According to custom, Xie Hengzai’s coffin would remain at home for seven days before the funeral procession.

Nanyi was constantly planning her escape. She had originally intended to wait for the funeral day to find an opportunity when following the burial procession out of the Xie mansion, but on the afternoon of the third day, she sensed something amiss and was forced to advance her plans.

Yesterday, Qiao Yinzhi had come to the mourning hall, having a maidservant bring a food box from the kitchen, letting Nanyi eat quite a sumptuous dinner. She had also accompanied Nanyi in keeping vigil before the spirit tablet for a long time, telling her many stories about Xie Hengzai’s past.

Nanyi was terrified while chatting with Qiao Yinzhi, afraid she might ask about her own family matters—if she answered wrong, she would be exposed. But Qiao Yinzhi didn’t ask a single question about that. Nanyi always felt her gaze was filled with compassion.

She had even apologized to Nanyi, saying that Hengzai marrying a second wife was an unavoidable measure, and he had never intended to let a young maiden waste her life for him.

It sounded like Xie Hengzai was an extremely kind person.

Nanyi really wanted to tell Qiao Yinzhi that it was fine, that she would escape from the Xie family anyway to find Zhang Yuehui—she would never waste her life for anyone. But such words were treasonous and could absolutely not be spoken.

Then another night passed, and Third Concubine Lu Jinxiu came, also bringing some dishes, and asked Nanyi if she had any words she wanted someone to take back to the Qin mansion.

Nanyi had nothing to say, but if she said nothing, it would seem her relationship with the Qin family was abnormal, so she said some words of greeting.

The gazes of all these people were very strange. Nanyi’s intuition told her something must have happened—how could Xie Queshan let her live so easily?

She was as alert as a cat and immediately slipped out of the mourning hall to gather information. Then she heard the maidservants discussing Grand Madam’s decision to have her die as a burial sacrifice for Xie Hengzai.

“I heard that Lady Qin is an illegitimate daughter raised on the streets, a commoner… Having such a person enter the Xie family might pollute the eyes of our ancestors.”

“How did we learn about the Qin family’s inner quarters affairs?”

“It seems the Qin family’s dowry maid was gossiping in the back courtyard herself, and Concubine Lu’s people overheard it.”

“Then what can be done about this matter?”

“The ceremony has already been completed, Lady Qin is already the eldest son’s legitimate wife, it can’t be undone. We can only acknowledge her status and have her die as a burial sacrifice, without pursuing the Qin family’s responsibility. This is the greatest dignity Grand Madam can give.”

“Who told her to harbor the greed of a sparrow wanting to become a phoenix? How could the Xie family be so easily deceived?”

The maidservants’ discussion gradually faded away. Nanyi understood clearly—she was now definitively a sinner of the Xie family, with only a dead end ahead.

This must have been Xie Queshan’s doing! The affairs within aristocratic families he had spoken of referred to family honor, and she was about to become a sacrificial offering to that honor. She had to run immediately, not staying a moment longer.

Fortunately, Nanyi had been preparing these past few days, doing everything possible to learn Wangxue Manor’s layout.

She had learned that the deepest part of Wangxue Manor was the Xie ancestral hall, where no one usually dared disturb, so security was naturally weakest. She planned to hide in the ancestral hall until dark, then climb over the wall to leave the Xie family.

Just then, quite a commotion arose from the front courtyard, drawing all the servants and maids to rush there. Taking advantage of the chaos throughout Wangxue Manor, Nanyi slipped toward the deep courtyards and high walls.

——

In the front courtyard, Xie Sui’an had actually started fighting with Xie Queshan, wielding a soft sword.

Xie Sui’an was born to Concubine Lu. Although a concubine’s daughter, she was bright and generous, quite favored by Grand Madam, and was raised in Grand Madam’s quarters. Her living standards and provisions were no different from a legitimate daughter’s.

Though Xie Hengzai had been physically weak while alive, all major family matters were decided by him. He had indulged Xie Sui’an’s martial arts practice, and no one dared object. Xie Sui’an had also been spoiled into being spirited and upright, despising evil like an enemy, unable to tolerate even a speck of sand in her eyes.

Regarding this third brother Xie Queshan who had betrayed the country, she had always gnashed her teeth with hatred. Today, hearing that Xie Queshan actually wanted to reside at Wangxue Manor, she was so angry she slammed the table and rose.

Her beloved eldest brother’s sudden death had already left her grief-stricken and indignant. Being provoked like this, she could no longer care about propriety and grabbed her soft sword to drive him away.

Xie Queshan didn’t fight back, nimbly dodging the sword Xie Sui’an whipped toward him like a swimming dragon.

“Xie Xiaoliu, your swordsmanship hasn’t improved at all.”

Xie Sui’an couldn’t gain any advantage, fighting more and more anxiously while continuing to curse.

“You killed so many clansmen, yet you still have the face to return to our Xie family! Bah! Dog thief who sold out the country for glory! You think that having Qi people backing you means no one dares touch you? If I, Xie Sui’an, don’t kill you today, I’ll take your surname!”

While dodging, Xie Queshan kindly reminded her: “If you took my surname, you’d still be surnamed Xie.”

Xie Sui’an was already blinded by anger, her curses uttered without thought. Being pointed out this flaw made her even more furious. None of the maidservants and servants around her could stop her as she thrust her sword out viciously.

But this sword thrust was intercepted by someone.

Immediately after, the steward’s loud call broke the standoff in the courtyard: “The lord has returned.”

Duke Changning, Xie Jun, had already passed through the second courtyard. He wore plain robes like a monk, with only two personal guards behind him, forgoing the usual ceremony, but his face still showed unmistakable authority.

“My lord.”

“Father.”

Everyone in the courtyard bowed.

Lu Jinxiu’s eyes couldn’t help but fill with tears of joy upon seeing Xie Jun’s return—excellent, this chaotic household finally had its pillar of stability.

Xie Jun’s gaze swept warmly over everyone in the household, finally settling on Xie Queshan. Instantly, his gaze turned cold, even carrying some murderous intent.

“Father.”

Xie Queshan bowed to Xie Jun neither humbly nor arrogantly.

Before entering the house, Xie Jun had already heard an insider recount the events of recent days, giving him a general understanding.

“Since you’re a Qi envoy, what are you doing staying at my Wangxue Manor?”

“Father, your son has returned home and naturally wishes to reside at home.”

“The Xie family has been loyal for generations, with no traitors who sell out their country.”

“Your son never received Father’s teachings from childhood and never knew what kind of people the Xie family should be.”

Xie Jun paused, the muscles on his face twitching slightly—the look of extreme anger forcibly suppressed.

“Are you saying that the crimes you committed are my fault, Xie Jun’s, for not teaching you properly?”

“Your son didn’t say that.”

Xie Jun laughed coldly: “Fine, if you want to return to the Xie family, then you must follow the Xie family’s rules.”

“Father’s teaching is correct.”

Xie Jun’s voice was ice-cold, looking at his own son as if viewing an enemy.

“Open the ancestral hall, bring out the family law.”

——

Nanyi had just hidden herself under the offering table when a great procession of people entered the ancestral hall. Nanyi didn’t dare look outside, only holding her breath and listening to the movements outside.

“I’ll ask you one more time. Today, if you are a Qi envoy, everyone in the Xie household will fear and respect you, but please return to where you belong. If you want to return to Wangxue Manor as a descendant of the Xie clan, then first receive punishment and confess your sins before the ancestors.”

“Your son willingly accepts punishment.”

Xie Queshan swept aside his robes and knelt in the ancestral hall.

Hearing Xie Queshan’s voice, Nanyi was startled. After hesitating, she still gently lifted a corner of the tablecloth and peered out through the gap.

No matter what upheavals occurred, Xie Queshan always maintained that unruffled expression.

Xie Jun shouted angrily: “Remove his clothes!”

Two servants stepped forward to remove Xie Queshan’s upper garments.

Nanyi was somewhat terrified, even she could feel the thunderous rage, afraid such anger might affect her too, and hurriedly withdrew her hand to hide back in the darkness.

Then came the sound of wooden rods striking flesh from outside. The rods struck heavily, each blow producing a muffled sound of skin splitting and flesh tearing.

Yet the person being punished didn’t make a sound.

Didn’t it hurt?

Nanyi twisted the fabric in her hands tightly. The rod wasn’t falling on her body and had nothing to do with her—she should be gloating that someone could subdue the great demon, but why was she nervous?

As if possessed, Nanyi once again lifted a corner of the gap and looked out.

Xie Queshan was bare-chested, lying prone on a long bench. His hands gripped the bench edges tightly, veins nearly bulging on the backs of his hands. He kept his head down, his temples covered densely with cold sweat. Even someone usually so calm couldn’t suppress the pain on his face at this moment. His back was covered with shocking bloody welts, but he still hadn’t made a sound.

No one in the ancestral hall dared speak. Even Xie Sui’an was shocked by this scene, her expression slowly changing from initial satisfaction to some reluctance to continue watching. She wanted to say something but was stopped by Lu Jinxiu, who gave her a warning look and shook her head. Xie Sui’an could only swallow her words.

Lu Jinxiu retreated to the back of the crowd and quietly left the ancestral hall.

Xie Queshan’s gaze had been fixed on one spot, all his attention controlled by his iron will, but another heavy blow finally made him unable to suppress a muffled groan, and his gaze scattered elsewhere. He suddenly saw a pair of eyes behind the tablecloth gap—those eyes were watching him.

He actually couldn’t see through these crystal-clear eyes.

They gazed at each other like this. In the entire noisy ancestral hall, only he knew of her existence, and only she saw the vulnerability in his eyes face-to-face. They were at a safe distance where neither could harm the other. At this moment, they were actually equal, like two drowning people sinking together. Perhaps because his body hurt too much, an absurd thought suddenly flashed through his mind: if the human world was this bitter, if Western Paradise was a lie, then he wanted to pull her down to hell with him.

With a bang, the wooden rod broke.

Xie Jun remained unmoved and instructed those beside him: “Continue.”

Xie Queshan gasped for breath, his mouth filled with the strong taste of blood, yet he laughed.

“Father, do you want to beat me to death?”

“Even if you, this unfilial son, died ten thousand times, it wouldn’t be enough to apologize to our ancestors!”

“Even vicious tigers don’t eat their cubs. Would Father have the face to meet our ancestors?”

“Continue!”

The servants also hesitated somewhat, but since the lord had ordered it, they could only comply. They raised the wooden rod again and struck down heavily.