Duchess Chu felt quite satisfied in her heart. Seeing the steward speaking this way, she immediately guessed the reason for his hesitation.
The incident between Liu Mingzhu and Qi Yuan at the polo club had blown up so publicly that everyone in the noble circles who needed to know already knew.
So, the grudge between the Liu family and Qi Yuan was no secret.
Now, Qi Yuan had been humiliated by Cheng Wang — this wasn’t something glorious or respectable. Naturally, the Wang family wouldn’t want people to come and watch the scene.
But could she really be stopped?
Duchess Chu furrowed her brows, wearing an expression of deep concern. “Regardless, we are guests at this manor. Now that something has happened, how can we just stand by and do nothing? His Highness Cheng Wang holds such a noble status — he cannot afford the slightest mishap!”
As she spoke, she looked at the Wang family’s Old Madam with a faint smile. “Wouldn’t you agree, Madam?”
Old Madam Wang was currently so flustered and suffocated with anxiety that she could barely breathe.
When she heard Duchess Chu say this, she immediately wanted to refuse.
But Duchess Chu had already begun to lightly bicker and pressure her in tandem with Duchess Cheng’s household.
Madam Wang noticed that Old Madam Wang’s hands were trembling uncontrollably. She subconsciously glanced at the steward, then looked at Duchess Chu, who was clearly eager to watch the drama unfold. A chill instantly crept into her heart.
She recalled the feud between Duke Chu’s household and Qi Yuan.
Could it be…?
Could this incident with Cheng Wang have something to do with Qi Yuan?
Cheng Wang was a filthy, untouchable swamp. No girl entangled with him ever had a good outcome.
Honestly, even becoming Cheng Wang’s Wangfei was incredibly unfortunate — there was no glory to be gained by the family.
All of Cheng Wang’s former consorts had died under various charges — adultery, theft — each accusation more outrageous than the last.
Families with daughters in the capital avoided Cheng Wang as if he were a venomous snake.
That proud and arrogant girl… could she really have gone to provoke Cheng Wang?
Old Madam Wang no longer had the presence of mind to wonder what Madam Wang was thinking. Her hands trembled uncontrollably as she barely managed to steady herself. She coldly glanced at Duchess Chu and snorted, as if resigned to her fate: “Since Duchess Chu is so warm-hearted and righteous, then go ahead and take a look.”
The Liu family clearly wasn’t up to anything good. Even if they weren’t allowed to watch, they would still gossip and spread rumors afterward.
Since that was the case, let them go!
She hurried to the courtyard where Cheng Wang was said to be, and at a glance saw the area packed with people.
Master Wang, Duke Chu, and others were all present, their expressions strange.
Even Old Marquis Qi — Qi Yuan’s grandfather — was there, and he happened to look in their direction just then.
When he saw Duchess Chu, his left eyelid twitched uncontrollably, and he quickly pressed it down with his hand.
So many people were present!
Duchess Chu, feeling perfectly at ease, quickly approached Duke Chu. “Duke!”
But Duke Chu’s face was ashen, completely bloodless. The veins on his forehead and neck bulged as if he might faint at any moment.
This was utterly unprecedented!
Duke Chu’s household had always been known for its iron-blooded warriors. Back when he led armies to besiege cities, he’d even earned the nickname “Slaughtering God” because of how many people he’d killed.
Some even joked that Duke Chu’s household didn’t need to hang door gods — Duke Chu himself could scare off ghosts and demons.
So seeing him like this now, Duchess Chu’s heart skipped a beat, and her previously relaxed mood instantly grew heavy.
Something was wrong.
If everything had gone according to plan, Qi Yuan should have already been humiliated by Cheng Wang by now, and everyone attending the birthday banquet should have witnessed it.
If that were the case, Duke Chu would absolutely not be reacting this way.
Something had gone wrong.
Duchess Chu closed her eyes in frustration and swallowed her anger and unwillingness. What went wrong?
Before she could ask what had happened, Old Madam Wang hurried over, gasping for breath. “What’s going on?”
Master Wang gave Duke Chu and his wife a strange look but didn’t seem to know how to explain.
Madam Wang’s heart was in her throat. She was just about to ask whether Qi Yuan was involved, but then she saw Old Marquis Qi chatting with others, even chuckling softly.
She immediately fell silent.
It probably had nothing to do with Qi Yuan. If it did, how could Old Marquis Qi be so calm and composed?
Old Madam Wang was terrified. She stomped her foot anxiously and urged, “Say something! What on earth happened?”
A prince, here at their estate — whatever happened, it would be a huge matter. The Wang family would surely be implicated!
Master Wang scratched his head and coughed. “Mother, we’ve already sent someone to summon His Highness Zhou Wang…”
Zhou Wang?
Everyone looked at Master Wang in surprise.
But Old Madam Wang immediately understood. Zhou Wang was the head of the imperial clan — the one in charge of royal family affairs.
Summoning him meant that Cheng Wang had committed a serious offense.
As long as it wasn’t the Wang family’s fault, that was all that mattered.
Old Madam Wang let out a long sigh of relief.
Duke Chu’s face remained unchanged, his expression stiff and deathly, saying not a single word.
Duchess Chu felt her heart sink to rock bottom.
Something was terribly wrong.
This was supposed to be a trap for Qi Yuan — why would Duke Chu react like this?
She lowered her voice to ask what had happened, but at that moment, the courtyard gate creaked open and Duke Cheng walked out, shaking his head.
Duchess Cheng quickly went up to meet him, but the moment she stepped onto the platform, she let out a terrified scream and collapsed to the ground in fright.
What on earth had scared her like that?
The newly arrived women all exchanged puzzled looks, not knowing what had happened.
Duke Cheng quickly went over to help his wife up. “Why did you come over here?”
Duchess Cheng couldn’t even answer. She stared at the Duke and Duchess of Chu with a deathly pale face, covering her mouth and clutching her husband’s arm in terror.
Duchess Chu felt more and more that something was terribly wrong.
Did she just see a ghost? Why was she so frightened?
Duchess Chu took a few steps up the platform, intending to speak to Duchess Cheng, but her eyes swept past the body lying behind the door — and she instantly screamed uncontrollably.
Duke Chu squeezed his eyes shut.
This reaction wasn’t surprising at all, because even the noble male guests who had come to watch the scene had cried out in shock no less than the women.
Duchess Chu stared wide-eyed, her legs giving out as she collapsed to the ground, clutching her chest and fainting from fright.
Old Madam Wang immediately ordered, “Quick! Quickly help the Duchess up!”
She herself was supported by Madam Wang and Madam Lu as she stepped up to the platform. But as soon as she reached it, she stumbled.
She immediately understood why Duchess Chu had fallen.
Because Second Master Liu was dead.
And he had died in such a…
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