Chapter 120 : Who Can Defy Me?

It was being discussed in the capital that Madam Xue wasn’t a wise woman.

It was said that she could have used the poisoning incident to fully win her husband’s heart, ensuring that Xue Shilang would never betray her again in this lifetime.

But she kept holding on to it, unwilling to let go, which gradually created a rift between them.

Moreover, because Madam Xue often got angry while defending her daughter, people in the capital even directly called her a shrew.

When someone was caught, they would curse “evil woman,” which seemed to strike right at Madam Xue’s sore spot.

Xue Qingyin frowned and said, “He deserved it, even if he was beaten half to death.”

However, she still grabbed Madam Xue’s wrist.

It wasn’t for any other reason… “Alright, Mother, don’t tire yourself out.” Xue Qingyin said, as she pried Madam Xue’s hand open.

The stick was rough, and the palm of her hand had already been rubbed raw.

Madam Xue let go, her expression softening as she said, “This person…”

Xue Qingyin instructed the servant nearby, “Lock him up for now and see if anyone comes asking for him. If no one comes to take him, just keep him locked up for life.”

The man immediately turned pale with fear, stumbling to his feet. “How dare you? This is broad daylight… Are you trying to go against the King Wei’s Mansion?”

Xue Qingyin turned to the servants on the estate and said, “Did you see that? This is a prime example of what not to do. If you ever get involved in anything outside, make sure you never associate my name with it.”

Madam Xue couldn’t help but laugh, “What nonsense are you talking?”

Master Lin, standing to the side, found it both amusing and absurd. This side consort of the Xuan Wang was certainly an interesting woman; the things she did were far from ordinary!

But the servants replied in earnest, “Yes, madam.”

The person from the Liu family estate, who had been captured, looked pale and green with fear, evidently stung by Xue Qingyin’s words.

“Alright, gag him and take him away. Don’t just stand here watching while he curses your master,” Xue Qingyin ordered.

The servants suddenly realized what to do, quickly pulling a cloth from their waist and stuffing it in the man’s mouth.

They didn’t know how much mud or ash was on it.

It probably didn’t taste very pleasant.

Madam Xue sighed and said, “What a thing!”

Xue Qingyin grabbed her hand to check. “Let me see, Mother, if your hand’s hurt from those thorns on the stick.”

Madam Xue replied, “What’s with this fussiness?”

Xue Qingyin clicked her tongue, “Mother, that sounded like you were scolding me.”

Madam Xue chuckled, “You’re different. You’ve always been fragile. It’s my fault for not giving you a healthy body.”

With that, Madam Xue quickly withdrew her hand, seemingly trying to avoid thinking about those unhappy memories. She turned to look at Master Lin and the others.

She said, “I didn’t know we had visitors, I apologize for the scene.”

Master Lin waved his hands. “It’s nothing, nothing at all. This villain deserves to be dealt with harshly!”

He acted as though he hadn’t heard anything about the Wei Wang or his consort.

However, Master Lin couldn’t help but glance at Ning Que.

Uh-oh!

How could he have forgotten about him?

Ning Que was clearly from the Wei Wang’s faction!

Master Lin frowned to himself, hoping that Ning Que, being an upright person, wouldn’t report today’s incident to the King Wei’s Mansion. After all, it was just a small matter…

But Ning Que said, “What this young lady said is right, Madam should find a doctor to check if she’s injured.”

Master Lin was stunned.

Huh?

He had thought Ning Que was still focused on the earlier conversation.

Once he realized, Master Lin quickly added, “Yes, yes. This is also the girl’s filial piety!”

Madam Xue loved hearing such words. She smiled and said, “Alright, alright. My fingertips are just scratched, I’ll take care of it. Let’s go inside first.”

Everyone then entered the house one by one.

Upon seeing Liu Xiuyuan, Master Lin was once again surprised. He said, “I saw Mr. Liu’s calligraphy outside, but didn’t expect to meet him in person here.”

Liu Xiuyuan didn’t enjoy being flattered and simply gave a faint response.

He looked at Xue Qingyin and said, “You’ve been gone so long, I thought something had happened.”

Xue Qingyin replied, “Something did happen.”

She briefly explained the incident with the thief.

“I wonder if the horses were seriously hurt.” Xue Qingyin frowned. “My horse is very precious; it was taught how to be raised by the military’s cavalry.”

Liu Xiuyuan’s anger flared. “That thief is so arrogant! Does he think you’re alone and vulnerable?”

Liu Xiuyuan was implying that since Prince Xuan had left the capital, the thief must have taken advantage of the opportunity to target Xue Qingyin.

But to Ning Que, it sounded like this mother-daughter pair, despite their good character and many friends, like Master Lin and Liu Xiuyuan, were actually quite vulnerable.

They probably only had this estate to rely on for survival!

No wonder this young lady is so focused on making money!

It seems the lady must have lost her husband.

Otherwise, how could there be such a heartless and irresponsible man!

Ning Que’s thoughts swirled.

Meanwhile, Liu Xiuyuan continued speaking: “The Liu family truly acts in a bizarre manner…” He was so angry that it felt as if the villain had driven nails into his soles.

He was so furious that he almost wanted to pick up a stick and hit someone.

“Now that Liu Yuerong has become the Princess of Wei, I’m afraid she’s only going to become even more unbearable,” Liu Xiuyuan said angrily, “It’s frustrating that I’m just a scholar. No wonder people often say, a scholar is of no use. When the Liu family insults my door, I can’t do anything about it.”

Madam Xue was puzzled upon hearing this.

Why was he so angry?

Could it be that he’s after my daughter?

Liu Xiuyuan noticed the confused expressions of others and pressed his lips together before saying, “There are many people with the surname Liu in the capital. Few know that I am also from the Liu family, though just a side branch.”

Xue Qingyin thought to herself, she had once been a victim of a dispute within the inner court.

King Xuan had mentioned it briefly to her before, and she remembered it.

Liu Xiuyuan stopped speaking, but everyone could guess that the side branch of the Liu family had probably not had it easy.

Liu Xiuyuan had worked his way up to his current position, yet still harbored so much resentment toward the Liu family, showing just how deep the enmity was.

At this time, Xue Qingyin had also finished picking apart the splinters.

A drop of blood oozed out and glistened on her fingertip.

Xue Qingyin frowned slightly and called to Nong Xia: “Do you remember where the medicine from the last time I was at the estate is? Go find it.”

That was the medicine sent by King Xuan when she injured her leg while riding. There was still some left, unused.

Before Nong Xia could respond, Madam Xue casually picked up a handkerchief and wiped her hands, saying, “It’s nothing, it will be fine in a while.”

Ning Que couldn’t help but glance at the handkerchief.

But rather than these matters, Madam Xue was more concerned about Liu Xiuyuan’s words.

She asked, “Mr. Liu, are you saying that if they intend to bully my daughter, what should we do?”

Xue Qingyin laughed lightly, “Mother, have you forgotten who I am?”

Madam Xue was stunned for a moment, “Who are you?”

Now that King Xuan wasn’t around, and with her status as a secondary concubine, she certainly wasn’t as high-ranking as the Princess of Wei…

Xue Qingyin said loudly, “I am someone who is very good at using others’ power to intimidate them! Besides my older brother, who could possibly bully me?”

“Using others’ power to intimidate them” was typically a derogatory term, but when Xue Qingyin said it, it made her seem charming and forthright.

Most people would love to use the finest words to describe themselves, but she was different.

Even Master Lin couldn’t help but sigh, saying that people like her were truly rare!

Ning Que, however, had a completely different thought.

He furrowed his brow secretly.

So, the young lady had an older brother.

But it sounded like… this older brother also bullied her. He probably didn’t respect his mother either.

It seemed this mother-daughter duo had a tough life!

Finally, Ning Que spoke, “The wrongs done by the Liu family to our estate in the past, how could they come to hold us accountable? Madam, please don’t worry about this matter.”

When Master Lin heard this, he was first taken aback, but then he sighed in relief.

If Ning Que said it was fine, then it must be fine!

But Madam Xue shook her head, “You don’t understand.”

Master Lin opened his mouth, intending to mention Ning Que’s identity.

But since Ning Que had finally started talking to Madam Xue, he couldn’t let Master Lin steal his words. He quickly interjected, “Please, madam, guide me.”

“The Liu family has had a grudge with our estate for a long time. The Liu family’s legitimate daughter, who is now the Princess of Wei, even once ordered someone to push my daughter into the water. Now they come again with this… It is clear they are determined to oppose my daughter. How can this matter be easily settled? Even if today’s incident is overlooked, what about tomorrow? The day after?” Madam Xue grew more and more upset as she thought about the Liu family.

Unfortunately, Liu Yuerong had a good family background!

Otherwise, Madam Xue would have loved to dunk her head into a water jar first, before she could think of harming my daughter!