Do you want to strangle me?

The sensation of having one’s throat squeezed was anything but pleasant—labored breathing, pain radiating through her neck, and a strange urge to cough that could not be fulfilled. Her throat burned ever more fiercely; she felt as though her eyes might bulge from their sockets. “Master… master… please, let me go,” she pleaded.

Hearing the commotion, Nianyu and Shuni rushed in, only to be stunned by the scene before them. Nianyu, more composed, quickly recovered and hurried over to grasp Yu Ziqi’s hand. “Young master, please, release madam! Young master, young master—” she cried.

But no matter how she begged, Yu Ziqi refused to let go. Instead, his grip tightened, his vicious expression making it clear he intended to strangle Ning Qian to death.

Shuni shouted and ran forward, seizing Yu Ziqi’s hand and, in desperation, biting it with all her might. She knew that with her abilities, this was all she could do.

Yu Ziqi slowly turned his head to look at Shuni. “You’re quite bold,” he said coldly. Then, abruptly, he released Ning Qian and swung his hand, slapping Shuni hard across the face.

“Ah—!” Shuni screamed, sent flying against the wall before collapsing to the ground. Her head lolled to the side, and she slipped into unconsciousness.

Ning Qian and Nianyu stared in shock at the unconscious Shuni, momentarily unable to react. At last, Ning Qian could no longer restrain herself and burst into violent coughing.

Yu Ziqi cast a cold glance at Ning Qian and strode out of the room.

As soon as he left, Ning Qian crumpled to the floor, unable to regain her composure for a long while. Eventually, Nianyu spoke, “Madam, are you all right?”

Ning Qian looked up at Nianyu’s worried face and managed a bitter smile. “Nianyu, are you hurt? And Shuni—how is she?”

“Let me help you up first.” With Nianyu’s support, Ning Qian sat on a stool nearby. “How is Shuni?”

“I’ve already taken her to her room and sent Qianfu to fetch the physician. We must wait for him to arrive before we know for certain.”

“Take me to see Shuni.”

“I think you should rest for a while, madam. I’ll handle things with Shuni.”

“No, Shuni was injured because of me. How could I not go see her? Nianyu, please, take me to her.”

Unable to resist, Nianyu helped her to Shuni’s room. When they arrived, the room was crowded with people. Upon seeing Ning Qian enter, they quickly dispersed.

Ning Qian approached the bed and gazed at Shuni’s closed eyes, feeling a deep sense of guilt. If not for her, Shuni would not be lying here, injured. She sat on the bed, took Shuni’s hand, and whispered, “Shuni, you must be all right. I’m so sorry—I truly didn’t expect any of this to happen.”

Holding her hand, the room fell into silence. After some time, Nianyu whispered in her ear, “Madam, the physician has arrived.”

“Is he here?” Ning Qian looked up anxiously, and upon seeing the elderly man standing by the bed, she clutched his sleeve as if grasping a lifeline. “Doctor, you must save her.”

“Third Madam, I will do my best. Please let me examine her first.”

“Yes, of course.” Ning Qian moved aside, giving the physician space.

Standing with Nianyu, Ning Qian watched as the physician took Shuni’s pulse, nervously twisting her fingers, her heart filled with fear and anxiety. She wondered, if something happened to Shuni, how could she live with herself? She had not yet reflected on what had just transpired; her mind was consumed with Shuni’s safety.

“Madam, don’t worry. Shuni will be fine.”

“I know, but I can’t help worrying. This happened because of me. If anything happens to Shuni, I’ll never forgive myself.”

“Madam, what exactly happened?”

“We’ll talk about it later,” Ning Qian replied, unwilling to discuss the incident here.

The physician rose. “Madam, I have finished examining her. She is fine—only superficial injuries. However, her head was struck, so we won’t know for certain until she regains consciousness.”

“Thank you, doctor.”

“No need for thanks. I will prescribe some medicine. Once she wakes, give it to her.”

“Nianyu, go with the doctor to fetch the medicine.”

“Yes, madam.”

After they left, Ning Qian surveyed the room and addressed the others coldly, “Remember this: I do not want anyone gossiping about today’s events. If I hear anything, I will not hesitate to punish you.”

The servants bowed their heads, not daring to utter a word. Though Ning Qian was usually gentle, it did not mean she lacked a temper—when angered, she could be truly intimidating.

She swept her gaze over the crowd. “Yuzhi, stay here to care for Shuni. The rest of you may leave.”

She then departed, returning to her room. Looking at the chaos before her, she could not help but cradle her head in deep thought. What exactly had happened? Why had Yu Ziqi been so agitated?

Recalling the painting, a vague understanding flickered in her mind, but the thought disappeared as quickly as it came, eluding her grasp. She went to her writing desk and copied the poem from the painting.

Holding the paper, she read it carefully: “Frost falls, tears dampen reed flowers and clothes; no more do gray hairs lean on the gate. Last May’s plum rains—pawned a cassock for rice.” It was “Thinking of Mother” by Yu Gong of the Tang Dynasty. Strange—why would this poem be on the painting? Seeing how upset Yu Ziqi was, could the woman depicted be his mother? But that seemed impossible—wasn’t he the old lady’s son? Yet Yu Ziqi’s anxiety did not appear feigned. Could it be not his mother, but his lover?

Thinking it over, she felt that was unlikely. If it were a lover, why would the poem “Thinking of Mother” be on the painting, unless he had a mother complex and the woman resembled the old lady in her youth. But no matter how she looked, she could not see any resemblance between the old lady and the woman in the painting.

“Madam, what are you looking at?” Nianyu approached from behind.

“Oh, just a poem. Has Shuni awakened?”

“She has. The physician checked her and said she is fine. I’ve already ordered the medicine to be decocted for her. Please don’t worry too much, madam.”

“Then I’ll go see her again.” Rising, Ning Qian disregarded Nianyu’s objections and went to Shuni’s room. Indeed, Shuni was awake, with Yuzhi tending to her.

“Madam, I have fed Shuni her medicine,” Yuzhi said, bowing with the bowl in her hands.

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