At this moment, Quan Xiang dared not speak—she simply sat on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
The old madam on the main seat was heartbroken, but seeing the expression on Quan Minghao and Zhao Qingrong’s faces, she knew they were truly angered this time and had no choice but to give in.
After a long sigh, she stepped down and helped Quan Xiang up personally. “Xiang’er, what happened tonight was your fault. Apologize to your Sister Heng.”
Quan Xiang was sobbing so hard she could barely breathe, but she understood that things had escalated beyond her control. Whether she wanted to or not, she had to apologize.
She walked slowly over to Quan Heng, curtsied with great grievance, and said, “I’m sorry, Sister Heng. I was wrong today. I shouldn’t have spoken so rudely. Please forgive me.”
Quan Heng knew this was her first day back and didn’t want to cause more of a scene, so she finally nodded and replied, “Alright, go back to your seat.”
Hearing this, Quan Xiang felt another wave of frustration.
She thought that since she had humbled herself so much, this bumpkin should be falling over with gratitude. But instead, she acted so aloof, so superior.
She instinctively wanted to throw out a snide comment, but the moment she looked up, she saw the man beside Quan Heng staring at her intently.
In that instant, goosebumps rose all over her.
It felt like a cold snake had coiled itself around her—one wrong word, and she would be strangled on the spot.
Frightened, she meekly replied, “Alright,” and hurriedly returned to her seat in the third branch.
Zhao Qingrong sneered coldly. “Since Xiang’er disobeyed today, according to the Marquis household’s rules, spreading slander without cause warrants kneeling in the ancestral hall for three days. As the Junzhu of this house, I impose this punishment. Third Uncle, Madam, any objections?”
Now that she had made her identity clear, they all understood—if they didn’t let Quan Heng vent her anger today, the matter wouldn’t end here.
The old madam sighed heavily. “Very well, let you and your husband decide.”
As soon as she spoke, Xiang’s birth mother Madam Zhao burst into tears. She rushed forward and held Quan Xiang tightly. “Mother! Xiang’er has been pampered since birth. Her skin’s never even been scratched. If she kneels for three days, her knees will be ruined!”
At this, Third Uncle hurriedly dragged her back and coldly warned, “Stop crying! If you keep going, Xiang’er’s punishment will be even worse!”
Hearing this, Madam Zhao finally stifled her sobs, though her shoulders still trembled as she wept silently.
Zhao Qingrong couldn’t be bothered to look at their pitiful act. She strode over to the main household, sat down, and pulled Quan Ye back to her side, praising him gently.
“You did well today. In the future, if anyone dares bully your sister again, you must stand up for her just like this, understand?”
Quan Ye nodded earnestly. “I will.”
At this moment, Quan Rui also came over to the main table. She greeted her eldest brother, then took the seat beside Quan Heng.
After a while, she quietly said, “Sister Heng, about what happened this afternoon at the gate… I was out of line. I’m sorry.”
Quan Heng glanced at her—her ears were red, clearly summoning all her courage just to say that.
But Quan Heng felt she had done nothing wrong. On her first day back, she had already been resented and glared at. She was uncomfortable too, and just because someone apologized didn’t mean she had to accept it.
So she merely gave a light “Mm” and lowered her head to continue eating.
Quan Rui bit her lip, tears welling up again and falling into her dish.
At that moment, she felt wronged and helpless.
That dinner—few could actually taste their food.
Quan Xiang sat in her place, crying the entire evening. No matter how many from the third branch tried to comfort her, it was no use.
The second branch, always insignificant in the household, stayed silent. They were born of a concubine and always caught between the main and third branches. They simply ate quietly, not even daring to lift their heads.
Only their daughter, Quan Meng, occasionally peeked at Quan Heng. When their eyes met, she would hurriedly duck her head, terrified of being noticed.
Quan Heng raised an eyebrow but didn’t respond.
Finally, the banquet ended. Quan Heng returned to her courtyard and took a relaxing bath.
But even after lying in bed for hours, she couldn’t fall asleep. Eventually, she sat up, dressed, and lit an oil lamp, staring at the flickering flame in a daze.
She didn’t know how much time had passed when suddenly, the window creaked open.
Startled, Quan Heng turned to look—outside the window stood Ah Zheng.
He held a finger to his lips in a “shh” gesture, signaling her to stay quiet, then climbed through the window into her room.
Quan Heng quickly stepped forward, whispering, “Ah Zheng, what are you doing here? The Marquis household isn’t like the Gu residence—its rules are strict. If the two of us are caught alone in a room like this, it’ll be bad!”
But Ah Zheng just smiled without saying a word and pulled her into his arms.
That familiar scent from her body finally calmed his heart.
“Ah Heng, I mean no harm. I just missed you. Don’t worry—I checked before I came. All your servants are resting, and Ziyun, who’s on night duty, is already asleep at the door. No one will know.”
At his words, the flicker of anger in Quan Heng’s heart faded. She sighed deeply and said with melancholy, “I suppose you couldn’t sleep either.”
She slipped out of his embrace, sat on a stool, and rested her chin on her hands, her expression desolate.
“Ah Zheng, do you know? This Marquis household may be grand, but I don’t know a single soul here. The third branch clearly hates me. Even Quan Rui doesn’t like me. Sometimes, I truly think… we’d be better off back at Baixue Manor, living freely.”
Ah Zheng sat across from her and, after listening to her words, held her hand with heartache.
“Then how about… we run away? Let’s not stay here anymore. We’ll go back to the manor and live a life with just the two of us.”
Hearing Ah Zheng’s innocent suggestion, Quan Heng couldn’t help but laugh out loud, “Ah Zheng, we can’t go back to the manor anymore.”
Staring at the flickering candlelight, Quan Heng sighed, “Father, mother, and older brother—they’re all so good to me. They spent so much effort searching for me. I can’t just leave them behind for a moment of selfish freedom. Even if it wrongs you, you’ll have to stay here with me.”
Ah Zheng shook his head. “It’s not wronging me. As long as you’re here, this place is the best place.”
When Quan Heng looked up, her gaze gentle as she stared at him, Ah Zheng’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. He blurted out, “Don’t feel sad just because there are people who don’t like you. If they don’t like you, it’s because they have no taste.”
Hearing this, something stirred in Quan Heng’s heart. She didn’t know why, but it felt so full it almost brought tears. There was also a sense of grievance.
“Really? It’s not because I’m not good enough?”
Hearing this, Ah Zheng gripped her hand tighter and said seriously, “It’s true. You’re great! Someone as good as you deserves to be liked by everyone!”
After saying this, he added passionately, “Including me. I really like you.”
The moment those words left his mouth, Quan Heng felt like her heart had been scalded. She quickly pulled her hand back.
“Is that so… An older brother liking his younger sister—that’s normal. Besides, we’ve known each other for so many years, hehe…”
Quan Heng felt like her mind had turned to mush. She started rambling nonsense, then hurriedly stood up and returned to her own bed.
“I’m going to sleep. You should head back now. When you go, don’t wake Ziyun.”
Ah Zheng turned his head and glanced at Quan Heng reluctantly, a bit disappointed in his heart.
Was she feeling uncomfortable because he said he liked her?
Seeing that she was clearly trying to send him away, he didn’t dare linger. He simply replied, “Mm,” then climbed out through the window.
Before he left, he even shut her window tightly, not wanting the cool wind to blow in.
But the person on the bed suddenly sat up the moment the window closed, clutching her flushed face with both hands, a secret delight blooming in her heart.
The spot where he had held her hand was still warm, even a little tingly.
Tonight would surely be another sleepless night.
***
Meanwhile, after leaving Quan Heng’s courtyard, Ah Zheng passed by the ancestral hall of the marquis’ residence.
It was already late at night, but angry shouts could still be heard from inside.
Listening closely, it was the voice of Quan Xiang, the one who caused trouble at the banquet.
“Why should I kneel in the ancestral hall? Just because that country bumpkin has a good mother? People like her should die out in the countryside. Why come back to the marquis household? Just to be an eyesore?!”
Her maid quickly tried to calm her down. “Fourth Miss! You’re in the ancestral hall now—you can’t say such violent things! If the Marquis and Madam hear this, your punishment will only get worse!”
Quan Xiang got even angrier. “Why! Why!”
The more she thought about it, the more resentful she felt. She suddenly shoved her maid, who hit the wall with a dull thud. Though clearly in pain, she still tried to advise her mistress, “Please don’t be angry, miss. It’s not good to hurt your health.”
Having understood what was happening inside the hall, Ah Zheng sneered coldly.
This woman still hadn’t repented, even now.
Since kneeling in the ancestral hall wasn’t enough for her, he didn’t mind adding a little extra.
Ah Zheng went straight to the garden, caught several venomous snakes from a hidden corner, wrapped them in some rags, and carried them to the ancestral hall.
Taking advantage of the moment when the maid stepped out, Ah Zheng tossed the snakes into the hall and quietly left.
He had done the job flawlessly—even the footprints he left in the garden had been erased, and the rags were burned. No one could trace it back to him.
Moments later, blood-curdling screams erupted from the ancestral hall.
“Ahhh! Help! There are venomous snakes!!”
Hearing the noise, Ah Zheng finally felt satisfied. He raised his brows, brushed the dust off his clothes, and returned to his courtyard.
He’d held back for so long—Quan Heng never let him act. But now he’d finally avenged her, and no one would know. The anger that had built up was finally released.
He could finally sleep well tonight.
