Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 622 - 624: Breaking the Cauldrons (Part 4)

She couldn’t help but burst into loud laughter, her voice high-pitched: "Back then, Teng Qiuniang, even before her death, told me there was someone in your heart. I guessed it was her, but I never had any proof. I always believed the Marquis would separate public and private matters clearly, and would never have such thoughts, but today..." She nodded and pointed at the painting: "Today finally proved it, finally proved it!"

"Xiao Yanyi, you pride yourself on being a gentleman, yet you have fallen for your sister-in-law, you actually have feelings for the same woman as your own blood brother." Her laughter continued, and her words seemed to leap out from between clenched teeth: "You, the dignified Marquis Xuanning, have done such a sordid thing, hanging the portrait of your sister-in-law in your room. What do you want to do, keep it as a reminder of her or to alleviate your longing?"

As she spoke, she seemed to recall something else: "So the Marquis spends every night at Lingbo Hall, ignoring the numerous concubines in his chambers... is it because of its company?" The Second Madam raised her head and looked at Xiao Yanyi: "Haha... Are you hurt, watching that bitch with your own brother every day? Does it make you sad and despairing, so you spend every night here, consoling your longing?"

"Enough!" Xiao Yanyi shouted: "She does not know, you need not speak with such a tone!" After a pause, he continued: "I ask you, why did you steal my token, what are you doing at Lingbo Hall?!"

The Second Madam completely ignored his question, laughing as she said: "She doesn’t know. Haha... she doesn’t know... It’s truly absurd for the Marquis to say she doesn’t know, how could she not know!" She seized Xiao Yanyi’s lapel, her pale fingers bulging with veins: "For someone as aloof as the Marquis, unless she seduced you, how would you have feelings for such a woman? Oh, right, I forgot the Marquis loves her, naturally unwilling to let others tarnish her reputation, but I insist on speaking, insist on speaking!"

"She is shameless, despicable, even the prostitutes in the brothels are a hundred times cleaner than her!"

Without thinking, Xiao Yanyi brushed off the Second Madam who was gripping his lapel, and she stumbled, unable to stand steady, hitting her forehead on the corner of the table, instantly swelling red. Her vision darkened, and she slumped onto the floor!

Xiao Yanyi flicked his sleeves: "Stop making unreasonable scenes and dodging the issue. I ask you, what exactly did you come to my study to do?"

The Second Madam held her forehead, finally opening her eyes. She looked at Xiao Yanyi and laughed coldly, saying: "Dodging the issue? That’s what I should be saying to you. The Marquis holds his sister-in-law’s portrait yet accuses others. Have you not thought, if the Fourth Brother knew about this, and you brothers broke apart over a woman, it would certainly become the Capital’s sensational tale tomorrow." She laughed: "Everyone says the Xiao Family men are passionate lovers, and it turns out the rumors are true. The elder brother loves his sister-in-law, truly a passionate lover!" Pointing at Xiao Yanyi: "I regret it, truly regret it, regret ever having been attracted to you. I disregarded my status to marry you as a second wife, yet you, you think of your sister-in-law. Xiao Yanyi, you are filthy. Just looking at you disgusts me!"

"Guards!" Xiao Yanyi had lost his patience: "Chengning, I told you, if you stayed quietly in your courtyard, you would always be my principal wife, but now, don’t blame me for being heartless." He turned to the guard who had entered and ordered: "Bind the Second Madam and lock her in the rear courtyard. From today, without my orders, she is not to take a single step outside!"

The guard approached expressionlessly, while the Second Madam raged like a madwoman: "Xiao Yanyi, are you trying to kill me to silence me? Fine, if you have the courage, kill me, otherwise I tell you, as long as I am alive, I will make you all the laughingstock of the world."

The Second Madam’s mouth was gagged, and two guards, one on each side, dragged her out. The Second Madam glared at him with her eyes wide open, full of resentment.

Xiao Yanyi was expressionless, not even looking at her, he had someone fetch the nanny to search the Second Madam.

The next day.

Xiqiu looked at the Grand Dowager in surprise and asked: "The Empress Dowager summoned you to the palace?" The Grand Dowager looked grim as Nanny Wu and Ziwei helped her dress in formal attire. She looked at Xiqiu and comforted: "You needn’t worry, it’s just for a chat."

In all likelihood, Xiqiu could imagine that the matter of the Empress Dowager summoning the Grand Dowager was undoubtedly related to the Second Madam being confined.

If before she worried the Empress Dowager might cause trouble for the Xuanning Marquis Mansion, now she didn’t fear it. With Prince Rong around, it was more important to win over an ally than to make more enemies.

Therefore, she wasn’t worried about how the Empress Dowager would treat the Grand Dowager!

"Mother." Xiqiu went up to help: "You’re at such an age, going back and forth is exhausting. Can’t you send in a memorial claiming illness to avoid it?"

The Grand Dowager chuckled lightly, her eyes showing a complex emotion that was hard to discern. The First Madam hurried over as well, asking as soon as she entered: "Mother, the Empress Dowager summoned you to the palace?"

"You’re here." The Grand Dowager motioned to adjust her pearl crown: "Don’t be nervous, I’ll just go and return!" She looked at the First Madam and said: "I have a clear understanding of the current court situation, there won’t be any issues." The First Madam nodded and, along with Xiqiu, each supported the Grand Dowager as they walked out: "Just worried about your health. Entering the palace means three kowtows and nine bows, going back and forth is quite a hassle."

Xiqiu was also of the same sentiment.

The Grand Dowager waved her hand: "After so many years of entering and exiting the palace, I’m used to it. Although I’m old, I can still handle these matters." With that, the three of them had exited the courtyard, and the Grand Dowager released their hands: "You both go back!"

Xiqiu and the First Madam stood at the door, watching as the sedan chair carrying the Grand Dowager moved further and further away.

The two stood for a long time, before the First Madam turned to look at Xiqiu and said: "I will go back first." Xiqiu agreed, seeing the First Madam off. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

After the First Madam left, Biwu came running from the path and whispered in Xiqiu’s ear: "...Last night, the Second Madam left the courtyard to go to Lingbo Hall and hasn’t come out since."

Xiqiu was startled to hear that. The Second Madam went to Lingbo Hall and stayed all night without coming out? Xiao Yanyi had already gone to the government office this morning, and if the Marquis isn’t there, no one is allowed to stay inside Lingbo Hall. Did something happen to the Second Madam?

But Xiao Yanyi has always been gentle; even when something happened to Xing, he merely confined the Second Madam and did not overreact, let alone now after such a long time. Presumably, he would be even less inclined to act out.

Could it be that they reconciled?

She tilted her head, her mind racing with possibilities, then turned to Biwu: "Where’s Zijuan, is Zijuan with the Second Madam or in the courtyard?"

Biwu replied: "I haven’t seen Zijuan, she must be in Lingbo Hall too." After a pause, he added: "I specifically went to the birch forest to glance inside from afar, the courtyard is heavily guarded, with no one moving about."

Xiqiu grew even more puzzled.