Xie Wan Ning slept soundly, but Xiao Cheng Li hadn’t returned when she woke up. It seemed that Aunt Rou was persistent and determined to humiliate her today. In this second life, Xie Wan Ning didn’t care about such things.
tidied herself up and prepared to go to the front hall to serve tea.
She knew that if the maids and servants saw her this morning, they would gossip, and she had even asked Chun Huan to paint her face whiter, hoping she would look pitiful.
Madam Xiao herself didn’t want to fall out with her son, but he was behaving so outrageously that she wanted to instigate her, his newlywed daughter-in-law, to intervene, preferably getting rid of all his concubines so he could focus on his studies.
Xie Wan Ning wasn’t stupid; she wasn’t going to be the one to stick her neck out.
Neither of Xiao Chengli’s parents could control him, and she didn’t care.
She just wanted to have a child so she could kill them all once and for all; that would be the only way to solve the problem once and for all.
Madam Xiao hadn’t arranged for anyone to stay in her room, and Chunhuan wandered aimlessly, relying on her memory. Finally, Xie Wanning quietly reminded her, and she found her way back to the right path.
Just as she reached the gallery separated from the garden, she saw a tall figure standing there.
The man was wearing a dark long robe and stood with his back to them.
“Is that the young master?” Chunhuan asked softly.
Xie Wanning looked at the back, her expression slightly cold. “No.”
Xiao Chengli didn’t have such broad shoulders.
At that moment, the man heard footsteps and slowly turned around, revealing his true face.
It was Xiao Chengyan!
Xie Wanning’s heart skipped a beat. She wanted to switch partners to have a child, and the person she wanted to have was Xiao Chengyan.
Unexpectedly, before she even went to find him, he had come first.
Because Xiao Chengyan was to be drafted into the army in ten days and wouldn’t return for several years, she had originally planned to find an opportunity to get to know him first, which would make things easier later. Now, that saved her that trouble.
She only had ten days; she had to succeed.
After Xiao Chengyan’s draft, he would have rendered meritorious service, and would be granted the title of Marquis, inheriting a branch of the Xiao family estate. Firstly,
he wouldn’t take her things; secondly, as long as she could successfully conceive Xiao Chengyan’s child, even if the truth came out, Xiao Chengyan would have to show some consideration for her child.
Most importantly, Xiao Chengyan’s stepmother was dead, and in this Marquis’s mansion, apart from the old Marquis, he had no other ties.
At this moment, Xiao Chengyan’s gaze towards her was very deep, his sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes like the moon.
He was a martial artist, his face cold and hard, exuding a murderous aura.
Both were sons of the old Marquis Xiao, but Xiao Chengli appeared to be a gentleman, but was actually infatuated with beauty and lacked ambition. Xiao Chengyan, on the other hand, would be able to fight his way out, shed blood, and earn merit for his service.
The Xiao family’s inner quarters were in disarray, no wonder Xiao Chengyan would eventually live separately.
Before Xie Wanning could speak, he looked at her and asked in a low voice, “Are you Xie Wanning, the sister-in-law who just entered the household yesterday?”
“Yes.” Xie Wanning responded softly
, “I am Xiao Chengyan.”
Hearing this, Xie Wanning whispered, “I was originally my husband’s second younger brother.”
“Hmm.”
Xiao Chengyan nodded, his eyes still deep, and asked again, “Is sister-in-law going to the front hall?”
Xie Wanning didn’t know what he wanted to do, so she nodded again, but stood still, not daring to step forward.
“Yes…”
“Is there no servant from the Xiao family to lead the way?”
“No.”
“Then I’ll take sister-in-law there!”
Xiao Chengyan’s words made Xie Wanning’s expression freeze slightly, because she remembered that she had no interaction with Xiao Chengyan in her previous life. Their first meeting was ten days later, when he went to the palace to answer the call.
“Don’t worry, sister-in-law, I was just passing by on my way out of the manor.”
Xiao Chengyan’s deep eyes were fixed on her, his expression perfectly calm, causing Xie Wanning’s heart to skip a beat. His words made it seem as if she had truly been overthinking things.
“Then… thank you, second brother.”
With that, Xiao Chengyan turned and walked forward, Xie Wanning following at a distance.
Xie Wanning looked at the road, remaining silent, but then heard Xiao Chengyan speak again, “Is the concubine Rou in eldest brother’s room your half-sister?”
Xie Wanning was slightly taken aback, then softly hummed in agreement. “Second brother, you know about this too?”
“Indeed, it’s become common knowledge, who wouldn’t know?”
His soft tone carried an unspeakable sorrow, instantly moving anyone who heard it.
Xiao Chengyan suddenly stopped, startling Xie Wanning, who turned and stopped as well.
Looking up, she saw Xiao Chengyan had already turn ed around, his gaze deep and intense as he looked at her.
Xie Wanning’s face was unnaturally pale, especially her half-closed eyes, which concealed countless sorrows and unspoken thoughts.
That damned bastard had hurt her so badly.
Xiao Chengyan’s hands clenched tightly behind his back, desperately suppressing the anger in his heart, and he said calmly, “I’m not bringing this up to mock you, sister-in-law. Aunt Rou has caused quite a bit of trouble since she came to the manor, and even I know a little about it. I just want to tell you, sister-in-law, not to let so-called sisterly affection blind you. It’s better to be cautious.”
Although he had made thorough preparations, he still wanted to remind her to avoid any oversights.
Last night, Xiao Chengli, just like in his previous life, did not consummate their marriage with Xie Wanning, so this life was over.
Xie Wanning was slightly taken aback, and the words she was about to say stuck in her throat.
Xiao Chengyan was telling her to be wary of Xie Wanrou?
The Xiao family and the Xie family were engaged, and apart from meeting Xiao Chengli a few times, she had never met any other members of the Xiao family. Why was he doing this?
She didn’t know much about Xiao Chengyan in her past life, but her impression of him was always that he was cold and taciturn.
Moreover, it seemed a bit inappropriate for her brother-in-law to remind his newlywed sister-in-law to be wary of his brother’s concubine.
Could it be that because he was an illegitimate son, and his relationship with Xiao Chengli was strained, he was using this reminder as a pretext to stir up trouble between her and Xiao Chengli’s concubine, hoping to watch the drama unfold?
Seeing that she didn’t speak, Xiao Chengyan’s heart sank slightly. He
had indeed talked too much.
He shouldn’t have been so hasty.
However, seeing her safe and sound, alive and well before him, he breathed a sigh of relief.
For no other reason than that she was alright now, that was good.
“Sister-in-law, we’ve arrived. Just turn left and go straight.”
Xiao Chengyan composed himself, stopping where he was.
Xie Wanning gave a slight curtsy in thanks and turned to walk towards the front hall.
Xiao Chengyan watched her leave silently until she disappeared from sight. He, who was about to leave the manor, turned back to his courtyard.
As soon as he stepped inside, a dark figure closed the gate.
Without turning around, Xiao Chengyan asked coldly, “Was Hongye delivered?”