“What…are you talking about?”
Xiao Chengli’s weak voice came. Xie Wanning turned around and saw him lying on the bed, his eyes half-open, looking at her.
After sleeping all night, Xiao Chengli didn’t feel comfortable at all; instead, he felt extremely tired and hungry.
“Husband is awake.”
Xie Wanning put on a fake smile and walked slowly towards him, deliberately saying, “Just now, Xiao Huan told me that Liuying has been settled by her mother-in-law. She was quite frightened and wanted to come find you, but was stopped outside by the people left behind by the nanny. But don’t worry, husband, there are people taking care of Aunt Rou, she’s fine.” Xiao Chengli’s face stiffened, and he turned his head away expressionlessly, refusing to look at Xie Wanning.
He had been beaten yesterday, and although a night had passed, he was still somewhat embarrassed.
Unfortunately, his stomach wasn’t as cooperative as his face; it rumbled loudly.
“Husband, are you hungry? I’ve prepared porridge and snacks for breakfast; I’ll bring them to you.”
Xie Wanning stood up, took the things Chunhuan handed her, and then said emphatically, “Alright, you can leave now. The Marquis said that outsiders are not allowed in this study.” Chunhuan
bowed her head in agreement and stepped out.
Xie Wanning turned back, about to serve Xiao Chengli his meal, but unexpectedly, Xiao Chengli glared at her fiercely.
Despite Xie Wanning’s seemingly docile expression, she had clearly brought up his concubine’s matter on purpose.
Was she implying that she was useless, unable to even protect the person she loved?
“Father only asked you to stay with me, and you’re smug about that? Let me tell you, don’t think that just because of this, I’m yours alone.”
“Rou’er is understanding, and now she’s pregnant. She’s confined to her quarters. If anything happens to her, I’ll hold you responsible.”
If she hadn’t refused to give him those few hundred taels of silver, the person who borrowed the money wouldn’t have gone directly to her father.
He wouldn’t have been beaten so badly!
Xie Wan Ning said aggrievedly, “Husband, what do you mean by that? In the few days since I married into the family, I’ve always been considerate of you. Even though you took my half-sister and Liu Ying as concubines, I never said anything. My only wish is for you to have everything go smoothly and for all your desires to be fulfilled.”
“Come on, your sister told me long ago that you’re domineering in the Xie family. You seem gentle on the surface, but who knows how many harmful schemes you’ve been plotting.”
“You made Liu Ying serve me, just so you could see me neglect my studies and be punished by Father?”
This bitch is holding a grudge against him because of what happened on our wedding night and is deliberately trying to make him look bad.
Xiao Chengli was furious and reached out to snatch the bowl Xie Wanning was holding.
Xie Wanning had anticipated his move, deliberately tilting her wrist slightly, spilling the still-scalding porridge directly onto the back of Xiao Chengli’s hand.
“Ah…”
Xiao Chengli cried out in pain, and Xie Wanning panicked instantly, frantically grabbing a handkerchief to wipe it off, only to make things worse.
“Get away!”
Xiao Chengli roared, shoving Xie Wanning.
Xie Wanning fell to the ground.
At this moment, the servant and the maid left by Granny Li pushed open the door and saw Xiao Chengli’s face contorted with rage, and Xie Wanning lying on the ground looking aggrieved.
The servant cried out and rushed to help Xiao Chengli up, while the maid helped Xie Wanning up.
“Get out, get out of here!”
Xiao Chengli was still yelling at the top of his lungs, and Xie Wanning covered her face with her handkerchief and ran out crying.
This matter couldn’t be kept from Madam Xiao. Xie Wanning had only been “crying” in her bedroom for a short while
when Granny Li came to fetch her. Xie Wanning’s eyes were still swollen, and she deliberately didn’t use powder to cover them. She followed Granny Li to Madam Xiao’s courtyard.
Lord Xiao had already finished his breakfast and gone to court, so he was unaware of the incident.
“What was all this commotion about this morning?”
Only Xie Wanning and Xiao Chengli were in the room at the time; others only knew they were arguing, not the reason.
Therefore, Madam Xiao could only ask her.
Xie Wanning sobbed, “It’s my fault for not serving my husband well…”
“Tell the truth,” Madam Xiao’s tone hardened.
In the past, if Xie Wanning took the blame, Madam Xiao would turn a blind eye and let it go, even giving Xie Wanning a few pointers on how to serve her husband.
But now that Lord Xiao had lost his heart to Xiao Chengli, Madam Xiao could no longer deceive her.
She could say that to others, but she didn’t believe it.
Xie Wanning looked aggrieved. “My husband… he’s thinking about Consort Rou.”
Madam Xiao ha d a headache, angered by her own son.
Even now, he was barely able to protect himself, yet he was still thinking about that troublemaker.
“Mother-in-law, I don’t know what Consort Rou said to my husband. He seems to have a deep misunderstanding about me, and no matter how I explain, it’s no use.”
Xie Wanning complained pitifully, making Madam Xiao’s head ache even more.
She had hoped Xie Wanning would discipline Xiao Chengli, but she hadn’t expected her to be so weak and naive; she was completely unreliable.
“Never mind, I’ll send someone to serve you in the study. Don’t go there for now.”
Madam Xiao knew Xiao Chengli had been punished and lost face, and was currently angry. The more Xie Wanning hovered around him, the worse their relationship would become. She
had just heard from the servants that Xiao Chengli had burned himself in his anger. For now, she could only wait for his injury to heal before making any further moves.
Seeing Madam Xiao’s displeasure, Xie Wanning said nothing more.
At this moment, an old woman and two maids brought in some items.
“Madam, these are all things taken from the storeroom according to your instructions. Is there anything missing? If not, this servant will send them to the Second Young Master.”
Madam Xiao glanced at them, her face darkening. “How can you send these as knee pads if they’re not sealed up? Fleece is fleece, and leather is leather. If the Marquis sees them, what will it look like?”
“You’ve been with me for a long time, how can you be so irresponsible?”
If the Marquis hadn’t spoken, she would have sent them anyway, since Xiao Chengyan might not even really like them.
But the Marquis had spoken twice; if she continued to be so perfunctory, wouldn’t she be deliberately provoking him?
The old woman had initially thought that this casual instruction wasn’t important, and that the Second Young Master wasn’t particularly noticeable, so she planned to just brush it off. She hadn’t expected Madam Xiao to take it so seriously.
Xie Wanning glanced at the old woman and knew that even if she did as she was told, she wouldn’t do it very well, so she said, “Mother-in-law, why don’t you let me do this job?” ”
You?” Madam Xiao hesitated.
Xie Wan Ning nodded. “My stepmother’s younger brother is in the army. I made knee pads for her before, so I know what kind of stitches to use. They should be suitable.”
“Last night, my second brother brought medicine to my husband and even applied it himself. I heard it’s very precious; my husband didn’t feel much pain all night after using it.” ”
My second brother is so kind to my husband, so I should do something in return. Since this was ordered by the Marquis, I’ll take this opportunity to show my appreciation and repay the favor.”
She found a very suitable reason for herself, and Madam Xiao didn’t object. Anyway, Xiao Cheng Li didn’t like her and didn’t want her to serve him, so it was better for her to find something else to do.
“Alright, then this matter is entrusted to you. There aren’t many days left; you can handle it as you see fit.”
The conscription period only had five days left, including today. What could she possibly come up with?