Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 593 Helper
Xie Chengxin suffered burns on his hands and face, and his shoulder was also hit. He was wrapped in many cloths, making him look particularly horrifying.

Xie Chengrang and Xie Chenghan rushed over. Upon seeing their elder brother in such a state, Xie Chenghan burst into tears first, then obediently knelt on the footstool and fussed over his elder brother.

Xie Chengrang's gaze fell on the scripture in Madam Zhou's hand. He had just heard that Xie Chengxin had almost lost his life because of it.

Mrs. Zhou, her eyes red, said, "Don't do this again..."

Xie Chengxin responded.

Madam Zhou continued, "If something happens to you and your uncle, how am I supposed to live?"

Xie Chengxin forced a smile: "Mother, don't worry, the doctor said I'll be better soon."

Zhou Zhaochang remained silent throughout, only reaching out to pat Xie Chengrang on the back.

After Xie Yizhi came to see the situation, Madam Zhou asked everyone to disperse so that Xie Chengxin could rest.

Zhou Zhaochang did not leave, but went to the side room to talk to his sister.

Madam Zhou sighed, "You finally managed to come all this way, only to encounter these things." Before she got married, she took special care of this younger brother. The saying "an elder sister is like a mother" applies to the relationship between the siblings.

"Actually, it was Brother Xin who sent me," Zhou Zhaochang said.

Madam Zhou was taken aback.

Zhou Zhaochang said, "Brother Xin said he angered my sister and asked me to come and talk to her."

Madam Zhou couldn't help but think of the danger she had just experienced, and felt even more guilty.

Zhou Zhaochang seized the opportunity to speak: "Xin-ge'er is not that smart, but he is kind-hearted. It is my sister's blessing to have such an eldest son."

Madam Zhou remained silent, clearly still harboring feelings for Xie Chenghan.

As a man, Zhou Zhaochang understood why his sister had become like this. After a woman marries, she is expected to be a good wife and mother, and her future prospects depend entirely on her husband.

Now that Xie Yizhi holds a high position, his elder sister has to please him in every way. Gradually, he has forgotten his own preferences. His eldest son can no longer receive praise from Xie Yizhi, so he is of no use to his elder sister. On the contrary, his third son can make Xie Yizhi happy, so she will pay special attention to him.

Thinking about it carefully, isn't the older sister also pitiful? She seems to be trying to grasp something, but in reality, she is completely manipulated by others, yet she doesn't realize it.

Zhou Zhaochang said in a low voice, "If it were me, I would also advise my sister not to risk giving birth again."

These words struck a chord with Madam Zhou, who looked at her brother in astonishment: "You...don't want me to be well either?"

Zhou Zhaochang allowed Madam Zhou to scrutinize him. After a long while, he sighed and said, "Elder sister, think about it. Why would your brother want to harm you? The Xie family's wealth has nothing to do with me."

Mrs. Zhou was stunned.

Zhou Zhaochang said, "Sister, you're confused. You are the legal wife and have two legitimate sons. Who can shake your position? But if something happens to you during childbirth, and another wife is brought into the family, and she gives birth to another legitimate son... then who knows who the Xie family will belong to in the future."

"I don't know who gave you this idea, making you risk your life to produce more... but this person is wicked."

Zhou Zhaochang didn't say that Xie Yizhi's intentions were despicable, which was already a great concession, because he felt that Xie Yizhi might be involved.

Madam Zhou wanted to argue, but she opened her mouth and didn't know what to say.

Zhou Zhaochang said, "Xin-ge'er and Han-ge'er, I think they are both better than me. If I can get into officialdom, they certainly can too, in the future..."

“It’s different,” Madam Zhou finally understood. “The Xie family…Master is in charge of the West Mansion, and the Xie family line must continue.”

Zhou Zhaochang said, "My brother-in-law told my sister that the Xie family has already seized control of the Privy Council? And that the position is hereditary?"

Madam Zhou said, "Of course not."

Zhou Zhaochang's expression became even more solemn: "So many officials in the Great Liang Dynasty have served as Privy Councilors, and their sons have all entered the Privy Council? If that's the case, how can my brother-in-law have any say in power?"

"Does my elder sister think that if her two legitimate sons are no good, then having a third one will definitely work?" Xie Chengxin had said the same thing before.

Mrs. Zhou subconsciously resisted these things.

“I think,” Zhou Zhaochang said, “that as the head of the household, my elder sister has many things to do. Now that she has been blinded by love, it’s time for her to wake up.”

After a long silence, Madam Zhou sighed, "I know you all mean well, but who can understand my thoughts? Have I not managed this household well enough? Which woman doesn't endure hardship to give birth to her children? I can maintain harmony in the family by being considerate in every aspect."

"Since the master treats me so well, I cannot let him suffer any injustice."

Zhou Zhaochang looked at his elder sister. When Xin Ge'er found him, he didn't think the problem was that big. Now he understood why Xin Ge'er was so anxious.

Zhou Zhaochang did not continue speaking, but said, "I am worried about Xin Ge'er being injured, so I will keep him at home for a few days."

Madam Zhou thought her brother had been persuaded and secretly breathed a sigh of relief, saying, "That's good, then we siblings can have a proper talk."

Zhou Zhaochang advised his wife to rest, and then went back to the inner room to check on Xie Chengxin. As soon as he closed the door, Xie Chengxin on the bed opened his eyes. His gaze was clear, and he was obviously very awake.

Zhou Zhaochang wasn't surprised, because they had both witnessed what fell out of the Buddha statue...

"Not asleep?" Zhou Zhaochang asked.

Xie Chengxin did not respond because he knew that was not what his uncle wanted to say.

"My uncle saw it too, that Buddha statue... is it Mani Buddha?"

Zhou Zhaochang had never met Mani Buddha before, but recently Bianjing had repeatedly arrested members of the heretical cult, and the government had told them a lot about the cult.

Zhou Zhaochang nodded: "That should be true."

Xie Chengxin paused for a long time: "There are many strange things in the family, and now a Mani Buddha has appeared... I suspect that there are really demon cultists in the family."

Zhou Zhaochang frowned deeply: "I've heard that members of the heretical sect are vegetarians. Does anyone in your family do that?"

"Yes," Xie Chengxin nodded, "that's exactly how my second sister is."

Zhou Zhaochang looked surprised.

Since Xie Wenjing had been brought up, Xie Chengxin pressed on, "Uncle, can you tell me what exactly happened to my second sister? Is she Mother's daughter?"

Zhou Zhaochang hadn't planned to tell the truth before, but now that he saw the Xie family was in trouble, continuing to hide it would be detrimental to the Xie family and his sister.

“Your mother did give birth to a second daughter, but the child was premature and only lived for half an hour,” Zhou Zhaochang sighed. “I happened to be visiting your mother, so I know all about these things.”

Xie Chengxin didn't interrupt, waiting for Zhou Zhaochang to continue.

“As for the one who was sent to the countryside,” Zhou Zhaochang said, “it was someone your grandmother had found in Shaozhou… your second uncle’s flesh and blood.”

Zhou Zhaochang frowned as he spoke: "That's the strange thing."

"Xie Wenjing is your second uncle's daughter. There is no way she could have any connection with the demonic sect."

Xie Chengxin couldn't help but ask, "Why?"

Zhou Zhaochang said, "Because your second uncle and second aunt died at the hands of the demonic sect, she has an irreconcilable hatred for the demonic sect."

After these words were spoken, the room fell silent again.

After a long while, Xie Chengxin said quietly, "What if she were replaced?"

(End of this chapter)