Chapter 45 All for one, and one for all!

Upon receiving his gesture of stance, Madam Lü opened her mouth as if to speak, yet hesitated.

However, watching Madam Guo being carried away—who looked as though she had barely a few days left to live—Madam Lü hesitated slightly, still wondering whether she should continue throwing a tantrum so that the Chi family would understand the Lü family was not to be trifled with.

Just then, Chi Yunjing walked over and said with a mixture of three-part apology and threat,

"I have put Madam Lü through hardship. Family scandals should not be aired outside, and I presume you share the same view. A match that was originally so proper has turned out like this today, making it awkward for everyone's reputation. If you agree, let us expedite the wedding as soon as possible to spare us from various rumors spreading outside. Given Madam Guo's condition, she likely cannot hold on for much longer. If the second young miss marries over, our two families will remain good in-laws. But if the second young miss does not marry over, and Madam Lü insists on seeking justice, then I will hold Madam Guo's life account strictly against my nephew Lü!"

"Are you threatening me?"

Displeasure filled Madam Lü's eyes.

"It depends on how you choose to act. If we make peace, this is a pact; but if we turn enemies, then you cannot blame me."

The matter cut both ways, leaving Madam Lü no room for maneuver whatsoever.

As a man who had navigated the imperial court for many years, his mind naturally worked differently from ordinary people!

Seeing that his mother was still hesitating—and aching all over so intensely that he only wanted early medical treatment to avoid any permanent injuries—Lü Yi cupped his fists and stated his position,

"That Uncle Chi is able to forgive transgressions is 少同's (Shaotong's) good fortune. The marriage between the second young lady and myself was already a settled matter; it is merely being brought forward a little now. As long as the second young lady is willing, she shall certainly be the young mistress of our Lü family. Furthermore, regarding these past few days' events, not a single word shall leak from our Lü family!"

Chi Yunjing felt a sense of relief.

At least this Lü Yi had more brains than Madam Lü, knowing what it meant to share honor and disgrace together!

"Rest assured, what I say, I shall do. I will arrange things on the second young miss's end myself. And Madam Lü? What do you say?"

"Since my son has agreed, what else can I say? But I must make myself clear: once she marries into my Lü family, she is not to constantly dredge up old grievances day in and day out. Otherwise, I will certainly assert my authority as a mother-in-law, lest she runs back to her maiden family again to make a scene and claim our Lü family is bullying her!"

Chi Yunjing truly could not bring himself to like Madam Lü as an in-law; she calculated endlessly, yet always squabbled over trivial gains and petty matters, quite senseless.

"Naturally. A daughter-in-law should dutifully obey when her mother-in-law speaks."

Hearing this from Chi Yunjing, Madam Lü's anger subsided quite a bit. Seeing that he indeed found movement difficult, she chose to believe his excuse of being injured and unable to manage affairs.

***

At this moment, Concubine Zhao had already calmed her emotions and then said to Madam Lü,

"Madam Lü, please go wash up first. And Young Master Lü's injuries must be examined as soon as possible; it is best not to delay."

"Hmm."

Madam Lü still kept in mind that Concubine Zhao had been slapped earlier for defending them, and therefore her attitude toward her was much warmer.

"Thank you, Concubine Zhao."

"You are too kind."

After seeing off the mother and son of the Lü family, Chi Yunjing could no longer stand steadily. Supported on either side by Concubine Zhao and the steward, a stretcher was quickly brought over by a servant. Yet, looking at Concubine Zhao with deep affection, he said,

"You have suffered."

"What are you saying, My Lord? This concubine would go through fire and water for you without hesitation."

These words engraved themselves deeply into Chi Yunjing's heart. Perhaps no woman willing to risk her life for him had ever appeared in his entire life, and thus Concubine Zhao officially took up residence in Chi Yunjing's heart, a fact evident even to the steward standing nearby.

The heavens of the inner courtyard of the Junior Minister's mansion were indeed about to change.

With their hasty departure, the place lost its previous bustle. Soon, maidservants arrived with water to clean away the bloodstains on the ground, and the courtyard quickly returned to its original state.

Dust to dust, earth to earth, everything reverted to where it began.

The only difference was that Madam Guo had paid almost the price of her life for this, while He Lingyi had quietly watched a grand drama unfold with utter indifference. Once everyone had departed, she merely uttered a single sentence.

"Let's go."

Standing beside her was her maid, Qianchun, whose eyes currently held both the fierce satisfaction of long-suppressed venom finally released and a lingering trace of dread.

If such a fate were to befall their own young mistress, no one would be willing to go head-to-head with the master on her behalf. Therefore, it was far better to steer clear of such calamities!

On the way back, He Lingyi remained silent. Just as they were about to enter the brocade-like courtyard, the maid Qianchun finally could not help asking,

"Did Miss He bring this maid to witness that today precisely to make me understand what kind of person the master is, right?"

"What makes you say that?"

"In the past, since Madam Guo had no direct conflict with the master, he allowed her to bully our young mistress however she pleased—just to maintain inner courtyard peace or save himself trouble—as long as appearances were kept. But the moment she touched the master's interests today, she was discarded like a worn-out shoe. Even someone as favored as the second young miss fared no better; for the sake of the Junior Minister's mansion's reputation and the master's interests, she equally had to be married off to that wretched Lü family. Therefore, you wanted this maid to see clearly so that I might dissuade our young mistress in the future, teaching her to meddle less or even not at all in her maiden family's affairs, isn't that so?"

Listening to Qianchun's composed words, He Lingyi felt considerably more at ease inside.

"Yes. Eldest Sister may appear flamboyant and overbearing, but that is merely a reaction when she is manipulated by others. In truth, she has a very soft heart. I worry that in the future, Junior Minister Chi will use family ties to coerce her into actions detrimental to her own interests. That is why I could only let you, Qianchun, see clearly what kind of person Junior Minister Chi truly is, so that you can properly advise and guide her from the side. My bond with Eldest Sister Chi may be severed at any unknown moment, which is why I must make ample preparations for her in advance!"

Her mother had not married the scumbag father as in her past life, which meant she herself would never have been born.

Though she was currently borrowing He Lingyi's mortal shell and bore no relation to the former Lü Yan, who could say for certain?

Should the birth of a new life cause her to vanish into thin air, the time left for her was extremely limited. The sooner everything was arranged, the sooner she could rest in ease!

Her words left Qianchun somewhat perplexed.

"Does Miss He plan to return to Nanzhou?"

"Not at the moment, but it is hard to say for the future. Even if I do not return, I cannot possibly accompany Eldest Sister Chi for a lifetime. Once she marries, I surely cannot follow her into the Duke Zhenguo's estate. By then, you and maid Fudong will be her firmest pillars of support. Therefore, bear this firmly in mind: not a single person within the Junior Minister's mansion can be relied upon! If a genuine crisis arises, seek help only from the Marquis Haibo's estate!"

Qianchun nodded solemnly, though she actually shared the exact same sentiment.

Yet in the past, whenever she tried to advise her young mistress, her words went unheeded. Lately, watching how Miss He analyzed the pros and cons every time she spoke with her mistress—far outshining her own former reckless and brainless impulses—she realized she still had a long path of learning ahead!

And it all started with remembering that not a single soul in the Junior Minister's mansion was trustworthy!