Chapter 15 Lin Qiao Grips the Iron Spear Tightly

Yao Qingling neither stayed at the Duke's mansion for dinner nor returned to her new residence; she had her own plans.

While discussing the preparations for the spring banquet with Lady Cui at the Duke's mansion, Tao Ye took a break and told her some news.

It is said that Zhan Xingxiang and her personal maid quietly left through the side gate.

Yesterday, I had dinner with the Grand Princess of Deyang, and Zhan Xingxiang was also there. She asked Qingling if she had ever seen acrobatics involving wielding a long spear.

Qingling told her some things, and she immediately became very interested. The Grand Princess glared at her, and she obediently listened.

She must have sneaked out to watch today.

Yao Qingling urged the coachman to go to the bustling market where they had stopped the day before, and sure enough, they saw Zhan Xingxiang there.

—She's too conspicuous.

Everyone else was standing and watching, but she was sitting in a round-backed chair with two maids on either side of her, one holding tea and the other holding melon seeds, taking up a large space. She ate and watched with great interest.

But no one objected. There were three ten-tael silver ingots in the gong in front of her. Who else was as generous as her?

When Tao Ye saw her like this, her eyes widened. This was too ostentatious! The Grand Princess would definitely punish her if she found out!

Qingling walked over quietly, and Zhan Xingxiang's maid noticed her and reminded Zhan Xingxiang.

"Second Sister-in-law!" Zhan Xingxiang, fearing that Qingling would complain, tried to win her over. "Second Sister-in-law, you sit here, I'll stand."

Qingling: "Alright, I won't tell the Grand Princess."

Zhan Xingxiang stuck out her tongue and tugged at her arm, acting coquettishly: "I knew Second Sister-in-law loved you the most—"

Before she could finish speaking, Yao Qingling hissed in pain and took a step back.

Qingling's movements to avoid Zhan Xingxiang were too obvious; Taoye and Qingling worked together perfectly and immediately stepped forward to support her: "Miss Xingxiang, the young mistress is injured, please be gentle."

Zhan Xingxiang stared blankly at Yao Qingling's arm, only to see that she was just covering it loosely.

Who hurt you?

Lin Qiao was wielding her iron spear when she saw the same carriage from yesterday.

The woman came again, and seemed to know the rich young lady very well.

Why does she look injured?

Lin Qiao was grateful to the woman for giving her twenty taels of silver, which gave her the opportunity to go into the prison to see her brother.

Lin Qiao put away her gun and stopped performing.

She walked up to Yao Qingling, holding an iron spear, and said, "Whoever hurt you, I'll avenge you!"

Her face was serious as she stared intently at Qing Ling, her young age revealing a sharp and murderous glint in her eyes.

Yao Qingling was taken aback. She had only meant to attract Zhan Xingxiang's attention, so she had exaggerated her pain.

She hadn't expected this girl to be so honest; she really meant it when she got paid!

"I...I'm fine." Qingling glanced at Zhan Xingxiang. "You should go home early. I'm going back to my residence too."

“I see your arm is weak; you’re badly injured,” Lin Qiao said. “You shouldn’t go home. I know a clinic where the doctor is very effective at treating injuries. I’ll take you there.”

Zhan Xingxiang thought that there were plenty of good doctors in the manor, but she didn't want to return to the Duke's manor so soon, so she said, "Yes, Second Sister-in-law, let the doctor take a look, and I'll feel at ease."

Yao Qingling's original intention was to let Zhan Xingxiang know that she was injured, so that he could guess who injured her, and that someone would speak up for her when she talked about divorce in the future.

Once inside the clinic, Zhan Xingxiang could see the bruises on her arm more clearly, making his argument more convincing.

But there's one thing—once they arrive at the clinic, the doctor will definitely take her pulse, and it wouldn't be good if he revealed that she was pregnant.

Fortunately, she had asked Dr. He to keep it a secret beforehand, so she could go to his place.

Yao Qingling said, "I usually see Dr. He. His clinic is nearby, so I'll go to him."

The group went to the clinic, and Lin Qiao went there as well.

She held the iron spear, standing straight and tall. Though small in stature, she was imposing and majestic, like a guard.

Doctor He first examined Yao Qingling's injury. When Tao Ye carefully helped Qingling roll up her sleeve, a ring of bluish-purple bruises was clearly visible on her jade-like arm, with obvious finger marks and the surrounding skin swollen high.

On his way here, Zhan Xingxiang was thinking that his second sister-in-law usually stayed in the mansion and had no grudges against him. Moreover, she was a member of the Duke's mansion. Who would dare to lay a hand on her?

My second brother treats my second sister-in-law very well; he spends all his money on her.

—Zhan Xingxiang is young and doesn't participate in family affairs. The eldest princess and the others would avoid talking about her.

But there were always some clues that Zhan Xingxiang could sense.

Zhan Xingxiang was furious, her cheeks puffed up with anger: "Second brother actually hit you?"

Lin Qiao, standing in the corner, frowned slightly as she stared at Yao Qingling.

Did her husband hit her?

She gripped the iron spear tightly.

Yao Qingling lowered her eyes with a wronged expression, gently lowered her sleeve, and said in a low voice, "Just apply some medicine, it's nothing."

Her appearance suggested that Zhan Xingzhuo often treated her this way.

Zhan Xingxiang: "What do you mean by 'just apply some medicine and it'll be fine'? I'm going to tell Mother that my second brother has learned to hit women!"

As she spoke, she lifted her skirt and started to walk out.

Yao Qingling pulled her back, but only shook her head slightly, her helplessness mixed with suppressed grievance.

Peach Leaf said sadly, "Young Miss, this is a family matter. Please don't make a fuss about it and let others know. It's not good for the young mistress..."

That's how this era is. When a woman is beaten by her husband, it's just a man exercising his right to discipline his wife; it's just a quarrel between husband and wife.

Family scandals should not be aired in public; they should be quietly resolved at home.

If the scandal becomes public knowledge, it will embarrass everyone and further damage the relationship between husband and wife.

Zhan Xingxiang pouted, still angry on Qingling's behalf.

How did my second brother become a bad guy who bullies women?!

Yao Qingling stopped there and changed the subject to divert Zhan Xingxiang's attention.

"Why are there fewer maids around you? I remember you had two first-class maids and four second-class maids in your courtyard."

Zhan Xingxiang pouted and said, "My sister-in-law told my mother that Qi'er is growing up and running around everywhere, and she can't keep an eye on her. So my mother moved the maids from my courtyard to her, saying that when the next batch of maids enters the mansion, she will pick two more for me."

Zhan Xingxiang didn't care much.

My sister-in-law said she has a knack for training maids, and all the maids who come from her courtyard are clever and obedient. She's grown up now and isn't as pampered as a child, so giving her two wouldn't be a problem.

Yao Qingling's eyes flickered slightly.

Madam Cui only has one son, Qi'er. She was born late in life and cherishes her child dearly. She probably became anxious after hearing that Xiao'er had bumped his head.

If she needed manpower, she could have easily transferred it from elsewhere, but instead she extended her reach to Xingxiang's courtyard, and yet she made it sound so nice.

Zhan Xingxiang was just that carefree; he was easily coaxed and tricked by Cui Shi and still had a good time.

Yao Qingling said, "The maids who have just entered the manor are clueless and don't know anything. How much time will it take to train them until they are usable? You are at the crucial moment of arranging a marriage, and if there is even the slightest mistake by your maid, it will be pointed out by others."

Zhan Xingxiang frowned, but she didn't think too much about it: "Then I'll go to my mother and get the person back."

Yao Qingling shook her head: "The people have already been given away. If you ask for them back, your elder brother and sister-in-law will be unhappy. Besides, Qi'er has just gotten used to those two maids. If you replace them with others, he won't be used to it."

Zhan Xingxiang: "Then what should I do?"

Yao Qingling said, "I heard that the maids in Fangmanyuan are all trained and can be used immediately after purchase. Moreover, I heard that their rules and etiquette are more standardized than those in ordinary households. If you have one ready-made, it won't be much different from the original one."

After Yao Qingling said that, Zhan Xingxiang took it to heart: "Second sister-in-law, would you like to come with me to take a look?"

She's not short of money.

Yao Qingling had been waiting for her to say this, so she nodded and said, "I don't have anything to do this afternoon, so I'll go take a look."