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  Marchioness of Wuning had not expected Shen Xiaohai to suddenly grow a backbone, nor had she anticipated that Lady He, who had spent the past few months forcing smiles and acting subservient, would suddenly become so fearless. She frowned, put her hands on her hips, and was just about to start scolding.

  She had grown up in the northern regions, completely unfamiliar with the refined etiquette of noble dies. From the moment she could eat, she had also learned how to curse, mimicking her father as he pointed at soldiers and scolded them until their heads hung low. When it came to fighting, she resembled a vilge woman brawling with local ruffians. But after all these years, no one had ever dared to point at her nose and accuse her of being poorly raised. Now, not only was she being ridiculed, but her entire family was being demeaned. To make it worse, the insult implied that her daughter and son-in-w were as good as dead and that her granddaughter was malicious at heart. She found this unbearable.

  Before she could retort, Shen Xiaohai cpped his hands, and immediately, over a dozen tall, muscur guards stormed into the hall. Marchioness of Wuning’s expression darkened as she furrowed her brows, nearly raising them in outrage. She bellowed, “What?! Are you pnning to y hands on me?!”

  How did this supposed engagement turn into a full-blown feud instead?!

  She pointed a finger at Shen Xiaohai and sneered, “Don’t forget, this marriage has already been agreed upon. What now? Are you pnning to beat your future in-w in front of all these people?!”

  “And wouldn’t that be exactly what you deserve?!” Shen Xiaohai ughed in fury. “You shameless old hag, I’ve tolerated you again and again! Do you really think I can’t touch you? Think carefully—how many times have you barged into my home, each time more outrageous than the st? Your family’s daughter was already a cripple when we agreed to the marriage, and yet, we chose to overlook it and still take her in. But even then, you people refused to stop causing trouble…”

  Had she been someone who simply wanted to live quietly and sensibly, then fine—after all, he had originally thought that with the backing of both the Marquis of Wuning’s estate and the Tong family, the marriage wouldn’t be too terrible.

  But who could have imagined that this Miss Tong was an absolute lunatic?!

  Marchioness of Wuning, as if struck in a sore spot, nearly leaped from the floor. “A cripple?! So what if she’s a cripple?! Even as a cripple, your useless son still couldn’t keep his—”

  She suddenly remembered Shen Xiaohai’s earlier insult about her family’s ck of upbringing. The vulgar words at the tip of her tongue were swallowed back down, but she quickly twisted her phrasing and spat out coldly, “If your son dares to pull up his pants and deny responsibility, then don’t bme us for turning hostile!”

  Lady He had long felt that her son marrying a cripple was already a great humiliation. But to think that this cripple was also so wicked—she had been swallowing her anger for months. If not for Shen Xiaohai’s constant warnings, she wouldn’t have endured for this long. Now that she finally heard Shen Xiaohai express his intent to call off the engagement, she seized the moment and refused to back down.

  “Turn hostile? I’d love to see how you pn to do that! Let’s make things clear today—our family’s old madam is still bedridden! I have never seen a girl as vicious as—”

  Before she could finish speaking, Steward Tian hunched over and entered the room, announcing that Hu Gongfeng had arrived.

  Shen Xiaohai immediately called for him to be brought in, flicking his sleeve as he gnced at Marchioness of Wuning. Then, he turned to Lady He and instructed, “Don’t waste your breath on her for now. Let’s go check on Mother.”

  Lady He was more than happy to comply. Lifting her skirt, she followed Shen Xiaohai out to welcome Hu Gongfeng. The physician was a straightforward man and, without a word, asked to be taken to the patient immediately.

  Shen Xiaohai led him into the old madam’s courtyard, unable to conceal the deep worry in his voice.

  “She fell and hit her head, leaving a deep wound… The bleeding has stopped, but she still hasn’t woken up. I must trouble you, Master Hu.”

  By the time they reached the room, Hu Gongfeng exchanged a bow with Physician Liang and listened to the patient’s condition. Lifting the curtain, he took one look inside and immediately furrowed his brows.

  “The fall was severe…”

  He pressed gently around the wound, and his expression grew even more serious.

  “There may be internal bleeding—it’s hard to say for sure. This is quite difficult to handle.”

  Marchioness of Wuning had followed along, intending to see for herself, but she was now frozen in pce. Only now did she fully realize the depth of the Shen family’s fury—had they truly injured the old madam this badly?

  Putting herself in their shoes, she thought: if someone had pushed her own mother to this state, wouldn’t she also be rolling up her sleeves, ready to fight to the death?

  She stood there, stunned, for a long moment. It wasn’t until Shen Xiaohai turned back to look at her that she snapped out of her daze. She stammered, “In-w…”

  Shen Xiaohai snorted dismissively.

  “I wouldn’t dare accept that title. Our family can’t afford this marriage—Marchioness of Wuning, please don’t mock me.”

  Was he truly calling off the engagement? Marchioness of Wuning grew anxious.

  “The betrothal tokens have already been exchanged, and even Her Majesty the Empress—”

  “I was just about to have my wife request an audience with the Empress,” Shen Xiaohai interrupted coldly, his expression full of ridicule.

  “I’ll ask Her Majesty to make a ruling—to save our family. Today, it’s my mother. Who knows who will be next?

  “Even before she’s officially married in, our household is already in complete chaos, with no peace to be had. If she really does marry in, I fear even our dogs and chickens won’t survive. I, for one, feel utterly wronged by this entire arrangement.”

  Hu Gongfeng and Physician Liang had, quite unexpectedly, found themselves watching a dramatic spectacle unfold. The twists and turns of this real-life py were more thrilling than anything staged at Hongyun Opera House. They exchanged a gnce, both struggling to suppress their amusement.

  Shen Xiaohai no longer cared about appearances—this mess was already too big to keep under wraps. He understood the reality of the situation: their family had already lost all dignity.

  It was as if he had been blind to agree to this engagement in the first pce. Now, his only priority was to cut his losses as soon as possible—before this disaster of a marriage could bring true camity.

  Hu Gongfeng examined the old madam’s pupils, his tone grave as he reported, “The injury is no small matter. The bleeding has stopped, but we can’t be sure if there’s internal bleeding… She needs careful rest. She should wake up by tonight, but she absolutely must not suffer another shock.”

  Shen Xiaohai let out a sigh of relief before turning back to Marchioness of Wuning with a half-smile.

  “Did you hear that? Have some mercy and let my family have a way out. This marriage must be annulled—there’s no discussion. Tomorrow, my wife will send in a request to enter the pace.

  “As for Miss Tong—I wouldn’t dare take her as my daughter-in-w. You should look elsewhere, perhaps for a family whose health is strong enough to endure the endless torment your household brings.”

  His sarcasm was biting and merciless. Marchioness of Wuning wished she could disappear into the ground. She gnced at Shen Xiaohai, then at Hu Gongfeng and Physician Liang, who were both barely holding back their ughter.

  For once, she found herself speechless—unable to utter a single curse.