Chapter 588: Unmoved by Honor or Shame, Let

At the Xie family gate, the afternoon sky was overcast, and as they stepped out, snowflakes seemed imminent.

Along the street, carriages stood in neat rows, each accompanied by a few young masters and ladies.

At this moment!

The dark clouds split open, spilling sunlight that illuminated the red walls and blue tiles of the Xie Fu and the air above the carriages.

Ladies, young ladies, and young masters dressed in white fox fur robes and brocade garments held warming stoves or cradled golden-furred lynxes with amber eyes, each surrounded by humble, reverent servants.

Everyone had long been subtly observing the conversation among these few.

As Li Yutong spoke, all eyes turned toward her.

"Xie Guan—that Xie family bastard!" People's expressions varied.

Some harbored resentment, especially other bastards who despised Xie Guan most of all, for possessing prestige they themselves lacked.

Most within the Xie Fu viewed the scene as entertainment; they had all heard rumors of this rising Xie family bastard over the past few months.

Yet their impressions remained "vague."

As for Xie Guan's marriage by adoption into the Li family, the rumor had spread last year—originally intended for the Zhao family, perhaps due to some taboo, but ultimately fizzled out.

Now it was the Li family!

The murmurings among the crowd grew quieter.

"Xie Guan marrying into the Li family?"

Xie Yuan's face darkened with anger upon hearing again of your marriage by adoption.

His expression also froze in surprise.

In the Great Qi, marriage by adoption was considered degrading; how could a fine man become a son-in-law? It was the most despised fate.

A son-in-law could not sit for the imperial examination; if his wife died, he was cast out of the household, called a "cast-out husband." His status was abysmal—his children could not bear his surname, could not touch family property, and were treated as outsiders.

He must serve his wife daily, pay respects to her elders, and if he failed to please, he could be expelled.

In the army, when beef was distributed as reward to soldiers, a son-in-law had no right to partake.

Thus, among commoners—especially impoverished scholars—it was better to starve than become a son-in-law.

Most importantly!

A son-in-law could not sit for the imperial examination nor serve in court—even a prince consort was bound by this rule.

Many handsome men chosen as prince consorts sighed heavily, bitter and unfulfilled.

Xie Qiyue was also slightly startled—this was the first she had heard of it. She and Xie Yuan were both favored young masters and ladies, with no servant daring to gossip around them.

Xue Hong and Sima Muqing, newly acquainted, said nothing, for they had just met; their eyes, however, brimmed with curiosity.

Yet you remained calm, showing no trace of "shame or timidity," saying: "Though my mother was a servant of the Xie family, she was never base, nor a disgrace."

"If humble birth is disgrace, I recall the Li family rose through military merit—its ancestors were merely horse handlers."

Li Yutong's face turned cold. "What right do you have to judge the Li family's ancestors? They led hundreds at fourteen and rode the northern lands."

"You, a bastard who never leaves his courtyard—what right do you have to compare yourself?"

Xie Renfeng smiled faintly. "I recall, Brother Guan, you won't enter the academy until next year—you haven't even begun your studies."

Li Yutong covered her mouth with her hand and laughed like silver bells. "I thought you were some great scholar's disciple, a academy student, speaking so boldly—but oh…"

"You're just a sheltered, ignorant child, peering through a bamboo tube."

Xie Yuan finally came to his senses and spoke slowly: "Li Yutong, by what authority do you lecture Brother Guan? Even your own rank in the family is unclear—are you the sixth or seventh daughter? No one can say for sure."

At these words, Li Yutong's face turned ashen, fury surging like a tidal wave.

This was the deepest wound she refused to let anyone touch. Her mother had remarried into the Sima family, and she had grown up in the Sima mansion until brought back to the Li family.

By then, the Li family already had Sixth Miss Li Shuwan; upon her return, she became Seventh Miss, though by birth order, Li Shuwan was actually younger.

Li Yutong's gaze turned icy. All this injustice stemmed from her "disgraceful" origins, and so she harbored hatred toward her divorced, remarried mother—and by extension, her half-sister Sima Muqing.

Xie Yuan's smile widened. "Ah, I misspoke—it should be Sixth Miss Li. No, no—Fifth Miss Li, that's right."

"Xie Yuan, you're asking for death!"

Xie Yuan, seeing her gnashing teeth, showed no fear.

Within the Xie and Li families, in birth and favor, had he ever been inferior to Li Yutong? In truth, he held a slight edge.

Besides, she had the Zhu Ge family behind her.

Xie Qiyue giggled. "Someone keeps calling others base—why don't they look in the mirror?"

"Look at yourself!"

Li Yutong's face twisted in rage, trembling violently; after a long silence, she spat: "You…"

At that moment, a commanding voice rang out.

"Yuan-ge, Qiyue, Miss Li is our guest—how can you mock her lineage?"

Xie Yuan recognized the voice and frowned.

Many servants and ladies from the Second Courtyard bowed deeply.

"Madam Zhao!"

"Madam Zhao!"

When Xie Hong was away, Madam Zhao, as the principal wife, held authority over the Second Courtyard.

Now that Xie Hong had returned, her power surpassed even its former height.

Xie Yuan's face softened. "Mother."

A beautiful woman approached, clad in an autumn mink-and-sable Zhaojun robe, hands folded at her waist, a jade bracelet glinting on her wrist, her steps graceful.

Though she had borne two sons and was over thirty, her face still glowed like a girl of twenty. Today, she had dressed meticulously: her black hair coiled into a lofty Yunyun bun, elegant and dignified.

Madam Zhao's gaze swept over you, then dismissed you entirely.

She looked at Xie Yuan and Qiyue with solemn gravity. "The Great Qi stands on Confucian filial piety. Your father once cared for Grandmama for days without sleep. With the Xie family's prestige, how can you brawl at the gate like this?"

"Yuan-ge, you're from the First Courtyard—I won't scold you directly; your mother will handle it."

Madam Zhao turned to Xie Qiyue, her tone tinged with reprimand.

"But Qiyue—you're a girl. How could you speak such venomous words? If word spreads, won't the world laugh at the Xie family for having no family discipline?"

Xue Hong wanted to defend Xie Qiyue, but he knew the Great Qi was steeped in Confucian filial piety—disobeying parents, even in marriage, was unthinkable.

Madam Zhao was Xie Qiyue's nominal mother—he could not find the words to speak.

Madam Zhao's expression darkened, a flicker of self-pity in her eyes. She sighed: "The Master is often away. I must have failed in my teaching. How can I face him—or Grandmama?"

She lowered her gaze, sorrow etched across her face.

Xie Renfeng stepped forward immediately, bowing deeply. "Mother, this is also my fault—I failed to discipline Qiyue. Please punish me."

Xie Qiyue's face flushed pale then red; finally, she bowed respectfully and whispered: "Mother, Qiyue knows her fault. I will be more careful in speech and conduct."

Madam Zhao's face softened slightly; she nodded gently. "To know one's fault and correct it—this is the highest virtue."

Xie Yuan could only stand helplessly by.

She was his elder; to argue further would be disrespect, punishable by clan law.

Though bitter inside, he swallowed his anger.

Li Yutong stood aside, watching the meek Xie Qiyue, a faint smirk of triumph on her face.

"Thank you, Madam Zhao!"

Madam Zhao merely nodded slightly, preparing to leave—clearly, her mood was excellent, radiant with joy.

For Xie Hong had specifically left Dengchun Tower to invite her to the Qunfang Banquet.

Her spirits lifted; her steps grew lighter.

The beautiful woman suddenly halted, her gaze fixing on you, curiously asking:

"You often write down poems and rare texts for the Master—what are these poems and books?"

All eyes, just moments ago fixed on Madam Zhao's scolding, now turned to you.

Xie Renfeng's gaze turned icy as well.

You regarded Madam Zhao, thought for a moment, then said:

"Auntie."

"The Master merely asked me to transcribe some romantic tales of scholars and beauties meeting by chance."

Madam Zhao's face hardened; her breathing grew heavy, even her hand pressing against her chest.

Scholars. Beauties. The Jianghu!

For some time now, Xie Hong had kept an unknown woman, radiating a Jianghu aura, constantly by his side in Dengchun Tower.

Remember this!

Even she, Madam Zhao, could not enter Dengchun Tower—yet the Master allowed a woman inside.

A lone man and woman, confined together.

Scholars and beauties? And now he makes Xie Guan copy them?

Then what was she? How many rumors must be swirling through the Xie Fu?

Madam Zhao's eyes suddenly sharpened—she recalled a face, a voice.

"It's her!"

She felt as if she could not breathe, her heart aching fiercely.

After all these years, could the Master still not forget her?

Xie Renfeng's face darkened with fury; he glared at you as if ready to devour you whole: "Xie Guan, stop speaking nonsense—or I'll make you pay."

You remained calm. "Third Cousin, the Master truly did ask me to transcribe those tales—and some rare texts by Second Master, and assorted miscellaneous books."

Your words were true—though only partially so.

Among the rare and obscure books sent by Xie Hong were classics of Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism, as well as folk anecdotes.

You could sense that Xie Hong deliberately wanted you to copy Daoist scriptures—especially after you cultivated the Yin Fu Jing; it was as if he foresaw your struggles, and whenever you hit a wall, the scriptures he had you copy always provided clarity.

There were also teachings from schools you had never heard of, such as the "Shi Family," which borrowed others' influence to cultivate its own prestige.

The "Ming Family" primarily debated ghostly matters, proposing the views of "He Tong Yi" and "Li Jian Bai."

The original school of the Third Master was the School of Vertical and Horizontal Alliances, which advocated alliances and divisions.

The more you learned, the more you felt that this Second Master of the Xie family was a true master who synthesized a hundred schools.

Your rapid cultivation progress was partly due to Xie Hong's practice of having you copy scriptures.

As for the romantic tales of talented scholars and beautiful maidens!

But once—

Inside a Daoist scripture, you found an original manuscript of a folk romantic tale, along with a short poem.

Among the vast number of books you copied, this was negligible.

You had previously observed how Zhao Lady interacted with Xie Hong in Hongjing Courtyard, and how Xie Renfeng waited outside Dengchun Pavilion.

Your earlier remark, judging by Zhao Lady's expression, proved exactly right.

You lifted your gaze slightly, letting your eyes rest on Xie Renfeng. Your cultivation had advanced—the second of the Seven Techniques of the Yin Fu Jing, the "Five Dragon Fulfilling Spirit Talisman," possessed the power to summon fortune and avert disaster.

Though he tried hard to conceal it, his chest brimmed with fierce murderous intent.

At the moment Zhao Lady appeared, you clearly felt the weight of calamitous energy grow heavier.

A gentleman does not stand beneath a crumbling wall—this gathering of beauties seemed far from simple.

Xie Yuan smiled faintly. "You're skilled at watching others play go—you're certainly not the type to suffer losses."

Xie Qiyue's beautiful eyes sparkled with amusement.

Xie Renfeng worriedly asked, "Mother, are you alright?"

Zhao Lady waved her hand at Xie Renfeng. "Renfeng, I'm fine."

Zhao Lady did not wish to linger longer; as she left, she said, "Qiyue, come with me to the Gathering of Beauties."

Xie Qiyue's face fell like an eggplant struck by frost, but she had no choice—she followed.

But—

Once at the Gathering of Beauties, you could move freely; elders had their own gatherings, while the young had their own amusements.

"Muqing, Ziqian, we'll meet up with Yuzhi at the Gathering of Beauties."

Zhu Ziqian nodded beside her, but his gaze lingered on Xie Guan—he was astonished that this man regularly copied books for Second Master Xie Hong.

Zhu Ziqian's own master had once studied under Xie Hong and revered him utterly, saying, "Among a hundred schools, he alone stands unmatched."

Xie Guan had such an extraordinary opportunity!

Sima Muqing smiled gently and nodded.

Xue Hong, however, seemed reluctant to leave.

Zhao Lady added, "Yuan, Yuan Lady is calling for you—go quickly."

Xie Yuan wondered inwardly why Yuan Lady would summon him, but he hesitated no longer and followed.

"Guan, I'll find you again at the Gathering of Beauties."

You watched them depart, lost in thought.

Zhao Lady added, "Renfeng, come with us too."

Xie Renfeng hurried after them; as he brushed past you, a cold, murderous whisper echoed in your ear.

"Xie Guan, let's see how long you can enjoy yourself today!"

"I'll make you beg for death—and even that will be denied you."

(End of Chapter)