Qi Yuan leaned back in her chair, seriously looking at Qi Zhen. “The answer is right in front of you, isn’t it?”
Qi Zhen couldn’t believe it. If this had been in the past, he would have slapped any junior who dared talk to him about court matters until they couldn’t even recognize themselves. But this time, facing Qi Yuan, he found himself strangely compelled to listen—he had to listen.
Ever since the incident where Han Yue’e burned the ancestral hall, everything Qi Yuan had said had come true.
She wanted to invite the Eldest Princess, and the Eldest Princess actually came.
She said Han Yue’e was a spy, and it turned out to be true.
Qi Zhen looked at Qi Yuan intently. “But—but the Crown Prince is weak and sickly!”
The Crown Prince was frail, the Feng family had long since fallen from grace, and years ago, they were demoted to the southern frontiers for their misdeeds. Empress Feng had lost favor.
Everyone was just waiting—waiting for the Crown Prince to die. Once he did, Empress Feng’s position would be gone too.
As for Xiao Yunting?
Although he was the Crown Prince’s eldest legitimate son and Emperor Yongchang’s first legitimate grandson, no one believed that this child could change anything.
At best, his future would be that of a sidelined prince, perhaps even imprisoned in the palace for life.
Yet now, Qi Yuan was trying to persuade them to side with Xiao Yunting?
Qi Zhen’s face clouded with uncertainty.
Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow. “I know Father still has doubts. You can wait a few more days.”
Wait a few more days? What did that mean?
After they left Qi Yuan’s courtyard, Qi Zhen couldn’t hold back his question. “Father, what did she mean by waiting a few days? Does she really think a few days will make me change my mind?”
The old Marquis was in a complicated mood. Seeing that Qi Zhen was restless, he lowered his eyes and said, “She said to wait a few days, so wait and see! Can’t you even wait a few days?”
Hit by this rebuke, Qi Zhen didn’t dare to argue. He just gave a bitter smile. “Father, I’m honestly a little scared of her now… It’s not that I can’t wait, I just find it strange.”
The old Marquis was silent for a moment. “Strange about what?”
“She’s protected by the Eldest Princess, and now it seems she’s quite close to Jing Wang…” Qi Zhen lowered his voice. “She kills whoever she wants, and in just this short time, how many people have already died because of her? So why would she want me to also side with Jing Wang?”
What could they possibly contribute?
The old Marquis suddenly asked, “What if… what she really wants is the information you’ve uncovered?”
Qi Zhen’s whole body stiffened.
The information he uncovered—how the former Zou Wangfei really died.
The old Marquis looked at him, patted his shoulder, and lowered his voice. “You didn’t want to bring her back in the first place. Your wife always looked at her with hostility. As for that idiot Qi Yunting, I won’t even mention him! For her, this house is nothing but a source of misery.”
His words were harsh, but entirely true.
Qi Zhen felt ashamed.
He knew the old Marquis was absolutely right.
Yes, he never wanted to bring her back in the first place. She had made an official report and caused an uproar at the yamen, alarming his superiors. Fearing that the scandal would spread, he begrudgingly brought her back.
But after that, no one treated her well.
There was no kindness here, and judging by Qi Yuan’s ruthless nature, she didn’t seem like the type to repay cruelty with virtue.
So, if this was really all about the information he had uncovered…
“Then…” Qi Zhen looked at the old Marquis, “Let’s wait a few more days.”
Let’s see what she has that’s worth him gambling the future of the Qi family on Jing Wang.
After sending off the old Marquis and Qi Zhen, Qi Yuan felt a bit tired.
Baizhi carefully brought in some water to help her wash up.
Qi Yuan turned her head and asked, “How is Lianqiao?”
Baizhi quickly replied, “Don’t worry, miss. She’s fine. She was quite shaken and came back exhausted. She’s already asleep.”
Qi Yuan hummed in acknowledgment.
Baizhi couldn’t help but look at her face. “Miss, your face…”
The slap mark on her cheek was still very visible, making her whole cheek look a little swollen.
Qi Yuan touched it, then put the cloth back into the basin and pulled the corners of her mouth slightly. “It’s nothing. I won’t take the loss.”
Meanwhile, Qi Zhen returned to the main courtyard, exhausted.
Madam Wang immediately stormed toward him. “Marquis! Why did you go to that jinx’s room again?!”
Qi Zhen’s brow twitched. “What are you saying?! You’re her mother! She’s your daughter! Is that how a mother should act?”
Madam Wang was completely driven mad by Qi Yuan, and now hearing this, she coldly sneered, “I’m her mother? Ask her if she even acknowledges me as her mother!”
Qi Zhen was utterly drained. From hearing about Han Yue’e’s death to all the things Qi Yuan had said today—he felt exhausted to the bone.
How should he choose?
This problem that had troubled him for days was now back on the table again.
He was already agitated, and yet Madam Wang kept whining all day long.
He shook her hand off, finally losing his patience. “You really can’t stand her? She came from your womb—she’s your daughter! Aren’t you pretty fond of Qi Jin?!”
“That’s different!” Madam Wang choked when mentioning Qi Jin, who was now missing. “I raised Qi Jin myself! Of course we’re close! She’s not my daughter—she’s a cursed thing! I shouldn’t have stopped at one slap—I should’ve beaten her to death!”
Beaten to death?
Qi Zhen sneered.
Then, suddenly realizing something, he shoved Madam Wang forcefully and asked in disbelief, “You hit her?!”
Madam Wang grew even angrier. “I gave birth to her! Why can’t I hit her?”
Qi Zhen had never gone easy when he hit Qi Yunting either!
She turned her face away.
But Qi Zhen suddenly yanked her wrist and bellowed, “Get out!”
“What?!”
Madam Wang was completely stunned.
She had been so furious just moments ago, but now Qi Zhen’s rage completely suppressed her, making her tremble with shock and fear. “Have you gone mad?!”
Qi Zhen pointed at her, actually laughing out of frustration. “Can’t you use your brain?! Why was Han Yue’e kicked out of the house? Wasn’t it because she leaked all kinds of information about our family?! What was wrong with Qi Yuan driving her out?!”
Madam Wang tried to argue.
But Qi Zhen flung her arm away harshly. “You’re truly blind and heartless! When she came back, did you even bother sending someone to her village to ask how she survived?!”
The old Marquis was right—who would have any affection for this family after everything?
How could she possibly have stayed in the Qi family out of sentiment?
This family had failed her completely—there was nothing here worth her attachment.
Madam Wang was now completely enraged. “It’s all my fault! I should never have given birth to that wretched thing, that cursed child! Satisfied now?!”
Smack—Qi Zhen slapped her across the face.
