Second Marriage

Xiao Youning stood firmly below the gate, and threw the white silk up. “I can only protect my Xiao Family’s reputation if I die today! My Xiao Family has never committed any harm, but today someone has made an accusation. The Li Family has not encountered any mishap. If there comes a day when the Li Family has made a grave mistake, then they will not be able to push the blame to my Xiao Family since I will sacrifice myself for them.”

She was determined to speak of her tragedy. The servants rushed forward in confusion. Before they could figure out the meaning of what she said, they saw her mouth open and blood gushed out. Then, she collapsed.

Chaos erupted in front of the house. Li Qingzhi was so scared that his hands and his feet went soft, he fell to the ground. Madam Li was a woman who knew that this was an acted out scene to create trouble, but the common people would not realize this.

She hung the white silk and vomited out blood. It was all forced by her to happen.

Madam Li sat down. She didn’t expect Xiao Youning would be more shameless than herself and perform a show on her own.

Xiao Youning’s eyes were tightly closed as she quietly found a more comfortable position in Yuan Guo’s arms. She was still wondering whether she had completely spat out the mouthful of cinnabar or not. Swallowing it right down to her stomach was no joke.

The onlookers began to point at Madam Li, and someone shouted, “Quickly help your Young Miss in! Where’s the doctor?!”

“So evil! How can you be so shameless and drive a little girl to death? It was the Li Family that was wrong in the first place. How is this asking for an apology? It’s really taking a life!”

It was very noisy outside. Assistant Minister Li paled when he got the news, and ran. As soon as he heard the voices, he knew it was bad. He could only brace himself and let the guards break up the crowd. Before that, he bowed and gave a pledge: “I, a Li, did not take good care of the female family members. Today, I will guarantee to you fellow folks again that Miss Xiao would never be wronged.”

It was only then that the people swore and left. However, there were still some busybodies that probed their heads into the alley after turning the corner.

Xiao Youning had been helped behind the spirit wall. When she heard Assistant Minister Li’s words, she grimly chuckled, opened her eyes and said, “Invite them in.”

As soon as Madam Li entered through the gate, she saw XIao Youning sitting in a chair for who knows how long and gargling her mouth with clean water.

“You… you were faking it!” Madam Li was trembling all over.

The cold wind passed through the hall, she felt the chilliness intensify and her trembles increased.

Xiao Youning did not avoid Assistant Minister Li’s heavy gaze and Li Qingzhi’s lifeless look. She gave the cup to her servant, leaned her chin onto the hand that was placed on the handrail and smiled. “Yes, I was faking it. You are allowed to be crafty, but I am not allowed to counter? Who do you think you are? If you want to take my honor, then you will have to see if I am willing to give you an opportunity to do so.”

She smiled so arrogantly and domineeringly that Madam Li did not let out a scream but tried to rush in and fight her.

The servants that Ye Shen left behind were not paper tigers. Before she could reach Xiao Youning, Madam Li was thrown to the ground. She could see gold stars in her eyes and feel pain all over her body.

Li Qingzhi shouted for his mother, but Assistant Minister Li restrained himself so much that he just could not scold Xiao Youning. It was only after settling down for a moment that he said to her, “Today, I would like to thank Young Miss Xiao for letting us into your house. My wife has offended, and should be beaten. Young Miss Xiao is also tired and angry, so I’ll take her away and provide better guidance when I get home. Since the ugly acts of family members should not be made known to the public…”

This was the most humble behavior he could muster.

If Xiao Youning did not let them into the house today, then this matter would be even more impossible to resolve. Tomorrow, the imperial censor might impeach him into resigning.

Xiao Youning, acting neither humble nor haughty, still maintained a smile and said, “It is good that Assistant Minister Li can understand what I mean. However, there is one thing. I am not kind. Rather, I did it because I did not want my father to have enemies in the court. Assistant Minister Li is at least somewhat of a gentleman, unlike your vicious wife. I am still overstepping in what I have said because Assistant Minister Li has really been troubled by this ignorant and tyrannical woman that could potentially affect your official status. Yuan Guo, see the guests off.”

Assistant Minister Li  felt a cold shiver. He gritted his teeth and asked a servant to carry Madam Li away.

It was only today that Li Qingzhi really saw how intense Xiao Youning could be. When he had stepped forward earlier, it was only a light slap to the face. If she was really trying to be cruel, then he would absolutely have nowhere to go.

She seemed to be making a concession right now and giving the Li Family some respect, but in fact she was forcing his mother into that situation of having nowhere to go. Just now she told his father that it was his mother who could implicate his father’s official status, which meant that she was telling his father that he should divorce her unless he wanted the Li Family to face constant trouble!

This was not her putting her hands up and taking a step back. She was retaliating with a tooth for a tooth. She was returning the humiliation she faced when his mother forced the divorce on that day, and giving his mother a taste of her own medicine!

Li Qingzhi felt the cold sweat running down his back. He closed his eyes, and did not dare be rash. In his daze, he followed his father out.

When he reached the alley, he looked up and saw a carriage parked there.

The man in the carriage gently lifted the curtain with two fingers, and his eyes glanced at him harshly and coldly.

Li Qingzhi was able to clearly see the face of the person inside. He looked back at his mother, and his heart turned to ashes.