There was a drip attached to the back of Shen Yingâs hand. She opened her eyes weakly. âItâs okay, Iâm fine.â
Madam Wang was Madam Guâs sister-in-law, while Shen Ying was the niece of Madam Wangâs husband. Shen Ying and Gu Zheng grew up together and were childhood sweethearts. Both families wanted their children to be closer when they grew up.
Madam Wang, who had no children, treated Shen Ying as her own and doted on her. Even Madam Gu doted on Shen Ying a lot. When they saw Shen Ying forcing herself to comfort them, their hearts felt like they were being stabbed by a knife.
Shen Ying bit her lip, tears streaming down her face. âAunt, Madam Gu, I understand my body. It has nothing to do with Miss Qiao. My heart just aches for Brother Gu Zhengâ¦â
After a pause, she seemed to have gathered her courage and said softly, âBrother Gu Zheng is such an outstanding person, but his wife is so rude and arrogant. I donât know how much trouble sheâll bring to Brother Gu Zheng in the future. Heâs already tired from work yet has to handle things for her as well⦠Just the thought of it makes my heart acheâ¦â
Madam Gu was hit where it hurt. Anger surged in her eyes. âYouâre right. Qiao Xi is just a country bumpkin who only knows how to cause trouble. How can she be worthy of our Gu Zheng?!â
Shen Ying coughed a few times and said weakly, âMadam Gu, I only hope that Brother Gu Zheng can be happy. No matter how Miss Qiao targets me, I wonât mind.â
Madam Wang cried out in heartache. âMy silly child, why are you so silly?!â
Madam Gu abruptly stood up from her chair and sneered. âThe matter of Qiao Xi bullying you canât be settled just like that. Iâll get Qiao Xi to apologize to you right now!â
Looking at Madam Guâs angry back view, Shen Ying sighed. âAunt, you know that I donât want to go against Miss Qiao. With the state of my body, what right do I have to compete with her?â
Madam Wang patted her back in heartache. âHow are you unqualified? Youâre most qualified!â
â¦
On the other side, Madam Gu ordered the servants to kick open Qiao Xiâs door.
At this moment, Qiao Xi had just finished talking to her third brother on the phone. She had asked him if he knew where the old fellow was. She also wanted to study the silver needles that her teacher had given her. She had just put away the silver needles when the door was suddenly kicked open. She raised her head and met Madam Guâs angry eyes.
âQiao Xi, you still have the mood to sit here? Shen Yingâs heart is not well, and you almost caused her to die, do you know that? Or did you deliberately anger her because you know about her health? You vicious little sl*t!â
Madam Guâs heart really ached for Shen Ying, but she was mostly angry at Gu Zheng for being disobedient and embarrassing her in front of so many people. This was the reason why she was so angry.
Now that Gu Zheng had grown up, she could not torture him like she did when he was young. She could only vent all her anger on Qiao Xi, who seemed to be easy to bully.
âGo and apologize to Shen Ying now. Otherwise, donât blame our Gu family for not recognizing you as our daughter-in-law for harming others unreasonably!â
Qiao Xiâs tone was indifferent. âI didnât do anything wrong. Why should I apologize?â
Madam Gu shouted angrily, âYou angered her to the point of fainting. Donât you need to apologize? Is this how the Qiao family educated you?â
Qiao Xi slowly explained, âMadam Gu, if youâre not stupid, you should know that the person who made Shen Ying faint was Gu Zheng. It has nothing to do with me. If you want to apologize, it should be Gu Zheng who apologizes⦠But judging from your attitude, you probably donât dare to look for trouble with Gu Zheng, so you came to me, right?â
Madam Guâs expression froze for a moment, then she began to cry. âWhat sins have I committed?! I finally waited for the day Gu Zheng got married, but he ended up marrying such a woman. She doesnât dare to admit to her mistakes and even pushes all the responsibility to Gu Zheng. She brought her bad habits from the countryside to our Gu family. How are you worthy of staying in the Gu family? Youâre really dirtying the Gu familyâs reputation!â
âThe countryside? We wonât cry and kick up a fuss in the countryside like you do. We find it embarrassing. Of course, more importantly, the countryside is a reasonable place. Weâre not like you, who convict someone with just a few words.â
Qiao Xi spoke casually, but Madam Gu was furious. She ordered the servants, âGo, get this little sl*t. If she doesnât want to apologize, then force her to apologize!â
Qiao Xi took a few steps back and dodged the servants who were rushing up to her. She said with a mocking expression, âSo you want to use force to suppress me, Madam Gu? Is this how the high society works?â
âYou!â Madam Gu was flustered and exasperated. She shouted at the servants, âUseless things, canât you handle a woman with so many of you?!â