TRBDM -Chapter 108 Difficult Choice

Xie Yu’s peach-blossom eyes were almost carved from the same mold as the Eldest Princess’s.

It was hard not to be suspicious.

The Tenth Prince was meticulous and sharp-minded; it was only natural that he would notice any subtle clues.

No wonder, in the previous life, a prince like him—weak in foundation and almost invisible—could carve a path through the storm of blood and chaos and rise to the pinnacle of power.

“Mother, tell me, why would the Tenth Prince draw a portrait of Fourth Brother for no reason? Could it be that someone has some secret scheme?”

Xie Lan didn’t voice his thoughts fully; he knew his suspicions were extreme and not easy to put into words.

Wei Zhaorong didn’t answer immediately. She fell into deep thought.

Zhao Jingheng’s initiative in getting close to the Marquis House’s adopted son could actually be a good thing.

After all, he was the future emperor.

If Xie Yu truly was the Eldest Princess’s son, it could bring cataclysmic changes to the Mingde Marquisate.

“Mother, Fourth Brother borrowed a book from the Tenth Prince, and he has to return it when he’s done. I feel like the Tenth Prince did this on purpose. He never speaks to any of the students at the Imperial Academy, yet he shows special attention to Fourth Brother.”

Xie Lan was still caught up in his own emotions, worried that the Tenth Prince might harm Xie Yu.

“Lan’er, don’t overthink the Tenth Prince. He won’t hurt Yu’er.”

“Really?” Xie Lan didn’t quite believe it.

“Yes, really.” Wei Zhaorong said with absolute certainty.

The Eldest Princess was the current emperor’s most beloved sister. Her connections and influence were even comparable to the Third Prince’s.

It was just that she was a woman and didn’t participate in the succession struggle, yet she had always been the object many princes tried hard to win over.

Even the Crown Prince, Zhao Jingrui, had tried to gain the Eldest Princess’s support.

As far as Wei Zhaorong knew, in the previous life, the Eldest Princess Zhao Lingchen hadn’t helped any prince.

However, if Zhao Jingheng held the Eldest Princess’s son in his hands, then even the previously cautious Eldest Princess would inevitably be forced to change her stance and participate in the succession struggle.

Wei Zhaorong wasn’t entirely clear on how Zhao Jingheng had ascended to the throne in the previous life.

This time, Xie Yu, the Eldest Princess, and even the entire Marquis House could be dragged into this storm.

How to choose was something Wei Zhaorong could not decide immediately.

Originally, Wei Zhaorong had only valued Xie Yu’s talent; adopting him as an adopted son was just a convenient matter.

Cultivating Xie Yu to pass the imperial examinations and support the Marquis House in the future was already worth all her efforts.

Who would have thought that Xie Yu’s identity would turn out to be so prestigious?

The succession struggle had already begun, and no noble family in the capital could escape it.

Should they sit and wait for disaster, or take the initiative to ally with the Tenth Prince?

Wei Zhaorong found it difficult to choose.

“All right, Lan’er, don’t overthink it. Yu’er has a likable personality; it’s only natural that he would win the Tenth Prince’s favor.”

Even after Wei Zhaorong said this, Xie Lan couldn’t fully put his mind at ease. He suppressed his doubts and softly murmured, “Mm.”

“Mother, I’ll take my leave. You should rest early.”

“Mm, go on.”

Xie Lan returned to the Lan Courtyard and heard voices coming from Xie Yu’s room.

“What? You got into a fight with Master Nangong?”

Xie Wanyi’s voice was sharp and piercing.

“Second Sister, we didn’t start it. He came with people to attack me and Third Brother,” Xie Yu hurried to explain.

“Who’s your second sister? How dare you call me that? A lowly servant like you dares to put yourself on equal footing with me?”

Xie Yu’s face turned pale from her words. He had never thought to compare himself with Xie Wanyi, but her words were so humiliating.

“Xie Wanyi! You are not allowed to speak to Fourth Brother like that!”

Xie Lan rushed into the room.

“Hmph, did I say something wrong? A servant boy from the back courtyard is only fit for menial, coarse tasks. Even if you put him in a brocade robe, it won’t change his lowly origins. He can read a few characters, and that’s supposed to make Mother want to adopt him as her godson?”

Xie Wanyi had always been bitter about this matter. She couldn’t understand how Wei Zhaorong had gone senile—ignoring her own biological children was one thing, but treating even lowly servants as equals was absurd.

She had come to ask Xie Lan if the letter she wrote had been sent.

But she didn’t find Xie Lan. Instead, she learned from Xie Yu that they had clashed with Nangong Hai, and Nangong Hai had been punished and locked up.

This set her off immediately, and she couldn’t hold back her words.

Xie Lan clenched his fists. “Someone, escort Miss Xie Wanyi out. From today onward, without my permission, she is not allowed to enter Lan Courtyard.”

“Xie Lan, how dare you! Who do you think you are, speaking to me like this?”

“I am the third son, the legitimate third son of the Marquis residence. Everyone in the capital knows this. The way you treat Fourth Brother, that’s how I will treat you. Lan Courtyard does not welcome you. Don’t come here again.”

With a wave of his hand, a few maids stepped forward and escorted Xie Wanyi out.

“You—Xie Lan, you really dare!”

Xie Wanyi was furious, but once outside, she dared not shout.

Asking Xie Lan to deliver a letter in secret was hardly honorable. If she yelled and Xie Lan slipped up, wouldn’t it make her the laughingstock?

She stomped her feet in frustration and slunk back to Linshui Pavilion.

Passing by Quyang Courtyard, she was stopped by Shen Zhizhi, who had long been waiting outside.

“Wanyi, you just came back from Anhe Courtyard?”

Xie Wanyi replied impatiently, “If you have something to say, say it quickly.”

“Oh, I heard Mother is hosting a family banquet tonight. I figured you’d be attending, so I just asked casually.”

“A family banquet? How come I didn’t know? No one told me.”

Xie Wanyi’s expression darkened further.

Shen Zhizhi said with ill intent, “Since the second branch has separated, it’s one thing not to invite me and my husband, but how could they not invite you? You’re unmarried, so you should attend the banquet.”

Xie Wanyi’s face went through every possible shade—sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty—all at once, as ugly as could be.

Now she finally understood: Shen Zhizhi had been waiting here on purpose.

Bringing up the banquet was meant to mock her.

“Second Sister-in-law, since you know the branch has split, why are you still lingering in the Marquis residence? Besides, as an outsider, you shouldn’t meddle in the Hou family’s affairs. If I want to attend the banquet, I can, but you? You won’t be going anymore.”

Xie Wanyi snorted heavily, raised her chin, and strode off with a haughty air.

Xie Wanyi had always been sharp-tongued; Shen Zhizhi had never once gotten the better of her.

But now, Shen Zhizhi was so infuriated that her stomach ached.

The maids quickly helped her inside to rest.

After lying down for a long while, Shen Zhizhi finally regained some strength. Weakly, she asked,

“Has my husband come back?”

“Not yet, Madam.”

Three days ago, Xie Sheng had ended his leave and returned to duty at the palace.

During these three days, he hadn’t had dinner at Quyang even once. Every night he drank himself into a stupor and was carried back by the servants.

Shen Zhizhi was both worried and fearful. She wanted to advise him to take care of himself and stop drinking, but the words caught in her throat.

Xie Sheng was troubled in his heart, and drinking was the only way to drown his sorrows. If he wanted to drink, then let him drink.

But it was hard on Shen Zhizhi, who was pregnant and still had to take care of Xie Sheng, leaving her haggard.

“Madam, you should rest for a while.”

“No, I’ll wait for my husband to come back.”

Shen Zhizhi waited through the night. By dawn, Xie Sheng still hadn’t returned.

Now, she truly panicked.