Li Yang's face flushed red. "No, I didn't..."

"Nothing!" Qin Xiaozhou wasn't going to let him get away with it. "I heard you've been to school for a few years, and you've shown your blind filial piety to the fullest extent. You've completely forgotten all the propriety, righteousness, and sense of shame you've learned. A grown man like you ruins a young girl's reputation, driving her to the brink of despair, while you put on this act of being the most filial and pure. Who are you trying to fool? Your whole family are a bunch of scoundrels. You don't do any proper work, but instead scheme against your future wife's family."

Seeing that Li Guizhi was about to make a scene, Qin Xiaozhou raised her voice even louder, "Go ahead and make a scene. If you dare to make a scene, I will let everyone know today that your Li family is trying to force two girls to their deaths. Let's see who will dare to propose marriage to your family in the future."

Li Guizhi rolled her eyes in anger, "You, you..."

"What do you mean, 'you'?" Qin Xiaozhou slapped her hand away. "You old hag, you're stupid and wicked, you're disgusting."

Wang Lan clutched her chest, tears streaming down her face, almost collapsing, and stopped Qin Xiaozhou, saying, "Are you even going to give your aunt a way out?"

Lu Yu's face was deathly pale. Qin Xiaozhou looked over and met her eyes, which were devoid of any life, only mechanically flowing with tears.

Qin Xiaozhou walked over and hugged the person, "Don't be afraid, it's okay, we have money. It's just twenty or thirty taels of silver a year, we can afford the fine."

Besides, she had some connection with Sun Yuanyuan, and given the large amount of taxes she had paid, it wasn't impossible for her to ask the magistrate to be a little more lenient with her. However, she couldn't say that now.

Even if it really comes to the time for the official pairing, and Lu Yu wants to get married, then she should go find the person in charge of the official pairing. At least she can find someone acceptable. Why bother getting stuck on Li Yang and suffering all this grievance for nothing?

Lu Yu numbly pushed her away and walked listlessly toward the door. Wang Lan cried and went up to stop her, while Lu Yan hugged her leg, "Auntie, it's okay, it's okay. There are still my eldest brother and second brother, and sister-in-law. Even if this marriage doesn't work out, it's okay."

Lu Yu still didn't react. Qin Xiaozhou became furious, angry at her lack of self-control, "Who are you trying to fool with your life-or-death antics all day? If you die, it will be because I forced you to your death. Even if the law doesn't convict you, your nephew and your mother will blame me to death. You're trying to drag me down with you even in death. If you're going to die, just die already. I might as well die too, and we can all die together."

Lu Yunfeng's face was gloomy, and the veins on his forehead bulged. He roared, "Alright, stop talking." He took a deep breath and softened his tone, "Mother, take Aunt back to the house."

Wang Lan cried and screamed, "Heavens above, what kind of calamity is this on such a joyous day?"

Qin Xiaozhou took a few deep breaths and looked coldly at Li Yang, who was at a loss for words. "I'm sorry, I... I didn't know it would turn out like this."

“You know,” Qin Xiaozhou exposed him, “You’ve always known what kind of person your mother is, and you’ve tacitly approved of her behavior because no matter how much your mother makes a fuss, you’re the one who benefits the most in the end.”

Li Yang was speechless, perhaps unable to defend himself. This was the first time Li Ji had ever seen a woman so angry, and he had never considered the way Qin Xiaozhou had insulted Li Yang. Perhaps no one else had thought of it either. In everyone's impression, Li Yang was obedient, always following behind his older brother, sister, or Li Guizhi, never having any conflicts or disputes with anyone. He didn't seem like the kind of person Qin Xiaozhou described at all.

"Manager Qin, you've misunderstood. My brother-in-law isn't the kind of person you're describing. My mother-in-law is a bit... mercenary, but she's not a bad person. She treats both of her daughters-in-law well, and besides, she's getting on in years. She wouldn't bully Miss Lu."

Qin Xiaozhou scoffed and said sarcastically, "So, I'm the bad guy today."