Volume 1, Chapter 28: Xie Shu, You Go Too Far

"You! You, you, you!" Ning Rongsheng was so choked by Xie Shu's words that he nearly lost his breath.

Lady Li hurriedly braced herself, patting Ning Rongsheng’s back with her palm to help him catch his breath. She cried out urgently, "Sheng'er, Sheng'er, you cannot collapse! If you fall, we mother and son will have no way to survive today!"

"It’s just moving you to the West Court; how is that having no way to survive?" Xie Shu glanced at the sky. It was getting late, and she was exhausted from these past few days and wanted to sleep early.

Truly too lazy to watch Lady Li play the victim, Xie Shu waved her hand and commanded the highly skilled guards she had brought with her: "Come, personally escort the Marchioness and the Heir to the West Court. If you go too late, I fear there won't be time to clean up, and you'll have to sleep on the floor."

*Clatter—*

A small pebble whizzed through the air, striking Ning Rongsheng squarely on the wrist. His grip faltered, and the sword he had been brandishing wildly clattered to the ground.

Before Lady Li and Ning Rongsheng could struggle, three or four guards flew forward, raising their elbows to deliver sharp strikes to the back of their heads.

They fainted.

Shortly after, the two were carried off to Heshantang in the West Court.

"Clean it up. Replace all those used items for this Heir's consort; I don't want them tainting my eyes." Xie Shu stretched her limbs; after such a long commotion, her body felt weary.

Though Green Willow was a bit mischievous, she was the most efficient. After giving instructions to those behind her, the East Court began to bustle with activity. Eight guards patrolled and kept watch overnight in the East Court, with another eight on rotation, and two more guarding the inner chambers.

With this, it could be considered safe.

"By the way, what is your name? How old are you?" Xie Shu turned around, leaned down, and looked at the dusty little girl from earlier.

The little girl nervously rubbed her palms, her hands clutching her waistband tightly, and replied in a small, timid voice, "I don't have a name. They... they all just call me 'Girl'."

Having said that, she hurriedly added, "Heir's Consort, please, don't look at how small I am, I'm twelve! I can do chores, and I learn things very quickly."

She didn't want to go back to the kitchen. Everyone there bullied her; she was never full or warm, and... and Sun the cook always touched her without reason... she, she didn't like it.

"Shall I give you a name? How about that?" Xie Shu rubbed her little head. Twelve years old, yet only as tall as a sprout; she must have lived a very difficult life.

"Yes, please." The girl looked up with a bright face, her dark eyes shining with anticipation, just like the stars in the sky.

Looking into those eyes, Xie Shu smiled gently, "From now on, I will call you Xinghe. You will share my surname: Xie Xinghe."

"Green Willow, teach her well," Xie Shu instructed. "If there is anything she doesn't know, just be patient."

Xie Xinghe clenched her fists and shook her head repeatedly, "Heir's Consort, I will. I will definitely work hard to learn."

"Good, I believe in you."

The garden where Lady Li lived was named Ruyi Garden. It was so named because Lady Li’s greatest wish was for everything to go according to her desires. Yet, in this world, things rarely went her way. To this day, only Ning Rongsheng had made some slight progress in the capital, catching the eye of the First Prince, which gave Lady Li some sense of support.

Inside Heshantang.

Lady Li and Ning Rongsheng had been tossed onto the floor. Nanny Liu had chased after them as fast as she could, fearing that her mistress and the young Heir had been frightened. But no matter how much Nanny Liu shook them, neither would wake up.

With no other choice, Nanny Liu hardened her heart, picked up a basin of cold water, and splashed it onto their faces.

A chill washed over them, and Ning Rongsheng shivered as he opened his eyes. But upon seeing the dilapidated room covered in spiderwebs, he felt it would have been better to stay unconscious!

"Xie Shu, you go too far!" Ning Rongsheng gritted his teeth. He was the dignified Heir, yet he couldn't even command the servants of his own Marquisate! It was a supreme humiliation!

Suddenly, Lady Li raised a hand and slapped Ning Rongsheng on the shoulder. Her hair, which had been in a disarray, was plastered to her face by the cold water, making her look utterly wretched. With a grim expression, she spat out coldly, "This Marquis of Chengen's estate has truly been turned upside down!"

Even the lowly servants in this house were standing by with cold eyes, watching as she, the dignified mistress of the house, was bullied!

"And those heartless bastards! Taking the Marquisate's money, eating the Marquisate's food, yet watching us get bullied!" Lady Li's eyes were sinister, her voice low and raspy, hissing like a snake, "Sheng'er, sell them all! Sell them all! I want none of them to have a good end."

Lady Li was venomous to the core. Unable to move against Xie Shu for the moment, she wanted to vent her resentment on the servants who had seen her in such a pathetic state.

Almost overnight, half of the servants in the Marquis of Chengen's estate had vanished. Though no one knew exactly what had happened, the atmosphere within the estate was filled with panic, and everyone feared for their own safety.

Upon hearing the news, Xie Shu sent a message to the General Zhenyuan's residence: "The General's residence is a bit empty. Tell Steward Chen to buy some new people."

There is no wall in this world that doesn't leak wind, and as long as one tears open a small hole where the wind is already leaking, the wind can blow even more bitterly.

Inside Ruyi Garden.

Everything was set in order; the three-tiered courtyard had taken on a brand-new look. Except for the trees and flowers that couldn't be moved, all other furnishings had been replaced. However, Xie Shu had not brought her own valuables; the rooms were filled with small, elegant curios. She had replaced the heavy, thick curtains with flowing gauze, which added a unique charm.

Green Willow moved a brazier into the inner side chamber and ordered buckets of hot water to be brought in. After testing the temperature with her palm, she poured it into the bathtub. Flower dew collected in the spring was sprinkled into the water, filling the room with fragrance and dispelling the chill of winter.

Disrobing, Xie Shu wrapped herself in a cloth and stepped into the tub.

As the warm water rose past her chest, she leaned her head back against the rim and untied the wet cloth, tossing it aside. Her body felt relieved, but her tightly wound nerves dared not relax for even a moment.

Taking control of the Marquis of Chengen's estate was her first step.

But what should be the next move?

Xie Shu’s mind was still full of relentless thoughts. She was waiting, waiting for news from Wenying.

It had only been two short days, yet she was already burning with impatience. She couldn't help but think:

What if Wenying is late?

What if she is a step too slow?

What if...

What if the person on the high throne is determined to take the lives of the Xie family!

Just as she was thinking this, a black shadow flickered past the screen.

Xie Shu grabbed the cloth from the edge of the tub and covered her chest. Just as she was about to shout for the guards outside, a large hand suddenly covered her mouth.

With a hint of playful amusement, the intruder leaned close to Xie Shu's ear and said with extreme insolence, "Heir's Consort, you truly have a beautiful figure."