Shen Nanxing saw Jiang Jinshu actually stand up and sternly rebuked her.
"Jiang Jinshu, why aren't you kneeling to apologize to the Marquess's wife? You've committed such a grave mistake—you don't even deserve to die for it."
Su Yunyan chimed in with a hypocritically gentle tone.
"Sister-in-law, you should continue kneeling to apologize to the Young Master and the Marquess's wife. You caused the Young Master to fall into the water and drown. The Marquess's wife is heartbroken—how can you stand there so disrespectfully?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshu curled her lips into a cold smile.
"I pushed the Young Master into the water?"
She stepped closer to Su Yunyan, one step at a time.
Su Yunyan felt inexplicably guilty as she looked at Jiang Jinshu, who seemed like a completely different person.
"Sister-in-law, this was your fault to begin with. If you sincerely apologize, the Marquess's wife—"
Slap! A sharp, resounding slap echoed through the room.
"Su Yunyan, this slap is my gift to you—for spouting nonsense and shifting your own wicked deeds onto me."
Su Yunyan covered her cheek, her eyes filled with disbelief.
"Jiang Jinshu, how dare you hit me?"
Seeing this, Shen Nanxing flew into a rage and stepped forward to shield Su Yunyan.
But as Jiang Jinshu raised her hand, it brushed against Shen Nanxing's arm. He felt a sudden numbness, and his raised hand never managed to strike.
Jiang Jinshu had already delivered a second swift slap to Su Yunyan's face.
"This second slap is for your malicious heart. You pushed the Young Master into the water, yet instead of praying for his safety, you're here cursing him. Truly, you have the heart of a snake or scorpion!"
Su Yunyan stumbled backward from the blow, nearly falling, but Shen Nanxing caught her just in time.
"Jiang Jinshu, what are you doing? How could you hit Yunyan?"
Tears and shock mingled on Su Yunyan's face. She had never imagined that the usually gentle Jiang Jinshu would act so decisively against her.
"Brother, I truly don't know what I did wrong. I was kindly pleading for sister-in-law's sake—how could she hit me?"
Her face streaked with tears and the clear imprint of the slap, she looked pitiful and fragile, like pear blossoms drenched in rain. Seeing this, Shen Nanxing grew even more furious, his eyes wide with rage as he glared at Jiang Jinshu as if he wanted to tear her apart.
What the hell was wrong with Jiang Jinshu? Wasn't it agreed that she would come to take the blame for Yunyan? Why was she refusing now? Could she possibly dare to go back on her word?
"Jiang Jinshu, if you've done wrong, you must admit it. First, you pushed the Young Master of Marquess Yongning's Residence into the water, and now you're here spouting nonsense and hitting Yunyan. How could there be someone as vicious as you in this world?"
"You were never this insane before. Have you lost your mind today?"
Jiang Jinshu let out a cold laugh and, without hesitation, raised her hand and slapped Shen Nanxing across the face.
"Shen Nanxing, who could be more ruthless than you? You're so ruthless you even deceive yourself. What? Have you told so many lies that you've started to believe them yourself? Who pushed the Young Master into the water—don't you have any idea in your heart?"
Shen Nanxing paled at her words and raised his voice.
"Jiang Jinshu, stop spouting this madness. Look at yourself now—where is the dignity of the young mistress of Shenjia? Hitting your own husband and sister-in-law—what happened to the Three Obediences and Four Virtues you were taught?"
Jiang Jinshu met his gaze with cold eyes.
"To hell with the Three Obediences and Four Virtues. I should tear that nonsense to shreds and scatter it over the graves of you two shameless lovers."
The Prime Minister's Wife was stunned by the scene before her. Madam Shen was known for her virtuous reputation—how could she have come to blows with her own husband and sister-in-law?
However, her greater concern at the moment was the condition of the Young Master, and her gaze kept drifting toward the Young Master lying on the bed.
"General Shen, Madam Shen, your commotion has left me utterly confused. But whatever you have to say, perhaps it would be best to discuss it later…"
Upon hearing this, Shen Nanxing reached out to grab Jiang Jinshu's hand.
"Jiang Jinshu, if you want to go mad, wait until we return home. Kneel down now and apologize to the Prime Minister's Wife. Today, at Chengxiangfu, you pushed the Young Master into the water and disrupted the banquet the Prime Minister's Wife worked so hard to organize. If you sincerely apologize, I might still put in a good word for you."
Jiang Jinshu tried to shake off Shen Nanxing's hand with force but found his grip too tight to break free. A cold glint flashed in her eyes as she decisively drove a silver needle from her other hand into an acupoint on Shen Nanxing's hand.
Shen Nanxing suddenly felt an intense, prickling pain in his hand, causing him to involuntarily release Jiang Jinshu.
He stared at Jiang Jinshu in disbelief, seemingly unable to believe she would dare to attack him.
"You… you actually used a needle on me? Jiang Jinshu, when did you learn such despicable tricks? Attacking your own husband—have you completely lost your mind?"
Su Yunyan took Shen Nanxing's hand, her eyes filled with worry.
"Brother, are you all right?"
She then turned to Jiang Jinshu.
"Sister-in-law, how could you attack Brother? He is your husband!"
A cold smile curled at the corner of Jiang Jinshu's lips as she rolled her eyes.
"Shut up. I'm tired of listening to the two of you putting on a show! Shen Nanxing, I ask you: are you truly convinced today that I was the one who pushed the Young Master into the water?"
Shen Nanxing's face turned ashen. He was caught off guard by Jiang Jinshu's series of counterattacks but still stubbornly maintained his composure, gritting his teeth as he spoke.
"The facts are right before your eyes. What more excuses do you have?"
"Jiang Jinshu, if you apologize properly now, I might still speak up for you later."
"But if you continue to act shamelessly and stir up trouble, beware—I will divorce you. With no parents and divorced by me, let's see how you survive then."
Su Yunyan quickly chimed in from the side.
"Sister-in-law, just apologize quickly. If you anger Brother, where will you go afterward?"
"You've caused such a scene today, completely disregarding the reputation of the General's household. I'm afraid even Mother will be furious when we return. By then, I doubt I'll even be able to speak up for you…"
Jiang Jinshu shot her a cold glare.
"It seems the two of you are determined to force me to admit to this baseless accusation today. What a pity—I won't be granting your wish."
"You keep insisting that I pushed the Young Master into the water. Why not let the Young Master himself tell us who really pushed him?"
Upon hearing this, Su Yunyan panicked. This couldn't be happening—she had clearly heard the physician say the Young Master couldn't be saved, which was why she had run to find her brother and pin the blame on that fool Jiang Jinshu.
"Sister-in-law, what nonsense are you talking? The Young Master has already passed away. Asking a dead person to speak—isn't that just deliberately hurting the Prime Minister's Wife?"
Shen Nanxing narrowed his eyes at Jiang Jinshu.
"Jiang Jinshu, why aren't you apologizing? Are you really waiting for me to divorce you?"
Faced with the threat, Jiang Jinshu looked up at Shen Nanxing without a trace of fear.
"I have done nothing wrong, why should I admit guilt?"
"I said, let the Young Master speak—who pushed him into the water?"
Hearing this, Shen Nanxing's frown deepened.
"Jiang Jinshu, you truly are gravely ill. Return to the manor and stay confined there. The Young Master has already…"
At that moment, the Young Master, who had been unconscious on the bed, sat up and leaned into the arms of the Marquess's wife.
He raised his hand and pointed at Su Yunyan.
"Mother, it was that aunt who pushed me. I accidentally bumped into her, and she shoved me into the water."