Chapter 12 The Fragrance of Tea

Jiang Qingning had tears in her eyes, gnashed her teeth, and glared at the man who had a puzzled look on his face from beginning to end.

"Xun Chen, you disappoint me so much."

Bai Qingyi stepped forward, took Jiang Qingning's hand, and comforted her, "Cousin, don't be like this. My cousin is busy with official duties all year round. This is what we women should do to show our filial piety."

Jiang Qingning slowly raised his head, looking at Bai Qingyi with a pair of tearful red eyes. Bai Qingyi was so frightened that her hands loosened and she unconsciously took two steps back.

"Are you willing? Then you can become the wife of the Xun family. Don't call me cousin's wife. I have already divorced him and went to the Jingzhao government office to register."

Jiang Qingning closed her eyes and two lines of tears fell.

"What did you say? Who told you to go?!"

Xun Chen was furious and stepped forward, grabbed her wrist and questioned her.

Jiang Qingning opened his eyes tiredly and looked at him with disappointment that he had never seen in his life.

"Xun Chen, I told you before I left, and you personally agreed."

Xun Chen was startled. Memories from the afternoon suddenly flooded into his mind like a waterfall. He shuddered. "I thought you were just..."

"You think I was just saying that out of anger, don't you? Do you think I made a scene and divorced you because I felt wronged and wanted you to comfort me?

You are wrong, Xun Chen. It is impossible for a person to insist on hanging himself on a crooked tree after experiencing countless disappointments."

"If I did that, I would despise myself countless times in my dreams."

Jiang Qingning pulled out his wrist, presenting the white wrist with black and blue marks in front of him.

Xun Chen was extremely strong. In the eight years he had been with her, he seemed to have never treated her as his wife and always managed to hurt her.

"Do you regret marrying me?" Xun Chen felt very uncomfortable, as if he suddenly realized Jiang Qingning's emotions.

"No, I regret why I met you. Why did I think of my father and brother who made mistakes when I saw my second uncle?"

"And why did I have to come to the gate of the Anping Marquis's mansion and kneel down to beg for a whole day and night, just to make you relent and save my second uncle who had done something wrong?"

"Bai Qingyi, you like him, but you already have a husband. If you respect yourself, go home early.

Don't get sucked into this mess. As my former cousin's wife who finally escaped, this is my sincere advice to you."

Jiang Qingning turned around and stopped looking at them. She looked around at the servants whose eyes were red and they felt sorry for her.

She shouted loudly: "Everyone, can you still stand up?!"

More than a dozen people stood up and shouted in unison: "Miss, we can do it!"

Jiang Qingning raised the corners of his lips, and a charming smile appeared on his face.

"Then suppress these people and beat them all back!"

Xun Chen stood where he was, stunned by Jiang Qingning's aura, and forgot to stop him for a moment. The cries and shouts echoed throughout the courtyard.

"If they hit you once, you hit them back twice. They've been eating and drinking for free for eight years, so you should take it right!"

Jiang Qingning looked around at the servants who were being held down by two people in groups and tied to benches for execution.

She shouted, "From now on, no matter who comes to our door, don't be afraid. I'll support you."

"Jiang Qingning, stop it..." Xun Chen took a step forward and stretched out his hand.

Jiang Qingning immediately stepped back and was protected by Zi Su and Aunt Zhang behind him.

Zi Su stood in front of her, her eyes reddening as she scolded, "Mr. Anping, this is the 256th time you've hurt our young lady. Do you want to add another one?!"

Nanny Zhang's eyes were red. "In the past, we respected you as our son-in-law and dared not speak against you. But now that you and the young lady have divorced, I beg you, please let our young lady live!"

"Jiang Qingning, do you dislike me so much?" Xun Chen was extremely hurt.

"It's not that I hate you, it's that you abandoned me two hundred and fifty-six times."

"Xun Chen, if you feel you owe me anything in this life, then teach Mo Li a lesson. He used to be a smart kid, and even though he's gone astray, he can still be saved."

Jiang Qingning turned his eyes away and didn't look at him, and chased him away to avoid suspicion.

"If Marquis Anping wants me to stay here for another night, then I must leave immediately. Otherwise, I will move out of Marquis Anping's mansion with my servants."

Xun Chen pursed his lips, his heart full of complicated emotions: "You should have a good rest. I will help you find a house tomorrow."

"No need, I've already found it. Tomorrow, the bailiffs from the Jingzhao government office will come to help me move. I won't bother Earl Anping with his sudden whim of doing a good deed." Jiang Qingning refused mercilessly.

Xun Chen's back stiffened slightly as he turned around. He looked back, but could only see Jiang Qingning returning to the house, full of determination and loneliness.

"Cousin, Miss Jiang is so presumptuous. She has no regard for your dignity. Qingyi is heartbroken seeing this."

Bai Qingyi quickly stepped forward, held his arm and cried.

Zi Su touched the door frame, wanting to see what Xun Chen would decide, but why did he look so complicated, as if he was regretting something?

Xun Chen felt comforted.

He patted Bai Qingyi's hand, took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, and said helplessly: "In this huge Anping Marquis's Mansion, only my cousin understands me."

"Bah! Bastard!" Zi Su cursed angrily and slammed the door shut.

Xun Chen frowned and looked over: "Xun Jiang really doesn't know how to teach her servants. Her servants are so rude."

Bai Qingyi concealed the pride in her eyes and revealed her admiration when she looked up.

"I know my cousin treats her well, but these people are the most capable people in my aunt's courtyard after all. If we allow them to continue fighting, I'm afraid my aunt will be so angry that she will become even more ill."

Xun Chen was a little hesitant as he heard the painful cries of the tortured people.

When he glanced over and met Aunt Zhang's gaze, he was startled.

Xun Chen immediately retracted his words and comforted Bai Qingyi: "I'll have to trouble you to comfort them later. You are the only one who can earn Mother's trust and make her happy in the Anping Marquis' Mansion."

Nanny Zhang lowered her head and walked up to Xun Chen and Bai Qingyi who were cuddling together. She bowed respectfully and took out the pearl hairpin from her sleeve.

"Thank you, Lord Anping, for your consideration of our young lady's injustice and for agreeing to punish the servants. However, Madam Bai and her servants came to the courtyard earlier and turned our young lady's room into a complete mess. Someone even stole something."

"I wonder how you would handle this matter. Should we settle it privately, or should I go to the Jingzhao government office to settle it publicly later?"

"There is such a thing?" Xun Chen was stunned and looked at Bai Qingyi with scrutiny.

Bai Qingyi was shocked and cried out, "My cousin believes in Qingyi. How could Qingyi do such a thing?"

"The servants must have been so well-cared for by Qingyi that they felt she had been wronged today, so they resorted to this method to seek justice for me. Cousin, please don't blame them too much."

"Qingyi didn't do it on purpose."

Xun Chen frowned and looked at Nanny Zhang reproachfully.