Chapter 130

Chapter 130: How Could I Forgive Easily?

Qi Shu Xian stood frozen, speechless.

Meng Yang was equally stunned, realizing she had misunderstood the situation.

Madam Cui wished desperately to reveal the truth, yet upon meeting Sheng Zhi Wan’s gaze, she hesitated. If she summoned the House Physician now, wouldn’t her earlier act of vomiting blood and pretending to faint be exposed? Thus, she swallowed back the words that rose to her lips.

Only then did Sheng Zhi Wan glance coldly at Qi Shu Xian and Meng Yang. “What did the Heir Apparent and Concubine Meng think I was doing?”

“Nothing…” Meng Yang stammered.

“Perhaps plotting to harm Mother-in-law?” Sheng Zhi Wan interrupted sharply.

Meng Yang lowered her eyes guiltily.

Qi Shu Xian’s expression darkened further. Indeed, that had been precisely his suspicion.

Sheng Zhi Wan gave a bitter laugh, her voice heavy with disappointment. “Truly, the Heir Apparent and Concubine Meng judge a noble heart by their own petty standards.”

“For two full years, I cared for Mother-in-law, and never once did she cough up blood. Yet now, when I no longer tend to her, such incidents are frequent. Out of respect for the Heir Apparent’s mother, I intervened tonight—but who knew I’d be treated with such distrust?”

Qi Shu Xian bowed his head in shame. “…Forgive me, Zhi Wan. I misunderstood you.”

“What good is your apology now?” Sheng Zhi Wan snapped coldly. “Concubine Meng, merely a concubine, dared to question me.”

Meng Yang bit her lip bitterly. [Merely a concubine? If not for you, I wouldn’t still be just a concubine!]

“Princess, I only worried about Mother…” Meng Yang muttered softly.

“Concubine Meng forgets her etiquette again. In my presence, you must address yourself as ‘this concubine’ or ‘this maidservant,’” Sheng Zhi Wan corrected sharply.

Meng Yang’s breath caught, her face flushing with humiliation and injustice as she glanced pleadingly at Qi Shu Xian.

Sheng Zhi Wan nearly laughed aloud at her reaction.

Qi Shu Xian pressed his lips into a line. “Zhi Wan, show some mercy…”

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled lightly. “You are quite right, Heir Apparent.”

Qi Shu Xian stared in confusion. He had expected resistance, yet she acquiesced so easily this time.

“However,” Sheng Zhi Wan continued leisurely, “should Mother encounter trouble again, the Heir Apparent will need to pay a price to gain my assistance.”

Qi Shu Xian dismissed her words lightly. Duke Manor had its own House Physician and could summon famed doctors from outside—even Imperial Physicians if necessary. What could a mere woman skilled in a few pressure-point techniques truly do in a real emergency?

“Enough. I am fine now. You all may leave,” Madam Cui interjected hurriedly, fearing Sheng Zhi Wan might expose something more dangerous.

“Wait,” Sheng Zhi Wan said sharply. “Did the Heir Apparent see the man outside?”

Qi Shu Xian frowned, confused. “What man?”

Preoccupied with Madam Cui’s condition, he hadn’t noticed Jiang Shao’an tied up and unconscious in the courtyard, swollen-faced and limp like a pig.

Only when Liu Shang dragged him in did Qi Shu Xian’s expression turn grim. “Who is this?”

Why would an unfamiliar man appear in the back courtyard of Duke Manor at such an hour?

“Instead of asking me, perhaps the Heir Apparent should question tonight’s guards. How did they allow such an incompetent intruder—one who couldn’t even defeat my maidservants—to sneak into my residence so easily?” Sheng Zhi Wan’s tone was dangerously mocking.

“What?” Qi Shu Xian abruptly rose.

Ignoring his reaction, Sheng Zhi Wan ordered Liu Shang to awaken the intruder and remove the cloth gagging him. “Heir Apparent, you’d best question him thoroughly.”

Jiang Shao’an woke in a daze, terrified to see several scrutinizing gazes upon him. Fearfully, he collapsed to the ground, blurting, “H-Heir Apparent… i-it was Princess who invited me here…”

“Oh?” Sheng Zhi Wan scoffed mockingly. “You’re certain I invited you? If that were so, why then did I knock you unconscious?”

“I…I…” Jiang Shao’an stammered.

“Falsely accusing a royal princess is punishable by death through a thousand cuts,” Sheng Zhi Wan reminded coldly.

“T-this lowly one has proof!” Jiang Shao’an hastily pulled out a crumpled note. “Princess wrote this herself!”

Madam Cui’s eyelids twitched involuntarily, her gaze darting nervously to Nanny Fan at the door, whose face had already turned deathly pale.

When the note was unfolded, Sheng Zhi Wan laughed scornfully, Qi Shu Xian’s expression darkening instantly.

“Just a petty thief. Dispose of him,” Madam Cui forced a laugh, inwardly cursing Nanny Fan’s stupidity in using her own handwriting.

Nanny Fan trembled, shocked that Jiang Shao’an had defied her explicit instruction to burn the note after reading it. Instead, he’d kept it as evidence!

“Mother is mistaken,” Sheng Zhi Wan declared coldly. “This isn’t some petty thief. It’s someone foolishly plotting against me, yet incompetent enough to choose this worthless thing as their accomplice.”

Madam Cui knew very well these words were aimed at herself, but she feigned ignorance, dramatically feigning shock as she scrutinized the note before suddenly turning on Nanny Fan. “Yue Ru! Why did you plot against Zhi Wan?!”

Nanny Fan collapsed silently, despairing, eyes vacant.

Sheng Zhi Wan watched coldly as Madam Cui continued her act.

“Speak!” Madam Cui urged harshly when no response came.

Nanny Fan jolted, tears streaming down her cheeks as she gazed helplessly at Madam Cui. She had faithfully served Madam Cui since her youth in Clear River, following her through joy and despair. Yet who did not fear death, who did not wish to survive? Nanny Fan, despite her loyalty, yearned desperately to live, especially now with a husband and son of her own.

Thinking of her son, Nanny Fan crawled to Sheng Zhi Wan’s feet, bowing repeatedly until her forehead bled. “Heir Consort! Spare this old servant! It was merely my heartache for Young Miss, my resentment at your reclaiming the dowry, which drove her to trade illicit salt and lose her life. In my foolishness, I acted wrongly.”

“Heir Consort, this old servant knows her mistake. Please spare me!” she cried pitifully.

Madam Cui’s heart clenched at the sight. After all, Nanny Fan had served her faithfully for many years—despite her foolishness, her loyalty was undeniable.

“Zhi Wan, she acted out of momentary foolishness. Can you show mercy just this once?”

Sheng Zhi Wan gave a cold, humorless smile and nudged Nanny Fan away with her foot, lest her tears, blood, and snot soil her skirts.

“Mother jests!”

“First, Elder Sister’s smuggling had nothing to do with me. I merely reclaimed my own dowry. She should resent Duke Manor for her insufficient dowry or her greedy husband’s family, not me.”

“Second, how could a servant like Fan dare plot against her master and be forgiven lightly?”

“What if today she had chosen someone capable instead of this incompetent fool? What would become of me then? Would the dignity of Duke Manor and the Heir Apparent survive?” Sheng Zhi Wan’s gaze pierced Qi Shu Xian.

Qi Shu Xian wasn’t a fool; he understood perfectly that Nanny Fan would never have acted alone. Her courage came directly from Madam Cui’s orders. But knowing was one thing—Madam Cui was his mother. How could he openly accuse her?

He closed his eyes momentarily, expression rigid as he turned to Nanny Fan. Coldly, he ordered, “Take her away and beat her to death.”