Qingshu inwardly groaned with distress.
The Second Young Master was arrogant and willful, and it was always the servants who suffered the consequences.
Upon learning that Cen Shaoyuan’s injuries were sustained at the Zhou residence, Madam Cen immediately stormed over with a group of people.
…
Zhou Mingyi was well aware of Madam Cen’s purpose but pretended otherwise.
“Madam, what brings you here…?”
Madam Cen’s people immediately pushed their way into the Zhou residence.
Once inside the courtyard, one of the servants promptly closed the gate.
Madam Cen’s personal maidservant ordered the attendants to bring a chair. Seated in the courtyard, flanked by her maids and elderly servants, Madam Cen assumed an overbearing posture, clearly intent on demanding an explanation.
Madam Cen fixed her gaze intently on Zhou Mingyi.
Even at home, this woman wore a veiled hat, confirming the truth of her claim that her appearance had been accidentally marred in childhood.
A sense of relief washed over Madam Cen, easing her vigilance.
An unattractive woman, even if she had employed some petty trick to momentarily capture her son’s interest, could not possibly hold it for long.
She had arrived today harboring some resentment.
What mother could remain calm upon seeing her son covered in injuries, with barely a spot untouched?
That she had not immediately seized this woman for questioning was already a gesture of considerable courtesy.
She gave a meaningful glance to the maidservant beside her.
The maidservant promptly spoke up, “Miss Zhou, our Madam has come today to ask you something.”
Zhou Mingyi lowered her eyes and replied softly, “What does Madam Cen wish to ask?”
The maidservant cleared her throat:
“When Miss Zhou brought the marriage contract and token of promise, was it truly to annul the engagement?”
Zhou Mingyi’s tone was sincere, “Naturally. Ming Yi acknowledges that she is unworthy of your son.”
Madam Cen’s expression softened slightly.
The maidservant pressed on, “Then why did you seduce our Second Young Master?”
“And beat him so severely?”
A perfectly measured look of astonishment appeared on Zhou Mingyi’s face.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
Madam Cen had considered countless possibilities, but she never expected Zhou Mingyi to outright deny it.
Her face instantly turned cold.
Unable to contain herself, she said, “Yuan’er is still bedridden to this day. Does Miss Zhou believe I would jest about such a matter?”
Madam Cen’s scrutinizing gaze swept over Zhou Mingyi inch by inch, strand by strand, attempting to detect any hint of abnormality in her demeanor.
Unfortunately, there was none.
This woman carried herself with impeccable grace, standing tall and elegant. Even the plain clothing she wore seemed to exude an air of unparalleled elegance.
Fox spirit!
Zhou Mingyi let out a soft sigh, her voice gentle, “Madam Cen, perhaps you should ask your son what truly happened? Ming Yi genuinely does not know.”
Madam Cen erupted in anger, “You!”
She had already subjected Qingshu to torture—how could he possibly lie?
But Zhou Mingyi was, after all, not a servant of the Cen family, so Madam Cen could not resort to such methods against her.
This woman was exceedingly cunning! For the moment, she found herself at a loss.
She had originally thought that if Zhou Mingyi admitted guilt, she could, as an elder, properly discipline her on behalf of her parents, teaching her to behave properly in the future and refrain from provoking A’yuan.
But what if she refused to admit it?
Just then, the gate was slammed open with a loud crash. Cen Shaoyuan, carried by several servants, cried out, “Mother, it has nothing to do with Ming Yi. I fell by accident.”
Cen Shaoyuan’s face was indeed bruised black and blue, a pitiful sight.
Zhou Mingyi gave him an almost imperceptible glance, the corners of her lips curling slightly.
Such a high courtyard wall, yet he hadn’t fallen to his death, nor had he broken any limbs.
He was lucky to survive.
Madam Cen exclaimed in shock, “What are you doing here?”
“What are you doing here?”
Madam Cen was both startled and suspicious.
“It must be that scoundrel Qingshu who put you up to this! Just wait until I get home—I’ll beat him to death!”
Cen Shaoyuan was furious. “Mother, you’re being completely unreasonable!”
“If you lay another hand on Qingshu or bully Ming Yi again, you might as well kill me instead!”
Despite being bruised and battered, Cen Shaoyuan had rushed over specifically to defend Ming Yi at all costs, which only made Madam Cen angrier.
“You! Fine! For the sake of this fox spirit, you’re willing to abandon your own mother and ruin your reputation, is that it?”
“She deliberately came to break off the engagement, yet secretly lured you here. Fox spirit! Shameless wretch! What are you scheming?”
Ming Yi’s expression suddenly turned cold.
“Madam Cen’s words make no sense.”
Her voice was soft and delicate, yet carried an undeniable force.
“Your son’s legs are his own. How can you accuse me of luring him here?”
“You are being far too biased and unreasonable!”
“Why don’t you ask your son yourself—did I ask him to come?”
Before Madam Cen could speak, Cen Shaoyuan rushed to defend her.
“Mother, this has nothing to do with Ming Yi. I came here on my own, shamelessly insisting!”
Madam Cen clutched her chest in anger. “You wretched child! That fox spirit has bewitched you!”
Zhou Mingyi curled her lips and added:
“Although my Zhou family is not a prominent one, my brother has achieved the rank of Tanhua and now serves as an editorial officer in the Hanlin Academy.”
“Madam, you are openly slandering me. Aren’t you afraid I’ll report you?”
Madam Cen was taken aback, then remembered what her husband had mentioned a few days ago—that the Zhou boy had achieved the Tanhua rank.
At the time, her husband was overjoyed, but Madam Cen’s heart sank.
If the marriage alliance between the two families were to continue, what would it say about her not sending anyone to Zhou Mingyi’s coming-of-age ceremony last year?
Madam Cen naturally favored her own niece.
But not long after, she heard that Zhou Mingchong had somehow offended His Majesty…
Princess Chaoyang taking a fancy to Zhou Mingchong and wanting him as a male concubine was a royal scandal.
Zhou Mingchong was no ordinary man—he was the Tanhua Lang of the current imperial examination, personally appointed by Emperor Qianwu, an official of the court and a disciple of the Son of Heaven.
Emperor Qianwu had made it clear that Tanhua Zhou had fallen ill during the palace announcement ceremony, so the Guifei had kept him in the palace to recuperate, not because he was being harassed by the princess.
Thus, the court officials naturally dared not speak of it openly.
Lord Cen had not told his wife about this.
So Madam Cen believed that Zhou Mingchong had offended the Emperor.
At the time, she even thought Zhou Mingchong didn’t know his place.
However, the Zhou family having no hope of recovery meant Zhou Mingyi would not marry into their family.
That suited her just fine.
But she never expected that, according to Ming Yi, Zhou Mingchong seemed to be fine now.
Madam Cen couldn’t help but feel a bit more wary.
Just then, Zhou Mingchong walked in, dressed in his official green robe, a black horn belt around his waist, and a black gauze hat with extended corners on his head.
He saw his courtyard crowded with people—Madam Cen had brought so many.
In contrast, Ming Yi stood alone, with only a young maid, not even a year in service, shielding her in front.
This maid was fiercely loyal, trembling with fear yet resolutely protecting Ming Yi behind her.
Zhou Mingchong’s expression instantly turned cold.
“This official was unaware that anyone would dare to barge into my residence with unruly servants and bully my younger sister!”
His words were severe, and Madam Cen’s expression nearly crumbled.
She broke out in a cold sweat, terrified.
“Nephew, it’s a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding!”
Cen Shaoyuan also hurriedly shouted: “Brother-in-law, it’s a misunderstanding!”
Zhou Mingchong recognized him, his handsome brows suddenly furrowed, his entire aura darkening. “Who is your brother-in-law?”
Speaking of “brother-in-law,” Zhou Mingchong was filled with pent-up frustration.
That “old scoundrel” was shameless, forcibly taking his sister in a temple, thus he naturally became his “brother-in-law.”
That old thing…
On the day of the palace announcement ceremony, Princess Chaoyang publicly asked if he would be willing to enter her residence to serve, then forcibly detained him in the palace, making him a laughingstock among his colleagues.
Although, under the Empress Dowager and Emperor Qianwu’s indication, Zhou Mingchong still held the position of Hanlinyuan Bianxiu, he faced constant exclusion.
Yet he was determined to achieve great things to support his sister, so he privately exhausted all means.
He tearfully complained to the Hanlin Academy superiors, using “the princess humiliating a respected close minister” as grounds to pressure the imperial family.
That “old scoundrel” merely “reprimanded the princess for youthful mischief”…
However, this move did alleviate Zhou Mingchong’s urgent predicament.
Since it was “youthful mischief,” it naturally couldn’t be taken seriously.
Zhou Mingchong passed the imperial examination, achieving the third-place Tanhua in the first tier.
In truth, his scholarship might not be inferior to the Zhuangyuan or Bangyan, but his appearance was the most outstanding.
Since ancient times, “Tanhua Lang” has been the benchmark for looks.
Thus, the title “Tanhua” was well-deserved.
The colleagues at the Hanlin Academy, gauging the imperial will, naturally dared not provoke him excessively anymore.
But Zhou Mingchong still felt discontented, and who knew Madam Cen and Cen Shaoyuan would happen to cross his path.
“Guards, I intend to report this to the Military and Police Commission!”