"Ah—!!!"
A heart-wrenching scream echoed through the entire Marquis of Chengen's Mansion.
The guests in the front hall exchanged bewildered glances, some wondering if they had misheard.
Only Old Madam Xue rose to her feet with delight.
It had worked!
She had always despised her daughter-in-law—a woman who failed to bear a son yet carried herself with the air of a noble matriarch. Worse still, her son Xue Gui’s career depended on her brother’s influence, forcing the old woman to endure her presence.
But now, Yinghong had returned, bringing along her precious grandson. All that remained was to drive that jealous woman out of the household, and their family could finally enjoy happiness together!
The thought made Old Madam Xue’s lips curl into a smirk. After a moment, she composed herself and demanded with feigned concern, "What is the meaning of this?"
A maidservant beside her replied, "Old Madam, the sound seemed to come from the rear courtyard..."
"Hmph. Where is Chu Jing? Since she is overseeing today’s ceremony, she should go and investigate."
As expected, the crowd began searching for Chu Jing’s figure.
An elder from the clan spoke up, "Old Madam, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Chu’s Mansion came by earlier, saying she was also looking for Lady Xue..."
The moment these words were uttered, the sharp-witted guests sensed something amiss.
Lady Jiang the Younger, recalling that shrill yet strangely alluring scream, felt a chill run down her spine.
But before she could confirm her suspicions, Old Madam Xue’s gaze swept over her. "Lady Chu, is this true? And where is your eldest daughter?"
Lady Jiang the Younger’s mind raced, but before she could formulate a response, a cool, clear voice interjected, "It is true."
She turned sharply. "Eldest Miss! Do not speak nonsense!"
If her fears were correct, the reputation of the Duke of Chu’s Mansion would be ruined today!
Lady Jiang the Younger quickly added, "Old Madam, it’s not just our young mistress who is absent. Look—Marquis Xue isn’t here either, is he?"
Old Madam Xue waved her hand dismissively. "Enough of this. Since Chu Jing is missing, this old woman will reluctantly take it upon herself to see what has happened."
With that, she leaned on her maidservant’s arm and strode toward the hall’s entrance. Then, turning back, she added, "Since the festivities have been disrupted, why don’t you all join me?"
Who would refuse such a spectacle? In no time, most of the guests had followed.
Lady Jiang the Younger stamped her foot in frustration. "Disaster looms! Yuetao, hurry back and fetch the master! Tell him he must come at once!"
A faint smile played on Chu Ruoyan’s lips.
At least Lady Jiang the Younger wasn’t entirely foolish. And her father’s arrival would serve her purposes perfectly.
By now, the winding corridor was packed with a bustling crowd.
Old Madam Xue, flanked by her attendants, stopped outside a particular room. "Whoever is inside, show yourselves at once!"
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then—bang! A figure was shoved against the door.
The person seemed to be gagged, emitting only muffled whimpers...
Yet the scene left no doubt about what was happening inside!
Some onlookers craned their necks for a better look, while others hastily shielded their daughters’ eyes. Old Madam Xue swayed dramatically, feigning shock before bellowing, "Scoundrels! Who dares defile the Xue household with such indecency?"
She moved to push the door open, but Lady Jiang the Younger rushed forward. "Old Madam Xue, you mustn’t!"
Old Madam Xue glared. "Lady Chu, you keep obstructing me. Could it be that someone from the Duke of Chu’s Mansion is inside?"
Sweat beaded on Lady Jiang the Younger’s forehead as she stammered under the crowd’s scrutiny, "N-no, that’s not what I meant! I merely thought... since Marquis Xue and our young mistress are both missing, perhaps they were... amusing themselves..."
"Ha!" Old Madam Xue scoffed. "Even if it were my son, I would strip the skin from his back for such disgraceful behavior in broad daylight—"
Before she could finish, the door burst open.
A figure tumbled out—disheveled hair, torn robes, and unmistakably Xue Gui.
Gasps erupted from the crowd.
Old Madam Xue gaped. "G-Gui’er?"
Xue Gui was a pitiful sight—his face and shoulders covered in scratches, and worst of all, blood trickling from his legs.
He stretched out a trembling hand, pleading for help—only for another figure to dart from the room and drag him back inside.
The crowd stood frozen.
Then Old Madam Xue shrieked, "Quick! Save the Marquis!!!"
Servants swarmed in, and it took five or six of them to subdue the assailant.
Lady Jiang the Younger stared, dumbfounded by the sudden turn of events.
Old Madam Xue, seething with rage, stormed forward to identify the brute—only to recoil in shock when the servants yanked his head up. "Zhang Ji?!"
Wasn’t this the very man Xue Gui had hired to frame his wife for adultery?
Why was he entangled with Xue Gui instead?
Someone in the crowd recognized Zhang Ji and cried, "Isn’t that Marquis Xue’s prized disciple? What are they doing together?"
"Look at Marquis Xue—he seems to have been forced..."
"To betray one’s master is worse than beasts!"
Amid the uproar, Xue Ling swayed, barely able to stand.
Her father... and the man meant to be her betrothed... engaged in such depravity...
Every word struck her like a physical blow, far beyond what she could endure.
Chu Ruoyan wrapped an arm around her shoulders, about to speak, when a frail voice cut through the noise. "What has happened?"
All eyes turned to see Chu Jing emerging from the neighboring room.
Though her complexion had improved slightly, she still clutched her head in pain, having been roused by the commotion.
The moment Old Madam Xue saw her, she lunged with a snarl. "You! This is your doing, isn’t it? You’ve ruined my Gui’er!"
Chu Jing blinked in confusion. "What do you mean? How have I harmed the Marquis...?"
Her voice trailed off as she spotted Xue Gui sprawled on the ground, barely conscious, and Zhang Ji—his eyes wild with lust...
Understanding dawned.
"N-no, it wasn’t me! I felt unwell during the banquet and came to the rear courtyard to rest..."
"Lies! If you were innocent, why were you in the next room? And why didn’t you stop him when you heard my son being violated?"
Old Madam Xue’s eyes burned with fury. Chu Ruoyan interjected calmly, "Old Madam Xue, my aunt has already explained her condition. Is it so strange that she slept soundly? But you—you’re so quick to accuse her. Could it be you know more than you’re letting on?"
With that, she signaled Nanny Zhou.
The woman hauled over a bucket of icy water and flung it onto Zhang Ji.
The shock jolted him back to his senses. "Wh-what...?"
Xue Gui shouted hoarsely, "Mother! Get this beast out of here!"
Old Madam Xue understood—he feared Zhang Ji would reveal too much. But Chu Ruoyan was already speaking. "Indeed, Zhang Ji. To violate your own mentor is a crime punishable by death, even at the Ministry of Justice."
Terrified, Zhang Ji blurted, "N-no! It wasn’t me! The master ordered me to... to compromise Miss Xue, so that Lady Xue could no longer oppose our union!"
The crowd erupted.
Xue Ling turned deathly pale, swaying on her feet. Chu Jing rushed to embrace her. "Don’t be afraid, Ling’er. Your mother is here!"
Xue Gui’s eyes bulged. He hadn’t expected Zhang Ji to confess so recklessly. "Nonsense! Why would I harm my own daughter?"
But Zhang Ji, desperate to save his own skin, was already spilling everything like beans pouring out of a sack: "It's true! Back then, I was afraid you’d go back on your word, Teacher, so I specifically asked a fellow student to stand outside the door and record every single word exchanged between us. If you don’t believe me, go ahead and summon him—we’ll confront each other face to face!"
