Chapter 50 What Is Reputation Worth

Chapter 50: What Is Reputation Worth?

Seeing Qi Jing's somewhat flustered appearance, Xi Qianyue felt a warmth in her heart.

Just as you'd expect from a cannon-fodder side character, he was truly as elegant as orchids and irises.

He seemed much more composed now than when she first met him.

Perhaps with more certainty about his future, he'd lost some of that unease.

Xi Qianyue suddenly smiled: "Mr. Qi, if you don't mind me asking, what kind of woman do you like? Don't get me wrong—I was just thinking if I knew someone suitable, I could introduce you."

Qi Jing's face flushed instantly: "I'm focused on my studies right now; I don't dare think about such things."

Xi Qianyue nodded and dropped the subject.

Now that this cannon-fodder side character had appeared, when would the original female lead show up?

Would this cannon-fodder side character fall head over heels for the original female lead?

She did want to help him nip trouble in the bud, but at this point, she didn't even know who to watch out for. She could only take it one step at a time.

They chatted a bit more before Qi Jing took his leave.

Xi Qianyue returned to her mother's courtyard and saw Zeng Shi was still fuming.

"Mom, if you're that mad, just have Concubine Yu and her daughter brought here and give them a good beating."

"Really?" Zeng Shi looked intrigued.

"Of course. You're the legal wife—isn't it only natural for you to discipline a concubine and her bastard daughter? But whether you act or not is up to you. Either way, inside the Marquis's residence, I won't make things easy for her."

Zeng Shi looked at Xi Qianyue fondly: "At the end of the day, it's my fault for not keeping the concubine's daughter in check, and that's why you've had to deal with this mess."

Xi Jiaojiao was still packing, figuring that since she'd soon be moving to the Marquis's residence, she should take all her valuables along.

But then she saw those two terrifying maids from the legal wife's courtyard, Ye Xue and Ye Fei, heading her way.

She immediately knew something was wrong.

Sure enough, Ye Fei barked: "Second Miss, the Mistress wants you."

"I... I'm busy right now. I'll come over later."

"That's not your call."

Ye Fei and Ye Xue stepped forward, grabbed Xi Jiaojiao, and dragged her out of the courtyard.

Xi Jiaojiao struggled desperately, but there was no way she could break free.

She shouted in a panic: "Lv Zhi, hurry and fetch my father and mother!"

Ye Fei and Ye Xue ignored everything else and dragged Xi Jiaojiao over first.

Seeing Zeng Shi and Xi Qianyue sitting there so composed, Xi Jiaojiao panicked and stammered: "Elder Sister, didn't we already settle things between us? Why are you forcing me to come here?"

"One thing at a time. If you mean the silver, that was just you paying back the dowry money you helped Yang Xingxian owe me—in exchange for the 'ticket' to be brought into the household as a concubine. But business is business, and rules are rules."

Xi Qianyue replied coolly, with no sense that taking the silver meant she should drop the matter.

Zeng Shi, of course, didn't mince words: "Slap her face."

Xi Jiaojiao's eyes widened in terror. She tried to run, but Ye Fei kicked her knee, and she hit the ground with a thud.

Ye Fei and Ye Xue held her down so she couldn't move, slapping her face over and over.

Soon, Xi Jiaojiao's face was swollen, split open, and bleeding.

She looked at Zeng Shi and her daughter with boundless hatred, silently vowing that one day, she'd make this mother-daughter pair kneel and beg for mercy.

Xi Qianyue smiled: "Second Sister still isn't convinced, huh? Let me teach you a life lesson: when the legal wife wants to beat a concubine, she just does it. Got it?"

The slapping went on for dozens of times before it finally stopped.

Xi Jiaojiao had lost all her former charm. Her face was so swollen she couldn't speak, and tears streamed down her face nonstop.

Master Xi and Concubine Yu rushed over as fast as they could. Seeing the scene, Master Xi hopped around in fury: "Zeng Shi! Is this how a proper mother behaves? Abusing a concubine's daughter?"

"It's exactly because I've been too nice to them that they dared to go after my son-in-law. There are plenty of men out there—go seduce whoever you want. But to mess around with Yang Xingxian, with no regard for me or Qianyue—you deserve a beating!"

Zeng Shi said coldly. In the past, if Master Xi had accused her like this, she'd have been heartbroken.

Now, she just found it laughable.

"Madam, if Young Master Yang truly loved the Eldest Miss, how could he have done this to Jiaojiao? It's perfectly normal for a man to have wives and concubines, especially in a Marquis's household! As the legal wife, the Eldest Miss should have the grace to accept this."

Concubine Yu said frantically, seeing her daughter beaten like that.

"So what if I lack grace? Go ahead, spread the word about what a shrew I am. Someone, beat this shameless concubine."

Zeng Shi was completely unmoved and gave another order.

Ye Fei and Ye Xue stepped forward and grabbed Concubine Yu. Amid her screams, they slapped her face over and over.

Soon, Concubine Yu's delicate face was swollen too. She went from fury to begging, but Ye Fei and Ye Xue didn't stop.

Seeing his beloved concubine being beaten, Master Xi was livid: "You shrew! You harpy! I'll divorce you!"

Zeng Shi snorted coldly: "You want to divorce me just for disciplining a concubine? Go ahead and try. Let's see what grounds you have. Be my guest."

Master Xi remembered the "Three Reasons a Husband Can't Divorce"—he couldn't divorce Zeng Shi unless she agreed to part ways.

Only when Concubine Yu's face was as swollen as Xi Jiaojiao's did Zeng Shi tell them to stop.

"Today, I'm teaching you mother and daughter how to behave—the rules of being a concubine. I've always been too kind as the legal wife, which made you think I was weak and easy to push around.

Reputation? Hah, what's reputation worth? Go ahead and spread the word about what a shrew I am. But remember: if word gets out, I'll beat your concubines once a day. I'll make that reputation real."

Master Xi was still somewhat bewildered. He truly couldn't understand—had Zeng Shi been possessed by a ghost? She had become completely different from before.

Looking again at the disheveled mother and daughter, he found he couldn't suppress his legitimate wife at all.

Only then did he realize that all along, Zeng Shi had merely been trying to preserve her feelings for him. Once she no longer needed his affection, she truly could do whatever she pleased!

She had a strong ability to earn money, she had a wealthy natal family, and she didn't need to depend on him to survive. On the contrary, he was the one who relied on her family's influence.

"I forgot to mention, Master Xi—the Zeng family will withdraw all investments from every shop that partners with you. From now on, you'll have to manage your business affairs yourself."

Master Xi panicked: "Why are you doing this? When husband and wife work together, they can cut through metal. Why let such trivial matters weaken our bond?"

Concubine Yu looked at Master Xi in disbelief. She and her daughter had just been brutally beaten, and the Master called it "trivial matters"?

But she couldn't speak clearly—every time she opened her mouth, it hurt terribly. She could only let her tears flow freely.

Master Xi happened to glance at her. She thought she would see heartache in his eyes, but instead, he looked as if he'd seen a ghost, quickly turning his head away and waving for the mother and daughter to leave.