Chapter 398: Blocking Qin Shaojing’s Escape Route

Chapter 398: Blocking Qin Shaojing's Escape Route

Is he dead?

If Liu Ye, unconscious, heard the servants cursing him, he'd surely rise to beat them.

Now, dead or alive, they demanded Cheng Qi's life!

Cheng Qi stared, stunned, at his fist. Had he really killed someone?

The scene came to an abrupt halt. Qin Shaojing, hiding inside the house, saw that things had escalated to this point. She had no choice but to step out.

Clenching her teeth, she emerged from the house.

"Liu Ye!"

In a panic, she rushed to Liu Ye, hastily checking for breath. Relief washed over her as she felt his breath.

"Stop this nonsense! Tong Er Ye is alive! Get him back to the mansion now!"

At her command, the chaotic crowd swiftly lifted the unconscious Liu Ye and headed for the Liu Guo Gong Mansion.

Qin Shaojing trailed behind them.

"Shaojing, stay," Cheng Qi pleaded, trying to stop her.

Qin Shaojing looked at him with a complicated gaze. "Brother Cheng Qi, I must leave. If the Liu Guo Gong Mansion decides to act, you're doomed."

"I fear nothing!" Cheng Qi declared heroically. "Let them do their worst."

Qin Shaojing barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes at his foolishness.

He feared neither death nor punishment, but what of her fate?!

Failing to return with them today would brand her an adulteress!

She had initially planned to divorce Liu Ye. She held leverage over the Liu Guo Gong Mansion. Her resolve to divorce would prevent the Liu Guo Gong Mansion from intervening.

She delayed, planning to manipulate Lady Qin into securing Cheng Qi a noble title. Post-inheritance, she intended to divorce and wed him.

Without a title, why would she marry a pauper!

Life in the Liu Guo Gong Mansion was unbearable, but poverty with him would be worse!

Failing to deceive Lady Qin, she considered enduring the mansion and abandoning Cheng Qi.

Unexpectedly, Liu Ye's disruption came too soon.

And what a spectacle he created!

Now, trapped in Cheng Qi's mansion by Liu Ye, she witnessed Cheng Qi knock him out.

If she didn't go back with them, she and Cheng Qi would be branded as adulterers!

Qin Shaojing looked deeply at Cheng Qi. "Brother Cheng Qi, you're a good person. I caused all this trouble, and I'll solve it myself. Shaojing must not drag you into this."

Hearing this, Cheng Qi was deeply moved. "How can that be? Shaojing, if anyone should go, it should be me. We are innocent and upright. The Liu Guo Gong Mansion can't falsely accuse us. As for Liu Ye, I hit him, so I should go and take the blame. I can't let you bear the blame!"

"Brother Cheng Qi, just stay in the mansion!" Qin Shaojing pushed him away, rolling her eyes in her heart. "Public opinion can destroy a person. If you go, it will only give those people more to talk about! I'll solve this myself. At worst, at worst."

She cast a resolute gaze at Cheng Qi, pledging her future to him, "If I am driven out of the Duke of Liu's residence, Brother Cheng Qi, you can't abandon me!"

Cheng Qi, feeling the intensity of her gaze, felt his resolve harden like iron, "Shao Jing, I could never abandon you!"

Qin Shaojing's mind was racing with plans as she looked at Cheng Qi, "Then stay in the general's residence. No matter what happens in the next couple of days, don't leave. As long as you don't betray me, Brother Cheng Qi, I’ll never betray you!"

"Alright," Cheng Qi tightened his fists.

After speaking, Qin Shaojing turned and quickly had Liu Ye taken back.

Cheng Qi watched her figure, his heart ached as if pierced by a thousand needles.

Oh, his Shao Jing!

His Shao Jing was so thoughtful of him, taking all the burden upon herself. She was ready to bear it alone. He could never betray her in this lifetime!

At this moment.

Ningyang Marquis's residence.

Lu Lingyun listened to the servants chattering about the events at the General's residence, and a slow smile crept across her face.

Although she hadn't anticipated Cheng Qi knocking someone out, the final outcome was pretty much as expected: Qin Shaojing would return to the Duke of Liu's residence.

Since things had come to this, Qin Shaojing had to step forward and make a choice.

She knew Qin Shaojing inside out, understood her completely.

She knew that Qin Shaojing's flirtation with Cheng Qi wasn't a desperate move but rather hedging her bets!

She was holding her place in the Duke of Liu's residence while carving out a new path for herself. If Cheng Qi showed promise, she wouldn’t hesitate to divorce and pick him.

But if Cheng Qi's prospects were dim, she would drop him and return to the Duke of Liu's residence.

A little flirtation and ambiguity between them would cost her nothing.

It even allowed her to always keep a way out, ready to retreat and choose Cheng Qi at any time.

This time, she would completely sever one of Qin Shaojing's paths.

Between the Duke of Liu's residence and Cheng Qi, she could only choose one.

If she chose the Duke of Liu's residence, she would no longer be able to interfere with the Ningyang Marquis's residence, completely cutting off her schemes for the title!

And if she chose Cheng Qi, her reputation would be utterly ruined.

She couldn't possibly divorce cleanly and remarry Cheng Qi smoothly as she had previously planned.

She might end up completely branded as an adulteress, divorced by her husband, and if Cheng Qi married her, his reputation would be completely tarnished.

He would have no chance of inheriting the title!

Lu Lingyun listened quietly and then said to the servants below, "Tomorrow, send an invitation to Qing Shuang and ask her to come over."

"Yes."

Let the situation ferment a bit more.

Meanwhile, at the Duke of Liu's residence.

Qin Shaojing returned to Marquis Liu's Mansion with her people.

Upon seeing their lord beaten, the second branch of Marquis Liu's Mansion was in an uproar that very day.

The next day, Liu Qingshuang arrived at Lu Lingyun's Marquis's Mansion, beaming.

Accompanying her were the Tong sisters and her elder sister.

Once again, everyone got together to gossip about Qin Shaojing.

"Big news, big news! Something big went down in Qin Shaojing's second branch!"

"What happened?"

Cheng Hui was also among them, and she quickly asked.

"Yesterday, Qin Shaojing brought back Liu Er, who was beaten and covered in blood. When Liu Er's mother saw this, she was furious. Upon learning the details and finding out that it was your brother who had beaten him outside, the second branch immediately wanted to round up people to confront your brother!"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Hui frowned tightly, "Hmph! I always knew Qin Shaojing was trouble. What good could come from associating with her! Now look, this huge mess has happened. What are we going to do!"

"Hui Hui, calm down," Liu Qingshuang said, "Look, it's already the second day, and Marquis Liu's Mansion hasn't come after your brother, has it?"

Hearing this, Cheng Hui's anxious worry turned into confusion, "That's right, why not?"

Logically speaking, with Cheng Qi causing such a huge scandal—both seducing a married woman and beating their lord—Marquis Liu's Mansion would never let him get away with it!