TRBDM -Chapter 73 Seeing Through People’s Hearts

Quyang Courtyard had been busy the entire night, mixed with Shen Zhizhi’s sobbing. Only toward the early hours of dawn did it finally quiet down.

The next day at mid-morning, Xie Wanrou brought medicine with her and went to Quyang Courtyard.

“What are you doing here?” Shen Zhizhi’s eyes were swollen, and she glared at Xie Wanrou irritably.

“I heard Second Brother was injured. I came to bring medicine.”

“Stop pretending to be kind—it’s disgusting. If it weren’t for you, would my husband have been punished by Mother?” Shen Zhizhi’s eyes were filled with hatred.

Xie Wanrou was somewhat surprised by her words.

In her memory, Shen Zhizhi had always worn a natural smile, been warm and approachable, considerate and adept at handling social relationships—someone widely liked.

She hadn’t expected her to have such an unreasonable side.

“My husband nearly lost half his life because of you. What use is a mere box of ointment?”

Shen Zhizhi clutched her stomach as she cried, clearly making sure everyone knew she was pregnant.

Xie Wanrou smiled faintly. She understood now—Shen Zhizhi and Xie Sheng were not what she had imagined them to be.

Turning around and biting back like this had indeed caught her off guard.

Xie Wanrou gently set the ointment on the table. “Zhizhi, I truly came because I was worried about Second Brother. But since I’m not welcome, I won’t disturb you again. I’ll leave the ointment here. If you don’t want to use it, you may throw it away.”

Without lingering, she turned and left with Xiaodie.

“Pah!” Shen Zhizhi spat toward Xie Wanrou’s retreating figure. “Crocodile tears. Someone, throw that ointment into the slop bucket.”

After leaving Quyang Courtyard, Xiaodie spoke up in indignation. “Second Madam has gone too far. Miss, you clearly meant well. A few days ago, you were so badly injured—Eldest Master and Eldest Madam sent over so many ointments, and even though Eldest Madam is busy managing the household, she still found time to visit you. But the Second Household? Not only no medicine—there weren’t even a few words of concern.”

“Second Madam is far too petty.”

Xiaodie rarely gossiped behind people’s backs, but she truly couldn’t hold it in this time.

“It doesn’t matter.” Xie Wanrou looked up at the bright sun and raised a hand to shield her eyes. “Seeing through people’s hearts isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”

Her marriage had stripped her raw, but with the help of her family, she had risen from the ashes.

She had seen through many things and would no longer wrong herself just to accommodate others.

How others treated her, she would return in kind.

Xie Sheng and Shen Zhizhi had already grown estranged from the Marquis Manor.

There was no need to treat them as family anymore.

“Come, let’s go see Xiaochuan.”

After being allowed out by Dou Shuyao for two days, once everything in the manor had settled, Xie Chuan had voluntarily returned to the Eastern Courtyard.

Now that Xie Wanrou’s health had improved considerably, she had nothing pressing to do and decided to visit him.

The Eastern Courtyard was lonely. With only Xie Chuan and a group of servants there, he was likely bored out of his mind.

Passing through the garden, Xie Wanrou encountered Xie Wanyi wandering aimlessly among the flowers.

Xie Wanyi seemed to be in a foul mood, venting her frustration by brutally plucking blossoms. Wherever she passed, broken petals and fallen leaves littered the ground.

Xie Wanrou watched her quietly.

Of everyone in the Marquis Manor, the coldest and most heartless was undoubtedly its pampered jewel, Xie Wanyi.

Ever since Xie Wanrou had returned to the manor, Xie Wanyi had not stepped even half a foot into Moyun Courtyard, much less shown concern for Xie Wanrou’s injuries.

She treated her like a stranger.

The night Lei Lieshan attempted to kill his wife had shaken the entire capital—so much so that even the Emperor had ordered a thorough investigation. Xie Wanyi lived in the manor, yet she showed not the slightest concern.

A spoiled young lady, accustomed to centering everything around herself, had developed a cold and selfish temperament.

“Stupid flowers, stupid flowers. They smell awful. What’s the use of blooming so brightly?”

Xie Wanyi cursed as she snapped the flowers one by one.

Previously, while studying under the palace matrons, she had sparred with Dou Shuxin every day. Life had felt full and purposeful.

Now, without lessons to occupy her, she had an abundance of idle time. Out of sheer boredom, she shifted all her attention onto Nangong Hai.

On the day of Xie Lan’s birthday banquet, Xie Wanyi happened to notice that Nangong Hai had also come. She was so delighted she didn’t know what to do with herself.

Displeased with her plain makeup, she dragged Xiao Die back to Linshui Courtyard to redo her appearance.

Half an hour later, dressed in a new gown and wearing a freshly styled coiffure—looking like a flamboyant tree laden with gold and silver—she arrived at the front hall, only to find that Nangong Hai had already left his seat.

She had spent too much time dressing up and forgotten that unimportant guests would depart after the noon meal rather than stay for the games.

Without hesitation, she ran after him.

After searching for quite some time and finding no trace of Nangong Hai, she returned resentfully.

As a young lady from a respectable household, she could not go out every day searching for someone; such behavior would damage her reputation.

Yet if she wanted a chance encounter with Nangong Hai, she had to know his whereabouts in advance.

It was difficult—she had no leads at all. Frustration simmered inside her, ready to explode at the slightest spark.

There was only one path through the center of the Marquis Manor’s garden. If Xie Wanrou wanted to go to the Eastern Courtyard, she had to pass through it.

Coincidentally, Xie Wanyi had also come this way. The two sisters finally met face to face.

Xie Wanyi tossed away the withered flower in her hand and suddenly recalled the letter severing familial ties.

At the time, her anger had rushed to her head, and she had signed it. Later, she regretted it somewhat.

Not for other reasons—but if the ties were truly cut, she feared their mother would not arrange a dowry for her.

Back when her eldest sister, Xie Wanrou, married, her dowry had been extraordinarily lavish. Not a single young lady in the capital had failed to envy it.

When she married, her dowry must be greater than her elder sister’s—never less.

But what if Mother refused to provide one?

Before Xie Wanyi could sort out her thoughts, Xie Wanrou arrived.

Heh. Xie Wanyi let out a cold snort. She was the “culprit.”

If not for her, how would she have signed that letter cutting ties?

Xie Wanrou had no idea what was going through her younger sister’s mind. Seeing that Xie Wanyi did not wish to acknowledge her, she made no effort to speak first.

Xie Wanyi blocked half the garden path. Xie Wanrou simply stepped aside and tried to pass.

“Elder Sister.”

Xie Wanyi suddenly called out.

Xie Wanrou stopped and waited for her to continue.

“Are your injuries healed? If they are, when are you going back?”

“Back where?”

“To the General’s Residence of Mighty Valor, of course. I heard the Court of Judicial Review is investigating General Lei. If they uncover some grave crime, as the General’s wife, you probably won’t escape implication either. Don’t drag our Marquis Manor down with you.”

Xie Wanyi did not want to see Xie Wanrou. She thought resentfully: so what if she had once saved her when they were children? There was no need for Mother to keep bringing it up.

She only wanted Xie Wanrou to leave quickly—out of sight, out of mind.

“I will not return.”

“Not return? Why? Could it be you were divorced?”

Xie Wanyi spoke without restraint, blurting out whatever came to mind, without caring whether her words wounded.

“Wanyi, mind your wording. My affairs have nothing to do with you. Where I live is none of your concern either. Just manage yourself well and stop causing trouble for Mother.”

Xie Wanyi bristled. “Cause more trouble than you? General Lei only touched you once, and even the Court of Judicial Review was alerted. Anyone who didn’t know better would think the General’s Residence was about to collapse.”

Xie Wanrou narrowed her eyes slightly and examined Xie Wanyi carefully.

Her own younger sister—how could she be so foolish and ignorant?