Appearance
"A child from the Cui family?"
Upon hearing this, everyone present gasped in astonishment, silently recounting the Cui family's long history of romantic escapades.
In the early years, when Cui Wenying welcomed his new mistress into the family, the whole of Chang'an was abuzz with rumors that the new bride, He Shi, had an affair with Cui's eldest son and had given birth to Cui Jue. The original wife, gentle and virtuous, was so shocked to learn that she had been betrayed that she vomited blood and died.
Only his two children, Cui Zhi and Cui Yi, were left behind.
The woman in front of me claims that she is carrying the child of the Cui family. Lord Cui is getting old. Could it be that his son has also learned most of his philandering ways and is now deceiving innocent young women from respectable families?
Thinking of this, Old Madam Cui's head began to ache even more. She put on a stern face, exuding authority, and slammed her cane heavily on the ground, like a thunderbolt: "Bring the Second Young Master and the Third Young Master here."
Then, he said to Qin Xiaofang, "Don't be afraid. Tell me everything that happened from beginning to end."
"..."
Qin Xiaofang had calmed down a bit by this time. A maid helped her to the bed and treated the wound on her forehead. She reopened the wound, and the pain was unbearable for most people. Qin Xiaofang was heartbroken and almost cried. When she talked about how her husband had abandoned her after starting a relationship with her, Cui Zhi entered the room.
He disliked crowds and was playing chess with Xie Heng in his room when someone inexplicably called him over. When he saw that the room was crowded with people in a mess, he turned around and tried to escape.
Fortunately, Xie Lingjun held him firmly on the shoulder and bowed to the crowd, saying, "Greetings, Grandmother Cui and Your Highnesses. May I ask what crime A-Zhi has committed that warrants such a joint trial by three courts?"
When Xie Lingxi saw that his elder brother had also come over, he knew that he would definitely linger on Cui Zhi's behalf. He comforted Cui Yi by pressing his wrist, but found that his hand was covered in cold sweat.
"This woman said that she was pregnant with Cui Erge's child."
"How is this possible!"
Xie Lingjun knew Cui Zhi's character all too well. This young man didn't want to go to places with many ordinary people, and he avoided women like the plague. Why would he deliberately try to seduce a girl?
Xie Lingjun had doubts in his heart, and after looking at everyone around him, he met Xie Lingxi's eyes and immediately understood. He said seriously, "Could it be a misunderstanding? Azhi has been with me every day these days, paying his respects morning and evening without fail. How could he have time to befriend Madam Qin?"
At this moment, a woman with a fiery temper rushed out: "Who knows if they're not all in cahoots!"
"ha……"
Despite the tense atmosphere, everyone was amused by these words—who didn't know Xie Lingjun, the Second Young Master Xie, a refined gentleman, incredibly clever? If even he could be considered a womanizer, then there would be no upright and good men in the world.
Cui Zhi also said, "Lingjun, I don't need you to vouch for me. How can I admit to something I didn't do?"
He walked to the bedside, looked at Qin Xiaofang, and said gently, "My lady, look closely. Is that the man who deceived you me?"
This left everyone feeling utterly distraught.
Yan Sheng just killed a child. If it were an unborn bastard, no one would dare to say anything. But if it was the legitimate grandson of the Minister's family, even if the child's mother was someone of low status, he would probably still incur the resentment of the Cui family.
Therefore, he said, "I think that lady is mistaken. Second Master is a man of upright character and a true gentleman. He would never do such a thing."
Seeing Xie Lingxi looking at him, he seemed to gain more confidence, "Besides, Lingjun also said that Erlangjun has been staying with him these days. Where would he find the leisure to meet his lover in secret?"
Cui Yi stopped crying and her body stopped trembling. She said coldly, "Your Highness is right. But this child died with his eyes open, and we must find out who his father really is."
These words left Yan Sheng speechless.
Inside the room, Qin Xiaofang's hand trembled as she tried to touch Cui Zhi's face, but Cui Zhi dodged her. The woman reluctantly withdrew her hand, looked at him for a long time, and said, "It's not him."
"ah."
Cui Yi breathed a sigh of relief.
Qin Xiaofang's presence here today was arranged by her and Xie Lingxi.
She and Cui Zhi were twins. That day, Qin Xiaofang was momentarily confused and mistook her, a beautiful young woman, for her husband. Only after she cried her heart out did Cui Yi realize that the so-called fleeting romance and mutual affection were just a fig leaf woven for the rapist.
For Qin Xiaofang, this explanation made her feel more at ease.
Later, when Qin Xiaofang regained her senses and pressed her for details, she learned that both the young man and Cui Yi wore a red jade pendant around their necks, which led her to admit her mistake.
This jade was made by someone commissioned by my father. It has a unique design, and every child in the Cui family has one.
Therefore, since the villain was not Cui Zhi, it could only be—
"How did you determine just now, Madam Qin, that the person you were intimate with was a son of the Cui family?"
Upon hearing this question, Qin Xiaofang suddenly felt a splitting headache, cold sweat poured down her forehead, and her face showed pain. After groaning pitifully a few times, she collapsed back onto the pillow, unable to speak.
Just then, Cui Jue, drunk, stepped across the threshold, stealing a kiss from the embroidered handkerchiefs held by several ladies, causing a commotion among the crowd. He was extravagant and arrogant, exclaiming, "Grandmother! What did you call me here for, Grandmother?"
Ouch!
Qin Xiaofang on the bed came into his view, and his eyes lit up instantly. His hands itched, and he grinned wickedly as he reached out to touch her. "My beauty, a day apart feels like three autumns!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than Cui Zhi delivered a punch to his face, the sharp wind carrying the rough breathing of the young master in his anger, followed by a sharp pain in his back.
In an instant, his left cheek swelled up. Although Cui Jue was drunk, he was still full of fighting spirit. He turned around and was about to fight with Cui Zhi, but two servants were quick-witted and held him down tightly.
The room was filled with the pungent smell of strong liquor from his nose and mouth, causing many women and men to cover their mouths and noses and take a few steps back, because of the bloodstains all over the floor—Qin Xiaofang's, the unborn child's, and Cui Jue's.
How could Madam Cui have foreseen such a tragic outcome?
She always valued her reputation and face, and so, unable to bear it any longer, she slumped down on the high platform, letting the old woman rub her temples. "Who let Third Master drink?"
The servant boy immediately knelt down, "Madam, spare me! Madam, spare me! It was the young master himself... When we found him, he was hiding in the artificial hill outside the pond, drinking and playing with several ladies and gentlemen..."
What followed was truly offensive.
Artificial hill? Xie Lingxi thought to herself that she had indeed guessed right. That exquisitely crafted landscape really was Cui Jue's "private villa".
"you--!"
Madam Cui was furious. In the next instant, she raised her cane and struck Cui Jue's leg hard, forcing him to kneel on the ground in repentance.
The man was so drunk he couldn't think straight. After being hit several times, his body ached and itched all over. He opened his mouth and cursed, "You old bastard, you old codger... you hit me, how dare you hit me! And all of you... you're laughing at me... hahaha..."
"Cui Zhi...? You're here too... Trying to teach me a lesson? You really think you're some noble young master... You worthless bastard..."
Seeing the contempt and disgust in everyone's eyes, he stumbled and pounced around like a tiger or leopard, extremely fierce, "Look again, look again and I'll have my father beat you all to death!"
"..."
Not to mention Cui Zhi, even Cui Yi, who was listening nearby, was so angry that she trembled all over and couldn't help but shed tears. She could barely stand.
Xie Lingjun quickly pulled her over, gently stroking her thin back. He felt the tightness in his wife's chest, her chest heaving, and his heart ached as if it were being pricked by countless embroidery needles.
Looking at Cui Zhi beside him, his eyes were bloodshot, his usually gentle face was unusually tinged with anger, and the veins on his neck were bulging.
After Xie Lingjun finished thinking, he rushed forward and punched Cui Jue without saying a word, causing Cui Jue to fall to the ground and spit out a mouthful of bloody teeth.
"--you!"
Cui Jue was panting heavily, his jaw felt like it had been slashed by a blunt object. He was instantly enraged and grabbed a stool leg to smash down on Xie Lingjun's lower body, but Xie Lingjun chopped it into pieces, turning it into a rain of sharp blades that fell on him.
As the situation escalated, Cui Jue was beaten until he was covered in blood and his fine clothes were tattered. Everyone around him took a few steps back in unison, even covering their faces, and no one dared to intervene.
After beating the man to the point of near death, Xie Lingxi said calmly from the side, "Brother, don't break your hand."
Xie Lingjun withdrew his hand, completely unlike his previous furious state. He took the handkerchief Xie Lingxi handed him and wiped his blood-stained hand, smiling gently: "I apologize for the commotion."
Everyone present was so frightened they almost fainted.
The young woman who had just shouted "a den of snakes and rats" clapped her hands excitedly, "Well done! Well done!"
Who was abrupt, who was offensive, and who was having an affair with the innocent lady all night—all these things are now clear.
Madam Cui slumped into her armchair. Although she had witnessed Xie Lingjun's terrifying fist techniques, she said nothing, only sighing deeply: "It is because I have not managed my household properly that I have raised such a harmful creature. Now that things are clear, everyone may disperse."
After saying that, she turned to the Third Prince, who was speechless in the room, and said, "I am sorry that Your Highness has made a fool of yourself today. This miscarriage was an unintentional mistake, so please do not take it to heart."
The play started abruptly and ended in a dramatic fashion. Old Madam Cui didn't even glance at Qin Xiaofang, but gave a few instructions before leaving without any joy or sorrow.
After everyone had dispersed, only Xie and Cui, the brother and sister, remained in the house.
Qin Xiaofang lay on the bed, her face pale and unsightly, but her eyes held a hint of lightness and relief.
She no longer wanted the bastard child of the person who forced her into this situation. Although this method caused her some suffering, it was ultimately to her liking. Seeing Cui Jue being beaten made her feel even more relieved.
After thinking it over, he looked at the two ladies standing beside him and said weakly with a smile, "Thank you for your help, ladies."
The Cui siblings turned their backs to them, wiping away their tears with handkerchiefs and keeping each other warm.
Xie Lingxi sat down by the couch and checked Qin Xiaofang's pulse again to make sure she was alright. He then said, "It's not advisable to stay at the Cui residence for long. I'll have Ayi escort you out of the residence later. Do you have a place to stay now?"
"My wife, don't worry, I have somewhere to go."
Xie Lingxi nodded. "That Meng Jin, is he your older brother?"
"this--"
The answer is obvious.
"How did you know, my wife?"
These events happened one after another, and the coincidences were too great. Even though Qin Xiaofang was telling them the truth, there is no such thing as a completely perfect deception in the world.
First, a scholar disguised himself as a merchant to attract her and Cui Yi's attention. Once they were certain of their identities and character, Qin Xiaofang made a pitiful entrance.
Although Meng Jin did not return to the Qin family, he took good care of the Qin family's lady in a short time, which made Xie Lingxi suspicious. She sent someone to investigate, and it turned out to be just as she had expected.
Later, Meng Jin came to the Cui family with his excellent skills in carving mountains and stones. Cui Jue valued him highly and often introduced him to teahouses and wine shops, where he would seek pleasure and romance, which ultimately led to his downfall.
Xie Lingxi said calmly, "I guess the new craftsman in the manor is also from Mengjin, right? You just said you wanted to thank me, could you ask your brother to do me a favor?"
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