While the excitement was happening on this side, the families of the several young masters involved had all received news.

When they heard that their sons had led people to surround the Wang family compound, everyone gasped in shock. Their first reaction was: this must be a dream, right?

They knew their own children well—stealing chickens, touching dogs, fighting, drinking, gambling, visiting brothels—all of that was normal. But surrounding the Wang family compound? Had their brains short-circuited?

After the servants who brought the news guaranteed it repeatedly, these several families all flew into chaos. On one hand, they hurried to have their troublemaking sons dragged back; on the other hand, they gathered family members to jointly discuss damage control. Since the incident had already happened, the main thing to do next was to shift blame. Everyone unanimously insisted their own children weren’t bold enough for this and must have been instigated by someone. After asking around, it turned out to be the young madam of the Marquis Dingxi’s estate.

Good heavens, the descendants of the Marquis Dingxi had finally appeared in the ranks of spoiled troublemakers.

But why was it the young madam? Not a young master?

Marquis Dingxi was having the same thoughts at this moment—his family’s descendants had finally joined the ranks of unfilial troublemakers.

He remembered when he was young, his grandfather had mocked a colleague whose grandson caused trouble, fighting someone today, cursing someone else yesterday. That colleague had laughed heartily while patting his grandfather’s shoulder, saying what kind of grandson wasn’t mischievous? Were they raising him like a girl? Even if it was a girl, so-and-so’s daughter could mount horses and wield swords. At the time, his grandfather’s expression had been very ugly. Later, when those colleagues discussed their own children’s mischief, their expressions showed no reduction in annoyance but rather carried a hint of pride. While boasting, they also said, “Look at your Old Chang family—so nice, the children are all quiet and elegant like girls.”

This wasn’t envy; it was mockery.

The Old Chang family had really changed their nature…

After this phrase spread, grandfather never attended colleague gatherings again, and eventually those old-generation brothers simply stopped meeting…

Marquis Dingxi still remembered how, amidst the laughter of that group of rough old men, grandfather had looked at him once—that look was full of disappointment…

He was a waste, a waste who couldn’t make grandfather proud.

With great difficulty, Chang Yuncheng had grown up, and he thought he would finally welcome the days grandfather had hoped for—cleaning up after his son’s troubles, with annoyance mixed with pride. But this boy turned out to be a lone hero who never called for help when fighting, never told his family whether he won or lost, let alone summoned followers to join in.

Children’s affairs were children’s affairs. If the children didn’t speak up, how could he shamelessly go around bragging? When even the victims remained silent, he felt he lacked confidence.

Yes, the Old Chang family, who had earned merit through battlefield conquest, had really changed their nature. He might as well accept fate.

He never expected such a day would come—servants came rolling and crawling in to report that because someone from Qianjin Hall had been arrested, the young madam had gone to fight, and the scene wasn’t small…

“Rebellion! Rebellion!” Madam Xie was still cursing angrily, pacing back and forth in the room in fury. “This lowly servant, this lowly servant absolutely cannot be kept! The face of our Marquis Dingxi estate will be completely lost by her!”

Face…

“Who won?” Marquis Dingxi suddenly asked.

This question stunned everyone in the room.

“For now, the young madam won, I suppose. The Wang family closed their doors and ran, but the young madam also suffered—she was struck in the face…” the servant who brought the news stammered.

Looking toward the door, Marquis Dingxi’s expression grew increasingly excited.

“My lord, write the divorce papers. When the Wang family pursues this matter tomorrow…” Madam Xie said hatefully.

“What the hell will they pursue!” Marquis Dingxi suddenly shouted, slapping the table and standing up.

This sudden commotion startled everyone.

“They arrested someone from my family’s medicine shop, went to demand the person back, and got beaten for it! This matter won’t end so simply! They want to pursue it! I haven’t even pursued it yet!” Marquis Dingxi shouted at the top of his voice. Because it was the first time, his voice was excited, trembling, and cracking, making him sound lacking in authority.

Everyone stared at him blankly. They recognized every word the marquis said, but put together, why couldn’t they understand it?

“Come! Get weapons! Go to the Wang family!” Marquis Dingxi swept his sleeves and strode out with large steps.

He’s gone mad…

Watching Marquis Dingxi stride away, stumbling slightly as he tripped while going out the door, Madam Xie’s only thought was this.

The Wang family, which had caused commotion among all the other families, was now quite peaceful by contrast.

When Hu San was awakened from the woodshed, he was sleeping soundly with drool flowing, disgusting the servants with his appearance.

Could this kind of person really be the first great disciple of the Marquis Dingxi’s young madam?!

But now they dared not be rash in the slightest.

“Young Master Hu, please,” they said with smiles and respect.

This “please” scared Hu San out of his wits, and he reached out to cover his lower body.

“What are you going to do?” he shouted hoarsely.

The servants’ faces darkened again.

“Young Master Hu, please hurry. Someone has come to take you,” they said.

This time Hu San heard clearly and suddenly straightened up.

“What are you calling me?” he asked.

“Young Master Hu,” the servants called again.

Looking at them, Hu San suddenly burst into laughter.

“Call me a few more times so I can hear,” he said.

The servants endured their temper, lowered their heads, and addressed him again.

Before Hu San had even stepped through the main hall door, he couldn’t help but shout “Master!” A pretty maid lifted the curtain, and Hu San rushed in with two steps, immediately seeing Qi Yue sitting in a chair, surrounded by A’Ru and A’Hao doing something.

“Master!” Hu San’s eyes couldn’t help but redden. Thinking of the fright he’d suffered this half day, feeling both wronged and terrified, he rushed directly toward Qi Yue.

Chang Yuncheng stood up from the side, blocking Hu San’s path and looking at him coldly.

Hu San abandoned his plan to hug her legs and complain, standing properly and honestly.

Seeing Hu San enter, Fan Yilin immediately felt nauseous. Dejected, he couldn’t help but stand up from his chair.

“I don’t believe it… how could anyone treat illness like that… it’s too indecent!” he shouted.

Qi Yue put down the ice she was using to compress her face and explained to this young master again.

“I’ve already said everything I wanted to say. I’ve used this method twice now. You can go inquire—once was at my family’s estate, when a child drowned and stopped breathing. I used this method to rescue him. The other time was on myself,” she said with a smile, pointing to A’Ru. “Due to an accident, I temporarily suffocated, and this maid of mine performed artificial respiration on me according to the method I had previously taught her.”

Fan Yilin wanted to say more, but Wang Tongye scolded him.

“Shut up and sit down,” he said sternly.

Fan Yilin immediately sat down obediently again.

“Madam Qi’s divine medical skills are well-known. This technique needs no explanation,” Wang Tongye said, looking toward Qi Yue.

During the earlier interval, his descendants had quietly introduced this Marquis Dingxi’s young madam as a doctor with considerable reputation.

Though Wang Tongye didn’t know this, he trusted his descendants’ words.

Qi Yue nodded to thank him, then looked at Fan Yilin.

“This young master, I think you must have an injury, otherwise you wouldn’t suddenly faint and suffocate,” she said.

Fan Yilin hung his head disagreeably.

“No, I have no injuries whatsoever,” he said.

“Stand up,” Wang Tongye ordered.

Fan Yilin jumped up alertly.

“Go let Madam Qi examine you, you ungrateful wretch who doesn’t know good fortune,” Wang Tongye commanded.

Fan Yilin shuffled over. Looking at this woman with half her face swollen, one eye large and one small, he turned his head away with some disgust and extended his arm.

“I don’t check pulses,” Qi Yue said, standing up. “Remove your clothing so I can examine you.”

Fan Yilin instinctively covered his chest with his hands, staring wide-eyed at this ugly woman.

Sure enough, master and disciple were cut from the same cloth…

Fan Yilin was truly unlucky—heaven was jealous of his beauty, and he was about to be defiled by this shameless master-disciple pair!

Growing impatient with waiting, Qi Yue simply reached out and tore open his clothing herself.

Fan Yilin let out a shriek.

This woman was too…

Everyone from the Wang family in the room couldn’t help but stare.

Having successfully torn it open, Qi Yue turned Fan Yilin to face the crowd.

“Look,” she said flatly.

Wang Tongye, standing close, clearly saw a patch of bruising on Fan Yilin’s chest. He couldn’t help but walk closer and reach out to tear open the rest of Fan Yilin’s clothing.

Fan Yilin’s tears were about to fall. Mother, I want to go home—this place is too scary.

Now everyone could see clearly.

The last chance for a reversal was gone. The Wang family’s expressions became somewhat complex.

“This injury caused his acute fainting and suffocation. If my disciple hadn’t discovered it in time and rescued him promptly, then right now, your young master would no longer be able to stand here,” Qi Yue said.

Speaking so seriously… was it real or fake?

“Perhaps it’s an old injury…” one family member muttered unwillingly.

Of course, no one paid attention to these words. Whether it was a new or old injury, just based on her confident identification of the injury at a glance, the claim about the disciple treating illness couldn’t be refuted.

“You should have another doctor examine him. My disciple has already resolved the suffocation, though the cost was rather high,” Qi Yue said, reaching up to touch her face. “I’ll take my leave now.”

Having said this, she started to leave.

But Chang Yuncheng didn’t move, reaching out to stop her.

“The misunderstanding is resolved, and I’ve given you the explanation you asked for, Master Wang,” he said, looking at Wang Tongye’s grim expression. “But you still owe me an explanation, don’t you?”

His gaze fell on Qi Yue’s face, and just looking at it made anger surge in his heart.

He hadn’t felt this way before—a push or slap to this woman was nothing—but now seeing someone else had hit her, it hurt as if a piece of his own flesh had been carved out. No, it hurt more than a flesh wound.

Wang Tongye naturally knew what he was referring to. Looking at Chang Yuncheng, he smiled.

“Lord, the misunderstanding about arresting someone has been explained, but what about my Wang family’s gate being surrounded and attacked? How do you plan to explain that? Once you explain, I’ll naturally give you an explanation too,” he said slowly, wearing a smile on his face but no smile in his eyes.

Looking at the other Wang family members in the room, their expressions were equally cold and angry.

At fault? So what if we’re at fault? We’re the Wang family—even if we’re wrong, no one can treat us this way!

“Master,” Qi Yue spoke up, removing her hand from her face. “You mean that if someone hits me, I can’t fight back?”

As she spoke, she pointed to her own face.

“A woman gathering crowds to cause trouble—ultimately, you brought this face injury on yourself,” Wang Tongye said with a cold snort. “If you had spoken nicely, how would…”

Qi Yue could no longer contain her anger. She was already a dead person—what was there to fear?

“Bah!” She spat, interrupting Wang Tongye’s words.

This single “bah” made even the composed Wang Tongye change his expression. Such an audacious youngster!

She had seemed dignified and courteous just now—how had she become so crude in an instant!

But there was nothing strange about it. Hadn’t this woman just led people to surround his family’s gate?

“You mean that my face was beaten by you, and oh, I should still offer this other half of my face and speak nicely to you, begging you to hit this side too?” Qi Yue shouted with raised eyebrows. “Master, you have such good cultivation and can do that, but I can’t be so cheap!”

This was calling them cheap…

Several young descendants in the main hall couldn’t help but want to jump forward.

“I repeatedly identified myself, wanted to see you, wanted to explain properly. What was the result? You sent out a drunkard who didn’t say a single proper word but beat me and my maid. Even after all this, you still want me to speak nicely. I tell you—it can’t be done nicely!” Qi Yue shouted with raised eyebrows.

This ugly woman was so fierce…

Fan Yilin wrapped his clothes tighter again, looking at Qi Yue with trembling fear.

He had already made up his mind—even if his wife cried herself to death, he would never set foot in Yongqing Prefecture again in this lifetime.