My Love Rivals Have All Reborn - Chapter 21

Xie Yu is Disfigured

The Xiao Residence was an official’s mansion. Two stone lions stood majestically at the gate; ordinary people did not dare to approach.

In the misty morning, dew dripped from the stone lions. The dark gate of the residence was tightly shut. A couple from the countryside arrived at the door.

The couple was dressed in hemp clothes with patches over the holes. The man, named Wang San, had worn-out shoes that were completely broken. He tentatively stepped onto the stone steps. The woman, finding him too slow, shoved him aside, rushed to the door, and vigorously banged on it.

Before long, a doorman opened the gate and peered out. Seeing the shabbily dressed couple, he frowned in disgust and shooed them away: “Go away, go away, hurry up and leave! This is the Xiao Residence, not a broken temple. Don’t cause trouble.”

The woman’s eyes narrowed. She slapped the doorman across the face, pointed, and cursed: “Pooh! Are your dog eyes blind? I am the birth mother of your Eldest Miss! She came out of my belly! Tell her to come out and see me!”

The Xiao family was a scholarly and official household. The dignitaries who visited were always courteous. The doorman had never encountered such a scene. His face was swollen from the slap, and his mind was blank. He quickly signaled to the people behind him to find the Master and Madam.

A moment later, the doorman opened the side gate and invited the couple in.

Unexpectedly, the woman refused. She pointed to the main gate and shouted: “I want to walk through here! Why do you look down on people? I’ve come to see my daughter fair and square. I’m not shameful! If you look down on me and don’t let me use the main gate, I’ll report you to the Jingzhao Yin (Prefect of the Capital).”

With that shout, passersby stopped and curiously observed the couple.

The doorman knew they were troublemakers and quickly went to report to the Madam.

Madam Luo had just finished dressing. Hearing the report, she was so furious her chest heaved. She looked at Xiao Mingwang, who was drinking tea in the room: “A disgrace!”

Xiao Mingwang, unaware of the situation’s development, ordered the couple to be led inside. Shouting at the gate was the true disgrace. Madam Luo finished dressing and hurried to the reception hall, supported by her maid. She instructed the servants: “Don’t let the Young Miss come out.”

The “Young Miss” she referred to was Xiao Wenxue; Xiao Kuning was only referred to by her full name.

Rushing into the main hall, she saw a woman holding and examining a porcelain vase in the room. It was a valuable item that Madam Luo had bought at a great cost to enhance the residence’s appearance. The woman touched the smooth vase, whose porcelain surface was like a mirror, feeling it was even smoother than a person’s face, her eyes filled with greed.

Upon seeing her unmannered appearance, Madam Luo felt a deep aversion. Suppressing her anger, she walked into the room.

The woman didn’t even look her in the eye when she entered. Hugging the vase, she glanced sideways and spoke directly: “My daughter was stolen by you people back then. Now I’m here to take her back. We still have grain that hasn’t been harvested at home, so she can go back and lend me a hand.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Luo’s heart boiled with rage. Her well-educated daughter going back to farm for this country bumpkin?

“What nonsense are you talking about? The daughters of our Xiao Residence are all ladies, all naturally born to my husband. How could she be your daughter? If you talk nonsense again, we’ll send you to the Jingzhao Yin.”

The woman’s eyes widened. She was displeased and said, “Don’t think your Eldest Miss is named Xiao. Pfft! That’s a child of my old Wang family! She was stolen by that person surnamed Zhao back then. We’ve been looking for her for so many years. Not only must you return my daughter, but you must also compensate me with silver.”

The phrase “stolen by that person surnamed Zhao” devastated Madam Luo. Xiao Wenxue was stolen by Zhao Xiran, not her husband’s flesh and blood.

Madam Luo’s face turned ashen. Wang San was nervous and tugged at his wife’s hand, trying to get her to stop talking. The woman ignored him. Instead, she pushed him away, pulled a piece of paper from her bosom, and slammed it onto the table: “This is Zhao Xiran’s personal admission! Xiao Wenxue from your residence is our old Wang family’s daughter.”

Madam Luo, who had strict rules and was raised in a well-educated family, considered herself spotless. Encountering such a shrew, she was too angry to reply. When she saw the content of the paper, she was so angry she couldn’t catch her breath and immediately fainted.

The maids and servants in the main hall shouted in alarm, rushing to help Madam Luo. The entire Xiao Residence was thrown into chaos.

At this moment, Xiao Kuning, who had escaped from her locked room, walked up to the main hall and saw a crowd of people inside. She didn’t know what had happened, but since she had been locked in her room and nearly couldn’t get out, she wasn’t in the mood to join the excitement.

Just as she was about to slip away, Xiao Mingwang rushed over. Seeing her, his eyes darted nervously: “Your mother fainted! Hurry up and go see her! Don’t be so thoughtless.”

Xiao Kuning opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Xiao Mingwang dragged her over.

Inside the room, Madam Luo was breathing weakly, her eyes wide open, staring blankly at the ceiling. Beside her, the Wang family woman was speaking sarcastically: “I know my daughter is beautiful and wants to be the Prince of Yanping’s Consort. No way! What about all the grain we have? The landlord is waiting for us to pay the rent! Don’t pretend to faint! I’m telling you, my daughter must come back with me today!”

Madam Luo, who had just managed to gasp for a breath, heard this, and her vision went black. She completely fainted again.

Xiao Kuning was also surprised. According to the woman, Xiao Wenxue wasn’t Zhao Xiran’s daughter? Taking advantage of the distraction, she picked up the white paper from the floor.

Having been with Zhao Xiran for so many years, she was familiar with her handwriting. The script was messy and lacked a sharp brushstroke; it was indeed written by her personally.

The paper stated that she herself was clean and still a virgin. Xiao Wenxue was bought, though it did not specify where she was bought from.

But this point alone was enough to show that Xiao Wenxue couldn’t even be considered an illegitimate daughter of the Xiao family. Forget becoming a Princess Consort, not even the illegitimate son of an ordinary official would marry her.

Madam Luo worked so hard all these years, only to reap nothing but the wind. It was laughable.

It made sense, though. How could there be such a coincidence that the legal wife and the mistress gave birth at the same time?

With the room in complete chaos, Xiao Kuning folded the letter and tucked it into her pocket. Now, not only would no one be able to lock her up, but Madam Luo herself would be sick with rage. She had cherished her and spent so much effort on her all those years, only for it to be for naught.

Xiao Mingwang disregarded everything else and carried Madam Luo toward the back courtyard. Xiao Kuning felt nothing watching the barely conscious Madam Luo and walked out of the main hall.

Xiao Wenxue approached, her unadorned face clouded with sorrow. Perhaps she hadn’t even dressed her hair yet. Xiao Kuning subconsciously pulled her away: “You need to go back quickly.”

If that woman saw Xiao Wenxue, she would definitely jump up and down.

Xiao Wenxue was unaware and instinctively tried to pull her hand free. Xiao Kuning shoved the paper into her hand: “Congratulations. You are not a daughter of the Xiao family. We have no relationship. From now on, I will only pity you, not envy you.”

Xiao Wenxue froze on the spot. Her beautiful face could not conceal the shock. She quickly understood the simple lines of text. She didn’t even have the courage to look at Xiao Kuning.

So, she was just as pitiful as Xiao Kuning.

Xiao Kuning ignored her. Her steps were light. She walked out of the main gate openly.

As she reached the door, she saw Zhou Quan, the servant working for her, signaling to her with his eyes.

There weren’t many people at the gate. Xiao Kuning glanced around, walked up to Zhou Quan as if she were out for a stroll, and Zhou Quan said anxiously: “Miss, Minister Xue is dead. He couldn’t pay off his massive debt and was beaten to death.”

For Xue Fang to end up like this, Xiao Kuning didn’t know what to say. She waved her hand gloomily, thinking there was still time for things to progress slowly.

Stepping out, she had just walked down the steps when she saw a carriage approaching in the crowd. The carriage had the Xie Residence’s symbol on it.

When enemies meet on a narrow road, the brave one wins. She quietly hid to the side, preparing to leave after the Xie Residence’s carriage drove away.

The carriage stopped in front of the Xiao Residence. A young girl stepped down from the carriage. She wore a greenish-blue dress and walked with a light step, clearly possessing martial arts skill. Xiao Kuning frowned. She didn’t remember Xie Yu having such a person by her side.

The doorman at the gate was about to greet the girl, but she walked straight to Xiao Kuning’s hiding spot, curtsied, and said: “Greetings, Miss. I am Bi Shu. I serve the Master. The Master invites you to get into the carriage to talk.”

Xiao Kuning was suspicious. Who is Bi Shu? She hadn’t heard that name in her previous life.

Bi Shu was pretty. Seeing Xiao Kuning’s disbelief, she explained: “Yu Yin went to handle some business. I will look after the Master from now on.”

Yu Yin was steady and reliable, but the Bi Shu in front of her spoke with an air that suggested she was not merely a maid but more like Xie Yu’s equal.

Xiao Kuning grew more suspicious. She kept her distance from the maid, wondering if the story was true or false. The carriage curtain was pulled aside, revealing Xie Yu’s profile.

Unable to refuse, she could only get into the carriage.

Xie Yu was resting her eyes in the carriage. She only opened them when she heard the movement, calmly glanced at Bi Shu, and addressed Xiao Kuning: “Sit closer. I won’t eat you.”

Bi Shu smiled widely, seeing the curtain close.

Xiao Kuning found it strange. The two did not seem like master and servant. She couldn’t help but ask, “Where is Yu Yin?”

Xie Yu said, “She is dead.”

Xiao Kuning was shocked. Her eyes flickered slightly. She opened her mouth but remained silent. What did other people’s affairs have to do with her?

At this moment, Xie Yu took a document from a hidden compartment in the carriage. Her eyes were like water, calm and unwavering. She said, “The Prince of Zhennan has died in battle. The Heir has submitted a petition requesting to escort the Prince’s coffin back to Chang’an to be buried with his mother, who died years ago.”

“Died?” Xiao Kuning wasn’t just surprised. Events were unfolding too quickly. Logically, the Prince of Zhennan died from wine bestowed by Zhao Mian, having nothing to do with dying in battle.

She realized something was wrong: “The border has always been peaceful. Why did a war suddenly break out?”

Xie Yu did not speak and handed the document to her.

After reading it, she learned that the opposing Southern Tang had launched a sneak attack. The Prince of Zhennan, perhaps acting rashly, pursued the defeated army after defeating the Southern Tang, forgetting the great taboo of not pursuing a desperate enemy.

In this way, the issue of the Prince of Zhennan’s residence rebelling was fundamentally resolved. She let out a long sigh of relief.

Seeing her relief, Xie Yu curled her lips into a cold smile: “His Majesty is assigning blame, intending to seize the military power from the Heir.”

The man is already dead. Shouldn’t they be offering consolation at this time? Xiao Kuning was familiar with Zhao Mian’s nature—directing his anger outward, not realizing that the Empress Dowager behind him was the greatest enemy. To call him an Emperor was almost too kind; he was rather foolish.

She handed the document back to Xie Yu.

Xie Yu reached out and suddenly grabbed her wrist. Xiao Kuning lunged into her arms, almost touching Xie Yu’s cheek.

Xiao Kuning cursed internally. What is this person doing?

Before she could figure it out, an arrowhead grazed her forehead, the fierce wind rustling past.

The carriage curtain was abruptly pulled open: “Master, there are assassins!”

Xie Yu was holding Xiao Kuning. The arrow was embedded in the spot where Xiao Kuning had been sitting just a moment ago. Their embrace was extremely odd.

Bi Shu’s eye twitched. Before she could speak, the sound of clashing swords rang out outside. She was about to turn and confront the assassins, but her peripheral vision caught a streak of crimson blood on the Master’s cheek.

Xiao Kuning gasped: “Master is injured!”

A thought resonated in her mind: Xie Yu is disfigured.