Volume One, Chapter 19: Li Si

Shi Qingqian did not interject upon hearing this. As Madam Qin began to speak, Shi Qingqian gently restrained her.

She had long anticipated that Qin Lang would attempt to shift the blame and that the Qin family would smear her reputation to protect his. That was precisely why she had instructed Zizhu and Lanzhu to bring Li Si here. His very presence would render all rumors baseless.

"Mother, the woman Shi has committed adultery with the groom Li Si. How can your son possibly keep such a wife? I want to divorce her!"

Seeing this, Madam Qin still attempted to mediate. After all, Shi Qingqian was an excellent daughter-in-law; with her in charge, there was no need to worry about any affairs within the Marquis’s estate. She knew her foolish son had always wanted to install Lu Hongzhao as the mistress of the house, but that was impossible. To say nothing else, Lu Hongzhao simply lacked the capability to manage the daily expenses and affairs of such a large household.

"Lang’er, I think it would be better to..."

Before Madam Qin could finish her sentence, Zizhu and Lanzhu entered, accompanied by a man dressed in coarse, drab clothing. The man kept his head bowed low, walking straight to Shi Qingqian and dropping to his knees with a heavy thud.

"Young Mistress, Li Si knows it was you who saved me. I have always wanted to find a chance to thank you, but I am poor and powerless, with nothing to repay your kindness! However, I swear, if there is anything you need me to do, I will face death without hesitation!"

"Li Si? You are the groom who had an affair with the Shi woman!"

Qin Lang did not panic upon seeing Li Si. At this point, the truth no longer mattered; he was certain that within this Marquis’s estate, no one would allow Li Si or Nanny Zhao to leave alive. Even the guards of his second uncle, for the sake of the Qin family's reputation, would not...

A mocking curve tugged at the corner of Qin Lang’s mouth, his eyes filled with smugness. "Shi Qingqian, look, your lover has brazenly come forward! Well? Even now, do you still refuse to admit to this filth?"

Shi Qingqian’s vermilion lips curled slightly as she replied calmly: "Qin Lang, you claim I have had an affair with Li Si?"

"It is not my claim, but the truth!"

"Very well!" Shi Qingqian’s beautiful eyes shifted toward Li Si. "Li Si, do not be afraid. Lift your head, show your face to everyone here clearly, and then recount the events of that day in full detail! Rest assured, even if he is the Heir, he cannot act lawlessly in this estate. Both the Old Madam and I are here; we will certainly ensure justice is served for you!"

"Yes!" Li Si agreed, slowly lifting his head...

What met the eyes of the crowd was a face of extreme, stomach-churning ugliness.

A large, red birthmark covered his cheek like a patch of burning sunset clouds, its surface uneven and studded with lumps of varying sizes. His right eye socket was deeply sunken, the eyelid drooping to cover most of his murky, lifeless eye, making it impossible to discern his gaze. A nondescript nose sat in the center of his face, and beneath it was a cleft lip, revealing jagged, uneven teeth.

His face was ugly in a way that was entirely natural.

Compared to Shi Qingqian’s exquisite beauty, only a fool would believe she had engaged in an affair with such a man.

"You! You are... Li Si?" Qin Lang had never met Li Si and had no idea he was this hideous. His shock was impossible to conceal. The orchestration of the affair had been handled by Lu Hongzhao; to disgust Shi Qingqian, she had specifically instructed Cui’er to find someone ugly. Even if Lu Hongzhao had known, she never would have chosen Li Si as the "paramour." Who could believe Shi Qingqian would be with someone of this appearance? Any woman who wasn't blind would look past him, wouldn't she?

Li Si spoke slowly, his voice laced with resentment. "Yes. So, the Heir does not even know me! Then why did you seek to harm me?"

Without waiting for Qin Lang to answer, Li Si kowtowed to the Old Madam and Shi Qingqian before continuing: "That day, I was feeding the horses in the stables when two guards and a maid tied me up. They forced a pill down my throat, and then I felt my whole body burning..."

...

After Li Si had recounted every detail of what had transpired, the entire matter was clear.

The Old Madam slowly turned to look at Qin Lang, her gaze filled with deep disappointment. She asked in a heavy tone: "Lang’er, now that things have reached this point, what more do you have to say?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Lang’s face turned incredibly dark. He abruptly drew his sword and, without another word, slashed viciously at Li Si. In his heart, Li Si could not be allowed to live! And Nanny Zhao, she could not be spared either! Even the servants who knew of this matter today would have to die... Only then could these shameful secrets be buried forever.

The crowd had not expected such a sudden turn of events and stood frozen in shock.

Shi Qingqian reacted with lightning speed. Her figure flickered as she delivered a powerful kick to Qin Lang. The force was immense, sending him crashing to the floor, his sword clattering to the ground.

Madam Qin rushed forward to help him up, a flicker of cruelty in her eyes as she ordered the guards of the Prince of Zhenbei’s estate: "What are you standing there for? Li Si and the Shi woman have committed adultery, a crime punishable by death! Seize them both at once!"

The guards did not move. They stood in the courtyard of the Songhe Garden like sturdy pine trees. Steward Li even stepped directly in front of Shi Qingqian, assuming a protective stance.

Seeing this, Madam Qin’s anger flared. She raised her voice and barked again: "Steward Li, what are you doing? Why don't you order these guards to act? Will you let such scandalous people run wild in the Marquis’s estate?"

"Madam Qin, I care not what your estate intends to do. The Young Mistress is not someone you can touch!"

"You base slave, what audacity! How dare you defy my orders? Do you no longer recognize me as the Mistress of this estate?" Madam Qin shook with rage, her finger trembling as she pointed at the steward, looking as if she would tear him apart.

Steward Li stood tall, showing no fear. He tilted his head slightly, his gaze firm as he looked at her: "Even if I am a base slave, I am the slave of the Prince of Zhenbei! This is the Prince of Zhenbei’s estate; it is not for the Marquis’s people to run amok here. Let me be clear: the Young Mistress is under the protection of the Prince of Zhenbei’s estate. No one here shall touch a hair on her head today!"

"You... you..." With things having escalated to this point, she knew that unless Li Si and Nanny Zhao were killed, their estate would be at the mercy of Shi Qingqian. Whatever terms she demanded, they would have to accept. But now that she was under the protection of the Prince of Zhenbei’s estate, she knew that even if they mobilized the entire strength of the Marquis’s household, they could not touch those two.

She turned to the Old Madam: "Mother! Lang’er is the eldest grandson of the Marquis’s line. Can you really watch his future be destroyed like this?"

The Old Madam had been watching the chaos from the main branch with a cold face, a profound sense of helplessness rising within her. She naturally did not want anything to happen to her eldest grandson, but compared to this useless youth, her youngest son was far more important. To ensure her youngest son lived, she would sacrifice not just this grandson’s future, but even her own life if need be. Furthermore, this matter was nowhere near the point of ruining Qin Lang’s future entirely.

"Xu Mengyun, do you not claim to practice Buddhism and chant sutras? Why then, in order to shield Lang’er, are you capable of cold-blooded murder? Since you have not truly transcended the mortal world and embraced benevolence, then return to your duties and manage the affairs of the household!"

"As for Qingqian! Lang’er has acted so heartlessly that I have no face left to urge reconciliation. Let them divorce!"

"And as for Qingqian’s dowry—Xu, if you do not wish to see Lang’er’s future completely annihilated, you know what must be done!"