When Xie Shiwei returned to the manor, Yun Chu specially arranged a family banquet.
The family banquet was arranged in the Old Mistress’s courtyard. People from each courtyard all came to make it lively and bustling.
The Old Mistress sat in the seat of honor, watching as a servant helped Xie Shiwei walk into the courtyard.
Although she didn’t like this grandson, he was still a Xie family junior after all, and the Yun family had said they would find a position for Hui’er. In the future, he might have some fortune.
“Hui’er, come, let your great-grandmother take a look at you.”
The Old Mistress pulled Hui’er over, touched his face, displaying a loving expression.
“You’ve lost quite a bit of weight. Our Hui’er has suffered hardship at the estate.”
Xie Shiwei remained silent and said nothing.
Before long, Xie Jingyu and Xie Shi’an arrived together.
Xie Shiwei suddenly raised his head to look.
He saw Xie Shi’an dressed in brocade robes, his hair bound with a jade crown, looking like a refined young gentleman—the very picture of high spirits and vigor.
As for himself, he wore coarse cloth garments like a Xie manor servant. His leg was broken, and his entire life was ruined.
He simply couldn’t control the rage surging in his heart. He stepped forward and rushed over, grabbing Xie Shi’an by the throat.
“Cough, cough, cough!” Xie Shi’an had completely not expected he would do this. Strangled and unable to breathe, he choked out, “Xie—Xie Shiwei, have you gone mad? What are you doing!”
Xie Jingyu raised his right hand and fiercely slapped Xie Shiwei across the face. “Unfilial wretch! You’ve just been brought back and you’re already causing trouble! Are you deliberately trying to anger me to death!”
Xie Shiwei was struck and collapsed onto the table. The dishes that had just been brought to the table were all knocked over.
Several concubines cried out in alarm.
“Hui’er, what’s gotten into you?” Yuan Shi hurried forward to pull Xie Shiwei back. “This welcoming banquet was specially arranged for you. What are you making a fuss about?”
“Xie Shi’an, I’m asking you!” Xie Shiwei’s eyes blazed with fire as he stared at the elder brother he had once most admired. “Back when my leg was injured, was it you who prevented the family from calling a physician to treat me! My leg could clearly have been healed, but because of you, I’ve become crippled for life! Isn’t that right?!”
Xie Shi’an’s expression remained calm. “Your leg couldn’t be healed in the first place. It has nothing to do with anyone.”
“Then what about Concubine He? How did she die!” Xie Shiwei roared. “Did you force her to her death!”
As soon as these words left his mouth, the faces of everyone in the courtyard changed.
Only a few people knew about Concubine He’s death. Everyone else believed Concubine He had committed suicide after being caught practicing witchcraft and curses.
Now hearing Xie Shiwei say that Xie Shi’an had forced Concubine He to her death, the other concubines couldn’t believe the truth was actually like this…
“Silence!” The Old Mistress shouted angrily. “We brought you back to the Xie family to secure your future, yet you’re spouting nonsense and causing trouble. Someone, take the Second Young Master away!”
Xie Shiwei struggled desperately. Those servants were punched, kicked, and even bitten by him several times.
The two tables of dishes in the courtyard were all overturned by him as he lifted them. The more he struggled, the more out of control he became.
Xie Jingyu was so angry that hot blood surged in his chest. The physician had said he must not lose his temper, but in such a scene, he simply couldn’t control his fury.
He saw a wooden stick on the ground, picked it up, and struck Xie Shiwei’s back with it.
Xie Shiwei let out a miserable howl.
“That’s enough, stop this.” Yun Chu walked over, pulled the stick from Xie Jingyu’s hand and threw it on the ground, then supported Xie Shiwei by the arm. “Hui’er, give Mother some face. Stop making trouble, all right? Mother will escort you back to your courtyard.”
Xie Shiwei could lose his temper at anyone, but he simply had no way to show Yun Chu a cold face, because it was Mother who had brought him back here.
He said nothing more and followed Yun Chu back to his own courtyard.
“Hui’er, don’t blame your father for hitting you. No matter how upset you are, you can’t grab your elder brother by the throat.” Yun Chu sat at the table’s edge and advised, “Your elder brother has to attend school every day, and before long he’ll be going to the Imperial Academy. If people see bruises on his neck, won’t they gossip behind the scenes about unseemly things in the Xie family?”
Xie Shiwei raised his head. “Mother, tell me the truth. Is Concubine He’s death related to Elder Brother or not?”
“Hui’er, whoever told you these things, don’t believe them. Concubine He simply did bad things and couldn’t face it, so she drank poison and died.” Yun Chu’s expression changed drastically. “Your elder brother is the child your father is most proud of. All of your father’s efforts, all of the Xie family’s resources—they’re all invested in your elder brother. If you keep opposing your elder brother, your father definitely won’t forgive you. I can protect you for a while, but can I protect you forever?”
Xie Shiwei clenched his fists tightly.
He had merely offended the Marquis of Xuanwu and was abandoned by the Xie family.
Yet Xie Shi’an, who had personally killed his own mother, could still obtain everything the Xie family had!
Why was it so unfair!
“It’s getting late. Rest well. I’ll be going now.”
Yun Chu patted his shoulder, turned, and walked out of the courtyard.
Just as she reached the courtyard entrance, she saw Xie Shi’an standing there. “An’er?”
“Mother, Hui’er has some misunderstandings about me. I must explain things clearly.” Xie Shi’an spoke. “I’ll go in first.”
He had just walked to the entrance of the room when a lamp was thrown at his feet. “Get out!”
“Hui’er, I’m your elder brother.” Xie Shi’an sighed and picked up the lamp. “Mother is gone. In this world, we brothers are the closest to each other. Give me a chance to explain.”
“Fine, then explain clearly!” Xie Shiwei limped out from the room. “Explain why you wouldn’t allow the family to call a physician to treat me. Explain why you forced Mother to drink poisoned wine! Speak! Explain!”
“Your leg couldn’t be healed in the first place. This matter has nothing to do with me.” Xie Shi’an said slowly. “As for Mother’s matter, it’s very complicated and can’t be explained in just a few words… Hui’er, don’t worry. Although your leg can’t be healed, after I achieve official rank, I’ll give you wealth and glory, ensuring you a life without worries!”
Xie Shiwei looked at him coldly. “Really?”
Xie Shi’an nodded. “Of course it’s true. But the premise is, before I achieve official rank, you must obediently stay at the estate. I’ll personally escort you back to the estate tomorrow. All right?”
This younger brother of his—he understood him very well. Impulsive, quick to anger, lacking brains.
Knowing such a huge secret of the Xie family, how could he feel at ease letting his maternal grandfather take Hui’er away from the Xie family?
Hui’er must remain in the Xie family, stay at the Xie family estate for his entire life!
Xie Shiwei’s expression changed dramatically. “What do you mean ‘obediently stay at the estate’? You’re afraid if I remain at the Xie manor, I’ll take away things that belong to you, aren’t you! Xie Shi’an, you’re too hypocritical! For the sake of your own future, you killed Mother. Now that I know your secret, do you want to get rid of me too?”
He grabbed a teacup from the table and smashed it down toward Xie Shi’an’s head. Immediately blood flowed profusely.
The servants in the courtyard cried out in alarm and rushed over to restrain Xie Shiwei.
“Quick, quickly go fetch the Master, fetch the Old Mistress!”
When the two young masters fought, they as servants couldn’t manage it. They had to request someone who could control the situation to come.
The Old Mistress had already been thinking about coming to talk with Xie Shiwei. The main thing was that this unruly boy knew there was something suspicious about Concubine He’s death. Such a secret absolutely could not be spread. She had specially come to warn Xie Shiwei.
Halfway there, she heard the servant who came to report say that the Second Young Master had smashed open a bloody hole in the First Young Master’s head!