TRBDM -Chapter 14 Dealing with Them

“Old Madam, Old Madam, I beg you, please spare me. I won’t dare again, I truly won’t dare again.” Liu Yi’er’s face was streaked with tears, her eyes filled with terror.

She trembled and writhed on the ground like a maggot, trying to earn Wei Zhaorong’s forgiveness.

Wei Zhaorong cast her a glance. “Don’t be in such a hurry. You’re next.”

“Chuan’er, you treated Liu Yi’er with sincerity. You even turned against your lawful wife for her and disregarded the mourning period of the Marquis Manor, insisting on bringing her into the household. Now that there is irrefutable evidence of her betrayal, and the bastard in her belly is not yours, for the sake of your former affection, I’ll let you decide how to deal with her.”

After speaking, Wei Zhaorong rose to her feet.

“Once you’ve dealt with Liu Yi’er, we will slowly settle your account.”

As she passed Dou Shuyao, Wei Zhaorong looked at her. “Remember, as long as I am here, the position of First Madam of the main branch will always be yours.”

Dou Shuyao lifted her eyes, tears shimmering within them. “Thank you… Mother.”

On Wei Zhaorong’s usually impassive face, a rare smile appeared. “Silly child, we are family. Why thank me? In the future, Chuan’er will still need your discipline.”

Dou Shuyao understood Wei Zhaorong’s painstaking intentions. In the three years since marrying into the Marquis Manor, this was the first time she felt truly in harmony with her mother-in-law.

“Mother, rest assured. Your daughter-in-law will not fail your expectations. Everything will be for the good of the Marquis Manor.”

Wei Zhaorong’s smile deepened. “It’s good that you understand.”

Stepping out of the woodshed, the faint moonlight cast an ambiguous glow across Wei Zhaorong’s face.

Every step she took was incomparably firm.

Having lived a second life, Wei Zhaorong was determined to restore glory to the family name and bring the Marquis Manor back to its former splendor, securing peace for the rest of her days.

Anyone who stood in her way would be eliminated.

Unfilial descendants would be dealt with by family law.

With both grace and authority, with rewards and punishments in tandem, she would set things right.

Handling the main branch’s mistress was merely the first step of her long plan.

Armed with the memories of two lifetimes, she was convinced she would obtain everything she desired.

Tonight was destined to be sleepless.

The next day, Wei Zhaorong awoke at her usual hour.

Nanny Qi had been waiting by her bedside since early morning, eager to report what had happened the previous night.

“Miss, the eldest young master had Liu Yi’er sold to the Dark Alley.”

In the capital, where there was a Flower Lane, there was naturally also a Dark Alley.

Flower Lane was a place where, so long as one possessed talent and beauty, one could choose to sell artistry rather than one’s body. The guests were either wealthy or noble—figures of status in the capital—reciting poetry, composing couplets, and indulging in refined affectations.

As the top courtesan of Flower Lane, Liu Yi’er had lived comfortably and contentedly.

Dark Alley, however, was the complete opposite.

It was a gathering place for the lowest of the low, rife with sordid dealings. There was nothing those people would not do; one could easily imagine how unbearable Liu Yi’er’s days ahead would be.

Since she had handed the matter over to Xie Chuan, Wei Zhaorong no longer inquired further.

Facing the bronze mirror, she inserted a hairpin into her hair.

“Have Chuan’er come see me.”

“Yes.”

By the time Wei Zhaorong had finished washing and dressing, Xie Chuan and Dou Shuyao were already waiting in the front hall.

Soon, hurried footsteps sounded outside. Xie Sheng and Shen Zhizhi had also arrived.

“Greetings to Mother. Elder Brother, Sister-in-law—you’re here as well?”

Xie Sheng asked knowingly.

Xie Chuan looked like a frost-bitten eggplant, head drooping, in no mood to respond to Xie Sheng—he could not even be bothered to maintain basic courtesy.

Dou Shuyao, however, was neatly dressed and composed, wearing a faint smile. “Good morning, Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law.”

Xie Sheng was visibly taken aback.

This eldest sister-in-law of his had always kept her distance from others, wearing a perpetually stern face as if everyone owed her several hundred taels of silver. Yet today, the sun must have risen in the west—she was actually smiling.

But when Xie Sheng thought about it again, the main branch had been in turmoil all day yesterday. It was said that the mistress, Liu Yi’er, had been sold off to the back alleys. Naturally, his sister-in-law would be pleased.

Seeing Xie Sheng lingering with his head lowered, unwilling to leave, Wei Zhaorong spoke up. “Second Son, aren’t you going to the palace today?”

“Of course I am. It’s just that I haven’t had breakfast with you in quite some time, so I wanted to accompany you.”

The drunkard’s intention is not in the wine.

In her previous life, Xie Sheng had never missed a chance to step on Xie Chuan when the latter got into trouble.

Brotherly harmony had never existed between those two blood brothers.

Only when they joined forces against Xie Lan were they like grasshoppers tied to the same rope.

“Since everyone is here, let’s eat together. Nanny Qi, go call Xie Lan.”

After Nanny Qi left, Xie Sheng’s smile turned stiff. “Mother, why call Third Brother today? He has never dined with us.”

Wei Zhaorong replied, “We’re all family. Is there a problem eating together?”

What kind of family is he?

The words reached Xie Sheng’s lips but were swallowed back down.

Something had been off with Mother these past few days—she had been unusually kind to Xie Lan. Xie Sheng had always been good at reading Wei Zhaorong’s thoughts, but now he truly couldn’t figure her out.

He looked toward Xie Chuan, placing his hopes on him. Normally at a time like this, Xie Chuan would have been the first to complain.

But today Xie Chuan kept his head lowered. His face was darker than ink-soaked rice paper—with a faint tinge of green mixed in.

Knowing he couldn’t rely on Xie Chuan, Xie Sheng could only speak up himself. “Third Brother just moved to a new courtyard and now has maids and servants attending him. Perhaps he has already eaten in the small kitchen at Lan Courtyard.”

“Small kitchen?” Wei Zhaorong echoed.

“Yes, Mother,” Xie Sheng replied at once.

“You mentioning it reminds me.” Wei Zhaorong pondered for a moment. “Ruixiang Courtyard and Quyang Courtyard each have their own small kitchens, but Lan Courtyard does not. You three brothers must not be treated differently. Someone pass the word—build a small kitchen at Lan Courtyard and select two capable cooks to be assigned there. It will be more convenient for Lan’er to dine in the future.”

The smile on Xie Sheng’s face froze instantly.

“Mother, that’s not what I meant.”

Wei Zhaorong shot him a sharp look. “Oh? Then what did you mean, Sheng’er?”

Before Xie Sheng could answer, Nanny Qi entered with Xie Lan.

“Old Madam, Third Young Master has arrived,” Nanny Qi said with a broad smile as she led him inside.

Xie Lan looked at the people gathered in the room, his heart tightening. He had no idea why the Old Madam had summoned him.

In the past, he had always been ignored in the Marquis Manor. Wei Zhaorong had nearly treated him as invisible.

Why invite him to breakfast today?

Was she going to take back Lan Courtyard?

Or was she going to make him return the jade pendant?

After all, Zhang Xiuzhuan was Xie Sheng’s close friend. If Xie Sheng said a few soft words in Wei Zhaorong’s ear, she would surely agree.

On the way over, countless possibilities had run through Xie Lan’s mind.

He had already prepared himself to lose everything.

Though nothing remained in Lan Courtyard that had belonged to his late mother, being able to stay there even for a single day was enough for him.

He told himself not to be greedy.

“Lan’er, come sit here—beside me.” Wei Zhaorong saw his unease and understood the turmoil and anxiety in his heart.

Xie Lan was slightly startled, then suppressed the emotions in his eyes and softly replied, “Yes, Mother.”

Once seated, the round table was filled—exactly six people.

Under the table, Shen Zhizhi nudged Xie Sheng. He shot her a look in return. The two understood each other without speaking.

Instead, it was Dou Shuyao, who rarely spoke, who opened her mouth.

“Third Brother, what happened to your face?”