Chapter 21: Chapter Xi Lanyin walked toward her mother with an awkward smile on her face. She leaned closer and whispered into her ear, but her voice was still loud enough for the Duke to hear as well.
"Mother, you said it yourself that you don’t want anyone getting on Su Yueqing’s nerves. Even if she really burned down the residence... we can’t really do anything to her."
Hearing her daughter’s words, Lin Meiyun let out a helpless sigh as her husband calmly placed his hand on her shoulder.
Su Yueqing saw them talking, but she simply scoffed and looked away.
[My legs hurt.]
[When are they going to start with the punishment?]
[I’m sleepy.]
Lin Meiyun let out a long, tired sigh as she slowly loosened her tense expression, as though the weight of the entire night was finally pressing her down more than she could continue carrying, and after a brief silence she gently patted Xi Lanyin’s hand in a way that showed she understood her daughter’s meaning.
"Enough," she said at last, her voice calm but firm, while her eyes moved across the courtyard where servants still stood nervously and ashes still drifted faintly in the air, "this matter ends here."
The words landed heavily.
Not because they were harsh, but because they were unexpectedly final.
Several servants lifted their heads in confusion, as though they had not properly heard her.
Xi Ronghua even frowned slightly.
"Sister in law?" she asked, unable to hide her disbelief.
But Lin Meiyun only closed her eyes for a moment before speaking again, this time even more calmly, as though she had made a decision she would not revisit.
"There is no need to continue questioning or accusing anyone tonight. Everyone is safe, the danger has passed, and whatever truly happened in the kitchen will be investigated properly later. For now, everyone will rest."
A quiet shock moved through the courtyard.
Even Xi Yunhao straightened slightly, clearly not expecting her to simply end the matter like that.
Su Yueqing, who had been standing slightly apart, finally lifted her head.
Inside her mind, a sharp wave of disbelief cut through her usual laziness.
[What.]
[That’s it?]
[No interrogation? No dramatic kneeling? No punishment arc?]
[You’re just... ending it?]
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she stared at the Duchess.
[How can you just let it go like that?]
[This is not how this story is supposed to work.]
Xi Wenzhe’s expression darkened instantly.
He stepped forward, his voice sharper than before.
"Mother, this is not something that can be dismissed so easily. The kitchen burned down, lives were put at risk, and the circumstances are far too suspicious."
But before he could continue further, Xi Jianyu raised his hand slightly, cutting him off with a single calm gesture.
His voice was steady, but it carried absolute authority.
"That is enough."
Xi Wenzhe paused.
For a brief moment, father and son simply looked at each other, neither backing down, neither speaking, the tension between them silent but heavy.
Xi Wenzhe’s jaw tightened.
"Father..."
But Xi Jianyu did not raise his voice.
He simply looked at him and said, "Your mother has already spoken. This matter will not continue tonight."
The words were not loud, but they left no space for argument.
Xi Wenzhe’s expression darkened further, clearly unwilling, yet after a long pause he finally exhaled slowly as though forcing himself to step back.
"...Understood."
He turned his gaze slightly, and it landed briefly on Su Yueqing.
It was not warm.
It was not kind.
It was a look filled with restrained frustration, as though he wanted answers but had been forced to postpone them.
Su Yueqing met that gaze without blinking.
Inside her mind—
[Oh.]
[So now you’re mad at me.]