Chapter 411: Qin Shaojing’s Collapse

Chapter 411: Qin Shaojing's Collapse

Liu Ye's last words completely shattered Cheng Qi's heart.

He stared into Liu Ye's eyes and gradually loosened his grip.

He staggered back like a zombie.

Seeing him leave, Qin Shaojing scrambled after him, grabbing at him. "Brother Cheng Qi... Brother Cheng Qi..."

Cheng Qi yanked his hand away and walked away step by step.

He could even accept Qin Shaojing's second marriage.

He could even accept her past indiscretion with her father-in-law.

But what he couldn't accept was that she had willingly slept with those men.

She was once supposed to be... so noble, so unattainable, so pure.

Why did she have to stoop so low!

He could have worshipped her like the stars and the moon, but why did she have to lose all dignity and self-respect, climbing into bed with those men, letting them toy with her!

"Brother, I told you ages ago, that Lady Qin is just a woman who despises the poor and loves the rich. She never cared for you, a poor boy!" Cheng Hui, standing at the doorway, said, "Now you believe me, right?"

"No!" Qin Shaojing desperately ran out, her hair half undone, anxiously pleading with Cheng Qi, "You are special to me. All along, I have only loved you. Please, you must believe me..."

"You expect me to still believe you? Who was it that told me, if you have an affair, you should jump into the lake to prove your innocence? Now that the evidence is staring you in the face, why don't you jump into the lake!"

Hearing Cheng Hui's words, Qin Shaojing's face turned extremely red.

Having her own words thrown back at her was the most humiliating.

She had nothing to say in her defense.

Ignoring Cheng Hui, she turned back to Cheng Qi, "Brother Cheng Qi, please, I promise you, I will be devoted to you from now on, I will never betray you. Today is our wedding day, don't do this..."

Cheng Hui burst out laughing upon hearing this, "You're still trying to deceive my brother!"

Qin Shaojing glared at her, still clinging tightly to Cheng Qi, but at this moment, Cheng Qi, tired of being grabbed, forcefully shook off her hand.

"Brother Cheng Qi!"

"Cheng Qi!"

Qin Shaojing let out a heart-wrenching scream.

The wedding of Cheng Qi and Qin Shaojing ended in complete chaos.

That night, the General's Mansion was filled with deafening wails.

Qin Shaojing knelt and cried at Cheng Qi's door, begging for his forgiveness.

She cried for several days, and finally, after three days, Cheng Qi opened the door.

He ignored Qin Shaojing entirely, treating her as if she didn't exist in the mansion.

But at the same time, he still faced the daily disgrace of people dumping feces at his front gate.

His marriage to Qin Shaojing remained a hot topic of gossip across the Imperial City, with children even making up nursery rhymes mocking him for marrying a woman of ill repute.

The mansion's servants had to venture out in groups, and even then, they often returned beaten. Over time, most of the household guards and servants resigned, no longer willing to work for him.

The General's Mansion suddenly became very quiet, and there weren't enough staff to handle the cooking. When they attempted to hire more servants, the profit-driven brokers refused to supply them.

Consequently, even the butler had to take on cooking and cleaning duties, leaving the mansion in utter chaos.

As a military general, Cheng Qi did not need to attend court meetings frequently, but whenever he appeared at formal occasions, he was inevitably the subject of pointing and whispering.

No one wanted to associate with him.

He became a pariah in the Imperial City, a rising star who had just earned military accolades, but his fame swiftly diminished.

While Cheng Qi and Qin Shaojing's situation grew worse by the day, the young mistress's life was getting better and better.

Today, she received yet another piece of good news.

"Young mistress! The old madam summons you!"

The young mistress was in the courtyard going over the accounts when she heard this and made her way to Ningxin Courtyard.

As soon as she entered Lady Qin's room, she heard a familiar, excited voice, "Jun'er!"

"Mother?"

The young mistress saw Lady Qin staring directly at her, her once-cloudy eyes now clearer.

"Jun'er!" Lady Qin hugged the young mistress tightly and burst into tears.

The young mistress realized that Lady Qin had remembered her. She gently comforted her, "Mother, don't be sad. I'm here with you."

After crying for a long time, Lady Qin gradually calmed down, her eyes brimming with deep sorrow. "By the way, how are An'er and the rest?"

"I've enrolled Bingan and Binghao in school."

Hearing this, Lady Qin said, "First, call Bingan back. I wish to go to the palace to petition for his title as the heir. The title of the Ningyang Marquis's Mansion must be preserved!"

The young mistress smiled, "Yes, of course. I'll see to it immediately!"

The Ningyang Marquis's Mansion, like ice breaking in spring, had survived the hardest times and was coming back to life.

The young mistress was systematically organizing various affairs when a servant came to report.

"Young mistress, Lady Qin from the General's Mansion has come to see you once more!"

The young mistress was startled. Qin Shaojing dared to come again?

She blinked, "First, bring her to my courtyard."

"Yes."

Not long after, Qin Shaojing arrived, wearing a thick hat.

She had intended to sneak into Ningxin Courtyard unnoticed, but the backyard was under the young mistress's iron-fisted control.

After a few oversights, the young mistress had replaced a wave of servants, and now, her will was the will of the Marquis's Mansion, and no one could defy it.

Qin Shaojing was brought before the young mistress.

In response to Lu Lingyun's inquiry, she removed her bamboo hat, revealing an extremely haggard face.

In just a few days, she looked as if she had aged ten years, losing her former freshness, sharpness, and most of her noble aura.

After all, Cheng Qi really didn't have much money.

He couldn't afford the extravagant life that Qin Shaoying was used to.

Not to mention, she couldn't spend money now, nor could she ask Cheng Qi for it.

So, she had to live more simply.

But although her appearance had deteriorated, her calculating eyes hadn't. After sitting down, she stared at Lu Lingyun with her weary eyes, cautiously probing, "Sister-in-law, how is my aunt?"

Hearing her calculations, Lu Lingyun almost burst out laughing.

Even in such dire straits, she still had her eye on the Ningyang Marquis's household.

Ignoring the obvious scheming in her eyes, Lu Lingyun sipped her tea leisurely and said, "Shaoying, since you're so concerned about your mother, I'll tell her later. But considering the many affairs in your household, perhaps it's best not to disturb her."

Qin Shaoying's eyes lit up at this.

If Lu Lingyun had directly invited her to see Lady Qin, she would have hesitated. But by not allowing her to see her, it meant... Lady Qin hadn't remembered her yet!

She could still deceive her!

A thousand thoughts raced through Qin Shaoying's mind as she poured out her grievances to Lu Lingyun again before taking her leave.

But as soon as she left the courtyard, she found an excuse to visit her old quarters, intending to take the opportunity to go to Ningxin Courtyard.

"Madam, Qin Shaoying has gone to see the old lady," Shuang Hong reported.

Lu Lingyun flicked the abacus beads and chuckled lightly, "Tell everyone to step aside and let her see her aunt."