Seeing Xia Jianxi in tears, Xia Madam felt her heart ache unbearably. She held Xia Jianxi tightly and raged, “The General’s Residence has provided you with so much support, and this is how you repay us? Inciting relatives to come cause trouble! Once everyone’s masks come off, you and your daughter can just sit back and reap the spoils!”
Xia Madam’s voice trembled with sobs, sounding particularly piercing.
The crowd that had been surrounding Xia Maoshan suddenly snapped back to reality, turning one by one to stare at Xia Yuruo and her mother.
Especially Third Uncle—already agitated by Xia Maoshan’s threat to withdraw support—now understood the mother and daughter’s scheme upon hearing Xia Madam’s words. Furious, he roared, “Well, well! You vile woman! How dare you use us? You black-hearted, poisonous wretch! I’ll beat you to death!”
Just as Third Uncle’s fist was about to strike Second Madam Xia’s face, Xia Yuruo suddenly dropped to her knees with a thud. “Uncle, please calm your anger! My… my mother was just momentarily blinded by greed. We only couldn’t bear to see such a fine marriage alliance slip away! Uncle, my mother truly didn’t mean any harm!”
“You couldn’t bear to lose the marriage, yet you can bear to watch relatives living on the estate end up homeless on the streets!” Xia Jianxi remarked coldly, watching Xia Yuruo’s theatrical performance on the floor.
Third Uncle, who had just begun to cool down, immediately snapped back to fury.
He grabbed Xia Yuruo’s arm and dragged her before Xia Maoshan. “Maoshan, it was them! It was this mother and daughter! They sent people to the estate claiming you’d rather destroy a perfect marriage than let the clan benefit, all to protect Xia Jianxi’s reputation! They were the ones sowing discord!”
Xia Maoshan looked at Third Uncle’s flushed face, his heart filled with disappointment. He never imagined the Xia clansmen he had supported would show such ugly faces—it was truly disgusting!
“So, in Third Uncle’s view, a beneficial marriage is more important than my life?” Xia Jianxi interjected abruptly.
Third Uncle’s face stiffened. “I… I didn’t mean that!”
“Then what did you mean?” Xia Jianxi stared into Third Uncle’s eyes, enunciating each word. “Did you knowingly try to steal a marriage that belongs to me? Or did you intend to slander my virtue and seize my dowry?”
Hearing Third Uncle’s words, Xia Maoshan’s resolve solidified. He stepped forward, shielding Xia Jianxi behind him, and swept a cold gaze over the assembled relatives. With a self-mocking laugh, he said, “I truly believed that since my father’s passing, I had never mistreated the Xia clan. Even my wife has contributed funds and effort. I’ve cared for the elderly, weak, orphaned, and young in our clan. Yet never did I expect to end up raising a pack of ungrateful wolves!”
“Maoshan, we really aren’t…”
“Aren’t what? Not coveting the marriage? Or not coveting the dowry?” Xia Maoshan took a deep breath, then smiled bitterly. “I supported the clan because I have no son. I hoped that if I were to pass before my wife, you might look after my wife and daughter in remembrance of my past care. But now, while I still live, you already show your true colors. How could I ever entrust my wife and daughter to you?”
Hearing Xia Maoshan’s words, Xia Madam’s eyes reddened, filled with remorse.
“I will write to the clan elders back home and inform them of today’s events. I, Xia Maoshan, voluntarily accept expulsion from the Xia clan and sever all kinship ties!” Xia Maoshan stared at Third Uncle. “Please have the clan elders strike my name from the family registry!”
Third Uncle immediately panicked, grabbing Xia Maoshan’s hand: “Maoshan, Maoshan, you’ve misunderstood us. We never intended…”
“Attendants!” Xia Maoshan shook off Third Uncle’s hand, his voice turning cold. “Escort all members of the Xia clan out! Henceforth, none shall be permitted to cross our threshold again!”
Third Uncle’s face turned ashen with terror. Now they had thoroughly offended Xia Maoshan. When he returned to the estate and told the widows and orphans that Xia Maoshan was reclaiming the lands, he would become the clan’s ultimate sinner!
“Maoshan, you can’t do this! I’m your Third Uncle! If your grandfather were still alive, he would never allow such unfilial conduct!”
“Uncle, my mother only acted out of concern for me. You know how ineffectual my father has always been in official circles. At my age, I should have been married long ago, yet no suitable matchmakers have come calling. My mother merely worried about my marriage prospects and made a rash decision in her confusion!” Xia Yuruo urgently clutched the hem of Xia Maoshan’s robe, lifting her tear-streaked face.
Xia Jianxi watched Yuruo’s performance coldly, then observed the evident softening in Xia Maoshan’s expression, and couldn’t help but laugh at herself bitterly.
In her previous life, she too had been deceived by Xia Yuruo’s pitiful appearances, ultimately willingly surrendering what rightfully belonged to her.
“Regarding your marriage, my mother has been actively seeking matches for you all along. I myself have saved considerable private funds to supplement your dowry when you wed. But you? For the sake of marriage into Yong’an Wangfu, you humiliate me like this, even involving the clan to force me to prove my innocence. Xia Yuruo, your mother cares for you, but does that mean my parents don’t care for me?” Xia Jianxi gazed at Yuruo, tears falling like broken pearls scattering across the floor.
Xia Yuruo had always been delicate – at the slightest dissatisfaction, she would weep and wail. But Xia Jianxi was different.
As the sole daughter of the General’s Residence, she bore the family’s regulations and reputation whenever she stepped outside. Thus she had always been resilient. Since turning five, even Xia Maoshan and Xia Madam had rarely seen her shed tears.
Seeing Xia Jianxi like this, Xia Madam understood her daughter had endured immense grievance and suffering. Her heart ached unbearably as she tightly embraced her only daughter: “Xia Maoshan, they are your brother’s wife and daughter. You may pity them, but Jianxi is my only daughter. If you forgive them, you betray both me and Jianxi!”
“Shu Tang…” Xia Maoshan immediately grew anxious, instinctively reaching for his wife’s hand, only to be pushed away.
In that moment, the usually soft-hearted Xia Maoshan suddenly hardened his resolve: “Your marriage prospects may be important! Your mother may dote on you! But that doesn’t permit you to scheme against my Jianxi like this! The matter stands thus – further discussion is pointless. Attendants!”
Servants and stewards who had been waiting nearby rushed forward en masse.
“Escort all members of the Xia clan, along with the Second Madam and Second Young Lady, out!” Having spoken, Xia Maoshan resolutely turned his back on them.
The servants and stewards in the mansion had long been driven nearly mad with rage by these shameless scoundrels. Finally hearing Xia Maoshan give the order, they immediately swarmed forward in a dense crowd. The head steward spoke first: “Gentlemen, if you please!”