Xing Muzheng didn’t look at Qian Jiaoniang. He could already imagine her expression, and he was afraid he’d burst out laughing.
Everyone else cast strange glances at Qian Jiaoniang, wondering if she’d been angered senseless. Feng Yuyan was clearly accusing her, yet she clapped?
Feng Yuyan’s body stiffened slightly, then she flung herself into Xing Muzheng’s arms. “Tanlang, look at Madam Qian—earlier, she didn’t say a word in front of you. Now her true colors are showing.”
The spot where she touched felt like a caterpillar crawling over him. Xing Muzheng subtly shifted to ease her off, then asked heavily, “Are you telling the truth?”
“Commander, it’s not true! Madam is a good person!” Ah Da shouted anxiously when he saw Xing Muzheng wasn’t even looking at Qian Jiaoniang but instead was seriously asking Feng Yuyan.
“How dare you interrupt when the Marquis is speaking with Miss?” Wet Nurse Ye glared. “Hurry and step back.”
“Marquis, when have I ever lied to you? Everything I said is true. If you don’t believe me, then I’ll prove it with my death!” Feng Yuyan was trembling with emotion.
They say women resort to crying, fussing, and hanging themselves—Qingya used to scoff at that. But seeing Feng Yuyan repeat this pattern again and again made her realize it wasn’t a myth. She truly used these tactics as weapons.
Xing Muzheng frowned. “Nonsense. What’s all this talk about dying?”
Feng Yuyan sniffled and pouted. “Tanlang, believe me.”
“Of course I believe you,” Xing Muzheng said.
Qian Jiaoniang’s gaze turned cold. Just then, Ding Zhang came in with others carrying food boxes. “Master, the kitchen finished preparing the dishes you ordered, and I’ve brought them as instructed. Would you like to eat now?”
“Mm. Set the table in the west wing,” Xing Muzheng pointed. Ding Zhang hurried to arrange it. Xing Muzheng said to Feng Yuyan, “Sit for a while—I’m going to eat.”
His body had been weakened by the parasite and he’d slept for two full days. Now he was ravenous—his stomach practically touching his back. Moments earlier, he had nearly been too weak to muster any inner strength. He desperately needed food to regain his strength. As for her account—he would settle that after he was fed.
“Eat?” Feng Yuyan was clearly puzzled. She had just declared her devotion and willingness to die—how could he have the appetite to eat? Shouldn’t he be arresting Qian Jiaoniang first?
Xing Muzheng acted as if he hadn’t heard her. He beckoned to Ah Da, Wang Yong, and Li Qingquan, and the three of them moved. Seeing this, Feng Yuyan quickly said, “Tanlang, let me serve you your meal.”
“No need. You just sit here. I’ll be out once I finish eating.” Xing Muzheng turned to Qian Jiaoniang. “Madam Qian, you sit as well.”
Then he strode into the west wing, followed by the three men. Li Qingquan brought up the rear. As he passed Feng Yuyan, he said, “Miss Feng, so you lied to me.”
Feng Yuyan replied, “Forgive me, Lord Li. If I hadn’t said that, Madam Qian would’ve kicked me out. I had no choice but to stake my reputation. Think carefully—don’t let Madam Qian mislead you!”
To h*ll with it—even if Madam had tried to drive her out on purpose, he’d still support it with hands and feet raised! Li Qingquan walked into the west wing with a dark face.
Feng Yuyan craned her neck, wringing her handkerchief as she stared at the west wing, as if trying to see through the door with her eyes. Wet Nurse Ye wanted to eavesdrop as well, but with all eyes watching, she could only step up and urge Feng Yuyan to sit down. Feng Yuyan turned and met Qian Jiaoniang’s half-smiling gaze.
The two had already torn away any pretense. Feng Yuyan secretly rolled her eyes and returned a fake smile. She turned to sit in the main seat, but a pile of discarded wood blocked the way. Not wanting to hurt her foot, she sat at a lower seat instead—directly facing Qian Jiaoniang. The latter calmly returned to her original spot, resting her chin in her hand as she watched. Feng Yuyan sat straight-backed, but her heart pounded. Qian Jiaoniang looked far too composed—could it be that she still held some leverage over her?
Servants continued bringing in dishes. In just the time it took to burn one stick of incense, six or seven had come in, each carrying food boxes—every dish prepared for the Marquis. At the same time, other maids were taking out empty plates and bowls. Qian Jiaoniang clicked her tongue in amazement. Was he feeding a pig? So Xing Muzheng had such a massive appetite—no wonder the food she used to give him probably wasn’t enough to fill the gap between his teeth!
She marveled that she hadn’t starved him to death—clearly, the man had a strong life force. Exchanging a look with Qingya, she stood to leave. Feng Yuyan asked, “Where are you going? Tanlang told you to wait here for him.”
Qian Jiaoniang let out a cold laugh. “This is my courtyard. Where I go is none of your business.”
“As I thought, the moment you turn your back on Tanlang, your true face is revealed. I will surely expose your schemes!”
Qian Jiaoniang couldn’t be bothered to respond. She and Qingya lifted the curtain and walked inside. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a small figure darting by. Qian Jiaoniang shook her head, pretending she hadn’t seen it, and entered the room with Qingya. As soon as she stepped inside, she felt a wave of exhaustion. She collapsed onto the couch and rubbed her temples.
Qingya came over with a fan and began fanning her. After a while, she gently shook Qian Jiaoniang and couldn’t help but ask, “Do you think the Marquis really doesn’t remember anything at all?”
With her eyes closed, Qian Jiaoniang replied, “It’s not strange if he doesn’t remember. What would be strange is if he did.”
Qingya thought about it and nodded. “That’s true. If he remembered, then during all his madness, his mind would’ve been clear the whole time? No one could bear that.”
Qian Jiaoniang let out a light sigh. “Exactly…”
The two sat quietly for a while. Then Qingya nudged Qian Jiaoniang again. Qian Jiaoniang opened her eyes. “What is it now?”
Qingya said, “If Ah Da and the others told the Marquis everything, do you think he’d still believe Feng Yuyan?”
Qian Jiaoniang curled her lips. “Who knows?”
“If it’s come to this and the Marquis still believes her, then listen to me—you shouldn’t think about anything else. Use the gratitude he owes you, take Chou’er and ask for some silver, and leave. The farther you go, the better.”
“If he believes her, could I still leave?”
“Why not? No matter what, it was you who identified the person who planted the gu and saved him. Everyone in the manor saw that. Would the Marquis dare deny it?” Qingya snorted twice, then shifted to a teasing tone with a knowing smile. “But if he doesn’t believe Feng Yuyan… if he believes you… do you think he might start seeing you in a new light, and then maybe… hmm?”
Qian Jiaoniang blinked. She understood and sat up with a scoff. “And what? Rekindle our husband-wife relationship? You’re being ridiculous.”
“Well, better safe than sorry. What if he does come to his senses, realizes how good you are, and wants to come to your room…”
“Then he’ll have to kneel in front of me and knock his head to the floor three times, loudly admit he was wrong, and then I’ll consider it,” Qian Jiaoniang said.
The words Qingya was about to say froze on her lips. She stared speechlessly at Qian Jiaoniang, who had spoken with such ease. Jiaoniang wanted Xing Muzheng—the former great general, now Dingxi Marquis—to kneel and apologize just to be allowed into her room?
After a moment, Qingya silently gave her a thumbs-up. The two exchanged a look, then burst into laughter.
Outside, Wet Nurse Ye was secretly eavesdropping, but she was too far to catch anything clearly. Just as she was starting to panic, she heard the burst of laughter. She was utterly stunned. The young miss had just been accused in front of the Marquis, and everyone thought Madam Qian was about to be framed. Why did she seem totally unbothered—why was she even laughing?
