Chapter 112

Chapter 112: Wanting to Cast Out His Wife

“Grandmother… Mother…” Qi Fei Yan’s face, which had pretended illness, turned deathly pale when she saw the two women enter.

Her fearful eyes turned toward Qi Shu Xian, silently begging him to spare her some dignity out of respect for their elders.

But Qi Shu Xian’s gaze merely traveled from the bracelet on Old Madam Lian’s wrist to the hairpin atop Madam Lian’s head.

Old Madam Lian noticed him staring rudely at her daughter-in-law, her face darkening immediately. “How exactly did our Yan’er offend you, Heir Apparent Qi?”

Only then did Qi Shu Xian offer a courteous bow to both Old Madam Lian and Madam Lian, yet instead of answering, he asked, “That jade bracelet Old Madam Lian wears—is it a gift from my elder sister?”

Old Madam Lian froze, instinctively glancing down at the warm jade on her wrist.

She was elderly and sensitive to the cold. “This warm jade bracelet is indeed Yan’er’s token of filial piety.”

“And the hairpin Madam Lian wears—is that also from my elder sister?”

“Yes… indeed it is,” Madam Lian answered softly.

“Heh.” Qi Shu Xian laughed bitterly. He originally intended to leave Qi Fei Yan some dignity, but she herself had refused to maintain it. Pretending to be ill while secretly stealing Sheng Zhi Wan’s dowry to curry favor elsewhere—how shameless!

“Shu Xian! Sister begs you!” Qi Fei Yan cried, desperately grasping his arm.

Qi Shu Xian coldly shook off her hand. “Then I’m afraid I’ll trouble you both to return everything my elder sister gave.”

“What?” Old Madam Lian and Madam Lian thought they’d heard wrong.

Qi Fei Yan collapsed weakly onto the floor.

Qi Shu Xian continued sharply, “Old Madam Lian, Madam Lian, perhaps you don’t know—these items don’t belong to my elder sister. They’re part of the Princess’s dowry. My sister merely borrowed them temporarily and, after so long, seems to have forgotten they weren’t hers.”

“This… this… how could this be?” Old Madam Lian felt her face burning with embarrassment.

Of course, she’d known these things had come from Duke Qi’s Residence, but their household was wealthy, so she’d turned a blind eye. Besides, Qi Fei Yan herself insisted on using her family’s resources to bolster her husband’s family.

As the beneficiary, she naturally didn’t object. In fact, she had deliberately encouraged this situation. Each time Qi Fei Yan brought gifts back, Old Madam Lian would flaunt them openly before her grandson’s other concubines, boosting Qi Fei Yan’s prestige.

Over time, Qi Fei Yan had grown used to this routine.

But how could she have guessed these items were actually from the Princess’s dowry and not Qi Fei Yan’s own?

How had Qi Fei Yan dared use the Princess’s belongings to win their favor?

Old Madam Lian swayed, quickly supported by Madam Lian.

From their expressions, Qi Shu Xian understood they hadn’t known the truth either.

After a long pause, Old Madam Lian glared fiercely at Qi Fei Yan, hoping she would explain herself. But Qi Fei Yan’s humiliation was too great, and she merely sobbed bitterly, face down.

In the end, Old Madam Lian spoke herself. “We truly didn’t know! Heir Apparent Qi, you’re the Princess’s husband. Can’t you explain clearly to her…?”

“I’m here precisely to reclaim her dowry.”

“Take… take everything back?” Madam Lian panicked instantly.

The gifts Qi Fei Yan had given her weren’t limited to a hairpin—nearly everything valuable in her room had come from Qi Fei Yan! Surely not all of it belonged to the Princess’s dowry?

“Or does Madam Lian wish to keep them?” Qi Shu Xian’s voice turned cold.

Madam Lian quickly silenced herself. Despite the painful reluctance in her heart, she didn’t dare openly steal a Princess’s dowry. Humiliated, she removed the hairpin.

Old Madam Lian grimly took off the warm jade bracelet as well.

By this time, Qi Shu Xian’s maidservants had searched Qi Fei Yan’s rooms thoroughly. Comparing with their list, they found more than a dozen items missing.

“Heir Apparent, some things still haven’t been accounted for.” A maid handed Qi Shu Xian the list.

Without looking, he directly passed it to Old Madam Lian. “Old Madam, please check—have these items also been gifted to someone in your household?”

Old Madam Lian felt as though her dignity had been thoroughly crushed. She glanced quickly, her cheeks flushing deeper. Two more items were indeed with her.

She passed the list silently to Madam Lian, who lowered her head in shame.

When Qi Shu Xian finally left, almost every room in the Lian Residence had been searched—even Lian Shao Qing’s cherished stationery set in his study was part of Sheng Zhi Wan’s dowry!

“What misfortune! What disgrace! How did Hui’er marry such a shameless woman?”

The moment Qi Shu Xian departed, Madam Lian slapped Qi Fei Yan fiercely across the face.

Qi Fei Yan stared at her mother-in-law in disbelief. Ever since marrying into the Lian Residence, although her husband lingered often among courtesans, Madam Lian and Old Madam Lian had always treated her extremely well—sometimes even better than their own daughters.

But now, Madam Lian had struck her publicly in front of servants!

Qi Fei Yan lay sobbing bitterly, resentment flaring violently against Sheng Zhi Wan. Her dignity was utterly destroyed!

Yet, her humiliation wasn’t over. When Lian Shao Qing returned that night and learned what had happened, he erupted furiously, demanding Lian Wen Hui divorce Qi Fei Yan immediately.

“Divorce her! She must be divorced! This disgraceful matter is intolerable!”

“We should thank Heir Apparent Qi for uncovering this early. Had he not, outsiders would think our Lian Residence was greedy enough to covet Duke Qi’s and the Princess’s possessions!”

Old Madam Lian’s eyes flickered uneasily. “But she’s still Duke Qi’s daughter…”

When Qi Fei Yan had married into their family, she’d already greatly lowered her social standing. If it weren’t for Lian Wen Hui’s skillful persuasion, they’d never have secured such a prestigious marriage.

To divorce her over this matter seemed too severe, and Old Madam Lian was reluctant.

“Father! Your daughter-in-law knows she’s wrong. Please, give me another chance! I promise to reform!” Qi Fei Yan quickly begged on her knees.

She was the young lady of Duke Qi’s family—being divorced would utterly disgrace her.

Though Lian Wen Hui spent his nights enjoying flowers and wine, marrying a Duke’s daughter was his greatest boast. He didn’t want a divorce either. Thus, he quickly joined his wife on his knees.

“Father, Yan’er made a mistake, but only for our family’s sake! Blame that Princess Ning! Had she clarified earlier that she’d reclaim those items, Yan’er would never have given them away!”

Lian Wen Hui had only glimpsed Sheng Zhi Wan briefly during her wedding. He didn’t know much about her except from Qi Fei Yan, who claimed Sheng Zhi Wan shamelessly pursued Qi Shu Xian—a princess who chased after men.

Despite being her brother-in-law, he’d barely gotten a minor sixth-rank position after pleading repeatedly. Lian Wen Hui already harbored resentment.

Lian Shao Qing trembled with rage. “Insolent fool! Who taught you such shameless words? Today I’ll beat you senseless!”

“Master!” Madam Lian understood her husband wasn’t truly determined to divorce their daughter-in-law. Losing face was unpleasant, but if they simply made it clear the Lian family hadn’t known, that would suffice.

“Since we knew nothing of this, let Hui’er’s wife return to Duke Qi’s Residence and apologize to the Princess personally. That should solve it.”

Better for Qi Fei Yan alone to bear humiliation than to involve their entire household.

Apologize to Sheng Zhi Wan?

Qi Fei Yan nearly refused immediately. But seeing her father-in-law’s and grandmother-in-law’s severe expressions, she swallowed her protests bitterly.