Old Madam Xie suddenly sat up from the couch.
Over twenty years ago, the Xie family was nothing. As a woman, she naturally wouldn’t pay attention to court cases.
But she understood clearly—He Shi was a descendant of the criminal official He family, and her eldest grandson Jingyu had actually taken a criminal official’s daughter as a concubine!
At this moment, she finally understood why He Shi, who had been determined to marry Jingyu back then, became quiet about entering the family after Jingyu became an official!
She also understood why, despite her repeatedly offering to make He Shi a concubine, He Shi remained unwilling no matter what!
Because that vile woman knew her own identity, knew she would bring trouble to the Xie family, knew she would ruin the futures of several children!
“That… that was all over twenty years ago…” Xie Ping said with trembling lips. “The He family has already received their deserved retribution. Over a hundred people from three clans are nearly all dead… The court has long stopped pursuing the He family’s past offenses. Even if people find out father took a He family woman as a concubine, nothing will happen… Although I was born to He Shi, I only recognize mother as my mother…”
Yun Chu sneered inwardly.
Xie Ping and Xie Shi’an were truly worthy of being biological siblings—identically selfish, afraid that she, their legitimate mother, would abandon them after learning the truth.
She suppressed her mockery and spoke: “Ping’er, you’re still too young. Think about it—when so many people from the He family were beheaded back then, a century-old aristocratic family disappeared just like that. Could the surviving He family members have no resentment? Could the Emperor and court not know about this resentment in their hearts? As long as the He family members stay far away where they should be, the Emperor and court naturally won’t say anything, but—”
She paused, then continued, “An’er is about to enter the Imperial Academy, and Ping’er, you’re about to marry into Prince An’jing’s mansion. You two are descendants of criminal officials, yet in such close contact with imperial family members. Who dares guarantee you two won’t vent the resentment in your hearts on imperial family members? If your identities are discovered, everyone in the Xie family, every single one, will have to pay the price!”
Old Madam only felt a fishy sweetness in her throat.
Even a young girl like Ping’er knew He Shi’s identity, yet she had been deceived for so long!
If they really waited until An’er entered the Imperial Academy, until Ping’er became Princess An’jing, the Xie family would definitely be charged with the crime of deceiving the emperor!
The Xie family had endured three generations, decades, finally making it to the capital, finally reaching this point, only to be ruined in one stroke by that vile woman He Shi!
The Imperial Academy could no longer be attended!
Prince An’jing could not be married!
“Ptui!”
Old Madam couldn’t hold back and vomited a mouthful of blood.
“Chu’er!”
Old Madam grasped Yun Chu’s hand.
Yun Chu handed the old lady a cup of tea: “Old Madam, don’t get angry. Husband and An’er are thinking of solutions. From what they said, they want to send Concubine He to the south or north.”
Xie Ping nodded vigorously like pounding garlic: “Yes, yes, yes, send her away, the farther the better. As long as outsiders never know He Shi’s identity, everything will be fine.”
“Old Madam, today’s cursing incident is enough to show that He Shi also harbors resentment toward our Xie family. Perhaps she resents that you, Old Madam, wouldn’t let her enter the family back then, or perhaps she resents that I occupy the position of legitimate wife.” Yun Chu spoke. “If the Xie family sends her away, the resentment in her heart will only grow stronger. When she does something then, it won’t be something we can control.”
Old Madam’s heart sank: “Chu’er, what do you mean?”
Yun Chu remained silent.
“Chu’er, I know Jingyu wronged you, that the Xie family is indebted to you and deceived you. We can slowly compensate you for all this afterward!” Old Madam’s voice carried pleading. “But all three children—An’er, Wei’er, and Ping’er—truly recognize you as their mother. Can you bear to watch their futures be completely ruined? You and Jingyu are one as husband and wife. You are a woman of the Xie family. Our Xie family reaching today has truly not been easy. Can you bear to watch Jingyu’s official career stop here?”
Yun Chu stood up and lowered her eyes: “I need to see what you Xie family does before I decide whether I’ll still be a woman of the Xie family in the future.”
After speaking, she turned and walked out of Anshou Hall.
Old Madam Xie’s head was filled with thunderous roaring.
Chu’er’s words meant she wanted to sever ties with the Xie family. Was this divorce?
Heavens, having He Shi as a descendant of criminal officials was already a devastating blow to the Xie family. If Yun Chu also left, the Xie family would truly never be able to rise again.
“Ping’er, help me up!”
Old Madam forced herself to rise from the couch. Nanny Zhou and Xie Ping supported her on either side.
When the voodoo puppets were discovered, Old Madam had coughed up blood. Just now she vomited a large mouthful of blood, and her body could barely hold on.
But the old lady knew that even if she couldn’t hold on, she must get up. Otherwise, it would be the Xie family’s turn to collapse.
Soon they arrived at Xie Jingyu’s courtyard. The servants were all busy with their tasks, while the atmosphere in the study was extremely oppressive.
After Old Madam entered, Nanny Zhou closed the study door and stood guard at the bottom of the steps, not allowing any servants to approach.
“Grandmother, why have you come?”
Xie Jingyu quickly helped Old Madam sit in a chair, placing a soft pillow behind her.
“I already know about He Shi’s matter.” Old Madam got straight to the point. “Jingyu, you and An’er have deliberated for so long. What have you finally decided to do?”
Xie Jingyu pressed his lips together.
Xie Shi’an clenched his fists.
Although father and son had been alone together for so long, they actually hadn’t deliberated much, because there was no way forward.
Keeping He Shi in the Xie residence was simply impossible.
But if they sent He Shi away, would that really be foolproof?
Now that someone was watching the Xie family, once He Shi left the Xie residence, she might fall into the hands of interested parties. At that point, it would be beyond salvation.
“I have a solution.”
As soon as Old Madam spoke, everyone’s gaze fell on the old lady.
“If He Shi died, there would be no evidence left.” Old Madam spoke word by word. “It just depends on whether you can bear it.”
Xie Ping’s head spun: “No…”
Although she looked down on He Shi as her biological mother, she had never thought of letting He Shi die.
Xie Jingyu’s hands braced against the desk, his face full of shock. How could grandmother say such a cruel thing so lightly?
He and He Shi met in their youth, knew and loved each other, and had three children together. Although their feelings weren’t as deep now, he absolutely wouldn’t let He Shi die.
The study was completely silent.
In this quiet, Xie Shi’an spoke: “If father wants to go further in his official career, if elder sister wants to safely become Princess An’jing, if I want to study at the Imperial Academy, if the Xie family wants to become new nobility of the court, then… He Shi can only… die.”
Xie Ping’s face turned pale.
She couldn’t believe An’er would say such heartless words. Old Madam had no blood relation to He Shi, so wanting He Shi dead was normal, but An’er had half of He Shi’s blood in his body. How could he let his own mother die!
Shouldn’t he be persuading Old Madam to change her mind?
Xie Jingyu closed his eyes: “Then… as grandmother says.”
Old Madam stood up with difficulty: “An’er, you are the one who understands the bigger picture. Then this matter will be entrusted to you. Ping’er will assist. You are He Shi’s children. For your sake, she will surely be willing to go to her death.”
Xie Ping nearly collapsed entirely.