TRBDM -Chapter 59 Using Xie Sheng

Without even turning around, Xie Wanrou knew it was Lei Lieshan.

Having been married for many years, Xie Wanrou had long been like a little lamb trapped in a wolf’s den, tortured to the point that she didn’t dare even a flicker of resistance.

This was the first time she resisted.

Even knowing Lei Lieshan had arrived, she remained unmoved—her courage had somehow grown in her natal home.

Lei Lieshan held a cup in his hand. With just a little pressure, it could shatter into pieces, much like Xie Wanrou’s delicate neck.

His calloused hand gripped the slender, tender swan-like neck; with just a slight squeeze, Xie Wanrou’s face would flush red, the veins beneath his hand swelling as if they could burst at any moment.

Her beautiful eyes were filled with panic, and that made Lei Lieshan feel a deep sense of satisfaction.

So fragile, even weaker than a rabbit on the battlefield, it stirred in Lei Lieshan a cruel urge to trample.

Although he knew Xie Wanrou was a pampered noblewoman from the capital, with skin as white as porcelain that would mark with even the slightest force, Lei Lieshan felt no pity at all.

His wife—he could do whatever he pleased with her. A slap for minor defiance, a kick to the stomach a routine affair.

So what? She wouldn’t die. A few days’ recovery would suffice.

A useless bindweed, yet surprisingly resilient. No matter what he did, she wouldn’t die.

The last time he had kicked her and caused a miscarriage, Xie Wanrou had lain in bed for an entire month, yet she still managed the household affairs without complaint. A woman like this—truly cheap.

At that moment, he thought of Luo Feiyang, the woman who could hold her own against a deputy general on the battlefield, valiant and majestic. Only she was worthy to stand by his side.

Half a year ago, he had already begun to entertain the idea of marrying Luo Feiyang.

But he didn’t want her to suffer humiliation as a concubine, which would insult both her and his own love.

Xie Wanrou had become a thorn in his eye.

Only by divorcing her could he properly, officially take Luo Feiyang as his wife and parade the red bridal sedan across the eight hundred li.

Lei Lieshan rubbed his fingers together, curling his lips indifferently. Divorce—easier than anything—no different from crushing a rabbit in his hands.

Moreover, today she hadn’t even taken the initiative to approach him.

Annoying, extremely annoying. His hands itched to strike, to grasp something, to crush her.

Lei Lieshan drank quietly, showing no restraint; every toast he received he emptied in one gulp.

Xie Wanrou feared his drinking more than anything. After a few drinks, he became a hundred times more violent than usual. When he lost control, he could keep her bedridden for half a month.

Everyone in the Wei Yuan General’s mansion knew what Xie Wanrou suffered, yet not a single person helped her.

Her mother-in-law would just close her eyes and pretend to be blind, retreating to chant in the Buddha hall.

The servants trembled on the ground, afraid that a single word would provoke his anger, wishing they could bury their foreheads in the dirt.

Xie Wanrou—completely isolated.

Lei Lieshan had no fear.

“Brother-in-law, come, I’ll toast you,” Xie Sheng said, holding a cup as he sat beside Lei Lieshan.

Lei Lieshan glanced at him, seeing him eagerly pouring wine.

Lei Lieshan was a general, a high-ranking minister favored by the emperor—how could he care about a mere seventh-rank official like Xie Sheng?

Xie Wanrou had once asked him to mentor Xie Sheng, only to be ridiculed mercilessly by Lei Lieshan, and the matter ended there.

Xie Sheng didn’t know how hard his eldest sister’s life was in the Wei Yuan General’s mansion; he blamed her for not helping, even harboring resentment.

He had always been somewhat proud; after Lei Lieshan had given him the cold shoulder several times, he slowly gave up on the idea.

Later, he leaned on Zhang Xiuzhuan, and never approached Lei Lieshan again.

At the marquis’ manor banquet, the two of them acted in tacit understanding. Lei Lieshan raised his cup: “Second brother, bottoms up.”

Xie Sheng drained it in one gulp, then refilled Lei Lieshan’s cup, but Lei Lieshan didn’t drink. After Xie Sheng had drunk three cups in succession, Lei Lieshan finally spoke: “Second brother, don’t drink anymore. Today is a joyous occasion at the marquis’ house; getting drunk would only cause trouble.”

“Thanks for your concern, brother-in-law. I’ll take a short rest first. If I keep drinking, I’d really end up vomiting.”

Xie Sheng picked up his chopsticks and slowly ate a piece of meat.

After a brief pause, once the wine took effect, he leaned closer to Lei Lieshan and lowered his voice, speaking humbly: “Brother-in-law, I’d like to ask you for a favor.”

“Oh? What favor?”

From Lei Lieshan’s tone, which no longer carried the previous coldness, Xie Sheng sensed an opportunity: “I have a friend in the palace, Zhang Xiuzhuan. His cousin is now stationed in the army, and I heard he’s serving under your command. I hope you could look out for him a bit.”

This was Xie Sheng’s main objective for the day.

The day before his birthday banquet, Zhang Xiuzhuan, with whom he had already broken ties, unexpectedly reached out, expressing a desire to mend their relationship.

Xie Sheng had been overjoyed, nearly jumping for joy, and arranged to meet Zhang Xiuzhuan at a teahouse to chat and reminisce.

At the teahouse, Zhang Xiuzhuan spoke freely about palace affairs, no longer dwelling on their past disagreements. Xie Sheng felt as if he were dreaming.

Just as he thought their friendship had overcome family disputes, Zhang Xiuzhuan suddenly brought up that his cousin, serving under Lei Lieshan, had not been promoted for a long time.

Only then did Xie Sheng realize that Zhang Xiuzhuan was using him.

But Xie Sheng was too eager to repair their relationship; though disappointed, he agreed immediately.

Zhang Xiuzhuan’s request was modest—just that Lei Lieshan look out for his cousin occasionally and, when military merit is earned, make sure his cousin’s name is included.

To Xie Sheng, this was a simple favor; to Lei Lieshan, it was a trivial matter.

For a commander-in-chief, supporting a low-ranking soldier required almost no effort.

After hearing this, Lei Lieshan gave a half-smile that didn’t reach his eyes: “Helping someone from the Zhang family isn’t impossible.”

“Brother-in-law, you agreed!” Xie Sheng was pleasantly surprised—he hadn’t expected Lei Lieshan to agree so readily.

“A minor matter. Since second brother asked, of course I’m willing to help.”

“Brother-in-law, rest assured, your help won’t be in vain. Zhang Xiuzhuan said he will visit the general’s residence when the opportunity arises.”

Of course, one does not visit empty-handed; how many gifts to bring would depend on Zhang Xiuzhuan’s sincerity.

Deep down, Lei Lieshan despised Xie Sheng’s use of connections. In the army, men earned their merits through blood and sweat; in Lei Lieshan’s eyes, people who relied on connections were worthless.

“Brother-in-law, I toast to you,” Xie Sheng cleverly poured wine for Lei Lieshan.

Lei Lieshan pushed the cup away: “I won’t drink. Rou’er is already angry with me. If she knew I drank too much, she’d be even angrier. Today, I can’t even say a word to her.”

“What? Really? How can our eldest sister be so childish at her age, still sulking?”

Lei Lieshan looked troubled:

“Since entering the marquis’ manor today, I haven’t seen her even once. Now that we’re seated, she keeps her distance. I can’t even get a word in with her.”

Xie Sheng put down his cup and immediately said: “Brother-in-law, don’t worry. I’ll go find her.”

“Wait, second brother. Rou’er is still angry with me. If you ask her to see me, she probably won’t agree.”

“Then what should I do?”

Lei Lieshan rolled his eyes thoughtfully: “Arrange a meeting in the back garden in your name.”

Xie Sheng immediately understood: “As expected, brother-in-law thought this through. Don’t worry; after the banquet, I’ll go find eldest sister.”

Lei Lieshan nodded, raising his cup toward Xie Sheng: “Thanks, second brother.”