TRBDM -Chapter 11 Slapping Xie Chuan Again

“Madam Dou, you sit as well.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Madam Dou.” Wei Zhaorong looked at her with a stern expression. “Do not hang your head in defeat. Remember this—you are the legitimate wife of the main branch. Carry yourself with the bearing of a proper first wife.”

These words aligned perfectly with Dou Shuyao’s own thoughts.

Looking at this mother-in-law who had never liked her, she revealed a faint smile.

“Mother, rest assured. Shuyao knows her place.”

To make use of everything she already possessed and defend her own interests—that was what Madam Dou had learned from Wei Zhaorong.

Less than half an hour later, a great commotion erupted outside. Xie Chuan had been brought back.

“Old Madam, the Young Master has returned!”

Someone shouted from outside the courtyard.

At that moment, Xie Chuan was surrounded by six servants. His hair was somewhat disheveled, and there were obvious footprints on the hem of his robe—no one knew who had stepped on it.

He looked utterly bedraggled, still cursing as he entered.

“A bunch of blind fools! How dare you lay hands on me? Tomorrow I’ll have every last one of you driven out. Let’s see if you’ll ever dare offend your superior again!”

Once inside the courtyard, he spotted the main hall doors standing wide open from afar—and two piercing gazes coming from within.

His scalp instantly tingled.

Why did this feel like a criminal trial?

He awkwardly straightened his messy hair, cleared his throat, then entered and respectfully bowed to Wei Zhaorong.

“Mother, why have you come so early in the morning?”

Wei Zhaorong rose, walked up to him, and without warning raised her hand and slapped him.

Smack.

The crisp sound of the slap could be heard clearly even outside the room. Everyone lowered their heads at once, wishing they could block their own ears, afraid of being implicated by Xie Chuan and sold off to slave traders.

“Mother! Why are you hitting me again?”

Clutching his face, Xie Chuan shouted angrily.

“Why am I hitting you?” Wei Zhaorong sneered.

She returned to her grand armchair and pointed at Dou Shuyao. “Madam Dou, tell him—why did I strike him?”

Dou Shuyao sat upright, her gaze icy as she looked at Xie Chuan. “He disobeyed your order and privately fled the Eastern Courtyard. He deserves to be beaten.”

“Mother, confining me to the Eastern Courtyard was unreasonable to begin with! I already obeyed you—I moved there, didn’t I? What more do you want from me?”

Xie Chuan felt deeply wronged.

When Mother confined him, he hadn’t resisted. He had merely slipped out of the residence. As long as she didn’t make a public fuss about it, couldn’t they just tacitly pretend nothing had happened?

He had already made plans. Once the hundred-day confinement was lifted, he would ask Mother to let Liu Yi’er move into the Eastern Courtyard. He would live there permanently and never return to Ruixiang Courtyard—never again face Dou Shuyao’s lifeless, desireless expression.

Seeing his eyes darting about, Wei Zhaorong knew he was harboring crooked thoughts again.

“Do you still remember what Imperial Physician Xiao said yesterday?”

At the mention of this, Xie Chuan’s gaze shifted uneasily. “His words aren’t necessarily one hundred percent accurate. Even miracle doctors can misdiagnose.”

Like a dead duck refusing to admit it’s cooked.

For someone like Xie Chuan, only strong medicine would have any effect.

The Eastern Courtyard was crowded and full of prying eyes. Family scandals shouldn’t be witnessed by too many.

Wei Zhaorong stood. “We’re going to Anhe Courtyard.”

Nanny Qi and Dou Shuyao supported her from either side, while Xie Chuan trudged along behind with his head lowered.

As they passed Quyang Courtyard, Xiaolian—the personal maid of Shen Zhizhi—hid by a corner of the wall and, when no one was looking, grabbed a familiar maid from the Eastern Courtyard to ask about the situation.

“The Young Master climbed over the wall early this morning to sneak out. The Old Madam was furious and sold yesterday’s Eastern Courtyard steward to slave traders.”

“What?!” Xiaolian gasped in shock.

“At this moment, the Old Madam has taken the Eldest Young Master and the Eldest Young Madam back to Anhe Courtyard. Who knows what’s going to happen…”

The young maid pressed a hand to her wildly pounding heart, still shaken.

The moment Xiaolian heard the news, she hurried back to Quyang Courtyard to report it to Shen Zhizhi.

As soon as Shen Zhizhi heard, she sensed something major was about to unfold.

“Xiaolian, come with me to Anhe Courtyard. I must see for myself what exactly is happening.”

Before leaving, Shen Zhizhi told Xiaolian to bring along a box of ginseng she had brought back from her maiden home.

Using the excuse of delivering ginseng to Wei Zhaorong, she entered Anhe Courtyard openly and properly.

“Mother. Oh? Elder Brother and Sister-in-law are here as well? My, how lively it is today.”

Shen Zhizhi wore a bright smile, the surprise on her face perfectly measured, without the slightest trace of pretense.

Wei Zhaorong naturally understood her intentions.

She merely wanted to watch the First Branch’s misfortune.

However, since Wei Zhaorong had already begun dealing with the First Branch, she had no intention of hiding it from the Second Branch.

She might as well let Shen Zhizhi witness it with her own eyes.

To kill the chicken to warn the monkeys—disciplining a mere steward would not be enough.

“Madam Shen, what brings you here?”

“Mother, a few days ago when I returned to the Shen residence, my mother asked me to bring you a box of ginseng. I’ve come to deliver it.”

Shen Zhizhi gave a subtle look, and Xiaolian promptly presented the ginseng.

“Madam Shen, you are thoughtful. Sit. Nanny Qi, serve tea.”

Shen Zhizhi sat down in the main hall with perfect propriety, eagerly anticipating the spectacle about to unfold in the First Branch.

When Xie Chuan saw Shen Zhizhi seated opposite him, he immediately turned his body slightly away.

His left cheek was still burning painfully. If Shen Zhizhi found out that their mother had slapped him and went back to tell his second brother, wouldn’t he be laughed at endlessly?

Xie Chuan and Xie Sheng had never gotten along since childhood.

Relying on his status as the legitimate eldest son, Xie Chuan neglected his studies yet enjoyed boundless favor. Xie Sheng prided himself on his talent and looked down on his dull-witted elder brother. When they studied together at the private academy, Xie Sheng had mocked Xie Chuan more than once.

Later, Xie Chuan married Dou Shuyao, the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister’s residence. Her dowry stretched for miles, greatly bolstering Xie Chuan’s vanity.

That year, backed by the Prime Minister’s household, Xie Chuan once again managed to outshine Xie Sheng slightly.

Unfortunately, barely a year later, after the Prime Minister passed away, the Prime Minister’s residence declined, and Xie Chuan was reduced to his former state.

Xie Sheng married the Shen family’s daughter. Though her dowry was modest, Shen Zhizhi’s honeyed tongue and skill at pleasing Wei Zhaorong, along with her ability to win over the servants, soon tipped the balance.

Unwilling to flatter others or engage in false pleasantries, Dou Shuyao was quickly ostracized. Even the maids serving in her own quarters spoke well of the Second Madam, saying she was more considerate of servants than their own mistress.

Gradually, even Xie Chuan began to grow tired of Dou Shuyao. The couple quarreled frequently, and whenever matters reached Wei Zhaorong, it was always Dou Shuyao who was punished.

Over time, Dou Shuyao’s days in the marquis residence became increasingly miserable.

In her previous life, when she was divorced and cast out, not a single person in the entire marquis residence—except the already-married Xie Wanrou—stood up to speak on her behalf.

Her natal family had fallen; her husband’s family oppressed her. With nowhere left to turn, she ultimately chose to dash her head against the gates and end her life.

Seated steadily at the head of the hall, Wei Zhaorong took in everyone’s reactions.

“Bring Liu Yi’er here.”

The moment Xie Chuan heard this, he forgot all about his swollen cheek and abruptly looked up.

“Yi’er has arrived?”

Earlier, when he had climbed out of the Eastern Courtyard, he had been on his way to find Liu Yi’er. He had intended to personally escort her into the residence.

He had purchased a courtyard outside the estate for Liu Yi’er and arranged several servants to attend to her. Whenever he had free time, he delighted in spending it with her.

Yet before he could reach her place, he had been seized and brought back by the marquis residence’s people.

He had thought his mother’s promise to let Liu Yi’er enter the residence was merely a lie to placate him. He hadn’t expected her to truly be brought here.

Joy lit up Xie Chuan’s face.