Xie Yunxi widened her eyes. She looked at the closed door, then at the excited Nanny He, and took two steps back.
Suddenly, she turned on her heels and ran.
"Stop her!" Nanny He shouted. Two hefty maidservants rushed out and immediately trapped Xie Yunxi. They also seized her maid.
"Second Miss, where do you think you're going?"
Seeing that her escape plan had failed, Xie Yunxi immediately changed her strategy. A look of grievance appeared on her face. She twitched the corner of her mouth and wailed, "Grandmother, your granddaughter is innocent! You can't just believe Sister's one - sided story! Waaaaaah!"
Tears welled up instantly, making her look like a girl who had suffered a great injustice.
Inside the room, the Old Lady Xie's face darkened. "Hurry up and drag her away. Don't let her defile the Qing Song Courtyard."
The nanny standing behind the old lady knew her mistress's temper well. So she quickly walked out and told Nanny He to send the girl to the ancestral hall right away.
Xie Yunxi was dragged to the ancestral hall, crying pitifully.
With the noise gone, the old lady looked at Xie Fengran on the ground and snorted. "You're to be confined to your own courtyard for the next few days. You're not allowed to see anyone, not even your father!"
"Yes, granddaughter obeys."
Xie Fengran lowered her eyes and respectfully agreed.
Seeing her obedient look, the old lady didn't know how to scold her. She couldn't help but snort loudly.
"Don't think I don't know what's on your mind. Let me tell you, in matters of marriage, it's up to the parents' order and the matchmaker's word. You can't have your own little schemes. The Hou Mansion has supported you for so many years, and it's time for you to repay it. If you dare to talk nonsense like this again the day after tomorrow and act inappropriately in front of the noble guests, bringing disgrace to the Hou Mansion, I will never forgive you."
"Yes, granddaughter understands."
"Good that you understand. Now, go."
"Granddaughter takes her leave."
Xie Fengran supported herself with the help of her maid, stood up, bowed to the old lady, and slowly backed out.
As the old lady watched Xie Fengran slowly leave the courtyard, a look of melancholy appeared on her face. "A Su, do you think I've taught her too well? So well that she's so opinionated?"
The old lady knew exactly what kind of person Xie Fengran was. She had attended so many banquets and had never made a mistake even when meeting noble guests.
The rumor that came out after her visit to the Sun Family this time made the old lady can't help but think more.
The nanny who had been standing behind the old lady handed the ruler in her hand to a little maid on one side. She stepped forward to refill the old lady's cup with hot tea and comforted her, "The eldest miss is like you, mistress. In my opinion, she has the Hou Mansion at heart. You don't have to worry too much."
"How can I not worry?" The old lady sighed. She brought the tea cup to her lips but then put it down. Sighing, she said, "Her father is good - for - nothing. If I let him go on like this, the Hou Mansion will surely decline sooner or later. The hereditary title of the Xie Family for a hundred years cannot be ruined in his hands!"
At the end of her speech, the old lady slapped the table hard. After thinking for a while, she said, "A Su, go to the front courtyard and tell Xie Yi that from now on, move the child Cheng Hui to Fengran's courtyard. Let Fengran watch over him."
Xie Chenghui was three years old this year. He was Xie Yi's concubine - born son and his only son. His biological mother died of difficult childbirth. Now he was being raised in Xie Fengran's mother's room.
Nanny Su was shocked by the old lady's idea. She tentatively asked, "Do you mean to let the eldest miss take care of her younger brother from now on?"
"Exactly. I really can't trust the children raised by the Yun family. In the future, even if Fengran can help her natal family after she gets married, if the Hou Mansion can't stand on its own, always relying on others is not a long - term solution. If Chenghui is raised in front of Fengran and can learn even half of what she has, the Hou Mansion will be able to hold on."
Hearing the old lady's evaluation of Xie Fengran, Nanny Su was greatly shocked. She secretly thought that she had never heard the old lady evaluate anyone like this before!
From now on, this eldest miss really had to be treated seriously.
However, Nanny Su still had some concerns. "If we raise the young master in the eldest miss's courtyard, won't people outside gossip and say that our Hou Mansion has no rules?"
"The most rule - breaking things in the Hou Mansion have been done by Xie Yi. One more thing won't matter. When I come back from the palace, I'll personally oversee Chenghui's move. You go and inform Xie Yi first."
Seeing that the old lady had made up her mind, Nanny Su stopped persuading. She told the little maid a few words and then walked towards the outer courtyard.
At this time, the outer courtyard was not very peaceful either.
As soon as Xie Yi returned to the mansion, he was stopped by Xie Yunxi's concubine mother.
"My Lord, you must save Xier!"
Concubine Yuan was wearing a plain silk dress. Her hair was slightly disheveled, and her eyes were slightly red. When she saw Xie Yi, tears streamed down her face.
She was naturally delicate and beautiful, especially her pair of eyes, which were extremely charming. Xie Yunxi's eyes were very much like hers.
When she smiled, her eyes were full of spirit, making people feel happy.
When she widened her eyes and looked at you, she looked extremely innocent and pitiful.
But when she cried, it seemed as if she had countless grievances, making people's hearts ache.
Although Xie Yi didn't feel heartache, he did feel pity.
Seeing his beloved concubine crying so sadly at this moment, he immediately frowned. "Who bullied you two? Where's Yunxi? Didn't she go to the Sun Family today? Did someone make fun of her?"
Concubine Yuan shook her head and didn't say a word. She still covered her mouth and cried.
This made Xie Yi feel so heart - broken. He pulled her to a quiet place on one side and pulled her into his arms. "My darling, tell me. Who bullied our precious daughter? I'll go and avenge you."
Concubine Yuan leaned into Xie Yi's arms and sobbed, "After Xier came back, I don't know why, but she went to the old lady's courtyard with the eldest miss. Then, then, she was punished by the old lady to kneel in the ancestral hall."
"Waaaaaah, My Lord, the ancestral hall is cold and damp. Xier is so delicate. Her body won't be able to bear it!"
Hearing that it was his own mother, Xie Yi's anger subsided a lot.
He had always known that his mother didn't like his concubine - born daughter. Was it because - "Did Xier offend mother?"
"Xier is so well - behaved and has always respected the old lady. How could she offend the old lady? The eldest miss went to the Qing Song Courtyard too, but she returned to her courtyard safely. Poor Xier was born to me and is not liked by others!"
Xie Yi became unsure again. The two sisters had always been at odds. Could it be that Fengran had said something in front of their mother?
Seeing that Xie Yi's expression was wavering, Concubine Yuan added fuel to the fire. "Xier said that the eldest miss didn't want to go to the Sun Family in the first place, but Xier did it for you, My Lord! You can't ignore our Xier."
It had to be said that Concubine Yuan's complaint was very targeted. She knew that with Xie Yi's character, he didn't dare to confront his mother.
Her words were all aimed at Xie Fengran, not the old lady.
Sure enough, Xie Yi was immediately angry when he heard this. He ordered his personal servant, "Go and call the eldest miss to me."
Concubine Yuan added, "Thank you, My Lord. But Xier is still locked up in the ancestral hall. How about we go to the Qing Song Courtyard together and plead with the old lady? Even if the child has made some mistakes, we can just discipline her properly. What do you think, My Lord?"
Xie Yi hesitated. He was really afraid of his mother.
Concubine Yuan said faintly again, "Moreover, I believe that the eldest miss will surely not stand by and do nothing."
Xie Yi nodded. "Yes, Fengran is the most sensible. Come on, let's go to mother's place."