Chapter 41: The Fourth Bad Day
After washing up and changing into a fresh set of clothes, Wang Gege joined Xie Rong for breakfast.
Perhaps because of everything that had happened the previous day, she had unknowingly eaten far more than usual. By the time the meal ended, nearly every dish on the table had been emptied.
Only after taking a short rest did Wang Gege step out of the room. The morning sun had already risen high above the courtyard.
"Is my Furen ready?" Xie Rong’s familiar voice greeted her almost immediately.
He was already waiting outside. Dressed in his lilac robe, he stood quietly beneath the corridor with one hand resting behind his back, his posture as straight as ever.
Although the black blindfold still covered his eyes, it contrasted rather noticeably against the lilac robe.
The moment Wang Gege’s gaze landed on him, she tilted her head. "Young Master’s blindfold doesn’t seem to match today’s robes."
Xie Rong answered without the slightest hesitation. "As long as it matches my Furen."
Wang Gege froze, her heart skipped a beat. For some inexplicable reason, her heartbeat suddenly became completely erratic.
She stared at him for several moments before narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "What are you doing? What is Young Master Xie’s intention?"
Xie Rong paused. "My intention?"
"Yes." Wang Gege pointed at him, "You’re acting strangely today."
A brief silence followed.
Then Xie Rong answered honestly, "I am trying."
"Trying?" Her eyes furrowed.
"To be a better husband." He answered calmly, like he didn’t just say she was nothing important in his life last night.
Wang Gege’s eyes widened. Her expression instantly turned even more suspicious, ’No... Something is definitely wrong. Why does it sound like he’s trying to trick me into signing my life away?’
Meanwhile, Xie Rong quietly observed her expression, ’Would this approach increase her Favorability?’
Before he could dwell on the thought any longer, hurried footsteps approached from the entrance.
"Young Master." Mo Yan cupped his fists respectfully. "The sedan chair is ready."
Xie Rong gave a slight nod. "Very well."
Only then did Wang Gege notice the spacious sedan chair waiting outside the courtyard. Several attendants stood beside it, already prepared for the journey.
Her brows rose slightly. "We’re taking that?"
Xie Rong answered with a faint nod, "It will be more convenient."
Wang Gege silently looked at the sedan chair before glancing at Xie Rong again.
"Young Mast—"
"Husband." Xie Rong interrupted softly.
He leaned down to her height, his voice low enough that only she could hear. "Come, Furen."
As he spoke, he naturally extended a hand toward her.
Wang Gege stood rooted to the spot. Her mind instantly became a complete mess.
’He leaned close...’
’He corrected me...’
’And now... He’s holding out his hand?’
’What is happening?’
’Did he really hit his head while sleeping?’
Or was this another one of his incomprehensible schemes?
Before she could gather enough courage to question him, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the courtyard.
"Young Master!"
One of Xie Rong’s guards rushed over before dropping to one knee. He cupped his fists respectfully. "This subordinate has an urgent matter to report."
Xie Rong withdrew his hand and replied calmly, "Speak."
The guard lowered his head. "The maid Chuntao..." he gulped, "was attacked inside the prison."
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Xie Rong’s expression turned cold. "What happened?"
"This subordinate does not know who the culprit is. When the guards went to deliver her morning meal... They discovered that she had already been stabbed." He paused, taking a breath, "Fortunately, the wound was not fatal and the physician is currently treating her."
A brief silence followed. Xie Rong’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
"The Xie Residence’s prison has always been heavily guarded." He spoke calmly, "But someone managed to injure a prisoner under our watch."
The guard lowered his head even further. "This subordinate is incompetent."
Xie Rong remained silent.
Meanwhile, Wang Gege’s expression had completely changed.
"Husband..." She took a small step forward. "This wife no longer wishes to go to the marketplace."
As she turned to leave, intending to head straight for the prison, a hand gently wrapped around her wrist. Her footsteps immediately came to a halt.
The surrounding servants and guards instinctively lowered their heads.
Xie Rong slowly released her wrist after stopping her.
"We will visit her afterward." His voice remained calm, though noticeably firmer than before. "The physician is already treating her... There is nothing you can do for her at this moment."
He paused briefly before continuing, "And we must leave for the marketplace now."
Wang Gege frowned deeply. "Why?"
Xie Rong’s expression remained unreadable beneath the black blindfold. "I need to buy something today."
The courtyard instantly fell silent.
Wang Gege stared at him for several moments. She genuinely suspected Xie Rong did not know how to make excuses.
She then looked toward the guard who had just reported Chuntao’s condition before looking back at him.
"Young Master..." She spoke slowly. "Does that sound like an appropriate reason to you?"
Xie Rong remained silent. His expression did not change in the slightest, as though he truly believed his explanation was perfectly reasonable.
Wang Gege’s frown only deepened, "This wife refuses. You are just making excuses, we are going to see Chuntao first."
"We will visit her afterward." Xie Rong’s tone remained calm.
"No." Wang Gege frowned.
The two stood facing each other without either showing any intention of backing down. Even the surrounding servants could feel the invisible tension growing heavier by the second.
After a long silence, Xie Rong slowly turned his head.
Although the black blindfold concealed his eyes, everyone present instinctively felt the temperature around him drop the moment he let out a weak sigh.
His voice lost its usual gentleness. Instead, it returned to the cold authority that had made the entire Xie Residence fear him.
"Guo Lin..."
The guard who had delivered the report immediately knelt lower. "This subordinate is here."
Xie Rong remained silent for a heartbeat. Then he spoke indifferently, "You chose an excellent time to report."
Guo Lin’s back instantly stiffened. Cold sweat quietly formed on his forehead.
"This subordinate deserves punishment."
Before Xie Rong could speak again, a gentle chuckle drifted into the courtyard.
"My, my... It seems I have arrived at quite an interesting moment."
Everyone turned toward the entrance. Madam Liu approached with her usual graceful smile.
Although she was merely a distant relative of the Xie family, the years she had spent managing the inner residence had naturally given her the bearing of a noble mistress.
She stopped before the couple and offered them a graceful curtsy.
"Young Master... Young Madam. The Old Madam requests that both of you come to her courtyard."
Her smile remained flawless, "Immediately."