Chapter 122: A Slap and a Mother-Daughter Quarrel

"Has Madam forgotten the wife of the Heir to the Marquis of Yangqu? That carriage driver who attempted to kidnap Miss Luo was delivered to Father by the wife of the Heir to the Marquis of Yangqu herself. Surely, Madam has not forgotten that?" Qin Wanyu looked up at Madam Di, her gaze steady and unwavering.

The wife of the Heir to the Marquis of Yangqu? Madam Di’s hand, resting on the table, trembled. Her expression stiffened, and cold sweat broke out across her back. Ever since she had arrived in the capital, she had heard of the reputation of the wife of the Heir to the Marquis of Yangqu; that woman was not someone to be trifled with.

How could this matter possibly involve her?

Back in Jiangzhou, she only knew that the carriage driver had abducted the wrong person and that a powerful noblewoman had delivered him to Qin Huaiyong. From start to finish, she had no idea that the woman was the wife of the Heir to the Marquis of Yangqu!

"When she saw me, the wife of the Heir to the Marquis of Yangqu did not seem pleased. She specifically asked about you, Madam, and mentioned that she looks forward to having a proper conversation with you at the upcoming banquet at the Marquis of Fengyang’s estate!" Qin Wanyu blinked, a faint smile playing on her lips.

To Madam Di, however, that smile was terrifying. Her face turned ghastly pale.

"Mother, who is the wife of the Heir to the Marquis of Yangqu? What does she have to do with us?" Qin Yuru, not understanding their exchange, asked with surprise.

"It is a matter from our time at Jingxin Nunnery. The carriage driver from our manor nearly plotted to kidnap Miss Luo, the daughter of the Heir’s wife," Qin Wanyu explained to satisfy her curiosity.

Qin Yuru did not grasp the significance at first. Just as she was about to ask more, Nanny Zhou tugged at her sleeve, causing her to stop abruptly. She looked at Qin Wanyu with suspicion and fell silent.

The room fell quiet, save for Madam Di’s slightly ragged breathing. The atmosphere was tense.

"Madam, may I be excused from attending the banquet at the Marquis of Fengyang’s estate?" Qin Wanyu observed Madam Di’s expression, noting her panic and fear, and a trace of mockery flickered at the corner of her mouth.

Madam Di had assumed that once she reached the capital, she could do as she pleased. She thought she could continue to manipulate Shui Ruolan and that, with the support of the Yongkang Earl’s manor, Qin Huaiyong would be unable to do anything to her, even if she did something extreme—she could even frame Shui Ruolan.

"You may go. I have a headache," Madam Di said, leaning back and covering her forehead. Her voice was stiff; having no desire to deal with Qin Wanyu any longer, she issued a direct dismissal.

"Then I shall trouble you to put in a good word for me before Father," Qin Wanyu said, rising and offering a slight bow.

Madam Di forced a cold smile, gripped her handkerchief tightly, and said coldly, "Fine, I understand."

"Mother, what is going on?" Qin Yuru had been watching the room closely. As soon as Qin Wanyu left, she asked impatiently, as this deviated from what they had previously discussed.

"That wretched girl!" Madam Di’s face was so dark it seemed as if water could drip from it. She glared with venomous intent at Qin Wanyu’s departing figure outside the window.

"Mother!" Qin Yuru stomped her foot in annoyance when Madam Di ignored her.

Madam Di had no patience for her now. Her brows were knitted tight, and her eyes, usually delicate, had narrowed into sharp, triangular shapes, radiating agitation and malice.

"Eldest Miss, do not bother your mother. Let this old servant explain," Nanny Zhou whispered, pulling at Qin Yuru’s sleeve.

She then recounted the details. She spoke of how Madam Di, in a fit of rage while trying to avenge Qin Yuru, had taken matters into her own hands, never expecting Qin Wanyu to escape unscathed, and instead offending a powerful lady from the capital.

Nanny Zhou had not known who this powerful lady was at the time. She only knew that Madam Di had stationed men at Jingxin Nunnery; if the carriage driver were discovered, she had a contingency plan to intercept him if anyone tried to bring him down the mountain.

Unexpectedly, that noblewoman had brought many men of her own, and Madam Di’s people failed to intercept him.

They had assumed she was just a lady who happened to be at the scene and that they would never cross paths again. Who could have foreseen that they would encounter her so soon?

Upon hearing Nanny Zhou’s explanation, Qin Yuru finally understood. She had been unaware of these details, having only heard bits and pieces from her mother, which she had dismissed at the time, attributing Qin Wanyu’s survival to luck.

"Mother, what do we do now?" Qin Yuru panicked.

Her reputation in Jiangzhou was already in ruins. If word of that reached the capital, she could forget about marrying Di Yan; even a family of modest standing would refuse to take her in.

Madam Di remained silent, her brows furrowed deeply.

"Mother, Mother, will the wife of the Heir to the Marquis of Yangqu really attend the banquet? What if she holds a grudge and reveals what happened back then? How could you have been so careless!" Qin Yuru complained, her heart racing. She wanted the events of Jiangzhou buried forever.

"We will not attend the banquet!" Madam Di gritted her teeth, a decision forming.

"Why not? This... this is my first time attending such a major banquet!" Qin Yuru’s expression wavered between tears and a forced smile.

"We will speak with the wife of the Heir to the Marquis of Yangqu privately first, then we shall go out!" Madam Di declared. She dared not face that woman directly; she was known for her sharp tongue. If she brought up the past, Madam Di would be truly finished.

It wasn't just herself; she feared for her daughter. She dared not take that risk.

Since arriving in the capital, she had been confident that Qin Huaiyong would not dare to do anything to her, but she could not gamble on the thoughts of the wife of the Heir to the Marquis of Yangqu.

She could dismiss the events involving Qin Wanyu and Shui Ruolan in Jiangzhou with a flat denial, and Qin Huaiyong could not touch her. But this was a different matter entirely. Until this was settled, it was better not to appear before that woman.

"Mother, this is such a good opportunity... I... how can I not go!" Qin Yuru pleaded, shaking Madam Di’s sleeve. "I already promised Qi Rongzhi that I would take her. If I don't go now, what will she think of me? She will look down on me even more, and there is no telling what she might say about me to Qi Tianyu!"

Qin Yuru was desperate. This wasn't just about showing off to Qi Rongzhi; it was about the veiled threats Qi Rongzhi had made—that if she were taken to the banquet, she would speak well of Qin Yuru to Qi Tianyu, ensuring her brother buried the Jiangzhou scandal and painting Qin Yuru as a victim who never truly intended to betray him.

To secure an invitation, Qi Rongzhi had promised to shift all the blame onto Qin Wanyu.

Although Qin Yuru had used similar tactics before, and Qi Tianyu had believed her, times had changed. She wasn't sure if he would still be so trusting. She had hoped to use Qi Rongzhi to secure her standing, and now that chance was slipping away.

"Yuru, do not go for now. Let Mother find a way first!" Madam Di, overwhelmed, had no energy to comfort her and waved her hand for her to leave.

"Mother, I want to go! I must go!" Qin Yuru stood up, her voice cold. "How could you do such a thing? There were so many people at Jingxin Nunnery; anyone could have ruined the plan. Why did you act so rashly?"

"I... I only wanted to avenge you!" Madam Di defended herself.

"Mother, I had already left. You didn't help me pave the way in the capital, and instead, you staged this grand disaster and dragged it here! You really are a fool!" Qin Yuru interrupted, her anger making her lose all restraint.

Stung by her own daughter’s rebuke, Madam Di’s face flushed red. "How dare you speak to me like that!"

"Mother, am I wrong? You attacked Qin Wanyu without clearing the situation, and now I can't even attend the banquet. What were you thinking? Are you even my real mother?"

"Eldest Miss!" Nanny Zhou tried to intervene, but Qin Yuru was beyond caring.

"Mother, perhaps I am not your daughter. Look at what you've done. Every move looked like it was for my sake, but in reality, I can no longer stay in Jiangzhou, and now I have to hide in the capital. When will this ever end?"

Trembling with rage, Madam Di could no longer endure the mockery. She rose and slapped Qin Yuru hard across the face. Qin Yuru stumbled and nearly fell, saved only by Nanny Zhou catching her.

"Mother, you hit me... you... you really aren't my mother!" Qin Yuru covered her face, tears streaming down, and turned to run out.

"Quick, follow her!" Madam Di, shocked by her own actions, hurriedly ordered.

As Qin Yuru’s crying faded into the distance, Madam Di collapsed back into her seat, rubbing her temples. Her head throbbed as if it might split, and a burning sensation rose in her chest, suffocating and agonizing.

"Madam... what... what should we do?" Nanny Zhou asked, her hands trembling.

"Go and find out if that carriage driver is still alive," Madam Di said, suppressing her agitation. She had to finish him off. Even if the wife of the Heir to the Marquis of Yangqu said anything later, there would be no proof!

"Wasn't he sent to the Yongkang Earl’s manor?" Nanny Zhou hesitated. The General had sent all the witnesses and testimonies there, and the Earl had insisted on keeping some of them.

"That carriage driver is not among them!" Madam Di gritted her teeth. No wonder she had felt something was off—there were only testimonies, but no man!