By the time Duan Mingxi arrived, Yang Yiniang had already been carried into a room, but traces of blood could still faintly be seen on the cobblestones in the courtyard, even after they had been washed.
She arrived just in time to see Madam Jiang shielding Duan Huirou behind her and ordering people to lock up Duan Qingyin.
In the household matters of the main residence, neither the Old Madam nor the second or third madams would openly humiliate Madam Jiang by intervening directly.
Thus, with Yang Yiniang down, Duan Qingyin had become a helpless lamb to the slaughter.
“Hold it!” Duan Mingxi strode in, blocking those who wanted to seize Duan Qingyin.
“Elder Sister, save me!” Duan Qingyin, desperate and disheveled, broke free from those holding her and threw herself toward Mingxi.
Duan Mingxi extended a hand to steady her, seeing her in such a pitiable state for the first time. She patted her hand reassuringly. “Don’t be afraid.”
“Duan Mingxi, what are you doing here? Who let you in? Get out!” Duan Huirou stepped out from behind Madam Jiang and shouted angrily, pointing a finger at Mingxi.
With no Old Madam, no marquis, and no second or third madams present, Duan Huirou didn’t even bother pretending anymore, revealing her true nature.
Duan Mingxi looked at the finger pointed at her, an ungraceful gesture that Madam Jiang chose to ignore entirely, and grabbed Huirou’s wrist. With a twist and a press, Huirou let out a pig-like squeal.
“What are you doing? Let her go!” Madam Jiang rushed forward in panic.
With a flick of her wrist, Mingxi threw Huirou toward Madam Jiang. The mother and daughter collapsed into a heap on the ground.
“The Marquis Madam truly has remarkable eyes, able to see and not see as needed. What am I doing? Didn’t you see? What kind of properly raised young lady points fingers and curses at others?”
Duan Mingxi sneered coldly. “Since you won’t teach your daughter, I’ll do it for you and make sure she knows her place.”
“Duan Mingxi!” Madam Jiang shrieked, “What do you want?”
“Shouldn’t you be asking your precious daughter what she wants? Would I hit her if she didn’t provoke me? The shameless always meet their match.” Mingxi turned to Duan Qingyin. “How’s Yang Yiniang? Has a doctor been called?”
Duan Qingyin burst into tears. “No, I begged the madam, but she said my mother brought this on herself by disrespecting the second miss. She even said I lacked proper manners and wanted to lock me up to learn discipline. Elder Sister, please, get a doctor quickly! My mother has lost so much blood.”
Duan Mingxi’s expression turned cold as her eyes swept over the courtyard’s freshly washed stones. She let out a laugh. “No wonder the courtyard was cleaned so quickly—evidence needed to be erased.”
“What nonsense are you spouting?” Madam Jiang retorted. “Yang Yiniang and her daughter are scheming troublemakers…”
“Did Yang Yiniang go to Huirou’s courtyard to pick a fight?”
Madam Jiang faltered.
“Right and wrong will be made clear. I’ve already sent for a doctor. The doctor will determine how Yang Yiniang miscarried. I’ve also sent word to the marquis. I imagine he’ll be overjoyed to learn he was expecting a child at his age, only to be devastated moments later when the child was lost. I’m sure his emotions will be… complicated.”
“Duan Mingxi, why are you doing this? Are you trying to drive me to my death?” Duan Huirou suddenly charged forward, trying to crash into Mingxi. “Why couldn’t you just stay dead out there?”
Duan Mingxi pinned Duan Huirou to the ground with her foot. Her delicate face pressed against the cold cobblestones, Duan Huirou’s eyes still burned with fury as she glared up at her.
“She’s your sister! Let her go!” Madam Jiang cried, too terrified to move.
“Oh? You didn’t hear her wishing me dead?” Mingxi looked at Madam Jiang coldly.
Madam Jiang froze. She had heard it. “It was just a joke. Why take it to heart?”
“I was only playing with my sister, so why are you so alarmed?” Mingxi sneered. “She wanted my life, and yet all she’s losing is face. Clearly, my life means nothing to you compared to her dignity.”
“But you’re still okay, aren’t you?”
“That’s because she’s the one under my foot, not me.”
“Madam Jiang, from this moment, we’re done. You are no longer my mother, and I am no longer your daughter. Let’s consider ourselves even.”
Madam Jiang instinctively shook her head. “That’s impossible…”
“If you insist on being my mother, then handle this matter fairly.”
Madam Jiang clammed up.
Duan Mingxi chuckled coldly and lifted her foot. Looking at Huirou, she said, “This is your last warning. If you provoke me again, I won’t be so merciful.”
Madam Jiang hastily pulled Huirou into her arms, pressing her head down to avoid meeting Mingxi’s gaze, terrified of what this “demon” might do next.
At that moment, the doctor arrived. Just as he entered, the marquis returned as well.
What a spectacle.
As soon as Dingyuan Marquis arrived, Mingxi stepped forward. Madam Jiang and Duan Huirou instinctively closed their mouths, halting their complaints.
Duan Mingxi pointed at Duan Qingyin. “Qingyin, you explain what happened.”
Before Duan Qingyin could speak, tears started falling down her face. Like Yang Yiniang, she had a delicate and fragile appearance, and her tears flowed even before she spoke, making her look pitiful.
“…Second Sister rushed in and slapped Yang Yiniang. I was so scared at the time. When I regained my senses, I tried to stop Second Sister, but then she slapped me back.
She cursed Yang Yiniang, calling her a seductress, and called me a little slut raised by a prostitute. Then, she kicked Yang Yiniang in the stomach. Yang Yiniang fell to the ground and started bleeding shortly after…”
“Good! My daughter is so impressive—kicking Yang Yiniang and slapping her sister…” Marquis Dingyuan trembled with anger.
“Dad, Yiniang’s little brother is gone. She fainted from the pain on the spot. When the Madam heard the news, she came over but didn’t ask for a doctor for Yang Yiniang. Instead, she locked me up and had people bring water to clean the floor and destroy the evidence.”
Duan Qingyin sobbed uncontrollably. “Dad, you have to stand up for Yang Yiniang and me. If it wasn’t for Big Sister coming over, Yang Yiniang might have lost her life…”
Yang Yiniang had always won Marquis Dingyuan’s favor. What’s more, she had given him a son and a daughter. Hearing this, he turned and stared at Madam Jiang, trembling with rage, gritting his teeth as he said, “Well, well, you’re really something! Yang Yiniang was just pregnant, and you couldn’t even tolerate her. You let Huirou do this, and you, as the Madam, are indulging her! I can’t stay with such a woman anymore!”
Madam Jiang’s face turned pale. “What do you mean by that?”
“What do I mean? You encouraged your daughter to commit violence, harmed our unborn child, and treated Mingxi unfairly. I’ve been patient because of the children, but you’ve become more and more arrogant. This family can no longer tolerate you. I want a divorce!”
At these words, Mingxi was shocked.
