Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 801 Being Talked About Behind My Back [Thank you! Thank you again! 7k words owed]

"I'm sure Lord Kang knows perfectly well why that pillar of the Xu family was promoted to Prince of the County."

Old Mrs. Wang curled her lip, revealing a mocking sneer: "Now that we're divorced, both families still have some dignity! Otherwise..."

Upon hearing Old Mrs. Wang mention the Xu family, Kang Haifeng couldn't help but swallow hard.

Lord Wang served as an official for decades and was a giant in the officialdom during his lifetime. After his death, he was honored with a place in the Imperial Ancestral Temple!
Although he has been dead for many years, the Wang family's connections in officialdom remain deeply entrenched.

The reason why Xu Zaijing was able to be granted the title of Prince was inseparable from his two rescues of many important officials of the court at Jinming Pond and in the palace.

If the Xu and Wang families joined forces, the Kang family, which was already practically a rotten piece of wood, would be powerless to resist.

Kang Haifeng immediately bowed and clasped his hands in greeting: "Mother-in-law, your son-in-law understands."

"Hey! Lord Kang, this old woman just said that the Kang and Wang families are getting a divorce today! From now on, you should not mention the word 'mother-in-law' again," said Old Madam Wang, waving her hand.

Upon hearing this, Kang Haifeng, who had only uttered half a sentence, suddenly turned bright red, and anger flashed in his eyes.

Kang Haifeng's background was different from Sheng Hong's. He was the eldest son of the Kang family, and when his father, Lord Kang, was in office, his status was only slightly lower than that of Lord Wang.

He was pampered and loved from a young age, and later achieved early success, passing the imperial examination at a young age.

After becoming an official, with the Kang and Wang families backing him up, everyone around him, whether colleagues or relatives like Sheng Hong, treated him with deference and respect. Few dared to reprimand him so mercilessly.

When Lord Wang was still alive, Kang Haifeng was still quite reserved.

After his father-in-law passed away while he was still in office, he began to slowly test the waters. Once he discovered that the Wang family, which was in charge of the household under Old Madam Wang, did not take any action against him taking concubines, he became unrestrained and acted recklessly!
Despite her scheming against relatives and her ruthlessness towards concubines and illegitimate children, Madam Kang dared not do anything to Kang Haifeng at home.

Because Kang Haifeng would actually beat Kang Wangshi severely.

In the Kang family, Kang Haifeng was a carefree and domineering monarch!

Even if he was demoted, with relatives like the Wang and Sheng families around, no one would dare to say anything bad about Kang Haifeng to his face.

Kang Haifeng's arrogant nature, cultivated over the past ten years, was naturally enraged when Old Mrs. Wang reprimanded him so disdainfully!

Feng, who came to the Kang family with her mother-in-law, glanced at Kang Haifeng and said indifferently, "Lord Kang, I'll say something you won't like to hear: a person's temper is commensurate with their abilities."

Sitting on the ground, feeling a burning pain in her cheeks, Madam Kang first glanced at Old Madam Wang, then at her brother and sister-in-law beside her, and said urgently, "Mother, what are you doing? What will happen to Jin'er if we get a divorce?"

"Mother! My Jin'er is still in the Imperial City Prison! Mother! I wanted to ask my brother-in-law and sister for help, but the Sheng family won't even let anyone in!"

Upon hearing this, Kang Haifeng looked at the Wang family members as if he had grasped a lifeline, but before he could speak about his son Kang Jin...

Wang Yan, who was standing to the side, frowned and said, "Sister, shut up!"

Upon hearing this, Lady Kang looked blankly at her brother beside her.

Kang Haifeng looked at the Wang family members with surprise, a thoughtful expression in his eyes.

At this time,

A noisy chattering sound came from outside the hall.

"Wow--"

"Little mother! Little mother, I want to find my father!" came the child's cries.

"Waaah—waaah—" The girl's sobs.

"go!"

"Get in!"

The scolding voices of the mother-in-law and her maids.

"oops!"

"My shoes."

"Let go!"

"You Wang family members, how dare you shout at the Kang family's gate!"

"This is outrageous! The Wang family is coming to the Kang family to arrest and beat people! Does the Wang family even care about its reputation?!"

"Your King"

The young woman called out halfway through.

"Snapped--"

A crisp slap rang out, and the area outside quieted down considerably.

A moment later, a group of Kang Haifeng's concubines and maids, along with his illegitimate sons and daughters of varying ages, rushed into the hall.

There were quite a few people entering the room, which caused Kang Haifeng, Wang Yan, and Madam Feng, who were standing to the side, to move to the side.

Frowning as he looked at the group of people entering the room, Wang Yan shook his head repeatedly. Madam Feng glanced at Madam Kang with a mixture of sympathy and disdain.

Madam Feng knew beforehand that the Kang family had many concubines and maids, but she didn't expect there to be so many.

"Daddy!"

"Lord!"

Upon seeing Kang Haifeng, the concubines and children who entered the room began to shout and make a fuss.

Feeling the gazes of Old Mrs. Wang and the others around him, Kang Haifeng felt embarrassed and angrily shouted, "Shut up, all of you!"

After the angry rebuke, the room indeed became much quieter.

The faint sound of weeping could be heard.

Despite the fact that Su Xiaoniang, Kang Zhao'er, and the other two children are not favored in the Kang family and always end up getting the last thing or nothing at all when it comes to food and other necessities.

But at this moment, the four of them were pushed to the very front of the crowd.

Kang Zhao'er put one arm around her younger siblings' shoulders, protecting them in her arms, while her other hand was held by her mother, Su Xiaoniang, whose hand was trembling.

Kang Zhao'er glanced at the kind-faced Old Madam Wang, then looked at Su Xiaoniang with some confusion.

This action also caught the attention of Old Mrs. Wang.

Feeling the gaze of Old Mrs. Wang, before Kang Zhao'er could react, Su Xiaoniang pulled her to her knees.

Kang Zhao'er's younger siblings also quickly knelt down.

After glancing at Kang Zhao'er and the other three kneeling and kowtowing, who were dressed in tattered clothes and dared not move, Old Madam Wang did not say anything, but looked behind them.

at this time,

Some of the clever concubines had already knelt on the ground along with Su Xiaoniang and the others.
Some, however, stubbornly stood in the hall, defiantly meeting Old Mrs. Wang's gaze.

Looking at the concubine who was still standing there, her brocade clothes somewhat disheveled, Old Madam Wang said indifferently, "You must be Jin Xiaoniang."

"Your daughter is a favored concubine in the Kang Prince's mansion, and you are also a favored concubine in the Kang family. It seems that this vixen's skills are passed down from generation to generation!"

Upon hearing this, Kang Haifeng thought of his daughter, who was a concubine in the Prince's mansion, and his posture seemed to straighten a little.

Feeling the gaze of Old Madam Wang, Jin Xiaoniang bowed and said, "Old Madam, you flatter me."

"By the way, one of your cousins' husbands is a close friend of the Zhu family viscount, am I right?"

Hearing what Old Mrs. Wang said, Madam Feng slightly raised her chin and glanced at Jin Xiaoniang, who trembled.

From the perspective of the Wang and Feng families, Jin Xiaoniang's family background is really not good enough.

Ignoring Jin Xiaoniang's reaction, Old Mrs. Wang simply reached out to the side.

Madam Wen, Feng's personal maid, quickly handed a stack of papers to Old Mrs. Wang.

Looking at everyone in the hall, Old Mrs. Wang picked up the old paper folded on top and said in a calm tone, "This is the detailed list of my daughter's dowry when she married into the Kang family, a dowry of mountains of gold and silver."

Then, Old Mrs. Wang patted the remaining stack of papers: "These are the details of the Kang family's expenses for taking concubines, marrying off daughters, and household expenses over the past ten years or so."

Before the Hu family was blinded by greed, they specifically asked the Wang family's accountant to check that about 80% of my daughter's dowry had already been spent.

As she spoke, Old Mrs. Wang shook her head and exclaimed sarcastically, "Lord Kang, you are truly remarkable!"

Before Kang Haifeng, who was bowing his head in shame, could speak, Old Madam Wang continued, "This Jin Xiaoniang is quite capable! Relying on your favor, Master Kang, she actually started a business in the Kang family without any investment."

Kang Haifeng looked at Old Mrs. Wang blankly: "A business with no capital???"

At this moment, Jin Xiaoniang's eyes also showed a hint of panic.

"Hmph." Standing next to Wang Yan, Madam Feng snorted coldly and said, "The money for the weddings and dowries of your several illegitimate sons and daughters was all from my sister's dowry!"

"Lord Kang, you don't know this, do you? The illegitimate son and the illegitimate daughter who got married, after they went out, gave part of their dowry money to this Jin Xiaoniang."

Kang Haifeng looked at Jin Xiaoniang with a puzzled expression: "Give her money? What for?"

Madam Feng said, "It is because of your favor towards Jin Xiaoniang and the power of her daughter in the Kang Prince's Mansion that they are protecting their birth mother, Xiaoniang."

Listening to the conversation, Kang Zhao'er, who was kneeling on the ground, glanced at Su Xiaoniang. In fact, she had the same idea.

"She's quite shrewd," Old Mrs. Wang said with a forced smile. "No wonder she lives a more carefree life than my stupid daughter!"

Madam Kang looked at Jin Xiaoniang in surprise, her eyes filled with resentment and venom: "You! You wretch! You deserve to die!"

Ignoring her swollen face, Madam Kang stood up, stormed over to Jin Xiaoniang, and slapped her with all her might.

"Snapped."

Jin Xiaoniang immediately covered her cheek after being slapped.

I'll beat you to death, you bitch!

As Madam Kang angrily cursed and tried to continue hitting him, Jin Xiaoniang dodged back and leaned against Kang Haifeng, saying, "My lord!"

Seeing Kang Haifeng's expression, Madam Kang paused for a moment before spreading her five fingers and continuing to scratch Jin Xiaoniang's face.

After glancing at Old Madam Wang and the others, Kang Haifeng ultimately remained silent, simply shielding Jin Xiaoniang behind him.

After gesturing for Wang Yan to pull Kang Wangshi away, Old Madam Wang continued:

“I won’t make things difficult for your Kang family. I’m going to take back the money those bastards gave to Jin Xiaoniang, and I’m also going to take the rest of the dowry back to the Wang family.”

Upon hearing this, Jin Xiaoniang's eyes widened, and she quickly whispered in Kang Haifeng's ear, "My lord, this means there won't be any money left in the household accounts."

Upon hearing this, Kang Haifeng frowned anxiously: With the Wang family doing this, Kang Haifeng's carefree life was coming to an end!

Seeing that Madam Kang was glaring at him angrily, Kang Haifeng had a sudden idea and quickly bowed and said, "Madam Wang, Jin'er is also your grandson and has your blood in him. You should leave some money so that I can go and save my son!"

Kang Wangshi, who had been blinded by Jin Xiaoniang, also came to her senses and looked at Old Madam Wang in a panic: "Mother, yes! Jin'er is still in prison!"

"My daughter only has one son, he's flesh and blood of hers, and I've raised him with great care for nearly twenty years!"

"Mother, if you hadn't sent that old vile woman, Hu Mama, to my side, I wouldn't have been so foolish as to listen to her slander and harm Jin'er!"

"Mother--"

Seeing Kang Wangshi crying and wailing, Feng Shi, who was standing to the side, curled her lips in disgust.

Kang Haifeng, on the other hand, had a smug look in his eyes because his scheme had succeeded.

A flash of anger crossed Old Mrs. Wang's eyes.

"Snapped!"

After slamming her hand on the table, Old Mrs. Wang took two deep breaths and, trying to calm herself, said, "Yu'er, if you keep doing this, don't blame me for having your brother use family discipline again."

Upon hearing this, Madam Kang touched her face.

After glancing at Kang Haifeng, Old Mrs. Wang continued, "Kang Jin in prison, his surname is Kang, not Wang!"

After saying that, Old Mrs. Wang raised her chin at Mother Wen and said, "Check the list carefully and make sure you know who the concubines and maids are."

"Yes, madam." After bowing, Madam Wen, along with the other old women of the Wang family, chased the person out again.

After another round of noise, only Kang Haifeng, Madam Kang, and a few members of the Wang family remained in the hall.

Madam Kang looked at Old Madam Wang with a worried expression and said, "Mother, the Kang family still has Yun'er, who is married, and Yuan'er, who is still unmarried! What will happen to them if I leave?"

Kang Haifeng nodded repeatedly from the side.

Grandma Wang frowned and said, "You only think of your daughter now? When you were being forced to plan things, why didn't you think of your child?"

Lady Kang was taken aback, thinking to herself, 'I was forced? When was I forced?'

Upon hearing this, Kang Haifeng looked back outside, then at Old Mrs. Wang, and after a moment's thought, sighed with a grim expression:
"Oh—! I get it, I get it!"

"So, your Wang family is trying to dump all the blame for offending the Sheng family onto my Kang family!"

"No wonder! No wonder! I suppose you arrived in the capital long ago, and only decided to come to my Kang family after learning the details of the Xu family's conferment of a title?"

As they spoke,
Looking at Old Mrs. Wang, who was turning her head to the side, and Mr. and Mrs. Wang Yan, who dared not meet his gaze, Kang Haifeng nodded with a mocking laugh and said, "Hahahaha! Very well! Your Wang family is truly a good family!"

Kang Haifeng then pointed to Kang Wangshi and said:

"She was the one who maliciously plotted against our relatives, but now that her schemes have been exposed, she's forcing my Kang family to take the blame!"

"Your old lady's maid, Hu Mama, has messed things up! She mistakenly tied up the sixth young lady who is being raised by Madam Sheng! I suppose Madam Sheng has already sent a letter to your Wang family?"

Looking at the grim faces of the Wang family members, Kang Haifeng sneered: "Ha! The old lady of the Sheng family's maternal family's nephew has been promoted to Duke, and her grand-nephew has even been promoted to Prince!"

"Madam Sheng's family is enjoying great favor, while my Kang family has fallen! You should all be eager to flatter and fawn over her, and give that old lady an explanation!"

"Humph!"

After snorting coldly, Kang Haifeng looked disdainfully at Wang Yan, who looked utterly humiliated and dared not meet his gaze, and shook his head, saying, "Let's leave it at that: since the two families have torn each other apart, how about a divorce?"

Kang Haifeng flicked his sleeves and said confidently, "Hmph, absolutely impossible!"

"You!" Wang Yan looked at Kang Haifeng upon hearing this.

Grandma Wang pursed her lips and gestured to her daughter-in-law, Madam Feng.

After nodding, Madam Feng said directly, "Lord Kang, what are you saying?"

Kang Haifeng looked at Madam Feng.

Madam Feng smiled slightly: "If outsiders heard this, they would think that you got your concubine pregnant while you were observing mourning for Lord Kang, and that our Wang family forced you to do it!"

"Me!" Kang Haifeng's face turned awkward.

Madam Feng continued, "If it weren't for the efforts of my husband's family, the Wang family, my own family, the Feng family, and my relative, the Sheng family, do you really think that the punishment you received back then was just the removal from your official post?"

"If it weren't for the three of us, your title of Jinshi would probably be in jeopardy!"

"When you were seeking reinstatement, your mother-in-law and husband also put in a lot of effort. All those things over the years, you're now washing your hands of them so easily, not remembering a single bit of their kindness!"

“What’s more, you—” As she spoke, Madam Feng looked at the group of concubines and maids outside the house: “Tsk tsk. You have a wealthy family background, yet you’re using my aunt’s dowry!” As soon as Madam Feng said this, Kang Haifeng turned his head away and looked elsewhere, not daring to meet the eyes of the Wang family members.

Wang Yan's aura also rose, and he turned to glare at Kang Haifeng.

"Today, I'll state my position here! This whole affair started because of your son, and you must admit to plotting against the Sheng family's daughter! The two families will divorce, and my sister-in-law will come home with us. That will be the only way to give the Sheng family's matriarch an explanation!"

After Feng finished speaking, Wang Yan chimed in, "Yes! That's exactly it!"

Looking at the expression on Old Madam Wang's face at the head of the table, and thinking about the old grievances that Madam Feng had just brought up for him, Kang Haifeng didn't know what to say for a moment.

The hall was quiet for a moment.

Grandma Wang said slowly, "My Wang family gave the eldest sister of the Sheng family an explanation, and I think the Xu family will let it go."

"For my sake, Jin'er will most likely be released soon."

Kang Haifeng remained silent.

While everyone in the hall was talking, Kang Yuan'er's personal maid stood at the door listening.

Seeing that the matter was over, the maid hurriedly returned to Kang Yuan'er's side.

After listening to the maid's brief explanation, Kang Yuan'er frowned and stood up, questioning, "What? Grandmother is going to preside over the divorce between Mother and Father?"

"Yes girl!"

"If Mother goes back to the Wang family, what will happen to me? Won't I fall into the hands of that bitch Jin?" Kang Yuan'er asked in a panic.

"Miss, no way! The Jin family are concubines, which means they are servants! How could you have fallen into their hands?"

"But my mother and father are divorced, and they won't take me back to the Wang family! Without a dowry, which family in the capital would want me?"

Seeing Kang Yuan'er's expression, the maid wisely chose to remain silent.

Kang Yuan'er paced around the room a few steps: "No! We can't let Mother and Father get divorced!"

As she spoke, Kang Yuan'er seemed to have thought of a solution and quickly walked outside.

"Miss!" The maidservant hurriedly followed.

at this time,

Everyone in the Kang family was in the hall where the old lady was, and there was no one guarding Kang Haifeng's study.

Soon, Kang Yuan'er appeared nearby.

Kang Family Hall

Grandma Wang squinted at the list of concubines, illegitimate sons and daughters of the Kang family compiled by Mother Wen.

The list, excluding concubines and those yet to be born, includes nearly twenty illegitimate children!

Seeing this, Old Mrs. Wang shook her head helplessly.

With so many people, just feeding them every day would cost a lot of money.

Looking at Kang Haifeng sitting on a chair not far away, Old Mrs. Wang felt for the first time that she should have come to the Kang family like this back then.

It wasn't to get a divorce, but to support her daughter and discourage Kang Haifeng from taking concubines.

I thought that Madam Kang was most like me and could manage the Kang family well, but I never expected it to turn out like this.

Thinking about all this, Old Mrs. Wang placed the list on the table and said, "Lord Kang, have you thought it through?"

Before Kang Haifeng could speak, Madam Kang Wang said, "Mother, you can't ignore Yuan'er's marriage! Her life is already very difficult."

After waving her hand at Madam Kang to signal her to shut up, Old Madam Wang continued to look at Kang Haifeng.

After thinking for a moment, Kang Haifeng stood up, nodded, and said, "Okay! I'll sign!"

Grandma Wang smiled and said, "That's more like it!"

After Kang Haifeng and Wang Ruoyu signed and sealed their documents, Old Mrs. Wang finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The Kang and Wang families each received a copy of the divorce papers. Old Mrs. Wang looked at Kang Haifeng and said, "Since my nephew Kang is so agreeable, my family can't just leave without making a gesture! Let's drop the matter of money we just discussed."

Upon hearing this, Kang Haifeng was overjoyed. It turned out that Wang Ruoyu had taken part of her dowry back to the Wang family, and the money left by Jin Xiaoniang was enough for his household expenses if he was frugal!

Subsequently,

With Feng's help, Old Mrs. Wang stood up nimbly, put the divorce papers into her sleeve, and walked out with Wang Yan and Wang Ruoyu.

They stood still outside the hall.
Grandma Wang was just about to say a few polite words to Kang Haifeng
After Kang Haifeng waved his hand, Jin Xiaoniang understood and walked to his side.

Seeing this, Old Mrs. Wang gave up the idea of ​​speaking.

Just then, a crazed voice shouted from the side, "You bitch! Die!"

Hearing the sound, everyone looked over and saw Kang Yuan'er holding a large, gleaming sword in both hands, rushing towards them.

The large sword in Kang Haifeng's collection is not just an ornament; it has been properly sharpened.

Knowing the condition of the sword, Kang Haifeng looked at the crazed Kang Yuan'er and shouted sternly, "You wretched creature! What are you trying to do! Stop!"

"what--!"

The seemingly deranged Kang Yuan'er ignored everything, gripping her sword with both hands and screaming as she charged straight at Jin Xiaoniang, determined not to stop until she had killed her.

Wang Yan and Madam Feng quickly stood guard beside Old Madam Wang.

Knowing that the sword had been sharpened, Kang Haifeng did not dare to stand in front of Kang Yuan'er, but instead took a step to the side.

Seeing Kang Haifeng hiding to the side, Jin Xiaoniang panicked and wanted to take a few steps to the side to avoid Kang Yuan'er.

But when Jin Xiaoniang tried to move, she found that her upper body was tight and she couldn't move.

Jin Xiaoniang hurriedly looked behind her and saw Wang Ruoyu with a fierce look in her eyes and a cold smile on her lips, tightly gripping her clothes with both hands.

Just as Jin Xiaoniang was in despair, she saw Kang Haifeng hiding to the side and stretched out a foot to trip Kang Yuan'er.

Upon seeing this, Jin Xiaoniang instantly unleashed a strong will to survive, struggling with her upper body and twisting her waist to turn to the side.

At the same time, Kang Yuan'er was also tripped by Kang Haifeng. Despite losing her balance, she still held tightly to her sword and flew towards Jin Xiaoniang to stab her.

The sharp tip of the sword pierced straight through Jin Xiaoniang's clothes.

"Uh--"

Blood flowed from the wound, staining the gleaming sword blade crimson.

"what!"

"ah--"

The concubines and children outside the courtyard screamed uncontrollably upon witnessing the horrific scene.

Wang Ruoyu looked down at the long sword piercing her stomach, then glanced at Jin Xiaoniang, whose clothes were torn, and then looked incredulously at Kang Yuan'er, who had fallen to the ground.

"What are you doing?!"

After saying a few words, Wang Ruoyu felt an excruciating pain in her abdomen, and her body went limp and she collapsed to the ground.

"Sister!" Wang Yan called out urgently.

"Yu'er!" Old Mrs. Wang cried out as she looked at the bloodstains on the sword, then collapsed into Madam Feng's arms.

"I... I was trying to save people!" Kang Haifeng protested.

Seeing this, Jin Xiaoniang, having narrowly escaped death, suppressed her laughter, but inwardly she cried out with glee, "Hahaha! You vicious woman! You got what you deserved!"

Kang Haifeng stared blankly at Kang Yuan'er, who was looking at Wang Ruoyu with a daze. Enraged, he kicked her and yelled, "You wretched child! I should have killed you when the accident happened back then!"

Not far from the Kang family,

The Hai family's house is just across the street.

Sitting in the pavilion, Hai Chaoyun stared in horror at the eldest daughter of the Hai family beside her.

"Mother, are you saying that our servant saw blood flowing from the Kang family's carriage?"

Madam Hai nodded: "Yes! They said that someone from the Kang family accidentally injured himself while practicing swordsmanship, and they rushed to the Yu family to deliver it!"

Hai Chaoyun exclaimed in surprise, "Heavens! How could sword dancing have injured you so badly!"

Madam Hai shook her head: "The neighbors have mentioned that the head of the Kang family is known for his fondness for collecting sharpened, large swords! Such weapons can easily injure someone if not handled carefully."

"That's what mother said."

Madam Hai looked at Hai Chaoyun and said, "Yun'er, the Kang family is actually the maternal aunt's family of the second son of the Sheng family! These past few days, the Kang family has been facing one problem after another!"

Hai Chaoyun pursed her lips and nodded.

"Sigh!" Madam Hai sighed, touching Hai Chaoyun's cheek, and said, "With relatives like the Kang family, I don't know whether this marriage arranged for you is a good thing or a bad thing."

Feeling her mother's warm hand, Hai Chaoyun said, "Mother, I married into the Sheng family, not the Kang family! What does it matter what the Kang family is like?"

Madam Hai looked at her daughter with a hint of annoyance: "You're quite magnanimous!"

“If our daughter isn’t open-minded, does she have to worry about things that are going to happen every day? The second son of the Sheng family is the eldest daughter-in-law of the Duke’s mansion! Our family can’t break our promise.”

Hearing her daughter's answer, Madam Hai smiled helplessly.

Hai Chaoyun continued, "By the way, Mother, the notice that was posted said that Xu Wu—no, the Prince of Wei—has saved His Highness the Crown Prince five times."

"I know about His Highness the Crown Prince's wedding and the two events last month, but are you aware of the other two?"

Madam Hai nodded: "According to Her Majesty the Empress, the earliest instance was when His Highness the Crown Prince was still young."

"The time you don't know about was when His Highness the Crown Prince was tricked by Gao Jing of the Gao family into going to Fanlou!"

Hai Chaoyun fell into deep thought: "Was it the time when a monk died?"

“Yes! According to your father, after the court interrogated many traitors last month, they realized how dangerous the incident at Fanlou was.”

Seeing Hai Chaoyun's curiosity, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Hai family continued, "They say that on that day, skilled crossbowmen hiding in the manor outside the city had already entered the city and were just one step away from ambushing us from the upper floors!"

"Use crossbows? Mother, although His Highness the Crown Prince was tricked into going, he was still guarded by skilled guards. That day, he only left one floor. The distance between the buildings of Fanlou is not short. How dangerous would it be to use crossbows?"

After glancing at the scenery outside the pavilion, Madam Hai said, "Yun'er, the crossbow I was referring to is the bed crossbow."

"what?"

"Yes! Your father said that after interrogating the thief, they learned that the skilled crossbowman had disassembled the ballista and bolts into parts and hidden them in the oxcart that was delivering mugwort into the city."

"If it weren't for the early action of that person from the Xu family, His Highness the Crown Prince would probably be in grave danger."

Hai Chaoyun wanted to say something more, but then she saw Zhu Jian walking over hurriedly.

After bowing, Zhu Jian said solemnly, "Madam, Miss, the servants at home have learned the exact news after spending money. It was the Kang family's matriarch who was injured!"

"What?" Madam Hai stood up.

Kang Wangshi is Changbai's maternal aunt. If something happens to her, Changbai's marriage will have to be postponed.

The next day.

morning,

Quyuan Street,
The Xu family is still the residence of the Marquis of Yongyi.

Xu Zaijing was in his courtyard learning the procedures and etiquette of the investiture ceremony with officials from the Ministry of Rites and palace eunuchs.

During the break, Qingcao came over and said, "Young Master, Second Madam has returned to the manor."

"Oh?"

Seeing Xu Zaijing's curious expression, the Ministry of Rites official beside him tactfully said, "Your Highness, you have learned etiquette and regulations very well. Why don't you continue to rest for a while?"

The eunuch standing nearby nodded in agreement.

Xu Zaijing smiled and said, "Alright! Please wait a moment, I'll be right back."

quickly,

Xu Zaijing then went to the main hall in the backyard.
As the maid announced his arrival, Xu Zaijing stepped into the room.

Looking at Madam Sun and her two sisters-in-law inside the room, Xu Zaijing hurriedly asked, "Second sister-in-law, how is that person?"

Hua Lan pursed her lips and said, "I was just talking to my mother and sister-in-law! I don't know whether to say my aunt is lucky or unlucky."

Xu Zaijing sat down in a chair and looked at the helpless Hua Lan: "Second sister-in-law, why is this?"

Hua Lan said, "Auntie was very lucky. Physician Xiao Yu happened to be at home yesterday, and he immediately treated her after she was brought to the hospital."

Xu Zaijing nodded: "Brother Yu Huguang has always been very skilled at treating wounds from knives and arrows!"

Moreover, Yu Huguang was really lucky not to go to the palace to take up his post; otherwise, he didn't know how long he would have had to wait.

Hua Lan nodded: "What's even more fortunate is that the sword that stabbed my aunt didn't hit any vital organs inside her abdomen."

Xu Zaijing raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.

Like Madam Xie, Madam Sun exclaimed, "That's good! That's good! I don't think it will delay Changbai's marriage."

Xu Zaijing asked, "Second sister-in-law, what are the remaining unfortunate things?"

Hua Lan looked at her mother-in-law, Madam Sun, and the others, and shook her head, saying, "Physician Xiao Yu said that there is no major problem with the vital organs inside the abdomen, but the sharp tip of the sword pierced Aunt's spine."

"The sword tip penetrated quite deeply into the bone, damaging her spinal cord. My aunt will definitely never be able to stand up again, and she will also lose control of her lower body."

"what?"

The people inside the room exchanged surprised glances.

"Hua'er, do you know why she was injured like this?" Madam Sun asked.

Hua Lan explained helplessly, "My aunt, who went to the Sheng family to deliver the message, said that my aunt saw Kang Yuan'er rushing towards her with a sword and tried to reach out to save Jin Xiaoniang, but due to a series of unforeseen events, she was stabbed by Kang Yuan'er, who was throwing her forward.

"Tch—" Xu Zaijing chuckled, "Second sister-in-law, who would be so kind?"

As soon as this word comes out,
Hua Lan looked somewhat embarrassed.

Sun's somewhat reproachful gaze swept over as well.

Hua Lan quickly said, "Mother, please don't blame Xiao Wu. When I went back to Jiying Lane to inquire about the news, even my grandmother didn't believe me when my mother said that."

“My great-aunt is extremely perceptive,” Xu Zaijing said.

(End of this chapter)