Madam Chen, however, could no longer restrain herself. She twisted the handkerchief in her hands so tightly it seemed she might tear it apart. Her lips trembled as though she had held back for a long time before finally swallowing the words she wanted to say. Instead, she put on a pitiful, tearful expression and looked toward Xie Yuanmao.
Without waiting for a response, she turned her head aside and discreetly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. Then she stood and said: “We had originally arranged for Younger Sister to stay in Haitang Courtyard. However, yesterday’s heavy snowfall left much of the courtyard in a mess, so I’m afraid it isn’t suitable for living in at the moment. Zhilan Studio, on the other hand, wasn’t affected by the snow or rain. Sixth Master, what do you think…?”
Hearing this, Xie Shuning almost laughed aloud. Whether it was Haitang Courtyard or Zhilan Studio, it made little difference. No matter how pleasant or carefully furnished those places were, it was all meaningless!
Neither residence was particularly poor, but both were located in remote corners of the estate. Not only were they far from the main residence, but they were also far from her father’s study in the inner compound.
Madam Chen’s calculations were impeccable. She wanted to keep them as far away from Father as possible. In her previous life, her mother had died in Zhilan Studio.
Remembering those events, Xie Shuning felt her throat go dry, and her limbs grow cold. Biting her lip, she softly asked, “Father, where do you think we should live?”
Caught off guard, Xie Yuanmao froze briefly.
“Father, if we move into Zhilan Studio, will you live there with us as well?” she continued, tilting her head back and looking up at him with pitiful eyes when he failed to answer.
Xie Yuanmao tugged slightly at the corner of his mouth before hesitantly turning to the Third Old Madam.
“Mother, the child is shy around strangers. Zhilan Studio is rather isolated as well. Why don’t we let them stay in Yuming Courtyard for the time being?”
Xie Shuning quietly sighed in relief. Fortunately, Father still favored them.
Madam Chen, however, felt her heart tighten painfully at his words.
Everything had already been settled beforehand. Madam Song and her three children were supposed to stay in Haitang Courtyard. Her suggestion to move them to Zhilan Studio because Haitang Courtyard had been spoiled by the snow was no fabrication. Yet now Xie Yuanmao was suddenly proposing that Song Shi and her children stay in Yuming Courtyard instead. Wasn’t that a direct slap in her face?
Yuming Courtyard was the principal residence.
Madam Chen nearly ground her silver teeth to dust in frustration.
Then the Third Old Madam spoke. “Old Sixth, isn’t a residence just a residence?”
At once, Madam Chen’s heart settled back into place.
Xie Shuning, however, clenched her fists silently. Entering through the main gate and moving into the principal residence were only the beginning. This time, she would advance with unstoppable force and protect both her mother and her brother. She knew Madam Chen’s temperament well. Since Father had made such a proposal, Madam Chen would willingly relinquish the principal residence, no matter how unwilling she was. From beginning to end, Madam Chen had always been the pitiable victim in Father’s eyes. That was precisely why, in the end, Father came to believe that her mother was the true villain.
Xie Yuanmao hesitated.
“Old Sixth.” As the words fell, the Third Old Madam cast him a sidelong glance before swiftly withdrawing her gaze. “Have you thought this through?”
Xie Yuanmao hesitated. If one were to say a residence was just a residence, that wouldn’t be entirely wrong. The Third Branch had no shortage of vacant rooms.
Xie Shuning’s great-grandfather had originally been from Bianjing. He didn’t move to the capital until he was nearly forty. The Xie family tree was not particularly flourishing. Her great-grandfather fathered only one son, Xie Xuan, Xie Shuning’s great-grandfather.
Xie Xuan was a brilliant scholar, a man of extraordinary talent. He passed the imperial examinations with distinction and entered the Hanlin Academy, where he reportedly earned considerable favor with the reigning emperor. Later, he married the eldest legitimate daughter of the Wen family of the capital and fathered three legitimate sons.
The Wen family, holders of the Duke Ying title, was one of the capital’s established aristocratic houses. Their position was far beyond anything the Xie family could compare with. Thus, after marrying a daughter of the Wen family, Xie Xuan truly gained a firm foothold in the capital. From then on, his official career prospered steadily. Unfortunately, of his three sons, only the eldest, Xie Shuning’s granduncle, amounted to anything noteworthy. The second son had been frail since childhood. He died young, leaving behind only a single son born of a concubine. As for the third son, Xie Shuning’s grandfather, he was even less accomplished. Neither successful in letters nor distinguished in martial pursuits, he failed even to produce a son. After fathering only an eldest daughter by a concubine, he too passed away.
As a result, although the Xie family consisted of three branches, the combined strength of the Second and Third Branches still could not match the prosperity of the Eldest Branch.
Moreover, Xie Shuning’s father, Xie Yuanmao, had originally been born into the Eldest Branch. The matriarch of the Eldest Branch was, in fact, her true grandmother.
People lived for their reputation. The Eldest Branch relied heavily on its public standing and prestige. Naturally, they did not wish to be criticized for mistreating less fortunate relatives. Therefore, over the years they had treated the Second and Third Branches increasingly generously. The estate itself had been divided into three equal parts. No branch received more or less than another.
Ironically, the Eldest Branch, despite having the largest share of descendants, was the most crowded. The sole son of the Second Branch had worked diligently to expand his family after coming of age, and his household had grown considerably as well. Only the Third Branch had remained empty and desolate for many years. Only now, with Father back, had the place regained some liveliness.
Therefore, aside from Zhilan Studio and Haitang Courtyard, which Madam Chen had just mentioned, many other residences could be occupied after only a little cleaning and preparation. Madam Song and her three children did not need to move into the principal residence.
Xie Yuanmao’s earlier suggestion had simply been instinctive. He had realized that Xie Shuning wanted to live with him, and in that moment his only thought had been that since he lived in the principal residence, they naturally should as well. Since returning, he had never consummated his marriage with Madam Chen. He slept alone in a separate room, and at this moment he had almost completely forgotten that Madam Chen even existed. More importantly, whenever he faced Madam Song, he felt overwhelmingly guilty.
“Forget it.” At that moment, Madam Song, who had remained silent all this time, finally spoke.
“We can stay in Zhilan Studio. A-Man is still a child. In a little while, she’ll forget all about it.”
The moment she heard that, Xie Shuning was dumbfounded. Her mother truly had a talent for undermining her efforts.
Yet upon hearing Madam Song’s words, Xie Yuanmao secretly breathed a great sigh of relief and shot her a grateful look.
“Father!” Seeing this, Xie Shuning grew even more anxious. At a complete loss for what else to say, she could only call out to him.