Chapter 6: Tying up Loose Ends

Chapter 6: Tying up Loose Ends

Tang Shuyi approached Xiao Yuchen, who was kneeling rigidly like a wooden figure, and sighed inwardly. If she were the original mother, she would undoubtedly be heartbroken to see her son like this, but unfortunately, she wasn't.

Even jade must be carved to take shape, let alone a love-stricken man.

"I've just come back from Plum Blossom Lane," Tang Shuyi got straight to the point.

Xiao Yuchen, who had been kneeling rigidly like a piece of wood, lifted his head at her words. His dull eyes filled with anger and pleading, "Mother, she's just a weak woman. Why must you make things difficult for her?"

Tang Shuyi suddenly felt speechless. She had already analyzed with Xiao Yuchen the consequences of continuing to harbor Liu Biqin. It seemed like he understood, but he still wasn't willing to give up on her.

Was this what love was? Tang Shuyi had always been a calm person. She hadn't experienced those so-called profound loves in her previous life, so she couldn't understand Xiao Yuchen's feelings.

"I'm not making things difficult for her," Tang Shuyi said calmly, "I told her I'd send her to Tangjia Anmu, ensuring her future with food and clothing, but she refused. So, I sent her to the Western Hill Manor. Plum Blossom Lane is no place for her to stay."

"She doesn't want to go to Anmu because she doesn't want to be separated from me." Xiao Yuchen lowered his head, his throat felt as if it were blocked by a hard stone, the pain was unbearable. How had things come to this?

Tang Shuyi's lips curled into a sarcastic arc, "Time reveals a person's heart. I didn't come here to discuss this."

Sitting down by the chair, Tang Shuyi continued, "The West Mountain Manor is secluded, staffed entirely by people from the Marquis's residence. Even if the matter is exposed, it won't be traced back there immediately. What's crucial now is the clean-up."

Xiao Yuchen lifted his head again, his eyes clouded with confusion, "Clean-up? Clean up what?"

No longer disappointed by his naivety, Tang Shuyi explained, "Do you think sending away Liu Biqin is the end of it? If the matter is exposed and Liu Biqin can't be found, they will investigate how you rescued her in the first place. If any link in that chain is broken, you'll be held accountable."

Xiao Yuchen was so shocked that his mouth opened and closed several times without uttering a word. Tang Shuyi asked him, "How did you rescue her?"

Xiao Yuchen straightened up, his hands clenched into fists. He indeed felt powerless, having oversimplified the situation.

"After Liu Yushan was executed, the women of the Liu family were to be sold off," Xiao Yuchen said with difficulty, his throat moving stiffly. "I used money to visit Sister Qin in prison and coincidentally met my uncle's third room's Xue Ji, who is the chief official of the Ministry of Justice's Redemption Office."

In fact, he had never known of Xue Ji before. It was only after Xue Ji initiated the greeting that he realized their familial connection.

Tang Shuyi's brow furrowed slightly, unclear about who this uncle was.

Standing aside, Changming, who had been observing the expressions of his two masters, quickly explained upon seeing Tang Shuyi's frown, "Xue Ji is the second son of the fourth lord from the third room of the Marquis of Wuyang's residence, born of a concubine."

Tang Shuyi felt her head spin with this convoluted relationship. She lowered her gaze, sorting through the familial web of the Marquis's residence in her mind. After a while, she realized that the Marquis of Wuyang was the natal family of her mother-in-law, the Old Marchioness, and the current Marquis was the Old Marchioness's own brother, making him indeed Xiao Yuchen's uncle.

As for the second son of the fourth lord from the third room, that would be a collateral branch of the Marquis of Wuyang's residence. Although a distant relation, they were still kin.

Having sorted out the relationships, Tang Shuyi looked at Xiao Yuchen and said, "Continue."

"Xue Ji, as the chief official in charge of the Ministry of Justice's Redemption Office, was responsible for the disposal of the Liu family's women," Xiao Yuchen said. "I couldn't bear to see Sister Qin being sold off, so I asked Xue Ji if there was any way to help. He suggested faking Sister Qin's death, and he orchestrated the rest."

After listening to his account, Tang Shuyi pondered, now focusing on Xue Ji. If Xue Ji were of ordinary origin, she could think of a way to have him leave the capital. However, even as a collateral born of a concubine, he was related to the Marquis of Wuyang, and couldn't be dismissed lightly.

Then she heard Xiao Yuchen continue, "Even though both my grandmother and father have passed away, Uncle and the others are still as close to us as before. Xue Ji won't betray me. Moreover, if the matter is exposed, he would be implicated too."

After all, Xue Ji was an accomplice.

Tang Shuyi gave him a glance, relieved that he had some sense.

"Even so, we must be cautious. Furthermore, if there were others aware of his actions at that time, we must ensure their silence," Tang Shuyi instructed. "Invite Xue Ji to our residence tomorrow. Clarify the situation with him and ensure that he ties up any loose ends thoroughly."

"Alright," Xiao Yuchen exhaled deeply, realizing he had never thought things through this thoroughly before.

"Think again if there's anything overlooked," Tang Shuyi said as she stood up to leave. She was genuinely exhausted and now just wanted to collapse into bed and rest. As for Xiao Yuchen, he could continue kneeling in the ancestral hall.

Changming, who was observant, hurried to the door to open it when he saw her leaving. Tang Shuyi exited the ancestral hall, and Cui Zhu and Cui Yun quickly approached, one holding a lantern and the other assisting her, as they headed towards Shian Garden.

The old woman guarding the ancestral hall saw the three leaving and said to Xiao Yuchen, who was still kneeling, "Young Master, I... I will lock the door now."

Xiao Yuchen remained kneeling without a word. Changming took the initiative to close the door, saying, "Lock it, just lock it."

The old woman locked the door of the ancestral hall, and Changming knelt beside Xiao Yuchen. "Young Master, you've been kneeling for hours, why not take a break? Let me kneel in your stead."

Xiao Yuchen remained still, turning his head to ask Changming, "Were you also following when mother went to Plum Alley?"

"Yes..." Knowing Xiao Yuchen wanted to learn about Liu Biqin's situation, Changming hurriedly recounted Tang Shuyi's visit to Plum Alley, and cautiously added:

"I think, for Miss Liu, it would be best to follow the madam's advice and go to Anmu. The madam also said she would arrange a residence and shop for her there. With the Tang family's strong foundation in Anmu, Miss Liu would be well taken care of for the rest of her life under the Tang family's protection."

After hearing his words, Xiao Yuchen fell silent for a while before murmuring softly, "She doesn't want to part with me."

Thinking about the distance that would separate him from Liu Biqin, Xiao Yuchen's heart ached unbearably, and he knew she felt the same. He only lamented the unfairness of fate; had the Liu family not met with disaster, they would have naturally married and had children. But now...

At this moment, Xiao Yuchen's mind was a mess, torn between the difficulty of maintaining his relationship with Liu Biqin, the responsibilities he shouldered as the heir of the Yongning Marquisate, and the details of rescuing Liu Biqin, wondering if there were any oversights...

Never in his life had he felt life to be so challenging.

Kneeling by his side, Changming stole glances at him and mustered the courage several times before saying, "Young Master, if I may be so bold to speak..."

Xiao Yuchen glanced at him, "Speak your mind."

"Young Master, your love for Miss Liu is deep, but I don't think it's necessarily mutual," Changming began, feeling the sharp gaze of Xiao Yuchen piercing him, but he continued:

"You think of her in every way, risking punishment to rescue her, and you've placed her in Plum Alley, providing for her better than before. But has she ever considered you? If she cared for you, she would heed the madam's words, fly far away from Shangjing. But instead, she insists on staying close to you and even entering the marquisate. She..."

"Enough," Xiao Yuchen interrupted with a stern voice and furrowed brows.

But Changming didn't stop, continuing, "She just can't let go of the glory and wealth of the marquisate..."

"Silence!" Xiao Yuchen reprimanded sharply, "What do you know? I've grown up with her since we were children; how could I not know what kind of person she is?"

"But people change, and the Liu family..."

"Silence! I told you to be quiet!" Xiao Yuchen's forehead throbbed with angry veins. He couldn't stand anyone speaking ill of Liu Biqin.

Changming had no choice but to remain silent, but his resentment toward Liu Biqin deepened. She was nothing but trouble!

The hall was quiet until, after a while, Xiao Yuchen said, "Get up. I didn't ask you to kneel as punishment."

He knew Changming spoke out of concern for him, but Changming didn't understand his sister Biqin.

"I'll stay with you," Changming muttered softly, "The lady isn't here, you don’t need to keep kneeling."

Xiao Yuchen shifted his numb knees, "Mother's punishment is just. I deserve to kneel."

As the legitimate eldest son and heir of the Marquis of Yongning, his conduct was indeed not up to the mark.

Changming couldn’t understand the family's eldest son; if he felt he deserved to kneel, why couldn't he stop thinking about Liu Biqin?