Chapter 407: A Fatal Blow

Chapter 407: A Fatal Blow

"It's not me! It's not me!"

"You slut! Who else could it be!" The head nanny, the chief stewardess, slapped Qin Shaojing across the face.

Today, she was acting on the orders of the old Duke and the Duchess to arrest her. Whether Qin Shaojing was still their young mistress or not, she could slap her a few times today!

She had single-handedly ruined the future of the Liu Duke's household!

The old Duke had been reprimanded by the Emperor and sent home!

What did a few slaps matter to her?

Qin Shaojing was stunned by the slap, but she quickly realized she was finished!

She couldn't figure out who had leaked the affair with her former father-in-law. On her side, only she and Nanny Qin were in the know. As for the Liu family, only a few knew, but none would dare to speak out!

Even if the main branch gossiped about her, they wouldn't dare to say it openly!

Liu Qingshuang was living proof of that!

Besides, they didn't even know who she had been involved with!

So, how could anyone know her secret?

It couldn't be!

Absolutely not!

But now, besides shock, fear, and confusion, she realized she must not be taken away by them!

With the secret out, the Liu family would surely blame her, and she would have no defense. Even though this incident brought her no benefit, she had ruined the Liu family's reputation and future. They would definitely not spare her!

"Help me—"

"Save me—"

"Murder—"

Qin Shaojing screamed at the top of her voice.

Seeing this, the head nanny frowned, slapped her twice more, and gagged her. Just as they were about to drag Qin Shaojing into the carriage, a man burst out from the entrance of the Imperial Clan Court.

"Stop!"

Cheng Qi kicked out, sending several servants sprawling. He threw a few more punches, scattering the servants holding Qin Shaojing, and finally kicked the old nanny, wrenching Qin Shaojing from her grasp.

Before Qin Shaojing could catch her breath, the kicked old nanny shouted angrily, "This is our family matter! Hand that slut over to us!"

Hearing this, Cheng Qi looked at the old nanny, who was leaning against the carriage, furious, "Shaojing has already been divorced by the Liu Duke's household and has nothing to do with you!"

The head nanny frowned deeply upon hearing this, "But she has been unfaithful, divorced, and spreading her scandalous affairs, slandering our Duke's household! We cannot let this vile woman go!"

Qin Shaojing, hearing this, clung tightly to Cheng Qi, "Brother Cheng Qi, save me."

At this moment, Cheng Qi's gaze was profound. He looked at Qin Shaojing in his arms, her face red and swollen from the harsh slaps, and in her desperate gaze, he said, "Shaojing is my fiancée; she is already mine. If the Liu Duke's household wants to pursue this, they can come to my General's residence."

His words shocked the head nanny across from him.

She stared at Cheng Qi, his metaphorical green hat glaringly obvious. At this moment, someone would willingly embrace such a disgrace.

“Don’t you know about the lewd things she has done?” the head housekeeper accused Qin Shaojing.

Amidst the crowd’s stunned silence, Cheng Qi resolutely declared, “I know.”

He wore this hat with unwavering resolve.

After Cheng Qi said this, the housekeeper was left utterly speechless.

She gazed at Cheng Qi, his metaphorical green hat shining brightly, for a long time, then waved her hand, “Let’s retreat.”

If Qin Shaojing’s maternal or aunt’s family had shown up today, they could have taken her away.

They might even have to deliver her themselves and apologize.

But Cheng Qi was her new husband’s family, her new protector.

With her new husband’s protection, her former husband’s family could only target Cheng Qi to get to her.

As he suggested, they should take it up with the General’s Mansion.

With no other option, the head housekeeper led her people away.

To report to her masters that Qin Shaojing’s new husband, despite the shame, would still shield this scandalous woman!

Once the Liu family departed, Qin Shaojing finally exhaled in relief.

She turned to Cheng Qi, panic-stricken, “Cheng Qi, someone is setting me up!”

Cheng Qi’s eyes filled with disappointment at her words. He looked at Qin Shaojing, “Are you claiming someone is slandering you?”

At his question, Qin Shaojing’s gaze faltered, and she quickly looked down, “Cheng Qi, you must believe me...”

Even as she spoke, she doubted her own words.

After a long pause, a voice came from above her.

“I believe you.”

Qin Shaojing: “.......”

She glanced up to see Cheng Qi release her hand and stride toward their carriage.

She considered asking about the adoption documents but, noting his expression, decided against it.

Her top priority now was to secure Cheng Qi’s support.

Her scandal had been laid bare, making her a pariah in the Imperial City.

With Cheng Qi as her only refuge, she had no other options.

In fact, without Cheng Qi, the Liu family would immediately capture and kill her.

Thus, her immediate concern wasn’t the Ningyang Marquis title but marrying Cheng Qi first!

She would marry him first, and then scheme for the Marquis position later!

After Qin Shaojing’s eyes turned, she quickly caught up with Cheng Qi’s steps and returned to the General’s Mansion with him.

At this moment, in the Ningyang Marquis's estate.

In Lu Lingyun's courtyard.

Lu Kuan arrived.

"Elder sister, the matter is settled," Lu Kuan said to her with a beaming smile.

"Today, the Emperor summoned Duke Liu into the palace and berated him harshly. You should have seen his face when he came out from the Emperor's presence—it was completely black."

Hearing this, Lu Lingyun smiled and poured Lu Kuan another cup of tea. "Kuan Er, you've done well."

Lu Kuan took the teacup and downed it in one gulp. As he set the cup down, he couldn't help but think of something. "By the way, elder sister, how did you know about the scandals within Duke Liu's household?"

Lu Lingyun listened to this and smiled faintly. "That's a secret."

This secret was that she had experienced rebirth!

In her previous life, also during these years, the scandals and secrets of Duke Liu's household were exposed, though they didn't reach the Emperor's ears—they were just widely known among the public.

In this life, she merely leveraged the situation to ensure that both Duke Liu's household and Qin Shaojing were utterly destroyed.

Qin Shaojing's scandal was exposed, and Duke Liu's household believed she was the one who leaked it. They would definitely lay the blame squarely on her shoulders.

Qin Shaojing, from now on, had no future.

It all depended on whether Cheng Qi wanted her.

If Cheng Qi didn't want her, she had no future.

If Cheng Qi wanted her, she and Cheng Qi together had no future.

Duke Liu's household would never let this insult go unanswered. They would surely seek a chance to strike back with vengeance.

Lu Lingyun stirred her teacup. She was not kind-hearted. If she was going to act, she would make sure it was a lethal strike.