Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 53

Chapter 53 - Xie Shi'an's Courtyard Examination 

"Tingfeng, Tingxue, the two of you take turns guarding Jiuer. Do not leave her side for even half a step before I return to the estate."

"Tingshuang, take my token and go thoroughly investigate what is actually going on."

Yunchu gave her orders in an orderly and methodical manner.

"Mother Qi, take some people to the Second Young Master's courtyard and tie the Second Young Master up first. Wait for me to come and deal with him!"

Standing on the side, Xie Shi'an said in astonishment, "Mother, what does this matter have to do with Shiwei?"

Yunchu said calmly, "It is a maidservant from his courtyard who is trying to seek her own death. You tell me how it has nothing to do with him. An'er, you still have your examinations, don't delay. Go on."

He Shi forced a smile onto her face. "Madam will naturally make a fair and impartial judgment. The Eldest Young Master should just set his mind at ease and take the examinations."

Knowing that this was not a matter for him to worry about, Xie Shi'an nodded and followed Yunchu to the front courtyard to rendezvous with Xie Jingyu.

The three of them boarded the carriage, which slowly made its way toward the examination grounds. This was the once-in-three-years courtyard examination, and numerous scholars had come to participate, full of high ambitions and high spirits.

The laws of the current dynasty stipulated that scholars studying under the capital's Director of Education did not need to participate in the preliminary child examinations and could go straight to the courtyard examination. If they were students of the Imperial Academy, they could even skip the courtyard examination entirely and proceed directly to the metropolitan examination.

Xie Shi'an stepped down from the carriage, cupped his fists, and said, "Many thanks to Father and Mother for seeing me off. I shall go inside now."

Xie Jingyu nodded, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on his son as he entered the examination grounds.

Yunchu's expression was very faint, showing little emotion.

At that moment, a voice sounded beside her ear, "Madam Xie."

Turning her head, she saw the Marquis of Xuanwu, Qin Mingheng, standing at her side in official attire. She hurriedly took a step back and bowed in greeting, "Greetings, My Lord Marquis."

Upon hearing the voice, Xie Jingyu immediately walked over, unassumingly blocking the space in front of Yunchu as he said, "This subordinate greets the Marquis."

Seeing this action, Qin Mingheng's complexion immediately turned sour. He smiled and said, "This courtyard examination is being supervised by me as the Western District Official. I wonder which district Young Master Xie is taking his exam in?"

Xie Jingyu's fingers tightened. An'er was precisely in the Western District.

Ever since he and Yunchu became betrothed, he and Qin Mingheng had essentially forged a deep feud.

Fortunately, the Marquis of Xuanwu's estate possessed only a title and no real political power; otherwise, Qin Mingheng would certainly have suppressed him in official circles in all sorts of ways.

Xie Jingyu cupped his fists. "Since the Marquis has examination duties to attend to, this subordinate will not occupy the Marquis's time further. Farewell."

With that, he led Yunchu toward their carriage.

Qin Mingheng closed his eyes and sniffed the air, catching a trace of that exact same fragrance as the handkerchief. He took a satisfied, deep breath.

Once inside the carriage, Xie Jingyu's expression remained exceedingly poor.

Yunchu had no interest in whatever grievances existed between the two of them. She opened her mouth to ask, "Since Husband is taking a day off today, do you have any other arrangements for later?"

Surprise flickered in Xie Jingyu's heart. This was the very first time Yunchu had ever inquired about his itinerary. Was there something she wanted him to accompany her to do?

His expression softened slightly. "I merely have some official business to handle, insignificant trifles mostly. Why does Madam ask this?"

"When leaving the house this morning, an elderly servant came to report that the maid in Wei'er's courtyard had made a scene over seeking death," Yunchu said evenly. "Last time, when I used family law to punish Wei'er, it displeased the Old Madam, and it was inconvenient for me to act further. Therefore, I wished to request Husband's presence to handle it."

Xie Jingyu's brow furrowed. "A disobedient maid who insists on living or dying should simply be sold off. How could it possibly be worth making such a massive fuss over?"

Hearing these words, Yunchu let out a direct laugh. "You would condemn a maid without even properly investigating?"

Her laughter caused Xie Jingyu to feel an unwarranted trace of mockery.

Mockery of him for being a scholar in name only, mockery of his ineptitude in household management, mockery of him, mockery of the Xie family—this laugh contained far too much...

"Then Husband should go attend to your official business. Matters of the inner courtyard will no longer trouble Husband."

As soon as Yunchu finished speaking, the carriage arrived precisely at the Xie residence. She lifted the curtain and stepped down, walking straight inside without even waiting for Xie Jingyu.

Xie Jingyu pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a long sigh.

For the past five years, all matters of the inner courtyard had been handed over to Yunchu to manage. This was her first time making such a request; no matter how busy he was, he had to carve out time to go take a look.

He leaped down from the carriage and followed closely behind Yunchu until they reached the courtyard where Xie Shiwei resided.

The Old Madam, Lady Yuan, and several concubines were all gathered in the courtyard. Tingshuang stood by the entrance of a side room with a very gloomy expression.

"Jingyu, you've finally returned!" Having recently fallen ill, the Old Madam was somewhat frail in health. Leaning on her servant's hand for support as she stood up, she rebuked, "Look at the fine mess your wife has made! She actually had people tie Wei'er up, and wouldn't even let me untie him, claiming that she had to return first before anything could be done. She might be the mistress managing the Xie family, but she certainly isn't the ruler of the heavens!"

The Old Madam was indeed furious to the extreme.

In the past, Wei'er had indeed been somewhat mischievous, but he had been exceptionally well-behaved for quite some time now. A maid wanted to seek her own death—upon what grounds should Wei'er be punished for it?

During the birthday banquet last time, there had been flaws, and Yunchu had evidently convinced herself that the Xie residence could not function without her, which was why her actions were growing more and more uninhibited, wasn't it?

"This granddaughter-in-law wouldn't dare act as the ruler of the heavens." Yunchu walked over and bowed gracefully. "This granddaughter-in-law pays her respects to the Old Madam. Today's incident happened to coincide with An'er's courtyard examinations, which is why there was no time to come and brief the Old Madam beforehand. Please take a seat, Grandmother, and let Husband handle it. Tingshuang, you explain what actually happened."

Tingshuang walked over, lowered her head, and stated, "In accordance with Madam's instructions, this servant went to investigate. I questioned every single maid, elderly servant, and pageboy who served the Second Young Master, and discovered that not a single maid in the Second Young Master's courtyard has escaped being punished by the Second Young Master..."

Standing behind the Old Madam, He Shi could not help interrupting, "A master punishing servants is entirely justified by natural law and principle. What is there to talk about?"

Tingshuang sighed and cast a look toward those maids.

The maids all rolled up their sleeves and pulled back their collars, revealing shocking and horrifying scars.

Yunchu pressed her lips tightly together.

In her past life, three or four maids in Xie Shiwei's courtyard had met violent deaths. Later on, he took in seven or eight concubines, four of whom died right in his bed.

In truth, maidservants had come to lodge complaints with her long ago, but every single time she intended to investigate, He Shi—who was still Mother He back then—would step in and take charge of handling the matter. Coupled with Xie Old Madam's spoiling and indulgence, and Xie Jingyu's turning a blind eye, she, a mother who was not their blood-related parent, found it difficult to inquire any further...

Looking back now, just from what she knew of, at least ten or twenty women had died at Xie Shiwei's hands.

"I beg Madam to grant justice to us servants! The Second Young Master takes out his frustrations on us whether he is in a good mood or a bad one. Aside from our faces, there isn't a single patch of unblemished skin anywhere on our bodies."

"The Second Young Master likes to use a whip to beat people; my entire back is covered in whip scars. If I had committed a transgression, it would be one thing for the Second Young Master to punish me, but I have always acted properly and dutifully without ever committing a single fault, yet I am beaten every single day. I can no longer endure this kind of life."

"The Second Young Master made me stand balanced with a flowerpot on my head for an entire day, and because I lost my footing, he punished me by soaking me in a water vat overnight."

The several maidservants serving by Xie Shiwei's side poured out their grievances one after another.

He Shi said coldly, "Isn't it because you lot served the Second Young Master half-heartedly? Otherwise, why would the Second Young Master punish you? Besides, the Second Young Master is only eight years old; even if he used a whip to lash out, how much damage could he possibly do—"

"Shut your mouth!" Xie Jingyu roared angrily. "As a mere concubine, where do you get the right to speak here? Get out!"

He Shi could not help freezing in place.

She was Wei'er's mother; how on earth did she not have the right to speak, and what had she said wrong?

Veins bulged visibly on the back of Xie Jingyu's hands.

For the past few years, he had been in a phase of career promotion, bogged down by heavy official duties. He would leave the house before dawn and return in the dead of night, and even on his occasional days off, he had a mountain of matters to handle. He had indeed neglected the discipline of his children far too much, always assuming that Wei'er merely disliked studying and lacked drive, thinking that having An'er was enough. He had never, in his wildest dreams, imagined that Wei'er would commit such atrocities!

He finally understood why Yunchu had asked him to handle this.

Because this was no longer a matter that Yunchu alone could resolve.