Marquis Zhongyong’s brow furrowed instantly. “Nonsense, she is your second sister-in-law.”
Xie Lanzhou, being young and having spent little time with the Marquis, was frightened by his scolding and cried even harder.
But as the little treasure of the Marquis Estate, he had always been pampered and believed he was right in everything, so he stubbornly clung to his own view.
“Mother dislikes her. Whenever she appears, Mother gets angry…”
This was what he had observed daily, leading him to believe that Ye Zhen had caused the Marquise’s illness.
“Brother Lanzhou.”
Xie Jinyao quickly interrupted, “Be good. Mother will return in a couple of days. If you cause trouble, she will be upset when she finds out, and if she’s upset, she might stay longer at the estate.”
Since it was Ye Zhen who had returned, not the Marquise, she knew something must have happened.
Unclear of the specifics but worried her younger brother might speak carelessly, she hurriedly intervened.
Xie Lanzhou was deeply attached to the Marquise and, upon hearing this, was successfully distracted. He buried his face in the Marquis’s shoulder, sobbing pitifully and dared not say more.
The Marquis, already grieving the loss of his son, felt his heart soften at his young son’s distress and let slide the boy’s earlier impertinence.
However, he recalled Xie Tingzhou’s words and thought his youngest might indeed have been spoiled by his wife, deciding he would personally take charge of the boy’s upbringing from then on.
Xie Tingzhou had lingered at the back of the procession since entering Jingcheng, as if admiring the changes in the capital. Only now did he nudge his horse forward, clopping steadily to approach the group.
“Eldest Brother?”
Xie Jinyao was startled to see the familiar mask. Like the Marquise, she had received no news of Xie Tingzhou’s return to the capital.
But she reacted swiftly, promptly greeting him with a bow.
Xie Tingzhou did not dismount. He glanced down at her coolly, gave a faint “Hmm,” then urged his horse up the steps.
As he crossed the threshold, he turned his head and sneered at the Marquis, “Save the father-son affection for after you’ve seen the Emperor.”
Xie Jinyao felt the reality sink in—her detestable eldest brother had truly returned.
Just as petty as in his youth, he couldn’t stand to see their father doting on her and their brother without causing trouble.
First, his youngest son’s crying, then Xie Tingzhou’s sarcasm—the Marquis lost any sense of reunion after a long separation.
The Emperor, considering his arduous journey, had permitted him to rest at home before attending court—a royal favor.
But he couldn’t actually rest. Handing his young son to a servant, he entered the estate to wash and change, preparing to see the Emperor later.
Xie Tingzhou also returned to his own courtyard. Just as he was about to undo his belt, Xing Ze reported, “Master, the Shaofuren sent a note.”
The handwriting on the note was bold and forceful, unlike a woman’s script and incongruent with her appearance.
After reading it, Xie Tingzhou handed the note to Xing Ze. “Fuguang will accompany me to the palace. You stay.”
After the father and son had left, Xie Jinyao learned everything that had happened at the estate from the servants.
Reading the Marquise’s letter, she slammed her palm heavily on the table in fury. “How dare that country bumpkin cause Mother to be confined to the estate!”
She had always looked down on Ye Zhen, feeling that having such a low-born Shaofuren in the Marquis Estate was a disgrace to their family’s honor.
Though she had not interfered with her mother’s plans, she had never regarded Ye Zhen as worthy.
After sending someone to investigate Yin Yue’s whereabouts, she grabbed a whip and stormed into Ye Zhen’s courtyard.
After returning, Ye Zhen changed her bandages, then dusted her face with powder, making her already pale complexion appear even more bloodless.
She changed her clothes as well.
The garment was loose and of a faded color, making the wearer appear gaunt and destitute.
Wan Xing was about to ask her mistress what she meant when the courtyard gate was kicked open.
Xie Jinyao stormed in furiously. “So Lan-di wasn’t wrong after all. Mother being detained at the estate really does have something to do with you.”
As she spoke, she lashed her whip toward Ye Zhen.
Her mother suspected Ye Zhen was hiding her capabilities, and Xie Jinyao also found the recent events at the estate suspicious.
If Ye Zhen truly had skills, she wouldn’t just stand there and take the beating. So, Xie Jinyao held nothing back.
Ye Zhen seemed to struggle to evade the strike. “Young Lady, do not push others too far. Mother-in-law was punished because she did something wrong. It was the Marquis who penalized her. If you disagree, take it up with him. What sense does it make to trouble me?”
“I’m hitting you precisely because I want to!”
Xie Jinyao swung her whip again, but this time, Wan Xing pulled Ye Zhen out of the way.
She then dragged Ye Zhen toward the gate to escape.
Watching the master and servant flee in disarray, Xie Jinyao felt a flicker of doubt.
But having trusted the Marquise since childhood, she believed there must be a reason for her mother’s suspicions and chased after Ye Zhen.
Xie Jinyao had practiced with the whip since she was young, and even her father praised her skill. If Ye Zhen were struck, her skin would surely split open.
She refused to believe Ye Zhen could still hide her abilities under such circumstances.
If she and her mother were overthinking it, then this was her chance to teach Ye Zhen a lesson.
Her mother hadn’t hidden her schemes against Ye Zhen from her, yet they had failed. Instead, Ye Zhen returned unscathed, fueling Xie Jinyao’s rage.
If Ye Zhen had obediently fallen into the trap, perhaps her second brother wouldn’t have died, and those rumors would never have spread.
Even without leaving the estate these past two days, she could imagine the mockery directed at the Marquis Estate.
As the legitimate daughter of the Zhongyong Hou Estate, she had always been the object of flattery and admiration. Never before had she become a laughingstock.
And now, at the age of marriage negotiations, these rumors would ruin her.
It was all Ye Zhen’s fault.
A country girl who had enjoyed three years of glory in the Marquis Estate—sacrificing for the estate should have been her duty.
But since she refused to be compliant, Xie Jinyao would beat her into submission.
With another whip crack, this one aimed with full force, the whip was caught mid-air.
Xie Jinyao sneered. So, Ye Zhen could no longer hide her true self.
But when she looked up, the other end of the whip was held by an unfamiliar man dressed as a guard.
She seemed to recall seeing him following Xie Tingzhou earlier; he must be Xie Tingzhou’s guard.
“Let go, you dog slave! How dare you trespass into the inner courtyard!” she shouted angrily.
Xing Ze smiled. “Old Madam Wang entrusted the Heir with some medicine for the Second Shaofuren. I was ordered to deliver it. The moment I reached the courtyard gate, I was struck by your whip. How imposing you are, Young Lady.”
With that, he yanked the whip away.
Caught off guard by his audacity, Xie Jinyao nearly stumbled and fell.
Wherever she went in the estate, the servants had always treated her with respect. This was the first time anyone had dared to show her such disrespect.
“Guards, seize this insolent dog slave!”
Originally, she had only brought two trusted aides to test Ye Zhen, but now, enraged by Xing Ze, she wanted her guards to punish this meddler first.
Xing Ze was not afraid of her.
“Young Lady struck me first. How is it my fault?” He turned to Ye Zhen. “Second Shaofuren, you must bear witness for me.”
Ye Zhen had anticipated that Xie Jinyao would make a move against her.
The Marquise, upon calming down, would surely suspect her, but since the Marquise was confined to the estate, she could only send her daughter to test the waters.
Xie Jinyao, being arrogant and haughty, relied on the authority of Marquis Zhongyong. She usually flaunted herself as a champion of justice but took the greatest pleasure in whipping people with her whip.
Unable to reveal her skills and unwilling to suffer a beating for nothing, she made another deal with Xie Tingzhou.
That was why Xing Ze appeared just in time.
Ye Zhen forced a bitter smile, “If I survive, I’ll certainly testify for you.”
Reminded by this, Xing Ze understood.
“Indeed, even you, her sister-in-law, are not spared from the young lady’s whipping—clearly, she holds you in no regard. If you stay here, you might be beaten to death before my Heir returns. Then I’d lose my witness and have no way to clear myself, even with a mouth to speak.”
He stepped in front of Ye Zhen, “In that case, I can only escort you to the estate gate first and wait there for my Heir to return.”
Hearing that he intended to make a scene at the estate entrance, Xie Jinyao was nearly furious to death.
Xie Tingzhou’s guard was just as detestable as he was.
She hastily ordered, “Stop them!”
Within the estate, she could always find a way to explain things to her father, but if this escalated outside, the Marquis Estate would likely become a laughingstock again.
Beating her sister-in-law would utterly ruin her reputation.