Chapter 185: Drag Him Down And Give Him Fifty Heavy Strokes
“Mother, go check on brother quickly. He’s injured.” Mo Lanzhi ran in a panic into Qi Shi’s room and pulled up her mother, who was talking to the old wet nurse, wanting to run outside.
“What did you say? What happened to Zi Chen?” Qi Shi’s face changed, and she hurriedly followed her daughter’s footsteps, asking as she walked.
“Brother is injured. It was the young lady brought back by that bastard who scratched him. The wound is very deep, and a lot of blood flowed out!” Mo Lanzhi answered with a pale little face.
While speaking, the mother and daughter arrived at Mo Zichen’s courtyard. They saw that although the servants in the courtyard were each doing their tasks, they all seemed absent-minded, their gazes glancing toward the main house from time to time.
“Brother, I brought Mother to see you.” As soon as she entered the courtyard gate, Mo Lanzhi shouted loudly.
In the main house, a pair of embracing man and woman instantly separated. After each straightened their clothes, one lay on the bed pretending to be weak, while the other retreated lightly to the outer room, picked up the half-embroidered sachet, and started sewing quickly. Another little maid who was already in the outer room glanced at her disdainfully, then lowered her head to focus on her own embroidery frame.
“Zi Chen, where are you injured? Show Mother quickly.” Qi Shi, who was single-mindedly thinking about her son being injured, did not notice the stiff atmosphere in the outer room and walked straight into the inner room.
“Mother, I’m fine.” The pale-faced youth had thick gauze wrapped around his neck and looked reproachfully at Mo Lanzhi behind Qi Shi. “Didn’t I say not to alarm Mother?”
“Silly child, you’re injured—how could you hide it from Mother?” Qi Shi sat by the bedside, trembling as she wanted to touch her son’s neck but feared hurting him. She reached out several times but ultimately didn’t touch it, saying heartbrokenly, “My son, is your wound serious?”
Mo Zichen’s gaze flickered, and he smiled weakly. “Mother, my wound isn’t serious. Don’t worry about it; it’ll heal soon.”
Qi Shi’s eyes welled up with tears from heartache. “I’ll go find your father right now and make him stand up for you. Whoever hurt you, Mother will pay them back tenfold.”
At this point, a trace of gloom appeared on Mo Zichen’s face, while Mo Lanzhi said indignantly beside him, “Mother, brother was hurt by the woman brought by that bastard. You must not let them off!”
“What?” Qi Shi’s eyebrows shot up instantly. “Mo Ziyuan? He has such nerve to hurt my son! Zi Chen, wait here. Mother will go find your father right now!”
“Mother!” Mo Zichen grabbed Qi Shi who was about to leave. “Mother, don’t go…”
“Zi Chen, you…” Seeing her son’s evasive gaze, Qi Shi finally realized something was wrong. She sat back by his bedside and asked, “What happened? Tell Mother.”
“Mother, don’t ask. It’s really nothing.” No matter what, Mo Zichen refused to speak.
However, the more he refused to say, the more Qi Shi wanted to know. Finally, after much coaxing, he “reluctantly” said that Father already knew he was injured and who did it, but said nothing.
“It was the woman brought by big brother. Father probably doesn’t want to completely break with him, so he chose to let bygones be bygones. Anyway, son’s wound isn’t serious, so Mother, don’t go find Father.”
“Zi Chen, you’re just too kind. You’re the second young master of Dingguo Duke’s Mansion—how can any tomcat or dog hurt you? If your father won’t stand up for you, Mother will back you up. Rest well for now; Mother will come see you again tomorrow.” After speaking, Qi Shi tucked in Mo Zichen’s quilt and turned to leave with stomping steps.
When her figure disappeared at the courtyard entrance, Mo Lanzhi withdrew her gaze from looking out the window and looked at Mo Zichen. “Brother, what do we do next?”
Mo Zichen narrowed his eyes and let out a long breath. He said, “Wait!”
“Wait?” Mo Lanzhi didn’t understand. “Wait for what?”
“You’ll know when the time comes.” Mo Zichen’s mind was full of Lin Xin’s graceful figure and stunning appearance, with no mood to deal with Mo Lanzhi. After perfunctorily saying a couple of things, he made an excuse of being tired and needing rest, sending her away first.
“Young Master, I found out.” Not long after Mo Lanzhi left, Mo Zichen’s servant ran back to the duke’s mansion, sweating profusely.
“Come in and tell me.” Mo Zichen’s voice came from the room.
“Yes, Young Master!” The servant pushed open the door and entered the room eagerly, came to Mo Zichen’s bedside, lowered his voice, and whispered many words in his ear.
“Did you see clearly?” As he spoke, Mo Zichen’s face went from pale to red, red to green, and finally settled on dark. He asked with a grim face.
“This little one followed the heir the whole way and saw everything clearly. He climbed over the wall into that house. At the beginning of the chenshi hour, Eunuch An arrived, then the three of them got into a horse carriage and went into the palace.” The servant said confidently.
“Into the palace? And personally escorted by Eunuch An? What exactly is that woman’s identity to have such an honor!” Mo Zichen’s face truly looked bad. He had been pondering how to snatch that young lady from Mo Ziyuan’s side, but never expected she had such a deep background.
“Hmph, even if you’re a fairy from heaven, I will make you fall to the mortal world and become my, Mo Zichen’s, woman!” Mo Zichen said viciously.
“Young Master, should we continue following the heir?” the servant asked.
“No need. Go find out that young lady’s background, the more detailed the better, and fast.”
“Yes, this little one will go right now!” The servant accepted the order and didn’t dare delay, leaving immediately to handle it.
“Originally, this young master hadn’t planned to deal with you yet, but who let you get so close to that bastard Mo Ziyuan! This young master has no choice but to reluctantly give you up, but before that, collecting some interest isn’t too much, right!” Mo Zichen lay on the bed, reached out a hand to touch the thick gauze on his neck, felt the dense stinging pain, narrowed his eyes, and murmured to himself.
Qi Shi stormed angrily to the study in the front courtyard. The servant guarding the door felt bitter inside upon seeing her and barely put on a smile to greet her. “Madam, you’re here!”
“Mm, is Master in the study?” Qi Shi asked, holding back her anger.
The servant nodded. “Yes, the duke rested here last night.”
“Alright, I’ll go in myself to find him. You’re dismissed; no need for you here!” Qi Shi waved her hand at the servant and said.
The servant not only felt bitter in his heart but even in his mouth. Seeing Qi Shi about to knock, he hurriedly blocked her and said, “Madam, Master said he has important business today and doesn’t want to be disturbed casually.”
“Bastard!” Qi Shi flew into a rage upon hearing this, slapped him with a palm, and with a crisp “pa” sound, a red palm print appeared on the servant’s face. “I’m the madam of this duke’s mansion. How dare you block me from going where I want! Come, drag him down and give him fifty heavy strokes!”
The servants looked at each other, but no one moved.
“Why aren’t you going? What are you waiting for!” Qi Shi saw no response and raised her voice.
However, as if deliberately opposing her, all the servants lowered their heads, but no one stepped forward to grab that servant.
