Chapter 173: Young Madam Had Died
The news spread through the Xie Residence like wildfire.
Young Madam had died.
Servants abandoned whatever they were doing and hurried toward the courtyard, their faces filled with shock and disbelief as whispers followed them through the corridors.
"How could this happen?"
"I heard she was attacked two days ago..."
"Perhaps her injuries suddenly worsened?"
No one truly knew what had happened. The only thing they knew was that something terrible had occurred inside the Young Master’s courtyard, and the guards stationed outside had refused to explain anything.
Master Xie and Old Madam Xie arrived soon afterward, both visibly alarmed by the commotion.
"What happened?" Old Madam Xie immediately demanded, her voice trembling. "Where is Rong’er?"
No one answered.
Then Qing’er came rushing out of the courtyard, her eyes red and her face streaked with tears.
"Old Madam..." She immediately knelt. "What happened to Taotao?" Old Madam Xie asked anxiously.
Qing’er lowered her head, her shoulders shaking.
"This servant... this servant is sorry..." Her voice broke. "Young Madam..." She could barely force the next words out. "Young Madam is gone."
The courtyard fell completely silent.
Old Madam Xie’s face went pale. "What did you say?"
Qing’er covered her mouth, sobbing. "This servant tried to call for the physician, but... but it was too late."
Master Xie’s expression turned grim. "How could this happen? The physician said her condition was stable!"
Qing’er shook her head helplessly. "This servant doesn’t know..."
Behind them, more people began arriving. And among them was Xie An’an.
She hurried toward the courtyard with Gui Lin following behind, her face already carefully arranged into an expression of grief. But beneath that grief, her heart was pounding.
’She succeeded. Good Lian’er.’
The thought almost made her smile. Yet she quickly lowered her head, hiding every trace of satisfaction.
"Sister-in-law..." Her voice trembled as though she were struggling to accept the news. "How could this happen? This sister—this sister really—" she covered her mouth faking sadness.
No one noticed the faint relief hidden beneath her lowered lashes.
Because as far as everyone in the Xie Residence knew... Shen Taotao was dead.
"This servant was checking on Young Madam when the Young Master rushed toward Young Miss’s courtyard earlier, only to return and find her body already cold..." Qing’er continued, sobbing hard as she lowered her head.
The words immediately caused another wave of shock among the gathered servants.
Old Madam Xie’s lips trembled, "Rong’er... where is Rong’er now?"
"Young Master had been sitting beside Young Madam since he returned, Old Madam..." Qing’er shook her head, her voice breaking. "Young Master has not said anything since then."
Despite the heavy silence that had settled over the courtyard, a figure slowly approached from behind Xie An’an.
Lian’er.
She lowered her head and leaned closer to her mistress, making sure no one else could hear her. "Young Miss..."
Xie An’an barely moved.
"This servant did it..."
The moment those words reached her ears, Xie An’an’s gaze immediately lifted. Her eyes went straight toward the entrance of the chamber.
For a brief moment, she seemed almost unable to believe what she was seeing or rather, what she believed she would no longer see.
Then the corners of her lips slowly curved into a feeble smile.
She had done it.
Shen Taotao was finally gone, and there would no longer be another obstacle standing between her and Xie Rong.
Old Madam Xie and Master Xie hurried toward the chamber, their expressions filled with disbelief and grief.
"Open the door." Master Xie’s voice rang out in front of the chamber entrance.
The guards exchanged uncertain glances.
"Master..."
"Did you not hear me?" Master Xie’s expression darkened. "Open the door. I want to see my daughter-in-law."
The guard hesitated. "Young Master ordered that no one enter..."
"Rong’er, open the door!" Master Xie’s voice rang loudly through the chamber entrance, leaving the guard with no choice but to obey.
The door was finally opened.
Old Madam Xie entered first, followed by Master Xie and Xie An’an, all three moving cautiously into the bedchamber as though afraid that the slightest sound might disturb the person lying within.
Their eyes soon fell upon Xie Rong.
He sat on the edge of the bed with his back slightly bent, his usually composed figure appearing strangely exhausted, while one hand remained loosely placed beside the pale figure lying motionless beneath the blankets.
Shen Taotao’s face was deathly pale, her eyes tightly closed, and the bandage around her neck stood out starkly against her skin.
Old Madam Xie’s eyes immediately reddened. "Rong’er..."
Xie Rong did not respond. His gaze remained fixed upon the woman lying before him, as though he had become completely absorbed in the sight of her.
Master Xie’s expression became heavy as he slowly approached. "Rong’er..."
Still, there was no response.
Behind them, Xie An’an stopped several steps away from the bed.
Her heart was beating rapidly. She had expected to see Wang Gege’s body, but seeing Xie Rong sitting there like this somehow made the reality feel even more satisfying.
He looked broken. For once, he had lost the woman he loved. And now, perhaps, he would finally understand that she was the only person who could remain by his side.
Xie An’an lowered her gaze, hiding the faint smile threatening to appear.
"Brother..." Her voice trembled as she approached. "I know this is difficult, but please don’t blame yourself..."
Xie Rong’s fingers slowly curled against the edge of the bed. His voice finally came, hoarse and painfully quiet.
"Blame myself? Why?" He slowly turned toward her. Although his eyes remained covered by the blindfold, everyone in the chamber could feel the chill radiating from the gaze hidden beneath it.
"You were the one who stabbed my Furen." His voice dropped colder. "Why should I blame myself? When you are the one who should be blamed..."
Xie An’an’s face instantly paled, and she instinctively stepped back two steps.
"Brother..." She gulped, her lips trembling. "This sister—this sister really didn’t mean it..."
Her eyes quickly filled with tears, "This sister only wanted to protect herself. I never thought the porcelain would actually hurt her so badly. I swear, I never intended for my sister-in-law to die..."
Xie Rong stared at her in silence for a long moment before his gaze slowly shifted toward his father.
"Father..." His voice was quiet, yet the weight behind it made the entire chamber fall silent. "I ask that my Furen be given justice."