With Qi Zhen’s order, Zhang Mama gave Qi Yuan a smug, sarcastic smile and said with a falsely sweet tone, “Young Miss, things have already come to this—stop struggling pointlessly. I saw it with my own eyes. How could I be wrong?”
A gleam of pride shone in her eyes.
She had already taken sides—standing firmly with Qi Yunting and Qi Jin. Naturally, she hoped Qi Yuan would be driven away as soon and as far as possible.
Qi Yuan looked at her coldly. “I wasn’t talking to you. Get lost.”
Zhang Mama’s face fell. Impulsively, she puffed up her chest and stepped forward to block her. “Young Miss, this old servant is just following orders. Please don’t argue here with me…”
She even reached out and tried to tug at Qi Yuan’s clothes.
Qi Zhen and Madam Wang just stood by, watching without reacting.
Without changing expression, Qi Yuan raised her hand and gave Zhang Mama two hard slaps across the face—one from each direction.
In the stillness of the night, the sound of those slaps was especially crisp.
Zhang Mama was stunned. She had never imagined that Qi Yuan could be this unruly!
That d*mned wild brat from the countryside!
No wonder no one in this family liked her!
She had no manners at all—always resorting to violence!
Clutching her face, she glared at Qi Yuan, seething with hatred, forcing herself not to strike back.
Hold it in. Hold it in!
She told herself to be patient—once she unearthed the “evidence” of Qi Yuan’s crime, she’d see how long this arrogant girl could hold her head up!
The Madam of the house adored the eldest young master. The moment that evidence was found, she’d be the first to cast Qi Yuan out.
Madam Wang had originally let Zhang Mama handle Qi Yuan, tired of seeing her defiant, unruly attitude.
What kind of awful temper did this girl have?
Shouldn’t she have been bowing and scraping, begging her and Qi Zhen for some kindness, some attention, now that she’d finally returned to the family?
But ever since she came back, she had that dead look in her eyes, like she didn’t care about anyone!
A person like this would never be liked anywhere! Like a stone in a latrine—both stinky and hard!
And now she was even hitting servants in front of their faces! Madam Wang couldn’t take it anymore. “How dare you! In front of your father and me, you still dare to act so wildly—what won’t you dare to do?!”
Qi Zhen simply furrowed his brow and said, “Step aside. Let Zhang Mama search, and we’ll see the truth for ourselves.”
Qi Yuan didn’t budge. “I can let her search. But what if she doesn’t find anything?”
She sneered. “I returned to acknowledge my parents, not to be treated like a thief on trial. If she really digs up something, you can interrogate me however you like—even send me to the authorities.”
She paused, glancing at Madam Wang and then back at Qi Zhen. “But if she doesn’t find anything—don’t you owe me an explanation? Or do you all see me as nothing more than an outsider? In your hearts, do I not even measure up to a servant?”
Madam Wang opened her mouth to retort, but Qi Zhen stopped her.
Qi Zhen was starting to think there was something unusual about this daughter.
If what Zhang Mama said was true, why was Qi Yuan still so calm and unflinching, even arguing her point?
Either she was truly innocent, or she was a master manipulator.
Either way, Qi Zhen couldn’t help but feel a hint of admiration.
He pointed at Zhang Mama. “If you’re falsely accusing the young miss, do you know what the punishment is?”
But Zhang Mama had no fear—she had personally buried the dolls. With absolute confidence, she raised her hand and swore, “If this old servant has wronged the young miss, may lightning strike me down and curse my entire family!”
Madam Wang, still fuming, snapped, “Well?! Are you satisfied now? Can we start the search?!”
Qi Yuan nodded and stepped aside without hesitation. “Go ahead.”
Several lanterns hung from the jujube tree, swaying gently in the night breeze.
Qi Yuan’s face was mostly hidden in the dim light—it was hard to make out her exact expression.
But for some reason, Qi Zhen felt certain that she wasn’t worried in the slightest. In fact, she might even be smiling as she waited for the search.
He turned his gaze away from her and back to Zhang Mama.
With great enthusiasm, Zhang Mama and a few servants started digging at the base of the tree.
But after several shovelfuls, it was just dirt and tree roots—nothing else.
Zhang Mama frowned. Had she buried them too deep?
She kept digging—then broke into a cold sweat.
Still nothing.
How could this be?!
She’d personally buried the dolls! She hadn’t made a mistake—her markings were still there!
Where had they gone?!
She dug several more holes around the base of the tree. Still nothing.
Qi Zhen frowned. “What’s going on?”
Sweating profusely despite the cold, Zhang Mama dared a glance at Qi Yuan.
Qi Yuan was looking right at her.
When their eyes met, Qi Yuan smiled—just slightly.
The smile made Zhang Mama’s skin crawl.
She began digging more frantically. “N-no, maybe I remembered the wrong spot!”
She and the servants practically dug a circle around the tree—but still came up empty.
She stood frozen, her face pale, as if she’d seen a ghost.
Qi Yuan, ever so considerate, stepped forward and asked, “Well? Did you find what you were looking for?”
To Zhang Mama, it was like a death knell.
She suddenly turned toward Qi Yuan, her lips trembling.
No—it couldn’t be!
Why was Qi Yuan this confident?
It was like she knew from the beginning that nothing would be found!
Had she somehow discovered the dolls were buried there?
But how?! She hadn’t told anyone!
And who did Qi Yuan even have in this courtyard—just that useless girl, Lianqiao…
Her mind was a complete mess.
Qi Yuan walked forward a few steps, voice mocking: “Nothing here either? There are a few bamboo trees over there—want to try digging around them too? Maybe you misremembered?”
Zhang Mama was now visibly panicking, trembling all over.
Qi Zhen and Madam Wang were finally realizing something was wrong.
Madam Wang stayed silent, her expression conflicted.
Qi Zhen looked straight at Zhang Mama and walked up to the tree. After inspecting it, he asked coldly, “Didn’t you say you personally saw the young miss making dolls to curse the young master? So where are they?”
Zhang Mama shook like a leaf. “My Lord… I swear, I truly saw it with my own eyes…”
Qi Zhen’s face turned cold. “I’m asking you—where are the items? Where is the evidence?”
Zhang Mama couldn’t say a word.
She looked up—and saw Qi Yuan, still standing under the jujube tree, smiling faintly at her.
Then, Qi Yuan silently mouthed two words:
“Stupid fool.”
Zhang Mama’s blood surged with fury—It was her! It really was Qi Yuan who did something!
