Not treating… the Marchioness… deliberate self-harm… to delay…

“So, that day no matter what, you wouldn’t let me take the person back to Qianjin Hall…” Qi Yue murmured, looking at this woman, “So, your father deliberately… deliberately…”

The woman who had been silent all this time let out a wail.

“Yes, I’m useless! I should be the one to die! For money! This useless person should die! My husband’s father felt sorry for me! He rushed to hit the plow himself! We didn’t expect that when he fell, the bamboo pole in the corner would also fall!” She let out a miserable cry at this point.

He wasn’t supposed to die! He was only supposed to be seriously injured! But who knew that man’s plans are inferior to heaven’s plans!

It shows that Heaven has eyes! One cannot do unconscionable things!

The woman beat her chest and wailed.

This miserable cry seemed to bring her back to that day’s scene, and also made the surrounding people seem to see that moment.

A man crashed head-first into the plow, blood streaming, falling down, the bamboo pole from the corner piercing straight through his chest…

Everyone couldn’t help but gasp and instinctively cover their chests.

Seeking his own death? Then… then naturally it had nothing to do with Qianjin Hall, nothing to do with the Marquis Dingxi’s heir!

It was actually seeking his own death?

For what?

Qi Yue had witnessed this tragic scene with her own eyes, so she wasn’t particularly shocked.

“You mean, you harmed yourselves to prevent me from treating the Marchioness Dingxi?” she asked this family loudly.

The woman had already fainted from crying again after saying this, and the young woman prostrated herself on the ground.

“Yes.” she also said loudly.

This was too incredible…

Qi Yue couldn’t help but turn around, and everyone else turned as well, looking toward Marquis Dingxi.

Madam Xie actually had such a great enemy, willing to risk everything to drag her down with them?

“Who was it?” Marquis Dingxi was no longer surprised, but looked wooden as he asked tremblingly.

The young woman raised her head without hesitation.

“The Marquis Dingxi residence, Concubine Zhou.” she said loudly.

Marquis Dingxi closed his eyes, his figure swaying.

As expected… it was her…

At the same time, in Concubine Zhou’s courtyard at the Marquis Dingxi residence, the sound of the qin suddenly stopped.

“Why did the string break?” a young maid came in upon hearing the sound, saying in surprise, “Oh my, Concubine, your hand…”

Concubine Zhou sat before the qin, one hand holding the other, a drop of crimson seeping from a jade-white finger.

She didn’t speak, slowly raising her hand to her mouth to gently suck. She just felt her heart beating violently.

Did… something… happen?

“Lotus.” she suddenly called out.

A maid quickly walked in from outside. Originally a third-class maid, she was now a senior maid, everything she wore displaying her status.

Moreover, besides status, she also had money, lots and lots of money.

“Concubine.” Lotus smiled sweetly, seeing Concubine Zhou’s hand, then looking terrified, “Oh my, how did you cut your hand?”

She immediately busied herself looking for someone while helping Concubine Zhou sit down.

Concubine Zhou interrupted her, dismissing the others in the room.

“Has your uncle’s family contacted you since then?” she asked, then with some worry, “With old and young to care for, can they manage living away from home?”

“Oh my, Concubine, why do you worry about them? With so much money, how could they not manage?” Lotus quickly smiled, then curled her lip, “Who knows where they died, probably afraid I’d ask for a share of the money, they won’t even acknowledge me now.”

Concubine Zhou made a sound of acknowledgment.

Yes, they’re dead. Those people took the money, surely they wouldn’t fail to handle a few old and young ones?

She was overthinking.

Concubine Zhou smiled slightly.

“Look at what you’re saying, they’re just afraid we’d find it inauspicious.” she said.

“Concubine, you’re so considerate.” Lotus smiled.

“Alright, go busy yourself.” Concubine Zhou said.

Lotus responded and went out.

Only Concubine Zhou remained in the room. She looked down at her finger – the blood had stopped, leaving only a small red dot.

Yes, nothing would happen. How could anything happen? Those people couldn’t escape unless they were lucky enough to have someone help them, but where were there so many strokes of good luck in this world… Besides, who would play hero before those fierce thugs…

She exhaled and sat at the qin table, beginning to restring the instrument.

When night fell deeply, a maid outside reported that the Marquis had come.

Concubine Zhou stood up happily, watching Marquis Dingxi walk in.

“They said the farewell banquet was eaten outside?” she asked with a smile, calling for a maid, “I’ve prepared sobering soup, Marquis please sit down and have a bowl to clear your head.”

Marquis Dingxi looked at her.

“Yuanyuan.” he called out.

Concubine Zhou was startled by this address, then smiled with pursed lips, raising her hand to smooth her hair, her face bright and beautiful under the soft candlelight.

“At this age, calling me by that name feels strange.” she smiled, reaching out her hand.

Marquis Dingxi reached out to take it.

This hand was white, smooth, and soft. Though extremely well-maintained, it still bore traces of time.

“I remember, the first time I held your hand, you were scared like a little rabbit…” he suddenly said, couldn’t help but smile.

The image of a bright, delicate young girl appeared before his eyes.

Concubine Zhou smiled and pulled her hand back to playfully hit him.

“Cousin, you’re so annoying!” she said.

Marquis Dingxi looked up at her and smiled.

“Right, that’s exactly what you said then.” he said, “You still remember.”

“You still remember too?” Concubine Zhou smiled, reaching out to hold his hand again, half-pouting, half-complaining, “I thought after holding so many beauties’ hands and saying so many things, you wouldn’t remember.”

“But how could I forget what my Yuanyuan said.” Marquis Dingxi looked at her seriously.

Concubine Zhou felt uncomfortable under his gaze.

“What’s wrong? At our age, why bring this up?” she asked with a smile.

Marquis Dingxi’s body trembled slightly.

“Yuanyuan, why?” he asked tremblingly.

“Why what?” Concubine Zhou asked in confusion. Though she found Marquis Dingxi acting strangely, she maintained her gentle smile without any irritation.

If it were Madam Xie, she would definitely ask this question with glaring eyes and impatience.

Marquis Dingxi couldn’t help but think.

“Is it because she has a bad temper and bullied you?” he asked tremblingly.

Concubine Zhou looked confused.

“Who is she?” she asked with a smile.

“My mother.”

Chang Yuncheng’s voice came from outside the door, followed by footsteps as he entered.

“Young Master…” Concubine Zhou was startled, about to speak, but her expression changed dramatically.

The maid Lotus was pushed in first, falling headfirst to the ground and not getting up for a long time. Then Chang Yuncheng walked in, followed by several strangers – a young woman, a woman holding a child, and two burly men.

These people who entered immediately knelt down.

“Unfortunately, this time this family wasn’t as unlucky as A’Jin. You hired killers but didn’t silence them, Concubine Zhou. What do you have to say this time?” Chang Yuncheng asked coldly.

Concubine Zhou’s eyes showed fear, then sorrow, and finally desolation. She released Marquis Dingxi’s hand and knelt at his feet.

“Marquis, I didn’t.” she cried.

Chang Yuncheng sneered.

“The same act again! Zhou Yuan, you…” he shouted.

“Get out!” Marquis Dingxi interrupted him with a shout.

Chang Yuncheng looked at Marquis Dingxi but didn’t move.

Concubine Zhou quickly reduced her crying, with some joy in her eyes, hugging Marquis Dingxi’s legs tightly.

“This is my woman. My business, it’s not your turn as a son to interfere!” Marquis Dingxi glared at Chang Yuncheng and shouted.

Chang Yuncheng looked at him, turned and left. Those people were also taken out.

The room returned to quiet except for Concubine Zhou’s sobbing.

“Yuanyuan, why?” Marquis Dingxi asked, just letting Concubine Zhou hold his legs.

“Marquis, I…” Concubine Zhou cried.

“Don’t say you didn’t do it.” Marquis Dingxi interrupted her, “I know. I’m useless, I’m a good-for-nothing, but Yuanyuan, I’m not a fool.”

Concubine Zhou stopped crying and stood up without needing Marquis Dingxi to say anything.

“Because I like you.” she smiled at Marquis Dingxi, “So I hate other women around you, so they have to die.”

Marquis Dingxi looked at the woman before him, her lotus-like face still bearing teardrops under the lamplight, showing a smile that perfectly matched the verse about pear blossoms in rain.

Such a beauty, yet speaking such frightening words.

“Was Zheng Hui’s death your doing?” he suddenly shouted.

Outside, Chang Yuncheng heard this name and his heart suddenly stopped. He quickly stepped forward and pressed against the door.

Mother! Mother!

“Her.” Concubine Zhou waved her hand dismissively, “Sickly thing, where was the need for me to act? She wore herself to death.”

Chang Yuncheng felt his whole body shaking, his teeth chattering.

“Yuanyuan! You, you, how could you!” Marquis Dingxi shouted tremblingly.

“Why couldn’t I?” Concubine Zhou smiled at him, “Cousin, you forgot, I told you from the beginning, and you agreed.”

Marquis Dingxi stared wide-eyed, speechless.

“I’d have to be crazy to agree to that!” he shouted.

Concubine Zhou laughed, covering her mouth with a handkerchief, laughing somewhat sadly and disdainfully.

“See, you don’t remember what I said at all.” she said, “Cousin, will you only like me alone, okay?…”

She tilted her head slightly, mimicking a young girl’s manner.

Then in a rough voice, imitating Marquis Dingxi.

“Sure, Yuanyuan, I only like you.”

“Then divorce your cousin-in-law.”

“Ah, that won’t work…”

“Then cousin still doesn’t only like me…”

“I like you, I like you, it’s just she came in first, how can I drive her away…”

“If cousin can’t drive her away, I’ll do it…”

“…Haha, sure, Yuanyuan doesn’t need to drive anyone away, cousin only has you in his heart…”

Watching Concubine Zhou alternate between being a young girl and impersonating Marquis Dingxi, smiling and speaking, it seemed to return to those youthful days.

Marquis Dingxi felt his heart filled with desolation and slowly closed his eyes.

Outside, Chang Yuncheng heard long silence from within and couldn’t help but clench his fists. Just when he couldn’t hold his breath any longer, there came a sharp slapping sound, followed by Concubine Zhou’s scream.

“Come, take her away.” Marquis Dingxi’s voice also came from inside.

The steward who had been waiting immediately brought people in and pulled up Concubine Zhou, who had been slapped and fallen to the ground, dragging her away without question.

“Marquis, Marquis, truly, I didn’t lie to you. Only I like you, only I truly like you, because I would kill for you…” Concubine Zhou smiled, reaching out toward Marquis Dingxi, “Cousin, those who can tolerate so many women around you don’t like you at all. Don’t be fooled by her…”

A cloth was stuffed over, blocking Concubine Zhou’s mouth. She was taken away, and the courtyard returned to quiet.

“So she still gave the Marchioness a final blow?” Qi Yue laughed heartily.

A’Hao didn’t understand her words.

“What’s a final blow?” she asked.

Qi Yue smiled and made a stabbing motion with her hand. A’Hao laughed and dodged away.

“How did your mother see all this? Doesn’t the Marquis avoid people anymore? Now all the servants in the residence are gossiping.” Qi Yue smiled.

“What’s there to avoid? The whole city knows, why worry about these few people at home.” A’Hao curled her lip and smiled.

Yes, Qi Yue nodded, lowering her head to put down the book in her hands. Outside, the sun was rising high, bright light streaming in – a new day had come.

“Heavens!” A’Ru’s exclamation came from outside the door.

Qi Yue and A’Hao looked at each other and quickly rushed out.

The sound came from the back courtyard. Yuan Bao was already rushing ahead of them. Qi Yue and A’Hao hurried over, only to see A’Ru standing dazed at the back courtyard entrance.

“What’s wrong?” Qi Yue asked, walking over, then also froze.

Two boxes were neatly arranged in the corner of the wall, their lids wide open, the gold and silver inside glittering in the sunlight.