TRBDM -Chapter 96 The Second Branch Splits

“Oh? You’re going to repay it for him? But aside from your salary, everything you eat, wear, and use comes from the Marquis’ household. Using the household’s silver to pay off the Shen family’s debt—do you think that’s reasonable?”

Xie Sheng’s face turned darker than charcoal.

Of course, he knew it wasn’t reasonable.

But now Shen Zhizhi was carrying his child. He couldn’t risk disturbing her pregnancy over thirteen hundred taels of silver.

What if the child couldn’t be saved? What would he do then?

Shen Tianci was the only son of the Shen family, and Shen Zhizhi loved her younger brother dearly.

If the Shen family had to sell the old residence to repay the debt, they would have nowhere to go—and in the end, wouldn’t they come to him, the son-in-law, anyway?

Shen Tianci would truly become a burden he couldn’t shake off.

Last night, Xie Sheng hadn’t slept a wink.

After deep thought, he came up with a plan.

However, if he carried it out, he would be completely giving up on the fight for the title.

In recent days, Xie Sheng had realized that, given his mother’s current attitude, it was highly unlikely she would allow him to inherit the title anyway. So, he might as well burn his bridges.

“I want to split the family!”

The words left him, and everyone present was shocked.

Xie Chuan was the first to jump up: “Second brother, what are you saying? Are you serious? Split the family?”

Even Xie Wanrou, who rarely involved herself in her maternal family’s affairs, couldn’t help but speak: “Second brother, splitting the family is a major matter; this isn’t something to joke about.”

Xie Sheng knew exactly how important this was.

But right now, only by splitting the family could he repay the thirteen hundred taels. He had no other choice.

A breeze drifted in from outside. Though it was warm air, it carried a chill.

Only Wei Zhaorong’s expression remained unchanged.

Xie Sheng’s words hit precisely the mark of her intent.

Since her rebirth, the actions of the second branch couple had constantly reminded Wei Zhaorong that they would never change.

They were always selfish, only caring for themselves, never considering the rest of the Marquis’ household.

She had long wanted the second branch to split off, to completely put an end to Xie Sheng’s ambitions for the title.

Shen Zhizhi had a gambler of a younger brother—someone she could never shake off in this lifetime. If the second branch stayed in the Marquis’ household, there would be endless future troubles.

Now was perfect—Xie Sheng had volunteered to bring it up himself.

Wei Zhaorong remained still, silent, quietly observing everyone’s reactions.

Xie Chuan patted Xie Sheng on the shoulder, speaking earnestly: “Second brother, have you really thought this through? Once you split off, the chances for us brothers to meet will grow fewer and fewer. It won’t be like now, where we can meet whenever we want.”

The more Xie Chuan spoke, the more annoyed Xie Sheng became. He disliked his lack of perception.

At a time like this, talking about brotherly bonds—what nonsense.

Did they even have a brotherly bond?

Nonsense.

If it weren’t for Xie Chuan holding the title of legitimate eldest son, the title should have been Xie Sheng’s. There wouldn’t be all this nonsense to deal with.

Nearby, Dou Shuyao desperately tried to signal Xie Chuan with her eyes, but he was a fool, lost entirely in the sorrow of being separated from his brother, never even looking her way.

Dou Shuyao couldn’t help rolling her eyes.

Someone so oblivious truly needed a doctor to treat his eyesight.

Xie Chuan didn’t see Dou Shuyao’s signals—but Xie Wanrou did.

She suddenly sensed that something was amiss and turned to look at Wei Zhaorong.

Sure enough, Wei Zhaorong’s face was calm; she wasn’t angered by Xie Sheng’s request to split the family.

She understood.

Mother approved of the second branch splitting off.

After her divorce, Xie Wanrou lived in the Marquis’ household. Gossip could easily spread, but with Wei Zhaorong backing her, no one dared oppose it.

Thus, Xie Wanrou deferred entirely to her mother. Whatever decision her mother made, she would approve without question.

After that, she didn’t speak again, waiting silently for her mother to handle it.

“All right, elder brother, stop trying to persuade me. I’ve made up my mind,” Xie Sheng said impatiently, pushing Xie Chuan away.

Xie Chuan looked hurt: “Second brother, you’ve changed. You really have changed. When we were kids, during storms and rain, you’d only sleep if you were in my arms… but now…”

“All right, Big Brother, what’s the point of bringing up Chen Guzi’s trivial nonsense?”

Xie Chuan was scolded and, feeling embarrassed, slumped back into his seat.

Xie Sheng lifted his head, his expression resolute as he looked at Wei Zhaorong. “Mother, I’ve made up my mind. The second branch will have its own residence, completely separating from the Marquis Residence. Once I receive the property belonging to the second branch, I will repay thirteen hundred taels of silver.”

Wei Zhaorong did not respond immediately.

She gazed at Xie Sheng—this child, whom she had once been most proud of—who had now reached the point of severing all family ties.

After a long moment, she said, “Fine. I agree to the second branch separating.”

Her words hung in the air, and everyone fell silent.

Xie Sheng, who had been holding on with sheer willpower, suddenly relaxed, his entire body as if the strength had been drained from his bones.

“Tomorrow, we will invite the head of the Xie clan and our Wei family uncle to the residence to witness and formalize the separation agreement.”

The drama sparked by the true and false account books reached its climax, ending with the second branch taking the initiative to separate.

Xie Sheng did not linger for a moment and quickly left Anhe Courtyard.

The matter of the second branch was temporarily resolved, but there were still Old Ding and the Shen family servant to deal with.

“Send Old Ding to the authorities. Let them judge him as they see fit.”

Old Ding had long accepted his fate, his face ashen.

He kowtowed to Wei Zhaorong. “Madam, all these years you never treated me harshly, yet I was blinded and committed a wrong. Even dying to atone would not be too much. Only my sick grandson—without me—can only wait to die at home…”

It was all fate.

Old Ding was taken to the authorities.

The last one left was the Shen family servant, beaten to the point that he could barely breathe.

“Throw him at the Shen Residence gate.”

Once everyone left, the hall became quiet.

Dou Shuyao and Xie Wanrou remained silent.

“Mother.”

Xie Chuan broke the silence.

“If the second branch wants to separate, that’s their business. It has nothing to do with our main branch. You wouldn’t want me to separate as well, would you?”

This time he was clever, bringing up the third brother: “And Third Brother… he’s still young and unmarried. There’s no way he would separate too, right? That wouldn’t make sense.”

Wei Zhaorong looked at him. “Don’t want to separate? That depends on your behavior. If the main branch has children, naturally separation won’t happen.”

“Don’t worry, Mother. In just half a month, the restriction will reach a hundred days. Once I return to Ruixiang Courtyard, Shuyao will be able to conceive soon.”

Xie Chuan was brimming with confidence.

He was now a marksman—never missing a shot!

Dou Shuyao’s face flushed red, and she desperately wanted to cover Xie Chuan’s overly frank mouth.

Unexpectedly, Wei Zhaorong laughed upon hearing this. “In that case, I will wait for good news from the main branch. As for the separation, we’ll put it on hold for now.”

“Mother, your wisdom is unmatched.”

The matter of the second branch separating involved the division of the Marquis Residence’s assets and was complex and cumbersome.

As Dou Shuyao was of the main branch, it was not appropriate for her to handle this, so Wei Zhaorong assigned Xie Wanrou to assist.

The letters to the head of the Xie clan and the Wei family uncle were written in Wei Zhaorong’s own hand.

“Send them quickly. Ask them to arrive on time tomorrow.”

The servant delivering the letters took them and immediately left the residence, riding off on a fast horse that vanished into the streets.

At Quyang Courtyard, Shen Zhizhi waited nervously at the door.

Hearing footsteps, she instinctively wanted to go out to greet him, but dared not move.

When Xie Sheng entered, the two nearly collided face-to-face.

“Hu… Husband, you’re back.”

Xie Sheng responded coldly, his expression extremely grim.

“Husband… Mother… what did Mother say?”

Xie Sheng lifted his eyes, his gaze cold and sharp. “To repay your debt, I proposed that the second branch separate. Mother agreed.”

“What!”

Shen Zhizhi was shocked and fainted again.