Feng Yulian hurried over, supporting Old Madam Shen by the arm. Both of them were pale with shock.
Old Madam Shen asked, “Changfeng, what on earth has happened to Ruoyou?”
“Jiang Yanqing poisoned Ruoyou with arsenic.”
“Wait, wait a minute…” Jiang Yanqing wasn’t going to let that stand. “Shen Changfeng, how can you open your eyes and talk utter nonsense? This tea was clearly brought over by Shen Ruoyou. I took pity on her for working so hard and offered her a cup; if she poisoned herself, it’s nothing less than reaping what she sowed. How on earth does that translate to me poisoning her? If you insist on framing me like this, let’s take this straight to the Grand Court of Revision and have professionals sort this case out properly.”
Shen Changfeng sneered. “Family scandals should not be aired to the public. The Grand Court of Revision? Out of the question. Ruoyou has always been kind-hearted and would never poison you. If we went to the Grand Court and it turned out you were the one who poisoned her, how would you ever marry anyone in the future? I’m doing this entirely for your own good—don’t be so ungrateful.”
Jiang Yanqing genuinely wanted to laugh. “If she didn’t poison it, how did she instantly know it was arsenic?”
“She…” Shen Changfeng had no defense, so he simply deflected, “This isn’t the time to argue over who poisoned who! The priority is saving your sister!”
He ordered people to carry Shen Ruoyou back to her bedchamber, and Old Madam Shen followed along. Feng Yulian, however, dropped to her knees right in front of Jiang Yanqing.
“Fourth Young Miss, I know you resent me because the Marquis brought me back from the frontier all those years ago. Every fault, every wrong is entirely my choice. Even if you want my life, I have nothing to say—but my four children are innocent! They are your own blood brothers, sisters, and younger brother. I beg you, please spare them!”
“Alright. Then go die.”
Jiang Yanqing poured a cup of tea and handed it to her.
Feng Yulian had only said those words to win more sympathy from Shen Changfeng for herself and her children; she had never intended to actually die. For a moment, she had no idea how to react.
Clutching his chest, Zhang Haokun limped forward a few steps toward Jiang Yanqing.
“You really are vicious! Not only do you poison your own flesh and blood, but you’re also driving a concubine to her death. Even if my Prince Cheng’s Estate executes you, it would only be acting on behalf of Heaven to eradicate a public hazard.”
Jiang Yanqing merely cast a look of utter disdain his way, then turned back to Feng Yulian. “Go on, drink up. Why aren’t you drinking? Could it be that what you just said was purely meant for Shen Changfeng’s ears, an intentional ploy to drive a wedge between us father and daughter?”
“Enough!”
Shen Changfeng strode over to Feng Yulian and hauled her to her feet. “Jiang Yanqing, you’ve already beaten your second brother until he can’t get out of bed and poisoned your third sister to death’s door. No matter how deep your hatred is, it should be enough by now!”
“It’ll never be enough!” Jiang Yanqing’s expression suddenly shifted, her gaze locking onto Shen Changfeng with razor-sharp intensity. “My mother is dead, and my maternal grandfather’s entire family was destroyed and reduced to ruin. Though many years have passed and the evidence is gone, I know you were the one behind those vile atrocities. As for who your accomplices were, I couldn’t care less—because your entire Plain-Vast Marquis Residence is going to be buried alongside my mother and my grandfather’s family!”
“Such arrogant words!”
A booming voice rang out from the main entrance as a rugged-looking middle-aged man strode in, flanked by a squad of armored guards.
It was none other than Prince Cheng.
Shen Changfeng hurried over in giant strides and dropped to his knees.
“Your Highness, you’ve finally come! It’s all this humble official’s failure to discipline his daughter properly, leaving her so arrogant, lawless, and unruly that she not only poisons her own family members but even dares to beat Heir Kun. Please, take her back to Prince Cheng’s Estate and discipline her as you see fit.”
Zhang Cheng kept his hands clasped behind his back, his expression displeased. “Useless trash! You can’t even keep a single girl in line—what good are you? Step aside.”
“Understood.”
Zhang Cheng then shifted his gaze to Jiang Yanqing.
“Audacious wretch! How dare you refuse to kneel upon seeing a Prince!”
Jiang Yanqing smiled coolly. “I’m terribly sorry, but under the broad canopy of heaven, aside from my master, I don’t need to kneel before a single living soul.”
“Very well, very well. I’ve lived for forty years, and I’ve never laid eyes on a woman as unbridled as you. Today, I’ve brought three hundred elite soldiers; you have nowhere to run and no wings to fly. Surrender now, and perhaps I’ll grant you an intact corpse.”
Employing the Ghost Shadow Steps, Jiang Yanqing vanished and reappeared right in front of him before anyone could react, her hand clamping tightly around his throat.
Zhang Cheng was seized with absolute terror. “You… how did you get over here?! Let go of me!”
As Jiang Yanqing tightened her grip, his face instantly flushed a dark, suffocating red.
“Cough… cough cough… Insolent wretch! I am an imperial prince of Great Xing—how dare you raise a hand against me…”
Shen Changfeng’s heart practically leapt out of his chest in panic. “Jiang Yanqing, have you lost your mind?! Committing offenses against superiors is a capital crime! Let go of His Highness right now!”
Ignoring him entirely, Jiang Yanqing looked straight at Zhang Cheng. “Prince Cheng, I had no grievances whatsoever with your estate. Both you and your son were simply being used as chess pieces by Shen Changfeng and Shen Ruoyou to deal with me. The truth is, when Shen Changfeng brought me back from the countryside, his plan was to have me substitute for Shen Ruoyou as Zhang Haokun’s bride. Both father and daughter hold Zhang Haokun and your Prince Cheng’s Estate in utter contempt; they wanted Shen Ruoyou to aim higher and marry the Fifth Prince instead. When they realized I refused to be controlled, they tried to leverage your hands to eliminate me.
“Keep this in mind: I am not merely the legitimate eldest daughter of the Plain-Vast Marquis Residence. Neither you nor your son can touch me, while taking your lives would be as easy as turning over my hand. However, I am naturally kind-hearted and refuse to slaughter the innocent at random. The Crown Prince and I were merely having a playful spat—why must Your Highness make such a mountain out of a molehill? Please head back.”
With that, Jiang Yanqing released her grip on Zhang Cheng.
Shen Changfeng finally let out a trembling breath of relief. “Your Highness, are you alright? Please don’t listen to—”
Crack!
Zhang Cheng’s heavy, broad palm landed squarely across Shen Changfeng’s face with a resounding slap.
Gritting his teeth in fury, Zhang Cheng roared, “Shen Changfeng, you truly are a fine piece of work! You and your daughters treated my son and me like a couple of monkeys to be played with… Humph! In my eyes, everyone in your Plain-Vast Marquis Residence has grown tired of living!”
At that moment, the head steward rushed in, leading an elderly white-bearded man in his late sixties or seventies. “Marquis, the Divine Doctor of Ghost Valley has arrived!”
Shen Changfeng waved a hand frantically. “Quickly, go treat the Third Young Miss!”
“Understood.”
Just as the two of them were about to leave, Zhang Cheng coldly commanded, “Stop right there.”