Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 364 Design
Hearing Xia Ziqiao's words, Xie Chengrang's anger deepened. He stared at Xia Ziqiao for a while, then mounted his horse and rode away without saying a word.

Xia Ziqiao remembered that Xie Chengrang was going back to the Xie family, so she hurriedly chased after him.

The two arrived at the Xie family's gate one after the other. Before they could say anything, they saw Xie Chengxin walk out, followed by two servants carrying a large trunk.

Xie Chengxin urged the servant, "Hurry up."

As he spoke, he turned his head and happened to see Xia Ziqiao, and his expression immediately changed.

The two servants were startled, and one of them even let go of the trunk they were carrying, causing it to fall to the ground and spill its contents.

Clothing, embroidered shoes, hairpins and all sorts of other things are women’s items. A red lacquered and gold-painted dressing case is particularly eye-catching. The dressing case was thrown to the ground, and the pearls inside rolled towards Xia Ziqiao.

Xia Ziqiao lifted her foot and stepped on one.

A hush fell over the entrance. Xia Ziqiao gave Xie Chengxin a half-smile and stared at him for a moment before asking sarcastically, "Where is Big Brother going?"

Xie Chengxin's face turned pale, and the two servants were so frightened that they knelt on the ground.

Xie Chengxin stammered, "This is... for Second Aunt... no... a gift that Second Aunt bought for the women in the clan, and asked me to deliver it."

Xia Ziqiao still had a smile on his face, but he used all his strength to stomp on the pearl and crack it. He took a few steps forward and squatted down in front of the box.

The two servants were in a hurry to put the things that had fallen out back into the box. When they saw that Xia Ziqiao was up to no good, they moved even faster. But Xia Ziqiao reached out and picked up several pairs of embroidered shoes from the box and compared them with his own.

The small embroidered shoes were particularly charming. Xia Ziqiao seemed to be seeing such things for the first time, and she played with them with great interest, saying, "Are all the women in the Xie clan's feet the same size? Or are these pairs all for one person?"

Xie Chengxin swallowed hard, bracing himself to agree.

Xia Ziqiao suddenly changed his expression, tightened his grip on the embroidered shoe, and stood up: "I need to see Madam. I accidentally broke a pearl just now, and I must apologize to Madam."

Xie Chengxin was secretly taking these things out, how could he let his mother know? He hurriedly stepped forward to stop her.

Today was truly a day of bad luck for him. This box was supposed to be sent to the courtyard he had purchased outside, but the shopkeeper made a mistake and had the clerk deliver it to the Xie residence instead. How could he leave such a thing at home? Xie Chengxin immediately had the servant take the box out, but unexpectedly, he ran into Xia Ziqiao.

Xie Chengxin's forehead was already beaded with cold sweat, and his eyes held a pleading look: "There are guests in Mother's room..."

Xia Ziqiao didn't mind: "Then I'll wait in the flower hall."

Xia Ziqiao ignored Xie Chengxin and walked into the courtyard. He was filled with disgust for Xie Chengxin. This man was extremely stupid. From the moment they met until now, he had not done anything right.

Using such a flimsy excuse, did they think he was stupid? Or did they believe that no matter what they did, the Xia family wouldn't care and would still marry their younger sister into the family?
Those things were clearly meant for women. Xie Chengxin was not even married yet, and he was already keeping a mistress outside. This shows what kind of character he had. If this matter is made public, Xie Chengxin's life will definitely not be easy.

Xie Chengxin was unwilling to be exposed like this, so he rushed forward to stop him. Xia Ziqiao was furious when she thought of how her younger sister had been treated, so she pushed him away.

Xie Chengrang, who rushed over, was too late to stop Xie Chengxin and watched helplessly as Xie Chengxin fell to the ground.

The commotion caused by the three of them alerted the other people in the mansion.

Privy Councilor Xie had just hired a tutor for Xie Chenghan when, unexpectedly, that tutor witnessed this scene.

Xia Ziqiao didn't really want to see Zhou Shi. His purpose was to let the Xie family know about Xie Chengxin's actions. Taking advantage of Xie Chengrang's visit to persuade him, Xia Ziqiao snorted coldly, which was considered giving Xie Chengrang face, and left the Xie residence with a cold face.

Xie Chengxin stood there, stunned. He could almost imagine what kind of situation he would face after his father returned.

"Big brother, what happened?" Xie Chenghan's voice came through as expected.

Xie Chenghan's husband looked displeased upon seeing the mess on the floor.

Xie Chengxin had finally found a woman he fell in love with at first sight and settled her in an outside house. He was overjoyed, but he didn't expect that he would be unable to keep it a secret so soon.

Xia Ziqiao will definitely tell the Xia family about this, and his marriage to Xia Erniang may not be going to happen.

...Xie Chengrang followed Xia Ziqiao out the door.

"What?" Xia Ziqiao said, "Are you still going to advise me to keep it a secret?"

Xie Chengrang frowned deeply.

Xia Ziqiao sensed something and tugged at Xie Chengrang: "Would I harm you? If you leave some things to me, there might still be a chance."

“I know you deliberately avoided me just now for your sister’s reputation, but look… even God is on your side.”

While Xie Chengrang was still stunned, Xia Ziqiao spurred his horse forward and quickly left the Xie family.

Xie Chengrang gazed in the direction Xia Ziqiao had left, his blank stare gradually sharpening before a smile appeared on his face. The He family was in trouble, but thankfully it wouldn't implicate the Xia family; otherwise, his efforts would have been in vain.

……

When Xie Shumi returned from the government office, the entire Xie family was properly tidied up, and it looked as if nothing had happened.

But this is the Xie residence.

Every day, the steward would truthfully report whatever happened to Xie Shumi.

Xie Shumi changed his clothes and looked at Xie Chengxin with a stern face.

In all the years the Xie family has lived, nothing so shameful has ever happened. If this had occurred at the Xie family ancestral home, any member of the Xie family would have been punished by the clan and would never have a good future.

But unfortunately, this was his eldest son.

Xie Shumi asked in a deep voice, "Who is that woman? Whose family does she belong to? Or is she a prostitute from a brothel?"

“No,” Xie Chengxin hurriedly said, “she’s a girl from a good family. Something happened in her family, and she’s going to seek refuge with her relatives.”

Xie Shumi sneered: "So, you mean, you're traveling alone?"

Xie Chengxin nodded, but then shook his head: "She had no choice... Father shouldn't blame her for this. If I hadn't found her and stopped her, she might have already found her family."

The woman's face appeared in Xie Chengxin's mind, and he finally made up his mind: "Father, let me bring her into the family. As long as Father agrees to this, I will listen to Father in everything from now on."

"Welcome her in?" Xie Shumi raised his voice. "You don't intend to make her your wife, do you?"

Xie Chengxin swallowed hard: "A daughter from a good family shouldn't become a concubine."

Xie Shumi had a headache. Something had happened in the capital these past few days. It seemed to be a few merchants gambling together, but it involved the He family. If things went wrong, this fire might spread to the Xia family as well.

The eldest son should have helped him share the burden of government affairs, but this rebellious son devoted all his attention to a woman.

Luckily, he's his own son, otherwise he would have beaten me to death here long ago.

Even so, Xie Shumi was still furious. He picked up the inkstone on the table and threw it at Xie Chengxin: "If the Xie family ever falls into decline, it will be because of you, you beast."

Perhaps he was too angry, Xie Shumi made no attempt to hide his anger: "Let me tell you, if anyone tarnishes the reputation of the Xie family, I will beat them to death without any leniency."

The marriage between the Xie family and the Xia family was at the behest of the King of Qin. If anything went wrong on his side, it would surely displease the King of Qin, and the marriage between Second Sister and Prince Huai might even fall through.

This was a minor matter; he was more afraid that the King of Qin would distrust him. After all, he had been promoted by King Xuan and had received a great favor from King Xuan. The Emperor had even considered making King Xuan the Crown Prince.

On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, I had a family gathering and drank a little bit of red wine. Unexpectedly, I developed a terrible headache.

This chapter is updated. The next chapter will be updated during the day.