Li Weiyang looked coldly at First Madam, “Mother, you also believe this old slave’s words? She’s framing me, because there absolutely can’t be poison in this soup.”

First Madam slammed the table and rose, “Still sophistry! Someone, bind up Third Miss! I will interrogate her properly!”

Poisoning and attempting to murder one’s legitimate mother was enough to invoke the most severe family law. Even if the person was beaten to death directly, outsiders couldn’t say anything wrong. So today, no matter what the cost, she would ensure Li Weiyang couldn’t leave alive.

Zhao Yue stepped forward, her expression cold as she blocked Li Weiyang. Everyone else was startled, but no one dared approach.

Li Weiyang looked at Li Xiaoran, “Father, you said you would believe me.”

Li Xiaoran naturally felt Li Weiyang wouldn’t do such a thing, but the current evidence was extremely unfavorable to her, so he said, “Weiyang, Father believes you wouldn’t do this, but you must prove your own innocence!”

First Madam sneered coldly. Now for Li Weiyang to prove her innocence was simply a pipe dream. Nanny Du was the witness, those bank notes were the physical evidence. Most importantly, she didn’t think Li Weiyang could escape. As long as they bound her and beat her nearly to death, wouldn’t she admit her guilt?

Li Weiyang took in First Madam’s expression. From beginning to end, her demeanor was like watching a play. Then she loudly asked Nanny Du, “Nanny Du, do you dare swear that everything you just said is true—that I bought you off and put poison in Mother’s soup?!”

Nanny Du straightened up, “Yes, this servant dares to take responsibility. I’m willing to accept whatever punishment Master and Madam decide!”

“You keep saying I bought you off. Since you took money, why would you go back on it?” Li Weiyang pressed.

Nanny Du had already thought about what to say, so she quickly replied, “It’s all because this morning Madam mentioned matters from when she was still at her natal home. This servant is someone who came with her as part of her dowry. Hearing her mention old times, this servant naturally felt very remorseful, because this servant betrayed the trust Old Duke and Duchess placed in me, doing things that wronged Madam. This servant’s earlier agreement with you was just momentary confusion. Now I’ve suddenly awakened and know that if I continue making such mistakes, I’ll certainly have no face to be human in the future!”

Li Weiyang said coldly, “Not regretting earlier, only regretting when it’s time to kill—simply full of lies! Nanny Du, I’ll give you one last chance. Think clearly before answering! Think about what happened to Nanny Lin—I hope you won’t make the same mistake as her!”

Hearing Nanny Lin’s name and thinking of her fate, Nanny Du couldn’t help but shiver all over, almost unable to speak.

First Madam said sternly, “Li Weiyang! You’re still threatening Nanny Du! You’re so arrogant before all of us—who knows what you do behind our backs?! I’ve been too merciful to you. A scourge like you should never have been brought back. Now you’ve made the household restless, unable to eat or sleep peacefully! Why don’t you kneel down!”

Li Weiyang smiled faintly, “Mother, it seems you’ve already believed this shameless old slave’s words!”

First Madam said angrily, “Why shouldn’t I believe her! She’s already repented, yet you still won’t admit your mistake. Do you really want me to invoke family law? Or do you think that just because you have one maid who knows martial arts to protect you, you can act so recklessly?!”

Li Weiyang smiled without kneeling or refuting, only saying to Li Xiaoran, “Father, things have reached this point. There are some words I must say.”

Li Xiaoran frowned, “Weiyang, what do you want to say?” In his heart, he still didn’t believe Li Weiyang would do such a thing.

Just then, a beauty suddenly entered gracefully from outside. Seeing the tense scene in the room, she froze in place.

First Madam was shocked, her mouth gaping wide enough to swallow an egg, “Changle! How did you come back!”

Li Xiaoran said, “I had her return. She just arrived tonight.”

Li Changle joyfully threw herself into First Madam’s arms, “Mother, daughter has missed you to death.” First Madam embraced her tightly, holding her close, then said, “Wait a moment. Let me deal with that slut first.”

Li Changle turned to glance at Li Weiyang, thinking she didn’t know what method Mother had used to deal with Li Weiyang this time. Unfortunately, she wasn’t here earlier to see the whole thing. In her view, even cutting Li Weiyang into a thousand pieces wouldn’t be excessive. This wretched girl had constantly opposed them, mother and daughter—she absolutely couldn’t be spared!

Li Weiyang watched this scene of mother-daughter reunion, her face indifferent as she said, “Originally I wanted to give Mother a surprise, which is why I begged Father to let Elder Sister return. I didn’t expect Mother’s misunderstanding of me to be so deep. My heart truly aches. Since this is the case, I must speak plainly. This soup wasn’t made by me at all, nor by my maids. The person who truly made the soup should be Elder Sister!”

Everyone in the room looked at Li Weiyang in shock, unable to believe what their ears had heard. Nanny Du was stunned even more thoroughly, then screamed, “No, this is impossible!”

Li Weiyang gave her no time to react, only saying coldly, “Originally it was meant to be a surprise for Mother, which is why I deliberately concealed the news of Elder Sister’s return. Elder Sister probably heard at Father’s place about Mother being ill, so she said she wanted to personally make a bowl of soup for Mother. However, the soup had just been prepared when she was summoned by Old Madam, so I kindly brought the soup over.”

“Changle, what exactly is going on!” First Madam was completely shocked, then said sternly.

Li Changle was also bewildered. She didn’t know what she’d done wrong. Father said it would be best to give Mother a surprise, having her suddenly appear at dinner. Then Father’s attendant specifically mentioned that Mother had recently been ill, with Fourth Miss making pigeon soup for her daily. So she specially went to the small kitchen to make pigeon soup. She wanted everyone to know she had returned—there was no more need for those falsely affectionate concubine-born daughters around Mother! But just as the soup was ready, she was summoned by Old Madam’s people. She handed the soup to a maid in the kitchen to send over—but how did it end up in Li Weiyang’s hands! How was that possible!

Li Changle could never imagine that Li Weiyang had first used the excuse of First Madam’s severe illness requiring attendance to successfully persuade Li Xiaoran to bring her back, then arranged people to mislead Li Changle into going to the kitchen to make soup, using Old Madam’s summons to lure the tiger from the mountain… The entire plan was interlocked—one slip would mean total failure. Yet Li Weiyang’s timing was impeccable, truly astonishing.

“This soup was clearly made by you! This servant already inquired—” Nanny Du couldn’t help saying.

Li Weiyang smiled like summer flowers, “Nanny Du, did you hear I stayed in the kitchen for two hours? Oh my, I forgot to tell you—my cooking skills are too poor. Thinking Mother wouldn’t like it no matter what, I poured that soup into the water vat. If you don’t believe me, you can go look!”

Just then, the people Li Xiaoran sent to search Nanny Du’s room returned, “Master, we servants searched the room from top to bottom and found no bank notes as Nanny Du mentioned.”

Nanny Du shrieked at the top of her lungs, “Impossible! This servant hid them well—how could they suddenly disappear!”

Li Weiyang’s lips curved up, “Nanny Du, if there is, there is. If there isn’t, there isn’t! I’ve only been a bit courteous to you out of respect for your care of Mother. I never thought you’d take advantage—actually saying I used bank notes to buy you off to murder Mother! Though I’m concubine-born, I’m still a Miss of the Li family, Father’s daughter, and a County Princess personally enfeoffed by His Majesty. Falsely accusing your master—do you know what crime that is!”

Li Xiaoran flew into a rage, “Nanny Du, since the soup was made by Changle, yet you insist on framing Weiyang—what exactly do you mean!”

After First Madam understood, her expression changed several times before she suddenly laughed loudly, “A misunderstanding—it’s all a misunderstanding! Nanny Du, quickly apologize to Third Miss!”

Li Weiyang sneered coldly, “Mother, is this a misunderstanding? The poison in that bowl is real. Since I didn’t make the soup, then the one who poisoned it must be Elder Sister! Or perhaps Nanny Du is lying! The poison was placed by her!”

First Madam’s face immediately turned deathly pale. She never imagined the soup-maker would turn out to be Li Changle, much less that her original scheme to frame Li Weiyang would be turned against her! Now no matter how she explained, it was wrong. If she admitted what Nanny Du said was true, it meant someone poisoned the bowl, and that person was Li Changle. But if she insisted it was false accusation and said the poisoner was Nanny Du, then Li Changle could escape! However, if she blamed Nanny Du, this old slave would certainly expose that she’d instigated her to harm Li Weiyang to save herself! Either way was a dilemma!

How could Nanny Du not see the current situation? She shouted loudly, “This servant didn’t poison it! Master, this servant didn’t poison it!”

If not Nanny Du, then it was Li Changle—Li Xiaoran’s gaze fell on his eldest daughter.

Li Changle’s voice was extremely sharp, obviously unable to control her emotions, “Utter nonsense! How could I poison and murder my own mother?”

Li Weiyang smiled faintly, “Who said Elder Sister poisoned Mother? Today’s meal wasn’t for Mother alone.”

Li Xiaoran’s expression changed dramatically. He had already seen that Nanny Du was framing Li Weiyang, because she must have known beforehand there was poison in the soup—otherwise she wouldn’t have rushed out to stop First Madam. But how had Li Changle become involved in this? His gaze shifted uncertainly between his two daughters. He didn’t think Li Weiyang was clever enough to have prophetic knowledge that the soup had already been poisoned. So had Li Changle poisoned the soup or not?! If she poisoned it, she certainly wouldn’t be trying to murder First Madam. That left only…

People were like this—if this matter didn’t concern him, Li Xiaoran would clearly see that Li Changle was merely a target Li Weiyang had pulled out. But now, filled with fury that someone wanted to murder him, he couldn’t think of anything else. So he would certainly believe the poisoner was Li Changle! Li Weiyang smiled faintly—this was human nature’s blind spot. First Madam had originally invited Li Xiaoran here to confirm Li Weiyang’s crime of attempted murder, never thinking she’d hit her own foot with the rock.

Li Weiyang stared coldly at Li Changle, “Elder Sister, Father sent you to the nunnery to reflect properly, yet you show no remorse. You actually put poison in the soup. Just now, if Nanny Du hadn’t stopped it, not only would Father have died, but Mother would have been implicated too! Nanny Du must have known the truth beforehand. She’s Mother’s confidant and watched you grow up. To avoid implicating you or First Madam, she took the opportunity to frame everything on me! It’s just that events were sudden—she couldn’t think of a better plan, which is why she told such a story full of holes!”

Li Weiyang’s explanation seemed reasonable. Li Changle resented Li Xiaoran sending her to the nunnery and wanted to poison Father. Who knew Nanny Du would find out? This old slave saw First Madam about to drink the soup first and became anxious, quickly speaking up to stop her. Precisely because events were sudden and she hadn’t thought thoroughly, she fabricated the lie about Li Weiyang buying her off. This could also explain why the search turned up nothing—because it was all fabricated. But if Li Changle hadn’t suddenly appeared, if Li Xiaoran had believed Nanny Du’s words without question, Li Weiyang would certainly already be dead, with no one investigating the truth!

Nanny Du was dumbfounded, “No! This isn’t true! The poisoner was the County Princess, not Eldest Miss!”

Still sophistry—truly not knowing life from death! Li Weiyang suddenly turned around and said sternly, “Nanny Du, you keep saying I poisoned it, but this soup wasn’t made by me at all. Though my maid carried the soup all the way, from leaving the kitchen there were so many maids and nannies watching beside us. Would I poison it in front of others? The only person who had opportunity to poison was Elder Sister who made the soup!”

“And you say I bought you off, but why couldn’t the bank notes be found? Clearly you deliberately said this to mislead Father, to cover for Elder Sister! You feared Father would learn Elder Sister actually wanted to kill him and would blame Mother in his anger. You worried even more that Mother would drink the soup first and die before Father! You didn’t think—how could you condone Elder Sister’s foolish behavior? She’s stupid, but you’re even more stupid than her. Did you think framing everything on me would exonerate Elder Sister? How could Father, being so clever, be so easily fooled by you! You pig-brained old thing!” As she spoke, she heavily kicked Nanny Du in the chest. Nanny Du screamed and fell to the ground, unable to even crawl up.

Li Changle shrieked, “Li Weiyang, don’t go too far! I couldn’t possibly have poisoned anyone. I’ve never hated Father, much less would I poison and murder Father. Father, you must believe me—I didn’t! I truly didn’t! I only wanted to make Mother happy, which is why I specially made pigeon soup. I didn’t know beforehand that Father would be here!”

Li Weiyang said coldly, “Elder Sister, I truly regret this. If I’d known you would murder Father, I wouldn’t have pleaded for you. Better to let you stay in the nunnery forever than bear the crime of patricide! You’ve pained Father’s heart too deeply!”

Li Changle’s face flushed completely red. She wanted desperately to slap Li Weiyang hard, but now she couldn’t say anything in refutation. Whatever she said was wrong! She turned back to look at First Madam, “Mother, Mother! Say something for me. How could I poison Father? How could I possibly do such a thing?”

However, First Madam’s expression changed dramatically as she spat out a mouthful of fresh blood—Li Weiyang had clearly set a trap waiting for them, mother and daughter, to jump in! All her painstaking efforts had actually been calculated by others all along!

Nearby maids quickly rushed over to help First Madam sit down. She sat gasping in the chair, unable to say a word. Even if she could speak, she couldn’t now, because that mouthful of blood—her heart felt like someone had balled it up completely. Even her throat felt stuffed. She had to exert all her control to keep her whole body from trembling! Her illness had flared up again!

Li Xiaoran’s expression grew increasingly ugly. He truly couldn’t imagine that the daughter he’d cherished since childhood would resent him enough over such a trifle to want to murder him. Without thinking, he quickly stepped forward and gave Li Changle two violent slaps, “Unfilial child!”

Knocked to the ground by one slap, Li Changle looked at Li Xiaoran in disbelief. How could this be? She’d thought today Mother would deal with Li Weiyang—how had it become like this!

First Madam struggled to stand and help Li Changle, but Fourth Concubine suddenly blocked her way, “Madam, Master is punishing Eldest Miss. You’d better just watch from the side, otherwise people will say you’re showing favoritism!”

First Madam glared viciously at Fourth Concubine. She never imagined this woman who’d previously been loyal as a dog before her would dare show such disrespect after being instigated by Li Weiyang.

Fourth Concubine wasn’t just disrespectful—her eyes were full of contempt and schadenfreude.

First Madam’s misfortune made her happier than anyone, because First Madam had pressed down on her for so many years. Without borrowing Li Weiyang’s hand, she could never have seen First Madam’s wretched state. Speaking of it, she should be grateful to this Third Miss!

First Madam mustered her strength and said sternly, “Get out of my way!”

This voice carried a trace of weak ferocity. She viciously slapped Fourth Concubine, “What are you—how dare you mock me coldly!”

Fourth Concubine covered her face and looked back at Li Xiaoran with grievance, “Master! I only didn’t want Madam’s condition to worsen, yet she misunderstands me as having other intentions—”

Li Xiaoran’s cold, cruel eyes fixed on First Madam. Last time with Ninth Concubine’s matter, he’d been angry enough. Yet First Madam had actually raised a daughter who dared murder him! This kept his anger burning straight to his head. In that instant, he even had thoughts of divorcing his wife. But he quickly calmed down. At the critical moment, he suddenly thought of Duchess Jiang’s face. Those old folks weren’t dead yet. The Jiang Duke’s manor’s influence couldn’t be underestimated. Though he was now Prime Minister of the dynasty, no longer the son-in-law who cringed before his father-in-law, he couldn’t act rashly. So naturally, First Madam’s position as legitimate wife had to be preserved! Therefore he said coldly, “Madam is always Madam. You mustn’t be disrespectful!”

Fourth Concubine’s face naturally showed disappointment, but Li Weiyang smiled. She understood too well—Li Xiaoran wouldn’t divorce his wife. No matter what First Madam did, her position as legitimate wife wouldn’t change. However… not being able to divorce her didn’t mean First Madam would have good days ahead. Of course, she still felt today wasn’t wretched enough for her. She intended to anger her more, to have her ascend to heaven sooner!

First Madam snorted coldly, raised her neck, and walked a few steps. Right now, the person she hated most was Li Weiyang. Without Li Weiyang, she absolutely wouldn’t have fallen to this state!

In First Madam’s logic, her scheming against Li Weiyang was right, but Li Weiyang actually turned her schemes around and used them—not obediently letting herself be killed—which was the greatest sin! She wanted to vent this anger, so without hesitation, she moved to slap Li Weiyang!

“You little slut—it’s all because of you that the household is restless!” First Madam said sternly, her hand already swinging down heavily.

Li Weiyang smiled faintly, turned her body slightly, and avoided it. First Madam was ill now and couldn’t hit very hard. She’d just used all her strength to strike, thinking Li Weiyang wouldn’t dare dodge because she was the legitimate mother. Unfortunately, she’d misjudged Li Weiyang’s courage. So not only did she miss, but her whole body lurched toward a nearby rosewood chair. Losing her balance, she fell heavily to the ground! Maids and nannies quickly stepped forward to help, but First Madam had blood flowing from her mouth, lying on the ground grunting like a dead pig, completely unable to get up.

This First Madam was something even Li Xiaoran had never seen—a complete beast who’d lost all reason!

Li Xiaoran frowned deeply, unable to conceal the disgust in his heart no matter what.

Li Weiyang acted shocked, “Oh my, Mother, what’s wrong with you? Please get up quickly—daughter can’t accept such a great courtesy from you!”

Bai Zhi and Zhao Yue beside her both lowered their heads with smiles.

Fourth Concubine also went over falsely to help First Madam. First Madam violently flung away her hand. Fourth Concubine appeared completely aggrieved.

Just then, the curtain moved as Li Minfeng entered anxiously. He immediately saw Fourth Concubine to the side, while First Madam lay on the ground barely breathing, “Mother, what happened to you!”

Fourth Concubine said, “Eldest Young Master, we don’t know what’s wrong with Madam either! She’s fallen so terribly ill!” As she spoke, she moved to help First Madam.

Seeing First Madam unable to say a word, only gasping with an iron-blue face, Li Minfeng suddenly flew into a rage. Without thinking, he violently kicked Fourth Concubine, “Don’t touch my mother—get away!”

Fourth Concubine was kicked down, her whole body falling to the ground, her face deathly pale as cold sweat poured down. Li Changxiao quickly went to help her. Seeing she was seriously injured, she suddenly turned to look at Li Xiaoran, “Father, my mother is a concubine, but she’s your concubine. How can Elder Brother, a junior, beat my mother like this before you?!”

This kick hadn’t hit Fourth Concubine—it hit Li Xiaoran’s face. Li Weiyang saw a strange smile appear at the corners of Fourth Concubine’s mouth. Clearly, she’d deliberately schemed to trap Li Minfeng, wanting to make this matter even bigger.

Sure enough, Li Xiaoran was so angry the veins on his forehead bulged, “Unfilial son, what are you doing!”

Li Changle quickly rushed to embrace Li Minfeng, “Elder Brother, Elder Brother! They’ve conspired together to harm me! Li Weiyang framed me, saying I murdered Father. Quickly save me!”

Hearing her words, Li Minfeng’s eyes widened with fury, “Father, how can you believe this slut’s words!”

Li Weiyang said flatly, “Elder Brother, without asking right from wrong, you came up and kicked Fourth Concubine. Now, without asking the circumstances, you keep calling me a slut. Who exactly taught you these words? I’m your sister. If I’m a slut, what does that make you? What do you take Father for?!”

Li Xiaoran’s brows furrowed even tighter.

Li Minfeng’s eyes were full of malice as he said to Li Xiaoran, “Father, Changle must be wronged. She would absolutely never do anything to murder Father. Father should give her justice and punish Li Weiyang for disrespecting Mother!” He pointed straight at Li Weiyang.

First Madam had phlegm blocking her mouth, making breathing difficult, so she had no way to stop Li Minfeng from speaking. She hadn’t sent anyone to call her son, much less wanted him involved in this matter. But Minfeng appeared here, which meant someone had deliberately notified him, wanting to stir things up even worse! She knew that no matter what, she couldn’t let Li Minfeng continue speaking, or something even more serious would happen! So she tried hard to shake her head at Li Minfeng, vigorously shaking her head, signaling him not to speak anymore.

However, Li Minfeng didn’t understand First Madam’s good intentions. He only knew Mother had fallen ill from Li Weiyang’s anger, and Li Changle had also been framed by Li Weiyang. He absolutely had to make that little slut pay! “Father, we are your legitimate children, yet you’d rather believe a concubine-born little slut than believe us? I’m telling you—whatever happened today, it was all fabricated by Li Weiyang. None of it is true! You don’t punish her but turn around and blame Mother and younger sister instead. Have you become senile?!”

Li Xiaoran flew into a rage, “What did you say?!”

Li Weiyang smiled faintly, “Father, calm your anger. Elder Brother was just momentarily anxious, which is why he insulted Father. After all, this matter concerns Elder Sister and Mother—it’s unavoidable he’d speak this way. Sigh, but Elder Brother, you’ve gone too far. How can you speak to Father like this? This is great disobedience! Do you want Father to lock you in the ancestral hall again?” Word by word, sentence by sentence, clearly designed to provoke Li Minfeng.

Hearing the words “ancestral hall,” Li Min De became absolutely furious. He drew a dagger and without thinking said, “Father, since you won’t deal with her, I can only kill this little slut first!” As long as he killed Li Weiyang, even if Father was furious afterward, he couldn’t possibly punish him—after all, he was his only legitimate son! He raised his hand with the blade and charged at Li Weiyang, using all his strength, determined to kill Li Weiyang before his eyes to vent the anger in his chest.

Seeing his appearance, Li Weiyang knew he was intent on her death. She couldn’t help but sneer coldly. Just then, Zhao Yue suddenly appeared like a ghost before Li Weiyang and kicked Li Minfeng to the ground.

Li Minfeng never imagined Li Weiyang’s maid’s martial arts would be so formidable, but he still wasn’t resigned. He actually got up and lunged at Li Weiyang again. This time, Li Weiyang lightly nodded to Zhao Yue. In that flash of lightning, Zhao Yue understood!

The instant Li Minfeng lunged again, Li Weiyang dodged behind Li Xiaoran, “Father, daughter is so frightened!”

Li Minfeng hadn’t expected Li Weiyang would hide behind Li Xiaoran. Just as he was about to stop, somehow someone tripped his foot. He actually charged forward. Li Xiaoran was shocked and had no time to dodge. In the next instant, the dagger violently stabbed into Li Xiaoran’s left arm! Li Weiyang screamed, “Protect Father! Someone come quickly!”

This room was full of maids and nannies. Guards were all stationed outside. No one had imagined such a turn of events would occur in this instant—that Li Minfeng would actually stab Li Xiaoran with a dagger.

First Madam, anxious and angry, struggled to speak, but spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and immediately fainted. Only by this time, no one in the room was paying attention to her anymore, because Li Xiaoran was already injured, and at this moment, blood was gushing from the wound. The dagger was still embedded there.

Li Xiaoran was now furious to the extreme—Li Minfeng had actually dared to stab him! He pointed at Li Minfeng and shouted to the guards who rushed in, “Bind him up!”

Li Minfeng was completely stunned. That dagger had originally been aimed at Li Weiyang—how had it suddenly gone out of control and injured Li Xiaoran?! When he later heard Li Xiaoran’s order, he said without thinking, “Father, son didn’t mean to! I wanted to kill that little slut!”

Li Xiaoran was naturally furious, but along with his fury, he suddenly thought that this was his only legitimate son. For a moment, he truly didn’t know what to do, so he only ordered the guards to come bind Li Minfeng up first, but didn’t issue the next command. Li Minfeng still hadn’t seen his hesitation. He was only terrified by the fact that he was about to be bound up, so he struggled desperately, “Who dares touch me? I’m the Eldest Young Master of the Li family!”

The guards looked at each other. Naturally they didn’t dare offend Li Minfeng, because he was the legitimate son of the main branch who would inherit the family business in the future. But at the same time, they had to obey Li Xiaoran, because the one truly in charge now was still the Master. As for the Eldest Young Master, that was a matter for the future. But Li Minfeng struggled desperately. They didn’t dare press too hard. For a moment, the scene reached a stalemate.

Li Weiyang watched coldly, saying nothing. She calculated the time—people should arrive very soon. Just as she was thinking this, someone outside reported, “Old Madam has arrived!”

Old Madam was supported by Nanny Luo, followed by several maids and nannies, marching in grandly. Seeing the scene in this room, she was immediately shocked, “What happened to your arm?”

As she spoke, she paid no heed to Nanny Luo’s support and quickly walked over, carefully examining Li Xiaoran’s wound, then repeatedly said, “Quickly fetch a physician! Have you all gone stupid!”

Only then did the maids who’d been standing dumbly wake up and run out to fetch a physician.

Li Xiaoran quickly comforted Old Madam, “It’s nothing—just a minor flesh wound. Mother needn’t worry.”

Old Madam’s face was full of fury, “What minor flesh wound! So much blood has already flowed! How can this still count as a minor flesh wound! Who exactly injured you?!”

Li Xiaoran fell silent. He didn’t want to say his own biological son had stabbed him with a dagger.

Old Madam looked toward Li Weiyang. Li Weiyang said, “It’s like this, Old Madam. Originally today Father came to Mother’s place for a meal. Elder Sister just happened to return and personally made pigeon soup to bring to Mother. Who knew there was poison in this soup? Father became angry, and Mother also couldn’t bear the shock and fainted. Perhaps Elder Brother saw this scene and became anxious, thinking we’d wronged Elder Sister. In his momentary anger, he kicked Fourth Concubine and drew a dagger to kill me, but ended up stabbing Father—”

She spoke very simply, yet made Li Minfeng’s crimes crystal clear, while telling Old Madam about Li Changle poisoning the soup. Li Changle screamed, “Old Madam, I didn’t! I truly didn’t!”

Li Weiyang looked at her, “Elder Sister, wasn’t that soup made by you?”

Li Changle said nothing, only staring at her with eyes full of maddened hatred.

Li Weiyang continued, “Wasn’t there poison in the soup!”

Li Changle naturally couldn’t answer, her eyes practically dripping blood.

Li Weiyang sighed, “With both witness and evidence present, Elder Sister still insists she’s innocent. Even if you were innocent, Elder Brother shouldn’t have injured Father just to vent anger on your behalf. This is the crime of great disobedience.”

Li Minfeng could no longer control himself. He rushed forward, shouting, “Old Madam, don’t fall for her trick! No one can determine who poisoned the soup! Even if there truly was poison in the soup, Li Weiyang must have schemed to frame my sister! Just now I also didn’t mean to harm Father—it was all an unintentional mistake. Old Madam…”

Old Madam was completely shocked. She couldn’t believe the pair of children First Madam had borne would do such things.

Just then, Li Weiyang said, “Elder Brother, stop sophistry. I heard yesterday you just went to the nunnery to visit Elder Sister… Did you think that if something happened to Father, you could control the entire Li family? How could you be so foolish? If something happened to Father, our Li family would collapse!”

Li Xiaoran shuddered. Hearing Li Weiyang’s words, he suddenly thought of a possibility. If Li Minfeng had previously gone to the nunnery, what exactly had he said to Li Changle then? Or had he always resented being thrown into the ancestral hall for reflection, which is why he’d instructed Li Changle to poison him… This speculation only flashed through his mind, but it made his spine involuntarily run cold.

Thinking of the suppressed, resentful look in Li Minfeng’s eyes ever since that incident, Li Xiaoran involuntarily felt fear.

His biological son, biological daughter—over such minor punishments they would betray him like this. Heaven knows he only wanted them to repent. Yet they’d conspired together to take his life.

Li Minfeng said angrily, “You little slut, spouting complete nonsense—when did I—”

Li Xiaoran pointed at Li Minfeng and sternly interrupted, “Shut your mouth! You and Changle conspired together from beginning to end just to murder me. Now that your plot is exposed, you still feel no shame and actually dare speak so righteously! What father—how could I have given birth to such an unfilial child as you!”

Li Changle seeing this couldn’t help shouting, “Father! We’re your biological children. How can you believe outsiders’ words and slander us like this…”

“Enough! Stop this act!” Old Madam said with an iron-blue face and loud voice, “I’ve seen enough of your performance! Such a crime of patricide is already unforgivable. Slap their mouths!”

Old Madam gave the order, but the guards stood in place without daring to move. Nanny Luo snorted coldly, stepped forward, and gave Li Minfeng seven or eight slaps. Before Li Minfeng could react, his face was already swollen high, with red and purple marks appearing on his face, looking extremely wretched.

He screamed, “Father, I’m your only legitimate son!”

He wasn’t wrong—Li Xiaoran already had four daughters, but only this one son. So though Li Xiaoran was furious to the extreme, he had to endure, even had to plead for him, “Old Madam—”

“Do you still have me, your mother, in your eyes?” Old Madam was truly angered to the extreme by Li Minfeng, naturally also seeing her son with three parts anger, “Look at this disobedient, unfilial dog you’ve raised. He dares beat your concubine, dares kill his sister, even disregarding your dignity to stab you. If he truly took you as his father, how could he do this? If he thought even half a bit about our Li manor, he absolutely wouldn’t give you and me such loss of face!”

Seeing Old Madam angry, Li Xiaoran quickly apologized, “Yes, please calm your anger. It’s all son’s poor discipline.” Old Madam was right—no matter how much he loved this son, he was now a useless wretch! Who would believe a son would actually dare stab his own father?! Such disobedience and lack of filial piety—what use was he!

Li Minfeng was still shouting, “Father, son did nothing wrong!”

Li Weiyang reminded, “Elder Brother, wrong is wrong. Father’s arm is still bleeding—how can you have the face to say you did nothing wrong? Are you saying Old Madam is wrong? Father is wrong? I advise you not to persist in delusion!”

Li Minfeng grew even more furious, “Li Weiyang, you little slut! Father, Old Madam, don’t be deceived by this cunning girl! Since she came to the Li manor, we haven’t had one good day. Look what Mother has been driven to! Look quickly!”

Li Weiyang sneered coldly, her face showing proper seriousness, “Elder Brother, Mother fainted from anger at Elder Sister—it has nothing to do with me.”

At this moment, Li Changle cried out, “Mother, you’re awake!”

First Madam slowly opened her eyes, only then seeing Li Xiaoran and Old Madam both looking at her with faces like frost. Then she saw the wound on Li Xiaoran’s arm and her heart jumped, immediately knowing how Li Xiaoran got that wound! She opened her mouth but couldn’t speak. Li Changle quickly said, “Mother, what’s wrong?”

First Madam shook her head. Nanny Du, who’d been kneeling to the side the whole time, quickly said, “Madam has fallen ill. This servant has medicine here.” Then she quickly took medicine and crawled to First Madam’s side, serving her the medicine. Only then did First Madam catch her breath. Her gaze paused on Li Minfeng for a moment, then looked at Li Weiyang with eyes full of resentment.

Li Weiyang, however, looked at her calmly, her eyes carrying a kind of smile that almost made First Madam’s heart explode with rage, “Mother, you’re awake. Are you alright now?”