Chapter 239

Chapter 239: Taking Lives Lightly

“What?” Duke Qi roared with rage. “Sheng Zhi Wan? How dared Sheng Zhi Wan!”

Qi Fei Rui clenched her fingers tight.

Qi Fei Rui understood the gap between her status and Sheng Zhi Wan’s.

So after Qi Fei Rui returned to the capital city, even though Qi Fei Rui knew Mother’s stroke was not only because of Madam Tao, Qi Fei Rui still forced down her resentment.

The biggest issue was that Sheng Zhi Wan, as a daughter-in-law, had not cared for Mother with enough devotion.

Even so, Qi Fei Rui had endured it.

But now, Sheng Zhi Wan would not even spare a child.

Qi Fei Rui took a deep breath and immediately went with Duke Qi to West Street Junction.

Father, as an elder, could not publicly question Sheng Zhi Wan.

Qi Fei Rui would ask.

Qi Fei Rui would ask Sheng Zhi Wan why she was so vicious.

West Street Junction was chaos.

Passersby formed a tight circle, pointing and whispering at the figure on the ground.

When Duke Qi and Qi Fei Rui arrived, they saw a familiar body lying facedown.

The back of the fine brocade clothing was soaked through with bloodstains.

“Lang Ge’er!” Qi Fei Rui recognized the clothes at once.

Qi Fei Rui’s heart shook, and her eyes instantly turned red.

But Qi Fei Rui did not see Sheng Zhi Wan.

Only two maidservants stood beside Qi Shu Lang.

One looked familiar. Qi Fei Rui recognized her as someone from Sheng Zhi Wan’s side.

The other was unfamiliar, and there was blood on the whip in her hand.

Clearly, she had struck Shu Lang.

Qi Fei Rui’s anger exploded.

Qi Fei Rui stepped forward and raised her hand high to slap the maidservant.

But in the very moment the slap was about to land, someone inside Ci Xi Hall behind Liu Shang and Ting Lan lifted a hand even faster.

A cup flew out with sudden force, smashing toward Qi Fei Rui’s face.

Qi Fei Rui only saw a blur.

Porcelain shards burst apart.

The remaining tea in the Talent Cup Token splashed onto Qi Fei Rui’s pale, elegant moon-colored skirt.

Qi Fei Rui’s hand froze in midair.

Qi Fei Rui’s disbelieving gaze finally passed between the two maidservants and fell into the clinic behind them.

“Second Miss Qi,” a quiet voice came from inside, “what were you trying to do just now?”

A jolt of fear ran through Qi Fei Rui.

Even then, Qi Fei Rui’s hand under her sleeve still trembled.

Sheng Zhi Wan rose and slowly walked out of the clinic.

Qi Fei Rui’s lips moved, but no words came.

Qi Fei Rui had been frightened by Sheng Zhi Wan’s look just now.

But Duke Qi stepped forward in two strides.

“Sheng Zhi Wan!” Duke Qi shouted. “What are you doing? Don’t think that just because you’re a Princess, you can act lawlessly! Beating a child, humiliating a meritorious man – this old minister, this old minister will go to His Majesty and accuse you!”

Duke Qi’s finger almost jabbed Sheng Zhi Wan’s face.

Sheng Zhi Wan glanced at the finger.

Then Sheng Zhi Wan stepped forward, not caring at all.

Duke Qi reflexively stepped back.

Qi Fei Rui snapped out of her fear and pressed her lips together.

Qi Fei Rui pulled Duke Qi back slightly.

Duke Qi felt ashamed of his retreat and did not want to listen.

But Duke Qi remembered what his daughter had said earlier and reluctantly lowered his hand.

The Duke Residence needed to keep a low profile now.

Besides, with so many people watching, Sheng Zhi Wan could not run.

Qi Fei Rui pressed her lips together.

The hatred and fear in Qi Fei Rui’s eyes were quickly replaced with helpless, pitiful grief.

“Princess, what is this?” Qi Fei Rui said. “Fei Rui knows Princess resents the Duke Residence and resents Eldest Brother for bringing Meng Yang back from the frontier, but Eldest Brother acted out of responsibility.”

“Since Princess could not accept Eldest Brother taking a concubine, Princess asked for separation, and the Duke Residence never said anything.”

“Princess wanted separation, and the Duke Residence returned the dowry in full. Princess wants to remarry, and Fei Rui also hopes Princess finds a good man.”

“But Princess… why did Princess strike Shu Lang, a child, with such cruelty while Eldest Brother went to the frontier to fight and stood in danger?”

“He is only ten years old. Princess struck so hard. Did Princess feel no guilt?”

Qi Fei Rui’s words sounded like blood-soaked accusations.

At the end, a single tear fell at just the right time.

Some commoner who had only just arrived heard her and could not help agreeing.

“Yeah!”

“Qi Shu Xian risked his life in Mo Bei to protect Sheng Kingdom’s land. So what happened to the Princess? How could she bully people like this?”

“What man in the world doesn’t take concubines? She was so jealous, and even after separation, she used a child to vent her anger. That’s vicious!”

“Could it be she heard Qi Shu Xian won a battle and felt unhappy?”

“Such a small child, and she could still bring herself to do it.”

“Shh. She’s a Princess. Be careful, or you’ll get whipped too!”

“It’s not like that. You don’t know-” A small child’s thin voice tried to speak, but it was drowned out by the crowd.

“Second Miss Qi is truly eloquent,” Sheng Zhi Wan said, suddenly smiling. “It’s just a pity that you think too highly of your Duke Residence.”

“After all, your status still isn’t worthy of making this palace dirty my hands.”

“Sheng Zhi Wan-” Duke Qi snapped.

“Liu Shang!” Sheng Zhi Wan called.

Liu Shang’s whip cracked down in front of Duke Qi.

Snap-

The sound made Duke Qi’s ears ring.

The whip tip nearly brushed Duke Qi’s cheek.

Duke Qi lifted a trembling hand, and sure enough, a thin cut on his cheek seeped blood.

“Princess, you’ve gone too far!” Qi Fei Rui also snapped.

Qi Fei Rui had wanted to act weak and use words to provoke Sheng Zhi Wan, so the people around them would sympathize.

Qi Fei Rui’s goal had been reached.

But Qi Fei Rui had not expected Sheng Zhi Wan to be this insane, daring to strike even Qi Fei Rui’s father.

“This palace has gone too far?” Sheng Zhi Wan laughed, but her face was all coldness.

“An Zhi! Doctor Jiang!”

“Push the person out, so Second Miss Qi can see, and so every commoner here can see.”

“See what real going too far is.”

“See what real lawlessness is.”

“Taking. Lives. Lightly!”