After offering incense, Lin Shi turned around.

“In-law.” She spoke flatly. “All the way to the Xie family, I heard people say the Old Mistress died a miserable death. I don’t know if it’s true or false?”

“The common people on the streets are all speaking nonsense!” Xie Zhongcheng said angrily. “My mother was terminally ill. She passed away because her advanced age couldn’t withstand it.”

“Is that so?” Lin Shi sneered. “Does In-law think that by saying this, the common people won’t discuss the Xie family anymore? Think the Censorate won’t know? Think this won’t bring any impact to your Xie family?”

Xie Zhongcheng clenched his fists tightly.

He never expected that even with a death in the Xie family, it would cause such an uproar throughout the capital.

At the root of it, it was because the Xie family had married a Yun family daughter. The Yun family was highly watched, and consequently, the Xie family was inexplicably being discussed as well.

“How your Xie family fares, I don’t care.” Lin Shi’s voice grew colder. “That child Xie Shiwei—previously when he injured the Marquis of Xuanwu’s heir, I only thought it was a young child playing around. But who could have imagined he would actually kill his own birth great-grandmother! If he can strike with deadly force even against a blood-related elder, then what about a legitimate mother with no blood relation? If he can kill his great-grandmother, he could possibly kill his legitimate mother! My Yun family absolutely cannot allow our daughter to live under the same roof as a murderer!”

“In-law Mother, you’re overthinking!” Yuan Shi hurried over. “Hui’er has always respected Chu’er as his legitimate mother. How could he possibly commit matricide…”

“Ha! In your Xie family, what’s impossible!” Lin Shi grasped Yun Chu’s hand. “Chu’er, Mother is taking you home!”

Xie Shiwei had this temperament—he definitely took after the Xie family roots. The entire Xie household was full of rotten people, making her suspect that several years ago, when Chu’er had a premature birth, the Xie family couldn’t escape responsibility!

She deeply regretted now—why had she been deceived back then by Xie Jingyu’s status as top scholar? Why had she chosen such a marriage match for Chu’er?

It was all her fault. She had harmed Chu’er!

“In-law Mother, let’s discuss this properly!” Yuan Shi quickly held onto Yun Chu. “The Old Mistress just passed away. If Chu’er, as the legitimate eldest grandson’s wife, leaves the Xie family, this really makes it impossible for our Xie family to continue as people. In-law Mother, you say—tell us how to handle this, and we Xie family will do exactly that. As long as Chu’er stays in the Xie family, anything goes!”

Xie Zhongcheng softened his tone. “Hui’er definitely won’t remain in the Xie family. In-law Mother can rest assured on this point!”

Lin Shi said coldly, “Having killed someone, he must pay the price. Your Xie family has only one choice, and that is to send Xie Shiwei to the authorities!”

Yuan Shi’s legs went weak. She quickly supported herself on a woman servant’s arm.

Xie Zhongcheng clenched his fists tightly.

The Yun family was clearly threatening them, threatening that he must send Hui’er to the authorities. Otherwise, the Yun family would very likely divorce and sever ties with the Xie family.

The current Xie family was swaying in the wind and rain, unable to withstand such a major upheaval as divorce.

He quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind, closed his eyes, and spoke word by word. “Then, as In-law Mother says.”

The Xie manor’s servants had long since spread last night’s events. The entire capital was in an uproar, with every detail described vividly. If they didn’t provide an explanation, their Xie family would forever be nailed to the pillar of shame.

Handing over one Xie Shiwei to protect the entire Xie family—it seemed… not so unacceptable after all.

Yun Chu escorted Lin Shi out. “Mother, rest assured. The Xie family cannot harm me.”

“Chu’er…” Lin Shi sighed. “Your parents will always be your support. The Yun family will always welcome you back.”

After seeing off Lin Shi, Yun Chu summoned Tingfeng. “Go to the woodshed now and tell Xie Shiwei that the Xie family is sending him to the authorities. If he accepts his fate, so be it. If he wants to escape, help him, and give him a few taels of silver.”

Tingfeng nodded, turned, and went to attend to it.

Yuan Shi walked out of the mourning hall, supporting Xie Zhongcheng’s arm. Her voice trembling, she said, “Master, are we really sending Hui’er to the authorities? He’s only eight years old!”

“He did wrong, so he must accept punishment.” Xie Zhongcheng looked at her. “Now that the Old Mistress is gone, from now on, you must preside over the Xie family’s inner quarters. Don’t keep looking like you’re about to cry all the time. When you cry, so many women and children cry along with you. Won’t our Xie family descend into chaos?”

Yuan Shi suppressed her trembling voice. “But there’s still Chu’er…”

“Only you still think this daughter-in-law truly stands on the Xie family’s side!” Xie Zhongcheng lowered his voice. “Ever since learning that An’er and his siblings were born from Concubine He, her heart has turned cold toward the Xie family. Remember this—keep the authority over the inner quarters in your own hands. Don’t always rely on others…”

Yuan Shi’s eyes suddenly widened. “What did you say? An’er was born from Concubine He?”

This matter completely overturned her understanding. It was like a blow to the head, making her entire person feel dizzy.

Xie Zhongcheng shook his head. This wife of his had been ill for over ten years, taking medicine every day, until it muddled her brain. Such an obvious matter—did it still need asking?

“No wonder—no wonder In-law Mother just now had thoughts of divorce?” Yuan Shi’s face looked grief-stricken. “I heard that these past two days, the Yun family elders mobilized to divorce a married Yun family daughter. The Yun family simply doesn’t worry that divorce will bring any bad effects to the Yun family. If the Xie family treats Chu’er poorly, the Yun family elders will definitely also step forward to divorce on Chu’er’s behalf!”

Xie Zhongcheng also saw the forcefulness in Lin Shi’s attitude.

He also vaguely worried whether the Yun family would divorce regardless of everything…

“After Jingyu’s health improves, we must make sure Chu’er becomes pregnant.” Yuan Shi turned around, clasped her hands together, and walked to the Old Mistress’s memorial tablet in the mourning hall. “Please, Old Mistress, bless Chu’er to bear a son in one attempt, so our Xie family can have a true legitimate son…”

Xie Shi’an, kneeling beside the memorial tablet burning paper offerings, paused his fingers.

He had always known that Mother had visited a divine physician, and he also knew Father and Mother were both taking medicine to regulate their bodies in order to have children.

Given the Xie family’s current situation, Father would definitely do everything possible to make Mother pregnant. If the Xie family had a true legitimate son, what would he, this eldest son, amount to?

Right now, Mother paved the way for him, sought the Imperial Academy quota from the Yun family for him. He enjoyed the Yun family’s connections and relationships…

Once Mother had her own child, once the Yun family had a proper legitimate blood grandson, what would Xie Shi’an matter anymore?

Perhaps he should add something else to Father’s medicine pot… No, that was too risky. One examination of the medicine dregs would reveal it…

Xie Shi’an didn’t stop burning paper, and his mind didn’t stop either. Countless thoughts floated up in his brain.

Xie Zhongcheng left the mourning hall and headed to the woodshed.

He would personally send Xie Shiwei to the authorities, letting those gossiping common people see that his Xie family upheld righteousness over kinship and definitely wasn’t full of improper intentions!

Just as he reached the woodshed entrance, he saw a woman servant in a panic. “Master, this is bad! The Second Young Master—the Second Young Master has disappeared!”

Xie Zhongcheng immediately flew into a rage. “What do you mean disappeared!”

“Just now the Second Young Master said he was thirsty while still in the woodshed. This old servant brought water to the Second Young Master and locked the woodshed. A while later when I went in, the Second Young Master was gone!”

“This wretched creature actually dares to escape!” Xie Zhongcheng roared. “Everyone, go chase him! You must capture and bring this wretched creature to justice!”