Chapter 559: Chapter 559: Always Giving In

"You know him, Miss?"

Xue Ran was a little surprised. He didn’t recall hearing about any past interactions between her and Xie Anjun, yet she had recognized the man with just a single glance.

"That is indeed Xie Anjun of the Xie Family."

Ye Chutang smiled. "I saw him once from a distance. The memory isn’t clear, but his face bears some resemblance to Xie Anbai’s, so I thought it must be him."

Xue Ran said, "I see."

Young Master Xie Anbai and the Heir of Dingbei Marquis Mansion were very close friends, so it was only natural for her to be acquainted with him.

Xue Ran also glanced down, and seeing the commotion, it wasn’t hard to guess what had happened.

"Come to think of it, he hasn’t been out for some time. Rumor has it he was unwell and has been recuperating in his mansion. I wonder why he’s suddenly out today. Looks like he’s had quite a bit to drink, too."

Ye Chutang’s mind raced.

’Those were just excuses for the public. This Princely Heir of Duke Zhongyong Mansion wasn’t cooped up at home recuperating from an illness. He was likely forced to stay in his mansion for some reason—to lay low and avoid the fallout!’

She had previously mentioned to Shen Yanchuan that Xie Anjun was overly involved with Xiao Chengxuan. Now that Xiao Chengxuan had fallen, Xie Anjun’s life was naturally not going to be easy.

However, the Duke Zhongyong Mansion had deep roots, and Emperor Muwu was still willing to grant Xie Pei some face, which was why the matter had never been brought out into the open.

’If Xie Anjun had any sense at all, he would be lying low in his mansion right now, waiting for this whole affair to blow over.’

’Why would he suddenly emerge at a time like this, making a drunken scene in the middle of the street?’

Downstairs, a crowd of onlookers quickly gathered, forming a circle several layers deep. Many sharp-eyed individuals among them had already recognized Xie Anjun and began to whisper.

"Isn’t that the Princely Heir of Duke Zhongyong Mansion? What’s happened to him?"

"It really is him? I thought I was seeing things! Isn’t he supposed to be immensely talented, refined, and gentle? A man who writes beautiful prose? How could he engage in such... such hooliganism after drinking?"

"A true disgrace to the literati!"

"I heard he hasn’t left his mansion in a while because he was recuperating. But looking at him... he doesn’t exactly look unwell, does he?"

The crowd was abuzz with discussion, their speculations running wild.

Xie Anjun clearly sensed the unfriendly stares. His anger flared, and with a reddened face, he pointed at the surrounding crowd and yelled:

"What are you looking at!? Get lost, all of you!"

Many in the crowd frowned to themselves.

In this state, he didn’t have a shred of the dignity expected of the Princely Heir of Duke Zhongyong Mansion.

The servants who had been trying to restrain him exchanged dismayed glances.

One of them couldn’t help but step forward again, gripping Xie Anjun’s sleeve tightly and pleading in a hushed, urgent tone, "Princely Heir! Let’s just go home first! All these people are watching, this is a disaster! The Young Madam said that if we fail to bring you back today, we’ll be the ones punished! Your Grace—"

Xie Anjun sneered and raised a hand to pat the servant’s cheek.

"In the end, you’re all just afraid of her, aren’t you? How foolish. She can barely protect herself these days, what makes you think she can control me?! Don’t forget, you are servants of my Duke Zhongyong Mansion, not her Princess Mansion!"

"Princely Heir!"

The servants were frantic. They wanted nothing more than to rush up and clamp a hand over his mouth.

’It was one thing to say such things in private, but how could he blurt them out in front of this massive crowd!?’

’If the Young Madam were to find out, then—’

SLAP!

Xie Anjun viciously backhanded him, his expression grim.

"Go back and tell her to mind her own damn business! Otherwise, don’t blame me for what comes next!"

The servant clutched his cheek but didn’t dare to resort to force.

Just as they were caught in a dilemma, a middle-aged man who looked like a steward suddenly appeared.

"Princely Heir."

He cupped his hands in a salute.

"The Master requests your return."

Xie Anjun’s face changed. He grew flustered, and the haze of his drunkenness dissipated in an instant.

’He had snuck out today, and he hadn’t expected to be caught red-handed.’

’Who knows how Father will punish him when he gets back this time!’

He gritted his teeth and, forcing an air of bravado, declared, "I was on my way back anyway! I’m not my second brother, who spends all day and night carousing, forgetting which way our front door even faces!"

Having said his piece resentfully and salvaged a sliver of his pride, Xie Anjun finally followed the steward away.

But no matter how one looked at it, his retreating figure seemed more than a little pathetic.

The servants from the Marquis Mansion dispersed the crowd, and the onlookers soon scattered, leaving behind only the faint echoes of whispered mockery.

Having taken in the good show, Ye Chutang reluctantly withdrew her gaze.

"It seems the Xie Family is not at peace."

Xue Ran chuckled. "A lot has been happening in the capital recently. Even the Duke Zhongyong Mansion would find it difficult to completely disentangle itself."

Ye Chutang nodded. "True enough."

Even if Xie Pei’s position was neutral and he had done his utmost to play it safe over the years, he couldn’t stop himself from raising such a "willful" son.

"I hear Princess Huan Ning hasn’t left her residence in a long time. She’s even cut ties with the noble madams and young ladies she was once close to."

Ye Chutang glanced up. "How would you know that?"

Xue Ran smiled. "With guests constantly coming and going in the tavern, one doesn’t need to go digging for information. The news just walks right in."

The dignitaries and nobles of the Capital City love to frequent this place, and they invariably chat about the latest happenings in the capital. It’s not hard to learn these things.

Ye Chutang had little interest in the Xie Family, however...

"Xiao Jiayi is certainly composed. All this time, and she hasn’t once gone to the palace to plead for her mother-consort and younger brother."

’Even Xiao Lansi knew to put on an act, going time and again to profess her loyalty.’

’If the truth hadn’t come out later, Xiao Lansi would probably still be playing the part of the deeply devoted daughter.’

Xue Ran, however, was not convinced.

"She didn’t make an appearance herself, it’s true, but she must have pleaded with Marquis Zhongyong. She just failed to persuade him."

Xiao Jiayi has some sense, after all. She knew that with her status as a mere princess, it was impossible to sway Emperor Muwu, so she chose to approach Xie Pei instead.

Unfortunately, Xie Pei remained unmoved.

Ye Chutang thought for a moment. It was true she hadn’t seen Marquis Zhongyong at the palace recently.

It was said he had even been skipping court assemblies, claiming illness.

It was clearly a move to avoid suspicion.

Unfortunately, judging by the current situation, this low-key, hands-off approach had not completely resolved the many conflicts within the mansion.

Xiao Wu, who was leaning on the windowsill, wrinkled her nose at the retreating figures of Xie Anjun and his men.

’Hmph! Brother Xie Anbai is nothing like that man said!’

Catching sight of the indignant expression on the little girl’s face out of the corner of her eye, Ye Chutang couldn’t help but smile.

"What’s this? Feeling indignant on behalf of Second Young Master Xie?"

Xiao Wu turned around, patted her bulging purse, and nodded emphatically.

’Of course! Brother Xie Anbai is generous and funny. He’s a really good person!’

Ye Chutang pinched her cheek.

"Don’t worry. He’s not the type to take things lying down. Xie Anjun won’t be able to bully him."

’Still, Xie Anbai had chosen to yield time and time again in the past. I wonder... will he make the same choice this time?’

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