Old Madam didn’t rush to call for people, but pondered for a moment before saying, “Second daughter-in-law, go outside and call people in to attend to them.”
She didn’t even mention calling for a physician.
Zou Shi hurried to make arrangements, having Xu Shi and Qin Yunyun carried back to their respective courtyards. Only Old Madam, Qin Shuying, and Qin Lulu remained in Xuan Hall.
Qin Shuying and Qin Lulu still knelt on the ground, not daring to speak.
After a long while, Old Madam sighed and said, “You may all rise.”
Her voice sounded weary and aged.
Qin Shuying and Qin Lulu endured the sharp pain and stood up, not daring to rub their knees.
Old Madam added, “Go ahead and rub them. Young ladies are delicate—if you injure your knees, you’ll suffer for a lifetime.”
Qin Shuying and Qin Lulu sat on embroidered stools and slowly massaged their knees.
Old Madam remained silent. Qin Shuying and Qin Lulu exchanged glances, both seeing worry in each other’s eyes.
“Old Ancestor, regarding today’s incident, granddaughter had no prior knowledge. If I had known such a thing would happen, I wouldn’t have followed Cousin Wei.”
Qin Shuying spoke the truth. If she had known Qin Yunyun had such a plan, she truly wouldn’t have gone, but would have found other ways to deal with Qin Yunyun.
First Qin Fangfang, now Qin Yunyun—the ruined reputation of the Qin Manor’s daughters was too great a blow for Old Madam.
Seeing Old Madam’s weary appearance, her usually clear eyes now clouded and powerless, Qin Shuying felt deeply saddened. But she didn’t regret it. If she had to do it again, as long as she stepped onto that carriage, she would still deal with Qin Yunyun the same way.
This was all Qin Yunyun’s own doing!
Making Old Madam so distressed, Qin Shuying felt that Qin Yunyun’s suffering was still not enough.
Old Madam looked at Qin Shuying, her mind filled with countless thoughts.
This child was so clever, too much like Yongzhou!
Her most beloved youngest son!
Her most intelligent youngest son!
After a long time, she finally managed to say, “Fifth Girl, Seventh Girl, grandmother is old and lacks the strength for many matters. You must… protect yourselves…”
She wanted to say more but ultimately couldn’t speak, weakly waving her hand.
Qin Shuying and Qin Lulu hadn’t eaten lunch yet. After all the commotion, it was already well past mealtime.
Old Madam had lunch brought for them. The sisters ate hurriedly, and then Qin Yongtao strode into the courtyard with large steps.
“Mother, I’ve caused you worry!”
Qin Yongtao was both angry and alarmed.
Old Madam said gravely, “I’m fine here. Go check on Sixth Girl—don’t let her do anything irreversible.”
Qin Yongtao hurried off to Fangfei Courtyard.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, the servants and maids who saw him began trembling one by one. The master looked ready to devour someone!
Not a single person dared approach to serve him.
He kicked open the half-closed door with one foot. Xu Shi let out a sharp scream—she knew it must be Qin Yongtao!
In that brief instant, Xu Shi felt deep regret, truly deep regret. Why had she agreed to Qin Yunyun’s plan? Why had she been so bewitched? Now, not only had she dragged down Qin Yunyun, but she had thoroughly offended Qin Yongtao herself.
When Qin Yongtao was about to enter, the door curtain blocked him. Normally, a maid would have lifted it.
Today no one dared come forward. Qin Yongtao yanked hard, and the door curtain made tearing sounds as he tore half of it off in his hand.
Clutching that half of the curtain, Qin Yongtao unconsciously dragged it inside. When he saw Xu Shi, as if possessed by a demon, he looped the curtain fabric around Xu Shi’s neck.
Xu Shi couldn’t react in time. With the fabric around her neck, she kicked and struggled in terror and despair—Qin Yongtao was trying to strangle her!
“I’ll strangle you, you disaster!”
Qin Yongtao applied force with his hands. In moments, Xu Shi could only make “heh heh” sounds.
Everything happened in a flash. Qin Yunyun was already frightened pale, completely at a loss, staring wide-eyed as Qin Yongtao strangled Xu Shi, like a wooden statue.
It was Nanny Liu who reacted quickly. After a brief moment of terror, she threw herself forward, hanging onto Qin Yongtao’s arm, “Master, Master, you mustn’t, you mustn’t…”
How could Qin Yongtao not know he mustn’t, but anger had driven him beyond reason.
“Get away!”
Qin Yongtao tried to push Nanny Liu away, but she used all her strength. Since Qin Yongtao was still strangling Xu Shi, he couldn’t manage both at once. Nanny Liu’s interference cleared his mind considerably. His hand loosened, and the curtain fabric around Xu Shi’s neck fell away.
Xu Shi could breathe again and began coughing violently, sitting on the ground like a puddle of mud.
Only then did Qin Yunyun come to her senses. Looking at Xu Shi, she wanted to rush forward but feared Qin Yongtao’s blood-red eyes. She wanted to plead with Qin Yongtao but mumbled for a long time without knowing what to say.
Over and over, she could only repeat, “Father, Mother, don’t… don’t…”
Qin Yongtao was also breathing heavily, pointing at Xu Shi, “Disaster, disaster! Divorce—I want a divorce!”
Xu Shi couldn’t speak, staring with still-terrified eyes, not yet recovered.
Nanny Liu crawled on the ground, unable to help defending Xu Shi, “Master, this matter has nothing to do with First Madam. First Madam didn’t know anything. Master, you’re wronging Madam! First Madam gave birth to…”
Nanny Liu thought that only by bringing up the sons Madam bore and Lianpin could she make Qin Yongtao remember some affection for Xu Shi. But how could Qin Yongtao let her speak?
Qin Yongtao’s eyes blazed with fury as he mercilessly kicked her. Nanny Liu didn’t dare dodge and had to endure another kick. Fortunately, Qin Yongtao’s attention wasn’t on her, so this kick wasn’t as accurate, only grazing her arm.
“Had nothing to do with her? You think I, a Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, know less than you, a foolish woman?!”
Qin Yongtao’s voice was like ice. Nanny Liu shivered continuously. That wasn’t what she meant at all. Stammering, she said, “This servant, this servant didn’t mean that…”
Thinking of people’s strange looks and the rumors spreading everywhere, Qin Yongtao’s eyes could shoot fire. He ignored the lowly servant Nanny Liu and glared menacingly at Xu Shi, “Xu Shi, this matter has now been reported to the authorities. Whoever orchestrated this will definitely be discovered. You…”
“Ah!”
Qin Yunyun screamed. Although she felt she had handled the matter well, now that the authorities were involved, she couldn’t be certain whether it would be traced back to her.
This abnormal scream from Qin Yunyun caught Qin Yongtao’s attention. He shifted his gaze from Xu Shi to Qin Yunyun—
“Was it… you?”
Qin Yunyun retreated several steps, “No, no, it wasn’t me…”
Qin Yongtao pressed forward step by step, “Was it really you?”
Qin Yongtao was the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, not an ordinary official. Once he released his anger and menace, how could a sheltered young lady like Qin Yunyun withstand it?
“Thud!”
Qin Yunyun’s legs gave out and she knelt down, her whole body soaked with sweat, “Father, no, no, I only, I only…”
The confrontation with Xu Shi is nearing its end. Please await the even more intense struggles ahead.