TRBDM -Chapter 19 Mother’s Favoritism

The gloomy weather persisted until evening.

At Linshui Courtyard, Shen Zhizhi was applying medicine to Xie Wanyi.

“Oh my, how could Mother strike you so heavily?” Shen Zhizhi suppressed the mockery in her heart, her tone full of concern and pity. “It seems Mother has never hit Second Sister before. What happened today? She showed you no mercy at all.”

At those words, Xie Wanyi couldn’t help but sniffle. “Hmph, I won’t forgive Mother. She hit me today—tomorrow I’ll move out of the marquis’s residence. Since there’s no place for me here anyway.”

Shen Zhizhi’s eyes flickered as she went along with her. “Exactly. Mother really went too far this time, not caring about your dignity at all. Even if Miss Dou is Elder Sister-in-law’s own sister, how could she possibly compare to you, a true golden branch and jade leaf?”

Shen Zhizhi had long known that Xie Wanyi and Dou Shuxin did not get along. Bringing up Dou Shuxin at this moment was clearly deliberate.

But Xie Wanyi failed to see her second sister-in-law’s ill intentions. Feeling that someone stood on her side, she grew even more aggrieved.

“Second Sister, if you ask me, you mustn’t leave. This is your home. If you go, wouldn’t Miss Dou then…”

Shen Zhizhi left her sentence unfinished, but the implication was obvious.

If she left, wouldn’t Dou Shuxin live even more comfortably and freely in the marquis’s residence?

She was the outsider—why should she be the one to leave?

Xie Wanyi had only spoken in anger; she never truly intended to go.

She had just returned from the marquis household’s country villa. After a few days away, the novelty had already worn off.

Though the scenery at the villa was pleasant, the estate was too small. The food, clothing, and daily necessities were all far inferior to those of the marquis’s residence. She had found everything inconvenient.

“Second Sister-in-law, I just can’t accept it. Why did Mother hit me?”

Xie Wanyi’s face burned with pain. The freshly applied medicine carried a pungent smell that lingered under her nose, making her feel nauseous.

“Mother… ah…”

Shen Zhizhi hesitated as if reluctant to speak.

Xie Wanyi immediately grabbed her hand. “Second Sister-in-law, you must know what happened. Please tell me.”

Pressed by her questioning, Shen Zhizhi looked as though she could hardly refuse. In a lowered voice, she said, “Mother… she plays favorites.”

Favorites!

In large families with many children, few parents could truly treat them all equally.

Setting aside Xie Lan, the concubine-born son, the marquis’s household had four legitimate children in total.

Xie Wanyi had always felt that her mother favored some over others. Now that her second sister-in-law had put it into words, it struck right at her heart.

“Mother does play favorites. She favors Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law—and she favors Eldest Sister too.”

And naturally, she also favored Second Brother’s family.

But Xie Wanyi was not a fool. In front of her second sister-in-law, she would not say that outright.

Shen Zhizhi quickly hushed her. “Second Sister, keep your voice down. Mother’s actions today truly went too far. Even I couldn’t bear to watch. When your Second Brother returned from work and heard about it, he was about to go to Anhe Courtyard to demand an explanation on your behalf.”

“Really?” Xie Wanyi looked up blankly, deeply moved.

She had always been closer to her second brother and sister-in-law. Naturally, she believed without question that Xie Sheng would stand up for her.

Shen Zhizhi kept a straight face. “Of course. Don’t you know how much your second brother dotes on you?”

“Thank you, Second Brother. Second Sister-in-law, you’re both so good to me.”

Help offered in the midst of hardship always felt a hundred times warmer than embellishments added in times of prosperity.

Shen Zhizhi calmly enjoyed Xie Wanyi’s gratitude.

In truth, Xie Sheng had never gone.

Ever since Wei Zhaorong arranged for Xie Lan to move into Lan Courtyard and sent him to the private academy, Xie Sheng had harbored resentment in his heart.

He, too, felt anger over his mother’s favoritism.

These past few days, aside from the obligatory morning greetings, he refused to set foot in Anhe Courtyard. Let alone go there to demand justice for Xie Wanyi.

Xie Wanyi’s domineering temperament was something even Xie Sheng and Shen Zhizhi found hard to tolerate.

She had long been used to wielding power and throwing her weight around in the marquis’s residence. Now that she had finally been disciplined by her mother for the first time, they secretly found it rather satisfying.

But along with the fleeting sense of satisfaction came even greater worry.

Their mother’s earth-shaking change over the past days had caught Xie Sheng and Shen Zhizhi completely off guard.

In the stillness of several late nights, the couple pondered over it again and again, yet could not make sense of the reason.

Xie Sheng’s lifelong goal had always been the marquis title of the household.

The main branch had no legitimate son, which had given him a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

But now, their mother was determined to cure Xie Chuan’s kidney deficiency. If, after a hundred days, he truly recovered—and Dou Shuyao conceived and gave birth to the marquis household’s legitimate eldest grandson—then wouldn’t all their careful calculations come to nothing?

The couple schemed for two nights straight and reached the same conclusion: Xie Chuan’s health must not be allowed to recover.

But as for how to accomplish that, they were completely at a loss.

Just then, Xie Wanyi returned to the residence.

The moment she came back, she caused a tremendous uproar.

Xie Sheng and his wife exchanged a look and instantly understood each other’s thoughts.

They would use Xie Wanyi to achieve their goal.

Sowing discord was their specialty.

Sure enough, Shen Zhizhi had only uttered two words—“favoritism”—and Xie Wanyi took the bait.

“That Dou Shuxin dares to put on airs in front of Nanny and suppress me. I refuse to believe she can still act that way once we’re at the Mingde Marquis Manor. Hmph. I’ll definitely make her pay.”

Cradling her swollen face and crying out in pain, Xie Wanyi continued to spit out threats.

Shen Zhizhi smiled faintly and said nothing further.

Although Xie Wanyi’s target was Dou Shuxin, once she made a move, Dou Shuyao would inevitably be dragged into it as well.

As long as the main branch was in turmoil, the second branch’s objective would be achieved.

When she returned to Quyang Courtyard, Xie Sheng was already waiting for her.

“How is Wanyi? Are her injuries serious?”

“Both cheeks are swollen like a pig’s head. Mother didn’t hold back with those two slaps—she struck hard.”

Hearing that, Xie Sheng frowned.

Xie Wanyi was the youngest child in the marquis household, and Wei Zhaorong had always shown her obvious favoritism.

Because she was a girl and would eventually marry out, Xie Sheng had never regarded her as a threat.

“Mother isn’t right.”

Xie Sheng was certain. Wei Zhaorong’s recent behavior was almost completely at odds with her former self.

Even Xie Lan—the concubine-born son who had always been suppressed throughout the entire household—was now beginning to stand on equal footing with him.

Xie Sheng simply could not figure out what his mother was thinking.

“Didn’t Mother catch a cold some time ago? After taking the medicine, she woke up and seemed like a different person. Do you think it might be related?”

“Hard to say. Have you ever heard of someone’s temperament changing drastically after recovering from a cold?”

Shen Zhizhi shook her head.

The couple from the second branch deliberated for quite some time, but in the end, came up with nothing and could only set the matter aside for now.

At Anhe Courtyard, after testing Xie Lan on his studies, Wei Zhaorong had already retired for the night.

Nanny Qi stood by the bedside, chatting softly with her.

“Miss, the Second Madam went to Linshui Courtyard. I heard she brought medicine.”

“Mhm.”

Xie Wanyi and Shen Zhizhi were on good terms; her visit was well within Wei Zhaorong’s expectations.

Seeing her mistress’s indifferent attitude, Nanny Qi did not continue the topic.

She had thought Wei Zhaorong had fallen asleep, but unexpectedly, she heard her ask:

“How is Second Miss Dou doing in Ruixiang Courtyard?”