Madam Xiang’s vision immediately went black. What had happened today had completely exceeded the limits of what she could endure.
It was not that accidents could not happen, but for every single thing to happen all on the same day was truly rare. At the very least, in all these years managing the Xiang family household, the number of incidents she had encountered combined was still not as many as what had happened in just this one day.
But before Madam Xiang even had time to faint, Duchess Cheng beat her to it. Her mind buzzed, the back of her head went numb in waves, then her eyes widened and she collapsed stiffly onto the ground.
Once she fainted like this, the other madams were all stunned too. Those who usually had a fairly good relationship with her hurried over to support her after recovering from the shock.
Madam Xiang’s mouth tasted bitter. Rubbing her brow, she immediately ordered the servants to hurry and fetch doctors.
One doctor would not even be enough. Looking utterly miserable, she said, “Go ask around, however many doctors there are nearby, invite all of them over!”
There was no choice but to do so.
There was already a whole pile of people lying down!
This time the Xiang family had truly stirred up a hornet’s nest.
After settling all this, even the heat blisters around the corners of her mouth had multiplied. She hurriedly called Xiang Jie over and scolded him, “Just look at the sort of friends you associate with! This Wen Mingfeng, behaving so… outrageously in someone else’s home. How can a person of this character be worth befriending?”
Xiang Jie was even more shocked than she was.
He opened his mouth and said in disbelief, “That’s impossible!”
At a time like this, and he was still speaking up for him!
Madam Xiang let out a cold laugh in anger. “What’s impossible about it? They were caught in the act together! So many pairs of eyes saw it. We’re not blind!”
Xiang Jie felt like he was about to go insane too.
He grabbed at his hair. “Mother, Wen Mingfeng and Ling Qiang are mortal enemies!”
Anyone even somewhat familiar with Wen Mingfeng knew this. When Ling Chuhan had been at the Imperial Academy, he had caused Wen Mingfeng no shortage of trouble.
One time, when Ling Qiang came to pick Ling Chuhan up, she had deliberately had the carriage charge toward Wen Mingfeng, nearly killing him.
The matter had caused quite a stir at the time. Everyone had been filled with righteous indignation, thinking Ling Qiang far too arrogant, relying on the Duke’s Manor’s power to disregard others.
Two people like that, they would have an affair?
Even if beaten to death, Xiang Jie would never believe it!
Madam Xiang did not care whether he believed it or not. Facts spoke louder than words.
Rubbing her temples, she said, “What exactly is wrong with Duke Cheng’s Manor? Not one of those siblings is easy to deal with!”
Speaking of which, she could not help asking, “Right, what exactly was this business with switching the hunting dogs? Has Ling Chuhan gone mad? How does he dare do absolutely anything?”
She felt the matter was absurd to an excessive degree.
What kind of person could be this rotten, to switch out someone else’s hunting dogs while visiting another family’s home?
This was not something that could be brushed aside as a joke.
Not one of those siblings was easy to deal with?
The moment Madam Xiang said this, Xiang Jie’s mind buzzed loudly.
The siblings!
That’s right, why were the ones in trouble Ling Qiang and Ling Chuhan?!
Ling Chuhan had fallen off the cliff because he had switched the hunting dogs and used a dog whistle to direct the dogs to attack Qi Yuan’s younger brothers.
Ling Qiang having an affair with Wen Mingfeng…
Could it also be related to Qi Yuan?
This matter simply could not be thought about too deeply. Once he did, Xiang Jie shuddered uncontrollably, his face turning pale instantly.
Had Eldest Miss Qi done this too?!
He froze for a moment. Not hearing his answer, Madam Xiang became anxious. “Ah Jie, what exactly is going on? Hurry up and say something! Otherwise, how are we supposed to explain this to the Duke Cheng Residence?”
This was no small matter.
The one dead was the Duke Cheng Residence’s legitimate grandson!
If Ling Chuhan truly deserved his fate, then offending the Duke Cheng Residence was simply offending them; at least they would not end up entangled in lawsuits.
Xiang Jie snapped back to himself and was just about to explain when the panicked voice of a steward came from outside. “Madam, Young Master, Duke Cheng has arrived!”
Duke Cheng ignored everyone trying to stop him and charged straight from outside into the rear courtyard, heading directly for Duchess Cheng.
Clearly, just a few days ago the two of them had been quarreling bitterly, and Duchess Cheng had hated him to the point of gnashing her teeth.
But at this very moment, upon seeing Duke Cheng, Duchess Cheng threw herself directly at him, clutching his arm tightly and shouting loudly, “Old Ling, avenge them! You have to avenge Ah Qiang and Chuhan!”
She had completely collapsed. Crying and screaming until her voice had gone hoarse, her hair was disheveled and even the hairpins and ornaments were on the verge of falling apart.
The dignity and prestige she possessed as the Duchess in ordinary days completely shattered in this moment.
The more triumphant and proud she had been before, the more broken and miserable she was now.
Why?
Why has it become like this?!
Clearly the one who should now have been utterly disgraced with her future ruined should have been Qi Yuan.
Clearly the one who should have been torn apart by dogs, crippled even if not dead, should have been Qi Yuan’s younger brother.
All this suffering should originally have belonged to Yongping Marquis Manor!
Why was Heaven so blind, placing all this suffering upon her own grandchildren instead?!
Duke Cheng’s temples throbbed violently a few times, veins protruding one after another along his neck.
Having lived through two reigns, he had seen far too many changes in the world, too many rises and falls. So he had always believed he had long since cultivated himself into someone invulnerable.
But apparently not.
Apparently, in front of the people one loved most dearly, no one could maintain so-called rationality.
He gripped Duchess Cheng’s shoulders with both hands.
Duchess Cheng immediately let out a scream.
Her shoulders and arms had previously been gripped by Qi Yuan. Heaven knew whether that girl was simply too used to slaughtering pigs, but her strength was far greater than an ordinary person’s. Everywhere she had squeezed was swollen purple and red.
Now even the slightest touch hurt.
But compared to everything else, that pain was nothing now.
Crying, Duchess Cheng recounted everything to Duke Cheng.
Though she had not directly participated, that did not stop her from guessing the overall course of events with near accuracy.
She gritted her teeth tightly as she looked at Duke Cheng, her whole body trembling uncontrollably. “Kill her. You absolutely must kill her!”
Duke Cheng lowered his eyes, concealing the monstrous rage within them.
In truth, he was even angrier at Wen Mingfeng’s incompetence and slyness.
Also angry at Ling Qiang’s self-righteousness and petty-mindedness.
And even more angry at Ling Chuhan’s acting on his own initiative.
But in the end, the person he hated most now was still Qi Yuan!
All they had wanted was for Qi Yuan to be utterly disgraced.
But Qi Yuan wanted them dead!
That woman was simply too vicious!
Just then, he suddenly heard a scream from outside.
Immediately afterward, Feifei came crawling and stumbling in, crying as she said, “Duke, Madam, Eighth Miss, Eighth Miss has attempted suicide!”
Duchess Cheng shuddered violently, her legs giving way as she collapsed onto the ground.
Meanwhile, Duke Cheng was already striding outside in great steps, quickly shoving open Ling Qiang’s room door.
Ling Qiang was still crying and screaming incessantly, clutching a dagger in her hand and wildly brandishing it toward the Xiang family maids and old women. “Get out! I’m telling all of you to get out!”
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