TRBDM -Chapter 10 Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkey

“Ugh, you’re so annoying—always so sweet with your words.” Shen Zhizhi lightly punched Xie Sheng in the chest.

In truth, Xie Sheng hadn’t been honest. He despised Liu Yi’er for her lowly birth and looked down on his elder brother’s poor taste—how could he swallow just anything? It was an insult to the marquis household’s reputation.

If he were to meet a young lady of good family and fine character, he would naturally consider taking her as a concubine.

Of course, that was only a passing thought. For now, he loved Shen Zhizhi. As for the future—even he couldn’t make any guarantees.

Before long, a servant came with a letter. It was from Editor Zhang.

After reading it, Xie Sheng learned that his mother had actually sent someone to the Zhang residence to retrieve Xie Lan’s jade pendant.

“This… isn’t Mother’s action a slap in my face?”

Xie Sheng’s relationship with Editor Zhang was more than simple friendship.

He had befriended Zhang for ulterior motives.

So even though he knew Zhang was arrogant and overbearing, he had endured it and colluded with him nonetheless.

He had promised Zhang that he would deal with Xie Lan. Yet not only had he failed to do so, even the jade pendant he had obtained was returned.

Zhang’s letter stopped just short of outright cursing him, calling Xie Sheng incompetent—unable even to handle his own concubine-born younger brother.

That insult struck him to the core.

Xie Sheng tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. Only at dawn did he finally close his eyes.

Early the next morning, after washing up, he hurried to Anhe Courtyard to pay his respects.

“Mother, your son greets you.”

“Mm.”

With a broad smile plastered on his face, Xie Sheng served Wei Zhaorong tea.

Wei Zhaorong took a sip. Xie Sheng still didn’t leave.

“Is there something you need?”

“Mother, I heard you let Xie Lan move into the Lan Courtyard?”

“What of it? Do you have objections?”

“Mother, that’s Xie Lan.”

Yes, that was Xie Lan.

In her previous life, after suffering countless injustices and nearly dying in the marquis residence, Xie Lan had still remembered the kindness of being raised there. Before Wei Zhaorong’s death, he had sold off a property to arrange a grand funeral for her.

Meanwhile, her own so-called good sons had cast her aside like worn-out shoes, leaving her to fend for herself in a shabby side yard.

Compared side by side, how could Wei Zhaorong not awaken to the truth?

“Yes, he is Xie Lan—the Third Young Master of the Mingde Marquis Residence, and my son. You and Xie Chuan each have your own courtyards. Xie Lan should have one too. What is there to question?”

“Mother, he isn’t your biological son. How can he be compared with us?” Xie Sheng could hardly swallow this grievance.

“Biological—so what?” Wei Zhaorong narrowed her eyes, coldness filling them. “His birth mother died early. He was raised under my name since childhood. How is that any different from being my own?”

Xie Sheng was left speechless.

Being raised under Wei Zhaorong’s name meant he was considered a legitimate son.

“Well… it’s still not the same.” His voice grew softer.

“So you’re questioning my decision?”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

Wei Zhaorong gave a snort. He might not dare say it aloud—but who knew what he would do behind her back?

After Xie Sheng left, Wei Zhaorong realized that she might have given Xie Lan too much at once, making him an easy target.

As the saying goes, open spears are easy to block; hidden arrows are hard to guard against.

She couldn’t protect Xie Lan at all times. He was still young—no match for his two elder brothers.

She had originally planned to have Xie Lan take Master Dong as his teacher. Now it seemed that would have to wait.

After a while, someone came to report:

“Old Madam, the Eldest Young Master climbed over the eastern courtyard wall early this morning and went out.”

“What?!”

Wei Zhaorong hadn’t expected that even with the entire courtyard full of people on guard, he could still escape.

Ordinarily, he didn’t seem particularly agile, so how had he managed to climb over the wall and get out?

“Let’s go. Take me to the East Courtyard.”

Soon, Nanny Qi helped Wei Zhaorong arrive at the East Courtyard.

At that moment, Dou Shuyao was standing at the gate of the East Courtyard, anxiously stomping her feet.

“Mother.” Seeing Wei Zhaorong arrive, Dou Shuyao finally felt a sense of reassurance.

Wei Zhaorong swept the East Courtyard with an angry glance and said sternly, “Who was on duty in the East Courtyard last night?”

Almost immediately, the steward brought a group of servants to their knees.

“With so many of you here, and yet you couldn’t watch over the young master, what use is the Marquis Mansion keeping you? You might as well sell yourselves to the yázi (slave traders) and exchange yourselves for some silver to hire servants who actually listen and do their jobs.”

Hearing this, everyone’s faces went pale.

“Grandmadam, please spare us! Grandmadam, please spare us!”

“We won’t dare again, we beg you not to sell us!”

Thuds of kowtowing rang out from all around.

Wei Zhaorong showed not the slightest sign of emotion. In her previous life, Xie Chuan had gone further and further down the path of a spoiled rogue, and it was inseparable from the so-called loyal servants around him.

Today, she had to kill the chicken to scare the monkey, to let everyone in the Marquis Mansion know who the real master of the household was.

“Who was the steward on duty yesterday?”

A steward in his early forties trembled as he stood up. “Reporting to Grandmadam, it was me.”

“Guards, take him to the yázi. Regardless of status or wealth, sell him immediately.”

“Grandmadam, please, I was wrong, I truly was wrong. I beg your forgiveness. I am willing to be your ox and horse, to serve you my entire life. Please, do not sell me. I beg you, Grandmadam!”

Wei Zhaorong remained unmoved, her face revealing cold ruthlessness.

No matter how much the steward kowtowed and begged, he was still taken out of the Marquis Mansion.

His wails could still be heard from a great distance.

Everyone knew that being employed in the Marquis Mansion was already a blessing, akin to having one’s ancestral tomb smoke rise favorably. Once they ended up with the yázi, imagining the life that awaited them was terrifying beyond words.

“Those who can be useful to me may stay. Those who cannot be useful to me will meet the same fate as him.”

The people trembled, repeatedly kowtowing. “Thank you, Grandmadam. We will strictly follow your orders and will not dare entertain a single improper thought.”

Wei Zhaorong nodded with satisfaction.

The effect of killing the chicken to scare the monkey was immediate.

“Now, go and bring the young master back to me.”

“Yes… yes…”

The kneeling servants scattered, each running faster than a rabbit.

Their only thought was to find the young master quickly, even if it meant carrying him back themselves.

Dou Shuyao blinked in astonishment. She had thought that when Wei Zhaorong arrived, she would, as usual, complain a bit and then let Xie Chuan go.

After all, she had never thought the ban on Xie Chuan in the East Courtyard could last long.

She had assumed that after yesterday, Xie Chuan might restrain himself somewhat. She hadn’t expected him to be unable to hold back even for a single day.

He would sooner or later end up dead in another woman’s bed.

Dou Shuyao truly felt disappointed.

People like Xie Chuan could never be expected to reflect on themselves.

He was like an unweaned child—if he did something wrong, he thought crying and throwing a tantrum would suffice. After all, with a mother who indulged him, no matter how many mistakes he made, nothing would happen.

Suddenly, Dou Shuyao recalled Wei Zhaorong’s words from yesterday: “First, please yourself.”

At this moment, she seemed to understand a bit of what that phrase meant.

Since she could never truly bind Xie Chuan, she might as well let him go. As long as she remained the primary wife of the main house, no other woman could trample over her.

Wei Zhaorong sat in the main hall of the East Courtyard, her face calm and composed.