Qin Shuying stood in place, not even giving Luo Meixiang a glance. Hui Yun had already stepped forward and with a flying kick sent Luo Meixiang stumbling back three or four steps.

Qin Shuying said indifferently: “The old madam has gone mad, yet you don’t watch her properly and let her run here. How are you serving? Ziteng, Lu Ye, each of you will have half a year’s wages deducted.”

Luo Meixiang shrieked: “Qin Shuying, you slut, may you die a horrible death!”

Ziteng and Lu Ye responded and quickly had people restrain Luo Meixiang.

Liang Yuan’s eyes blazed with fury: “Qin Shuying, what are you trying to do?!”

Hui Yun and Bai Yun immediately produced small crossbows, aiming them at Liang Yuan: “Second Master, if you take another step forward, don’t blame us servants for having sharp-eyed crossbows!”

Those gleaming crossbows, those sharp arrows glinting with an eerie blue light… all were new-style weapons Liang Yuan had never seen before, clearly possessing tremendous killing power.

Liang Yuan didn’t doubt in the slightest that if he stepped forward again, these two lowly servants would shoot those sharp arrows!

Liang Yuan sucked in a cold breath and involuntarily stepped back several paces. This little slut Qin Shuying was ruthless, truly vicious!

Qin Shuying spoke again: “Oh, I forgot to tell second brother and third brother something. Both brothers are so clever, perhaps you’ve already figured it out. I wonder if my saying this will seem redundant.”

Both Liang Jie and Liang Yuan glared angrily. What was she being mysterious about at this time!

This slut Qin Shuying was not only ruthless and merciless, but also relentless with her words, speaking quickly and harshly, capable of enraging the dead back to life and the living to death!

“The day before yesterday, Fifth Prince’s consort said I possessed rare treasures. Today third brother had such an incident. Tell me, what will Fifth Prince think of third brother, eh, and second brother too? Diverting trouble eastward was indeed well done, but unfortunately, is Fifth Prince someone who can be easily used by others?”

Liang Yuan and Liang Jie exchanged glances, both seeing panic and fear in each other’s eyes.

Indeed, Fifth Prince was not only shrewd and capable, but also not a soft-hearted person. These past years he had associated with the Liang brothers because they were Liang Yunshan’s sons.

But now that the Liang brothers’ reputations were ruined, would Fifth Prince continue associating with them?

Moreover, Fifth Prince Consort and Fifth Prince’s wife had suffered humiliation before Qin Shuying. Wouldn’t they hate Liang Yuan and Liang Jie, the instigators?

“Since second brother and third brother both said not to call a physician, I naturally must listen to your opinions. Take the old madam back to her courtyard and serve her well. Everyone disperse.”

With that, Qin Shuying smiled slightly, turned and walked away.

Liang Yuan shouted: “Stop!”

Qin Shuying didn’t even pause, walking away without looking back.

Hui Yun and Bai Yun’s crossbows were still aimed at Liang Yuan. They raised their chins, signaling Liang Yuan not to make any moves.

Liang Yuan looked hatefully at Qin Shuying’s retreating figure, then glanced at the sharp arrows nocked on the crossbows, finally letting his hands drop powerlessly.

“Yuan’er, Jie’er, save me, save me…”

Luo Meixiang cried for help. Liang Yuan and Liang Jie looked at her but had no way to help. Could they leave her in the outer courtyard? Of course not.

Liang Jie said: “Mother, rest and recover first. I’ll have sister come back to see you, and I’ll write to father.”

Luo Meixiang’s face was covered in tears. Qiong’er now only came back to cry about Huo Luo—how would she think of her mother? Yunshan… Yunshan was no longer her Yunshan…

But besides this, she seemed to have no other options. When others had troubles, they had their maternal families, but her maternal family was completely unreliable.

Granny Zhou had come looking for her several times, asking her to help Granny Zhou’s grandson. For the sake of face, Luo Meixiang had agreed readily at the time, but later found she was powerless to help. After this happened repeatedly, Granny Zhou understood what was going on. When she came again, it was with threats and disdain.

What had Granny Zhou said?

“Your shameful status—if I hadn’t raised you, you should have been drowned in urine at birth! Now I have some difficulties, and you just stand by and watch? What an ungrateful wolf! Let me tell you, if you can’t help, that’s fine—give me money! Give me fifty thousand taels!”

Having managed the household for so many years, Luo Meixiang naturally had much private savings and many shops. Though Qin Shuying was vicious, she hadn’t confiscated these things, so Luo Meixiang’s private wealth was not only substantial but extremely so—two or three hundred thousand taels was no problem.

But there was no reason to give it to Granny Zhou for nothing.

However, Granny Zhou pestered her relentlessly, and Luo Meixiang had no choice but to give ten thousand taels to settle the matter.

Thinking of this, Luo Meixiang felt even more chilled to the bone as she was carried away by servants like a dead fish.

Once she left, the room immediately quieted down.

Liang Yuan and Liang Jie looked at each other. Finally, Liang Yuan coughed: “Third brother, I have some medicine. Let me get it for you.”

Liang Jie’s face was ashen, saying nothing.

If not for Liang Yuan, how would he have suffered such an unexpected disaster?!

How could he, Liang Jie, ever face people again?!

Liang Yuan vaguely guessed something and turned to fetch medicine for Liang Jie. Liang Jie didn’t want Liang Yuan’s help and slowly cleaned his wounds himself, applying the medicine.

However, for some unknown reason—whether his method was wrong or the medicine was poor—after two days, the pain not only didn’t lessen but became even worse.

After another day, Liang Jie developed a fever.

Originally, Liang Jie and Liang Yuan had many servants attending them. When they moved, Qin Shuying had sold off most of them in one sweep, leaving only two or three old servants.

Later, Qin Shuying had bought some people to serve the two brothers, but these were all Qin Shuying’s people, whom the brothers didn’t dare trust.

Therefore, these days only the two old servants had been attending to Liang Jie.

Seeing Liang Jie feverish, one old servant immediately told Liang Yuan. When Liang Yuan came to see Liang Jie, Liang Jie was actually speaking deliriously.

Liang Yuan was greatly alarmed. Not caring about shame anymore, he quickly went to fetch a physician.

After taking Liang Jie’s pulse, the physician’s expression was strange. He prescribed some medicine and fled from the Liang residence like he was escaping. Liang Yuan didn’t understand and didn’t dare use the physician’s medicine, so he went to fetch another physician.

The second physician had a similar expression to the first, but was slightly bolder, saying: “This gentleman has injured his intestines and cannot defecate. This is high fever caused by accumulated fecal toxins. If he cannot defecate, his life is in danger!”

Liang Yuan was dumbfounded. Was it really that serious?

He often played with people—wasn’t it quite pleasant? How could it injure the intestines?

Could it be that third brother didn’t use those lubricating substances?

How could he forget that third brother was coerced…

He had said long ago that this was interesting, and if third brother played with him a few times, he would definitely like it. If he had been enlightened early, why would he be unable to bear it like this…

Shaking his head and casting aside these chaotic thoughts, Liang Yuan immediately asked the physician to prescribe medicine.

This time, Liang Yuan didn’t dare leave Liang Jie, personally caring for his brother.

However, Liang Jie used the medicine that night, but showed no improvement the next day.

On the third day, Liang Jie’s fever wouldn’t break. The fecal toxins flared up, and after a bout of frenzied convulsions, he fell unconscious.

Liang Yuan was terrified beyond measure. Remembering that Fifth Prince had a highly skilled physician by his side, he hurried to Fifth Prince’s mansion to request help. But when he arrived at the mansion, he was told Fifth Prince was not in.

Liang Yuan knew what this meant and didn’t dare complain. He went to a famous medical clinic in the capital and requested a physician with a good reputation. The physician prescribed medicine, and after Liang Jie took it, his fever gradually subsided.

However, after several days when Liang Jie fully regained consciousness, Liang Yuan discovered…

Liang Jie had become an idiot.

The fever had burned him into a complete fool.