TRBDM -Chapter 67 Taking in a Godson

The evidence that Wei Zhaorong had submitted was personally written by the General of Nanyang, inevitably dragging him into this turmoil.

The General of Nanyang had never taken sides in the struggle among the princes; he answered directly to the Emperor.

For him to risk offending the Third Prince in order to help the Mingde Marquis Manor—this favor was something Wei Zhaorong had to thank him for in person.

Lin Juehui welcomed her into the residence.

“A-Rong, my husband has been summoned to the palace,” Lin Juehui said.

Wei Zhaorong feared that they might be implicated. “Will His Majesty blame him?”

Why had he not reported it earlier? And now that he had reported it, would it be seen as having ulterior motives?

Lin Juehui could not hide the worry on her face, yet she still reassured her, “Nothing will happen. My husband knows what he’s doing.”

Since he had stepped forward to testify, he had naturally anticipated what might follow.

Wei Zhaorong and Lin Juehui were merely women of the inner quarters and had never involved themselves in court affairs.

But Wei Zhaorong, armed with memories of two lifetimes, had taken a risky step—pulling her friend’s entire family into the situation. For that, she felt deeply guilty.

“Xiao Hui, I’m sorry. If His Majesty pursues the matter, I will take all the responsibility upon myself.”

“A-Rong, don’t worry. Once my husband returns, I’ll test the waters. I’ll have someone send you word then.”

For now, all they could do was wait.

Between Wei Zhaorong and Lin Juehui, there was no need for polite formalities. Wei Zhaorong would remember her kindness in her heart.

After leaving the General of Nanyang’s residence, Wei Zhaorong hurried without pause to Moyun Courtyard.

Xie Wanrou was already able to get out of bed. She was reclining sideways on a couch, flipping through a book.

“Mother, you’re here.”

There was a smile on Xie Wanrou’s face. Though her voice was still hoarse, it was much better than two days ago when she could barely speak.

“Rou’er, why are you up? Didn’t Imperial Physician Xiao say you should lie down more?”

“I’m much better now. Lying in bed is uncomfortable, so I just moved from the bed to the couch.”

“Let me see—are you feeling better?”

Aside from Xiaodie and Nanny Qi, no one else was in the bedchamber. Xie Wanrou slipped off her outer robe. Her fair back and slender neck were covered in bruises. Apart from the five finger marks at her throat, still hideous and glaring, the marks on her back and chest had faded considerably.

The blood-activating ointment had taken effect.

“Have you still been having nightmares these past two days?”

Xiaodie had said that Xie Wanrou slept restlessly at night, plagued by frequent nightmares. Sometimes she would wake in fright at midnight and be unable to fall asleep again, staring at the ceiling until dawn.

“No. Ever since I came back, I’ve slept well every night.”

Happiness shone across Xie Wanrou’s face. Even on the night Lei Lieshan had choked her unconscious—though she had been in pain all over, drifting in and out of sleep—she had not had any nightmares.

Back in the place where she was born, surrounded by familiar scents and the care of her family, she felt safe.

“That’s good. Rou’er, you’re too thin. You need to put on some weight.”

Xie Wanrou put her outer garment back on and nodded obediently.

Strangely enough, after returning to the Mingde Marquis Manor, her appetite had improved considerably. If not for her sore throat, she could have finished an entire bowl of pigeon soup at lunch today.

“Mother, when you entered the palace to see His Majesty today, were you reprimanded?” Xie Wanrou asked with concern.

“No. Everything went smoothly. Rou’er, rest assured—you will successfully obtain a divorce.”

Light shone in Xie Wanrou’s eyes. “Mm. I’ll wait for that day.”

“By the way, did Lan’er go to the Dong residence for his studies?” Wei Zhaorong had been busy these past few days dealing with Lei Lieshan and had not had time to check on Xie Lan.

“He went today.”

He had been persuaded by Xie Wanrou.

Xie Lan had stayed by her side for two days and two nights, dark circles under his eyes, not having read a single word.

Xie Wanrou had urged him to prioritize his studies and focus on preparing for the imperial examinations as soon as possible.

Passing the imperial examinations was Xie Lan’s life goal—and the only path he saw to realizing his own worth.

Becoming the pillar his elder sister and mother could rely on was a heavy responsibility hidden deep within his heart.

Lei Lieshan’s brutality was like a thorn lodged in his flesh. The moment he let his guard down even slightly, the memories would resurface.

“Hanging one’s hair from the beam and stabbing one’s thigh with an awl” was no longer enough for Xie Lan. He wished he could split twelve hours into twenty-four and use every single one.

Wei Zhaorong naturally knew how desperately hard Xie Lan studied. She did not stop him; she simply had the best nourishing tonics sent continuously to the small kitchen in the Lan Courtyard.

The future of the Marquis Manor rested on Xie Lan’s shoulders. He had to work hard.

“Shi Yi went too, didn’t he?”

“Yes. Though he’s only a study companion, from what I’ve observed, he has real talent for learning. In the future, he can take the imperial examinations alongside Third Brother.”

Thinking of Shi Yi, Wei Zhaorong asked Nanny Qi, “What is Shi Yi’s surname? Do you know?”

“No idea. When he entered the Marquis Manor, everyone just called him Shi Yi. No one knows his surname.”

“Go investigate who sold him into the manor.”

All servants who were sold in had contracts of sale, which recorded their original household registration address. If they had been resold by a broker, the broker’s name would also be listed.

That evening, when Xie Lan and Shi Yi returned from school and came to pay their respects, Wei Zhaorong deliberately studied Shi Yi closely.

Shi Yi shifted uncomfortably under her gaze and hesitated. “Old Madam, is there something dirty on my face?”

“No. I was just looking at you. By the way, Shi Yi—do you remember who your family was before?”

Shi Yi lowered his head. “I don’t have any family.”

“Your contract of sale says you were sold into the Marquis Manor by your family. Is that false?”

“They picked me up from a pile of corpses. They only raised me to sell for money. They weren’t my family at all.”

“Who gave you the name Shi Yi?”

“That family. There were ten children in the household. I was the eleventh, so they called me Shi Yi.”

So that was it.

The name Shi Yi was no different from calling someone Cat or Dog—chosen casually and without care.

The more Wei Zhaorong looked at him, the more she felt he resembled the Grand Princess.

Shi Yi had delicate, refined features—a handsome young man with almost feminine beauty.

A thought stirred in her heart, and Wei Zhaorong suddenly said, “Shi Yi, I like you very much. I wish to adopt you as my godson. Are you willing?”

Shi Yi did not react at first. Xie Lan, however, immediately answered for him. “Of course he’s willing. Shi Yi, say something!”

Shi Yi stared at Wei Zhaorong in disbelief and stammered, “Old Madam, you’re not… joking, are you?”

Wei Zhaorong’s expression darkened. “Do I look like someone who jokes about such things?”

“No, no…” Shi Yi shook his head at once.

He still felt as though he were dreaming, half-convinced he had misheard her.

Smack! Xie Lan patted him on the back and said loudly, “Shi Yi, Mother is willing to take you as her godson. Why aren’t you kowtowing and addressing her properly?”

With a thud, Shi Yi dropped to his knees, knocking his head repeatedly against the ground. “Thank you, Old Madam. Thank you, Old Madam.”

Wei Zhaorong raised a brow. “Hmm? Shouldn’t you change how you address me?”

“Huh?” Shi Yi lifted his head blankly. Change it? How?

Suppressing a smile, Xie Lan reminded him, “Call her Godmother.”

Shi Yi’s eyes lit up. He knocked his head against the floor again and again. “Thank you, Godmother. Thank you, Godmother.”

“Get up. From this day forward, Shi Yi will bear the surname Xie of my Mingde Marquis Manor. As for your given name, I’ll consult a master to choose one. Then we’ll change your slave registration to household registration and place you under the Marquis Manor’s name.”

This…

Shi Yi felt as though fireworks were exploding inside his head.

He had met a living Bodhisattva. Wei Zhaorong was the living Bodhisattva who had saved him from suffering.