Swap Marriage in Ancient Times: Transmigrated to My Stepbrother's Wife

The next day, all the important members of the Xie Residence were summoned to the main hall.

Xie An’an remained unconscious in her own courtyard, guarded closely by two of Xie Rong’s personal guards. No one was permitted to enter or leave without his order.

The atmosphere inside the main hall was heavy.

Two servants were kneeling in the middle of the hall.

Master Xie’s eyes darkened as he looked down at them.

"So, you are telling me..." His lips pressed into a hard line, as though even speaking the words was difficult for him. "Everything..."

His voice gradually faded, "Why...?"

Master Xie lowered his head before suddenly slamming his palm against the armrest of his chair.

The sharp sound echoed throughout the hall.

The two servants immediately trembled.

Xie Rong remained silent throughout the exchange. His attention, however, repeatedly drifted toward Wang Gege, who was still weak after everything that had happened.

She was seated beside him, looking much better than the previous day, yet her complexion remained slightly pale.

Every time she shifted even a little, Xie Rong’s eyes would immediately turn toward her.

Finally, Wang Gege noticed. She glanced at him.

Xie Rong calmly looked away.

Wang Gege narrowed her eyes. She knew very well that he had been watching her.

So, she leaned closer to his side and whispered, "Look forward. I honestly don’t know how the people in this ancient world could still believe you are blind with the way you act..."

Xie Rong’s lips twitched faintly. "This one is merely concerned about his Furen."

Wang Gege gave him a suspicious look. "You have been looking at me every few moments."

"I have not," Xie Rong defended himself.

"You have. So... stop and focus on what is happening at this moment..." Wang Gege said, rolling her eyes slightly before turning her head back toward the front.

"Young Miss had been scheming since the time Young Master was arranged to marry Young Miss Gu. But after Young Miss Gu withdrew from the marriage arrangement, Young Miss gradually stopped with her schemes and believed she would no longer need to do anything."

Lian’er kept her head lowered as she continued explaining everything.

"Until Young Madam married into the Xie Residence."

The hall fell silent.

Lian’er slowly continued, "At first, Young Miss did not think much of Young Madam. She believed the rumours that Young Madam was a..." She suddenly stopped herself, "A fool."

The word came out quietly. Her head lowered even further, as though she was afraid of what would follow.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Lian’er swallowed before continuing, "Young Miss believed that a foolish person like Young Madam would not be able to remain by Young Master’s side for long. Even if Young Madam did nothing, Young Miss thought Young Master would eventually grow tired of her."

Wang Gege slowly raised an eyebrow.

’Wow. They really thought highly of me.’

Beside her, Xie Rong’s expression subtly darkened.

Lian’er quickly continued, "But after Young Madam entered the residence... things did not happen as Young Miss expected."

Her fingers tightened against her knees.

"Young Madam did not seem like the rumours everyone heard and Young Master gradually began to treat Young Madam differently."

Master Xie’s eyes narrowed. "Go on."

Lian’er lowered her head again, "And that was when Young Miss began scheming once more."

"So..." Master Xie cleared his throat roughly, "Liu Yuxin’s death, that was the only one, right?"

The question caught everyone’s attention. Wang Gege also shifted in her seat as she wanted to know about Chuntao’s death too.

Lian’er nodded. "That was the first, as far as this servant knew."

Master Xie’s brows immediately drew together. "As far as you knew?"

Lian’er lowered her head further.

"Young Miss did not tell this servant everything. There were times when she would give this servant an order without explaining why, and there were also matters she handled without this servant’s involvement."

Wang Gege’s fingers slowly tightened over her lap. "What about Chuntao?"

The question caused Lian’er to pause.

Everyone’s attention shifted toward her.

Lian’er slowly raised her head, her eyes widening slightly. "Chuntao...?"

"Yes." Wang Gege leaned slightly forward. "My servant who died not long after I entered the residence."

Lian’er’s expression gradually changed. "This servant remembers her."

Wang Gege’s gaze sharpened. "Then tell us what you know."

Lian’er hesitated.

"That servant..." Her fingers slowly curled against the floor. "This servant remembers that morning before we heard about Chuntao’s death, Young Miss returned to her chamber in an unusually good mood before dawn."

Her gaze shifted toward the pouch resting before Yun’er, "She asked this servant to bring out her pouch."

Lian’er paused before pointing toward it. "That exact pouch."

Yun’er immediately lowered her eyes toward the pouch.

Lian’er continued, "Young Miss said she needed to leave early for the market. This servant accompanied her."

Master Xie’s expression darkened. "And?"

Lian’er’s fingers tightened. "That was when this servant saw her meet a man."

The hall immediately grew quieter.

"The same man who later came forward and accused Madam Liu... claiming that Madam Liu was the one who had hired him."

Wang Gege’s eyes narrowed.

Lian’er slowly lowered her head again.

"At that time, this servant did not understand why Young Miss wished to meet such a person." Her voice gradually lowered. "Not until Chuntao died."

"So..." Xie Rong’s voice finally broke his long silence. "You are saying Xie An’an was already outside the residence before dawn?"

Lian’er immediately lowered her head.

"Not out of the residence, Young Master, but out of her own courtyard."

Xie Rong’s brows slowly drew together.

"On the day Chuntao died?"

Lian’er hesitated before nodding. "Yes."

The atmosphere inside the hall changed at once.

Wang Gege’s eyes narrowed, "She left her courtyard before dawn, then returned about an hour later. And after that, the two of you left for the market and met that man?"

"Yes, Young Madam." Lian’er’s voice remained low. "By the time Young Miss returned, she was already in a good mood. She asked this servant to bring out the pouch, then said she wished to go to the market early."

Wang Gege exchanged a glance with Xie Rong.

"An hour..." she murmured.

An hour before dawn was enough time for someone to leave the courtyard, arrange something, and return before anyone began their usual morning duties.

But the question was...

Where had Xie An’an gone?