Old Madam Zhou was utterly horrified by what Qi Yuan said, cold sweat breaking out on her back.
Her emotions were a mess—both collapsing and furious. She couldn’t help but give Qi Yuan a hard shove: “If you continue to spout such alarming nonsense, I will go to the Emperor and formally accuse you!”
As if she found some courage from this declaration, she forced a grim expression and gnashed her teeth: “My daughter was commended by the court for her chastity and virtue, and you dare to show such disrespect! I will make you pay for this!”
Qi Yuan couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Leisurely, she looked at Old Madam Zhou: “Actually, your daughter didn’t have to marry him. After her fiancé’s accident, someone else proposed—her childhood sweetheart, in fact…”
Old Madam Zhou’s face turned pale, her lips losing all color as she pointed at Qi Yuan, panting heavily.
“But marrying her off like that wouldn’t have been a goldmine, would it?” Qi Yuan’s lips curved into a cold smile, her gaze full of mockery. “So, you used both hard and soft tactics to force her to marry. Three months later, when she wanted to divorce, you simply hanged her.”
Old Madam Zhou suddenly stood up, her whole body trembling: “You’re lying! You’re spouting nonsense!”
“Whether it’s nonsense or not, you know it in your heart. And that son of yours, who feeds off his own sister’s blood, knows it too!” Qi Yuan’s voice rose, sharp and resounding as she pointed to the heavens: “There are gods watching three feet above our heads, Old Madam Zhou. The truth of what happened—your daughter has been watching from the day she died. She’s been sitting right on your shoulder ever since!”
As if to echo Qi Yuan’s words, the ram-horn lantern that had been placed on the shelf beside them suddenly fell to the ground with a loud crash, sparks flying.
Old Madam Zhou’s heart pounded uncontrollably, panic rising, her limbs going weak. For a moment, she didn’t even have the strength to speak, her face turning the color of pig liver.
Qi Yuan looked at her carefully maintained face and sighed softly: “So, Old Madam Zhou can be afraid too. You’ve been widowed for so many years, yet your nails are still painted, your lips still wear Linglong Pavilion’s finest rouge… Did you ever think of your daughter who didn’t even make it past sixteen?”
Old Madam Zhou pointed at Qi Yuan but couldn’t say a single word.
This girl, young as she appeared, had words as sharp as knives—each one stabbing directly into the heart.
Old Madam Zhou didn’t dare stay a second longer. She scrambled to her feet, gripping the table for support, and staggered away, shouting: “Let’s go! We’re leaving!”
At the same time, Zhou Ping was in the front hall apologizing profusely to the old marquis and Qi Zhen, saying all the right things, but they clearly weren’t interested. He was still hoping his mother could persuade Qi Fangyun in the back courtyard.
Who would’ve thought the news would soon come that Old Madam Zhou had already left alone, heading home in her carriage.
The old marquis’s face turned dark: “So this is what you call sincerity? Since you are so devoted to that outside mistress, we will grant your wish. No need to worry about marrying a wife of equal status anymore. Just write a divorce letter and marry your outside mistress directly!”
Zhou Ping felt as if thunder struck him.
But the old marquis and Qi Zhen no longer cared about him, directly rising to send him off.
After they sent him away, the old marquis and Qi Zhen exchanged a glance and went to the back courtyard to find Qi Yuan.
Just in time to overhear the Qi Old Madam asking Qi Yuan: “Letting them go like this? I’m afraid this matter won’t end so easily.”
If the Zhou family were really the kind of people who would kill their own daughters and sisters just for a chastity arch, how could they possibly give up the powerful backing of the marquis household?
They surely wouldn’t let this go.
Qi Yuan’s lips curved into a smile: “They will. This matter will soon come to an end.”
The Qi Old Madam was silent for a moment, then couldn’t help but ask in a low voice: “Why?”
“Because they will soon tear each other apart over who leaked the truth.” Qi Yuan laughed softly: “People die for wealth; birds die for food. To them, that chastity arch their family built is their lifeblood. Now their entire foundation is crumbling. With their nature, they won’t reflect on themselves, only look to shift the blame.”
What’s family?
Wasn’t that poor girl from the Zhou family their own flesh and blood?
The old marquis and Qi Zhen were both stunned by this realization.
Qi Yuan had already risen, speaking lightly: “She will never feel sorrow or guilt over her daughter who died so many years ago, but she will regret that the secret was exposed and that she’s about to lose her wealth and reputation. So just wait—it won’t take long.”
The old marquis couldn’t help but say to Qi Zhen: “What a pity. If she were a boy, our Qi family’s revival would be within reach!”
Qi Zhen stared deeply at him and said: “Father, with intelligence like hers, does it matter if she’s a girl? Even as a girl, our family’s revival is still within reach!”
The father and son exchanged a glance, both understanding each other completely.
After this matter settled, Qi Yuan left them to discuss how to handle Qi Fangyun, and returned to Mingyue Pavilion.
Baizhi followed her back. After Qi Yuan bathed, Baizhi helped her dry her hair and couldn’t help but mutter: “Miss, that Old Madam Zhou and Lord Zhou were really too cruel!”
On the small stove, chestnuts and oranges were being roasted, their fragrance filling the air. Qi Yuan opened her eyes and glanced at Baizhi: “So you specially dropped a big stone on Lord Zhou, huh?”
Baizhi scratched her head in embarrassment: “I was just too angry! How could people be so heartless!”
How could people?
In this world, men were all about profit. Even penniless scholars fantasized about celestial fox spirits bringing wealth to them, let alone men already wrapped in glory and riches.
She patted Baizhi’s hair: “You better keep your eyes wide open when choosing a man.”
Baizhi’s eyes sparkled: “I’m not afraid! With you around, no one can bully me!”
Qi Yuan had originally wanted to tell her that relying on herself was always better than relying on others. But when she saw Baizhi’s bright, trusting eyes, she couldn’t help but laugh instead.
Yes, she wouldn’t mistreat those who followed her.
The Zhou family’s retribution came quickly.
Early the next morning, just after Qi Yuan had finished getting dressed and before she could even eat breakfast, Qi Zhen and the old marquis summoned her to the study.
As soon as she entered, the old marquis gave her a deep look and said in a low voice: “Last night, Old Madam Zhou fell at home and died from the fall.”
Qi Zhen’s expression was complicated, his feelings even more so.
He didn’t even know—should this life be counted on Qi Yuan’s hands or not?
If it should be counted, then how many lives had already been added to Qi Yuan’s tally?
Probably more than ten fingers could count by now.
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