Chapter 391 Your Brother Is Not Stupid

Cheng Hui stared at Cheng Qi in shock as he spoke.

Cheng Qi glanced at Nanny Qin, who was still kneeling on the ground and slapping herself, "Nanny Qin, stand up. I’m sure this is just a misunderstanding."

Cheng Hui was speechless.

"Brother? Are you serious?"

"Let’s drop this," Cheng Qi directly cut off Cheng Hui's subsequent words. He turned to Qin Shaojing, "Shaojing has been mistreated by her in-laws. We’re just letting her stay here for a few days. Why are you treating her so harshly?"

Cheng Hui was stunned. She balled her fists, "Brother, I bullied her? Then why don’t you ask why, in the entire Imperial City, with Lady of Xue as her aunt, she’s staying here instead of the Ningyang Marquis’s estate?"

Qin Shaojing gently raised her eyes, "My aunt is gravely ill. I’ll visit her soon."

"Stop pretending! Lady of Xue threw you out!"

"Cheng Hui!" Cheng Qi snapped.

"Brother, you’re unaware," Cheng Hui took a deep breath, knowing she must not act impulsively now. She had to expose Qin Shaojing’s true colors and the awful things she’d done!

"Qin Shaojing poisoned my sister-in-law and brother-in-law, and that’s why Lady of Xue banished her. If you don’t trust me, ask my sister-in-law. She’s standing right here."

Cheng Hui pulled Lu Lingyun forward from behind her.

She believed that while her brother might not trust her words, he would definitely believe Lu Lingyun's.

"Enough," Cheng Qi said, glancing at Lu Lingyun, then back at Cheng Hui. "Shaojing is staying here, and no one’s going to make her leave."

"Brother! You..." Cheng Hui was frantic, lunging to grab Cheng Qi.

"Hui Hui, let it go," Lu Lingyun said, taking Cheng Hui’s hand. "It’s no use."

At those words, Cheng Hui’s spirit crumbled.

She glared at her brother, cold and stubborn, and at Qin Shaojing, who hid her face but was clearly gloating.

Cheng Hui spun around and stormed out.

She wiped her tears as she walked, completely baffled.

She couldn’t make sense of it.

Why was her brother acting this way?

Even with the evidence staring him in the face.

Even though he admitted he’d been sick all day, he still believed that old servant’s lies!

Even though Qin Shaojing was extremely malicious, having poisoned Lu Lingyun, Cheng Yunshuo, and Sù Yīng, yet her brother wouldn't listen to a word.

She stormed out of the general's mansion, "Sister-in-law!"

Cheng Hui threw herself into Lu Lingyun's arms, "Why doesn't he believe me! Why doesn't he believe me! How did that woman deceive him? The evidence was right in front of him, and he still doesn't believe it!"

Lu Lingyun listened to her, "Your brother’s no fool. How could he be tricked?"

Cheng Hui looked up.

Lu Lingyun gently patted her head, "It's not that he doesn't believe; he just chooses not to. Even if Qin Shaojing slipped him something, as long as he's okay with it, what does it matter?"

Cheng Hui was stunned by what she heard.

She recalled the day she was discussing the pharmacy in the west of the city with Cheng Qi and Lu Lingyun, when Cheng Qi suddenly went quiet.

Of course, her brother isn’t stupid!

He must’ve figured out ages ago that Qin Shaojing had drugged him.

Yet he still met her a few times after that, and today he even brought her straight into their general’s mansion.

He’s okay with it!

Being willing just makes him look pathetic!

"Shao Jing, don’t pay attention to Hui Hui’s rambling. I trust you."

After Cheng Hui and Lu Lingyun left, Cheng Qi looked at Qin Shaojing, comforting her.

Qin Shaojing hung her head, turned away, and began to sob, "Brother Cheng Qi, it’s all my fault for causing you and Hui Hui to fight. Maybe I should just leave."

"Shao Jing!" Cheng Qi grabbed her as she tried to leave. "Stay."

"But Hui Hui is your sister, and she won’t come back because I’m staying here."

"Forget about her! She’s an adult; she’ll be fine. She can always stay with her sister-in-law."

"But you," Cheng Qi said, looking at her, "where else can you go after how the Duke Liu’s Mansion treated you?"

Qin Shaojing looked at him with affectionate eyes, "Brother Cheng Qi, if only that scoundrel Liu Ye hadn’t bullied me! I could’ve married you, and everything would’ve been perfect."

"Shao Jing..." Cheng Qi murmured.

Cheng Hui trailed Lu Lingyun back to the Marquis’s Mansion.

After Lu Lingyun’s words, she fell silent, her anger and resentment gone.

The worst part is realizing that no matter how much you explain or prove, it doesn’t matter.

No one cares!

She lay awake all night.

The next day, seeing how downcast Cheng Hui looked, Lu Lingyun invited the Tong and Liu sisters over for a small gathering.

Noticing Cheng Hui’s mood, they asked,

"Hui Hui, what’s up?"

"Wait, didn’t your brother just get back? Why are you so upset?"

When Cheng Hui heard them mention her brother, she became even more angry, "Don’t even bring him up!"

"What's wrong?" Tong Nanyuan asked.

"My brother’s an idiot—he’s got something wrong with his head!" Cheng Hui said angrily.

Tong Nanyuan then chuckled, "I think so too." Tong Nanyuan had been inexplicably scolded by Cheng Qi once before.

She immediately agreed when she heard Cheng Hui say that.

"Third sister," Tong Nanxia then spoke softly, "General Cheng is a true hero, upright and steadfast. You shouldn't speak of him like that."

"What hero? He's nothing but a bear!" Cheng Hui retorted angrily, "A clueless, blind, stinky bear!"

At that moment, a voice came from the garden behind them, "Hui Hui."

Everyone turned to see Cheng Qi approaching from the garden.

They all rose to greet him.

"Here comes General Cheng."

Cheng Qi responded briefly and strode over to Cheng Hui's side, "Hui Hui, are you still angry?"

"Why are you here? You should just stay with Lady Qin and be all cozy!"

Cheng Qi's expression turned awkward, "How can you say that? Shaojing and I are completely innocent. You're ruining her reputation like this."

"Enough already! Just admit you like her. Stop pretending and worrying about appearances, just as shameless as her!"

Cheng Qi was deeply embarrassed by his sister's scolding, especially with so many people present.

Just then, Tong Nanxia spoke up, "Let's take a stroll in the garden and leave General Cheng and Hui Hui to talk privately."

She offered Cheng Qi an out, and he glanced at her with gratitude.

Tong Nanxia gave a faint smile, lowered her head, and led the others to walk in the garden, leaving the pavilion to Cheng Hui.

"Nanxia, does General Cheng still have feelings for Lady Qin? Is he still unable to forget her?"

As they walked, the women peeked at the arguing pavilion from the shadows, whispering and gossiping.

"I think so. Weren't they almost married back then?"