Chapter 184

Chapter 184: Admitting Defeat "Those who wish to condemn need no excuse!" Madam Qin had long since realized this was a calculated scheme. "Lu Zhong, did you catch me in bed with someone, or was I about to elope with someone?" She never expected to lose to such a tactic. A handsome man scheme? How ridiculous. Madam Qin had been ruthless too many times in her life, and it was precisely this one moment of soft-heartedness that had plunged her into disaster. "I didn't catch you in bed, but you were alone in a room with an actor, your hands intertwined—that's more than enough to prove your relationship is far from innocent!" the Duke of Dingguo roared. "What a joke. You men go around philandering left and right, and I merely showed some pity for a pitiful young man—and that's not allowed?" Madam Qin suddenly hated this world. Even if she did have something with Xiao Wu, so what? If anyone had committed shameful acts first, it was Lu Zhong, not her! Her gaze swept to Cui Zeyu, and Madam Qin pointed at him, bursting into laughter. The clan elders from both families thought Madam Qin had lost her mind. An elder from the Lu family stepped forward and said, "Madam Qin, you've lived more than half your life—how can you still be so muddled? At a time like this, you still don't recognize your mistake?" "What mistake have I made? Xiao Wu and I are completely innocent—nothing happened between us!" Madam Qin had indeed felt fondness toward Xiao Wu, but she would never stoop so low as to carry on an affair with a martial arts performer. She was the legitimate daughter of a prestigious family. She valued dignity and honor—how could she lump herself together with an actor? It was simply that Xiao Wu had been grateful to her and kowtowed to her. When she went to help him up, she held his hands to raise him—and that was when Lu Zhong brought people in to catch them. Only at this moment did she realize—how could such a coincidence exist? It was layer upon layer of scheming, with someone who happened to look similar, designed to make her soften her heart. "You say nothing happened between you, but do you know what kind of person Xiao Wu really is?" Cui Zeyu said. "He's a swindler who specializes in deceiving respectable women, working his way from the south to the north, even trafficking women. I don't know what feelings you have for Xiao Wu, but he certainly has ulterior motives toward you. After all, you are the esteemed Duchess of Dingguo—if he could win you over, what wealth and glory wouldn't he have?" Hearing this, everyone turned to look at Madam Qin. Qin Shaoyuan and the other members of the Qin family felt utterly disgraced. In the past, no matter what Madam Qin did, Qin Shaoyuan was always willing to clean up his sister's messes. But this time, he was truly powerless. "Cui Zeyu, don't you dare speak nonsense!" Madam Qin said urgently. "Whether I'm speaking nonsense or not, everyone can see for themselves once they look at these confessions." As soon as Cui Zeyu finished speaking, someone brought out the testimonies he had gathered. "As for Xiao Wu, you can go ask him yourself—whether his feelings for you were genuine or false." Did that even matter? To Madam Qin, it mattered greatly. In her youth, she had devoted herself wholeheartedly to Lu Zhong, only to discover he had secretly kept a concubine in a hidden residence. After her son died, he even brought the bastard child back. Now she had met Xiao Wu, who resembled a young Lu Zhong—and that turned out to be false as well. Madam Qin's entire body was trembling. Another deception sent her into a rage, but reason pulled her back to calm. She could not resign herself to fate just like that. She was still the Duchess of Dingguo, and she still held leverage over Lu Zhong. Seeing Cui Zeyu's smug expression, Madam Qin said in a low voice, "If Xiao Wu is not a good person, that means he took advantage of my kindness. Whether you extracted confessions under torture or used other means, I will never admit to something I did not do!" She turned to look at the Duke of Dingguo. "As for you, Lu Zhong—do you want to divorce me? You don't have a chance. Don't you forget, that bastard child..." "Sister!" The one who interrupted Madam Qin was Qin Shaoyuan. This time, Qin Shaoyuan had no choice but to stand on the side of the Duke of Dingguo and his son. Cui Zeyu held evidence that Qin Shaoyuan's son had invested in a gambling house. If he didn't stop his sister, Cui Zeyu would deal another heavy blow to the Qin family. His sister, or his son? Qin Shaoyuan had to make a choice. Madam Qin turned around in confusion. "Sister, just admit your mistake." Qin Shaoyuan stepped forward wearily. "Respected elders, this matter is because my sister failed to exercise proper discretion, but I believe what she says—she is absolutely not the kind of person who would betray her husband. However, a mistake is a mistake, and the Qin family accepts the punishment. But..." He found the Duke of Dingguo and looked at him with a hint of warning. "But they have been husband and wife for decades. If you divorce her at this point, are you trying to force a fight to the death?" His meaning was clear: the Lu family could punish Madam Qin, but they could not divorce her. For a woman of Madam Qin's age to be divorced would be a momentous scandal, and the gossip that would spread through Bianjing was not something the Qin family could withstand. But by the same token, the Qin family also held leverage over Lu Zhong. If it came to mutual destruction, the Qin family would have no choice but to expose Cui Zeyu's origins. And the Lu clan elders knew nothing of Cui Zeyu's background. No one in Bianjing knew either. Prestigious families valued their reputation above all, and officials needed public standing. If word got out about the Duke of Dingguo's shameful secret, would the Emperor still trust him? It was precisely for this reason that the Duke of Dingguo had never dared to divorce Madam Qin. "Yes, I have been married to Madam Qin for over thirty years, and she did bear me a child." The Duke of Dingguo knew the Qin family had offered him a way out, so he followed along, "But this incident has truly brought shame upon me, and I must mete out punishment." The elders of the Lu family did not wish to see the Duke of Dingguo divorce his wife either; the best course would be to handle the matter quietly, so as not to invite gossip. Hearing that the Duke of Dingguo still acknowledged their bond, they breathed a sigh of relief, inwardly praising him for not being too heartless. Qin Shaoyuan also relaxed, though only Madam Qin cried out in confusion, "Elder Brother!" Qin Shaoyuan walked over to Madam Qin and warned her in a low voice, "All these years, I've covered for you in so many matters. If it weren't absolutely necessary this time, do you think your elder brother would do this?" His words were filled with helplessness. "The Qin family has done so much for you. Won't you consider the family and your nephew?" Madam Qin was momentarily stunned, not quite grasping his meaning. Just then, one of the Lu family elders spoke up, "In my view, Madam Qin is at fault and unfit to serve as matriarch managing the household. It would be better to send her to the old estate to pray for blessings. To the outside world, we can say Madam Qin is ill and has returned to the old estate to recuperate." If Madam Qin were sent away, she would no longer be the first to learn of matters in the Duke of Dingguo's household. Without power in her hands, gradually no one would come to her aid. And Lu Weijie, whom she had painstakingly arranged for, would also become a wasted effort. Qin Shaoyuan had no objection to this. That his sister could still live well and maintain her dignity was the best possible outcome. But Madam Qin was unwilling. "I won't go to the old estate! Why should I be sent there? Even if I must eat vegetarian and chant sutras, I want to stay in Bianjing!" Madam Qin knew very well that once she returned to the old estate, her chances of ever coming back would be slim. Who knew how she might die there without anyone the wiser. "Elder Brother, please say something for me. I truly haven't done anything improper. I... I accept punishment, but can I stay in Bianjing?" Madam Qin was making a concession. Qin Shaoyuan looked to the Duke of Dingguo. "Brother-in-law, my sister has served faithfully all these years—if not for merit, then for effort. Since she accepts punishment, why not let her worship Buddha within the Duke's residence?" But how could the Duke of Dingguo let this opportunity slip? He had finally managed to send Madam Qin away, and his stance was firm. "It's not that I'm being unreasonable. If Madam Qin stays in the Duke's residence, who knows whether she might bear a grudge and do something. Sending her to the old estate already preserves her dignity. What more could the Qin family want?" After that speech, Qin Shaoyuan could find no words to refute. Not a single person in the room spoke up for Madam Qin. Just then, the one who had been interrogating Nanny Liu returned. "Duke of Guo, Nanny Liu has fainted several times, but she hasn't confessed. Should we continue with the torture?" "No need!" Madam Qin said loudly, "Fine, I'll return to the old estate." Nanny Liu had served her for most of her life—she was her trusted confidante and now her most important person. This time, she had been outmaneuvered and lost, but she would not concede defeat. "If I'm to return to the old estate, then I want to bring Jie-ge'er with me!"