Chapter 130: Murder Must Face the Law
After the incense offering concluded, Lin Shi turned around.
"Father-in-law," she spoke calmly, "On my way to the Xie residence, I heard people say the Old Madam died a tragic death. I wonder if this is true or not?"
"Common folks on the streets speak nonsense!" Xie Zhongcheng said angrily, "My mother was critically ill. She was old and couldn't withstand it, so she passed away."
"Is that so?" Lin Shi sneered, "Does Father-in-law think that by saying this, the common people will stop discussing the Xie family? That the Censorate won't find out? That it won't bring any consequences to your Xie family?"
Xie Zhongcheng clenched his fists.
He never expected that a death in the Xie family could cause such an uproar in the capital.
Ultimately, it was because the Xie family had married a daughter from the Yun family. The Yun family attracted much attention, and inexplicably, the Xie family became subject to discussion as well.
"What happens to your Xie family doesn't concern me," Lin Shi's voice grew colder. "That child Xie Shiwei previously injured the heir of Marquis Xuanwu. I thought it was just childish play, but who would have thought he would kill his own biological great-grandmother! If he could mercilessly kill a blood-related elder, what about a stepmother with no blood relation? If he could kill his great-grandmother, he could kill his stepmother! Our Yun family absolutely cannot allow our daughter to live under the same roof as a murderer!"
"Mother-in-law, you worry too much!" Yuan Shi hurried over and said, "Wei Ge'er has always respected Chu'er as his stepmother. How could he possibly kill his mother..."
"Hah, in your Xie family, what isn't possible!" Lin Shi took Yun Chu's hand, "Chu'er, Mother will take you home!"
Xie Shiwei's behavior must have come from the Xie family roots. The entire Xie household was rotten, making her suspect that what happened years ago with Chu'er's premature birth was definitely connected to the Xie family!
She deeply regretted now why she had been blinded by Xie Jingyu's status as the Number One Scholar back then, why she had chosen such a marriage for Chu'er.
It was all her fault. She had harmed Chu'er!
"Mother-in-law, let's discuss this properly!" Yuan Shi quickly held onto Yun Chu, "The Old Madam has just passed away. If Chu'er, as the eldest granddaughter-in-law, leaves the Xie family now, it would truly make it impossible for our Xie family to maintain face. Mother-in-law, tell us, tell us how to handle this, and our Xie family will do exactly as you say. As long as Chu'er remains with the Xie family, we'll do anything!"
Xie Zhongcheng softened his tone: "Wei Ge'er definitely won't stay with the Xie family anymore. You can rest assured about that, Mother-in-law!"
Lin Shi said coldly: "If you kill someone, you must pay the price. Your Xie family has only one choice - send Xie Shiwei to the authorities!"
Yuan Shi's legs weakened, and she quickly supported herself on her maid's hand.
Xie Zhongcheng clenched his fists tightly.
The Yun family was clearly threatening him, forcing him to send Wei Ge'er to the authorities. Otherwise, the Yun family might very well seek divorce and sever relations with the Xie family.
The current Xie family, already unstable, couldn't withstand the turmoil of a divorce.
He quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind, closed his eyes, and said word by word: "Then, as Mother-in-law says."
The Xie family servants had already spread what happened last night. The whole capital was buzzing with the news, every detail vividly described. If they didn't provide an explanation, the Xie family would forever be nailed to the pillar of shame.
Sacrificing one Xie Shiwei to preserve the entire Xie family... seemed... not entirely unacceptable.
Yun Chu saw Lin Shi out: "Mother, don't worry. The Xie family can't harm me.""Chu'er..." Lin Shi sighed, "Your father and I will always be your support. The Yun family will always welcome you back."
After seeing Lin Shi off, Yun Chu summoned Ting Feng: "Go to the firewood shed now and tell Xie Shiwei that the Xie family intends to send him to the authorities. If he accepts his fate, so be it. If he wishes to escape, lend him a hand and give him a few taels of silver."
Ting Feng nodded and immediately went to carry out the task.
Yuan Shi emerged from the mourning hall, leaning on Xie Zhongcheng's arm, her voice trembling as she said, "Husband, must we really send Wei Ge'er to the authorities? He's only eight years old!"
"He has done wrong and must face the consequences," Xie Zhongcheng replied, looking at her. "Now that Old Madam is gone, the inner household of the Xie family will rely on you to maintain order. Don't always look on the verge of tears. If you cry, all the women and children will follow suit, and our household will fall into chaos."
Yuan Shi suppressed her quivering tone: "But we still have Chu'er..."
"Only you still believe this daughter-in-law is truly on the Xie family's side!" Xie Zhongcheng lowered his voice. "Ever since she learned that An Ge'er and his two siblings were born of Concubine He, her heart has turned cold toward the Xie family. Remember, take control of the inner household yourself. Don't always depend on others..."
Yuan Shi's eyes widened in shock: "What did you say? An Ge'er was born of Concubine He?"
This revelation completely overturned her understanding, striking her like a blow to the head, leaving her dizzy and disoriented.
Xie Zhongcheng shook his head. His wife had been ill for over a decade, constantly taking medicine that had clouded her mind. How could something so obvious require further explanation?
"No wonder... no wonder my in-laws earlier hinted at the idea of divorce?" Yuan Shi wailed, her face grief-stricken. "I heard that in the past couple of days, the Yun family elders intervened to arrange a divorce for one of their married daughters. The Yun family isn't concerned about the negative impact a divorce might bring. If the Xie family treats Chu'er poorly, the Yun family elders will surely step in to secure a divorce for her!"
Xie Zhongcheng had also sensed the assertiveness in Lin Shi's attitude.
He felt a vague worry—would the Yun family go to any lengths to pursue a divorce?
"Once Jingyu recovers his health, we must ensure Chu'er conceives a child," Yuan Shi turned, clasped her hands together, and walked toward Old Madam's memorial tablet in the mourning hall. "I beg Old Madam to bless Chu'er with a son, so our Xie family may have a true legitimate heir..."
Xie Shi'an, kneeling beside the tablet and burning paper offerings, paused for a moment.
He had always known that his mother had consulted a renowned physician and that both his father and mother were taking medicine to regulate their bodies in hopes of conceiving a child.
Given the current state of the Xie family, his father would undoubtedly go to great lengths to ensure his mother became pregnant. If the Xie family were to have a true legitimate heir, what would become of him, the eldest son?
Now, his mother was paving the way for him, securing a spot at the Imperial College through the Yun family's connections. He was benefiting from the Yun family's network...
But once his mother had her own child, once the Yun family had a legitimate grandson of their own blood, what role would there be for him, Xie Shi'an?
Perhaps he should add something extra to his father's medicine... No, that would be too risky. The residue could easily be detected...
Xie Shi'an continued burning paper offerings, but his mind raced, countless thoughts swirling within.
Xie Zhongcheng left the mourning hall and headed toward the firewood shed.
He intended to personally escort Xie Shiwei to the authorities, showing the gossiping commoners that the Xie family upheld justice above family ties and was not a household mired in corruption!As he approached the firewood shed, an old maidservant rushed out in panic, exclaiming, "Master, something terrible has happened! The second young master—the second young master has disappeared!"
Xie Zhongcheng flew into a rage. "What do you mean, disappeared?!"
"Just moments ago, the second young master said he was thirsty while inside the shed. I locked the door to fetch him water, but when I returned, he was gone!"
"That wretched scoundrel dares to run away!" Xie Zhongcheng roared. "Everyone, after him! You must capture that wretched scoundrel and bring him back!"
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