"Have you heard? Last night, a female guest tried to get into the old man's bed, but he saw through her."
"What? Who's so bold?"
"I don't know, let's go take a look."
Before the two had even left, Su Cheng called out to them, "What are you talking about?"
Upon seeing this, the two maids quickly knelt down and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Third Master and Third Madam."
"What are you talking about here? What female guest?" Su Cheng asked again.
The two stammered as they recounted what they had heard, and Su Cheng and Qi Yuechan exchanged a worried glance.
Among the female guests, besides Su Wan, there were no other female guests from the Su family yesterday. That leaves only the Qi family. Qi Yuechan had a plan in mind, but she couldn't believe that she would do such a thing.
Seeing his wife's worried face, Su Cheng held her hand and comforted her, "Don't worry, let's go see her first."
Qi Yuechan explained, "I'm afraid that the Qi family might offend my second brother. What should we do then?"
"It's alright, don't worry. Even if Second Brother gets drunk, no one can get close to him." Despite saying this, Su Cheng's face didn't look any better.
Qi Yuechan was anxious, and walking even a little faster would aggravate her pain. Su Cheng slowed her down. "What's done is done, there's no use in rushing. Slow down."
Qi Yuechan nodded. Fortunately, they had already gone most of the way. After thinking for a moment, she sent someone to inform Madam Qi.
She discussed with Su Cheng in the morning that since Su's parents were not there, they should go and serve tea to Su Yi. It is said that the eldest brother is like a father, and the second brother is also an elder brother, so naturally the same applies.
Su Cheng felt bad thinking about how his parents were gone before his wedding, and that his older brother and Huanhuan were also absent. So when his wife made the suggestion, he readily agreed.
The two went to the main courtyard, where a person was tied up with a rope. Just as Qi Yuechan had guessed, it was Wang Qing.
Su Yi sobered up the moment Wang Qing approached yesterday, even though she deliberately dressed up as Liu Huan, and even though he was so drunk he couldn't tell which way was which.
But a person's scent doesn't change; Liu Huan doesn't need perfume, and she doesn't smell like cheap perfume.
Thinking that it was Su Cheng's wedding night last night and he shouldn't disturb him, he tied the person up in the courtyard overnight, until today when the cleaning maid saw it and spread the word.
"cousin……"
Wang Qing was both happy and scared when she saw Qi Yuechan. Looking at the maids watching, she felt extremely humiliated.
Suppressing her anger, Qi Yuechan asked, "What were you doing in Second Master's courtyard?"
Wang Qing complained aggrievedly, "Last night I was just passing by outside when Lord Su tied me up and brought me in."
Why didn't you go back with them yesterday?
Wang Qing forced herself to remain calm and said, "I felt unwell yesterday and thought I would stay overnight at the Su residence. Who knew this would happen? Cousin, please let me go."
Qi Yuechan saw that the clothes and hairstyle she was wearing were the most common way Liu Huan used to dress. It would be a miracle if she believed such obvious evidence.
"I have already sent someone to inform Mother, and someone will come to take you back then."
Wang Qing was now completely terrified. "Cousin, I know I was wrong. I'll never do it again."
If the Qi family takes her back, they will definitely send her back. She doesn't want to go back to her hometown; she has already told her sisters that she came to the capital to live a good life.
"Cousin, please beg Lord Su for me. Liu Huan is probably dead and won't be coming back anyway. I won't be the main wife, I'll just stay in the Su family as a concubine, okay?"
Qi Yuechan felt her husband's body tense up, so she stepped forward and slapped Wang Qing, then ordered the old woman beside her, "Miss Wang is delirious, take her away now."
"Cousin, cousin, please help me. I can help you in the Su family in the future..." Seeing that she was talking more and more outrageous, the old woman took out a handkerchief and stuffed it into her mouth, and quickly took her out.
Qi Yuechan looked at Su Cheng apologetically, "Brother Cheng, my cousin...she..."
She didn't know how to explain. She knew that her husband always had Liu Huan in his heart, and she also knew that Liu Huan was a taboo in the Su family, a thorn in the heart of every member of the Su family.
She hated Wang Qing to the core, wishing she would disappear from her life forever.
Su Cheng shook his head. "It's nothing, it's none of your business, don't overthink it. Let's go inside."
Before they even went inside, Changbai came out and said, "Third Master, the master is still sleeping. You should go back. The master said yesterday that it would be better to save the tea ceremony for when we meet the two elders later."
The two were turned away, and Qi Yuechan was very worried. "Is Second Brother angry?"
Su Cheng pulled her around and said, "He's not angry. Let's just let it go and not mention it again."
He knew the reason, but he felt it was unnecessary to tell his wife these things, and he didn't want more people to know about Huanhuan and Su Yi.
After the two returned, people from the Qi residence came.
It was the old nanny who served Madam Qi. Without saying a word, she had someone drag Wang Qing onto the carriage.
When Qi Yuechan returned home for her wedding, she found that she was not there. Upon asking, she learned that she had been sent back to her hometown. The old lady even claimed to be ill because of this and refused to see Qi Yuechan on her return visit.
"Are you doing well at the Su residence?"
Qi Yuechan blushed and said, "Brother Cheng treats me very well."
Madam Qi then asked, "Has Second Master Su made things difficult for you because of this matter?"
Qi Yuechan said, "No, he hasn't been at home for the past few days. I don't know what he's been up to."
Madam Qi finally breathed a sigh of relief. "If she makes you lose face in the Su family, I won't let her go back alive. She's really from a lowly family, not worthy of respect."
Qi Yuechan, not wanting Madam Qi to dwell on the matter, changed the subject and asked, "Where is Father?"
Lady Qi dismissed her attendants and said, "The Emperor is dying; your father went to the palace yesterday."
Qi Yuechan was surprised, "How could that be?"
"It's said that he was harmed by a concubine, but the specifics are unclear. Don't concern yourself with this matter. Just stay in the Su residence and don't go out. No matter who sits in that position, it won't affect us."
After returning home, Qi Yuechan stayed indoors and never went out. The social circles of noblewomen and young ladies in the capital also tacitly avoided making mahjong appointments, keeping their doors tightly shut and quietly waiting for the death knell to toll.
Five days later, late at night, a somber chime rang out from the direction of the palace, each chime carrying a sense of oppression and lamentation.
Su Cheng quickly got up and woke up Qi Yuechan beside him, "Get up quickly, let's go to the palace."
The clothes had been prepared in advance. Su Cheng's official rank was too low to enter the hall, so he could only kowtow outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
The emperor's death was mourned throughout the country. The news was quickly relayed to every prefecture by express courier. Officials of all ranks put on mourning clothes, and officials of the fifth rank and above went to the capital to pay their respects.
Even in the small village of Heshui in Nanchang County, everyone was immersed in grief.
Liu Huan changed into plain clothes and fasted for seven days to bid farewell to this wise ruler whom he had met once and who had reigned for decades.
The emperor died and the crown prince succeeded to the throne. The new emperor granted a general amnesty.
Ordinary people will be exempt from taxes for three years, and all prisoners whose crimes do not warrant the death penalty will have their sentences reduced by three years, regardless of the severity of their crimes.
When the news reached Heshui Village, forty-nine days had passed.
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