Her whole body was trembling. Her wrist was already drenched in blood, the flesh split open and turned outward, looking especially horrifying.
This scene shocked everyone present.
Duke Cheng himself was likewise heavily shaken by such an extreme scene.
If this had been an enemy, he would not even have spared them a second glance.
But this was his granddaughter, the granddaughter he had watched grow up since childhood.
The feeling was entirely different.
Only one’s own family had the right to scold or bully one’s own family.
Even if they had done wrong, it was not outsiders’ place to step in and punish them.
He closed his eyes briefly, quickly stepped forward, knocked the dagger from Ling Qiang’s hand, then grabbed her wrist and barked at the Xiang family servants, “Why are you still standing there?! Hurry and bring wound medicine and cloth bandages!”
Only then did the Xiang family servants react. Still shaken, they hurried off.
Duke Cheng sternly shouted at the others, “All of you, get out!”
After all, he was a Duke; his rank was far higher than the Xiang family’s.
The servants did not dare say a second word and immediately scattered like startled birds and beasts.
Ling Qiang continued struggling desperately. “Grandfather, let me die! I can’t go on living anymore, I can’t live anymore!”
Qi Yuan was vicious, truly vicious!
Putting her together with the b*stard she hated most!
And that b*stard was even her uncle!
Just thinking about it made her want to peel off her own skin.
Too disgusting!
Too disgusting!
Death was only a nod of the head, but Qi Yuan might as well have killed her directly! Better that than letting her sink like this into h*ll.
Duke Cheng’s face was livid as he stopped the bleeding for her. Hearing this, he let out a cold laugh. “When you were plotting against others, did you never think about the possibility of failure?”
Ling Qiang truly had not thought about it.
In her view, she had planned carefully against someone unsuspecting, and had even used a drug.
Using a drug in the Xiang family residence, a place Qi Yuan trusted, and in such a clever way, Qi Yuan should have remained completely unaware.
Who knew that b*tch would somehow avoid it anyway!
Duke Cheng finished stopping the bleeding and looked at her coldly. “What use is your death? If you die, everyone outside will say you committed suicide out of fear of punishment!”
At a time like this, how could Ling Qiang still care what other people thought?
Thinking of those people’s gazes, thinking of those humiliating discussions, she felt she might as well die.
Once dead, she would hear nothing anymore.
She knelt on the ground and burst into loud sobs.
Duke Cheng slowly took a deep breath. “A miserable life is still better than a good death. Your younger brother is already dead. If something happens to you too, are you trying to stop your mother and grandmother from living as well?”
Ling Qiang, who had still been immersed in grief, looked up in disbelief, thinking she had heard wrong. “Grandfather, what did you say?”
Who had died?!
Duke Cheng also fell silent for a long while when the topic was brought up.
After a moment, he finally said slowly, “Your younger brother switched the Xiang family’s hunting dogs. After being discovered, he panicked and fled recklessly, falling into a mountain ravine. The Xiang family has already reported it to the authorities, and both the officials and the Xiang family people are searching for him now, but… the odds are against him.”
Duke Cheng was not someone who liked deceiving himself.
He also knew that ravine. Falling from such a height, with nothing below except jagged rocks—
The chances of survival were infinitesimal.
Ling Qiang collapsed, clutching her head and tearing at her own hair, utterly unable to vent the pain in her heart.
“Why?!” she repeatedly cried out. One moment she gritted her teeth and screamed Qi Yuan’s name, the next she collapsed, crying, “It’s all my fault, all my fault!”
Seeing that she had actually torn out a large handful of her own hair, Duke Cheng immediately struck the back of her neck hard.
When Duchess Cheng rushed over, she happened to witness this scene and immediately threw herself forward. “Ah Qiang!”
Duke Cheng closed his eyes. “She’s fine. She was too emotionally agitated. I could only knock her unconscious first, otherwise something would have happened to her.”
The only sound left in the room was Duchess Cheng’s crying. Because she was too emotional and exerting too much force, a dense ring of tiny red spots had appeared at the corners of her eyes.
It looked as though her face itself were bleeding.
She gritted her teeth and asked, “Are we just going to let this matter go?”
Such a disaster had struck their family.
It could be said their family was ruined, their reputation utterly destroyed.
And this matter was simply going to end like this?!
Duke Cheng gave her a faint look. “Take care of her first.”
As soon as he pulled open the door, he saw Master Xiang approaching with Xiang Jie.
Master Xiang originally had not come to the villa estate. He still had official business at the yamen today and had planned to come over after finishing work to preside over the evening banquet.
It was only after Ling Chuhan’s accident, when a Xiang family servant had ridden back to the capital at full speed to report the news, that he hurried over.
Now, bringing Xiang Jie with him, Master Xiang cupped his hands. “Duke…”
Before he could finish speaking, Duke Cheng suddenly stepped forward and pointed at Xiang Jie. “You were present for today’s events? You witnessed everything from beginning to end?”
His tone was hostile. It was Xiang Jie’s first time being interrogated so harshly by someone of such high status, and he instinctively felt frightened. “Replying to the Duke, this junior indeed…”
Duke Cheng kicked Xiang Jie to the ground, then strode forward and smashed a fist into Xiang Jie’s nose.
Blood immediately poured from Xiang Jie’s nose.
Master Xiang was utterly stunned. His body reacted faster than his mind as he rushed forward and grabbed Duke Cheng’s arm. “Duke! This matter was an accident!”
Duke Cheng’s face was ashen. “This banquet was hosted by your Xiang family. Since you invited these guests, you should have ensured their safety!”
Master Xiang panicked. “But Young Master Ling Nine switched the hunting dogs first, and after the matter was exposed, he tried to flee. His accident was unforeseen by anyone!”
Why was he beating his son the moment he arrived?!
Duke Cheng sneered. “Really? An accident? Then why pursue him?! Even if he switched the hunting dogs, even if he made a mistake, you could have reported it to the authorities!”
He was furious.
And at the same time, heartbroken beyond measure.
If no one had chased after him, Ling Chuhan would never have panicked and fled recklessly into the ravine.
These people in front of him had all forced him to his death!
Madam Xiang arrived afterward. The moment she arrived and saw her son’s nose bleeding profusely from Duke Cheng’s beating, she immediately let out a scream.
Duke Cheng grabbed Xiang Jie by the collar and hauled him up. “Come! I’m going before His Majesty to demand justice! Let’s see whether my grandson committed a crime deserving death, requiring you people to set up a private court and recklessly take a human life!”
Xiang Jie was still inexperienced in the ways of the world. How could he compare to such a seasoned old fox? At that moment he was somewhat dumbfounded.
But even so, he still clenched his teeth tightly and did not reveal that the one who had chased Ling Chuhan was Qi Yuan.
Madam Xiang followed behind with a deathly pale face. “Duke, you cannot do this!”
This commotion had long since alarmed the guests. Everyone had now come out after hearing the noise, and seeing this scene, none of them knew how to react.
Second Madam Qi had also come out. Standing on the steps, her right eyelid suddenly twitched violently.
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