Chapter 52: Disappointment

Chapter 52: Disappointment

Jiang Shu had no heart to talk with them; the fur and blood on the grass frightened her.

"Don't worry, I'll go with you to look for it," Shen Changze was not concerned about a rabbit, but he understood Jiang Shu's concern.

After greeting Lu Mingke, the two of them headed straight for Mother Shen’s Tinglan Courtyard.

What Jiang Shu could think of, Shen Changze naturally could as well.

Watching Shen Changze and Jiang Shu leave together, Lu Mingke glanced at the bloodstains on the grass, understanding the situation.

Jiang Shu's rabbit was likely in grave danger.

But this was a matter of the Marquis family, none of his business.

As soon as Shen Changze and Jiang Shu entered Tinglan Courtyard, they saw Snowball lying on its back, snoring contentedly in the courtyard.

"Lord Marquis, Lady," the maid bowed.

Jiang Shu pointed at Snowball and asked, "Has it left Tinglan Courtyard today?"

The maid was taken aback, nodded, and truthfully replied, "Third Miss took Snowball out this morning, saying she wanted Snowball to play with the young master, young miss, and cousin."

Shen Qingrong, being the third daughter, was called Third Miss by the servants.

Confirming that Snowball had been to the garden today, Jiang Shu did not directly seek out Shen Qingrong but went to Shouyong Hall first.

Old Lady Shen had just woken up and, looking at the bright sky outside, wondered, "Why have you come so early?"

Today was the first day of the month, when the main family members of the Marquis household would dine at Shouyong Hall.

"Grandmother, we want to ask Yan Yang and Yan Huan a few questions," Shen Changze explained.

Old Lady Shen, puzzled, had the maid call Yan Yang and Yan Huan over.

"Father." Yan Huan was delighted to see Shen Changze and happily threw herself into his arms.

Shen Changze picked her up and gently asked, "Yan Huan, did you go to the garden today?"

"Yes, with Mother and Aunt, and also Brother Xingyuan and Snowball."

"Did you see another rabbit?" Jiang Shu asked, somewhat anxiously.

Yan Huan seemed scared and shrank into Shen Changze's arms, her face pale.

Sensing something amiss, Shen Changze looked at Yan Yang and said, "Yan Yang, you tell me."

Compared to Yan Huan's fear, Yan Yang was very calm and clearly recounted what happened in the garden that morning.

No one had told him not to speak, so Yan Yang told everything.

When he heard Yan Yang say that Shen Qingrong had let her dog bite Bubai to death and then had Bubai cooked for Snowball to eat, Jiang Shu trembled with anger, her eyes red.

"Shen Qingrong!" Jiang Shu gritted her teeth, angrily getting up to head to Huaqing Courtyard.

Shen Changze, sensing the situation was worsening, quickly put down Yan Huan and followed.

Old Lady Shen was also shocked by Jiang Shu's reaction and sent a maid to follow, to report back if anything happened.

Just as Lu Mingke returned to Huaqing Courtyard, Lu Xingyuan pulled him, complaining and pouting.

"Father, my hand is bleeding."

"How did it happen?" Lu Mingke held Lu Xingyuan's bandaged hand, asking worriedly.

"The rabbit bit me, it hurts." Lu Xingyuan pouted, almost in tears.

Hearing the word "rabbit," Lu Mingke frowned sharply and asked Shen Qingrong, "What exactly happened?"

How coincidental, Jiang Shu's rabbit was missing, and Xingyuan was bitten by a rabbit.

Shen Qingrong felt guilty but spoke confidently, "This morning, I took Xingyuan to play in the garden. A rabbit suddenly appeared, and Xingyuan played with it, but it bit Xingyuan without any reason."

"And then? What did you do to the rabbit?" Lu Mingke stared at Shen Qingrong, observing her expression.

Shen Qingrong avoided his gaze and evaded the question, "I scolded it, and then... Snowball bit it to death."

His suspicions confirmed, Lu Mingke frowned deeply and had a maid take Lu Xingyuan away. Just as he was about to reprimand Shen Qingrong, Jiang Shu arrived.

"Shen Qingrong, you wicked woman!"

Jiang Shu, filled with hatred, raised her hand to strike Shen Qingrong, but was stopped by Lu Mingke.

"Elder Sister-in-Law, Qingrong was indeed wrong, but please calm down. I will give you an explanation."

Shen Changze, who had caught up, held Jiang Shu back, his gaze on Shen Qingrong filled with blame and anger.

"Do you dare hit me? Your pet bit Xingyuan, and I haven't even settled the score with you yet," Shen Qingrong turned the tables, showing no remorse.

Jiang Shu, furious, her eyes red, questioned Lu Mingke, "Is this the explanation you promised?"

Lu Mingke, embarrassed, looked at Shen Qingrong and sternly ordered, "Apologize to Elder Sister-in-Law."

"Why should I? Your pet bit Xingyuan, she should be the one to apologize," Shen Qingrong stubbornly refused.

A common rabbit, how could it deserve an apology from her?

Absolutely not!

"If you hadn't caught and tied up Bubai, and if you hadn't frightened it with the children and the dog, how could it have bitten Xingyuan?"

"Furthermore, even if it had bitten Xingyuan, you could have come to me to discuss a solution. But you should never have tortured and killed it!"

"After torturing it to death, you didn't even spare its body, and instead cruelly skinned and boiled it to feed the dogs. Shen Qingrong, you are too wicked!"

Jiang Shu's voice was hoarse, her almond eyes bloodshot, wishing she could make Shen Qingrong pay with her life.

Lu Mingke, unaware of the details, was shocked by Jiang Shu's words.

He stared at Shen Qingrong in disbelief and asked, "Did you really act so cruelly and viciously?"

"When Xingyuan was bitten, I naturally had to deal with the culprit to avenge her." Shen Qingrong defended herself indifferently.

It was just a rabbit; if it died, so be it. Why make such a fuss over it?

Seeing Shen Qingrong's stubborn and arrogant attitude, Lu Mingke felt both heartache and disappointment.

He had shared a bed with Shen Qingrong for four years, always thinking she was merely a bit spoiled and prone to tantrums, never realizing how evil she truly was inside.

"Big Sister-in-Law, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have stopped you." Lu Mingke stepped aside, hinting that Jiang Shu should teach Shen Qingrong a lesson.

If it were him, he would have found it hard to calm his anger without hitting Shen Qingrong.

Enraged, Jiang Shu raised her hand and lunged at Shen Qingrong.

"Jiang Shu." Shen Changze held her back again.

"Is His Excellency going to protect her?" Jiang Shu asked with red-rimmed eyes.

Shen Changze opened his mouth but couldn't find the words.

His actions spoke louder than any explanation, making any words seem hollow and insincere.

"Do you also think it's just a rabbit, and no matter the reason, it deserved to die for biting someone?"

Jiang Shu's tone was sarcastic, her eyes filled with disappointment and hatred as she looked at Shen Changze.

Pierced to the core, Shen Changze steeled himself and said, "That's not what I mean, but Bubai is already dead. Beating Qingrong won't change anything."

"So we're just supposed to let the murderer go unpunished, doing nothing?" Jiang Shu's heart was cold as ice, her body trembling uncontrollably.

"Shen Changze, if you're so magnanimous, why don't you go to the temple and become a Buddha right away?"

This was the first time Jiang Shu had called him by his name, clearly showing her extreme disappointment in Shen Changze.

Shen Changze's heart trembled, sensing that he was about to lose something irreplaceable.

"I'm sorry, I'll apologize on Qingrong's behalf. You can hit me or scold me, whatever you want." Shen Changze said guiltily.

On one side was his lawfully wedded wife, and on the other was his sister from the same mother. He was torn, unwilling to see either of them hurt.

"If you dare to hit my brother, the elders of the clan will never let you off." Shen Qingrong's arrogance was unbridled, completely disregarding Jiang Shu.