Jiang Qian’s hair was disheveled, her cheeks swollen and marked with bloody scratches, presenting a pitiful sight.

Madam Xiao’s heart clenched as she embraced her daughter, crying out, “Qian’er, what happened to you?”

Jiang Qian nestled into her mother’s arms, tears streaming down her face. “Mother, if I stay in the Marquis’s mansion any longer, I’ll surely die!”

Second Master Jiang finally spoke up, “Madam Marquis, what’s the meaning of these injuries on Qian’er’s face?”

The Marchioness of Changxing, still immersed in the pain of her son’s predicament, had earlier struck Jiang Qian merely to vent her anger. Now, her mind was in such a haze that she couldn’t even conjure up an excuse.

Her silence ignited fury in Second Master Jiang’s face. “Surely, Madam Marquis isn’t suggesting that Qian’er inflicted these injuries on herself?”

The swollen face of Jiang Qian bore two bloody scratches, clearly made by sharp fingernails.

“With such a grave matter befalling the Young Master, she claims to know nothing of it. How can she call herself a wife?” the Marchioness of Changxing said coldly.

Madam Xiao was not one to swallow her anger. She immediately retorted, “And you call yourself a mother, yet you didn’t know your son would commit murder?”

“You—” The Marchioness of Changxing, accustomed to respect, had never faced such defiance. She trembled with rage.

Madam Xiao’s lips curled in satisfaction. Ever since they had become in-laws, this woman had always looked down on her, acting as if her daughter had married above her station.

And now? The Marquis of Changxing’s reputation was in tatters. Her husband had said that once the imperial censors reacted and submitted their memorials, it was uncertain whether the Marquis of Changxing could even retain his title.

According to her husband, if they were to sever ties, it should be done early. If they distanced themselves from the Marquis of Changxing’s family now, no one would criticize them. But if they waited until after the Marquis lost his title, it would seem like kicking them while they were down.

She had been hesitant before, but seeing Qian’er’s condition now, there was no room for doubt.

“Father, Mother, if I weren’t truly out of options, I wouldn’t have the audacity to beg for your help…” Jiang Qian suddenly rolled up her sleeves, revealing her jade-white arms crisscrossed with bruises and old scars that had turned white. The mix of new and old injuries was horrifying.

“This is—”

Jiang Qian lowered her head. “It was the Young Master…”

Madam Xiao gripped her daughter’s hand tightly, tears flowing. “He beat you? How could he beat you like this?”

Heavens above, was this the life her daughter had been living, when she thought she had married into a life of luxury?

Second Master Jiang managed to maintain his composure. “Qian’er, tell me honestly, when did the Young Master start beating you?”

Jiang Qian had been waiting for this question. Sobbing, she replied, “It started after we returned from the wedding visit. I didn’t dare tell you, Father and Mother, for fear of worrying you. I always thought the Young Master would improve gradually, but… but he only became more violent. That’s why I didn’t dare inquire about his affairs, knowing nothing of what he did… I only hoped he wouldn’t come looking for me, *sob* *sob* *sob*…”

“What a beast!” Madam Xiao no longer held back, cursing loudly.

Second Master Jiang signaled to the servants he had brought. “What are you waiting for? Take Second Miss back to the Earl’s mansion immediately!”

“What do you think you’re doing? Jiang is a member of the Cao family. Now that her husband is in trouble, you’re abandoning her?” the Marchioness protested.

Second Master Jiang sneered, “If the couple were loving and harmonious, and Qian’er wished to remain faithful to the Young Master, I would have no objections. But you’ve seen the abuse Qian’er has suffered. We are parents too, and we cannot stand by and watch our daughter remain in such a hellish situation. Farewell!”

“You can’t take her away, she’s a Cao family member!”

Madam Xiao spat, “Madam Marquis, just wait for the official divorce papers!”

Soon, Second Master Jiang and his wife hurriedly left with Jiang Qian. Seeing the empty house, the Marchioness of Changxing could no longer hold herself together and collapsed to the ground.

In the garden of the Earl of Dongping’s mansion, Jiang Si sat under a flower trellis, waiting for news.

Although she trusted Official Zhen’s character and abilities, without concrete information, she couldn’t help but worry.

Aman hurried over and whispered in Jiang Si’s ear, “Miss, Old Qin sent word that the case has been judged. The Young Master of Changxing Marquis has been sentenced to immediate execution.”

Jiang Si’s eyes lit up, and she smiled slowly.

For a noble Young Master to be sentenced to immediate execution, the Young Master of Changxing would surely be infamous for generations to come.

“Alright, you’ve worked hard. Go and rest.”

But Aman didn’t move.

“What is it?”

“Miss, a large dog is wandering outside. I think it’s Erniu.”

Jiang Si stood up.

Could Erniu be looking for her? If it wandered around like this, wouldn’t it cause trouble if noticed by the wrong people?

The joke about the Third Young Master of Duke An’guo’s wedding being disrupted by a large dog was still fresh, and rumors of the divine dog helping Official Zhen solve the case of ten missing women were spreading like wildfire. Erniu was no ordinary dog now.

Jiang Si pondered for a moment, then started walking out.

“Miss, where are you going?” Aman hurriedly followed.

The mistress and maid walked out of the mansion, but Jiang Si couldn’t see Erniu anywhere.

“Where did you see Erniu?”

Aman pointed, “Over there. I hadn’t noticed at first, but suddenly saw a dog’s head peeking out from the corner of the wall.”

Jiang Si looked in the direction Aman was pointing.

Soon enough, a dog’s head peeked out.

Jiang Si almost laughed.

She had worried for nothing. Erniu knew how to hide, and it seemed that Aman’s discovery was intentional on the dog’s part.

Jiang Si gestured for Aman to stay put and walked over alone.

As soon as Jiang Si approached, Erniu affectionately licked her palm.

Stroking Erniu’s head, Jiang Si murmured, “Erniu, why are you so fond of me?”

She could no longer remember what Erniu was like when they first met in her previous life. Back then, Erniu didn’t seem as intelligent.

But now, Erniu was even younger, yet smarter. If intelligence came with age, Erniu should have been smarter when they first met in her previous life.

Looking into the dog’s innocent eyes, a thought crossed Jiang Si’s mind: Could Erniu, like her, have lived two lives as a dog?

It was too bizarre.

Jiang Si shook her head, dispelling the absurd notion.

Erniu impatiently nudged Jiang Si’s hand, then raised its head to reveal a bronze tag hanging from its collar.

Jiang Si stared at the tag for a moment, then flipped it over to find a small silk pouch hidden behind.

What had Yu Qi sent her?

Jiang Si took out the pouch and retrieved a small note. Opening it, she found only three characters: “No conscience!”

Jiang Si was speechless.

How was she heartless?

True, Erniu’s contribution was crucial in successfully exposing the Young Master of Changxing Marquis this time, but it was Erniu who had dug up the corpse, not him.

Jiang Si could almost see that person’s shameless grin, saying, “Even Erniu belongs to me, so of course Erniu’s achievements should be credited to me.”

Jiang Si looked down, meeting the dog’s gaze again.

“Woof!” The dog barked affectionately, wagging its tail happily.

Perhaps there was some truth to it. Erniu’s presence at the Marquis of Changxing’s mansion at that time was likely under his instructions…