Old Madam Wang’s face was dark with anger. If Qi Yuan had not known about this matter, and if no one else had known, she would have wanted to quietly resolve it.
It wasn’t for Madam He’s sake.
She cared about the reputation of her natal family, and Wang Chan’s reputation.
But now, it was already known that Madam He had been scheming behind the scenes, and she even came here pretending to cry for show. Old Madam Wang could not bear it.
Seeing Madam He acting all pious, she couldn’t help but laugh in fury. “If you really care about Ah Chan, then what do you say should be done?!”
Madam Lu was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Old Madam Wang to ask Madam He this directly. A thought suddenly crossed her mind, and she couldn’t help but frown.
When a prominent family encounters such a situation, the way to deal with it is actually very simple.
Either send the daughter to the countryside, and tell outsiders she is sick.
Or have the daughter stay in the family temple to live a life of seclusion, under the ancient lamps and Buddha statues.
There was no other way. In this world, girls were treated with such strictness and cruelty; not a single blemish on their reputation could be tolerated.
Now Old Madam Wang asked this, could it be that she wanted to form a marital alliance with the He family?
After all, since arriving in the capital, the He family had repeatedly proposed marrying into the Wang family’s daughters.
Because of this, Madam Lu felt a little reluctant.
People often said: “Raise your head to marry your daughters well, lower the gate to take a wife.”
They married off daughters, naturally hoping they would live well.
The He family’s status, however, had long since declined. In recent years, it was only through the Wang family that they retained the qualification to conduct imperial business.
But in this world, the Wang family was not the only imperial merchant.
Moreover, in this world, having silver but no power would not allow a family to maintain its wealth.
She had never thought of marrying her daughter into the He family.
But that was before.
Now that something has happened…
She pressed her lips together, momentarily unable to decide.
Madam He sniffled, seeming to be deep in thought as well.
After a while, she reluctantly said, “Aunt, what do you think about Shengchang?”
He Shengchang was also currently the most promising young member of the He family.
He had passed the provincial examination as a juren and was now in the capital preparing for the spring imperial examination.
Madam He had come to the capital to take care of He Shengchang’s daily life so he could focus on his exams.
Old Madam Wang had always been attentive to this grandnephew. After all, she had always been close to her younger brother while she was at home.
But now, Old Madam Wang felt only a chill spread through her heart.
If she did not know that this matter was related to the He family, she would have thought the He family valued loyalty and, even after such an incident, remained steadfast in wanting to marry Wang Chan.
But now, she was furious to the extreme.
Madam He did not yet know Old Madam Wang’s mood, sighed, and said, “Shengchang is your grandnephew. I know his intentions; he will certainly treat Ah Chan well.”
Old Madam Wang trembled with anger.
Qi Yuan, who had remained silent until now, suddenly yawned, smiled lightly, and then asked, “Madam He, how can you use such a dirty mouth to say such pleasant words?”
……
Madam He didn’t immediately respond, turning to look at Qi Yuan, still a little stunned.
Which branch of the Wang family was this illegitimate daughter from?
Why had she never been seen before?
She was actually quite pretty, but what did she just say?
Madam Lu suddenly lifted her head, her expression full of uncertainty as she looked at Qi Yuan.
Qi Yuan had said before leaving that she already knew who was behind this.
Now, Qi Yuan spoke to Madam He like this…
Could it be?
Old Madam Qi pressed Old Madam Wang’s hand gently, shaking her head slightly to indicate that she should not speak too much.
To deal with Madam He, sending out Qi Yuan was like using a sledgehammer to kill a chicken.
Qi Yuan alone could handle it perfectly.
Sure enough, before Madam He could react, Qi Yuan suddenly looked at her hair. “Madam, your hair is quite beautiful. I wonder, in the hair embroidery of your Song City seamstresses, did they ever use your hair?”
Madam He had originally taken Qi Yuan lightly, but upon hearing this, she was instantly horrified. Goosebumps erupted all over her body as she stared at Qi Yuan in shock and fear.
She immediately pinched the back of her own hand tightly.
What did this girl mean?
Why suddenly bring up hair embroidery?
Unlike the famous Shu embroidery or Su embroidery, Song City’s hair embroidery was not widely known, only somewhat famous and popular in Song City.
Few people knew about it.
How could a girl raised in the inner chambers suddenly bring it up for no reason?
Or did she know something?
Madam He’s heart raced uncontrollably, as if it might jump out of her chest.
Qi Yuan tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Madam He, when doing bad things, shouldn’t you put more thought into it? You even used this sachet to carry something to the house, were you afraid no one would recognize that this is related to you?”
She said this, smiling, and tossed the sachet in her hand to Madam He.
Madam He instinctively caught it. At first glance, she saw the lady’s hair.
The hair was vivid.
No, it was real hair.
She opened her mouth, forcing herself to calm down immediately. “I don’t know what you’re talking about! Nonsense, what do you mean by this?”
Madam Lu widened her eyes, looking at the sachet in Madam He’s hands, finally understanding Qi Yuan’s implication.
Qi Yuan was saying that this sachet belonged to the He family?!
That meant Wang Chan’s disappearance was related to the He family?!
Had the He family gone mad?!
The two families were relatives!
After He Shengchang arrived in the capital, looking for teachers and academies, it was all thanks to the Wang family’s help!
And now they repay kindness with treachery?!
But before Madam Lu could express her anger, Qi Yuan stepped forward, grabbed Madam He’s hair, and kicked her sharply in the back of the knees. Madam He immediately fell to the ground with a “plop.”
Qi Yuan pressed her head down to the ground.
Madam He felt a ringing in her head. For a moment, the pain brought tears to her eyes as she held her forehead in disbelief.
Qi Yuan crouched beside her and gently asked, “Well, Madam He, do you remember now?”
Madam He was terrified beyond reason. She never expected to be struck by a junior, holding her head as she turned to shout at Old Madam Wang: “Aunt, aren’t you going to do something?”
What kind of killing god is this?!
She had never seen anyone like her!
Qi Yuan clicked her tongue. “What a pity, Madam He. You probably don’t realize it, she can’t be controlled.”
Madam Lu clutched her heart, watching them. Her expression flickered like clouds, but she held her fists tightly.
If it really was Madam He behind this, she would fight her to the end!
What a filthy thing to do!
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