Chapter 238

Chapter 238: Beat Him to Death

The more Duke Qi thought, the more excited he became.

He urged the carriage to hurry back to the residence.

Qi Fei Rui now managed the Duke Residence.

It was not proper for an unmarried young lady to handle her brother’s marriage, but Rui’er was clever.

Qi Fei Rui knew countless noble ladies, and there was nothing wrong with Qi Fei Rui quietly giving advice.

Duke Qi spoke of his plan.

Qi Fei Rui immediately shook her head.

“Father, we may have to wait on this.”

“Wait?” Duke Qi sighed. “Sheng Zhi Wan already has a Prince Consort. Even if he’s a worthless idiot, with Shu Xian’s temperament, Shu Xian probably still holds that vile woman in his heart. If it’s settled sooner, Shu Xian can settle his mind sooner.”

That was what made Duke Qi most furious.

Back then, Sheng Zhi Wan had starved herself and begged for an imperial decree, insisting on marrying down to Qi Shu Xian.

The Duke Residence had held its head high in front of so many people.

Everyone said the Duke Residence had real skill.

In the first two years, Sheng Zhi Wan had done well enough.

Sheng Zhi Wan managed the inner household and served her mother-in-law.

Everything in the residence was handled in perfect order.

Duke Qi often heard Madam Cui complain that Sheng Zhi Wan carried herself with a Princess’s airs, but Duke Qi could feel the comfort of real good days.

Then Shu Xian returned from the frontier with Meng Yang, and everything changed.

Sheng Zhi Wan stirred the household into chaos again and again.

In the end, Sheng Zhi Wan even begged for a decree of separation in the drill ground, in front of many court officials.

Duke Qi thought of it and felt his face burn with shame.

What made it worse was that after the separation, Shu Xian tried again and again to win Sheng Zhi Wan back.

Yet Sheng Zhi Wan’s heart stayed hard.

In the end, Sheng Zhi Wan even agreed to marry a playboy as Prince Consort.

Why was it that after a separation, Sheng Zhi Wan could shamelessly prepare to remarry, while Shu Xian still could not let her go?

She was a fickle, shameless woman. She did not deserve it.

“Why is Father in such a rush?” Qi Fei Rui said.

“Brother has only won one battle. When Brother drives back the Northern Di, His Majesty will reward him. Noble ladies from great families will be begging to marry him. By then, we can choose at leisure.”

Qi Fei Rui personally poured Duke Qi a cup of tea.

Duke Qi nodded.

“That’s true. I was too anxious. With Shu Xian’s battle merits, Shu Xian will certainly find a woman a thousand, ten thousand times better than Sheng Zhi Wan.”

Qi Fei Rui’s hand paused as she poured.

A woman better than Princess Qing Ning-

It was not that none existed.

But why would they marry Brother?

Even if Brother returned with great victory, he had already been married once.

He also carried the reputation of separating from a Princess for a farm girl.

What father who truly cherished his daughter would send her into that?

Qi Fei Rui did not want to pour cold water on Duke Qi at this moment.

Qi Fei Rui only said, “Brother is in deep imperial favor right now. The more it’s like this, the more our Duke Residence must be careful with our words and actions.”

Duke Qi nodded.

Yesterday’s matter had indeed been Duke Qi getting too excited and showing off too much.

Fortunately, His Majesty had not blamed him much.

As for Rui’er-

Duke Qi looked at his daughter and felt some regret.

If Rui’er had been a man, with her mind and insight, Rui’er could have entered court and become an official.

But Rui’er was only a woman.

Still, that was not a problem.

If Rui’er later married some prince, Duke Qi might still have a chance-

“Father, if there is an opportunity, could Father invite Senior Imperial Physician Song to the residence?” Qi Fei Rui’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

Duke Qi froze.

Qi Fei Rui’s eyes reddened.

“Mother’s condition… Rui’er still wants Senior Imperial Physician Song to take a look.”

Ever since Qi Fei Rui returned to the capital city, Qi Fei Rui had invited many physicians into the residence to treat Madam Cui.

Every one of them only shook their heads and sighed.

Qi Fei Rui refused to give up.

When Qi Fei Rui had left, Mother had been healthy. How could Mother suddenly become like this?

Madam Tao-

Qi Fei Rui would not let her go.

But with His Majesty’s words hanging over them, Madam Tao had to die without a sound.

Right now, what mattered most was making Mother recover as soon as possible.

Qi Fei Rui had befriended Ming Jia Commandery Princess for two reasons.

One was to use Ming Jia’s connection to get close to Third Prince.

The other was to borrow Ming Jia’s status to invite Senior Imperial Physician Song to treat Mother.

But the plan had barely begun when Ming Jia Commandery Princess was somehow granted marriage to the Crown Prince.

That was not what Qi Fei Rui wanted.

It also disrupted her plan.

Now that Brother had earned military merit, if Father went to invite Senior Imperial Physician Song, Senior Imperial Physician Song probably would not refuse again.

Duke Qi’s face flashed with guilt.

It had been a long time since Duke Qi had gone to see Madam Cui.

But it was not Duke Qi’s fault either.

Madam Cui now lay there like a useless person, with nothing to worry about, served by others.

Even if Duke Qi went, Duke Qi could only listen to Madam Cui making hoarse, meaningless sounds.

And there was also that faint, lingering stench-

“Fine,” Duke Qi said. “Next time good news comes from your brother, I will ask His Majesty to let Senior Imperial Physician Song treat your mother.”

With an imperial order, Senior Imperial Physician Song could not refuse even if he wanted to.

“Thank you, Father,” Qi Fei Rui said, rising to bow.

Duke Qi stood up.

For once, Duke Qi actually wanted to go see Madam Cui’s room.

But at that moment, a figure staggered in from outside.

“Duke! Second Miss! N-no, something’s wrong!”

“Please go save Second Young Master! Someone – someone is going to beat him to death!”

The servant boy’s face was pale, panic written all over him.

It was Mo Hui, the new servant assigned to Qi Shu Lang after A’Zhong was executed.

Qi Fei Rui’s expression turned icy.

In the Duke Residence, the four siblings were not close.

Qi Fei Rui did not get along with Eldest Sister.

Eldest Brother Qi Shu Xian was cold by nature.

Only Qi Shu Lang, who was younger, always liked to cling to Qi Fei Rui, and his mouth was sweet.

Qi Fei Rui liked this little brother the most.

Shu Lang had a pure nature and was still young.

He might be playful and make mistakes, but he had never made enemies with anyone.

More importantly, Shu Lang was the Duke Residence’s Second Young Master.

Who would dare touch him?

“Where?” Qi Fei Rui demanded as she hurried out, her voice sharp with threat. “Who did it?”

Mo Hui wiped sweat from his forehead and swallowed hard.

“At… at West Street Junction. It was… it was Princess Qing Ning who ordered people to beat him!”