Chapter 35: Letters from Home

Chapter 35: A Letter from Home

In the capital, there were three concentric city walls: the Palace City, the Inner City, and the Outer City.

The carriage of the Xie family passed through the Outer City Gate and then the Inner City Gate before arriving at their residence in no time.

Yan Sanhe dismounted, but as she was about to step forward, she paused as if reluctant to enter this gate.

Yes, reluctant!

Before leaving the Xie family, she had made a fierce declaration and secretly swore never to set foot in the Xie residence again.

"Are you afraid?"

A flirtatious and cynical voice sounded behind her, causing Yan Sanhe to straighten her back silently.

Afraid? Who was afraid?

"Since you're not afraid, let's go," he said.

Third Master Xie strolled to her side and spoke with a meaningful tone, "Yan Sanhe, no one dares to do anything to you here."

"You are now the matriarch of the entire Xie household.

A savior in their eyes!

Yan Sanhe sneered. "Xie Zhifei, you don't need to use reverse psychology on me."

Xie Zhifei replied, "So you've finally remembered my name this time?"

Arrogant, isn't he?

Who could forget it?

Yan Sanhe took a calm breath and stepped over the high threshold.

Upon seeing her arrival, Manager Xie hurried over with an umbrella, his face beaming with a fawning smile.

"Miss Yan, everything is ready. We've been waiting for you."

Yan Sanhe cast him a glance. "Where's Xie Daozhi?"

Why is he addressing me by my name again?

Xie, the chief steward, grumbled inwardly and licked his lips even more vigorously. "Master has already taken a bath and changed. He's waiting for Miss in the study!"

Yan Sanhe: "Is your matriarch still alive?"

The chief steward choked. "Yes, yes, she's still breathing, but..."

"Summon every filial son and grandson of the Xie family to her bedside."

Yan Sanhe cut in coldly. "That way, if the incense doesn't light, we might still hear the matriarch's last words."

Slap!

The chief steward's hand went limp, and the umbrella fell to the ground. He looked anxiously at his masters.

Strangely, neither of them objected. Third Master even sternly instructed, "Do as Miss Yan says."

Quelling his urgency to retrieve his umbrella, Chief Steward Xie dropped everything and dashed off, legs waddling swiftly.

After just a few steps, he turned back.

"Miss Yan, as per Third Master's instructions, your clothes, shoes, and socks are prepared, and hot water is ready. You... "

"I want to see Xie Daozhi first."

Annoyed by the steward's interference, Yan Sanhe pushed him aside, braving the rain as she walked with her hands clasped behind her back into the depths of the residence.

Soaked from head to toe, water still dripping from her hair, she maintained an upright posture and walked with an unwavering gait.

Chief Steward Xie, a man acquainted with countless individuals, could perceive an indomitable spirit in her retreating figure, as if she were declaring, "Though I face the opposition of thousands, I shall still proceed."

Puzzling.

How could a young village girl possess such fortitude?

He didn't have time to ponder over this thought and hurriedly ran off once more.

Behind them, the two Shieh brothers exchanged a glance, thereafter elegantly and tacitly dividing their tasks.

The eldest son and his heir should attend to the matriarch; the third son is to oversee matters in the study.

Xie Erli pondered over the fact that the matriarch doted on Third Brother the most, and his heart sank further with each passing moment. "In case it does happen... come and see her as soon as possible."

"Very well."

Xie Zhifei nodded gracefully.

The two brothers parted ways at the second gate. Seeing that Yan Sanhe's steps were heavy, Xie Zhifei suddenly caught up and patted his shoulder.

"Big Brother, don't worry. I have a feeling things will work out this time."

...

In the study, the room was illuminated by bright lamplight.

After pinching the bridge of his nose forcefully twice, Yan Sanhe pushed the door open and entered.

Xie Daozhi sprang to his feet and approached cautiously, addressing her, "Miss Yan."

Yan Sanhe looked at him. "Have you prepared the calligraphy tools?"

"I have prepared them as you instructed."

"Then write!"

"What should I write?"

Xie Daozhi appeared confused.

Yan Sanhe remained silent, standing there vacantly.

"Yan Sanhe," Xie Zhifei, who had followed in, pressed, "What did you ask my father to write?"

Yan Sanhe pursed her lips. Suddenly, she sat down on a chair beside her, lowering her head without a word, her expression as gloomy as the rainy day outside the window.

Xie Daozhi's heart leapt to her throat, almost rendering her unable to stand.

It's over!

Is it happening again?

But Xie Zhifei noticed with acute perception that Yan Sanhe's shoulders slumped slightly, as if something was weighing him down, gradually crushing him.

Recalling her hesitation at the entrance of the Xie family residence, Xie Zhifei steeled herself.

"Yan Sanhe, you were the one who said we should try even with a ten percent chance. When the coffin lid is closed, it's too late for regrets. Surely you can't bear to let your grandfather pass away in unrest."

Yan Sanhe sneered. "I'll say it again, don't try goading me. It won't work."

Xie Zhifei: "..."

Yan Sanhe lifted his gaze, looking at Xie Daozhi with an indifferent yet piercing stare.

Xie Daozhi jumped in alarm. There was mockery brimming in those eyes, so intense it seemed ready to spill over.

Yan Sanhe rose to his feet, his dark eyes locking with Yan Xing's.

"You write a letter home, about anything you like - family matters or gossip, just like the letters your son would normally write to you. If my assumption is correct..."

Yan Sanhe's voice was soft yet quivering,

"His heart demon is that letter from you."

What?

A letter?

Yan Xing's heart demon was a letter from his stepson?

Xie Zhifei couldn't believe his ears. He looked at Xie Daozhi, who seemed even more astonished.

"Yan Sanhe, have you made a mistake? How is that possible?"

Having said the hardest part, Yan Sanhe no longer hesitated.

"Aside from my father, he has two sons and one daughter. His daughter passed away during childbirth, and his sons succumbed to an epidemic one after another. These were the people who held the deepest ties to his heart."

Xie Zhifei nodded in strong agreement.

"Still, there's more to it."

Yan Sanhe looked at Xie Daozhi. "The only one left to concern him now is you."

"How could it be me?"

Xie Daozhi shook his head fiercely.

"It's absolutely impossible. I didn't even let them enter the door; I didn't allow them near. Yan Sanhe, he should hate me. You've got it wrong, you must have misunderstood."

"Because,"

Yan Sanhe's tone was chilling as he spoke each word deliberately.

"He no longer has any other children to worry about."

For from the moment he first laid eyes on you, he held deep aspirations for you.

Because he painstakingly nurtured your growth, pushed you to excel, and ultimately set you free to soar high.

Because the farther and higher you went, the prouder he was.

Because even though your mother tore that divorce letter, you remained his adopted son."

Yan Sanhe's voice softened significantly.

"In his heart, you are his son."

Each word cut into Xie Daozhi like a blade, causing him such pain that he could only gasp for air, unable to utter a sound.

I'm his son?

He actually treated me as his son?

He still sees me as his son?

I...

Xie Daozhi let out a guttural groan and collapsed.

"Dad! Father!"

Xie Zhifei shouted, rushing over to embrace him.

But Xie Daozhi pushed his son away, half-crawling and half-kneeling as he stumbled towards Yan Sanhe.

Looking up, his face was streaked with tears.

"Yan Sanhe, is it true? Is it really true?"

"I wish it weren't."

Tears also trickled down Yan Sanhe's cheeks, slow and steady.

How she wished it was all just a lie.

In that case, she would be able to witness with her own eyes the demise of that cunning and calculative matriarch of the Xie family, meeting her end in the realm of the dead.

She could then rightfuly let the Xie family suffer misfortune, lose loved ones, be stripped of their official ranks, and ultimately meet a complete downfall.

She could use the entire Xie family as a sacrifice to the three lost souls.

After all, your Xie family climbed to its heights on his back. Now that the tower has crumbled because of him, isn't it only fitting to repay kindness with kindness and revenge with revenge?