Chapter 298: Leave It to Me to Handle
For a moment, Xie Yushan couldn’t find any words to refute him.
Master Qiu looked toward Qiu Rongrong again, saying, “As for today’s matter, Uncle will certainly seek justice from the patriarch of the Xie clan on your behalf.”
Whom had he, Master Qiu, ever feared?
Xie Yushan’s face ultimately drained of color. If this escalated into a major scene, the main family line would never offend Master Qiu on his account, and in the end, the only one to suffer misfortune would be himself.
Over all these years, his sole reliance had been nothing more than the reputation of a side branch of the Xie clan; if deprived of that, he, Xie Yushan, was truly nothing at all.
When he had initially sought to marry Qiu Rongrong, he had merely taken a liking to her family being a merchant household in Jiangnan; possessing a bit of money, they could also support their Xie family. Throughout these years, Qiu Rongrong had submitted to every mistreatment as always, but starting from last year, things had begun to change.
Just as the crowd was locked in an unresolvable dispute, a gasp suddenly sounded from a worker outside the room: “Young Master! It’s the Young Master!”
Manager Lu hurriedly opened the door, and sure enough, he saw Xie Anyi running toward them. Trailing right behind him was a young man holding a weapon in his hand.
Manager Lu caught hold of Xie Anyi as he ran over, almost breaking into tears upon seeing his swollen red eyes and dirty, tear-stained little face: “Young Master, where have you been?”
“Mother, I want to find my mother!” Xie Anyi’s voice carried a crying tone.
Manager Lu hurriedly led Xie Anyi into the room, and the moment he caught sight of Qiu Rongrong, Xie Anyi let out a loud sob, ran over, and threw his arms tightly around Qiu Rongrong, refusing to let go.
“Mother, Mother… Mother, I thought I would never see you again, Mother!”
Xie Anyi wept heartbreakingly, and Qiu Rongrong cried just as bitterly, mother and son embracing each other in tears.
Xie Yushan’s face changed completely. How could this be? Didn’t he have his mother take Xie Anyi away?
After stepping inside, Wang Zhao quietly took his place behind Datou and the other youngsters, resuming his role as an invisible man.
Only after seeing Wang Zhao did the children realize that Datou had arranged everything long in advance.
Xie Anyi sobbed as he spoke: “They said you were looking for me, so I followed them. In the end, before we even reached home, Grandmother dragged me out of the city by force. If not for Brother Wang, I wouldn’t have been able to come back, sob, sob, sob, sob…”
Everyone looked toward Wang Zhao, who hurriedly bowed in greeting to Wen Xiuyi: “The young master instructed this subordinate to follow Young Master Xie and bring him back if anything seemed amiss. Because the person picking up Young Master Xie was his own grandmother, this subordinate did not dare act rashly either. It was only when I saw their carriage leaving the city that I realized something was wrong. This subordinate intercepted the carriage and brought Young Master Xie back by force. At this moment, that old lady of the Xie family is still clamoring to go to the yamen to report to the authorities—she has likely arrived at the yamen already.”
Everyone’s gazes landed on Magistrate Chen once again.
Magistrate Chen let out a cough: “Well, now, this official happens to be right here, and I have already gained a general understanding of the facts. Master Xie, what else do you have to say now?”
Xie Yushan was already breaking out in a cold sweat. In truth, Qiu Rongrong understood Xie Yushan well: this man was exceptionally cowardly, especially so when facing someone more formidable than himself. His previous sole reliance had been nothing more than having Xie Anyi in his hands.
Now seeing Xie Anyi return safe and sound, his spirit had long deflated. Yet he knew he certainly couldn’t admit to it, or he would be in truly dire straits.
At this thought, Xie Yushan said, “Lord Chen, it’s all a misunderstanding. When all is said and done, this is our family matter, and it’s best for us to handle it ourselves.”
Under normal circumstances, Magistrate Chen would certainly have turned a blind eye and let it pass, but today was different—he had to perform well in front of Master Qiu and Wen Xiuyi.
Promptly, he looked toward Qiu Rongrong, adopting an official tone: “Lady Qiu, do you have anything to say?”
Qiu Rongrong held Xie Anyi tightly in her arms, while Master Qiu spoke up as well: “Rongrong, whatever thoughts you have, just speak them aloud. Lord Chen and I will both uphold justice for you.”
Wen Xiuyi wanted to say “And me too,” but Master Qiu gave him a light tug, so he held his tongue.
Qiu Rongrong looked at Xie Yushan, her eyes brimming with hatred and anger, then looked at Xie Anyi, her gaze shifting to pure gentleness and affection.
Hesitating for a long moment, as if having made a firm resolution, Qiu Rongrong knelt directly before Master Qiu and Lord Chen.
Master Qiu and Magistrate Chen stepped forward instinctively, only to hear Qiu Rongrong say: “This humble woman wishes for a divorce, and to take Yi’er away from the Xie family.”
Had today’s incident not occurred, Qiu Rongrong might still have spent a bit of money to dismiss this family. Yet today she had seen clearly at last: Xie Yushan was a man who would stop at no unethical means to achieve his own ends. Yi’er was his own son, yet he could be so heartless as to use and harm him like this—what further misgivings could she possibly hold?
It was merely a divorce. At worst, her reputation would be slightly damaged—what was there to fear? She possessed money; could reputation be eaten as food?
Xie Yushan had not expected Qiu Rongrong to be so ruthless, immediately shouting at the top of his lungs, “Don’t even dream of it! So long as you are a woman of my Xie family for a single day, don’t think of ever leaving us! Yi’er is a child of our Xie family, and you shouldn’t dream of taking him away either! Hmph, as long as I do not agree to a divorce, it’s useless no matter whom you seek out!”
Magistrate Chen was stumped as well; where this matter was concerned, he truly couldn’t pass judgment.
Casting a seeking look toward Master Qiu off to the side, he saw Master Qiu’s brows tightly knitted as well, his mind racing as he contemplated how to help Qiu Rongrong resolve this trouble.
Although the children didn’t understand what this divorce entailed, it sounded as though Qiu Rongrong would be able to take Xie Anyi away from the Xie family, which was surely a wonderful thing.
Yet listening to the adults’ words, it seemed as though this matter wasn’t quite feasible.
Right at this moment, Guan Shengrui suddenly spoke up: “Sister Rongrong, if you truly wish for a divorce, Magistrate Chen won’t be able to help you. I’ll write a letter to my uncle and have him help you.”
Casting a look at this child he had never seen before, Xie Yushan immediately barked, “And what kind of thing are you?! Since when is it a child’s place to meddle in the affairs of our Xie family? Who do you think your uncle is?!”
Guan Shengrui was utterly dumbfounded; this was the very first time in his life that anyone had dared point a finger at his nose and scold him like this.
At this point, the expressions of Magistrate Chen, Master Qiu, and even Wen Xiuyi changed completely.
“Master Xie, this official advises you to watch your words and actions carefully,” Magistrate Chen said solemnly, his official authority of many years bursting forth in an instant.
“He… he cursed me!” Guan Shengrui grew furious.
His small face flushed crimson with rage as he shouted, “My mother is Princess He’an! How dare you curse at me asking what kind of thing I am! I’m going to tell my mother, and tell my Imperial Uncle the Emperor, to execute your whole clan!”
“P-Princess…” Xie Yushan’s face turned white as a sheet in an instant, his legs giving way as he slumped straight onto the floor. As for that latter title, he didn’t even dare utter it aloud.
The others present who were unaware of Guan Shengrui’s identity all looked at him in sheer astonishment.
Guan Shengrui was still furiously blustering about reporting the matter. Master Qiu shot Magistrate Chen a look, which Magistrate Chen grasped in a flash, stepping forward immediately to bow politely to Guan Shengrui: “Young Master, please calm your anger. Would it be acceptable to leave this matter to this lower official to handle? This official will certainly give Young Master a satisfying resolution.”
Guan Shengrui had only brought up his Imperial Uncle the Emperor because he saw that none of them could solve it. After all, how could his Imperial Uncle the Emperor bother with a minor matter like a divorce? It was merely intended to scare Xie Yushan.
Hearing these words, he paused: “Fine, go solve it.” If he truly couldn’t scare this fellow named Xie, he would have his Imperial Uncle the Emperor issue an imperial decree to execute him, so Sister Rongrong and Xie Anyi could still live on their own just the same.
Only then did Magistrate Chen bow slightly, walking over toward Xie Yushan.
