"Indeed, each has gained something, so there is no need for mutual thanks." Xie Yunhuai's smile was as pure and bright as the luminous moon.
After the rain cleared, the sky brightened, and all things appeared fresh and clean.
This was the feeling one had when interacting with Xie Yunhuai—utterly refreshing and expansive. Xie Yunhuai did not stay long, and Shen Xihe did not press him to remain. She saw him off as he left the Princess Manor, unaware that instead of departing the city, Xie Yunhuai openly returned to the Xie Duke Manor.
Upon returning home, Xie Ji smashed his favorite set of teacups in a fit of rage. The Xie Duke Manor was still in disarray, not yet tidied up. The servants all knew that the Duke had been stripped of his position, and they trembled with fear.
When they saw Xie Yunhuai arrive, none knew how to react—they dared not stop him, nor did they dare to report his arrival. They could only watch helplessly as Xie Yunhuai strode forward with his hands clasped behind his back, his steps steady, a faint, inscrutable smile playing on his lips.
"I told you long ago that he doesn't acknowledge you as his father and warned you not to be careless, but you accused me of being intolerant. Now look at today—" Yuan Shi was in the midst of complaining when she looked up and saw Xie Yunhuai standing at the doorway. Her gaze sharpened. "How dare you come here!"
"Why would I not dare to come?" Xie Yunhuai lifted his long leg and stepped over the threshold. "Did I speak falsely before His Majesty today?"
He had indeed guessed that the person Xie Ji wanted him to treat was Xun Wang. The fire at the ancestral temple and the rumors of Xun Wang’s resurrection had caused quite a stir. The sudden tightening of security at the city gates indicated that the matter of Xun Wang was anything but ordinary.
As for the shocking revelation that His Majesty was raising a private army, Xie Yunhuai had only begun to suspect it after the crime of Prince Kang privately manufacturing weapons was exposed. Prince Kang’s loyalty to the sovereign was unwavering; he would never defect to any prince. If he was not scheming for a prince, then it could only be for His Majesty.
After the fall of Prince Kang’s estate, Xie Yunhuai deliberately went to treat the old princess consort of the Kang Manor and gathered some information from the people there, confirming that Prince Kang had been acting on His Majesty’s orders.
What would His Majesty need such a large quantity of weapons for? It was not difficult to surmise that it was for a private army. Once news of Xun Wang’s resurrection emerged, Xie Yunhuai knew exactly who was organizing and training this private force. Xie Ji had once owed Xun Wang a life-saving debt on the battlefield—a fact Xie Yunhuai had overheard as a child during a conversation between Xie Ji and Xun Wang. It was likely that even His Majesty was unaware of this.
Thus, when Xie Ji sought him out, Xie Yunhuai had already formed some suspicions. Xun Wang had clearly been set up. Whoever had orchestrated the plot had intended it to be a fatal trap. If Xun Wang managed to escape, he was likely either dead or severely injured.
Xun Wang would not dare to seek out His Majesty and would almost certainly turn to Xie Ji instead. Xie Ji, in turn, would not risk consulting a city doctor for fear of leaking information. Approaching Xie Yunhuai was the most logical choice. Xie Yunhuai understood this perfectly but feigned extreme reluctance, especially when he arrived at the Xie residence and discovered it was Xun Wang. He adamantly refused to help.
To persuade him, Xie Ji offered his mother’s keepsakes as a trade. Back then, the separation had been so bitter that Xie Yunhuai had no right to take his mother’s belongings with him. Pretending to be swayed, he agreed, but that did not change the fact that Xie Ji had essentially detained him.
"Do you truly hate me this much?" Xie Ji asked in a low voice, the corners of his eyes reddening.
"Should I not hate you?" Xie Yunhuai retorted with a laugh, his eyes cold and detached. "I am now a doctor. Do you think your past actions can still deceive me?"
"My son, whether you believe it or not, what happened to your mother was never my intention," Xie Ji said sorrowfully.
A mocking glint flashed in Xie Yunhuai’s dark eyes. "Duke Xie, there is no need to put on an act for me. I came today to tell you that this is only the beginning. We have a long road ahead. You let my mother suffer for years, tormented while still alive. I will not grant you a swift end either."After speaking, Xie Yunhuai left, and not a single servant in the Duke of Xie’s residence dared to stop him.
“My lord, look at him—he treats you as an enemy, without a shred of familial affection!” Yuan Shi said coldly. “I’ve finally understood: he came for us. Who knows if he planned this all along? Otherwise, why would Zhaoning County Princess give him the imperial Golden Decree for no reason? He must have played the victim and slandered us in front of her! If you continue to indulge him like this, our Duke’s residence will be ruined by him sooner or later!”
“Silence!” Xie Ji roared, turning to glare at Yuan Shi. “If only you could have borne me a son or daughter, would I be so constrained by him?”
Xie Yunhuai was his only son. Despite years of marriage to Yuan Shi, there had been no signs of a child, and the Duke of Xie’s residence had no other concubines. If anything were to happen to Xie Yunhuai, the Xie family’s noble title would be revoked, as there was no heir. Even a bastard son would be better than letting the Xie lineage end with him—he would become the clan’s sinner.
The matter concerning the Qi family back then had been handled flawlessly, but the Xie clan members were no fools. It was only because the Qi family had weakened and no longer had influential figures in power that no one sought justice. The Xie clan, prioritizing their interests, had let it slide.
As he grew older without an heir, the Xie clan had begun to voice discontent. He could adopt a child from a collateral branch, but even then, whether the title would be granted after his death would depend on His Majesty’s favor.
With Xie Yunhuai, inheriting the title would be a matter of course.
Yuan Shi paled. She had given birth before and had consulted physicians privately, all of whom assured her she could conceive. Yet, despite being older, she had remained childless for five or six years—a source of deep insecurity for her.
As Xie Yunhuai passed through the moon gate, he overheard the couple’s argument. Yuan Shi wanting to conceive? Absolutely impossible!
Before severing ties, he had secretly administered a sterilizing drug to Xie Ji!
Lately, the Xie clan had sensed their wealth and status were at risk and had approached him one after another, pledging support.
He had rejected them all. Today’s events were meant to show the clan exactly who could sustain the Xie family’s future, making them more willing to serve his purposes.
His visit was solely to divert Xie Ji’s attention, making him believe everything was part of a meticulous plan—that Shen Xihe was merely a pawn in his scheme against him. This way, Xie Ji would not seek revenge on Shen Xihe.
Next, he would pressure the Xie clan to spread rumors of Yuan Shi’s infertility and force concubines upon Xie Ji. With his own relentless retaliation from the sidelines, he would see how long Xie Ji could uphold his facade of undying love.
Once Xie Ji took a concubine, he would make Yuan Shi present him with a “dear son”!
Step by step, he would torment Xie Ji and Yuan Shi beyond recognition, turning them against each other, letting their mutual resentment fester. He would use their so-called profound love as a sacrifice to honor his mother’s memory!
“County Princess, Doctor Qi visited the Duke of Xie’s residence and has safely returned home outside the city,” Mo Yuan reported, having sent men to follow Xie Yunhuai. Concerned that Xie Ji might vent his anger on the injured Xie Yunhuai, he had arranged covert protection.
“No need to send guards; it might make him suspicious,” Shen Xihe instructed.
Xie Yunhuai was fully capable of protecting himself. As for whether his actions were meant to use her or aid her—since the outcome ultimately benefited him as well—there was no need to debate right or wrong.For her, it was best to regard this as a gesture of goodwill.
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