Shang Lingjun arched an eyebrow.
“Talk, then. I’m listening!”
She did not care whether Qingzhi and Nanny Liang could see her hatred for the Third Branch. She truly hated them.
Otherwise, why would she have wanted to ruin Xie Zhaoqing’s reputation?
The Old Madam had seen through it long ago, so there was no need for her to hide anything.
In her previous life, Madam Qu had been her mother-in-law. But now, they were equals. If she did not vent her anger properly, how could she do justice to her past self, who had suffered so much torment?
“I want to speak with you in private!”
Madam Qu could no longer bear it.
“Oh, so you want to speak in private…”
Shang Lingjun drew out the words, then flatly refused:
“No.”
Madam Qu was thoroughly enraged. “Are you playing with me?”
Shang Lingjun lifted her eyes, their sharpness like thorns, and spoke in an unhurried manner.
“Third Sister-in-law, Third Sister-in-law, do you think I don’t know what you want to say? Let me tell you this: the Old Madam has given her word, and I am already the Seventh Madam of this household.
“There is absolutely no changing that. I don’t know what conditions you intend to use to persuade me, but I can tell you plainly—it’s impossible!”
She slowly stepped forward and stopped in front of Madam Qu, her voice carrying a chilly edge.
“I should even thank Xie Zhaoqing for his wanton nature. On our wedding night, he dragged a man in and indulged himself right in front of me. Otherwise, I would never have had the good fortune to exchange marriages and marry the Seventh Master.
“Third Sister-in-law, you gave birth to such a depraved and filthy son. You ought to be reflecting properly in the ancestral hall. How can you have the nerve to come here and demand an explanation from me?
“Your son nearly ruined my life. If you have even the slightest bit of conscience, you should be apologizing to me instead.”
Shang Lingjun’s words were like knives, every sentence stabbing straight into Madam Qu’s heart.
The moment Madam Qu heard them, her fury shot straight to her head. Her face turned dark and livid, and she had no reason left to restrain herself.
“You little slut! How dare you! This whole mess was caused by you! Today, I’ll teach you, you troublemaker!”
Madam Qu raised her hand and swung it toward Shang Lingjun’s face.
Shang Lingjun seized her wrist. Her indifferent gaze swept over Madam Qu’s savage expression, filled with contempt.
“This is not a place where you can run wild.”
With that, she flung Madam Qu’s hand away. Madam Qu staggered from the force and stared at Shang Lingjun in disbelief.
“You! How dare you be so arrogant!”
This little slut—did she think that because she had climbed into the Old Madam’s favor, she no longer had to take Madam Qu seriously?
A petty person drunk on a little success!
At that moment, Nanny Liang came out of the room and stepped in front of Shang Lingjun. With a solemn expression, she said, “Third Madam, you have lost your composure.”
Madam Qu’s expression tightened, and her eyes flickered guiltily.
“N-Nanny Liang, you were here too?”
Nanny Liang’s tone brooked no argument.
“The Seventh Madam has only just arrived in the household. As her sister-in-law, Third Madam should conduct yourself accordingly. As for Young Master Qing’s matter, the Old Madam has already made her own judgment. There is no need for Third Madam to waste her efforts.”
Madam Qu’s face shifted from green to white, her expression horribly unsightly.
She glared viciously at Shang Lingjun, let out an angry snort, and swept out of the room.
Shang Lingjun raised an eyebrow and sneered inwardly.
[That old hag.]
She was definitely plotting something unpleasant. She must have assumed that Shang Lingjun was young and easy to deceive, planning to pressure her and tempt her until she swallowed her grievances herself.
As if!
[Exactly!] Huo Chuan agreed.
Shang Lingjun froze. She had only been thinking that to herself, yet Huo Chuan had heard it.
It seemed she would have to be more careful in the future. Otherwise, wouldn’t all her innermost thoughts be overheard by this male ghost?
Shang Lingjun walked over to the little maid who had been struck and asked with concern, “Are you all right?”
The maid’s cheek was bright red. She shook her head.
“This servant is fine. Thank you for your concern, Madam.”
Shang Lingjun felt sorry for her.
“Qingzhi, please fetch some ice for her to apply to the injury…”
Then she took a banknote from her sleeve and pressed it into the maid’s hand.
“You’ve suffered because of me. Take this.”
It was a banknote worth fifty taels.
The little maid was so flattered that the banknote seemed to burn her hand.
“No, no, Madam, this is far too much…”
“It’s all right. I’m the reason you were struck.” Shang Lingjun gave her a reassuring smile.
Behind them, Nanny Liang watched everything and thought to herself that this young Madam clearly knew how to distinguish love from hate. She had been sharp and utterly unafraid when speaking to the Third Branch, yet showed such warmth toward a little maid.
No wonder the Old Madam had taken a liking to her.
Nanny Liang smiled and walked over, speaking gently.
“Madam, let Qingzhi fetch her some ice. Allow this old servant to help you with your dressing instead. Today is an important occasion.”
“All right. Thank you, Nanny.” Shang Lingjun smiled back.
Shang Lingjun wore a maple-red brocade skirt. A jeweled hairpin adorned her hair, while delicate coral drops hung from her ears. Her vermilion lips were touched with a hint of red.
She looked charming and radiant, yet also breathtakingly beautiful.
The gauze wrapped around her forehead did nothing to conceal her beauty. Instead, it made her appear even more delicate and pitiful, inspiring an instinctive urge to protect her.
Facing the bronze mirror, Shang Lingjun gently touched the gauze on her forehead.
“I wonder if it will leave a scar.”
What Shang Lingjun saw was also what Huo Chuan saw.
Looking at the beautiful face reflected in the bronze mirror, Huo Chuan had intended to make a casual teasing remark, but he became distracted for a moment.
After today, she would be his wife in name and in truth.
Such a fine young woman had married into the Xie family only to be harmed by them, and then had been made to exchange marriages with an unconscious, paralyzed man. The Xie family had truly wronged her…
Huo Chuan felt guilty toward her.
[Ati, if there’s anything you need help with in the future, just tell me.]
At the sound of Huo Chuan’s voice, Shang Lingjun’s hand paused. He was becoming increasingly accustomed to calling her Ati.
[All right…]
Her voice was soft and gentle.
[Hmm.]
Huo Chuan gave a brief hum.
Shang Lingjun gently rubbed her wrist. Although Huo Chuan could control her body and fight, he had not turned her into some steel-and-iron superhuman. Her wrist was now faintly aching.
But she said nothing.
She had already decided that, since she and this lonely ghost named Huo Chuan shared a body, they might as well maintain a harmonious relationship.
A male soul with exceptional martial skills would surely come in handy in the future. Besides, she held control over the body, so she was not worried that he might seize it from her.
Perhaps he could even help with the important matter of having children.
After all, Huo Chuan was a man too.
What she did not understand, he ought to understand, right?
…
After eating a simple meal, Shang Lingjun went straight to Rongfu Pavilion, where Old Madam Wei was waiting for the various elders to arrive so they could open the ancestral hall and amend the family register.
“Did Nanny Liang explain the rules for entering the ancestral hall?” Old Madam Wei asked.
Shang Lingjun bowed.
“Reporting to my mother-in-law, she explained everything on the way here.”
Madam Murong of the First Branch smiled with dignified grace.
“Lingjun, if you need anything or there is anything you do not understand, feel free to come to Cuihua Residence and speak with your sister-in-law.”
Shang Lingjun nodded obediently.
“First Sister-in-law, I understand.”
Madam Li of the Fourth Branch smiled so broadly that her teeth showed.
“Good little sister, whenever you have free time in the future, come sit with your Fourth Sister-in-law!”
She had originally thought that after exposing the Third Branch’s scandal, this little girl would meet with a miserable end.
Who could have imagined that she would have such ability, actually catching the Old Madam’s eye and transforming into the Seventh Master’s wife?
The Seventh Master was the youngest son who occupied the most treasured place in Old Madam Wei’s heart. Now that Shang Lingjun had become his wife, her status had naturally risen with the tide, making her a completely different person from before.
Regardless, Madam Li had to thank her. Thanks to Shang Lingjun, the Third Branch had been trampled into the dirt.
At that thought, Madam Li’s smile grew even wider.
Old Madam Wei cast her a glance. Her gaze was as cold as a deep, icy pool. She did not say a word, yet the pressure immediately made Madam Li struggle to breathe.
Madam Li hunched her shoulders, cold sweat pouring down her forehead.
Old Madam Wei calmly withdrew her gaze.
“We will discuss your affairs later.”
Madam Li murmured her assent, speaking guiltily.
“Yes, it was rash of me. I only meant well, but I ended up making things worse.”
Rapid footsteps sounded outside. Madam Qu swept into the courtyard in a furious rush.
After greeting Old Madam Wei and Madam Murong, Madam Qu shot Shang Lingjun another vicious glare and gritted her teeth resentfully. Then her eyes, venomous as a snake’s, fastened onto Madam Li.
“You have the nerve to say you meant well? I think you did it deliberately!”
She would never forget that Madam Li had been the one who arranged the adultery investigation!