Chapter 61: Xie Shiwei Causes Trouble
The Xie residence wasn't particularly large, so the Date Garden wasn't far away either.
Even before approaching, one could see the extensive rows of date trees planted along the courtyard walls. Though recently planted, they already displayed vigorous vitality with lush branches and leaves that rustled softly in the wind.
Beneath the date trees, a group of children were playing. The older children, including Xie Shi'an, were playing pitch-pot in the front courtyard, while those under seven or eight years old were running wild here.
"The date trees' branches dense with green leaves, the clear sky's breeze calls birds to sing," a gentleman couldn't help but recite poetry. "When these date trees grow up, the scenery here will surely become even more exquisite."
Yuan Daren chuckled: "With so many date trees planted in the residence, Lord Xie and Lady Xie's wishes are certain to be fulfilled."
Qin Mingheng's expression darkened.
Was that woman still hoping to have a child with Xie Jingyu?
Did she know that the two children she had given birth to back then were abandoned by Xie Jingyu at the main gate of his Marquis Xuanwu residence?
Two children who weren't even completely dead yet, only palm-sized, so tiny and small, on a snowy night with howling northern winds, wrapped only in a thin, tattered bed curtain, their little faces frozen blue-purple...
If she knew about this, would she hate Xie Jingyu?
No, she would hate him even more, hate him for nearly sending the children to the king of hell's doorstep.
While Qin Mingheng was lost in thought, he heard his son's voice. He looked up and saw his son arguing with the Xie residence's second young master.
The Young Son of Marquis Xuanwu stared angrily at the cricket in Xie Shiwei's hand, shouting: "I saw this cricket first! It's mine!"
He stretched out his hand, demanding Xie Shiwei hand it over.
"I was clearly the one who caught it first!" Xie Shiwei snorted. "You were just too slow."
The six-year-old Young Son of Marquis Xuanwu was furious: "How dare you defy me! Who gave you the nerve? I'll say it once more—hand it over!"
He carried the unique imposing manner of nobility. Xie Shiwei suddenly realized that the other party was the legitimate eldest son of Marquis Xuanwu, someone even his father couldn't afford to offend.
If he offended the Young Son of Marquis Xuanwu, his father would surely scold him severely.
Recognizing this, he glanced reluctantly at the cricket in his hand, hesitating whether to surrender it.
"Second Young Master, this cricket was found in the Xie residence, so it belongs to the Xie residence," Jiu'er stepped forward and whispered in his ear. "Although the Young Son of the Marquis's residence holds higher status, he can't just take the Xie residence's property without reason. What would that do to the Xie family's dignity?"
These words struck a chord with Xie Shiwei. It was originally the Xie residence's property, and moreover, he was the one who caught the cricket. Why should he hand it over?
He raised the cricket up: "If the Young Son wants it, come and take it yourself."
Being taller and holding the cricket high up, the Young Son of Marquis Xuanwu couldn't reach it at all. Enraged, he shoved Xie Shiwei hard.
Xie Shiwei instinctively pushed back. Being two years older and stronger, his push sent the Young Son of Marquis Xuanwu tumbling to the ground with a sharp cry.
Xie Shiwei looked over and saw that the Young Son of Marquis Xuanwu's hand had hit a stone, bleeding profusely.
He froze in fright for a moment, then immediately went over and bent down, about to help the other up, when suddenly a large hand from behind shoved him away fiercely.
Pushed to the ground, he looked up and saw an enraged Marquis Xuanwu, Qin Mingheng.
"M-Marquis..."
Xie Shiwei stammered out the address.The next moment, Qin Mingheng's booted foot came down heavily on Xie Shiwei's knee.
A crisp cracking sound echoed.
As the bone joint fractured, Xie Shiwei's face instantly turned deathly pale, followed by agonized howls of pain.
In the rear courtyard.
Yun Chu was chatting and laughing with Luo Shi, the wife of Marquis Xuanwu, while Lin Shi and Dai Furen sat together discussing their children. Xie Laotaitai and Yuan Shi were also engaged in pleasant conversation with several other noblewomen.
The atmosphere remained harmonious.
Just then, an elderly maidservant rushed over with an anxious expression: "Madam, something terrible has happened."
From the beginning of the banquet until its nearing conclusion, Xie Laotaitai had been in high spirits because the incident she feared hadn't occurred. Just as she was about to feel completely at ease, the servant's announcement struck her like a thunderbolt. She truly dreaded a recurrence of the absurd incident from the previous birthday banquet.
Yun Chu maintained her composure: "What happened?"
The maidservant bowed her head: "The son of Marquis Xuanwu's finger is bleeding profusely..."
Xie Laotaitai felt relieved and sighed: "Children around five or six years old are naturally mischievous. It's normal for them to accidentally injure their fingers. Has a physician been summoned..."
Luo Shi abruptly stood up, interrupting the Old Madam: "How did he injure his finger?"
"It was the Second Young Master..." The maidservant's head hung even lower. "The Second Young Master pushed the Young Marquis, who fell on a rock and started bleeding from his finger."
"What?!" Xie Laotaitai stood up so abruptly that her stool overturned. Supporting herself on the table, she enunciated each word clearly: "Wei Ge'er caused the Young Marquis's injury?"
Seeing the maidservant nod, the Old Madam's vision began to darken. Had servants not supported her, she would have collapsed immediately.
The previous incident had only cost the Xie family some face.
But injuring the son of Marquis Xuanwu meant offending the Marquis himself—the consequences were too dreadful to contemplate.
Just as Xie Laotaitai was nearly fainting from fear, she looked up and saw Yun Chu's calm expression. For some reason, this sight steadied her, and strength gradually returned to her limbs.
"Please don't panic, Lady Marquis. Let's go see what happened first," Yun Chu said. "The Date Garden is over there."
Lin Shi felt a heavy weight in her chest.
Marquis Xuanwu had married only one wife with no concubines in his household. The Lady Marquis had borne only this one legitimate son after all these years, and the couple doted excessively on their only child—they would worry if he was held in their palms, and fear he might melt if kept in their mouths. Now their precious treasure had shed blood in the Xie residence—this matter wouldn't be easily resolved.
Lin Shi followed the group.
Upon reaching the Date Garden, they heard the physician emerging from the room to report: "The Young Marquis's finger shows no damage to bones or tendons, but due to excessive blood loss, he'll need careful recuperation for a month... Young Master Xie's leg is more complicated. Even after healing, his gait will differ from ordinary people's."
Xie Jingyu staggered.
His eyes blazed with fury as he glared at Qin Mingheng.
The Young Marquis had only suffered a minor finger injury with some bleeding, yet Qin Mingheng had actually crushed his son's leg. Wei Ge'er was only eight years old—his entire future was now ruined.
Qin Mingheng looked coldly at him: "A mere illegitimate son from your Xie family, even if raised under the main wife's name to become legitimate, isn't worthy of comparison with my son, the heir of Marquis Xuanwu. Even if all his limbs were broken, it wouldn't quell my hatred. This matter cannot end here today. Official Xie, by indulging your beloved son to bully and humiliate the Marquis's heir, has committed insubordination and grave impudence. I will seek His Majesty's judgment on this matter!"Upon hearing the words "His Majesty," Xie Laotaitai could no longer hold on. Her eyes rolled back, and she fainted at the entrance of the courtyard.
Xie Jingyu's fists clenched tightly.
Although the Marquis' estate held no real power, it maintained close ties with the imperial family. If Qin Mingheng casually mentioned a few words before the emperor, it would be enough to make the Xie family suffer greatly.
The fact that Wei Ge'er's leg was permanently crippled was already irreversible—they could not afford to sacrifice the entire Xie family over it.
He unclenched his fingers, cupped his hands, and said, "This humble official failed in disciplining his son. Injuring the young master was the Xie family's fault. I beg the Marquis to be magnanimous..."
Qin Mingheng's face remained cold, clearly very dissatisfied with his apology.
At that moment, Yun Chu walked in from the entrance, approached Qin Mingheng, and slowly bowed: "Marquis, please calm your anger..."
OpenNovel