This was a servant’s room, where A’Jin lay quietly sprawled on a door plank.

“Lord, the young madam cannot enter—a person who just died is unclean…” the servant women cried out in terror, trying to stop them.

Chang Yuncheng glared at them, and the servant women scattered.

Qi Yue only went over to take a look, then remained motionless.

“How is it?” Chang Yuncheng asked.

Qi Yue shook her head.

“There’s no need for resuscitation,” she said, crouching down on the ground to look at A’Jin.

Disheveled hair hung down, covering the girl’s face, having lost all vitality and filled with deathly stillness.

“…couldn’t catch her breath… actually didn’t hit her many times…” a servant woman nearby knelt on the ground, speaking to Chang Yuncheng in a trembling voice, “If the Lord doesn’t believe it, examine the injuries—truly didn’t hit her many times, and didn’t use much force either. Just wanted to frighten her into talking… don’t know how she just died…”

Chaotic footsteps came from outside, accompanied by Concubine Zhou’s crying.

“A’Jin, A’Jin.” She rushed in, supporting herself against the door frame and shouting. The moment she saw A’Jin on the door plank, tears immediately couldn’t be stopped.

Pushing away the servant women who tried to support and stop her, Concubine Zhou staggered over.

“A’Jin, A’Jin, don’t scare me.” She cried out, her voice hoarse, trembling as she pushed aside A’Jin’s hair and patted her face. “Don’t scare me. I only have you left. After the old madam passed away, only you have accompanied me all these years. You promised to stay with me for life—how dare you not listen? How dare you not listen, you girl!”

As she shouted this, she raised her hand to strike A’Jin’s face hard.

The servant women hurriedly grabbed Concubine Zhou’s arms in fright.

“This girl won’t listen! She dares to disobey the old madam’s words!” Concubine Zhou was nearly mad, both shouting and reaching out to strike.

Several servant women desperately dragged her away.

Everyone around felt heartbroken and sad watching this, and Marquis Dingxi, who had followed, felt even more distressed.

“What is this about?” He directed all his anger at Chang Yuncheng, shouting, “Beating someone to death for no reason—where does this leave the Marquis Dingxi’s face!”

Chang Yuncheng had remained silent, just standing there.

Concubine Zhou suddenly rushed over.

“You beat her to death. Now beat me to death too.” She desperately grabbed Chang Yuncheng and screamed, “It was me who harmed Yueniang, it was me who set fire to destroy the evidence, it was all me! All me!”

Chang Yuncheng swept her away with his hand.

“She’s gone mad, restrain her,” Madam Xie shouted.

Immediately more servant women came forward to grab Concubine Zhou.

“Look at yourself, look at yourself!” Marquis Dingxi, filled with hatred, looked around and grabbed a nearby stick, raising it to strike Chang Yuncheng.

Madam Xie saw this and immediately stepped in front of Chang Yuncheng.

The Marquis’s stick had already swung over. Chang Yuncheng embraced Madam Xie and turned around.

The dull sound of the stick mixed with the chaotic noise in the room.

One strike wasn’t enough to satisfy Marquis Dingxi’s anger, so he raised his hand for several more blows.

“Hit him again. Hit him again and I’ll fight you…” Madam Xie, shielded by Chang Yuncheng, screamed shrilly, struggling desperately but unable to break free from Chang Yuncheng’s protection.

Everyone watching was stunned, even the crying and wailing Concubine Zhou stopped.

“Father, Father.” Chang Yunqi stepped forward and hugged Marquis Dingxi’s legs. “Calm down, Father, calm down. Whatever needs to be said, let’s talk properly.”

Chang Yunhong hesitated for a moment, then also knelt down and grabbed Marquis Dingxi’s arms with both hands.

Marquis Dingxi was also tired from beating and stood leaning on the stick, breathing heavily.

“You investigate, you investigate—what did you find out?” he cursed angrily.

“Found out that indeed there was a problem with this girl,” Chang Yuncheng said, still standing steadily. It seemed as if those few strikes had only been scratches.

Marquis Dingxi was so angry he couldn’t speak.

“I won’t live either,” Concubine Zhou cried out, broke free from the servant women, and rushed to hit the wall.

The room immediately became chaotic again.

Concubine Zhou’s crying, Marquis Dingxi’s cursing, Madam Xie’s rebuttals, and Chang Yunqi and others’ attempts to dissuade them all intertwined. Chang Yuncheng just stood there straight, seeming to hear nothing. He suddenly realized that from beginning to end, he hadn’t heard one person’s voice. He couldn’t help but turn to look.

Qi Yue had maintained that same posture crouching in front of the door plank, seemingly oblivious to the chaos behind her.

“Human life is truly fragile,” she suddenly said, sensing someone approaching from behind.

Chang Yuncheng stood behind her without speaking.

“It wasn’t her who harmed me,” Qi Yue said again.

Looking at this cold corpse, the girl’s smiling face floated before her eyes.

In just a few encounters, that time was when they had talked the most—so sincere, so heartfelt.

“It wasn’t her,” Qi Yue said again.

As Chang Yuncheng walked over, everyone’s gaze also turned this way. The chaotic voices quieted somewhat, just in time to hear Qi Yue’s words.

Concubine Zhou covered her face and wept.

“A’Jin, you can rest in peace now. No matter what others think of you, Yueniang understands you,” she cried out.

This confirmed that Chang Yuncheng had killed an innocent person. Madam Xie trembled all over.

“However,” Qi Yue stood up and turned to face everyone, her expression grave, “call the authorities.”

What? This statement stunned everyone. Concubine Zhou’s crying also quieted, and a flash of unexpected joy appeared in her eyes beneath her fingers.

“You shameless woman, are you going to report to the authorities?” Madam Xie gritted her teeth and shouted, glaring fiercely at Qi Yue.

Although household slaves were slaves, the law also had regulations against indiscriminate killing. Of course, this clause was only written in the law and never actually enforced. Even if it were truly reported to the authorities, nothing would happen, but it would be a matter of lost face.

“You, you—were you waiting for this?” Madam Xie pointed at Qi Yue and Concubine Zhou. “You conspired together…”

“Enough, shut up,” Marquis Dingxi shouted. He pointed at Madam Xie and Chang Yuncheng. “You two are the ones who conspired…”

“Father,” Qi Yue called out, interrupting Marquis Dingxi’s words. “I said to report to the authorities because A’Jin wasn’t killed by caning.”

Everyone in the room was immediately stunned and looked at her.

“This isn’t organ failure caused by caning,” Qi Yue continued, glancing back once before turning around again. “It seems like suffocation, but not quite. I can’t say for certain what caused the death, and I shouldn’t examine too closely to avoid disturbing the scene. But I can be certain it wasn’t death from caning. So, Father, please get someone from the authorities… someone who understands this… a coroner? Or something like that to take a look. I’m sure they can determine the cause.”

The room fell completely silent. Everyone stared at Qi Yue in stunned silence.

Concubine Zhou’s body went limp, and she collapsed to the ground as sweat replaced tears.

Why did she have to meddle in this?

Everything had been calculated perfectly. She had calculated that they couldn’t hide it and would definitely trace it back to her. So she had deliberately found someone with a similar build to A’Jin to carry out this deed, so that all the final clues would point to A’Jin. But A’Jin was definitely not someone who would do such a thing. That Qi Yueniang would certainly testify on A’Jin’s behalf. This way, A’Jin would die, the suspicion would be cleared, and she would gain sympathy. This matter would disappear into time like any dark affair that occurs in wealthy families, never to be mentioned again…

She had calculated everything perfectly, but there was an error in the very last step.

Which woman would go look at a dead person? And actually be able to see something…

Concubine Zhou lowered her gaze. She didn’t look to see what expression the servant women who had retreated wore—whether they were frightened or something else. None of it mattered anymore.

Four or five fierce-looking servant women stormed into Concubine Zhou’s courtyard as the sky grew dark.

Before they could say anything, they saw Concubine Zhou already sitting in the main room with a bundle beside her.

“You’ve come,” she said calmly, using her well-maintained hand to smooth her hair at the temples.

“I assume you know why we’re here,” the leading woman said coldly. “Good. That saves us the trouble of arguing.”

She gestured with her hand.

“The Marquis said that you are the old madam’s family and have served for so many years. Considering Third Young Master and Second Miss’s feelings, go to the family temple to pray and chant sutras,” she said.

Concubine Zhou smiled slightly.

“Thank the Marquis for his kindness,” she said.

“Won’t you ask to see the Marquis one last time?” Another servant woman, somewhat surprised by Concubine Zhou’s reaction, couldn’t help but ask.

Concubine Zhou had already stood up. Hearing her question, she smiled again.

“The Marquis dislikes beautiful women with venomous hearts the most. Don’t you know that?” she said. “He’s most afraid of misjudging people and losing face. The Marquis really cherishes himself.”

These words were strange, and the women were confused.

“Alright, Concubine Zhou, let’s go. If you have anything to say, say it before Buddha,” they said.

Night shrouded the entire Marquis Dingxi’s mansion.

The Rongan Courtyard was brightly lit, with Madam Xie sitting in the room while Chang Yuncheng and Qi Yue stood to the side.

“Madam, she’s been sent away,” a servant woman came in to report.

Madam Xie breathed a long sigh of relief, her expression still fierce.

“The Zhou family members are indeed all venomous…” she squeezed these words through gritted teeth.

The curtain of the inner room suddenly rustled, and Marquis Dingxi walked out.

His complexion was poor, wearing casual robes.

“I also carry half of the Zhou family blood. Am I also venomous?” he looked at Madam Xie with a dark expression and shouted.

“Even now you’re still protecting that woman!” Madam Xie also shouted, supporting herself on the table to stand up.

“Enough, don’t mention this matter again in the future,” Marquis Dingxi cut her off, sat on the kang, and heavily grabbed his tea to drink.

Chang Yuncheng shook his head at Madam Xie to console her. Madam Xie slowly sat back down and stopped speaking.

The room fell into silence. The servants didn’t dare leave either.

“What did she say?” Marquis Dingxi suddenly asked.

The servant woman was stunned.

“She said, said…” she began stammering, “A’Jin did this for her sake. Although she didn’t know about it, her fault cannot be forgiven. She only wishes the Marquis would forget her…”

Marquis Dingxi’s expression froze. Madam Xie sneered coldly from the side.

“The evidence is already conclusive, yet she’s still struggling on her deathbed. These words—someone actually believes them?” she said coldly.

Marquis Dingxi glanced at her and waved the servants away.

The servants retreated.

“Yueniang, you’ve been frightened. It’s Father’s fault for not taking better care of you,” Marquis Dingxi looked at Qi Yue and said with a sigh.

“I wouldn’t dare accept such words,” Qi Yue said. “Other people’s hearts are not something you can control, Father.”

Marquis Dingxi looked at her and sighed again, with some relief.

“Don’t be afraid. There definitely won’t be such incidents in the future,” he said solemnly.

Qi Yue bowed her head in thanks, lowering her gaze.

“You rascal,” Marquis Dingxi looked at Chang Yuncheng again and suddenly cursed loudly.

Chang Yuncheng’s expression remained unchanged. Madam Xie frowned but held back from speaking.

“If not for Yueniang, see how you would handle this mess!” Marquis Dingxi angrily shouted, “With such a good daughter-in-law, what trouble are you stirring up? Throw that girl out for me. Whoever dares to approach you, I’ll beat them one by one, beat them in pairs!”

These words caused all three people in the room to change color slightly.

Chang Yuncheng’s face stiffened slightly, Madam Xie looked somewhat annoyed, and Qi Yue felt embarrassed. But this wasn’t the end—Marquis Dingxi immediately followed with another statement.

“…I’ve already had someone send Yueniang’s things back. If I ever hear again that you’ve driven Yueniang away, you can get out with me and never come back,” he looked at Chang Yuncheng and said angrily.

Qi Yue looked up at Marquis Dingxi in shock. No way.