Soon, a master from the Precepts Hall known for his skilled medical knowledge came out. He pressed his palms together in prayer and said solemnly, “I’m afraid the matter is grave.”
As soon as the words fell, Second Master Qi looked like he was about to rush forward and go after Qi Yuan with his life.
But Second Madam Qi grabbed him tightly and held him back.
Choking back sobs, she asked the master, “Th-then… what exactly is the situation?”
The master, kind-faced and serene, sighed as he lowered his eyes. “The dart in his shoulder has been removed, and the bleeding stopped. However, his leg bone is broken badly. I’m afraid… walking in the future will be difficult to impossible. It will be very hard to heal.”
It was the exact same diagnosis the previous doctor had given.
Second Master Qi’s eyes rolled back as he fainted on the spot.
Second Madam Qi collapsed to the ground, sobbing in despair.
Baizhi clutched Qi Yuan’s sleeve tightly, deeply anxious on her lady’s behalf.
After all, what did this have to do with her lady?
It had taken so much for Qi Yuan to earn her place in the Qi family. If this incident ruined everything, how could they possibly live on after?
Qi Yuan remained composed and walked past the master straight into the meditation room. There, she saw Qi Changting lying unconscious on the bed, face pale as paper.
She sat by the bed and gently pressed down on his injured leg, frowning. Just as she was about to speak, Second Madam Qi’s anguished wailing echoed from outside.
Qi Yuan stood up and quickly exited the room.
Outside, she saw Feng Yuzhang standing at the doorway with several children, looking terrified, neither daring to come in nor to leave.
When he saw Qi Yuan emerge, his first thought was: “We’re done for. No one from my family is getting out of Feilai Temple alive today.”
Even someone like him, used to navigating all sorts of storms, couldn’t hold it together. He choked out tearfully, “Miss Qi, please! I swear this has nothing to do with me!”
When he saw that it wasn’t the real Feng Caiyin who’d gone with Qi Changting to the back of the mountain, he had felt like he’d been struck by lightning.
And now seeing Second Madam Qi sobbing hysterically, Second Master Qi passed out, he wished he could just smash his own head and be done with it.
Dear heavens, if Qi Yuan was going to kill him, he’d rather die by his own hand, at least it might hurt less.
Qi Yuan walked a few more steps forward, and Feng Yuzhang was already unsteady, clutching the doorway for support. In a rush, he pleaded: “Miss Qi, you know how sincere I was about the marriage alliance! I truly wanted to unite our two families, I’d never try to harm Third Young Master Qi!”
He swore he was even more wronged than Dou E. Could it just snow already and prove his innocence?
Qi Yuan finally let out a cold laugh, her first words sharp and clear: “Lord Feng, your family’s death day has arrived.”
Feng Yuzhang instantly lost his footing and fell to the ground with a thud.
He knew it!
He knew it!
He knew Qi Yuan would kill him!
He couldn’t help but cry as he explained himself but Qi Yuan raised her hand and cut him off, stating flatly: “Do you know who impersonated Feng Caiyin? It was Xu Fengqiao, a wanted criminal, the wife of sea bandit Xu Hai who murdered the Governor of Zhejiang!”
Second Madam Qi’s tears halted. She looked up at Qi Yuan, dazed, slowly sensing the severity of the situation.
At that moment, Second Master Qi had also woken up.
The first thing he wanted to do was throw himself at Feng Yuzhang and kill him.
But there was no need.
Because Feng Yuzhang was already scared half to death.
Xu Fengqiao?!
Xu Fengqiao?!
He dry-heaved from terror and stammered, “No no no, this has nothing to do with me! I don’t know her! I don’t know her at all!”
How could he possibly know some Xu Fengqiao? This was the biggest injustice of his life!
Qi Yuan smiled faintly, squatting down to meet his eyes: “It’s not up to you to say whether you knew or not. She followed your family, posed as a Feng daughter, sat in the temple with your wife listening to sermons, and later boldly went with my brother to the back of the mountain.”
Second Master Qi lunged toward Feng Yuzhang, furious—
But Qi Yuan squinted slightly and said coldly: “Lord Feng, don’t bother telling me you didn’t know. Let me ask, will His Majesty believe you? Will the court officials believe you? You colluded with a sea bandit’s widow, what exactly were you plotting?”
Feng Yuzhang was petrified, absolutely shattered.
He finally broke down: “Miss Qi, I swear I didn’t! When I left, my daughter really was inside listening to the sermon, I’m not lying! Then I went to have tea with Second Master Qi! I didn’t… I didn’t—”
Then his eyes widened, full of disbelief. He gritted his teeth and growled: “Lan!”
Madam Lan, his wife.
Only she could have done it, swapped the real person out, instructed the maids to pretend nothing was wrong.
Only she could have drawn Feng Caiyin away and sneaked Xu Fengqiao in!
That madwoman!
Without another word, he sprang to his feet and bolted outside—
He was going to kill her! That wretched woman!
Second Madam Qi also stood up, she too wanted to see this woman. Why had she done such a thing?!
But she was stopped by the real Feng Caiyin, who knelt before her and asked in a low voice: “Second Madam, does the marriage still count?”
Second Madam Qi froze, staring in disbelief.
Her son’s leg was ruined, had she heard that correctly?
And the two families had just gone through utter chaos.
Even if Feng Yuzhang wasn’t involved, Madam Feng certainly was.
How could there still be a marriage alliance?
But Changting’s leg was crippled.
She was torn apart inside.
Qi Yuan, however, shook her head: “Miss Feng, you don’t need to feel guilty. A marriage built on guilt isn’t a good one. This isn’t gratitude, it’s shared misery.”
She added coolly: “Besides, my brother will be fine. I won’t let anything happen to him. Don’t think about repaying us yet. First, think about revenge.”
Feng Caiyin stared wide-eyed at Qi Yuan.
She had never met a girl like this.
So many of her thoughts ran opposite of what society expected.
Qi Yuan had already bypassed Second Master Qi and walked out.
Second Master Qi chased after her, yelling: “Wait, explain yourself!”
Second Madam Qi also rushed after him.
Meanwhile, Feng Yuzhang had stormed into his wife’s meditation hall. Without regard for the guests or the matchmaker present, he grabbed Madam Feng by the collar and demanded through gritted teeth: “Are you insane?! Why did you do it?!”
Why?!
Lady Feng laughed coldly: “They already took two of our children. And now you want to send a third one to them? I refuse to be that pathetic!”
Want to show your support? Go donate at Paypal or Ko-fi to show your appreciation! Want to get early access to at least 20+ chapters in advance? Go to my Patreon to join now! :)
