I Have Something to Say
But Zhao Ruyu had no time to pay attention to him. No one could know the extent of her inner turmoil. She wanted to cry, she was more terrified and more lost than anyone else.
Others' fear and anxiety are merely due to being frightened. After tonight, seeing the bright sunshine tomorrow, their hearts will gradually calm down. After Lady Wei is executed, everyone will go back to their lives as usual. Zhao Yuanliang will remarry, and Zhao Jingli and Zhao Jing'an will continue to study and practice their martial arts.
As for Zhao Ruyu, the fixed life trajectory of her previous life is no longer visible. The fear and anxiety in her heart are probably like a bone-deep ailment. Until she dies, her heart will probably not be at peace.
Why? Why?
Why is this life so different from my last?
Why did fate have to throw so many curveballs at her, ruining her promising future?
She wasn't greedy, she really wasn't. She didn't ask for a better life than her previous one; she just wanted to live as well as she had in her previous life.
But now, Lady Wei has committed such a heinous crime and is to be beheaded. The entire Wei Family has been exiled. With such a mother and maternal grandfather, how could the Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan possibly allow her to marry Fu Yunlang?
What would she do if she didn't marry Fu Yunlang?
In front of the main courtyard, the First Madam coldly watched Zhao Yuankun's family leave, then turned to Zhao Jingtai, who was still standing there, and said, "Young Master Tai, you'll stay at the main house tonight."
"Ah? Okay." A relieved expression appeared on Zhao Jingtai's chubby face.
Previously, his eldest and second eldest brothers lived in the front yard, and his father and second uncle would occasionally stay there. Now that his eldest and second eldest brothers had gone back to the second house to take care of his ailing father, and his father probably had to go back to the first house to discuss matters with his mother, he was left alone in the front yard.
After such a major event, he, as a young child, felt extremely insecure and naturally wanted to stay with his parents.
He walked over and tugged at Zhao Ruxin's sleeve, smiling at her, "Sister, let's go back."
After saying that, he seemed to remember something, turned to look at Xu Xi, and hesitated before asking, "Fifth Sister, what about you?"
"I'll just go back to my own courtyard," Xu Xi said with a smile.
Of everyone present today, she was probably the calmest.
After returning to the manor, she learned that Zhao Yuanxun and the First Madam had orchestrated a scheme, and she knew that Lady Wei would not have a good end. Her and Zhao Jingli returning to their respective places and dividing the family property were all expected. Others were fearful and uneasy about this situation, but she was happy to see it happen.
With her true identity revealed and the family divided, the members of the eldest branch were all upright. Apart from keeping an eye on Zhao Yuankun's reckless behavior, there was nothing else for her to worry about in this family. She could now focus on making money, accumulating points, and building her career.
She looked up at the First Madam, about to say goodbye, when she heard the First Madam say, "Miss Xi, don't go to Fragrant Orchid Courtyard, just go back to Tea Tasting Residence. I'll have the servants help you move your things back."
Xu Xi also knew that Fragrant Orchid Courtyard was too remote and unsafe. Now was a time of great turmoil in the manor, so it was better to live with the old lady, which would allow the manor to concentrate its personnel for protection. Besides, she had something to say to the eldest madam, Tea Tasting Residence was close to the eldest son's house, which was convenient.
She looked around and saw that the servants who obeyed Zhao Yuanxun and his wife were still standing there, not daring to move without their masters' orders. So she smiled and nodded, saying, "Okay." She obediently led Qingfeng and the others away.
Everyone else had left, leaving only Zhao Yuanxun and his wife, along with a group of servants.
Despite such a major incident, Zhao Yuanxun and his wife still have much to do.
There were Wei Family outside the mansion, and there were also servants of the Lady Wei inside the mansion, as well as people associated with the Lady Wei.
They've used Xu Xi as bait to capture a few people recently. But there are others, and it's unclear whether they harbor malicious intentions, or are close to the Wei Family to seek revenge for their master.
Although the downfall of Wei Qiu was orchestrated by several high-ranking officials, the root cause was the incident of the Earl of Suiping's Residence switching children. If the Wei Family wanted revenge, they would definitely target the Earl of Suiping's Residence. Before the Wei Family were completely exiled, the mansion could not afford to be careless.
Zhao Yuanxun went to the outer courtyard to arrange for Steward Liu and the guards to strengthen security, while the First Madam arranged for Old Woman Liu and Old Woman Yue to patrol the inner courtyard.
Even so, the First Madam was still uneasy. She spoke up, "Lord... cough, Master."
The First Madam had always addressed Zhao Yuanxun as "Lord Marquis," so changing her address now was proving to be quite difficult.
Zhao Yuanxun withdrew his gaze and looked at his wife.
"Send a guard to the Zhu residence to find my elder brother and ask them to send some men over to protect the house."
Zhao Yuanxun nodded. "Madam is very thoughtful. I'll send someone right away. Don't worry, I'll have people keep a close watch on the house and surrounding area these days."
The couple were busy here, Xu Xi, back at the Tea Tasting Residence, didn't sleep. He instructed Dianjiang, "Go and keep watch at the crossroads. If the First Madam returns to the main house, report to me."
Dianjiang responded and left.
After about the time it takes to eat a meal, she returned with a lantern and reported, "Miss, the Madam has gone back."
"Is she alone, or with the master?" Xu Xi asked.
Dianjiang gave Xu Xi a strange look, probably because she wasn't used to her way of addressing Zhao Yuanxun.
"It's just one person," Dianjiang said. "Lord... Ah, the Master hasn't returned."
Xu Xi put down her pen and stood up. "Let's go, come with me to the main house."
Upon hearing this, Matron Yuan quickly stood up, called Qingfeng, and together they went out with Xu Xi.
Upon arriving at the main room, Caidie came out upon hearing the noise and was quite surprised to see Xu Xi: "Fifth Miss, is something the matter?"
"Yes, I have a few words to say to the First Madam," Xu Xi said.
Although her true parentage was now clear and the imperial decree had been issued, Zhao Yuanxun and Lady Zhu hadn't had time to make her change her address. She couldn't just start calling them "father" and "mother" on her own, but calling them "elder uncle" and "elder aunt" wasn't appropriate either. So she simply addressed them as "Master" and "Madam."
"Madam is tired; she just took a bath and was about to lie down. Please come in and speak with her if you have anything to say."
Originally, Xu Xi was the daughter of the second wife, and because the old lady and the first wife treated her differently, none of the servants dared to show her the slightest disrespect.
Now that everyone knows she is the First Madam's child and Zhao Jingli is an imposter, they feel sympathy for Xu Xi and dare not neglect her even more. Otherwise, Caidie would not have allowed her into the inner room without consulting the First Madam.
Xu Xi nodded and went into the inner room.
Caiyun and Caixia helped the First Madam undress and lay her on the bed. Just as they were about to lower the bed curtains, Xu Xi entered.
"But what happened?" The First Madam tried to sit up as soon as she saw her.
"I'm fine." Xu Xi quickly stepped forward to catch her. "I'll just say a few words and then leave."
The First Madam sat up and put on the clothes Caiyun handed her. "You speak."
"I heard that when Lady Wei first married into the Wei Family situation wasn't very good?" Xu Xi asked.
The First Madam nodded. "Yes. Wei Qiu came from a poor family and only passed the imperial examination with the help of his father-in-law, who was a small landowner. They even rented their house back then, and didn't have many servants."