Chapter 233: Entering the Xie Family’s Door

Chapter 233: Entering the Xie Family

"Where did you hear such rumors?"

Since the founding of Daqian, it has gone through five dynasties. Imperial envoys, acting on behalf of the emperor, would inspect the regions for periods ranging from two to three months to as long as a year and a half.

This is the usual practice; no one returns in less than twenty days.

Moreover, the emperor ordered Heir Gu to inspect the entire Yicheng.

Yet, Heir Gu only familiarized himself with the local customs and conditions of Changhe County.

To be more precise, he only got to know all the affairs of Mr. Lu.

Upon returning to the capital, if the emperor inquires about his observations and insights from inspecting Yicheng, Heir Gu might be at a loss for words.

Xu Qingxing scratched his head, "Brother-in-law Xie came to deliver the news; it didn't seem like idle talk."

Magistrate Xu was on the verge of tears, "When did he come?"

"This morning, when father was running a high fever and was delirious," Xu Qingxing blurted out.

Magistrate Xu: So, he suffered for nothing?

He stood in the rain for half the night, burning up to the point of losing his senses, only to be told it was all in vain.

Instantly, Magistrate Xu's vision darkened.

"Did Xie Yan specify why the emperor summoned Heir Gu back to the capital?"

The incident of forcing Sun Zhiye to his death shouldn't have angered the emperor to the point of not sparing the Duke's family any face.

Xu Qingxing blinked, "It's said that the emperor has arranged a marriage for the imperial envoy."

Magistrate Xu thought he was hallucinating.

Xu Qingxing continued, "The emperor's decree states that Princess Qingyu and the young lady from the Yongning Marquis's residence will enter the household together, as equal wives, without distinction of rank."

"Therefore, the imperial envoy is specially ordered to return to the capital immediately to prepare for the grand wedding."

Magistrate Xu was stunned.

For a moment, Magistrate Xu couldn't tell who the emperor was humiliating.

The dignified Princess Qingyu, a noble and delicate branch of the royal family, sharing a husband with another.

The heir of the prestigious Duke's family, marrying the famously beautiful Princess Qingyu.

Isn't this the emperor going mad and mismatching people?

He could already imagine how desperate Heir Gu must be.

Magistrate Xu rubbed his dizzy head, looked up, and anxiously advised, "Don't get close to Heir Gu, and don't presumptuously congratulate him on his wedding."

"Did you hear me!"

Xu Qingxing nodded, "Father, rest assured, your son knows what to do."

Magistrate Xu waved his hand, "I'm tired."

Magistrate Xu, who was deeply troubled by Gu Huai's actions, was now blocking the entrance to the Xie residence, his eyes bloodshot, completely losing his usual condescending and teasing attitude.

"Lu Mingchao!"

Upon hearing the imperial decree, Gu Huai was stunned.

He never expected the Emperor to issue such an absurd decree.

But no matter how absurd it was, it was still an imperial decree, and as a subject, he had no right to defy it. He had to leave for the capital early the next morning.

The loud banging of the courtyard gate startled the birds on the branches.

Xie Yan, holding Jingyi in his arms, opened the door with a slight frown, looking at the clearly upset Gu Huai.

"When?" Xie Yan asked flatly.

Gu Huai cut to the chase, "I want to see A Chao."

"Oh, Daddy, the handsome uncle looks so fierce," Xie Jingyi poked her chubby little face, her big beautiful eyes blinking, "Mommy wouldn't want to see someone who talks so meanly."

"Daddy never yells at Mommy."

Gu Huai's breath hitched, finally turning his gaze to the adorably cute Xie Jingyi.

The more he looked at her, the angrier he got. Lu Mingchao would rather be an unappreciated stepmom than return to the capital with him.

But the little girl's sweet words still rang in his ears, and Gu Huai couldn't bring himself to lose his temper.

Taking a deep breath, he tried to suppress the rising fury in his heart and softened his tone, "I have something to say to A Chao. Take me to see her."

Xie Yan stayed calm, his voice light, "Mingchao asked me to tell you, she feels no love, no leaving, no regrets."

Gu Huai struggled to breathe, feeling a lump in his throat.

"I want to hear it from A Chao herself."

Gu Huai convinced himself that Lu Mingchao was just throwing a tantrum.

She just wanted to see him anxious, upset, and losing sleep.

Throwing a tantrum was one thing, but it didn't mean she had really let go of him.

As soon as A Chao heard the news of his marriage, she would surely fall apart and reconcile with him.

Xie Yan glanced at Gu Huai up and down, "Do you have a masochistic fetish?"

"Gu Huai, Mingchao is a living person, not some toy you can call and dismiss whenever you want."

"Meeting you was her bad luck."

"Mingchao said there's no need to see you again."

The proud Gu Huai couldn't stand Xie Yan's condescending lecturing.

"A gigolo like you has no right to tell me what to do," Gu Huai snorted coldly, his face full of disdain.

With the way the young master looks and his foul temper, it's no wonder he can't get in.

Young Master, read the room!

Bu Yan was so anxious that he was sweating, but he didn’t dare breathe.

Xie Jingyi, innocent and naive, said, “Daddy doesn’t eat soft rice,* Daddy likes hard rice.”* [Soft rice implies relying on others, while hard rice implies self-reliance.]

“Uncle Handsome, you can’t lie.”

“Mommy said, children who lie will have their noses grow long like Pinocchio.”

Gu Huai's mouth twitched in annoyance.

In such a serious moment, Xie Yan holding such an adorable child felt like cheating!

“Your father is eating soft rice with a hard attitude!”* Gu Huai said irritably. [Implies sarcasm: someone who relies on others but pretends to be independent.]

Xie Jingyi blinked in confusion, her bright eyes darting around.

Gu Huai quickly looked away and continued in a stern voice, “Xie Yan, whether you like it or not, I’m coming in.”

“I, Gu Huai, am stepping into the Xie household today, no matter what.”

Bu Yan covered his face and backed away quietly.

He knew that the Young Master had gone mad after receiving the imperial decree—his brain filled with water.* [Idiom implying foolishness or confusion.]

Yunniang, strolling casually down the alley with a vegetable basket: !!!

Breaking into the Xie family! Breaking into the Xie family!

Yunniang’s mind was filled with these four words.

Yunniang ran, hoisting the vegetable basket and throwing it directly at Gu Huai.

“Where did this homewrecker come from, trying to steal someone's husband?”

“Three-legged toads* are hard to find, but two-legged men are everywhere. Why do you keep chasing after married men?” [Three-legged toads imply rarity.]

“Have you no decency!”

“And you, Xie Yan, Chaochao is carrying your child, and you dare to flirt with a homewrecker!”

“Has that homewrecker eaten your conscience, making you forget your wife and child?”

Yunniang shouted curses as she ran.

Xie Yan: …

Gu Huai: …

Gu Huai was struck and left dazed.

A few green vegetable leaves hung limply from his hair, looking more and more like a green hat.* [Symbolizes infidelity.]

Just a step away, Yunniang froze.

Gaping in shock, she stuttered, “A... a man!”

After a brief moment of shock, Yunniang's eyes blazed with fury. "Xie Yan!"

"You!"

"Divorce!"

"We must divorce!"

"Our A Chao will never stand for this kind of insult."

Yunniang's heart ached. Is this the so-called Mingchao, willing to marry beneath her station, vowing never to betray in this lifetime?

Half a year!

Xie Yan's life is truly short.

Short-lived ghost!

"Mom." Xie Yan felt a shiver run down his spine. "It's not what you think between him and me..."

"It is." Without a second thought, Gu Huai linked arms with Xie Yan. "Mom, Xie Yan and I are exactly the relationship you think we are."

"You should hurry and arrange for A Chao and Xie Yan to get a divorce."

Xie Yan's face turned icy cold, and with a deft move, pushed Gu Huai away. "You don't deserve me."

"Mom, this person is Gu Huai."

"The heir to the Duke's Mansion in the capital."

"Madness Dispeller."