Granny Zhu quickly summarized the situation, but instead of seeing the expected joy on Liu Chang’s face, she saw a rage darker than the bottom of a pot. Confused, she asked, “Young Master? No one can stop this now. You can marry whoever you want. Aren’t you happy?”

Before she finished, Liu Chang glared at her fiercely, saying harshly, “What do you know? Go fetch the master immediately! If you delay, don’t blame me for being harsh!”

Startled, Granny Zhu didn’t dare question his anger and hurried away.

Liu Chang took a deep breath, turned back with a smile, and bowed deeply to Doctor Zhu, “I sincerely apologize, sir. A sudden family matter requires my attention. We’ll have to reschedule your visit.” He had Xi Xia bring a generous gift for the doctor.

Doctor Zhu, accustomed to such situations in wealthy households, accepted graciously and left.

Liu Chang then ordered the main gate closed and strode inside, his face dark. “So, He Mudan, this was your plan all along,” he thought. “First sending Li Xing to inform your family, then provoking me to strike you. Everything fell into place. I underestimated you! No wonder you’ve been so calm lately. How long have you been plotting this?”

The spot on his wrist where Mudan had scratched him throbbed painfully. “Just as she’s recovered, she wants to leave? I should be the one rejecting her!” A mix of resentment, unwillingness, and humiliation at being manipulated and abandoned swirled within him, filling him with rage and frustration. He wanted nothing more than to rush to Mudan and strangle her.

Biwo was craning her neck to peer into Mudan’s courtyard, listening to the escalating argument between Madam Cen and Madam Qi. Madam Cen seemed to have the upper hand, her witty retorts leaving Madam Qi repeating, “I won’t argue with you now. You’re confused and won’t listen to reason. Wait for your husband to arrive.”

Biwo was secretly delighted to see the “tigress” Madam Qi cornered. “There’s always a higher mountain,” she thought. “This Madam He is truly formidable. How did she produce such a weak daughter as Mudan?”

As she listened intently, her maid tugged at her sleeve, whispering, “Concubine…” Annoyed at the interruption, Biwo snapped, “Don’t disturb me!” After several attempts, the maid finally fell silent. Biwo muttered, “Such a rare drama, I must listen carefully. Who knows when the next one will come?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, a resounding slap struck her face. Liu Chang stood before her, his face ashen with rage. Without a word, he kicked her in the chest.

“Ah!” Biwo stumbled and fell. Before she could cry out, Liu Chang had already stormed into the courtyard. Hurt and frightened, she whimpered, covering her injury as her maids helped her up. She limped away quickly, not daring to linger.

“Pfft…” Xiansu, who had pretended to leave earlier, peeked out from behind a holly tree, barely containing her laughter. “Sister, I have a bottle of medicinal wine that’s excellent for bruises. Shall I send someone to bring it to you?”

Humiliated and in pain, Biwo spat bitterly, telling her maid, “Go quickly and inform the young master that Miss Xiansu is looking for him on urgent business.”

Xiansu’s laughter faded as she approached Biwo, feigning concern, “Sister, this is terrible! Your face is swelling. What will you do? As a mere concubine relying on your looks, how will you manage now?” She laughed loudly as she left.

Biwo was furious, almost wanting to chase after Xiansu with her hairpin.

Meanwhile, Liu Chang strode into the courtyard, pretending nothing had happened, and went straight to Madam Cen to pay his respects: “Greetings, mother-in-law.”

Relieved to see him, Madam Qi barked, “Hurry and apologize to your mother-in-law! How did I raise such a creature?”

Liu Chang gritted his teeth and bowed deeply, “It’s all my fault. I hope mother-in-law can be magnanimous and not hold it against me.” He glared at Mudan, who stood by a red crane’s crest flower, seriously counting its petals, never once looking at him.

Mudan wore a long red dress with a thin white gauze robe, her hair adorned with a silver butterfly hairpin that danced in the breeze. Liu Chang looked at her, wanting to bite her slender white neck in frustration.

Madam Cen had been observing Liu Chang since his arrival. Despite his dark eye circles, he was impeccably dressed in a blue brocade robe with a gold-studded belt and embroidered boots. Remembering Mudan’s earlier state, she felt uneasy. She stepped aside, saying sarcastically, “Please don’t! Lord Liu is an esteemed official, favored by nobles. How could I, a mere merchant’s wife, accept such a grand gesture? Don’t shorten my life span.”

Liu Chang understood her sarcasm but swallowed his anger, smiling, “Mother-in-law jests. I’ve erred and should apologize. Please give me a chance to make amends.” He moved closer to Mudan and bowed deeply, “Danniang, it’s all my fault. Please forgive me! I promise yesterday’s incident won’t happen again. Let’s live well together from now on.” He thought to himself, “He Mudan, you think you can leave so easily? I won’t let you go. Let’s see who can outlast whom!”

Mudan panicked and quickly moved behind Madam Cen, clutching her sleeve and lowering her head in silence. Madam Cen, filled with sympathy and hatred for Liu Chang, protected Mudan firmly, saying, “Lord Liu, our Mudan is timid. Please don’t frighten her. We can’t afford to hire imperial doctors to treat her.”

“This pretentious woman,” Liu Chang thought, almost spitting blood in anger. “Where’s her boldness from last night? Now she’s playing the pitiful victim.” He no longer believed her act of timidity and weakness. “This is what they call a poisonous woman, a vixen!”

“What’s going on here?” At this critical moment, Liu Chengcai rushed in with He Zhizhong and his son, disregarding the usual separation of inner and outer courtyards. More tactful than Madam Qi, he immediately apologized to the He family, promising to severely punish Liu Chang, cut ties with Princess Qinghua, and never mistreat Mudan again. His sincere attitude and humble demeanor left the father and son unable to express their anger.

Madam Qi, seeing her husband as a savior, complained, “My lord, look! My in-laws insist on packing up and taking our daughter-in-law home, talking about divorce. No matter how I apologize, it’s not enough. Please persuade them! How can we let such a good marriage end like this?”

Madam Cen called out to her husband, “My lord if we hadn’t come today, our daughter might have been beaten to death without us knowing! Danniang still has bruises! She hasn’t eaten since yesterday!” She then whispered about Mudan’s unconsummated marriage of three years. Such a great humiliation was unbearable for anyone.

Learning that Liu Chang had beaten Mudan, Liu Chengcai kicked his son, shouting, “Beast! Kneel! How dare you commit such a shameless act, getting drunk and violent with your wife! Have all your studies gone to waste? Is this how I taught you?” He called for a horsewhip, intending to punish Liu Chang personally.

Liu Chang stood silently, enduring his father’s outburst. He was willing to apologize to Mudan’s parents and coax Mudan, but he refused to kneel before the He family.

Seeing Liu Chang’s defiance, Liu Chengcai grew more furious. How could they resolve this if he wouldn’t yield? He grabbed a door bar as thick as an arm and struck Liu Chang, who took the blow without flinching, standing even straighter and staring at Mudan. Madam Qi screamed in horror, “My lord, you’ll kill him! He’s the only heir of the Liu family!”

He Zhizhong calmly watched this scene unfold. He raised his hand to stop Liu Chengcai, saying coolly, “There’s no need for anger, sir. Children are the flesh and blood of their parents. Striking the child pains the parent’s heart. I cherish my daughter and couldn’t bear to see her suffer even the slightest grievance at home. You also cherish your son, and striking him pains you more than him. If these two children truly cannot get along, we shouldn’t force them together and harm them. Let’s part ways amicably.”

The burly He Dalang sneered, “Father, why waste words with them? Since he beat my sister, I must avenge her.” Without warning, he lunged at Liu Chang, punching him in the face and sending him stumbling to the ground.

“Murder!” Madam Qi screamed, covering her mouth. Mudan watched expressionlessly, her heart filled with satisfaction.