Feng Yulian supported Old Madam Shen as they walked over, both looking shocked.
Old Madam Shen: "Changfeng, what happened to You'er?"
"It was Jiang Yanqing who poisoned You'er with arsenic."
"Hey, hey…" Jiang Yanqing was displeased. "Shen Changfeng, how can you lie with your eyes wide open? This tea was clearly brought by Shen Ruoyou. I was considerate of her hard work and invited her to have a cup. If she poisoned herself, it's her own fault. How did it become me poisoning her?
If you want to falsely accuse me like this, let's go to Dali Temple and have professionals properly judge this case."
Shen Changfeng snorted coldly. "Family scandals should not be made public. Why go to Dali Temple? You'er has always been kind-hearted and would never poison you.
If we go to Dali Temple and it's discovered that you were the one who poisoned her, how will you ever marry in the future? I'm doing this for your own good. Don't be ungrateful."
Jiang Yanqing really wanted to laugh. "If she didn't poison it, how did she know it was arsenic?"
"She…" Shen Changfeng had no defense, only saying, "Right now, it's not about who poisoned it. We need to save your sister!"
He ordered people to carry Shen Ruoyou back to her room. Old Madam Shen followed, but Feng Yulian knelt before Jiang Yanqing.
"Fourth Miss, I know you resent that the master brought me back from the border back then. All the mistakes are mine.
Even if you want my life, I have nothing to say, but my four children are innocent. They are all your own brothers, sisters, and younger brother. I beg you to spare them, alright?"
"Alright, then you die."
Jiang Yanqing poured a cup of tea and handed it to her.
Feng Yulian had said this to make Shen Changfeng pity her and her children more; she never truly intended to die.
For a moment, she didn't know how to react.
Zhang Haokun covered his chest and limped a few steps toward Jiang Yanqing.
"You are truly heartless. Not only did you poison your own sister, but you also want to force your concubine to die. Even if Cheng Wangfu executes you, it would be an act of justice, eliminating a scourge."
Jiang Yanqing just glanced at him disdainfully, then continued to Feng Yulian, "Drink it. Why aren't you drinking? Could it be that what you just said was only meant for Shen Changfeng to hear, deliberately trying to drive a wedge between our father-daughter relationship?"
"Enough!"
Shen Changfeng walked up to Feng Yulian and pulled her to her feet. "Jiang Yanqing, you've already beaten your second brother so badly he can't get out of bed and poisoned your third sister half to death. Even if there's immense hatred, it should be over by now."
"It's not over!" Jiang Yanqing's expression suddenly changed, her gaze sharp as she looked at Shen Changfeng. "My mother is dead. My maternal grandfather's family is ruined.
Although it's been many years and there's no evidence left, I know it was all your doing. As for who your accomplices were, I don't care, because your entire Pingyuan Houfu will pay with their lives for my mother and my maternal grandfather's family!"
"What bold words!"
A deep voice rang out from the main gate as a burly middle-aged man walked in, leading a team of soldiers in armor.
It was Prince Cheng.
Shen Changfeng strode over and knelt on one knee.
"Your Highness, you've finally come. It's all my fault for failing to teach my daughter properly, allowing her to become arrogant and domineering. Not only did she poison her family, but she also dared to assault Young Master Kun.
I humbly request that you take her back to Cheng Wangfu and discipline her properly."
Zhang Cheng stood with his hands behind his back, displeased. "Useless! Can't even manage a mere girl. What good are you? Step aside."
"Yes."
Then, Zhang Cheng turned his gaze to Jiang Yanqing.
"How dare you! How dare you not kneel upon seeing this prince!"
Jiang Yanqing smiled and said, "I'm truly sorry, but under the heavens, aside from my master, I do not kneel before anyone."
"Fine, fine. In my forty years of life, I have never seen a woman as arrogant as you. Today, I have brought three hundred elite soldiers. You have no chance of escape. Surrender now, and perhaps I will leave your body intact."
Jiang Yanqing executed the Ghost Shadow Step, and before anyone could react, she raised her hand and seized him by the throat.
Zhang Cheng was horrified. "You… how did you get here? Release this prince!"
Jiang Yanqing tightened her grip, and his face immediately turned red with suffocation.
"Cough… cough… How dare you! I am a prince of Daxing. How dare you lay hands on me…"
Shen Changfeng was so shocked his heart nearly leaped out of his chest. "Jiang Yanqing, have you gone mad? To offend a superior is a capital offense. Release the prince at once!"
Ignoring him, Jiang Yanqing spoke only to Zhang Cheng. "Prince Cheng, I have no enmity with you or your Cheng Wangfu. Both you and your son have been used as pawns by Shen Changfeng and Shen Ruoyou to deal with me.
In truth, Shen Changfeng brought me back from the countryside to replace Shen Ruoyou in marrying Zhang Haokun, because both father and daughter look down on Zhang Haokun and your Cheng Wangfu. They want Shen Ruoyou to climb higher and marry the Fifth Prince.
But then they discovered I was not under their control, so they thought to use your hands to eliminate me.
Remember this… I am not merely the Legitimate Daughter of Pingyuan Houfu. You and your son cannot touch me, but killing you would be as easy as turning my hand. However, I am by nature kind-hearted and do not kill innocents without cause.
The young master and I were merely playing around. Why must you, Prince, make such a fuss? I ask that you please return."
With that, Jiang Yanqing released Zhang Cheng.
Shen Changfeng finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Your Highness, are you alright? Please do not listen to—"
Slap!
Zhang Cheng's heavy hand struck him across the face.
Gritting his teeth, he said, "Shen Changfeng, you are truly something. You and your daughter have been playing our father and son for fools… Hmph… It seems to me that everyone in your Pingyuan Houfu has grown tired of living!"
At that moment, the steward led in a white-bearded old man in his sixties or seventies. "Marquis, the Guigu Divine Physician has arrived."
Shen Changfeng waved his hand. "Go quickly and treat the Third Young Lady."
"Yes."
Just as the two were about to leave, Zhang Cheng said coldly, "Halt."