Shen Nanxing saw that Jiang Jinshu had actually stood up and sharply 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 her hypocritical, tea-sipping remarks.
“Sister-in-law, you should quickly kneel again and apologize to the young Shizi and the Marquess’s Wife. You caused the young Shizi to fall into the water and drown. The Marquess’s Wife is heartbroken with grief—how can you still stand there so disrespectfully?”
Hearing this, Jiang Jinshu curled her lips into a cold smile.
“I pushed the young Shizi into the water?”
She stepped closer to Su Yunyan, one step at a time.
Seeing Jiang Jinshu, who seemed to have suddenly become a different person, Su Yunyan felt inexplicably guilty.
“Sister-in-law, this was your fault to begin with. As long as you sincerely apologize, the Marquess’s Wife…”
Slap! A sharp, resounding slap rang out.
“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 was furious. He stepped forward to shield Su Yunyan.
But as Jiang Jinshu raised her hand, it brushed against Shen Nanxing’s arm. Shen Nanxing felt a sudden numbness in his arm, and his raised hand never managed to strike down.
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 Shizi 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 blows, 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 strike her so decisively.
“Brother, I really don’t know what I did wrong. I was kindly pleading for sister-in-law’s sake—how could she hit me?”
Her eyes brimmed with tears, and the slap marks on her face were clearly visible. Now, looking tearful and pitiful, Shen Nanxing grew even more enraged. His eyes widened as he glared at Jiang Jinshu, as if he wanted to devour her alive.
What the hell is wrong with Jiang Jinshu? Wasn’t it agreed that she would come to take the blame for Yunyan? Why is 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 Shizi of the Yongning Marquis’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 unceremoniously raised her hand to slap Shen Nanxing across the face.
“Shen Nanxing, who could match your cruelty? 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 Shizi into the water—don’t you have any idea in your heart?”
Hearing this, Shen Nanxing’s face paled slightly, and he raised his voice.
“Jiang Jinshu, stop your mad rambling here. Look at yourself now—where is the dignity of the Shen Family’s young mistress? Hitting your own husband and sister-in-law—what happened to the Three Obediences and Four Virtues you were taught?”
Jiang Jinshu looked coldly at Shen Nanxing upon hearing this.
“Bullshit Three Obediences and Four Virtues. I should have torn that stuff to shreds and scattered it over the graves of you two adulterous scoundrels.”
The Madam of the Prime Minister was also stunned by the scene before her. The young Madam Shen was known for her virtuous reputation—how could she have come to blows with her own husband and sister-in-law?
However, what worried her more at the moment was the condition of the young Shizi, and her gaze kept drifting toward the little heir lying on the bed.
"General Shen, young 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. Right now, you must kneel and apologize to the Madam of the Prime Minister. Today, at the Prime Minister's residence, you pushed the young Shizi into the water and disrupted the banquet the Madam 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, and without hesitation, she used a silver needle in her other hand to prick a specific acupoint on Shen Nanxing's hand.
Shen Nanxing suddenly felt an intense, prickling pain spread across his hand, and he involuntarily released Jiang Jinshu.
He stared at her in disbelief, as if unable to comprehend that she would dare to strike against him.
"You… you actually dared to use a needle on me? Jiang Jinshu, when did you learn such underhanded tricks? To attack your own husband—have you completely lost your mind?"
Su Yunyan took Shen Nanxing's hand, her eyes filled with concern.
"Brother, are you all right? Are you hurt?"
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 Shizi into the water?"
Shen Nanxing's face turned ashen, caught off guard by Jiang Jinshu's series of counterattacks. Yet, he stubbornly maintained his composure, gritting his teeth as he spoke.
"The facts are right before our eyes. What more excuses could you possibly make?"
"Jiang Jinshu, if you apologize properly today, I might still speak a few words on your behalf later."
"But if you continue to act shamelessly and stir up trouble, beware—I will divorce you. With no parents to rely on and cast aside 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, showing no regard for the reputation of the General's residence. I fear that even after we return, Mother will be furious. At that point, I'm afraid I won't even be able to speak up for you…"
Jiang Jinshu shot her a frosty 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 Shizi into the water. Why not let the young Shizi himself tell us who really pushed him?"
Upon hearing this, Su Yunyan's expression flickered with panic. This couldn't be happening—she had clearly heard the physician say there was no hope of saving him, 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 Shizi has already passed. Asking a dead person to speak—isn't that just deliberately hurting the Marquess'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?"
Facing the threat, Jiang Jinshu looked up at Shen Nanxing without a trace of fear.
"I did nothing wrong, why should I admit guilt?"
"I said, let the young Shizi speak—who pushed him into the water?"
Hearing this, Shen Nanxing's brow furrowed even more deeply.
"Jiang Jinshu, you are truly beyond help. Return and remain confined to the estate, do not show yourself again. The young Shizi has clearly already…"
At that moment, the young Shizi, who had been unconscious on the bed, sat up, leaning into the arms of the Marquess's wife.
He raised his hand and pointed at Su Yunyan.
"Mother, it was that auntie who pushed me. I accidentally bumped into her, and she shoved me into the water."