Chapter 153 Having an Affair with His Own Aunt
Hongyu and Yuzhu helped Shen Qingnian walk with difficulty. Yuan Qing wanted to help, but dared not.
Given how much Master loves Miss Qing, if he dares to touch even a single hair on her head, Master would dare to cripple him.
He shook his head helplessly and said to Hongyu, "You help Aunt Qing back to Yuheng Residence first, I will go and fetch a doctor."
Hongyu nodded: "Thank you for your trouble, Brother Yuanqing."
Hongyu and Yuzhu finally managed to help Shen Qingnian into the bedroom of Yuheng Residence, and then gently placed her on the bed.
Looking at Shen Qingnian's pale face and bluish lips, Hongyu said to Yuzhu without taking a break, "Quickly go and make a bowl of ginger soup."
"I've come to help my aunt change her clothes."
As Hongyu spoke, she reached out and touched Shen Qingnian's forehead; the icy touch made her fingertips tremble.
Yu Zhu nodded and immediately ran towards the kitchen.
Hongyu then went to the closet and took out a clean set of undergarments for Shen Qingnian to change into, and then wiped her hair with a towel.
Seeing her furrowed brows and trembling slightly, Hongyu's eyes welled up with tears without her realizing it.
Today's ordeal with her aunt has left her with lingering fear.
She was present that day; her aunt did indeed go to talk to the young master and make things clear.
The two had not overstepped any boundaries, yet they were nearly drowned in the well by the First Madam.
She couldn't help but sigh. In this deep mansion, even the concubine was considered half a mistress, yet she had been tormented like this.
What are these maids and servants anyway?
She was also relieved that the eldest son had returned in time.
She was right. Even though Aunt Qing and the eldest son had a falling out, the eldest son still cared deeply for Aunt Qing.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have rushed over in his court robes.
Hongyu got up and went to the shelf to get another towel.
Looking at the shelf in front of her, she was filled with mixed emotions. The entire shelf was made of pear wood, which her aunt liked.
She glanced around the room again. On the desk by the window, in the blue Ru kiln porcelain bowl, was a crabapple branch that the eldest son had been having picked every day.
The antiques displayed on the shelf next to it were said to have been personally selected by the eldest son from the storeroom according to the style his concubine liked.
Even the lotus scroll pattern embroidered on the curtains was specially commissioned by the eldest son to be embroidered according to his concubine's preferences.
Hongyu suddenly felt a pang of envy. To be able to stay by the side of such a noble and protective person must be a great blessing, right?
Although that young master was also gentle and refined that day, he lacked the sense of responsibility of the eldest son.
At least the eldest son loves his concubine, so he dares to keep her by his side and will protect her if she is wronged.
The young master, on that day, merely watched from the sidelines, not even having the courage to step forward and say a word for his aunt.
It's really not worth it for the concubine to be punished by the First Madam because of this person.
She looked at Shen Qingnian on the bed, sighed, and continued to dry her hair with a towel.
In the backyard of the Buddhist temple, after Hongyu and the others took Shen Qingnian away, Madam Xue looked at Xie Yanzhi and said angrily, "Shen Qingnian secretly met with another man behind your back. She is so shameless. Shouldn't she be punished?"
Xie Yanzhi looked at Xue Shi with a hint of sarcasm in his eyes: "She is my person, and whether or not to punish her is my decision. There's no need for Mother to worry about it!"
Seeing Xie Yanzhi's protectiveness of Shen Qingnian, Madam Xue said sternly, "You, a dignified heir, can even tolerate this affair. I truly have to look at you in a new light!"
Xie Yanzhi raised an eyebrow: "An affair?"
"I was the one who hugged her that day, and I was the one who kissed her. Is Mother saying that her son is having an affair with his aunt?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Xue found it unbelievable and unconsciously took a step back.
Xie Yanzhi actually had the audacity to bring up these shameful things so openly!
For the first time, she felt that as long as it concerned Shen Qingnian, Xie Yanzhi was no longer the Xie Yanzhi she knew.
She pointed angrily at Xie Yandao:
"Your grandmother and I just wanted to give Shen a little pointers so that she would be more obedient and serve you well in the future."
"And you, to protect her, even said such shameful things. How ungrateful you are!"
Xie Yanzhi looked at Madam Xue, a hint of coldness in his eyes: "Give me some pointers?"
“Then I’ll give my mother some pointers.”
Madam Xue looked at Xie Yanzhi, wondering what he was going to do.
At this moment, Xie Yanzhi clapped his hands, and two guards came in from outside. He pointed to the maid beside him and said expressionlessly, "Throw her into the well."
This girl was the one who threw Shen Qingnian into the well just now, and he won't let her off easily.
The two guards, having received their orders, immediately went to the girl.
The girl had just been kicked by Xie Yan, and her chest was still throbbing. When she heard the young master order her to be thrown into the well, she was terrified and immediately knelt down and kowtowed, "Young master, spare my life!"
If she had known, she wouldn't have listened to the First Madam and pushed that concubine into the well.
Seeing Xie Yanzhi's indifferent expression, she moved closer and tugged at Xue Shi's trouser leg, pleading, "Madam, please save me!"
When Madam Xue saw the maid tugging at her trouser leg, she felt a bit disgusted.
But then she glanced at the maids present, who were all watching her discreetly.
She knew that if she didn't plead for this girl today, no one would respect her anymore.
She quickly composed herself and softened her voice, saying, "Yan-ge'er, she's just a little girl. A few lashes will suffice. Why bother..."
"Throw it in!" Xie Yanzhi interrupted her and directly ordered the guards.
Upon hearing his master's order, the guards lifted the girl and moved her toward the well. Amidst the girl's screams, they threw her in.
Then, intermittent sounds of struggling and cries for help came from the well.
Madam Xue was also stunned at this moment.
Although she disliked Shen Qingnian, she never intended to cause a death.
Yet Xie Yanzhi was so ruthless that he remained unmoved even as the human being struggled desperately in the well.
This was the first time she had ever witnessed Xie Yanzhi's ruthlessness.
Only when the sound from the well gradually faded did Xie Yanzhi signal the guards to pull the person out and drag him to Xue Shi's feet.
Seeing the girl's pale face, Madam Xue felt both angry and frightened.
Xie Yanzhi punished her maid in front of everyone, yet she, the dignified lady of the Marquis's mansion and her nominal mother, couldn't even protect a maid.
Xie Yanzhi was punishing that girl; he was clearly slapping her in the face! He was making sure she would never dare to interfere in his affairs or touch his people again.
Now, it's probably not just the main house that knows about Shen Qingnian's place in Xie Yanzhi's heart, but even the people in the old lady's courtyard.
Xie Yanzhi's gaze at her just now also carried a hint of warning, making her dare not speak out in anger.
Xue reluctantly clenched her handkerchief, but still tried to ask, "You really like that Shen Qingnian that much?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Yanzhi frowned slightly, seemingly pondering the question seriously.
Does he like Shen Qingnian very much?
He liked her because of her stunningly beautiful and aloof appearance and her outstanding figure.
She was too stubborn and always liked to go against him, which he disliked.
But she was the first and only person to witness him display such ugliness when he was moved by emotions.
For that reason alone, he couldn't let her go.
Furthermore, the fragrance emanating from her always gave him a sense of familiarity.
Upon reflection, the fragrance was exactly the same as the one he had smelled on his mother when he was a child, giving him a strange sense of familiarity and peace of mind.
He couldn't explain how much he cared about her; he only knew that she could only belong to him, and no one could hurt her or take her away from him!
"Whether you like it or not, can't Mother tell?" Xie Yanzhi said, once again giving Xue Shi a cold look.
"Good! Very good!" Xue said through gritted teeth.
"I guess I was just being presumptuous and meddling in other people's business!"
"It's good that Mother knows." Xie Yanzhi said calmly, as if he hadn't seen Xue's angry expression.
After saying that, he turned around and glanced at Sun Momo, the meaning in his eyes was all too clear.
If there's a next time, she might be the one to be thrown into the well.
Granny Sun stiffened under his gaze and lowered her head even further. Xie Yanzhi didn't say anything more and turned to walk straight outside.
After Xie Yanzhi left, Madam Xue looked at the maids present, who were bowing their heads respectfully and not daring to utter a sound, and felt extremely resentful.
She always felt that although they were respectful on the surface, they no longer regarded her as their master in their hearts.
Thinking of this, Madam Xue could no longer hold back and kicked the pear wood chair next to her twice to vent her frustration and anger.
At this moment, in the bedroom of Yuheng Residence, Shen Qingnian felt as if she were being submerged in icy water.
She instinctively reached out for help, but found she couldn't push the thick bamboo strips away.
He could only let the well water carry him down, letting the water keep pouring into his mouth and nose.
Just as her eyelids were about to close, she was pulled back to the surface of the water.
She gasped for breath when the First Madam suddenly appeared before her, a ferocious smile on her face: "For such a virtuous act as a woman, you deserve to die."
He then reached out and pressed her head down, causing her to sink underwater.
She only saw Xue's hideous face moving in front of her eyes. Whenever she tried to float up, Xue would reach out and press her down hard.
She wanted to retort, but the well water choked her and she couldn't utter a word. She could only struggle anxiously in the water.
At this moment, someone pulled her up again. When she opened her eyes, she saw the old lady looking at her with a kind face and a smile on her face. She said, "Now that you have entered the Marquis's mansion, even if you die, you will die in the Marquis's mansion."
As he spoke, he pushed her into the water again.
Shen Qingnian trembled all over, two lines of tears slid down her cheeks, and she unconsciously gripped the sleeve of her clothes tightly.
Xie Yanzhi saw that she was frowning anxiously, with tear stains still on the corners of her eyes, and her whole body was trembling slightly under the covers.
A wave of heartache washed over him instantly.
He reached out and gently wiped away her tears with his fingertips, then leaned down and whispered in her ear:
"Don't be afraid."
His voice softened, carrying a tenderness he had never shown before.
“I’m here, no one can hurt you anymore.” He sat on the edge of the tatami mat, holding her hand, his gaze fixed on her face.
If he had come home any later today, would she have been dead?
He originally just wanted to ignore her for two days so she could reflect on her actions.
That Xue family actually dared to capture her and throw her into a pig cage!
Thinking of this, Xie Yanzhi's eyes darkened. He reached out and carefully tucked the blanket around her.
Watching Xie Yanzhi treat Shen Qingnian with such tenderness and care, Hongyu felt even more that their aunt was truly blessed.
A relieved smile unconsciously appeared on his face.
At this moment, Yu Zhu brought over some ginger soup. Seeing Xie Yanzhi sitting by the bed, she hesitated, unsure whether to approach him, and stood awkwardly to the side.
Seeing her troubled expression, Xie Yanzhi took the initiative to sit down to the side and then reached out to hug Shen Qingnian.
Yu Zhu scooped up a spoonful of ginger soup and carefully fed it to Shen Qingnian's lips.
But when Shen Qingnian tasted the spiciness of the ginger soup, she shook her head and avoided the spoon that was being offered to her.
Xie Yanzhi looked on, somewhat annoyed and angry: "Get out!"
Seeing this, Yuzhu quickly put the bowl aside and retreated with Hongyu.
Xie Yanzhi picked up the spoon again and fed the soup to Shen Qingnian's lips, but Shen Qingnian still refused to drink it.
Xie Yanzhi frowned and whispered in her ear, "If you don't drink it obediently, I'm going to feed you."
Shen Qingnian's mind was still hazy, and she had no idea what he was saying. She only felt a voice in her ear that made her feel inexplicably uneasy.
She tried to open her eyes to see who was speaking, but she couldn't open them no matter what she did.
Seeing her like that, Xie Yanzhi took a mouthful of soup and fed it to her, then reached out and lifted her chin, forcing her to drink the ginger soup.
He wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and gently placed her on the bed.
At this moment, Hongyu came in and said, "Young Master, the doctor has arrived."
Xie Yanzhi glanced at the person on the bed, then stood up and said, "Let the doctor in."
"Yes." Hongyu turned and went out, leading the doctor in.
The doctor entered the room, bowed to Xie Yanzhi, placed a silk handkerchief on Shen Qingnian's hand, and carefully took her pulse.
Then, he withdrew his hand.
"How is she?" Xie Yanzhi asked as he stepped forward after seeing that the doctor had already taken her pulse.
"This woman caught a cold and was also frightened, which caused her to fall into a coma."
"I will prescribe some medicine to dispel the cold and a nourishing prescription to help you recover quickly."
Hearing the doctor say this, Xie Yanzhi's brows relaxed a little.
Hongyu listened from the side, and her heart finally settled down. Seeing the doctor get up, she followed and saw him out the door.
Shen Qingnian didn't wake up until after dark.
She stared at the canopy above the bed, momentarily unsure of where she was.
Hongyu was doing needlework nearby. When she saw Shen Qingnian wake up, she smiled and quickly put down her needlework, saying, "Auntie! You're finally awake."
Upon hearing the sound, Shen Qingnian turned to look at Hongyu: "Where am I?"
Hongyu looked at Shen Qingnian's still pale face and her somewhat dazed expression. With red eyes, she said, "This is Yuheng Residence, your own room."
Shen Qingnian was a little confused. Wasn't she thrown into the well by the First Madam?
Why are you back?
Seeing that Shen Qingnian seemed puzzled, Hongyu said softly, "It was the eldest young master who came back in time and released you from the bamboo cage."
As Shen Qingnian listened to Hongyu's words, a hint of indescribable emotion flashed in her eyes.
Xie Yanzhi is still angry with her, so why would he come back to save her?
Then she heard Hongyu say, "When the eldest young master saw you like that, he was so angry that he kicked over the madam's chair."
"This servant can tell that the eldest young master values his concubine very much."
Seeing that Shen Qingnian remained silent, Hongyu thought for a moment and then tried to ask, "Is Aunt still angry with the eldest young master?"
At this moment, Xie Yanzhi stood outside with his hands behind his back, hesitant to push open the door in front of him.
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