TRBDM -Chapter 126 Scheming Exposed

Xie Yu shook his head again. He was feeling just as frustrated.

Forget it—better to eat his fill first.

In a few days, Mr. Dong’s students would select representatives to compete against the Imperial Academy students. Xie Yu knew his third brother would definitely be chosen. When the time came, he would have Third Brother meet the Tenth Prince and return The Seven Strategies.

Such a precious book—he didn’t dare keep it for himself.

Since she couldn’t get an answer out of Xie Yu, Dou Shuxin’s brows had not relaxed once.

Over the past two days, she had consulted countless materials. If the Hehuan poison was not relieved through intimacy with a woman, there was another desperate method.

It required administering a powerful medicine that violently conflicted with the poison—fighting poison with poison.

But this method was extremely dangerous. Without a highly skilled physician guarding at the side, it would be nearly impossible to survive.

Dou Shuxin had lost her appetite and sleep. Her face, already small to begin with, had grown even thinner.

After leaving Anhe Courtyard, a heavy weight pressed upon her heart.

Afraid Dou Shuyao would worry, she went to the garden to clear her mind. She planned to return to Ruixiang Courtyard only after adjusting her emotions.

The garden was close to the Eastern Courtyard. From across the wall, Dou Shuxin seemed to hear Xie Wanyi’s voice.

“Elder Brother, during the Flower Festival a few days ago, Mother wouldn’t even let you go out. Isn’t that going too far?”

Xie Wanyi lay on a bamboo chair, eating cherries as she spoke.

Xie Chuan stood with his arms folded, his face dark. “Mother confined me for a hundred days. Since the time isn’t up yet, I naturally can’t go out.”

Xie Wanyi snorted disdainfully.

“Tch. Rules are dead; people are alive. It’s the once-a-year Flower Festival—of course an exception could be made. Besides, if you really couldn’t go out, why did Mother break the rules time and again because of Xie Lan and let you out?”

“That was because Mother was considering the bigger picture,” Xie Chuan explained.

“What bigger picture? When it’s Xie Lan’s matter, that’s the bigger picture. But when it’s yours, it’s not? Imperial Physician Xiao said that once the hundred days are up, you and Sister-in-law can immediately have your own child. Why should the main branch’s heir be delayed just for Xie Lan?”

“I remember you already delayed several days of treatment because of Xie Lan. What if it affected the results? Isn’t Mother using the main branch as a stepping stone for the third branch?”

Xie Wanyi spoke rapidly, stringing together crooked logic that left Xie Chuan momentarily stunned.

At first glance, it seemed reasonable. In truth, it was all sowing discord.

“And as for Eldest Sister—once a daughter marries out, she’s like water poured away. If she’s living miserably in her husband’s house, that just means she’s incompetent. Yet she still needs her natal family to stand up for her. How embarrassing.”

Her eyes brimmed with contempt, as though she alone was flawless in the world.

By this point, Xie Chuan had caught the underlying meaning.

Xie Wanyi was jealous and resentful—she simply couldn’t stand seeing others do well.

Now that no one in the marquis’ residence paid attention to her, she had come to stir up trouble with him instead.

Xie Chuan lowered his arms and sat down beside her, tossing a cherry into his mouth. “Wanyi, according to you, what should I do?”

Xie Wanyi’s eyes shifted. “Xie Lan is just a concubine-born son. Why should he enjoy the treatment of a legitimate heir? In the future, he’ll even divide the marquis’ estate with you—just like Second Brother. The courtyards, the shops, the silver he received—too much to even count.”

The inheritance of a concubine-born son and a legitimate son was naturally different.

Wei Zhaorong had given Xie Lan legitimate status, which meant he would share the estate according to that rank.

If so, what would be left for Xie Chuan would not be much.

“Second Sister, your elder brother isn’t very clever. Could you help me think of a solution?”

“Well, there is a solution. But Elder Brother, if I become your strategist, shouldn’t you give me something in return?”

Xie Chuan narrowed his eyes. Dropping the act, he suddenly yanked Xie Wanyi up from the bamboo chair.

“Xie Wanyi, do you take me for a fool? Do you really think I’m stupid? Tell me—what crooked scheme were you planning to feed me? Were you trying to make me go against Mother?”

“How come I never realized that someone so young could be this vicious? Haven’t you had enough of Mother’s big slaps? Let me tell you, I’ve had my fill. Now, I am Mother’s most loyal son. If she tells me to go east, I will never go west.”

Xie Wanyi was hoisted into the air by Xie Chuan, her feet completely off the ground.

For the first time, she realized that her once foolish, brainless elder brother had not only grown smarter but had also become terrifying.

His arms were like thick, sturdy branches—Xie Wanyi couldn’t budge him an inch.

Her face flushed red as she pounded desperately on Xie Chuan’s arms: “Let go! Xie Chuan, let go right now, or I’ll tell Mother!”

Xie Chuan twisted the corner of his mouth. “Are you sure that after Mother hears what you just said, she’ll still let you stay in the mansion?”

“……”

He released his grip, and Xie Wanyi nearly fell to the ground.

“All day long, you think life is a good time, but you act like a maggot, never able to stand anyone else doing well. You are the biggest maggot in our mansion.”

“Waa—” Xie Wanyi opened her mouth and burst into tearful wailing. “Big brother, you’re a bad person! I hate you, I hate you! I’ll never talk to you again!”

With that, she wiped her tears and ran out of the East Wing.

Xie Chuan waved his hand and shouted loudly, “Goodbye. Don’t come here again. I don’t want to see you—your face is an eyesore.”

Xie Wanyi’s pride was shattered; her humiliation made her tears flow uncontrollably.

She ran with her head down, only to collide head-on with Dou Shuxin, who had just arrived at the door.

Their foreheads slammed together, stars exploding in their eyes.

Dou Shuxin hadn’t slept for days and already looked haggard. Xie Wanyi, running so fast and recklessly, caused Dou Shuxin to faint immediately.

“Master! Disaster! Second Miss knocked Second Miss Dou flying!” a servant rushed over to report.

“What!”

Xie Chuan, who had been enjoying a leisurely cup of tea, immediately leapt to his feet upon hearing the news.

Stepping outside, he saw Dou Shuxin on the ground, while Xie Wanyi clutched her forehead, wailing incessantly.

“Xie Wanyi! What have you done!” Xie Chuan yelled at her, his voice hoarse.

Xie Wanyi’s head throbbed painfully; she could barely hear him.

“What are you standing there for? Help her up!”

Dizzy and seeing double, Xie Wanyi opened her eyes, tears smeared all over her face. “You want me to help her?”

“If not you, then who? The East Wing is full of men; proper etiquette forbids men from touching women. As the culprit, if you don’t help her, who will?”

“Big brother, can’t you see I’m hurt too? Look at my forehead—it’s got a huge bump!”

Xie Chuan paid no mind to whether she had a bump. His sister-in-law had already fainted, and he couldn’t carry Dou Shuxin to the mansion doctor, so all he could do was fret helplessly on the side.

While the siblings argued, Dou Shuxin regained consciousness.

Xie Chuan quickly helped her to her feet. Seeing that she could stand steadily, he released her at once.

He still had some sense of propriety when it came to men and women.

“Hurry, go call Madam and the mansion doctor. Get them here immediately.”

Before Xie Chuan even gave orders, a servant had already run to notify them.

Soon, Dou Shuyao and Xie Wanrou arrived.

Trailing behind them was the furious-looking Wei Zhaorong.