RMSPT _ 05

Chapter : 05

When Xie Zhaoshen Arrives, I’ll Smash This Meng Mansion to Pieces.

Early the next morning, Zhaixing opened the door and rubbed her eyes, unable to believe what she was seeing.

Her lady, who was usually all poetry and refinement, was in the courtyard with her sleeves rolled up, practicing swordsmanship with a tree branch. Her footwork was swift, and every move was exceptionally dashing.

After finishing, Xie Zhaoshen calmly tossed the branch aside and steadied his breathing.

Chu Yun’s body was still weak—after only half an hour of practice, he was already gasping for breath and drenched in sweat.

Zhaixing cautiously approached and handed him a handkerchief. “When did you learn swordsmanship, miss? And who taught you?”

Xie Zhaoshen replied, “I learned it from Xie Zhaoshen a few years back. After vomiting blood yesterday, I reflected deeply and realized I need to be strong and healthy if I’m going to slowly deal with those wretches.”

This wasn’t exactly a lie. Back when Chu Yun was frail, Xie Zhaoshen had wanted to teach her martial arts to build her strength, but that girl couldn’t endure the slightest hardship.

One moment she complained that the horse-riding stance was too ugly, the next she grumbled that holding a sword would roughen her delicate, fair hands.

In short, nothing ever came of it.

Zhaixing sighed with feeling, “It’s good that you’re thinking this way, miss. No matter what, your health comes first.”

Xie Zhaoshen grunted in agreement, only to hear a commotion outside.

Zhaixing opened the courtyard gate, and an arrogant old matron strode in. She gave Xie Zhaoshen a perfunctory bow and said, “Since the young mistress is well now, it’s time for you to pay your respects to your mother-in-law and attend to her breakfast. Such laziness—those who know say it’s out of the old madam’s kindness, but those who don’t might think you lack proper upbringing.”

Zhaixing was furious and stepped forward to argue.

Xie Zhaoshen let out a cold laugh. “Does she not have hands or a brain? She needs someone to feed her just to eat? Those who know would say it’s a small household with no manners, but those who don’t might think a den of beasts had turned into spirits, unable even to use chopsticks.”

Matron Liu was stunned speechless by the scolding. Yesterday, when the young master was injured and claimed the young mistress had struck him, she’d thought it was just the young master being stirred up by Liu Sisi. Who would have thought the young mistress had truly lost her mind and would say such things?

Matron Liu shrieked, “How can the young mistress spew such nonsense! Aren’t you afraid—”

Xie Zhaoshen turned and sat on the railing in the courtyard, one leg propped up and an arm draped over it, looking every bit the brigand.

He raised an eyebrow at Matron Liu. “Afraid of what?”

She caught the chill in his eyes and felt an inexplicable dread, but then she thought: this was the Meng residence, and Chu Yun was just an orphan living on their charity. As the old madam’s trusted confidant, why should she fear her?

Matron Liu straightened her back and mustered her courage. “Aren’t you afraid the old madam will punish you and throw you out of the mansion?”

Xie Zhaoshen laughed as if he’d heard a joke. “I’d welcome it.”

Matron Liu’s face turned sour. How had the young mistress become a completely different person after marriage?

Seeing her flabbergasted expression, Xie Zhaoshen said coldly, “Take my words back to Madam Meng. For these past three years, whatever dowry of mine the Meng family has taken, every single coin must be returned. Otherwise, when Xie Zhaoshen arrives, I’ll smash this Meng mansion to pieces!”

With that final line, Xie Zhaoshen flung the handkerchief right into Matron Liu’s face.

It slid off her cheek, and she was about to fly into a rage when she saw the stern look on Xie Zhaoshen’s face and the icy glare in his eyes. For no reason at all, her legs went weak, and she wanted to kneel before him.

Why had the young mistress’s presence become so terrifying today?

Not daring to linger, Matron Liu scurried off to report to the old madam.

Zhaixing stared at him with a mixture of shock and admiration. “That matron always puts on airs in front of you because Madam Meng backs her up, and you just scolded her away!”

Xie Zhaoshen waved it off. “That’s nothing. There’s still plenty of scores to settle. No rush—we’ll take them one by one.”

Last night, unable to sleep, he’d gone through the dowry inventory in the room and discovered that more than half of Chu Yun’s dowry was missing. It didn’t take a genius to guess that the Meng family was behind that “good deed.”

Zhaixing nodded excitedly, then quickly thought of something. “But what if you really do get thrown out of the mansion? What then?”

Xie Zhaoshen said matter-of-factly, “Then I’ll go back to the capital—with me, with Xie Zhaoshen.”

Zhaixing said, “Huh?”

Xie Zhaoshen said, “What ‘huh’? Go find out where Xie Zhaoshen is now.”

Zhaixing said, “By my calculation, he should arrive in three to five days at most. Miss, you’re all sweaty—go take a bath.”

Xie Zhaoshen felt immensely relieved at the first half—when Chu Yun arrived, he’d make sure she saw him getting revenge on her behalf.

But at the second half, his body trembled. He’d completely forgotten about bathing.

A general past his coming-of-age who’d galloped across battlefields, Xie Zhaoshen was still a genuine virgin. The wildest thing he’d ever done was sneak a peek at a bridal chamber manual at night.

“No bath! Absolutely not bathing!”

Zhaixing blinked her round eyes. “Eh? Miss, you’ve always been so particular about cleanliness. You haven’t bathed in two days, and you just worked up a sweat—won’t you be uncomfortable?”

Xie Zhaoshen clutched his collar as if facing a grave threat. “Xie Zhaoshen will be here any day now. I need to clean house at the Meng residence first. Time’s tight—no bath. I’m going to deal with that old hag.”

As for sweat? What sweat? A gust of wind would dry it right off.

With that, Xie Zhaoshen went inside, threw on an outer robe, and headed off to “pay his respects” to Madam Meng.

In the Pine Crane Courtyard, Matron Liu was weeping bitterly. “The young mistress knows General Xie is coming, and it’s as if she thinks she has someone to back her up. She’s become a completely different person—striking and cursing this old servant.”

Madam Meng’s eyes darkened. “That fickle little slut! She’s married to my son, yet she still thinks of other men!”

She’d been hesitating about using unsavory methods against Chu Yun, but now it seemed the girl was just naturally restless and unfaithful.

Matron Liu continued sobbing, “It doesn’t matter that this old servant lost face—what matters is that she cursed the entire Meng household up and down, saying we’re all a den of beasts turned spirits, and other vile things I dare not repeat.”

Madam Meng looked at her in disbelief. “How could she curse like that?”

Chu Yun was a lady of noble birth, the daughter of Grand Tutor Chu. She wouldn’t spew such filth unless the sun rose from the west.

Matron Liu nearly swore an oath. “This old servant would never utter a single falsehood.”

Madam Meng still thought Matron Liu was exaggerating. Just then, a maidservant announced from outside, “Madam, the young mistress is here to pay her respects.”

Madam Meng’s furrowed brow slowly relaxed, and a composed smile appeared on her face. “See? I told you she doesn’t have it in her to cause trouble. Here she comes, dutifully paying her respects.”

Matron Liu, remembering the young mistress’s earlier reaction, felt alarm bells ringing. “Madam, do not let your guard down—the young mistress truly is not the same as before.”

Madam Meng shook her head contemptuously. “Different or not, I am still her mother-in-law. What could she possibly do to overturn the heavens?”