The Xie Family was like a bubbling cauldron that had just had a drop of water splashed into it, suddenly becoming lively.
Song Xian left the Xie Family's alley at this time, walking briskly outside, the gentle breeze on his face feeling so real.
He hadn't walked far when someone came up to him.
Chang An respectfully saluted Song Xian, "Young Master, the person has been captured."
As Chang An spoke, he stepped aside to let Song Xian see the bound person behind them.
Outside of Zhenzhou City, a gang of fierce bandits had been entrenched. These men, relying on their familiarity with the terrain, had established a presence in the mountains. The Young Master, along with them, had captured two small leaders of the bandits, first to interrogate about the situation in the mountains, and second because the Young Master suspected they had dealings with people from the government office.
The battle was quick and decisive. Most of the bandits were killed on the spot, but some protected one of the leaders and fled. As they watched the injured leader escape into a nearby house, the Young Master and his men pursued them.
What happened next was something Chang An couldn't have predicted. In a moment of desperation, the leader threw a stone, and the Young Master, surprisingly, didn't dodge it and was knocked unconscious.
Chang An stood there in disbelief. The Young Master had fought alongside his master on the battlefield, had sustained many injuries, but when did he become so frail? It took him a while to come to his senses and step forward to help. Once the Young Master regained consciousness, he acted even stranger, staring at him for a long time before asking in a low voice, what year it was. If it weren't for the sound of voices coming from inside, he might have risked being beaten by asking the Young Master if he had injured himself.
Chang An whispered, "Young Master, is there something inside the house?" The Young Master listened to the shouting of a woman from inside and ordered Chang An to capture the bandits while he went inside to investigate.
If he hadn't seen it wrong, it should have been a woman's boudoir.
Upon hearing Chang An's words, Song Xian turned his head again to look at the Xie Family. Suddenly fainting and awakening only to find everything around him different—he wasn't sure if he was dreaming or in reality. Inside the Xie Family house came the sound of a woman's voice speaking clearly, saying, "Little brother, let's go home."
It was then he went inside to see what was going on, and indeed he saw her.
Song Xian ordered, "Keep an eye on this house. If there's any unusual movement, report to me immediately." If not for suspecting she was connected to those who saved him years ago, he would have taken her straight away, but even so, this was only going to work once. If she made any suspicious moves, he would find another way to resolve the matter.
Chang An acknowledged, thinking might the Young Master suspect the bandits have connections with this family? The bandits were not familiar with the area; they were likely just fleeing with no other choices when they jumped into the courtyard to hide. When pursued, the fierce bandits fled into the courtyards of other families.
But since the Young Master ordered it, Chang An wouldn't dare delay, so he immediately waved to call people over to make arrangements.
Song Xian's gaze shifted to the people Chang An brought. They were his "Vigorous Martial Army," only twenty, having established his private army just two years ago. These people would become his trusted aides in the future.
Yet now, not only were there few of them, they all looked like bean sprouts, lacking any air of the Vigorous Martial Army. A burning sensation couldn't help but rise in his chest, as if a flame flickered within. Years of training and nurturing, and now it seemed all for naught.
Though Song Xian was not one to show his emotions, he couldn't help his pupils narrowing.
The faces of Chang An and the others initially bore joy, but on witnessing this scene, they all lowered their heads. The expression on the Young Master's face seemed quite disdainful.
"Gather the men and go into the mountains to eliminate the bandits," Song Xian instructed Chang An and Chang Yue.
Chang An was taken aback, "We haven't interrogated about the situation in the mountains yet."
Song Xian said, "There's no need for interrogation." He already knew, and perhaps by acting suddenly this time, there might be unexpected rewards. Conveniently, the fire suffocating his chest also needed an outlet.
After resolving this issue, he would have someone thoroughly investigate the Xie Family, as well as the adoptive parents who raised her.
He also needed to hurry back home to check on his grandmother. It was in this year that her illness began to worsen, and he had to find a good doctor for his grandmother in advance.
...
"The young lady has woken up?"
A servant reported the news to the main house.
While applying makeup to Xie Rulan's eyebrows, Second Madam Xie, Mrs. Qiao, couldn't help but have her hand tremble, causing an extra eyebrow to appear on Xie Rulan's face.
"Mother," Xie Rulan called out with grievance.
Mrs. Qiao hurried to comfort, "Don't rush, I'll redraw for you."
Eyebrows can be redrawn, but what about Xie Liangchen?
Xie Rulan grabbed Mrs. Qiao: "She's awake now, what should we do? Will the Su Family just marry the eldest sister?"
"No," Mrs. Qiao reassured her daughter, "The intentions of Madam Su are very clear. Your uncle and aunt are both gone, Liangchen was abducted for so many years, and now that the Su Family has rescued her, they've repaid their past favors. The Su elder master is sure to pass his exams this year, having a wife like this would only make him a laughingstock. Even Liangchen herself wouldn't dare to marry him."
Xie Rulan was still worried: "But what if she insists on marrying?"
"Neither the Su Family nor the Xie Family would agree," Mrs. Qiao reached out to arrange Xie Rulan's hair, "The marriage alliance between the Xie and Su families is set, and the bride will only be you."
Xie Rulan's cheeks flushed, Madam Su must mean the same thing, otherwise she wouldn't have given her such an expensive hairpin, with a gem as big as a fingertip. Who would casually give such a gift to a junior?
Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Xie Rulan said, "Mother, I've made up my mind. I will marry no one but the Su elder master, regardless of his future prospects or exam results..."
Before Xie Rulan could finish speaking, Mrs. Qiao pulled her daughter aside, "You mustn't speak like this anymore, if such rumors spread, it would be disastrous."
Xie Rulan knew she misspoke, but she decided not to reveal her true feelings in front of her mother, fearing her mother wouldn't help her wholeheartedly.
"Mother," Xie Rulan hugged Mrs. Qiao's waist, "If I'm satisfied, you'll be happy too. Once I'm married over there, I will definitely take care of my maiden family."
Mrs. Qiao was about to speak when Second Master Xie entered the room, "Come, join me to see Liangchen."
Second Master Xie, Second Madam Qiao, elder brother Xie Zihuan, younger sister Xie Rulan, the entire Second Uncle's family stood by the bedside.
Second Master Xie was somewhat absent-minded, his mind occupied with thoughts about his business.
After the fall of the previous dynasty, rebellions sprung up with various leaders proclaiming themselves as kings. The wars lasted decades until the current dynasty's founding emperor stabilized the situation in the North. After the founding emperor passed away, the present Emperor ascended the throne, boasting ambitions to unify the nation, resist the Great Liao to the North, and expel the remnants of the previous dynasty to the West and South. National Guardian General Song Qizheng severely defeated Great Liao, earning military achievements, and the court assigned General Song to guard Dingzhou and Yizhou.
After the war, the restoration and reconstruction of the northern prefecture cities presented great opportunities. But to run a merchant convoy in the North, backing from the Song Family was essential to deter petty thieves. Conveniently, the Song Family established their residence in Zhenzhou, making it easier to secure connections, and their years spent in Zhenzhou might provide some avenues. If he could forge ties with the Song Family, the Xie Family might prosper under his control.
Second Master Xie had been arranging this for quite some time, finally making some headway, and was planning to capitalize further by finding a chance to send a gift to the Song Family. However, upon hearing news of Xie Liangchen waking up, he brought his wife and children to visit, aware that the Su family members were still at home and couldn't let the Su Family think he was neglectful of the main family's only bloodline.
Old Master Su always remembered his brother's good deeds, or he wouldn't have let his eldest grandson search everywhere for Xie Liangchen. His brother only left him this favor with the Su Family, and he couldn't just discard it.
Second Master Xie came to his senses and looked at Xie Liangchen with concern, "Liangchen, I am your Second Uncle, do you remember?"
In her past life, seeing her relatives brought a bit of joy and emotion, but gradually she saw the true colors of Second Uncle's family. Now that everything had restarted, facing these faces, every additional glance at them brought disgust to Xie Liangchen.
The time living a second life was too precious; she couldn't waste it on these people. She needed to break free from this family as quickly as possible and reclaim what belonged to her parents and herself before leaving.
Xie Liangchen hesitantly bit her lip, lightly shook her head.
Witnessing this, Mrs. Qiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief; not remembering was the best.
Xie Rulan rushed forward to grab Xie Liangchen's hand, eyes brimming with tears, "Elder sister, you've suffered."
Xie Liangchen did not look at Xie Rulan, instead fixing her gaze on the two housekeeper mothers standing not far away. They were sent by Madam Su to bring her back to the Xie family, and later when Su Huaiqing passed away, they were the ones who fetched her to marry into the Su family.
Xie Rulan was contemplating how to disgrace Xie Liangchen in front of the Su Family, when she heard Xie Liangchen say, "I... vaguely remember someone taking me to play in a field...what did that person look like, I... can't recall."
Xie Rulan's eyes lit up, "You're talking about Mrs. Chen, Elder Sister, that's your maternal grandmother." Her aunt came from a farming background, and Mrs. Chen was a complete countrywoman. If the Su Family saw Mrs. Chen, they would surely look down on her elder sister even more.
"Mother," Xie Rulan turned to Mrs. Qiao, "You should invite Mrs. Chen over, maybe elder sister will remember everything when she sees her."
Mrs. Qiao understood what her daughter was thinking and quickly sought Second Master Xie's opinion, knowing that the old lady... once she stepped inside, wouldn't rest easily.