As soon as Qi Yunting left, Lianqiao began sobbing as she checked Qi Yuan’s neck.
Qi Yunting had truly shown no mercy—there was a ring of angry red marks around Qi Yuan’s neck, so vivid it was horrifying to look at.
Baizhi snapped out of it and rushed to say, “I’ll go get some ointment!”
But everyone’s mood was heavy.
Lianqiao, especially, was overcome with dismay.
That was the young miss’s own brother! She had thought that once Qi Jin was gone, everything would finally get better.
After all, the young miss was their trueborn daughter—blood of the same vein. Emotions could be nurtured with time.
But now, it seemed that Qi Jin being gone made no difference at all.
Qi Yuan lightly touched her neck and looked into the mirror. The strangling marks were chilling to behold. She had killed before, so she was absolutely certain—if no one had stopped him just now, Qi Yunting had really intended to kill her.
He’d schemed and failed, and instead of reflecting, he came to take it out on her in fury.
He didn’t think he’d done anything wrong. His first reaction was to kill her to vent his rage.
He failed this time. What about next time?
Having died once already, she never underestimated human malice. She always assumed the worst.
Heaven had given her a second chance—not to come back and die all over again.
So what if he was her blood brother?
Anyone who wanted her dead—she would kill them first.
After a moment of silence, Qi Yuan asked Lianqiao, “Are you a family servant?”
Lianqiao blinked, not sure where this was going, but quickly answered, “Yes, miss. But I… I’m not of much use…”
Her father had died, and her mother was bedridden. She had to support the whole family on her own. Even though she was a born servant of the household, she wasn’t valued like those purchased from outside.
Qi Yuan asked in a low voice, “No siblings?”
Lianqiao’s eyes widened. “I do, miss. I have an older brother. But… he’s not allowed to serve inside the manor.”
Of course. All the desirable positions in the manor were tightly held.
To be a favored servant, you had to either follow the young masters in and out as an attendant, guard the study, or be promoted to steward over an estate or shop.
At the very least, a gatekeeper.
But those were all fiercely contested roles. People fought tooth and nail for a spot. Families like Lianqiao’s had no chance at all.
Qi Yuan didn’t hesitate. “Have your brother do something for me.”
Lianqiao immediately nodded. “Yes, miss! I’ll go home later and ask him.”
Qi Yuan gave a soft “mm” and, after giving her instructions, changed her clothes and headed to Madam Wang’s courtyard.
Madam Wang was exhausted.
In a single night, her own son had been grounded, and the adopted daughter she loved even more than her real one had been sent away. She was in a foul mood.
And today, of all days, she had to go out and visit someone—bringing along this stiff, unlikable daughter.
She gave Qi Yuan a glance, frowned, and couldn’t help asking, “What happened to your neck?!”
Qi Yuan lowered her head slowly and replied bluntly, “Eldest brother barged into my room this morning. Said I forced Qi Jin away and tried to strangle me.”
…
Madam Wang’s eyes widened in shock, and she started coughing violently, choking on her own saliva.
She immediately turned to her maid and ordered, “Go fetch my silver fox scarf for the young miss!”
She couldn’t help cursing Qi Yunting in her heart—what a troublemaker!
What on earth was going through that boy’s head?
He’d only been grounded for one night, and already he was stirring up chaos again!
If Qi Zhen saw that injury and Qi Yuan told him what happened, with his temper, he’d have Qi Yunting beaten all over again!
Qi Yunting was stupid—but Qi Yuan was also infuriating!
She looked coldly at Qi Yuan. “That’s your older brother! You’ve only just come back and haven’t had time to bond with him. It’s only natural he doesn’t like you. You need to be more flexible—lower your stance when you have to, and he’ll naturally ease up.”
She paused. Seeing Qi Yuan staring at her steadily, she grew uneasy and looked away. In a low voice, she added, “Don’t go spreading word about what happened to your neck. And especially not to your father! Don’t make things worse between you two, understand?”
Madam Wang didn’t so much as scold Qi Yunting once from beginning to end.
Qi Yuan wasn’t surprised.
After all, in her past life, Qi Yunting had remained “chaste” even after marrying—treating Qi Jin’s child like his own.
He even supported Qi Wang, the Fourth Prince, for Qi Jin’s sake.
Now that she thought about it, without a mother like Madam Wang—so blind to right and wrong—how could Qi Yunting have grown so rotten?
She didn’t argue. She simply nodded lightly. “Yes, Mother. I understand.”
Only then did Madam Wang feel a bit more satisfied and thought Qi Yuan finally looked more pleasing. She brought her along to the carriage.
On the way, she sternly instructed Qi Yuan: “Don’t stare at anything you shouldn’t. You’ve never been to a place like this—if you can avoid speaking, then don’t speak, so you don’t embarrass yourself.”
They were going to the Xiang family—future in-laws, a close allied household. If it were any other family, Madam Wang wouldn’t have wanted to bring Qi Yuan along at all, afraid she’d make a fool of herself.
Qi Yuan merely gave her quiet, polite responses.
Meanwhile, back at the Qi residence, Qi Yunting was furiously pounding away at training posts in his room.
He imagined each wooden stake as Qi Yuan, wanting nothing more than to smash them to bits.
After some time, he ripped off his bracers and cursed under his breath, “D*mn woman!”
He couldn’t help thinking of Ah Jin.
He didn’t know how she was doing.
With her delicate, weepy temperament, being sent away from home must have felt like being completely abandoned.
Father and Mother were heartless!
Qi Yunting raged for a while longer, then thought of Qi Yuan again, grinding his teeth.
Sure, Father and Mother were ruthless—but only because that wretched Qi Yuan had stirred things up behind the scenes!
Why had she even come back?!
If only she’d just died at the Xu family’s place.
Hua Momo was useless! If she’d finished Qi Yuan off back then, none of this would’ve happened!
Ah Jin wouldn’t have been sent away.
His mind spun in chaotic fury.
At that moment, his servant Xuesong knocked timidly at the door. “Eldest Young Master, are you hungry? I’ve brought you some food.”
Qi Yunting snapped, “Get in here!”
Xuesong quickly obeyed and brought the food in. “Young Master, a man needs food—don’t harm your health. If you starve yourself, wouldn’t that make Second Miss suffer even more?”
Second Miss?
The moment Qi Jin’s name came up, Qi Yunting grabbed Xuesong by the collar. “Do you know what happened when Ah Jin was sent away?!”
Of course Xuesong knew how to earn his favor. He quickly said, “How could I not? Second Miss cried like someone had died—word is her eyes were swollen like peaches when she left.”
Qi Yunting’s heart clenched.
Ah Jin must’ve suffered terribly!
And he hadn’t even been there. Who knew how those maids and servants might have mistreated her!
