and clutched the corner of Xie Ming’an’s robe.
Then, she tilted her little head and silently watched Second Madam Xie.
It took the combined effort of Second Master Xie and Xie Suzhi to pull her off.
Xie Yuanjiu clutched her neck, coughing violently. She shrank back in fear until her back was pressed against the door.
Her expression was terrified as she looked at the crazed Second Madam Xie.
"Mother, you... you’re mad. Did you really want to kill me?" Xie Yuanjiu’s tears flowed freely.
Just as Second Madam Xie was about to speak, Xie Yuanjiu said, "At this point, even if you kill me, it won’t help. Mother, you should just confess to what you’ve done."
"Otherwise, even if I die, you’ll still be charged with murder. Neither of us will be able to stay by Father’s side. Why can’t you understand that?" Xie Yuanjiu said, her eyes red.
Hearing this, the struggling Second Madam Xie stopped.
Her bloodshot eyes stared blankly at Xie Yuanjiu.
Of course she understood what Xie Yuanjiu meant.
She couldn’t hide the fact that she had killed the maidservant anymore.
If she implicated Xie Yuanjiu now, then given Second Master Xie Dizhi’s personality, he would surely tolerate neither of them.
If they were both driven out, what chance would she have of ever returning to the Xie Mansion?
Xie Yuanjiu’s gaze was tearful as she looked at her, her final, weeping accusation: "I’m your daughter!"
Her words had a double meaning. With her eyes, she was telling Second Madam Xie that only by protecting her would Second Madam Xie have a chance to return to the Xie Mansion.
Shen Ningning watched as Second Madam Xie’s hands slowly lowered, along with her head, which had always been held high with pride.
She gave a low, miserable laugh. After a moment, she said, "I confess. I killed Wenxiu. I’ll admit to everything."
Xie Suzhi closed his eyes, his expression hard. He let out a helpless sigh.
"Ming’an, you will record her full confession." With that, Xie Suzhi walked over to Shen Ningning and picked his daughter up.
He said gently, "Ningning, the hour is too late. Father will take you to rest now."
Shen Ningning nodded obediently.
Her work was done. Right now, the little girl was just an obedient, pink and white dumpling.
’I’ll be quiet and well-behaved in Father’s arms. I still have to go check on the ailing Uncle Emperor later!’
Just as Xie Suzhi was about to step over the threshold, Xie Yuanjiu quickly looked at him, crying, "First Uncle, with my mother like this, what will happen to me?"
"You?" Xie Suzhi glanced at her, the disappointment in his eyes profound. "Let my second brother decide. After all, she is not my daughter."
With that, he left with Shen Ningning.
Xie Ming’an called for guards to come in, take Second Madam Xie into custody, and move her to another room for a detailed interrogation.
As Second Madam Xie was led past Xie Yuanjiu, her disheveled hair half-hid her bloodshot eyes. She stared intently at Xie Yuanjiu.
It was a look that made Xie Yuanjiu not dare to glance back.
After they had gone, Second Master Xie looked at Xie Yuanjiu. "No matter what becomes of your mother, I will not disown you as my daughter. After all, my blood flows in your veins."
"But, Yuan Jiu, your actions this time have truly disappointed me. I thought that by returning to the Capital City, you had truly grown up. I never expected..."
Second Master Xie shook his head and sighed.
When he spoke again, his tone was firm and merciless. "You will move out tonight. I have already arranged for a carriage to wait outside the gates."
"From now on, even though you will live in the Capital City, we are not to meet. As for your daily expenses and all matters of your household, I will pay one thousand taels of silver per month to your housekeeper. The servants will take care of you on my behalf."
"To the outside world, you are still a daughter of the Xie family. But if you cause any more trouble, I will not hesitate to disregard our family ties and sever my relationship with you as your father."
Xie Yuanjiu dropped to her knees.
This time, she cried with immense remorse. "Father, don’t send me away! I’m still so young. If you make me leave the Xie Mansion, how will I survive?"
"Mother killed the maidservant, and what happened with Yuyi today was an accident! I really didn’t know anything!"
Second Master Xie closed his eyes, refusing to listen to her excuses. He coldly ordered a trusted attendant outside, "Men, take the Fourth Miss away!"
"Father! Father, are you really disowning me? Father—" Xie Yuanjiu’s voice, carried by the wind, faded as she was dragged away.
Her cries grew more and more distant, until they could no longer be heard.
Second Master Xie opened his eyes and glanced wearily outside.
Beneath the covered walkway, the moonlight was cool. It stirred the hanging beaded curtain, causing it to sway gently, the light and shadows shifting with it.