The Eldest Daughter-in-Law [Reborn] - Chapter 110

Concubine Lu’s fingers trembled under her sleeves, but she quickly regained composure and stared at Xie Hui, saying, “I would love for someone to come and clear my name. But, Master, do you really want to go that far?”

Xie Hui cared deeply about his reputation, and it was unthinkable for him to allow such a petty matter to make its way to the authorities. More importantly, this would be highly damaging to Xie Yunyou’s reputation.

No young master should ever be involved with his stepmother in such a way.

Just as Xie Hui was about to give in, Xie Yunchu smiled as she looked at Xie Yunzhou and said, “Yunzhou, you are here, right in front of your father. Look him in the eye and answer honestly—how did your mother get that injury on her face?”

Xie Yunzhou’s face turned pale, and he stammered, “I…”

Concubine Lu glared at Xie Yunchu fiercely, hugged her son in her arms, and said angrily, “What do you mean by this? Are you trying to pressure him just because he’s kind-hearted? Forcing him to question whether his mother is in the wrong, is that it?”

Xie Yunzhou broke down in tears, collapsing on the floor and sobbing uncontrollably.

With the autumn exams coming up, Xie Hui did not want his son to be dragged into such sinister plots.

“Zhou’er, did your brother really injure your mother? You must tell the truth. If you continue to let her run wild, you’ll be the one to suffer in the end.”

Xie Yunzhou continued to cry but refused to speak.

Xie Yunyou looked on coldly and sneered dismissively. “Father, have someone go to Jingzhao Prefecture to find a coroner. We can have an official investigation, or we can privately verify it.”

Xie Yunchu nodded. “That’s a good idea.”

From the attitudes of Xie Yunzhou and Xie Yunyou, Xie Hui could already deduce the truth. Xie Yunyou was open and honest, while Xie Yunzhou was timid, hesitant, and clearly struggling. It must have been his mother who lied, causing him such distress.

“No need, Lu, I’ll give you one last chance. If you reflect on yourself, there’s still room for improvement.”

Concubine Lu saw that the situation was hopeless and knew that her threats would not work, so she simply sat down on the ground and said, “Master, let’s speak plainly. The new wife is about to enter the house, and Yunzhou is being sidelined. He is your most outstanding son. Even if you won’t do it for me, do it for him. Give him a guarantee. I’ll take nothing from you. All I ask is that you give Yunzhou the official position as a courtesy officer. I’ll live in the side courtyard and never speak of it again.”

Xie Hui held the rank of third-tier court official and can give his position to his heir.

Although the imperial examination was glorious, it was as difficult as climbing to the sky, with thousands of people trying to pass a single plank bridge. Concubine Lu saw that her son was not interested in his studies and was worried that he would fail the autumn examination. The new mistress was about to marry, so the two of them decided to come up with that last resort to find a guarantee for her son.

After listening for a while, Madam Xiao finally had a chance to speak, “Master, see? Your concubine is completely disrespectful. Yunzhou may be the eldest son, but Yunyou is the legitimate heir. You’ve been the head of the Imperial Academy for so many years, a role model for scholars. Are you really going to break the ancestral rules?”

Concubine Lu retorted, “It’s true that Yunyou is a legitimate son, but there is no restriction in the court that only legitimate sons can inherit the position of an official.”

“Even so, why give it to Yunzhou?”

“Because Yunzhou is kind and honest,” Concubine Lu said, tears streaming down her face. “Yunyou has a capable older sister and a talented brother-in-law to support him, but Yunzhou has nothing. Master…” She knelt, facing Xie Hui, “I’m already in this condition. Can’t you show some pity and give Yunzhou a guarantee?”

Madam Xiao firmly rejected, “Absolutely not. Master Xie, Yunzhou is diligent in his studies and has a chance to pass the exams. As for Yunyou, he has poor academics. No matter what, the position must go to Yunyou.”

Xie Yunchu didn’t give Concubine Lu a chance to argue. She coldly looked at the injury on her face and said, “Father, why not ask a servant skilled with knives to help? If one wounded themselves with a knife, the cuts would have different directions and depths. It wouldn’t be difficult to clear up this matter. But if it’s proven that Concubine Lu inflicted the injury on herself, she will face the charge of plotting against the legitimate son.”

Concubine Lu looked desolate, she sat on the ground, and said resentfully, “Master, even if you don’t give him an official position, you must give Yunzhou some property before the new mistress comes home. What if he fails the exam, then he will lose everything…”

At that moment, Xiao Huaijin arrived, bringing two guards. All three of them were experienced with knives. They immediately asked Xie Yunyou what had happened and reconstructed the scene of the dispute. From the direction and depth of the wound, they concluded that Concubine Lu had injured herself with Xie Yunyou’s dagger. Concubine Lu had nothing to say.

Xie Yunchu made the final decision, “Father, Concubine Lu has repeatedly framed the Young Master and stirred up trouble. If you continue to keep her in the mansion, when the new mistress comes in, won’t it be another mess?”

The old lady who had been watching coldly could no longer bear it and forced her son to make up his mind, “Send that person away as far as possible and stop harming the two children.”

The old matriarch, who had been silently watching, could no longer bear it. She urged her son to make a decision. “Send her far away so she doesn’t cause any more harm to the children.”

Concubine Lu clung desperately to Xie Yunzhou’s arm, refusing to let go. The mother and son cried uncontrollably.

Xie Hui raised his head and took a deep breath, then closed his eyes and said, “Come here, tie up Concubine Lu and send her to the farm outside the city. She is not allowed to enter the capital again.”

Concubine Lu screamed, and the shock caused her to spit blood and faint. Xie Yunzhou held his mother and cried bitterly.

The maidservants approached and forcibly dragged her away. Xie Yunzhou, now all alone, cried out in sorrow. The old matriarch instructed someone to take him away. Originally, she planned to let Xie Yunyou leave as well, but Xie Yunyou refused. He coldly looked at Xie Hui, saying, “My father wants to remarry, but I don’t agree!”

These words stunned everyone.

No wonder Xie Hui had been insisting on driving Xie Yunyou away. The problem lay here.

Xie Hui felt embarrassed and was at a loss.

Xie Yunchu wondered, “What’s going on?”

An old servant, who had served Xie Hui for many years, helplessly explained, “This afternoon, a matchmaker came and said she was here to arrange a marriage for Master. It was the former Madam of the old Minister’s family. Madam and Master have known each other since childhood. Now that the Master is unmarried and Madam is a widow, the palace sent out a message to see if they could bring them together. Madam has already agreed, and the matchmaker came to ask for the Master’s opinion.”