Rao Yufang stepped on the stool to reach the white silk ribbon, standing on her tiptoes and stretching her head toward the inside.

Taking a deep breath, she slightly lowered her feet, and in an instant felt that suffocating sensation.

“Pull the right side, pull the right side.”

A female voice beneath her feet spoke urgently.

Rao Yufang frantically reached out and yanked the right side of the silk ribbon, where there was a hidden knot.

She fell to the ground, covering her neck and gasping for breath.

“Miss.” The maid hurriedly knelt on the ground to help her catch her breath, her face terrified. “Too frightening, we… we shouldn’t play this anymore…”

It took Rao Yufang quite a while to recover.

The feeling of hanging was indeed terrifying, but…

Her hand touched her chest, thinking of what she had witnessed at the gates of the Marquis Dingxi’s residence, what Chang Yunqi had described, thinking of her uncle’s agitation in the study, her aunt’s weeping, thinking of that heroic figure on horseback…

The Marquis Dingxi valued his reputation. This time, after she caused such a scene – breaking an engagement and forcing someone to death – let’s see if the Marquis Dingxi’s residence dared to bear this loss of face!

“What’s frightening about it? As if anyone would actually die when they don’t want to.” She scolded the maid in a low voice, biting her lower lip. “Quickly get up, do it a few more times. Once we’re familiar with it, what’s there to fear?”

The maid didn’t dare obstruct her and helped her up.

After two or three attempts, Rao Yufang had become skilled at it. After kicking away the stool, she could stay suspended on the white silk for increasingly longer periods, doing it with ease. A few times she couldn’t help but laugh.

“Remove the quilt.” She got up once more, looking at the quilt spread on the ground to prevent painful falls.

This was getting serious!

No, this was the official performance beginning!

The maid felt somewhat nervous.

“Miss.” She looked at Rao Yufang uneasily again.

Rao Yufang gave her an annoyed look.

“Hurry up.” She said. “Clean it up properly, don’t let anyone see through it.”

Only then did the maid respond yes, somewhat frantically rolling up the quilt and fussing over it for quite a while before putting it away.

“Quick, tie the knot.” Rao Yufang said.

The maid stood on the stool, trembling as she tied a knot.

Rao Yufang looked at her face in the mirror once more – red and swollen eyes, pale lips, haggard and worn. She nodded with satisfaction, then picked up the letter paper on the table, reading through the suicide note she had written.

“Good.” She said, placing the letter paper properly and standing on the stool.

The maid bit her lower lip, her face pale as paper, trembling all over as she watched her.

“Mi… Miss…” She called out in a trembling voice.

“Get out!” Rao Yufang looked at her impatiently and spoke in a low, harsh voice.

The maid stood without moving.

“Quickly! According to what we agreed. Don’t mess it up, or if people see through it, I won’t forgive you.” Rao Yufang said again, reaching out to grasp the white silk.

Only then did the maid hesitantly walk out.

“Close the door.” Rao Yufang said.

The maid frantically closed the door. As the door gradually closed, Rao Yufang, who was already focused on the white silk, didn’t see that the terror on the maid’s face had disappeared, replaced by a subtle, ambiguous smile.

Rao Yufang took a deep breath, calculating that the timing was about right. Taking a deep breath, she skillfully inserted her head into the white silk and without the slightest hesitation, kicked over the stool. Her entire body hung suspended.

Although she was quite familiar with it now, this suffocating sensation really wasn’t pleasant. Rao Yufang felt her breathing becoming increasingly difficult, her mind growing somewhat foggy. Knowing she had reached the limit of what she could endure, she could faintly hear a large group of footsteps approaching…

Almost there…

Almost there…

But the footsteps never arrived…

No one pushed open the door…

No one cried out in terror…

Can’t do it, can’t do it…

Can’t hold on anymore…

Rao Yufang began unconsciously kicking her legs.

This won’t work, can’t use this method anymore. Need to switch to something else, too much suffering…

She frantically reached for the rope knot on the right side. Once, twice, three times…

Gradually, her legs stopped swaying, and her hands, which had been desperately grasping the rope knot, finally dropped powerlessly.

The door burst open with a bang, and screams pierced through the sky above the Scholar’s residence.

Are you satisfied now?

Chang Yunqi smiled slightly.

“You have enough silver to buy your freedom, right? They won’t make things difficult for you, will they?” After hearing the account, he spoke calmly, looking at the young maid across from him with gentle, caring eyes.

The maid smiled and shook her head.

“It’s enough. After such an incident, the master and mistress have completely lost face. All of us old servants who followed the young miss will definitely be sent away.” She said softly, then lowered her head with some shyness.

“You should first go back home with your aunt and uncle.” Chang Yunqi said. “After the autumn imperial examinations in August, I’ll have someone bring you over, though I’m afraid you’ll have to sell yourself under a death contract and start as a maid.”

That word “start” pleased her – with a beginning, naturally there would be progression.

“Being able to serve at young master’s side, Yu’er is already very happy.” She knelt down and said, then thinking of something else, added, “Then this servant first congratulates young master on passing the autumn examinations with high honors, and congratulates young master on… being granted the title of Prince.”

Chang Yunqi laughed.

“Thank you for your auspicious words.” He said.

He didn’t stop her from speaking these bold words or claim he didn’t dare, but instead readily acknowledged them. This showed he truly considered her one of his own people, to reveal his innermost thoughts this way.

The maid rose joyfully and, at Chang Yunqi’s urging, drank a cup of tea.

“I should go now.” She said, bowing farewell.

Chang Yunqi nodded, watching the maid walk out.

He walked to the window and lifted the curtain. From this angle, he could see directly to the main gate of the Marquis Dingxi’s residence in the capital. At this moment, the gate was extraordinarily busy.

People from Scholar Rao’s residence, as well as from Duke Deqing’s residence, had surrounded the gate completely. The Five Cities Military Commissioner’s Office, having received the news, had also arrived. The street was packed with onlookers, completely blocked.

“Those who threaten people with hanging are all stup…” Chang Yunqi sneered disdainfully, but stopped mid-sentence, remembering someone else who had done the same thing…

That person…

He didn’t want to call her stupid, at least not compare her to this Rao Yufang!

He looked down at the street below, then saw that person.

This stupid woman!

Chang Yunqi put down the window, walked past the table, grabbed the teacup the maid had used, concealed it in his sleeve, and headed out.

“It’s really blown up!”

Qi Yue finally squeezed through, followed by Hu San and others.

The area in front of the Marquis Dingxi’s residence had been cordoned off by officers, forbidding people from approaching.

“She really died.” Hu San was still repeatedly telling A’Hao. “I heard that the Rao family’s mistress also tried to hang herself…”

“Two people died?” Qi Yue turned back in surprise.

“No, the Rao mistress didn’t succeed in dying.” Hu San quickly said. “But Miss Rao really died.”

How did it come to death…

“…I heard it was because this marquis’s residence broke the engagement. They first arranged a match with Miss Rao, then regretted it, causing Miss Rao to die of shame and anger…”

“…Really? That’s too much…”

“…Exactly, exactly. This Miss Rao was truly resolute…”

“…Can’t let this family off lightly… really caused someone’s death…”

Listening to the chaotic discussions around her, Qi Yue frowned deeply.

This time the Marquis Dingxi’s residence was truly… ruined!

How was Chang Yuncheng doing now?

“Why did you come?” Someone squeezed through and grabbed her arm, shouting.

Qi Yue turned to see who it was and was immediately overjoyed.

“Yunqi, you came at the right time. How is your brother? Quickly take me in to see him.” She said.

“Are you crazy? Why did you come at a time like this!” Chang Yunqi pulled her away from the crowd without explanation.

“What exactly happened?” Qi Yue asked.

By now they were standing at a distance, away from the noisy, surging crowd.

“I don’t know either.” Chang Yunqi shook his head. “Because the examination period is approaching, I’ve been studying with several classmates at Jinyang Academy outside the city. I rarely come home, and only heard about the incident today.”

Qi Yue made an “oh” sound, frowning without speaking.

Chang Yunqi lowered his gaze, hiding his disappointment.

She didn’t even ask about the examination…

“How could this happen…” Qi Yue said, looking toward the Marquis Dingxi’s residence. “How far had this marriage arrangement progressed?”

This was the key to resolving the matter.

“I’m not clear on that either.” Chang Yunqi continued saying, with some helplessness. “But regardless of how far it had progressed, now it’s troublesome. First, the Rao family’s status, and second, this Miss Rao wasn’t Scholar Rao’s biological daughter but was being raised by them. If they don’t provide an explanation…”

A fatherless, motherless foster orphan had died. The Rao family’s main branch, as her guardians, would inevitably face overwhelming accusations and questions. Just based on this, Scholar Rao would never let the Marquis Dingxi’s residence off.

“You absolutely cannot come now. If the Rao family sees you, they’re like mad dogs now – if they bite you, you won’t be able to shake them off.” Chang Yunqi said.

“This… this doesn’t really affect your family’s affairs, does it? It has nothing to do with Chang Yuncheng, right?” Qi Yue said.

Chang Yunqi shook his head with a bitter smile.

Not knowing if he was smiling bitterly for Chang Yuncheng or for himself.

“If the Prince is fine, then Madam Xie has problems. If Madam Xie is fine, then the Prince has problems.” He hesitated, then said in a low voice, looking at Qi Yue.

In any case, this mother and son would absolutely not escape this time.

Those people who humiliated you, seeing them meet such a fate, are you happy?

Chang Yunqi looked at Qi Yue, but couldn’t ask this question aloud.

And Qi Yue’s attention was clearly not on his words either.

Qi Yue understood the current consequences of the situation. She looked toward the Marquis Dingxi’s residence.

Chang Yuncheng, how was he doing now?

“Are you satisfied! Are you satisfied!” In a room, Madam Xie shouted. She wanted to grab something to throw, but found that everything breakable had already been smashed.

“You don’t want the living person, but you’ll have to take the dead one whether you want to or not! Did you have to kill yourself to be satisfied?” Madam Xie shouted, reaching out to beat Chang Yuncheng in front of her.

Chang Yuncheng let her hit him.

“…It’s over now, it’s over now…” The Marquis Dingxi murmured, his face pale as paper.

This incident was too sudden, too unexpected, too frightening…

“You wouldn’t listen to me, are you satisfied now? Are you satisfied!” Madam Xie continued scolding.

Just then, the door was violently burst open.

“Who is it? Block them, block them.” The Marquis Dingxi jumped up in fright, shouting while trying to hide.

Had the Rao family come to attack?

But they saw a short, fat old woman enter, leaning on a walking stick, walking straight toward them.

“Mother?” Madam Xie was startled, looking at the newcomer. “Why are you…”

Before she could finish speaking, Old Madam Xie had already stood in front of her and raised her hand.

“Are you satisfied?” She shouted in a trembling voice, then raised her hand again.

“Are you satisfied?”

Slap!

“Are you satisfied?”

Slap!

The crisp sound of slapping and these trembling, aged questioning voices echoed in the room, striking everyone’s heart and lungs with each blow.