TRBDM -Chapter 43 Letter of Guarantee

Xie Lan cried for a long time, his eyes swollen like small walnuts.

He awkwardly turned his head. “I’ve made Mother laugh at me.”

“Nonsense. When have I ever laughed at my son? Look at your eyes, all swollen like this. When we get back to the Hou Mansion, don’t get out of the carriage right away—I’ll have Nanny Qi fetch some ice to soothe your eyes.”

“Mm, I’ll do as Mother says.”

When the carriage arrived at the Hou Mansion, Wei Zhaorong got out first.

Upon entering the mansion, she saw Xie Wanyi standing there.

It seemed she had been waiting at the entrance for Wei Zhaorong.

“Mother.”

Xie Wanyi twisted her neck stiffly and bowed to Wei Zhaorong.

Since Xie Wanyi had “escaped” the mansion and been “brought back” by Xie Sheng, this was the first time mother and daughter met.

Xie Wanyi only visited the main hall when she had matters to attend to, so Wei Zhaorong asked coldly, “What is it?”

“Mother, let’s go back to the Anhe Courtyard first.” Xie Wanyi enthusiastically linked her arm with Wei Zhaorong’s.

Wei Zhaorong used to enjoy Xie Wanyi clinging to her, but now it felt irritating.

The main gate of the Hou Mansion was not a place for talking, so the two of them walked together toward the Anhe Courtyard.

Once inside, Wei Zhaorong subtly withdrew her hand. “What do you want with me? Speak.”

“Mother, are you still angry with me?” Xie Wanyi said in a wronged tone.

“Whether I’m angry or not is one thing. Do you even know what you did wrong?”

“I know I was wrong, Mother. Please don’t be mad at me. I truly understand my mistake now.” Xie Wanyi pouted as she shook Wei Zhaorong’s arm coquettishly.

Wei Zhaorong remained unmoved.

If Xie Wanyi lowered herself and apologized first, it meant she had a favor to ask.

“Mother, during these past few days I’ve reflected at home, and I copied the family rules thirty-seven times, every single character written by myself.”

Xie Wanyi looked expectantly, hoping for praise.

“When you’ve written it one hundred times, come tell me. Nanny Qi will check it herself, and for every mistake, you must copy it ten more times.”

The long-awaited praise turned into punishment, and Xie Wanyi’s lips pouted even higher. “Mother~~~”

“Enough. Now tell me, what do you want?” Wei Zhaorong was tired of wasting words.

“I want to continue my studies with Nanny. Mother, this time I will study properly and will never quarrel with Dou Shuxin again.”

Xie Wanyi raised her hand and swore.

“Oh? And what made you suddenly change your mind?”

“I want to improve, I want to learn. After your teachings these past days, I’ve grown up and become more sensible.”

“You really won’t bully Second Miss Dou anymore?”

“Really, really, I promise.”

Wei Zhaorong pondered for a moment. “Very well, then write a letter of guarantee. Nanny Qi, go fetch the Dou family. Once the letter is finished, hand it over to her for safekeeping.”

“Ah???” Xie Wanyi hadn’t expected her mother to come up with such a tactic.

“You don’t agree? If you refuse, forget about going to Nanny to study.”

Xie Wanyi furrowed her brows and hesitated for a long time, then reluctantly said, “Fine.”

Since that was settled, Wei Zhaorong had someone prepare ink, brush, paper, and inkstone.

She looked at Xie Wanyi and had already guessed why she insisted on going to Nanny to study.

Last time, she had destroyed Dou Shuxin’s flower-and-bird embroidery design. After returning home, Dou Shuxin stayed up all night to redo it, working for half a month straight to hand in a beautiful white peacock embroidery to Nanny. After it was sent to the palace, the Empress happened to see it.

The Empress was captivated by the exquisite craftsmanship. When she learned it had been embroidered by the legitimate second daughter of the Xiang family, she did not hesitate to lavish praise and rewarded Dou Shuxin with a luminous pearl.

News of this spread quickly, and naturally reached Xie Wanyi’s ears.

She was very dissatisfied.

“If Dou Shuxin can receive the Empress’s reward, then so can I. If Mother hadn’t punished me to kneel in the ancestral hall, my embroidery this time could have earned the Empress’s praise too.”

After thinking it over, Xie Wanyi decided to return to the nanny’s tutelage.

Her competitive nature and vanity made her willingly sign an unequal “guarantee letter.”

Dou Shuyao arrived at Anhe Courtyard, unaware that Xie Wanyi was also present.

Dou Shuyao couldn’t bring herself to be friendly toward Xie Wanyi after witnessing her behavior toward Dou Shuxin.

The distance between Ruixiang Courtyard and Linshui Courtyard was considerable, so the two rarely crossed paths. Even when they occasionally met from afar, Dou Shuyao would immediately turn and leave.

Her poise prevented her from speaking harshly, but that didn’t mean she liked Xie Wanyi.

“Mother, what did you want to see me about?”

Dou Shuyao ignored Xie Wanyi and looked only at Wei Zhaorong.

“Previously, Wanyi studied court etiquette with Dou Shuxin under the nanny in the palace, during which she repeatedly bullied Dou Shuxin.”

Hearing this bluntly in front of Dou Shuyao embarrassed Xie Wanyi, and she turned her face away uncomfortably.

Dou Shuyao’s heart was also unsettled. As the older sister, she had never realized her younger sister had suffered so much at the hands of her cousin.

Knowing Xie Wanyi’s temperament well, Dou Shuyao could infer that Dou Shuxin had endured many grievances, both openly and in secret.

Dou Shuyao clutched her handkerchief, waiting for Wei Zhaorong to continue.

“The actions of Wanyi were indeed improper. Of course, I am also at fault—my excessive indulgence has made her headstrong and impulsive, causing Dou Shuxin considerable trouble. After much consideration, I believe having Wanyi withdraw from her studies is the best solution.”

Dou Shuyao said nothing. She suspected that Mother had summoned her because Wanyi wanted to go again.

She could not stop it and had no choice but to grit her teeth and agree.

A heavy weight pressed on Dou Shuyao’s heart, making her feel unbearably uneasy.

Regardless of Dou Shuyao’s feelings, Wei Zhaorong continued:

“Today, Wanyi came to me saying she wants to resume lessons with the nanny. To prevent previous incidents from happening again, I will have Wanyi write you a guarantee letter.”

“A guarantee letter?” Dou Shuyao lifted her head sharply.

“Yes. She must guarantee that she will no longer speak rudely to Dou Shuxin, nor lay hands on her, nor conspire with others to isolate her. If she breaks this promise, she will be immediately expelled and must compensate Dou Shuxin with one hundred taels of silver.”

“One hundred taels?!”

Both Dou Shuyao and Xie Wanyi exclaimed in shock.

“Mother, one hundred taels is the full annual allowance for Linshui Courtyard. I don’t have that much silver to pay! You’re clearly putting me in an impossible position.”

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She stomped her foot and shouted, “Mother, you are so biased! I won’t write this guarantee letter, and I won’t go to the nanny! I hate you! I hate all of you!”

With that, Xie Wanyi ran off.

Dou Shuyao stood there, unsure of what to say.

After a while, she said, “Mother, forget the guarantee letter. If my second sister wants to go, let her. Shuxin won’t say anything.”

Though her heart was bleeding, for the sake of the Xiang family’s larger picture, Dou Shuyao forced herself to be magnanimous.

Wei Zhaorong, however, had a different view:

“Reluctant to part with even one hundred taels—it seems Wanyi wasn’t genuinely interested in learning.”

“But my sister is right. Each household’s annual allowance is only one hundred taels.”

“She has so many jewels and ornaments in her room; any single piece could easily be worth a hundred taels. Everyone has their own sense of priorities. In her mind, the opportunity to study with the nanny is less important than a hundred taels.”

Dou Shuyao had never thought to analyze it from this angle.

“Forget it, we won’t talk about her. I gave her the chance, but she chose to give it up. That’s all there is to it. By the way, Dou Shuxin received the Empress’s reward—I haven’t congratulated you yet. The Xiang family has raised two excellent daughters; it’s truly something to celebrate.”