Countermeasure

Seeing Xu Xi's constantly changing expressions, finally revealing a relaxed look, the old lady and the first lady turned to look at them.

The First Madam quickly asked, "What's wrong? What came to your mind?"

The old lady also stared intently at Xu Xi.

Xu Xi wasn't one to keep things to herself. Even though her guess was just a guess, she wouldn't keep it to herself and remain silent.

If we don't tell them, how can we warn them? The old lady just promised Lady Wei that she would take her back to the Wei Residence.

She looked at the two of them with a serious expression. "Madam, Aunt, do you think that because Second Madam is so eager to take me back to my parents' home, she might be trying to make me a member of the Wei Family?"

"What?" At first, the two didn't understand what Xu Xi meant. But after a moment of surprise, the First Madam's expression suddenly changed drastically.

She grabbed Xu Xi's hand, her voice urgent. "Miss Xi, you can't go to the Wei Residence with her. No, you should just take leave from school for a while and not go to the academy. I can't bear to leave you out of my sight. Anyway, your uncle will be back soon. When the truth comes out, I'll make sure she has no chance to fight back. Just be patient for a few days."

The old lady was getting on in years and her mind wasn't working very fast. Seeing how agitated the eldest lady was, she knew something was wrong, but she just couldn't figure out why.

She said anxiously, "Tell me what happened, don't keep me worried."

The First Madam turned to look at her, her voice trembling with emotion. "Mother, think about it, what if Lady Wei took Miss Xi to the Wei Residence and had the young master of the Wei Residence defile her, then used that to blackmail us into marrying Miss Xi into the Wei Residence? What would we do? For Miss Xi's sake, would we have to swallow our anger and never pursue Lady Wei's crimes again? She, she..."

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face. "She switched my daughter with hers and threw her into the countryside, trying to use her own son to secure the position of the Marquis's heir. In the end, I can't even hold her accountable; I can only suffer in silence. Perhaps, for the sake of Miss Xi's life, I'll even have to let her son take the position. How could she be so ruthless and vicious? I hate her so much; I wish I could kill her."

As she spoke, she covered her mouth with a handkerchief and began to cry.

The old lady finally understood the secret, and she trembled with rage. "Heavens! How could I have been so blind to let such a person into the Zhao Family!"

She grasped Xu Xi's hand, tears welling in her eyes, and said gratefully, "Luckily, our Miss Xi is clever and saw through her scheme. Otherwise..." Thinking of this, tears streamed down her face. "How would your aunt live?" she said, taking out her handkerchief to wipe away her tears.

Seeing the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law crying together, Xu Xi had no choice but to let them vent.

After they had finished crying, she asked, "Do you think she might have discovered something?"

"What?" The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law stopped crying abruptly, both raising their tearful eyes to look at Xu Xi.

The First Madam considered the consequences, her face turning deathly pale. "No, no way?" She wiped away her tears, stood up, "No, I have to go and send someone to find out what she's up to."

She was about to step out, but then she worried about Xu Xi Xu Xi and said to him, "Promise me you'll stay in the manor and not go anywhere, lest Lady Wei Family act desperately and tarnish your reputation."

Xu Xi stood up and quickly waved her hand. "No, that would only alert her. Maybe the Second Madam hasn't noticed anything amiss and just wants to resolve the issue quickly? If I suddenly stop going to the academy, wouldn't that arouse her suspicion even more? Besides, she'll use the excuse that I'm bored at home and want to take me to the Wei Residence. How will you refuse?"

"Why don't I just move into the academy?" she said. "No matter how much the Second Madam schemes, she wouldn't dare to go to the academy to plot against me. I have Madam Xiao's silver shop as an excuse, so it won't seem strange if I don't go home. Madam Xiao's people always escort me from the silver shop to the academy, so nothing will happen. You can rest assured. If you're still worried, you can send people from the Marquis's residence to stand guard at the entrances of the academy and the silver shop to secretly escort me when I come and go."

The First Madam thought for a moment, then turned to the Old Madam: "Mother, what do you think?" Though she asked the question, she already felt that Xu Xi's words made sense.

The old lady nodded. "Let's listen to Miss Xi's suggestion."

Now she felt that Xu Xi, despite her young age, was smarter than both her and the First Madam. She was thoughtful and perceptive. Otherwise, they wouldn't have discovered Lady Wei's malicious intentions yet.

The First Madam's idea was really bad; Xu Xi's idea was much more comprehensive, protecting her safety without arousing suspicion, and was far better than the First Madam's.

This period is crucial. If they keep Xu Xi in the mansion, they can't keep him constantly under their thumb. If they make a mistake and someone takes advantage of the situation, it will be too late to regret it.

Lady Wei is a woman with a cunning mind, and her methods are so unpredictable that it's impossible to guard against her. Who knows what kind of trouble she'll cause next? Keeping Xu Xi at the academy is the safest solution, as it prevents Lady Wei from using her cunning schemes effectively.

The First Madam said to Xu Xi, "Then go back and pack your things. Don't come back to the academy tomorrow morning. Just say that Madam Xiao asked you to stay and do some work. However, for your safety, you can tell Madam Xiao a little about what's going on in the manor and ask her for protection. Safety first. I will also send someone to protect you secretly."

"Okay, sure." Xu Xi nodded.

As soon as Lady Wei stepped out of the main courtyard, she instructed Matron Li, "Go and check if that little girl was indeed escorted back by guards from the Prince of Zhennan's Residence tonight."

After Lady Wei returned to the main courtyard of the second house and sat down, Matron Li returned and reported, "Madam, they are indeed guards from the Prince of Zhennan's Residence. Their clothes are embroidered with the insignia of the Prince of Zhennan's Residence, so it's unlikely that Fifth Miss could forge them."

Lady Wei sneered, "She certainly knows how to scheme. She's only been back a few days and she's already currying favor with someone important."

Matron Li didn't dare to make a sound.

"Go and find the master and tell him I have urgent business with her," Lady Wei said, pointing to a young maid.

The maidservant quickly left.

After a long while, Zhao Yuanliang returned, his clothes reeking of cosmetics.

He suppressed his impatience and asked, "What do you need me for so late?"

Lady Wei sneered, "What? I just wanted to talk to you for a bit, and it Gao Xing your precious darling?"

Zhao Yuanliang's impatience finally showed on his face. "Enough of this nonsense. If there's nothing else, I'm leaving." With that, he stood up again.

Zhao Yuanliang and Lady Wei were mutually exclusive; neither of them could stand the other. He rarely stayed at Lady Wei's place, and Lady Wei couldn't do anything about it, nor did she want to win him back. The two of them were just in a cold war, arguing whenever they met.