Tao Yong was stunned by her slap. Once he recovered, he immediately grabbed the woman by the neck!
How dare Zheng Rui hit him like that!
His eyes bloodshot, his face twisted in rage, he looked terrifying.
But Zheng Rui, taking advantage of the moment, curled the corners of her lips. Sure enough even Su Huai was flustered!
“Stop! Someone! Stop him!”
The servants surged forward and quickly separated them.
Zheng Rui’s face was flushed from being choked, gasping for air, coughing violently.
Tao Yong was pinned to the ground. “Bah! Pretentious old hag! No matter how convincingly you act, it can’t hide your black heart! Like mother, like ”
Zheng Rui suddenly interrupted him: “Tao Yong! You beast! As your aunt, I’ve settled so many things for your family! And now, you dare set your sights on the young lady of our residence?!”
“You’ve wasted yourself on wine and women for years! If your parents hadn’t begged me personally, I wouldn’t have cared about you! You beast have you forgotten not only my kindness but also your parents’?”
Su Lingqing listened, frowning slightly.
Indeed, Zheng Rui’s ability to maintain control over the entire residence all these years was no fluke.
Tao Yong gaped silently, and when he heard her mention his family, the last spark in his eyes vanished.
Right… he still had a family. His parents were waiting for him, eager for his return. They wouldn’t scold him for being gone too long they’d even cook a little chicken to welcome him home.
His father may be weak, his mother harsh, but to him, they were kind.
Tao Yong was lazy and lustful, but his human nature remained. When it came to his parents, he finally shut his mouth.
Zhou Jianyue, noticing that Zheng Rui had regained control, was about to speak when someone tugged at her sleeve.
She glanced sideways to see Su Lingqing gently shake her head.
If she claimed to help, she couldn’t ignore the other person’s wishes.
Su Lingqing knew she couldn’t destroy Zheng Rui this time, but letting the woman “bleed” a little while Su Huai’s suspicion and disgust built up afterward was the best punishment.
Besides, she had said before she wouldn’t let Zheng Rui die before she had gotten what she wanted.
Su Lingqing now enjoyed the metaphorical “boiling the frog slowly” bit by bit, tormenting her target was far more fun.
Tao Yong began to smile silently, shoulders trembling, tears slowly streaming from his eyes.
Zheng Rui, after finishing her speech, forced herself to remain composed. She knew Su Huai wasn’t stupid; he was shrewder than anyone. Her intentions couldn’t be hidden from him.
Sure enough, the man glanced at her coldly. It wasn’t the look he gave his wife it was like looking at a stranger.
Tao Yong laughed for a long while before stopping. “Minister, didn’t you want to hear me speak? I’ll tell you.”
“I came in purely by luck. I have a photographic memory. Years ago, I came here once and memorized the route. I also saw the young lady back then when she was still a child.”
When he mentioned Su Lingqing, there was an odd pause.
A few seconds later, he continued: “In my life, I’ve loved only two things wine, and beauties! A young lady of such beauty as hers should only exist in heaven. How could I let her go? There simply hadn’t been a proper opportunity until today.”
Tao Yong raised his head, staring at Su Huai, and said deliberately: “Minister, the person who assisted me? There was none. How that old woman got into the young lady’s room I don’t know. I took medicine beforehand, so my consciousness was unclear, and I’ve forgotten everything.”
Su Huai narrowed his eyes, clearly not believing him.
But as always, he didn’t care about domestic affairs. As long as the outcome was satisfactory, the truth was irrelevant.
“Zhou? Bring her here too!”
Tao Yong shook his head. “No need, sir. I couldn’t handle last night, and staying with her would have been worse. I simply killed her the body’s in the woodshed.”
Su Lingqing remained calm, expression indifferent, as if she had already anticipated this murderous chaos.
There was one thing she hadn’t expected:
After saying all that, Tao Yong never mentioned seeing her or the note.
The ink on that note had herbs added it would vanish after an hour or two. Even if Tao Yong had produced it to implicate her, nothing would happen.
Since she “never entered” the woodshed today, the two guards could verify it, ensuring she’d come out clean.
Su Lingqing thought this over and looked at Tao Yong.
Unexpectedly, he met her gaze. Something flickered in his eyes too fast for her to see clearly.
Tao Yong knew he wouldn’t survive. He had seen the young lady cold, calm, already knowing today’s outcome for him.
It was fine… it was fine.
The young man looked up at Su Huai and smiled: “Minister, everything’s resolved. You don’t need me anymore, right?”
Then, Tao Yong suddenly broke free! With all his strength, he lunged for the large pillar near the door!
The change was too sudden! No one reacted in time!
Only Su Lingqing’s expression shifted slightly, her gaze lowered in thought.
She recalled the flicker in Tao Yong’s eyes earlier.
It was guilt.
Because she had pretended to save him, he hadn’t clung to her to survive.
The girl almost smiled.
A lifetime spent as a “beast,” and yet at the very last moment, he became human again.
Blood sprayed three feet high as Tao Yong’s skull cracked he died on the spot.
Two deaths in a single day; Su Huai felt the entire residence was cursed!
The man ignored everyone else, but glanced at Zheng Rui as he left.
Meeting his gaze, she broke into a cold sweat.
Su Huai’s cruelty was unhidden. If it weren’t for Zheng Rui’s family foundation, he could have divorced her then and there.
But Zheng Yunshan wasn’t easily swayed, so Su Huai would torment Zheng Rui another way.
Zhou Jianyue followed to soothe him. The servants carried Tao Yong’s body away and cleaned the blood.
If not for the lingering smell of blood, it would have seemed like nothing had happened.
The remaining people gradually left. Mistress Rong was relieved her two children had stood at the back they hadn’t seen the scene, or they’d have been terrified.
She left quickly, sneaking a glance at Su Lingqing.
The first concubine took Su Liao back to Yunyue Residence. Passing Su Lingqing, Su Liao paused.
“Second sister, don’t be afraid. Big brother will protect you from now on.” The boy’s face was full of concern.
Su Lingqing bowed slightly. “Thank you, big brother.”
The first concubine coughed. Su Liao nodded at the girl and left.
Most of the servants had dispersed. In the blink of an eye, only Zheng Rui and Su Lingqing remained.
The girl rose, head held high, and walked outside.
Zheng Rui sat in a chair, disheveled, glaring at her retreating back. “Su Lingqing, from now on, it’s life or death between us!”
Today, she was drained and had never looked so defeated.
Su Lingqing paused, looking down at the woman. “Mother, stop talking about life or death it’s so unlucky. You’re still young. Live well.”
With that, she walked off. Soon behind her came Zheng Rui’s bestial roar.
Su Lingqing laughed freely.