Wasn't he supposed to be beaten to death? Why did this powerful cousin love him so much?

Xie Ping received Fu Yun's message the following day.

The thin strip of paper contained only a few lines of text, yet it clearly described the movements of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion over the past two days.

Fu Chong spread the word that the Fu family ancestral hall had been blessed, and that he had found his unconscious adopted daughter by the water while fishing. The adopted daughter was from Yangzhou and had a good reputation since childhood; she was not an orphan of unknown origin. The news had quietly spread to several teahouses and taverns in the capital, directly contradicting the nursery rhyme.

All of this was actually a plan that Miss Biao herself offered to the Duke of Dingguo.

Xie Ping had already mobilized his men to arrest those people first, silence them, and then send a letter to the eldest young master, telling him what the fourth young lady and Chu Zhiyin had done.

But he never expected that the Duke of Dingguo's mansion would act even faster than him, and that they would use the clever method of borrowing strength to fight back.

It must be said that you can't judge a book by its cover.

Xie Ping initially thought that the young lady was good-natured and good-looking, and that was enough as long as the eldest young master liked her.

Now it seems that this young lady has quite the air of an adult.

Xie Ping thought for a moment and decided not to get involved for the time being. At the same time, he wrote an urgent letter to Xie Jue, reporting on the events of the past few days in detail.

……

Xie Yihua was still furious: "Useless! A bunch of useless people! We spent so much money, and in just a few days, it's all been overshadowed by some ghost story about ancestors appearing in dreams and fishing by the river?!"

Sitting to the side, Chu Zhiyin's face was equally gloomy, as if it could drip water. She was more composed than Xie Yihua, but the gloom and disappointment surging in her eyes at this moment were more terrifying than Xie Yihua's rage.

No matter what, Xie Yihua is Xie Jue's younger sister. Even if the sky falls, it won't weigh on her.

But Chu Zhiyin really felt that something was wrong.

Initially, they were willing to join forces with Xie Yihua, but after thinking the idea was good, they harbored evil intentions. If things went smoothly as they planned, they would have let it go.

They had calculated that, given the way the Duke of Dingguo's mansion handled things, they would be furious upon hearing such slander and would not hesitate to send people to arrest those who spread rumors!

As long as the Duke of Dingguo's mansion takes action, whether or not they catch anyone, they have a backup plan to portray it as the Duke of Dingguo's mansion abusing its power and killing to cover up the truth about the monster! At that time, a small matter will become a big matter.

However, once things took a turn for the worse, Chu Zhiyin's carefully constructed courage vanished instantly.

I started to feel a little scared.

Xie Yihua glanced at Chu Zhiyin, noticing her fear: "Scared? You're only scared now? Isn't it a bit too late?"

Chu Zhiyin pursed her lips and said stubbornly, "I'm not afraid, I just think we were too reckless. Let's just let this go and find another opportunity."

"Forget it?" Xie Yihua sneered as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world, her gaze icy cold: "Tell me how to forget it? Now that things are going wrong, you want to walk away?"

Chu Zhiyin remained silent with a gloomy face.

Of course, she didn't want to let it go like that, but these kinds of things are inherently risky, and they were betting on a sure hit.

Since things haven't gone well yet, it's time to cut our losses and plan for the future.

Chu Zhiyin never expected that she could tolerate it, but Xie Yihua couldn't.

Chu Zhiyin looked at Xie Yihua: "If you're not going to let it go like this, do you have any other ideas?"

Xie Yihua took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her surging hatred. After thinking carefully, she suddenly realized something and a smile appeared on her face: "I may have no choice, but in this world, not only that bitch is a smart person!"

Chu Zhiyin understood that Xie Yihua meant to ask for help, but she couldn't figure out who Chu Zhiyin would ask for help from.

When it comes to smart people, the first person Chu Zhiyin thinks of is Xie Jue.

Besides Xie Jue, who else could be considered a smart person?

Before Chu Zhiyin could figure it out, Xie Yihua abruptly stood up: "Just you wait and see!"

After saying that, Xie Yihua rushed out the door again.

The carriage headed straight for the Xie family's residence.

Upon arriving at the Xie residence, Xie Yihua, sitting in the carriage, first sent Hongshao to the gatehouse to inquire whether Xie Yao was home. Hongshao returned quickly and reported, "Miss, the Third Young Master did not go out today and is at home."

Hong Shao thought Xie Yihua was going to great lengths to save her son-in-law.

But Xie Yihua was rebuffed by Xie Jue, and then went to Jiang Sese, only to be humiliated again, leading her to believe that Xie Jue truly didn't care about Chu Shaoyuan's life or death. Since that was the case, then Jiang Sese shouldn't expect to have a good life either.

This is the real reason why Xie Yihua couldn't stand it.

Better to be a broken piece of jade than a whole piece of tile.

Upon hearing that Xie Yao was at home, Xie Yihua immediately went to find him.

Xie Yihua had keenly sensed from their conversation in the garden that Xie Yao seemed to harbor some resentment towards his elder brother because of Jiang Sese.

More importantly, Xie Yao still doesn't know that the new adopted daughter of Duke Dingguo Fu Chong is none other than Jiang Sese, whom he has been longing for!

This is her biggest bargaining chip!

Xie Yihua walked quickly to the entrance of Xie Yao's courtyard, took a deep breath, and tried to adjust her breathing and expression so that she looked only a little anxious and aggrieved before letting the servant at the gate go in to announce her arrival.

Soon, a maid came out and said, "Miss, the Third Young Master invites you in."

Xie Yihua stepped into the study.

The furnishings here remain elegant, yet a lingering sense of coldness and silence permeates the air.

By the window, Xie Yao stood with his hands behind his back, his back to the door, his figure tall and straight yet exuding a lonely and desolate air.

Xie Yao wore a dark brocade robe, his profile still handsome and unparalleled, but his eyes, which once flowed with the charm of peach blossoms and spring water, were now as calm as a deep pool, filled with an unyielding gloom and aloofness.

Xie Yihua originally thought that Xie Yao had finally come to his senses and changed his ways.

I only just realized it.

So, it turns out, it was all for that bitch.

After her death, it seemed as if Xie Sanlang, the dashing and witty young man, had also died with her.

Xie Yihua composed herself, and with a deliberately choked voice and anxious tone, called out, "Third Brother!"

Xie Yao slowly turned around, his brows slightly furrowed, his voice flat and emotionless: "Why are you back again?"