Shuse Jinjia

Xie Yan stared at Xie Zhaotang for a long time before turning to Aunt Shen and speaking.

"Auntie, let's do as Fourth Sister said. Once you can get out of bed, take Tian Tian to Baohua Temple! I'll help Sister avoid this disaster!"

Aunt Shen looked at the two of them with concern.

Xie Yan, with a stern, fair face, spoke earnestly, word by word.

"Auntie, Fourth Sister is right. If we take a gamble, the three of us siblings will have a new way to survive. If you can't help us, then let go!"

Seeing that the siblings shared a common hatred for the enemy and were both thinking about finding their own way to make a living, Aunt Shen noticed that the two siblings were both determined to do so.

Since they are so determined, how could she possibly stop them?

"Alright, Auntie will listen to you!"

As long as there is a glimmer of hope, Aunt Shen does not want her two daughters to follow in her footsteps!

She thought that if they failed, they would die together; she would accompany them on their journey to the underworld...

……

After settling Aunt Shen in, the siblings came out.

Xie Yan didn't leave immediately. Standing under the courtyard wall, she asked, "Fourth Sister said she would listen to me from now on. Is she serious?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Zhaotang looked at Xie Yan warily.

Although they were siblings born of the same mother, Xie Yan was sent to live in another courtyard when she turned five, so the siblings didn't have much time to spend together.

She wanted to find a way to survive, and this younger brother of hers was so precocious; how could he not have plans for himself?

Would he follow the example of that cold-hearted Xie Jianghuai and take advantage of the original owner's naivety to pave the way for his own future?

If that's the case, we can't keep this younger brother no matter how smart he is!

She didn't want to escape one danger only to fall into another!

"Seriously!"

Xie Zhaotang probed calmly, "Do you have any good plan to save us?"

It was already dark, and lanterns hung at the entrance of the Begonia Courtyard.

Xie Yan stood under the courtyard wall, the light only illuminating half of his face; he was not even as tall as Xie Zhaotang's shoulder.

"Gu Zi, the little maid in Fourth Sister's courtyard, is a servant born into the family. Her grandfather, Xie Yiming, is Xie Jianghuai's personal attendant. The family received the Xie surname as a favor from the Xie family. Her two sons, Xie Zhong and Xie Shou, follow Xie Yiming and do odd jobs for Xie Jianghuai. Gu Zi also has an older brother who drowned two years ago. Does Fourth Sister know about this?"

Xie Yan asked softly.

Xie Zhaotang was stunned. The original owner of this body was carefree and didn't care about anything in the manor except eating. She knew nothing about these things.

Xie Zhaotang figured Xie Yan wouldn't bring this up without a reason, so he honestly shook his head and humbly asked, "Is there more to this than meets the eye?"

Xie Yan's voice was even lower: "Gu Zi's older brother was talented in his studies. Xie Yiming wanted him to take the imperial examination, so he asked Xie Jianghuai for permission to remove his slave status, and Xie Jianghuai agreed. But a few days later, the boy accidentally fell into the water and died. The matter of removing his slave status was left unresolved."

Xie Zhaotang looked at Xie Yan, who was implying that Xie Jianghuai was behind the boy's accidental fall into the water?

Xie Yiming only mentioned wanting to be freed from slavery, but Xie Jianghuai ruthlessly eliminated his eldest grandson!

This is a deterrent!

The Xie family will not tolerate betrayal!

Xie Zhaotang felt a chill run down his spine upon closer examination.

The Xie family was far more ruthless and dark than she had imagined!

They won't release them from slavery?

So Xie Yiming's grandfather was a servant, his children and grandchildren were servants, and even the children Gu Zi had in the future would still be servants...

Generation after generation, unless the Xie family takes pity on them and shows mercy, they will be suppressed by the Xie family and unable to turn the tables!

She found it unbearable to be sent to be a concubine, so how could Xie Yiming's family be so oppressed and just accept it passively?

Things must be reversed!

Xie Zhaotang's heart stirred, and he looked at Xie Yan.

Was Xie Yan telling her all this to imply that Xie Yiming's family was the turning point for their survival?

Xie Yan's face was calm, as if he had only shared some gossip with Xie Zhaotang. After finishing, he remained silent for a moment before speaking.

"Fourth sister, if you're willing to listen to me, then tomorrow I'll have Stone bring you some books so you can study them first..."

Xie Yan turned around, took a few steps, and then turned back.

"Fourth Sister, there's one more thing. I heard that Xing'er, the sister in your courtyard, has a sick mother who needs money. When you get back, give her some reward money so she can pass on messages if anything comes up!"

Xie Zhaotang watched his small figure leave, her feelings complicated. How old was this young man, yet he already knew how to use people!

Is this because they're afraid she's inexperienced and want to teach her carefully?

It's too early to tell whether Xie Yan is scheming against her, but time will tell. If he truly cares for her, she will reciprocate.

Xie Zhaotang returned to his bamboo courtyard.

As soon as they entered, Xing'er, whom Xie Yan had mentioned, came to greet them.

"Fourth Miss, Eighth Miss has already gone to bed. I washed her up and coaxed her for a while before she finally fell asleep..."

Xie Zhaotang nodded, glanced at Xing'er, and said gratefully.

"Xing'er, thank you so much... I'm so grateful for how you took care of Tian Tian today, otherwise I wouldn't have known where to turn!"

"Wait for me!"

Xie Zhaotang strode into the room. The bed curtains were half-drawn, and one could vaguely see Tian Tian's small figure lying inside.

Xie Zhaotang didn't disturb her. He tiptoed to the dressing table, opened the drawer, and took out a purse.

There was only half a coin of silver inside.

The Xie family's illegitimate daughter received two taels of silver per month. The original owner of this body loved to eat, and as soon as she received her monthly allowance, she would try to buy all sorts of delicious food to satisfy her appetite, so she couldn't save any money.

Xie Zhaotang didn't have a goal before, but now that she has, she wants to establish her own foundation and win over the people around her. She will do it without Xie Yan reminding her.

She glanced at the jewelry in the drawer, grabbed an ordinary silver hairpin, and took it out.

"Xing'er, I was sick before and didn't know your mother was ill... You know I don't have much cash on hand, so here's this hairpin for you. Take it and sell it tomorrow to buy medicine for your mother!"

Xie Zhaotang stuffed the hairpin and silver coins into Xing'er's hands.

Before Xing'er could refuse, she said with a heavy heart, "Seeing my aunt unconscious today, I'm terrified of losing my mother forever. I know you feel the same way!"

"Don't be shy, take this to tide you over. If it's not enough, let me know and I'll help you figure something out..."

Xing'er clutched the hairpin tightly, tears streaming down her face. She pushed the hairpin and the loose silver to Xie Zhaotang, choking back sobs.

"Fourth Miss, thank you for your kindness... but my mother... even the most famous doctor in the capital, Chun Mantang, said her illness is incurable. My mother doesn't want to be a burden on us, so she said... she said she won't get treatment..."

"Waaah..."

Xing'er covered her mouth, squatted down, and began to cry...

Xie Zhaotang was stunned for a moment. Did Xing'er's mother have an incurable disease?

"Xing'er, come here, tell me what illness your mother has, and I'll try to think of a way to help her!"

Xie Zhaotang helped Xing'er up and led her to the study next to the bedroom.

The original owner of this body didn't like reading, and there were only a few books on the bookshelf. These past few days, Xie Zhaotang had been using it as his rest room.

"Fourth Miss, it's no use. My father has taken my mother to see many doctors lately, and they all say there's no cure!"

Xing'er sobbed, saying desperately, "My father has spent all the family's savings and is in debt, but he can't help my mother... He's so desperate that he's even considering selling my younger brother to the Xie family as a servant... But my brother is only five years old!"

In Xie Zhaotang's memory, Xing'er's father was a carpenter who fell from the roof while working three years ago and broke his leg.

In order to cure his leg, Xing'er's mother cruelly sold Xing'er, who was only twelve years old at the time, into the Xie family as a servant.

"Xing'er, don't cry. I've heard that there are folk remedies that can cure all kinds of diseases. Tell me about your mother's symptoms, and I'll ask around. Maybe we can find a cure for her?"

Xie Zhaotang reassured him.

As long as Xing'er's mother doesn't have a terminal illness, her medical skills can help...