Yun Chu Ling

Chapter 64: Leaving Him No Way Out

Xie Jingyu waited in the side hall outside.

After sitting for quite some time, he finally saw Yun Chu emerge from the inner chamber.

Standing with his hands behind his back, he said in a deep voice, "I've discussed with Old Madam and decided to send Wei Ge'er to the estate in the outskirts of the capital. What does my wife think of this?"

"That's actually a good arrangement. Let him suffer some hardships, and he'll naturally become more sensible." Yun Chu lifted her gaze. "When does my husband plan to send Wei Ge'er away?"

Xie Jingyu enunciated each word clearly: "Now. Immediately."

Yun Chu asked, "Shouldn't we wait until Wei Ge'er has mostly recovered from his illness?"

"Marquis Xuanwu is currently furious. If the Xie family doesn't show some attitude at this time, the Marquis will hold this matter in his heart forever." Xie Jingyu pressed his lips together. "We'll just have to let Wei Ge'er endure some hardship."

Yun Chu sneered inwardly.

Xie Jingyu and Xie Shi'an, this father and son were truly cut from the same cloth - both scholarly, both selfish and heartless.

Actually, in her previous life, she had nothing to complain about either. If Xie Shi'an could abandon his own biological brother, how much more would he abandon her, a stepmother without blood ties?

"After Wei Ge'er is sent away, the Xie residence still needs to pay a visit to apologize." Xie Jingyu looked at the woman across from him. "My wife, please come with me."

Since they had already decided to bow their heads to the Marquis Xuanwu's household, they might as well go all the way. No matter whether Marquis Xuanwu shamed him, insulted him, scolded him, or mocked him, he would endure it. In a few more years, when An Ge'er achieved great things, the Xie family would eventually reclaim their lost dignity.

Yun Chu frowned slightly.

She had no desire to go with Xie Jingyu to the Marquis Xuanwu's residence to endure others' disdain.

While she was speaking with Xie Jingyu, two furry little heads popped out from behind the screen in the side hall.

"Changsheng, look at that man. He's Mother's husband." Chu Hongyu whispered in a low voice. "Tell me, what's better about this man compared to our father? Why did Mother marry him instead of Father?"

Chu Changsheng opened her innocent big eyes, also showing she didn't understand.

"Pfft—"

A strange sound came from Chu Hongyu's rear end.

Chu Changsheng wrinkled her delicate little nose, then immediately covered it in disgust.

"Pfft pfft—"

Two more consecutive sounds followed.

Xie Jingyu was waiting for Yun Chu's answer when he seemed to hear some movement from behind the screen, along with a strange odor.

He frowned. "It smells like spoiled food."

He involuntarily began walking toward the screen.

Yun Chu immediately spotted the two little figures moving behind the screen.

She was utterly exasperated - it must be Yu Ge'er being disobedient and sneaking out of the inner chamber with Changsheng.

"Husband!"

Yun Chu called out to stop Xie Jingyu.

"Then tomorrow I'll go with you to the Marquis Xuanwu's residence to apologize. Please remember to prepare the apology gifts."

Xie Jingyu stopped walking, his gaze resting on Yun Chu. "Thank you, my wife."

Yun Chu only wished he would leave quickly. "Aren't you still going to send Wei Ge'er to the estate? It's getting late. Any later and it might be too late."

Hearing this, Xie Jingyu finally left.

As soon as he was gone, Yun Chu quickly walked behind the screen. She had intended to put on a stern face, but she saw Chu Hongyu with his knees pressed together inward, one hand covering his little belly, the other covering his little bottom, continuously stomping his feet in place, his entire face flushed red from holding back.

She couldn't help but laugh. "Come on, Mother will take you to the restroom."

Meanwhile, Xie Jingyu brought people to the courtyard where Xie Shiwei resided.He surveyed the entire room. Ever since Wei Ge'er had been punished with family discipline a month ago for his mistakes, Yun Chu had ordered all the furnishings in this courtyard to be removed.

Yun Chu had said that when Heaven is about to confer a great responsibility on any man, it will first test his resolution with suffering. Though the living conditions were already quite austere, Wei Ge'er had shown no improvement whatsoever.

A few days ago, when Wei Ge'er had mistreated a maid, he should have sent Wei Ge'er far away. At the very least, he should have confined him to the ancestral hall for several months. Then today's disaster would never have occurred.

But it was too late for such regrets now.

Xie Jingyu's expression was grim as he entered the inner chamber and looked at Xie Shiwei lying pale-faced on the bed. He spoke slowly and deliberately: "Shiwei, you have deeply disappointed your father. I've given you chance after chance, yet you show no remorse and continue to make mistakes. Today, I'm sending you to live permanently at our estate in the outskirts of the capital. There, you shall recuperate properly while engaging in serious self-reflection. I hope when we next meet, I'll be able to view you in a new light."

Xie Shiwei was still suffering from the pain of his broken leg. When he saw Xie Jingyu approach, he thought his father had come out of concern for him.

But he never expected to hear such words—his father actually intended to send him away to live at the country estate!

He looked toward Xie Shi'an standing behind Xie Jingyu and cried out desperately: "Elder brother, please beg Father for mercy on my behalf! Tell him I've reformed, truly reformed... This incident was just an accident—it was the son of Marquis Xuanwu who tried to steal my things first, and he was the one who pushed me first..."

"Enough!" Xie Jingyu roared angrily. "Even at this point, you're still shifting blame and fail to understand where you went wrong!"

Xie Shi'an sighed: "Shiwei, Marquis Xuanwu said that even breaking all four of your limbs wouldn't appease his hatred. Sending you to the estate is to preserve your life—it's what Father must do despite himself. You need to understand Father's well-intentioned efforts."

Xie Shiwei paled in terror.

His leg was already broken, yet Marquis Xuanwu remained unsatisfied—he actually wanted to break all his limbs...

If he were sent to live at the estate in the capital's outskirts, wouldn't it be even easier for Marquis Xuanwu to take his life?

"Father, I was wrong..." Xie Shiwei rolled off the bed. "I truly know I was wrong. I beg you to give me one more chance..."

He Shi wept as she said: "My lord, Wei Ge'er is still young, he can still be disciplined..."

"Father, I will definitely reform!" Xie Shiwei cried until he was gasping for breath. "As long as you don't send me away, I'll do anything you ask."

He was only an eight-year-old child, with one leg already broken. Sending him far away like this was completely cutting off his path to survival...

"Attendants!" Xie Jingyu said coldly. "Take the Second Young Master to the carriage."

Two servants entered from outside and lifted Xie Shiwei up by his arms, carrying him out together.

A carriage waited in the courtyard, where Xie Zhongcheng sat inside. He sighed and said: "Wei Ge'er, from now on you'll live obediently with your grandfather at the estate. The estate isn't so bad—gradually change your mindset, and your father will naturally bring you back to the capital."

"No! Don't!" Xie Shiwei struggled violently. Whenever his leg touched the ground, the pain made him scream as if his heart were being torn apart. "I don't want to go to the estate! Father, give me another chance! Mother, Mother, save me..."

He completely lost control, looking toward He Shi's direction and crying out "Mother!"Xie Jingyu's eyes darkened. The two servants dared not delay any longer. They lifted Xie Shiwei and threw him into the carriage. Seeing him struggle violently, they took out a rope to bind him and stuffed a cloth into his mouth.

He Shi's tears fell like rain.

She had not yet come to terms with the fact that Wei Ge'er had lost a leg, and now she had to endure the pain of separation from her son. Her heart felt as if it had been torn apart, and she cried until she nearly fainted.

Several concubines stood not far from the courtyard gate, all wearing expressions of confusion.

Tao Yiniang was the first to speak: "Don’t you think He Yiniang seems a bit too concerned about the young masters? Last time, when the eldest young master passed the Cultivated Talent exam, she was happier than anyone. This time, when the second young master is sent away, she’s more distressed than anyone. Is it because she’s so deeply in love with the master that she extends her affection to the young masters as well?"

Ting Yu and Jiang Yiniang remained silent, only tightening their grip on the children’s hands and silently warning them not to cause trouble...