Qi Zhen was truly seething with rage, his insides burning.
He had always thought Qi Yunting was just a bit of a spoiled brat—not deeply flawed.
After all, what young man isn’t full of youthful arrogance? Once the rashness passed, he’d naturally walk the right path.
Who would have thought Qi Yunting would turn out to be such a disgrace!
Poisoning himself, using witchcraft to frame his own sister! The audacity!
If word of this got out, Qi Yunting’s reputation would be utterly destroyed! He’d be branded as unfilial and unrighteous!
What a fool!
His gaze turned sharp and predatory as he stared at his son. “Speak! Who put you up to this?!”
He knew exactly what kind of person Qi Yunting was—impulsive, yes, but definitely lacking the cunning for such a convoluted plan. This couldn’t have been entirely his idea.
As he questioned him, he specifically cast a glance at Qi Jin.
That one glance made Qi Jin’s whole body go cold, her heart trembling in fear.
She bit her lip, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, hatred surging within her.
What did it mean? Always saying she was their biological daughter, always claiming to treat her like their own.
But now that something had gone wrong, she was the first person he suspected?
Madam Wang also feared her husband would continue to beat their son. Through tears and fury, she shook Qi Yunting. “Hurry and speak! Who told you to do this?!”
She was truly furious!
Whoever manipulated her son into this—if this scandal spread, how could Qi Yunting still hope to inherit the marquis title? Still hope to marry into the Xiang family?
His future would be ruined! Who would want a scoundrel who even harmed his own sister?!
Qi Yunting swallowed hard, his palms cold and sweaty, but he still straightened his neck and declared righteously, “No one told me to do it. I did it on my own!”
He was the legitimate son—their precious child.
This could only be his doing!
If he dragged Ah Jin into it, their parents would surely come to hate her!
And that wretched Qi Yuan would definitely take advantage of the situation. If that happened, wouldn’t Ah Jin’s status in the household plummet even further?
Thinking this, Qi Yunting stubbornly dug in like a mule. Ignoring Madam Wang’s attempts to stop him, he said with impassioned righteousness, “I just hate that Qi Yuan! She’s a jinx! Her adoptive parents died right after she came back! She killed Hua Momo! Everywhere she goes, people die!”
The more he spoke, the more justified he felt. “Letting her stay will only cause more deaths. I did it for the sake of our family!”
Madam Wang was utterly beside herself with rage!
Qi Zhen had asked that question to give Qi Yunting a way out, hoping he’d name someone else as the instigator.
That way, at worst, Qi Yunting could be excused as having been misled.
But no—Qi Yunting insisted on shouldering all the blame himself!
She slapped him hard across the face. “Are you insane?! What nonsense are you spouting?! Do you think this is something you can just speak recklessly about?!”
What a fool! How had she raised such an idiot?!
Qi Yunting had already been beaten by his father multiple times in just two days, but this was the first time his mother had ever hit him. He covered his face, staring at Madam Wang in disbelief.
Qi Jin also widened her eyes in horror and quickly reached out to stop Madam Wang. “Mother…”
But Madam Wang shoved her away forcefully.
Her heart was full of resentment and bitterness.
Yes, she truly cared for Qi Jin. But even among ten fingers, some are longer than others—no matter how much she had treated Qi Jin like her own in the past, if it came down to choosing between a son and a daughter, she would always, without hesitation, choose her son.
This time, although Qi Yunting insisted he had acted alone and swore it was all his doing, Madam Wang was certain Qi Jin had something to do with it.
After all, they had always been like this since childhood.
Whenever Qi Jin wanted something, she never said it outright.
Qi Yunting would always be the one to charge ahead for her, to take the beatings, the scoldings, on her behalf.
In the past, it had only been minor things, and Madam Wang could turn a blind eye, pretend not to see.
But this time was different!
This time, it was about Qi Yunting’s future—his very fate!
Qi Jin stared in disbelief as she was shoved aside. She stood there in a daze, whispering, “Mother…”
Tears streamed down her cheeks like pearls.
Qi Yunting’s heart ached at the sight and, indignant, he cried out, “Mother! This has nothing to do with Ah Jin! If you must punish someone, punish me…”
Madam Wang, trembling with rage, glared at him. “Shut your mouth! Say one more word, and don’t you dare call me mother again! I’d rather treat you as dead!”
Perhaps Madam Wang’s outburst was too frightening, because Qi Yunting suddenly didn’t dare say another word.
Qi Jin, meanwhile, was seething inside, though she could only grit her teeth and weep quietly on the outside.
Madam Wang, overcome by rage, swayed unsteadily and nearly fainted.
Thankfully, Gao Mama quickly caught her just in time.
Qi Zhen cast them all a cold glance and shouted at Qi Yunting: “You’re to stay in your room and reflect on your actions! If you dare take one step outside, I’ll break your legs!”
Qi Yunting, unwilling and defiant, was still worried that Qi Jin might suffer because of him.
But Qi Zhen didn’t care. He looked at Liu Zhong.
Liu Zhong understood immediately and motioned for the guards to half-drag, half-carry Qi Yunting out of the room.
Once he was gone, Qi Zhen turned a cold gaze on Qi Jin. “It’s late. Go back to sleep.”
It was the first time Qi Zhen had ever spoken to her so coldly.
Qi Jin felt a chill in her heart, silently cursing Qi Yunting a thousand times over.
If you’re going to frame Qi Yuan, couldn’t you at least use your brain and think of a better plan?!
Now even she had been dragged down with him!
Though filled with hatred, she still put on a tearful, pitiful face. “Father, Mother, it really had nothing to do with me…”
Unfortunately, neither Qi Zhen nor Madam Wang had the energy to console her now.
Qi Zhen waved her off perfunctorily. “Enough, go to bed.”
Qi Jin knew that saying anything more was pointless. She could only bow with tears in her eyes and flee the room.
Yunyan followed behind her, anxiously trying to comfort her. “Miss, please don’t be too sad. The marquis and madam are just upset right now…”
“Upset?!”
Qi Jin gripped her skirt tightly, her face twisting with rage.
She’d been utterly ruined by that idiot Qi Yunting!
Back in the room, Qi Zhen turned to Madam Wang. “We can’t keep Zhang Mama around. Give her a mute potion and send her to the estate in Liaoning! As for the other servants who know about this—send them all away! Not a single word can be allowed to leak!”
This concerned their son’s future—Madam Wang naturally agreed without hesitation.
Zhang Mama, her mouth already stuffed, began to struggle violently upon hearing this.
And in that moment, she couldn’t help but think of Qi Yuan’s warning and attempt to recruit her.
Why had she been so blinded by greed?!
