Chapter 10: The Incident
No one in the room spoke, only the Duke of Anguo’s heavy, furious breathing could be heard. After a long while, he finally raised his head, his bloodshot eyes filled with disbelief as they fixed directly on Yan Jingyu.
“F-Father, I didn’t…” Yan Jingyu’s face had already lost all color, her expression terrified as she shook her head, her voice trembling.
“What didn’t you do, sister? Father hasn’t even said anything yet. Are you admitting guilt without being pressed?” Yan Jingshu’s flat voice rang out. As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately felt a cold gaze land on him.
Yan Jingshu neither retreated nor yielded. He turned his head to meet that gaze, his clear eyes equally icy as he stared back at Xie Shi.
Xie Shi, who had never seen Yan Jingshu display such cold defiance before, was stunned for a moment before giving him a deep look and then averting her eyes.
Ever since hearing the Duke of Anguo say that Zhao Xian of the Yongchang Marquisate hadn't come to the estate yesterday, Xie Shi had vaguely sensed that something was wrong. But she hadn’t expected everything to unfold so quickly. Before she could even devise a countermeasure, Yan Jingshu had already launched his attack.
After reading the confessions of Li Wang and Qiulan, the Duke of Anguo had already been in a towering rage, but deep down, he still held a sliver of disbelief. However, Yan Jingyu’s reaction and Yan Jingshu’s words instantly shattered that last bit of hope.
The realization that the one who had harmed his second son was actually his own daughter struck the Duke of Anguo like a heavy blow to the head. His vision darkened, the world seeming to spin around him as he staggered. Fortunately, Yan Zhong, standing beside him, quickly supported him, preventing him from collapsing to the ground.
“My Lord—”
“Father—”
The Duke of Anguo nearly fainted, startling everyone in the room, who rushed to help.
After clutching his chest and recovering for a while, the Duke of Anguo finally raised a trembling finger to point at Yan Jingyu, his eyes filled with pain and fury as he scolded, “You—how could you do such a thing to your own brother?!”
“Father, I didn’t—I really didn’t! Please believe me—” Yan Jingyu fell to her knees with a thud, shaking her head desperately, tears streaming down her face in a pitiful display of innocence.
The Duke of Anguo had doted on his youngest daughter since she was a child, and even in his rage, seeing her weep and beg stirred a moment of involuntary softness in his heart. But just then, An Momo entered.
She acted as if she didn’t notice the chaos in the room. After paying her respects, she spoke without waiting for the Dowager Lady to ask: “Reporting to the Old Madam, this servant has already gotten the truth. The one who spread those rumors was Biyun, the third young lady’s maid. It was also her, under the third young lady’s orders, who relayed messages to Li Wang and Qiulan. Moreover, Biyun confessed that the reason the third young lady did this was… because the heir of the Duke of Zhenguo’s had taken a liking to the second young master, while the third young lady herself had feelings for the heir…”
Out of consideration for Yan Jingyu’s reputation, An Momo didn’t finish her sentence, but everyone present understood her meaning—including the Duke of Anguo.
The realization that his own daughter had harmed her brother over a man was like pouring oil onto flames, sending the Duke of Anguo into a fury so intense he nearly lost all reason. With a sweep of his hand, he flung the confession papers directly into Yan Jingyu’s face, roaring like thunder, “What else do you have to say for yourself?!”
“Father, I-I…” Yan Jingyu, who had been pampered by her parents since childhood, had never been subjected to such a vicious glare from her father, let alone scolded. Now, with all her deeds exposed and her secret laid bare, overwhelming terror and shame crashed over her like a tidal wave. Her mental defenses collapsed completely, and she could no longer bear it—her body went limp, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.
“Yu’er—!” Xie Shi’s face instantly paled as she screamed in shock. She threw herself at Yan Jingyu’s side. “Yu’er, what’s wrong? Wake up, don’t scare your mother, Yu’er—!”
Yan Jingyu’s sudden faint stunned everyone in the room. The Duke of Anguo’s rage momentarily subsided, and even Yan Jingshu was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Yan Jingyu to be capable of fear. How laughable that such a cowardly bully had manipulated him so thoroughly in his past life, single-handedly ruining his future.
“Call for a physician,” the Dowager Lady finally ordered, breaking the silence. While some in the room panicked, others stood frozen or indifferent, it was she who took charge. Yan Zhong hurried out to summon a doctor, while An Momo called in maids to carry Yan Jingyu to the bed in the inner chamber.
Xie Shi followed closely, refusing to leave her daughter’s side. Seeing this, the Duke of Anguo, though still furious, could no longer continue interrogating Yan Jingyu. He let out a heavy sigh and slumped into a chair.
After a while, Yan Zhong returned with the physician—the same elderly doctor who had examined Yan Jingshu the day before. At the sight of him, the Duke of Anguo’s expression turned awkward, but since the man was already here, there was no sending him away. He could only invite him into the inner chamber.
“Physician, how is my daughter?” Xie Shi couldn’t bear the suspense as the old doctor silently checked Yan Jingyu’s pulse.
Finally, the physician withdrew his hand and said, “The young lady appears to have experienced extreme fright, causing a violent disturbance in her qi that clouded her senses and resulted in unconsciousness. Fortunately, her natural vitality is robust, so there is no permanent damage. With proper rest and a few doses of calming medicinal tea, she will recover completely.”
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