TRBDM -Chapter 48 Xie Wanrou Has Not Returned

Xie Lan hurried to the Anhe Courtyard.

The atmosphere inside the courtyard was tense; the servants moved cautiously, barely daring to breathe.

Before he even reached the front hall, he could hear Wei Zhaorong’s angry shouts.

“Does Lei Lieshan even have any respect for me as his mother-in-law?!”

Ever since Xie Lan had learned from his mother that his eldest sister had been treated poorly at General Wei Yuan’s residence, he had been eagerly awaiting her return every day.

Now, with his mother so enraged, could it be that something had happened to his sister?

Xie Lan’s heart tightened, and he quickly stepped inside.

“Mother, why hasn’t my eldest sister returned today?”

Wei Zhaorong spoke furiously, “Lei Lieshan says that the affairs of General Wei Yuan’s household are too numerous, and since Wanrou is the mistress, she cannot leave. Hmph! As if the Wei Yuan household would collapse the moment Wanrou leaves.”

Xie Lan’s brows immediately furrowed. “That’s an excuse.”

Wei Zhaorong knew it was an excuse.

Now she suspected that Lei Lieshan had harmed Wanrou again. Because the marks on Wanrou’s body had not yet healed, he was using that as a reason to prevent her from returning home.

Thinking of this, Wei Zhaorong’s heart ached as if pierced by needles; she wished she could fly to Xie Wanrou’s side immediately.

“Mother, tomorrow I will go to General Wei Yuan’s residence and bring my eldest sister home,” Xie Lan said after a moment of thought, his voice resolute.

Wei Zhaorong looked up at him and shook her head. “Lan’er, you cannot go.”

The reason Wanrou had been mistreated at the general’s residence was closely linked to the neglect from her natal home, the Mingde Marquisate.

In the previous life, Wei Zhaorong had shown favoritism toward Xie Wanyi and had never given enough maternal love or protection to the gentle and well-behaved Xie Wanrou.

Lei Lieshan had exploited this, confident that Wanrou would not dare report him to her family, which allowed him to repeatedly abuse her.

As the least influential son of the Xie household, Xie Lan was even more insignificant in Lei Lieshan’s eyes.

If the Marquisate allowed Xie Lan to fetch Xie Wanrou, it would only confirm that she was undervalued by her own family.

Xie Lan paused for a moment, then immediately understood his mother’s meaning.

He could only resent himself for being inexperienced and powerless, unable to protect his eldest sister.

“Tomorrow, I’ll have Chuan’er and Madam Dou go instead,” Wei Zhaorong said.

Xie Chuan was the eldest legitimate son, and Dou Shuyao was the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister’s household. In the eyes of others, Xie Chuan would inherit the title and become the next Marquis.

No matter how many internal disputes existed in the Mingde Marquisate, at least externally, the eldest branch was always highly regarded.

“Having my eldest brother and sister-in-law go together is naturally the best,” Xie Lan thought, impressed by his mother’s thorough consideration.

“Lan’er, rest assured. I will protect Wanrou from now on and never let her suffer the slightest injustice. You just focus on your studies. Once you achieve success and obtain your title, it won’t be too late to protect Rou’er,” his mother said.

Her expectations for him and her protective love for his sister surged into his heart simultaneously.

Xie Lan’s lips turned sour, but he forced it down and solemnly nodded.

After Xie Lan left, Wei Zhaorong rose and went to the Eastern Courtyard, sending Nanny Qi to summon Dou Shuyao.

By the time Wei Zhaorong reached the Eastern Courtyard, Dou Shuyao was already waiting at the door.

She roughly guessed her mother’s intention.

Sure enough, upon seeing Xie Chuan, Wei Zhaorong said, “Tomorrow, both of you will go to General Wei Yuan’s residence to personally bring Rou’er home.”

Xie Chuan’s eyes widened. “Mother, my house arrest is lifted?”

Dou Shuyao rolled her eyes and subtly kicked Xie Chuan.

Wei Zhaorong glared at him. “Xiao the Physician placed you under house arrest for a hundred days. One month has passed already, and you still can’t endure the remaining two months?”

“I can endure, I can endure,” Xie Chuan quickly forced a smile.

In these past few days, he had already witnessed his mother’s strict methods.

The servants in the Eastern Courtyard, who normally joked and laughed with him and beat their chests to show loyalty, instantly transformed into the old madam’s faithful servants the moment he mentioned leaving—refusing to let him step out of the courtyard even a single step.

Xie Chuan admired his mother’s skill in managing subordinates. Over the past month, his temper had been tempered and was no longer as rash as before.

Coupled with Dou Shuyao’s constant cold demeanor—touching the madam’s hand was now nothing but a luxury—Xie Chuan genuinely dared not act up anymore.

After a moment, he finally remembered the matter at hand.

“Eldest sister can return home on her own. Why do I have to fetch her?”

“Lei Lieshan will not allow her to return early. Wanrou has been married into the General’s Mansion for years—how many times has she come back? Each time she never stayed overnight and left the same day. Chuan’er, have you ever wondered why?”

Xie Chuan usually never bothered about his eldest sister. If it were the second sister in trouble, he would have charged in without a second thought.

“Eldest sister is timid; perhaps she cannot bear to be away from her strong husband. If she doesn’t want to stay, then she doesn’t. After marriage, the General’s Mansion is her home. Why do we have to interfere so much?”

“What nonsense!” Dou Shuyao couldn’t hold back and stomped on Xie Chuan’s foot forcefully.

“Ah—” Xie Chuan glared at her. “Madam, haven’t seen you for a few days… your legs are impressive. Have you been secretly practicing?”

Dou Shuyao was about ready to explode with anger.

What a blockhead—inside, it’s all mush.

Wei Zhaorong’s mood was the same as Dou Shuyao’s.

The old marquis was clever and capable—how could he have produced such a fool?

“Husband, mother wants us to fetch the eldest miss to show the Marquis House’s respect for her. This gives our family confidence—understand?” Dou Shuyao gritted her teeth while explaining.

“Our Marquis House is already confidence enough. Do we need to run around to show it?” Xie Chuan muttered under his breath. “Like taking off your pants to fart—completely unnecessary.”

Dou Shuyao wished she could slap him in the head and be done with it.

Wei Zhaorong knew her son’s character very well and had long since given up trying to help him grow.

Xie Chuan was like a hopeless Al Dou—he would never open his mind; there was no need to waste words.

“Tomorrow, you and Madam Dou, bring Wanrou back safely. Can you do that?”

“Such a small matter, what’s difficult about it?”

Xie Chuan puffed out his chest to guarantee it, looking every bit the eldest son, but in the next second, his bluff was exposed.

“Then mother, after I fetch eldest sister, can I visit a friend’s house? I haven’t seen him in a long time. We had planned to meet and discuss something. I can go by on the way.”

Xie Chuan had many friends who lived a life of indulgence—well-known playboys in the capital.

His little schemes could never escape Wei Zhaorong’s eyes.

“Going empty-handed?”

“Ah, mother is thorough as always. I must prepare a small gift to take along.”

“Do you have silver?”

“Of course I do… the share from Ruixiang Courtyard is—” Suddenly, Xie Chuan realized something was wrong. All the silver from Ruixiang Courtyard was in Dou Shuyao’s hands.

“Heh, you can ask Madam Dou if she’s willing to give you silver for the gift.”

Dou Shuyao immediately said, “Don’t even think about it. Xie Chuan, your hundred-day confinement hasn’t ended yet. After fetching eldest sister tomorrow, return to the Eastern Courtyard immediately, or else you won’t get a single tael of silver from me in the future.”

Dou Shuyao was straightforward and never beat around the bush. Xie Chuan knew she would do exactly as she said.

“You… you’re so fierce, not gentle at all. Tomorrow, after fetching eldest sister, you should learn from her—virtuous, obedient to her husband.”

Dou Shuyao shot back without hesitation: “Look in the mirror first before lecturing others.”

“Mother, look! Look at her! Sharp-tongued, not a hint of gentleness!” Xie Chuan appealed to Wei Zhaorong.

Wei Zhaorong did not indulge him: “Madam Dou is right.”