Shuse Jinjia

Granny Wang went to find Lin Shouzheng with a heavy heart.

Since Xie Jianghuai no longer valued Xie Yiming's family, he promoted Lin Shouzhen to be his close follower.

Lin Shouzheng was the steward's son, and both father and son were loyal to Xie Jianghuai and obeyed his every command.

Even if Granny Wang wanted to help Xie Zhaotang, she wouldn't dare to outwardly comply but inwardly disobey.

She explained Madam Xie's intentions to Lin Shouzhen and then went to the woodshed.

The two old women she brought were still guarding Xie Shiyue.

Seeing that Xie Zhaotang was still there, Granny Wang said, "Fourth Miss, they can keep watch. Why don't you go and see if your sister-in-law needs any help?"

Xie Zhaotang got up and started to walk out. After she had walked a short distance, Wang Mama called out, "Fourth Miss, wait a moment. I forgot to tell you, the city gates are all closed, and the imperial physician we invited will have to stay here tonight..."

She quickened her pace, caught up with Xie Zhaotang, and whispered, "Madam has asked Lin Shouzhen to pick up your aunt tomorrow morning and bring her back to the mansion. Lord Xie will take you to the Rong family tomorrow evening..."

Then, Granny Wang's voice returned to normal: "Fourth Miss, you must take good care of Physician Zhang and the others, and make sure they don't feel neglected..."

Xie Zhaotang was taken aback by Wang Mama's words, but still responded quickly.

"Yes, I will definitely make sure they are settled in!"

Granny Wang went back.

Xie Zhaotang walked out calmly, but his mind was in turmoil.

She hadn't expected Xie Jianghuai to act so quickly, wanting to offer herself to Master Rong the very next night.

Madam Xie was even more ruthless; she didn't give herself a chance to catch her breath before bringing Aunt Shen and Xie Tiantian back to the mansion.

This caught her completely off guard!

Since she didn't have a chance to be with Aunt Shen and Xie Tiantian, the three of them couldn't carry out their plan to fake their deaths and escape.

How do we break this deadlock?

If she were alone, she could escape tonight while Xie Jianghuai was off guard.

But Aunt Shen, Xie Tiantian, and Xie Yan couldn't escape, and she couldn't abandon them and leave alone!

Xie Zhaotang walked to the front yard and saw Xie Chengsi and Xie Chengping beating the servants of the manor.

Several farmers who were guarding the mountain resort were beaten until they were barely alive.

The charge was that their negligence allowed the vicious dog to break into the resort and ruin the banquet.

Hearing the screams of the farmers, Xie Zhaotang's anger surged.

It was clearly Xie Linzhu who instigated the farmers to catch the vicious dog and harm people; she didn't believe Xie Chengsi and Xie Chengping couldn't find out.

But instead of blaming Xie Linzhu for bringing this upon herself, they shifted the blame onto these farmers in order to cover for her.

This is the benefit of having power and influence!

She could fake her death to escape, but if she went to Songhe County, could she guarantee that she wouldn't run into people like the Xie family and the Pei family who bully others by relying on their power?

She's not leaving!

They did nothing wrong, so why should they be afraid of the Xie family and have to leave their hometown?

She will stay in the capital and let the Xie family and the Pei family, who have bullied her, watch her trample them under her feet!

Xie Zhaotang became calmer and calmer as she thought about it. She glanced around and, not seeing Chun'er and Xing'er, turned and went to the back.

Walking into the back courtyard, I saw Chun'er carrying buckets to fetch water.

Xie Zhaotang quickly stepped forward and brought a bucket to accompany her to fetch water.

"Chun'er, I need your help!"

Xie Zhaotang whispered what Granny Wang had said to her.

"When you return to the manor tomorrow, find an opportunity to visit the young marquis at the Zhenyuan Marquis's residence. If he is not there, find Miss Jing and have her tell the young marquis as soon as possible that I have agreed to his last proposal and that he should come to the Xie family to propose marriage tomorrow."

"Chun'er, our ability to leave the Xie family depends on you. You absolutely cannot make any mistakes!"

Chun'er's heart pounded wildly. She asked in a low voice, "Fourth Miss, will the young marquis really come to propose marriage?"

Xie Zhaotang nodded: "He will!"

The idea of ​​a fake marriage was proposed by Huo Beiyu himself. Although Xie Zhaotang didn't know Huo Beiyu very well, she chose to believe that he would keep his word.

"Okay, I will definitely deliver the letter."

Chun'er was going all out; she had already done so much. Sending a message wasn't difficult. Before, when Aunt Shen and Xie Tiantian went to stay in Baohua Village, she was left to guard the courtyard.

Chun'er wasn't idle either. Following Xie Zhaotang's instructions, she dug a hole under the courtyard wall leading to a drainage ditch outside. This was a precautionary measure by Xie Zhaotang, and it could be used ahead of schedule this time.

Xie Zhaotang thought for a moment and then said, "After you send the letter, go find Madam Wu and ask her to prepare five carriages for me. Park one near the drainage ditch, and the rest outside the city gate..."

Xie Zhaotang was doing this as a precaution; if Huo Beiyu didn't come, this arrangement would be her last resort...

Chun'er nodded: "Fourth Miss, don't worry, I will definitely take care of it."

Xie Zhaotang and she carried the water back together, and there they saw Xie Chengsi and Xie Chengping.

"Fourth Sister, come here, I have something to ask you!"

Xie Chengsi said in a deep voice.

Xie Zhaotang put down the bucket and walked over calmly.

The vicious dog ruined Xie Linzhu's banquet and even bit her. Xie Chengsi must have found out the inside story.

Xie Linzhu plotted against her, yet she wasn't bitten by the vicious dog. Xie Chengsi would definitely suspect that he had tampered with things, and questioning him would be inevitable.

"Big brother, fourth brother."

Xie Zhaotang bowed as was the custom of the original owner when meeting them, and then lowered her eyes.

Xie Chengsi, the eldest brother, like Madam Xie, looked down on these illegitimate daughters. When they met, he would either scold them or ignore them.

The original owner feared Xie Jianghuai, and also feared Xie Chengsi.

Xie Chengsi looked at her quietly without saying a word. Although Xie Zhaotang didn't look at him, she could feel that he was observing her.

After a long silence, Xie Chengsi finally said, "I heard from Father that you're studying medicine?"

Xie Zhaotang said hesitantly, "Brother, please don't laugh at me. I just followed Father's instructions and memorized some medical records. It doesn't count as studying medicine. It's mainly... mainly to deal with Physician Luo!"

Xie Zhaotang scratched his head, looking ashamed: "Those medical records are so hard to memorize, there are some characters I don't even recognize..."

Xie Chengsi looked at her sleeves, which were still stained with a lot of oil, but the cuffs were not torn.

Xie Chengsi was puzzled. Xie Linzhu said that she had hidden a medicine packet in her sleeve, which, when soaked in oil, would release a scent that would attract vicious dogs.

Why doesn't that vicious dog attack Xie Zhaotang? Why is it running around biting people everywhere instead of attacking him?

Could it be that Xie Linzhu's maid bought fake medicine, which is why the vicious dog wasn't attracted and ran around wildly?

Xie Chengsi had already questioned the servants present, and they all said that the vicious dogs were running around and it all looked like an accident.

He had initially wondered if Xie Zhaotang had seen through Xie Linzhu's scheme and had turned the tables on her.

But now that he saw Xie Zhaotang was completely unaware that she had medicine in her sleeve, Xie Chengsi's suspicions were largely dispelled.

Seeing Xie Zhaotang's submissive demeanor and his timid, mouse-like behavior in front of him, Xie Chengsi's remaining suspicions dissipated.

With her stupid and clumsy appearance, how could she possibly have the guts to scheme against Xie Linzhu?

Well, she's going to be given to Master Rong tomorrow, and we'll be counting on her to whisper sweet nothings in his ear. There's no need to ruin things.

"Go and rest when you're done. Go home early tomorrow morning."

Xie Chengsi left with Xie Chengping.

Just as Xie Zhaotang lay down around noon, Xing'er, who had gone to help Xie Linzhu in her room, returned.

She said with lingering fear, "Fourth Miss, the two maids serving the Third Miss were both beaten to death by the Eldest Young Master... How terrifying... Luckily, my mistress is you. If I had been assigned to the Third Miss, I would have met the same fate!"

Chun'er didn't say anything.

Xie Zhaotang remained silent.

Were these two maids killed innocently?

One of them helped Xie Linzhu buy medicine, and the other helped Xie Linzhu sew the medicine into her own sleeve!

She was already being merciful by not dealing with them herself!

What do you mean by being forced? Why didn't you say you were forced when you reached out to accept the reward money from Xie Linzhu?

Xie Zhaotang closed his eyes. There had been too many unexpected events today. He hoped that nothing else would happen tomorrow!