He stood expressionless, but Madam Wang suddenly shouted, “Hold it!”
She gently laid Qi Yunting down and had Wu Mama watch over him carefully. Then she straightened her clothes and pressed her lips together. “I’ll go with you!”
Anyone who dared to harm her son was her enemy— Even if that person was Qi Yuan, the daughter she had only just reclaimed.
Her patience with Qi Yuan had already worn razor-thin. If Qi Yuan had just behaved herself, then even if Madam Wang didn’t like this ungrateful daughter, she would’ve at least allowed her to stay and be fed.
But now—Qi Yuan had overstepped!
Did that girl truly believe that by using such low, dirty tricks to harm Qi Yunting, she could win more affection?
What a joke!
Qi Zhen had no objections. Once Madam Wang had settled things with Qi Yunting, he took her and the others straight to Mingyue Pavilion.
Qi Jin bit her lip, feigning a late reaction—but deep down, she already understood.
This was nothing more than one of Qi Yunting’s old schemes to target Qi Yuan.
They used to play this game all the time when they were young.
There were three branches in the family, tangled in messy relationships, and naturally, there were varying degrees of closeness between siblings.
And among them, none were closer than Qi Jin and Qi Yunting.
Back then, whenever someone offended them, the two of them would team up and use all kinds of tactics to push that person out.
It had never failed.
Qi Yuan had just returned, with no footing to stand on. She couldn’t possibly command the household servants. Of course, they did whatever Qi Yunting instructed.
Qi Jin smiled inwardly.
Qi Yunting was the sharpest blade in her hand. Over the years, she had wielded it with precision.
Anything she desired—Qi Yunting would get for her.
Anything she didn’t want to do—Qi Yunting would handle it.
She never needed to dirty her hands, because Qi Yunting always anticipated her needs and took care of everything.
And now, once again, it was the same.
She had been annoyed by that wild spawn Qi Yuan—and Qi Yunting struck.
She crouched down beside Qi Yunting and whispered softly in his ear, “Brother, you must get better soon. Only you can protect me. I know you’ll be good to me forever.”
After tonight, that wretched girl Qi Yuan would at best be sent off to the countryside to rot on her own.
Everything would return to how it should be.
She would remain the noble, cherished daughter of the marquis’s household— The only one favored.
And the future ahead of her was full of endless promise.
As for Qi Yuan?
She belonged back in the countryside feeding pigs and cutting grass. That was her fate!
—
The bright moon hung high.
Lianqiao’s eyes were so bleary from staying up that she could barely keep them open. Just as she began to nod off—
A loud crashing sound startled her awake.
She jumped in fright, instantly alert, and ran outside in panic—only to see the courtyard gate had been kicked open. Qi Zhen and Madam Wang stormed in with a group of people behind them.
Lianqiao was even more terrified now. She stumbled as she turned to run and warn Qi Yuan—only to find Qi Yuan had already come out. She stood calmly under the eaves, watching the approaching crowd in silence.
Lianqiao’s voice trembled, on the verge of tears. “Young Miss…”
Qi Yuan gave her a small, reassuring shake of the head and walked down a few steps to meet them.
As soon as Qi Zhen and Madam Wang approached, she gave a perfectly proper greeting. “Father. Mother.”
Before Qi Zhen could speak, Madam Wang surged forward and raised her hand to slap Qi Yuan.
Qi Yuan frowned slightly—and caught her wrist.
The slap never landed. Instead, Madam Wang’s wrist was gripped so tightly it hurt.
This wretched girl!
Madam Wang, shamed and enraged by the pain, suddenly recalled how Qi Yunting had once tried to strike Qi Yuan, only to miss and end up falling badly himself.
Back then, Qi Yunting had said Qi Yuan knew martial arts and was very strong.
Her suspicion of Qi Yuan deepened. Regardless of whether she was her biological daughter—
So what?
Raised outside for over a decade, of unknown background and unknown character… who knew what she was truly like?
The thought completely snuffed out any lingering maternal affection—only loathing remained.
She stared darkly at Qi Yuan. “You little wretch! Your mother raises her hand to you, and you dare fight back?!”
Lianqiao was nearly crying with anxiety, but she knew she held no weight here. When she saw Qi Yuan subtly shake her head again, she could only grit her teeth and stay silent.
Qi Yuan let go of Madam Wang’s hand and looked toward Qi Zhen. “Father, I don’t know what I’ve done to provoke Mother to such anger. Please, enlighten me.”
She was simply too tired to argue with a woman as unreasonable as Madam Wang.
Qi Zhen looked at her, his expression complicated. “Your brother fell ill today. Did you know that?”
Qi Yuan shook her head. “I didn’t. I’ve only just returned. Anything outside my courtyard, I wouldn’t know.”
Madam Wang immediately lashed out, furious. “You didn’t know?! Don’t play dumb! You cursed Yunting so he’s writhing in agony, and you still dare claim ignorance?!”
Qi Yuan listened quietly, then replied with confusion, “I’m not a god. How could I make him suffer like that?”
Perhaps she was too calm—Qi Zhen glanced at Zhang Mama suspiciously. “You tell us.”
Zhang Mama, called forward, dropped to her knees with a loud thud. “Young Miss! I saw it with my own eyes—you were sewing a doll in secret in your room to curse the Young Master! You can’t deny it!”
Lianqiao clenched her sleeves tightly.
Qi Yuan, however, looked at Zhang Mama with a half-smile. “You’re saying I made a doll and cursed Qi Yunting to fall ill?”
Zhang Mama sniffled and cried as if she were truly heartbroken. “Young Miss, I know you and the Young Master aren’t close and you hold resentment in your heart, but he’s still your brother! What you’ve done—it’s breaking the Marquis and Madam’s hearts…”
She sobbed and shouted with absolute conviction.
Madam Wang glared at Qi Yuan in disgust. “Well? What do you have to say for yourself?!”
Qi Yuan let out a cold laugh. “What can I say? Haven’t you already decided to condemn me based on a servant’s words? Since that’s the case, what’s the point in me saying anything?”
Qi Zhen, impatient, asked Zhang Mama, “Where’s this doll you’re talking about?”
First find the object—evidence in hand would be irrefutable.
Zhang Mama quickly pointed to the jujube tree in the courtyard. “Over there! I personally saw the Young Miss bury it!”
Qi Zhen didn’t hesitate. “Liu Zhong, dig it up!”
Qi Yuan stepped forward slowly, blocking Liu Zhong’s path. Her gaze turned icy as she looked straight at Qi Zhen. “And what if you dig—and find nothing?”
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