The mountain ravine was filled with strangely shaped rocks, many of which jutted out above the surface of the water. This area was called the Stone Forest because there were rocks everywhere.
When Ling Chuhan fell off the cliff, he still held a trace of luck in his heart, thinking that even if he fell, he probably wouldn’t die.
It was only when he fell, not into the water, but headfirst onto a sharp rock protruding above the surface that he let out an extremely shrill scream.
It hurt too much!
It was simply too painful. After that scream, he lost all strength and was swept away directly by the rapid current.
Before his consciousness completely faded, a vague thought rose in his mind, he had never intended to take this route in the first place. He had originally planned to pass directly along the main path and enter the official road.
It was Qi Yuan who had been following behind him, chasing him…
Even using her horse to block his horse, forcing him to change direction.
It was Qi Yuan who forced him onto this road!
She already knew!
She had known all along!
He widened his eyes, staring fixedly upward.
But in the next instant, he was swiftly swallowed by the icy torrent.
When Xiang Jie rushed to the edge of the cliff, the water below was still surging violently, as if nothing had happened. Let alone finding Ling Chuhan, even a corner of his clothing could not be found!
A chill spread through his entire body. He suddenly turned his head to look at Qi Yuan.
After a long while, he finally suppressed his pounding fear and said, “Miss Qi, he’s dead.”
This was the Duke’s own grandson!
This was no joke!
Xie Ying followed closely behind and rushed to the cliff edge. Then he straightened up, first glanced at Xiang Jie, and said in a deep voice, “He fell off the cliff himself.”
Xiang Jie turned his head to look at him, momentarily unable to speak.
Yes, he and Xie Ying had both seen it with their own eyes. Ling Chuhan had fallen off the cliff himself; no one had touched him at all!
Sure enough, Qi Yuan said lightly, “He was seeking death himself, who could stop him? I only wanted to ask clearly why he replaced that batch of hunting dogs. Who knew he’d feel guilty and panic his way into the wrong path.”
Everyone had been watching. She had publicly pointed out that Ling Chuhan was blowing a dog whistle and suspected that he had deliberately switched the Xiang family’s hunting dogs to harm people. Ling Chuhan had fled without offering any explanation.
As the elder sister of the victim, was it inappropriate for her to chase after him?
Xiang Jie couldn’t say anything.
He always felt the matter wasn’t that simple.
Too coincidental, far too coincidental.
Qi Yuan looked at him calmly. “Brother Xiang, Duke Cheng’s household has probably already arrived by now. You should go back first.”
Xiang Jie felt icy all over and parted his lips. “I will say that this matter has nothing to do with you.”
If someone had to bear the fury of Duke Cheng’s household, then let their Xiang family take it.
Qi Yuan glanced at him, swung onto her horse, and said, “Brother Xiang, nothing about this matter is unspeakable. Say it exactly as it happened. Ling Chuhan of Duke Cheng’s household was at fault first. I did nothing, I never even touched him. If he died, then Heaven took him. There’s nothing that cannot be said.”
Seeing her spur her horse and leave, Xie Ying stepped forward and patted Xiang Jie’s shoulder. “What are you afraid of? If anyone was at fault, it was Ling Chuhan first. He replaced so many hunting dogs, what exactly was he trying to do? He was even secretly blowing a dog whistle. What if he had ordered them to attack everyone? Would your Xiang family still have any way out?”
At the Xiang family’s banquet, the Xiang family’s dogs biting guests to death or injury,
Let alone the fact that every family would pursue responsibility and the Xiang family wouldn’t be able to explain themselves.
Just the scale of such an incident would shock the entire court.
Would Lord Xiang still be able to keep his official position?
Xiang Jie shuddered in alarm.
They then followed behind Qi Yuan and returned to the Xiang family’s villa estate.
Such a major incident had already left no one in the mood to hunt plum deer. When Madam Xiang learned of it, she nearly fainted.
She hurried to check on Shen Jialang’s injuries.
Several large gashes had been torn open on Shen Jialang’s lower leg, one could almost see the bone inside.
Even looking at it made her face turn pale.
Xiang Rong also ignored her group of young ladies and rushed over to check the situation, then anxiously asked, “Where is Yuan Jie’er?!”
With something this serious happening, how could she explain it to Yuan Jie’er?
Yuan Jie’er cared most about these two younger brothers!
Duchess Cheng had originally hurried over in panic after hearing that the hunting dogs had injured someone, afraid that it might be her own child who had been bitten.
But when she heard that the injured one was Qi Yuan’s younger brother, she immediately felt refreshed.
Heaven truly has eyes, she silently recited in her heart.
Then she couldn’t help sighing, “Really, the Qi family is something else. Two children so young, their skills not yet refined, yet they still sent them out to hunt. Isn’t that just causing trouble for others?”
Second Madam Qi had a grave expression and happened to hear this remark. She immediately felt that the Duchess was speaking in a sarcastic, insinuating tone.
With such an accident, any normal person should feel regret.
But the Duchess instead spoke so sarcastically!
Others nearby were anxiously asking whether the doctor had arrived, yet the Duchess couldn’t help almost laughing. “Sigh, being bitten by a dog is one thing, the wound itself isn’t the scary part. The frightening part is if they develop rabies later. What then?”
As soon as she said this, everyone instinctively felt afraid.
The Duchess dabbed the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief. “In the past, we encountered someone who seemed fine right after being bitten, but later suddenly became afraid of wind and light, started barking like a dog, and died within a few days…”
People instinctively wanted to move farther away.
Rabies could bite people.
No matter how good her temper was, Second Madam Qi could no longer endure it. She turned and coldly stared at the Duchess. “Madam! I advise you to accumulate some virtue in your words! Are you afraid others won’t notice that you’re hoping something happens to our Qi family?!”
After saying that, she didn’t give the Duchess any chance to reply and turned to leave immediately.
The Duchess’s face alternated between pale and flushed. “You…”
Second Madam Qi ignored her and hurried into the room. At the sight of Shen Jialang’s wound, tears immediately fell.
Ever since Shen Jialang came to the Qi family, he had always been obedient and never caused trouble.
Human hearts are made of flesh; after spending time together, they had truly treated Shen Jialang as their own child.
Now seeing him bitten like this, she immediately choked up and called, “Lang Ge’er! Are you alright?”
Shen Jialang was clearly sweating from the pain, yet when he heard her, he quickly shook his head to comfort her. “Second Aunt, I’m fine, it doesn’t hurt!”
Madam Xiang couldn’t bear it in her heart and hurriedly apologized to Second Madam Qi.
Then she asked irritably, “Where is Ah Jie?! Tell him to come here!”
He was supposed to entertain the guests, how exactly had he done that?
How could such a major incident occur?!
In the past, no matter what happened, Xiang Jie had handled matters properly, so why had such a huge mistake occurred this time?
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