The imperial physician was practically dragged in by the Shen family’s steward, Uncle Tian. He was still gasping for breath, not yet having caught it, when Shen Xiaohai grabbed him by the collar and hauled him into the room, repeatedly urging him to quickly take the old madam’s pulse: “The elderly can’t withstand such ordeals. Imperial Physician Liang must please pay extra attention…”

Imperial Physician Liang glanced at Shen Xiaohai’s tooth that was still whistling air and felt somewhat suspicious in his heart. The Shen family had recently been struck by some unknown streak of bad luck—every few days they had to summon imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau. The Shen family had nearly worn down the threshold of the Imperial Medical Bureau. He stroked his beard, and upon hearing it was a head injury from a fall, his expression became serious again. Putting away his relaxed demeanor, he immediately ordered the maids: “Quick, first lift the bed curtain so I can examine what condition the old madam’s fall has left her in.”

The young maids on either side lifted the curtain, revealing Old Madam Shen’s forehead with a finger-sized bloody hole exposed before everyone’s eyes. Imperial Physician Liang couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath of cold air. Looking at that terrifying wound made even his scalp tingle. He turned his head to ask: “How could she fall like this?! This… an injury to the head is no small matter, and to fall so severely—this illness I cannot treat. You must go fetch Court Physician Hu. He has always been skilled at treating these kinds of traumatic injuries and external wounds. Quickly go invite him!”

Shen Xiaohai groaned inwardly but didn’t dare delay even a moment. He immediately went out to order Uncle Tian to take another visiting card to invite Court Physician Hu, while the rage in his heart had already begun burning fiercely—this was truly too much bullying! If things continued this way, sooner or later Duke Yingguo’s household would be tormented to death by the Tong family.

He had just thought of the Tong family when unbearable commotion erupted outside. Seeing Imperial Physician Liang furrow his brows tightly, Shen Xiaohai could no longer contain the anger in his heart. He strode quickly to the doorway and roared: “What’s all this shouting about?! This is the old madam’s courtyard—how dare you be so presumptuous?!”

The maids pushed each other back and forth. After a long while, one finally stood forward as the leader, trembling as she reported: “Madam of Marquis Wuning has arrived and is arguing with the heir’s wife… The heir’s wife is so angry she’s about to faint…”

Their family raised such a fine daughter who caused such a huge disaster, yet they still had the face to come to their door?! Shen Xiaohai’s tooth hurt even more. Covering his left cheek, he let out an extremely angry cold laugh, finding it utterly absurd and ridiculous. He took a step toward the door but then stopped in his tracks with lingering fear—Madam of Marquis Wuning was a complete hooligan, exactly like her unreasonable husband, completely unwilling to be reasonable. But to have him tolerate Madam of Marquis Wuning continuing to throw tantrums in his house, he truly couldn’t bear it. He stamped his foot and first headed to the front courtyard study, calling several household guards.

In any case, matters had already escalated to this point. Since the last time, the two families had essentially torn off all pretense. If they didn’t want to continue this relationship, they might as well end it completely.

Taking such a daughter-in-law who caused more harm than good would only be a disaster—better not to have her at all. Previously it was due to having no choice and due to reputation, but now that Tong Shao herself had committed such an unfilial and unforgivable act, he truly could endure no longer.

Madam of Marquis Wuning’s finger was practically poking He Shi’s face. He Shi was forced to retreat step by step, her face covered in cold sweat, finding it extremely difficult to cope, only knowing how to continuously retreat and yield.

She pointed at Madam of Marquis Wuning while hiding behind a maid, unable to help sobbing as she scolded: “Madam also holds an official title—how can you have no dignity or propriety at all? Now it’s not someone from my family who did wrong, yet Madam actually comes to our door to beat and scold endlessly… Could it be you truly think Duke Yingguo’s household has no one?”

If she cared about propriety and understood dignity, she couldn’t possibly come to Duke Yingguo’s household to throw tantrums every day, making Duke Yingguo’s household the laughingstock of the entire capital’s after-dinner gossip.

Shen Qingrang let out a cold laugh, entering the door with his hands clasped behind his back, his face still bearing some bruising as he faced Madam of Marquis Wuning, saying in a heavy voice: “Has Miss Tong told Madam what she did in my house this afternoon?”

Madam of Marquis Wuning’s howling abruptly stopped. She widened her eyes with a shrew’s expression and advanced two steps forward, pressing aggressively: “What did she do?! What could she do?! She just wanted to discipline a maid who seduced her master, and your old madam even blocked her and wouldn’t allow it. Could it be you want to break the rules and have a bastard eldest grandson first?!”

What skill at turning things around! He Shi was furious. Seeing her husband, her heart finally gained some confidence. She let out a cold laugh and said: “Madam of Marquis Wuning’s words are harsh—what seducing the master’s maid? That maid serves by the old madam’s side, is already betrothed, and was to be released from service before the year’s end. She suffered a completely undeserved calamity for no reason and is now being blamed instead…”

Madam of Marquis Wuning wouldn’t listen to any of this. She waved her hand with extreme impatience: “Whether or not, in any case it made A’Shao go home and cry… Not only did your Seventh Young Master not console and coax her, he actually helped others rebuke her…”

Shen Xiaohai shouted loudly: “Enough!”

Both He Shi and Madam of Marquis Wuning were startled, simultaneously looking toward him.

“Not rebuke her? I even have the heart to kill her!” Shen Xiaohai’s face was gloomy. Watching Madam of Marquis Wuning’s expression slowly change, he finally could endure no longer: “She actually pushed my mother down the steps, causing my mother to injure her head. She’s now lying in bed unable to move…”

The corner of his mouth hung with disdainful mockery: “Your Marquis Wuning’s household has always had a terrible reputation, and now I finally know why. Your skill at distorting truth and falsehood is truly first-rate, your skill at shirking responsibility is also top-notch… The people in your family all have rotten, black hearts! Whoever becomes in-laws with you has eight lifetimes’ worth of bad luck!”

Madam of Marquis Wuning was stunned by his rapid-fire words. After a long while, she asked hesitantly: “What do you mean pushed the old madam and injured her? Who pushed? A’Shao?”

He Shi let out a cold laugh and took up the conversation: “Besides the young ladies from your household, which family’s daughter would be so bold?”

Madam of Marquis Wuning’s complexion immediately turned black as the bottom of a pot: “What nonsense are you spouting? How could our A’Shao do such a thing…”

Shen Qingrang impatiently waved his hand to interrupt Madam of Marquis Wuning’s words, letting out a mocking laugh as he spoke sarcastically: “I’ve always wanted to ask something, and Madam shouldn’t blame me if my question sounds harsh. For everything, you stand up for Miss Tong—are her parents dead? Does she have no upbringing?”

These words were extremely harsh and caustic. Madam of Marquis Wuning’s complexion changed dramatically, and she opened her mouth wanting to curse back.

He Shi had already taken over the conversation, not giving Madam of Marquis Wuning any chance to retort: “I’ve also always wanted to ask this—never mind a well-bred young lady from a good family, even girls whose parents died early are rarely as vicious as Miss Tong!”