Heaven itself seemed to be on her side, yet Xiao Ju still chose to stand before her spewing nonsense.
Xiao Ju was startled and hesitated, her words on the tip of her tongue. But her intelligence prevailed, and she swallowed them back.
The Madam wouldn't allow her to speak.
Besides, the Madam had already made up her mind.
No matter what she said to persuade her, the Madam wouldn't change her mind.
Qian Le'er walked step by step.
Her initially wavering gaze became resolute. She knew she had to move forward, with no turning back!
She tightly clutched the handkerchief in her hand.
As she reached the door and was about to knock, she heard the furious roar from within, "Prodigal son! Are you happy now? Seeing me almost die of anger, are you satisfied?"
Immediately after, she heard Yi Zixing's defense, "Father, I never intended to anger you. Please calm yourself."
It was clear that Yi Zixing was already nervous.
Upon hearing this, Zhongyong Hou became enraged, gasping for breath, his cough intensifying, "Cough, cough, cough! Calm myself? Nonsense! Now, you send that woman away, or I'll never be able to calm down!"
Qian Le'er, standing outside the door, listened to Zhongyong Hou's words, her face instantly darkening.
Why did Zhongyong Hou dislike her so much?
She was already in the Marquis's manor, yet he wanted to drive her away!
This was tantamount to trampling her face on the ground, disregarding whether this action would prevent her from establishing herself in the Marquis's manor or even in the capital!
She bit her lip and immediately spoke, "Marquis, this humble girl has come to beg for punishment."
With a thud!
She glanced at the cold bluestone floor and knelt directly upon it.
A protruding section of the bluestone scraped her knees. She looked again and indeed, it was injured, with bloodstains on her clothes.
Though those inside the room couldn't see her action, they could hear it.
Yi Zixing, about to step out, was stopped by Zhongyong Hou's stern command, "Stay! If you dare to leave, then leave the Marquis's manor with her immediately. From now on, don't acknowledge me as your father! And don't return to the Marquis's manor!"
"Marquis, why must you pressure the Heir Apparent so? It is all this humble girl's fault. I should not have pestered the Heir Apparent. It is I who should leave. Please, Marquis, take care of your health, and please do not blame the Heir Apparent any further. Everything that has happened is because of me, so let me bear all the consequences!" Qian Le'er cried, pleading.
Then, she struggled to get up.
Seeing this, Xiao Ju stepped forward to help her.
However, just as Qian Le'er stood up and Xiao Ju reached out to support her, her knees buckled, and she fell again!
"Ah! Madam!" Xiao Ju cried out in alarm.
"Ah!" Qian Le'er also cried out in pain.
She raised her hand.
Her entire palm was broken, blood flowing out, looking quite ghastly.
Xiao Ju exclaimed, "Madam is injured! Heavens!"
The next moment, Yi Zixing, who had been hesitant, quickly opened the door and came out, rushing to Qian Le'er's side, "Le'er."
Seeing the broken palm and injured knees, he lowered his gaze and ordered Xiao Ju, "Go and fetch a doctor."
"Heir Apparent, I'm alright. You, quickly go and attend to the Marquis, or he will be angry with you again. It's just a minor injury. I'm used to getting hurt often, so don't worry about me, really, don't worry about me." Qian Le'er's eyes were red and tearful, exuding a fragile pitiable charm. Although she told Yi Zixing to go in, her expression conveyed deep reluctance.
With such an expression, few men could remain unmoved.
Yi Zixing's face, pale from the beginning, now turned even more solemn, "I'll help you to rest first. I will handle the other matters."
Seeing Yi Zixing's attentiveness, Qian Le'er felt a secret sense of triumph.
See, her position in Yi Zixing's heart was already very important. Zhongyong Hou couldn't separate them just by wishing it.
Instead, Zhongyong Hou would have to consider whether he still wanted Yi Zixing as his son.
Thinking this, Qian Le'er's eyes reddened further. She struggled to stand up and then said to Xiao Ju, "Xiao Ju, let's go."
"Ah? Yes!" Xiao Ju was bewildered by Qian Le'er's words.
Why were they leaving now?
Didn't she just say that since they had finally arrived at the Marquis's manor, she wouldn't leave for anything?
The change was too abrupt.
"Hypocritical! Insincere! Do you think this Marquis didn't see through you? As long as this Marquis is alive, don't even dream of entering my Marquis's manor! Prodigal son, you leave with her! From now on, without my consent, you are not allowed back to the Marquis's manor!" Zhongyong Hou was gnashing his teeth, his eyes bloodshot with rage.
Knowing his body couldn't take it at this moment, but after hearing their conversation, he felt like he had lost even more of his life force!
His upright son, so easily played by a woman?
Outside the door, hearing Zhongyong Hou's enraged words, Yi Zixing's expression shifted. He said to Qian Le'er, "You should go back first."
Upon hearing this, Qian Le'er's heart sank. Had he been so easily controlled by Zhongyong Hou?
This wouldn't do.
They had finally reached this point; they absolutely couldn't go back to square one!
She bit her lip and then cried towards the room, "Marquis, please do not vent your anger on the Heir Apparent. The Heir Apparent has done nothing wrong. Even if there is fault, it is this humble girl's fault."
She realized that whenever she spoke, Zhongyong Hou would become particularly angry.
As long as Zhongyong Hou was angry, her objective was achieved.
"Silence! Get out!" Zhongyong Hou rarely shouted at people. Even if the servants in the manor made mistakes, he would hardly raise his voice in anger.
However, at this moment, Zhongyong Hou was truly enraged to the extreme.
The old man standing beside him, an elder in the manor who had always cared for Zhongyong Hou, couldn't bear it any longer.
Although he couldn't interfere in his master's affairs, he couldn't stand by idly now. He couldn't watch any longer!
"Heir Apparent, please listen to the Marquis! Have her leave quickly, and don't anger the Marquis any further! This old servant begs you!" The old man pleaded with tears streaming down his face.
Having lived to his age, he had watched the woman's every move from the side and understood it all.
She was too scheming!
And she was intentionally provoking the Marquis. If she were allowed to speak a few more words, perhaps the Marquis would be angered to death!
The Heir Apparent had always been intelligent, so why was he being deceived in this matter?
Yi Zixing's expression faltered. He sighed deeply, "Alright, I understand. You go in and take care of my father first."
Then, he turned to Qian Le'er.
"Le'er, let's go. I'll escort you out of the manor first," Yi Zixing said softly, a hint of apology in his tone.
It had reached this point, and he still hadn't persuaded his father.
Seeing this, Qian Le'er hated the old man, for ruining her good deed!
She obediently followed and took a couple of steps out.
Then her knees buckled, and she fell again, "Ah!"