Chapter 47

“Who is your grandmother?” Before Old Madam Xiao could speak, Second Madam Xiao sneered, “Miss Qi must have forgotten—you already took the divorce letter and left the Xiao family with your dowry. Don’t go calling on people arbitrarily; the Xiao family is far beyond your reach.”

Qi Lanzi bit her lips in sheer embarrassment. But Madam Qi, being completely shameless, still hadn’t healed from the whip marks on her face that day, and when she spoke, she showed not the slightest hint of shame.

“Whatever the in-law said is all a misunderstanding. Lanzi only left because she feared that if the Xiao family faced misfortune, the child in her womb might not survive. She did it for Ah Yao’s sake as well…”

Second Madam Xiao scoffed, “Then does she even have a child?”

Madam Qi choked, “Surely she does—or is presumed to!”

Not only Second Madam Xiao but even Huo Rou and the others standing nearby couldn’t help but let out mocking looks. It seemed that the Qi family only made such a scene upon hearing that Wei Wanyun was pregnant—using such a lame excuse. Do they really think everyone is stupid?

Su Jinyuan furrowed her brows and said, “The Xiao family has no wish to argue today. Miss Qi and Madam Qi, please take your leave so as not to embarrass everyone.”

Madam Qi instantly grew furious. Though she was somewhat intimidated by the Xiao family people, she looked down on Su Jinyuan—how could someone who ran off in an elopement ever have the decency to set foot on a proper stage? “What right do you have to order us out? The old lady hasn’t even spoken, and you, a mere junior, dare to bar Lanzi from coming in…”

“Just because she is the Xiao family’s eldest daughter-in-law, she naturally has the right to speak on the family’s affairs!” Xie Yunyan sat in his wheelchair, his phoenix-like eyes grown cold and indifferent now that his youthful arrogance had faded.

“The Xiao family isn’t lacking in children nor the Qi bloodline. Since Miss Qi has taken the divorce letter, she is no longer considered part of the Xiao family. Even if there is a child, it belongs to the Qi family—it has nothing to do with the Xiao family.”

“Sixth brother…” Qi Lanzi couldn’t help but glance at him. In the past, Xie Yunyan treated her with the utmost respect and always smiled warmly. But now, the young man’s words were ruthlessly unyielding.

“I don’t have any older sisters; Miss Qi, you’d better not call me that.”

“Uncle Deng, send the Qi family people out—don’t let them trouble second brother’s eyes!”

Deng Guangping still recalled the day when the Qi family forced the old madam to release people, and how Qi Lanzi, having banged her head so badly, had insisted on leaving. Now, seeing the Xiao family’s revival, she wishes to return. With unmistakable disdain etched on his scarred face, he stepped forward, grabbed Madam Qi, and roughly pushed them out the door.

Madam Qi turned her head and shrieked, “You Xiao family can’t behave like this! Lanzi is the legitimate wife of Second Young Master—it was I who forced her to leave that day…”

Seeing the indifferent looks on the Xiao family members, she raised her eyes and, seeing Su Jinyuan, pointed accusingly at her.

“You can’t play favorites. Lanzi left only because she was timid, yet that is nothing compared to Su Jinyuan eloping and running away from marriage. You’re all willing to accept her back without fussing over her living with another man—so why can’t you forgive Lanzi?”

“At the very least, Lanzi has always been pure and has never been with another man… Ah!”

Before Madam Qi could finish speaking, someone suddenly reached from behind and scratched her hair. The pain was so intense that she nearly collapsed.

A young girl, clutching a handful of hair, widened her bright eyes and exclaimed, “You old hag! Who did you say was sleeping around? Who did you claim wasn’t pure?!”

Madam Qi’s scalp throbbed as if it were about to burst. Clutching her head, she screamed and lunged forward, intent on scratching the girl. But the young girl swiftly stepped back half a pace and kicked her in the calf. The blow was so painful that Madam Qi fell straight to the ground.

The little girl wrapped her hands on her hips and declared, “I’m telling you, my Ah Yuan isn’t so easy to push around. If you dare spout more nonsense that sully her reputation, I’ll beat you to death!”

Madam Qi winced in pain, and Qi Lanzi was startled: “Who do you think you are, daring to lay a hand on someone?”

“I am your grandaunt!” came the retort.

With her hands on her hips, the little girl bared her teeth ferociously at the two. However, when she looked up and encountered a young man in white entering from the crowd, she quickly let go of her aggressive stance. Her expression softened—her mouth pursed, and her eyes turned red as she, with small shuffling steps, reached up and tugged the young man’s sleeve, saying in a plaintive tone, “Brother Heng, they’re bullying people.”

The onlookers stood dumbfounded, and even the members of the Xiao family wore expressions of bewilderment. Who was bullying whom?

Madam Qi’s forehead practically looked bald from all the pounding. Sensing the extremely odd stares from those around, Su Heng helplessly reached out and patted the little girl’s head. “How many times have I told you? Don’t go pulling people’s hair—it’s filthy.”

The little girl’s eyes grew wide as she protested, “But I just can’t beat them…”

For her, pulling hair was the ultimate winning tactic—regardless of whether one was male or female, one hair-pull was always a sure bet.

With a soft sigh, Su Heng took a handkerchief and wiped the little girl’s hands before addressing the Qi family, “I am Ah Yuan’s elder brother. I just heard you insulting Ah Yuan. Is this really the upbringing Madam Qi has? To falsely accuse an innocent little girl?”

Madam Qi shrieked, “When have I ever slandered her? It was she who eloped with a man named Lu Zhuo—and ran away from her marriage with Xiao Yunxi. That matter is known throughout the capital…”

Su Heng continued, “Lu Zhuo is now in jail, charged with conspiring to forcibly snatch an official’s daughter.”

Madam Qi’s eyes widened, and even Su Jinyuan was astonished.

With a gentle expression, Su Heng explained, “Lu Zhuo is nothing more than a rogue. He knew my sister had a marriage contract with the Xiao family. After abducting her, he intended to exchange her for ransom with our Su family and the General’s Mansion. It was my sister’s quick wits that allowed her to escape on her own. How did it come to be that Madam Qi now claims she eloped with someone?”

“They say that by observing even the smallest detail, one can infer the bigger picture—people are all the same at heart.”

He added, “Back then, although Madam Qi’s marriage to Master Qi wasn’t very honorable—you snatched your sister’s marriage contract and drove your own younger sister to hang herself, and your mother only compelled the Qi family to accept you by threatening death—you should not project your own experience, carelessly slandering my sister.”

Qi Lanzi furiously exclaimed, “What nonsense are you spouting? Don’t you dare defame my mother!”

Su Heng gave a gentle, wry smile and said, “I’m not just spouting baseless claims like Madam Qi. If Miss Qi doesn’t believe me, why not ask Madam Qi herself how her marriage with the Qi family came to be?”

He continued, “Come to think of it, your mother ought to be thankful to you. Had it not been for her conceiving you at just the right time back then, she might never have been able to enter the Qi family at all.”

Madam Qi’s face turned ghostly white. When she met Qi Lanzi’s incredulous gaze, she felt her entire body trembling. “Impossible… How could these things possibly be known?”

The Qi family had long since covered it up. Her mother and her sister had been gone for so many years—and even she herself had nearly forgotten the matter. How could anyone possibly know?

Standing there, Su Heng exuded the calm dignity of a gentleman as precious as jade, smiling gently while Madam Qi trembled violently. “If Miss Qi doesn’t believe me, I wouldn’t mind explaining further. Madam Qi originally had a marriage contract with someone else, but she set her eyes on Master Qi—the very same man who already had an agreement with your sister.”

“Stop talking already!” Madam Qi, ignoring the pounding pain on her scalp, suddenly screamed, “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“Mother…”

“Let’s go! Hurry up and leave!”

Madam Qi grabbed Qi Lanzi and spun around, intending to run, but Old Madam Xiao barked out, “Guangping!”

Deng Guangping immediately seized her and pulled her back. Old Madam Xiao strode forward and slapped Madam Qi across the face, “This slap is for your reckless, baseless slander against the girls of the Xiao family.”

Then she delivered another resounding slap, “This one is for insulting Ah Yao and the entire Xiao family!”

“From now on, the Xiao family does not welcome anyone from the Qi family. If any member of the Qi family dares to set foot on Xiao family ground again, I’ll break your legs. And if I ever hear you slander Ah Yuan again, I’ll rip the roof beams off your Qi family house!”