The Mansion of Prince Rong.
The carriage and the galloping horse stopped at the gate of the mansion simultaneously.
Xie Si was the first to dismount. He casually tossed the whip to a page boy and strode into the mansion.
The man in the carriage stepped out steadily. Dressed in a black brocade robe with cloud patterns, he had a strikingly handsome face. When he lowered his eyes, there was a cold aloofness between his brows and eyes, adding to his elegant charm.
"Go and find out the identity of that woman just now, and also who the heir has met," Xie Weiwei said in a cold voice to his attendant Yuan Qing as he entered the mansion.
"Your Highness, you're finally back. The Lady has been talking about you," the steward bowed and greeted him, seemingly oblivious to Xie Weiwei behind.
The closer Xie Si got to his mother's courtyard, the faster his heart beat.
A servant lifted the bead curtain. Princess Jin of the Mansion of Prince Rong was reclining on the head of the bed, sipping medicine from the hand of a maid.
Xie Si suddenly clenched his fists, and his eyes uncontrollably welled up with tears.
His mother was still alive, alive and well.
At this moment, Xie Si finally believed that he had truly been reborn into a new life.
In his previous life, his mother was hanged to death, and his father was framed, thrown into prison, and then beheaded in public.
As for him, he was addicted to drugs and finally died in depression with hatred in his heart.
The fuse for all this was that woman, Jiang Zhao!
In his previous life, he accidentally met Jiang Zhao. He was curious about her because she was different from others. As time went by, they became good friends.
Because he was in love with this crazy woman, Jiang Zhao, he always obeyed her. Jiang Zhao showed him many strange things, and he took care of the aftermath for her. He used the power of his family to help her second brother get promoted, and he also took revenge for her and protected her reputation.
He always thought that after doing so much for her, pouring out his heart and soul, he could win her true heart.
He boldly expressed his feelings, but she said that she only regarded him as a friend. Then she turned around and married his elder brother.
Since then, he realized that Jiang Zhao had only been using him when she got along with him.
She used him to get close to his elder brother, but he never expected that she could be so cruel.
She secretly poisoned him with a drug called Tan Zhi Zui. Although this drug was not immediately fatal, once one was addicted to it, they would be in a state of living in misery and unable to die.
How could he not hate her? So the first thing he did after he came back was to kill Jiang Zhao!
"Chang'an is back?" Hearing the commotion, Jin turned her head.
Seeing this, Xie Si quickly trotted over and held Jin's hand. "Mother, I'm here."
"Mother, how do you feel? Are you still uncomfortable?"
Jin smiled gently. "It's just an old ailment. I'll be fine after a rest. Don't worry about me."
"As for you, it's time you settled down. Don't go around causing trouble all day. Learn from your elder brother and listen to him. Your elder brother won't harm you."
Xie Si's smile faded. Whether his elder brother was a good person or not was still unclear, but he would never trust him as blindly as he did in his previous life.
Seeing that he seemed unhappy, Jin sighed and said, "I don't know how much longer I can hold on with this body of mine."
"My greatest wish in this life is to see you become more mature, get married, and have children. Then I can close my eyes in peace."
"Mother," Xie Si interrupted Jin's words and tucked the quilt for her. "Don't say such inauspicious things. Mother, you will surely live a long and healthy life."
As for getting married and having children, he had thought about it before, but Jiang Zhao gave him a fatal blow.
Since God saw his unwillingness and hatred and gave him a chance to start over, he would never make the same mistakes again!
Jiang Zhao must die!
"Madam, a post from the Mansion of the Marquis of Ningyuan has arrived. It says that in a few days it will be the coming - of - age ceremony of the second young lady of the Jiang family. They invite you to attend," the steward came in with the post, interrupting the conversation between the mother and son.
Jin just glanced at it casually. "I haven't been feeling well these days. Just prepare a congratulatory gift and send it there."
Normally, the Mansion of the Marquis of Ningyuan and the Mansion of Prince Rong had no family ties, and the post should not have reached the Mansion of Prince Rong. Their connection was only due to the face of the Mansion of the Duke of Su.
Otherwise, with the current status of the Mansion of the Marquis of Ningyuan, it had no ability to associate with a great family like the Mansion of Prince Rong.
Just as the steward was about to leave, Xie Si reached out and took the post. He said casually, "Since mother won't go, then I'll go on your behalf."
Jin frowned slightly and said in surprise, "Chang'an, you've never liked to participate in these social events among noble families. Moreover, for a family like the Mansion of the Marquis of Ningyuan, it's enough to show proper courtesy. Why do you have to go?"
"Besides, I've already promised the Mansion of the Marquis of Yong'an. Your aunt has always doted on you. You must attend then."
Jin and the mistress of the Mansion of the Marquis of Yong'an were sisters. The legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Yong'an was the same age as Jiang Yuzhu, and her coming - of - age ceremony was also on the same day.
It was obvious which one was more important.
Xie Si played with the invitation. "There will be too many people in the Mansion of the Marquis of Yong'an. It will be so noisy that it'll give me a headache. Besides, elder brother has already promised to go."
"That's different," Jin knew her son's character well. Seeing his attitude, she knew she couldn't persuade him. She compromised and said, "It's okay for your elder brother to go, but Chang'an, don't cause any trouble."
"There will be a lot of guests that day. If you cause any trouble, your father will never let you off easily."
A slightly evil smile appeared on Xie Si's handsome face. "Mother, you can rest assured. I'll just go there for a drink. What trouble could I possibly cause?"
"Mother, you have a good rest. I'll leave first." With that, Xie Si sauntered away, making Jin sigh.
...
The Ink Courtyard.
Xie Weiwei's eyes were lowered as he focused on the scroll in his hand.
"My lord, I've found out something about what you asked me to investigate," Yuan Qing said.
Xie Weiwei slowly put down the scroll. "Tell me."
Yuan Qing said, "The heir woke up after his afternoon nap and went out with his bow and arrow directly. He didn't meet anyone."
"The young lady who was almost shot by the heir is Jiang Zhao, the eldest daughter of the Mansion of the Marquis of Ningyuan. She grew up in the morgue in the capital city before and was only brought back to the Marquis's mansion a few days ago."
"I've investigated carefully. There was no previous contact between the eldest Miss Jiang and the heir."
Hearing this, Xie Weiwei raised his eyebrows. No contact at all? That was strange.
Although Xie Si's actions were absurd, he was not a crazy man without reason. Why would he want to kill a young lady who had nothing to do with him?
"I remember that in a few days it will be the coming - of - age ceremony of the second young lady of the Mansion of the Marquis of Ningyuan, right?"
Yuan Qing thought for a while and said, "Yes. I'm sure the Mansion of the Marquis of Ningyuan has already sent the post. The Lady probably won't go."
Xie Weiwei's slender fingers traced the tea cup. "In that case, I'll go and take a look myself."
"Chang'an definitely won't miss it. With his character, I'm afraid he'll cause more trouble. If I go to keep an eye on him, mother will be more at ease."
Yuan Qing understood. "But my lord, if you don't go to the Mansion of the Marquis of Yong'an either, it won't be proper in terms of etiquette."
If the prince found out, he would surely be angry. It didn't matter for the heir because the prince always doted on him.
If the lord didn't go, he would probably be scolded and punished with the family law.
Xie Weiwei gave a soft hum. "I can't neglect my cousin's coming - of - age ceremony."
"Alright, I'll go to the Mansion of the Marquis of Yong'an first to show my face and fulfill the etiquette. You prepare the carriage. It won't be too late to go to the Mansion of the Marquis of Ningyuan then."
Yuan Qing said, "Yes, I'll arrange it. My lord, you can rest assured."