Volume One, Chapter Five: Family Discipline

“You were away at war for three years, and we all believed you dead. It was Qingqian who remained steadfast by your side. Back then, this old woman pitied her and even gave her a letter of divorce, but she refused, insisting on remaining a widow for you! But what did her loyalty bring? You returned home with a courtesan and doubted your rightful wife because of her! Do you still have a conscience?”

Madam Qin’s anger swelled with each word, and she hurled the teacup beside her straight at Qin Lang. He dodged too late; the cup struck his forehead, reddening the skin instantly.

Rubbing his forehead, Qin Lang’s face darkened with displeasure. “Grandmother, I never intended to doubt Qingqian. But this matter concerns the reputation of the Marquis’s household, and caution is necessary. Qingqian has remained faithful to me, yes, but Zhaor saved my life! If we speak of loyalty, Zhaor’s devotion is no less than anyone else’s. Please, grandmother, refrain from calling her a courtesan or unworthy of respect. Qingqian is indeed my wife, but Zhaor is the one I have cherished all my life.”

Qin Lang’s feelings for Lu Hongzhao were genuine, and not merely because of a life debt. That life-saving debt had been orchestrated by Qin Lang himself. After discovering that Lu Hongzhao was a princess, he deliberately spread her identity and arranged to be in danger near her flower boat. Having struggled through the worldly red-light district for years, Lu Hongzhao naturally longed to escape.

Thus, with hidden motives on both sides, they staged a grand drama and eventually came together. Yet over time, Qin Lang truly grew fond of her.

Lu Hongzhao hailed from the modern era and was a classical musician. Renowned throughout Jiangnan for her borrowed poems and melodies, such a talented and enchanting woman—who could help but love her?

As he spoke, Qin Lang’s gaze toward Lu Hongzhao was filled with deep affection. Seeing this, a faint smile curved Lu Hongzhao’s lips, and some of the anger she felt at Madam Qin’s insults faded.

She glanced at Qingqian beside Madam Qin. Though she said nothing, her expression was one of haughty superiority. She despised Qingqian’s old-fashioned devotion to husband and children and found it beneath her to fight with Qingqian here and now.

Madam Qin, hearing Qin Lang’s words, trembled with fury. “You! How dare you disgrace Qingqian for a woman of unknown origin? Do you know that if it weren’t for Qingqian’s management these past years, the Marquis’s household would have long collapsed! Your so-called affection is nothing but deception by her feigned sincerity. She rolls in the company of rouge and powder—what true feelings could she possibly have? Her saving you was simply a means to climb higher!”

Madam Qin clutched her chest, gasping for breath, clearly upset by her foolish grandson’s behavior.

Qingqian gently steadied Madam Qin, helping her calm down, speaking softly, “Grandmother, please don’t upset yourself. Your health is precious. The heir has been blinded by lust for now; he won’t see reason anytime soon. Getting angry won’t help—better to take care of yourself first.”

Madam Qin patted Qingqian’s hand, eyes full of sorrow and guilt. “Child, I have wronged you. It’s this foolish grandson who has brought you such hardship.”

Qingqian shook her head slightly, a gentle smile on her face. “Grandmother, I do not feel wronged. As long as my conscience is clear, that is enough. But the reputation of the Marquis’s household cannot be allowed to be trampled upon. I hope you will uphold justice.”

“Qingqian, these years you have truly been the mistress of the Marquis’s household. I am old now and can no longer bear such grievances. Everything is in your hands. Do whatever you think necessary—I will fully support you!”

Madam Qin’s gaze shifted to Lu Hongzhao’s pregnant belly. She had already decided: a child born of such a scheming woman could only bring trouble to the Marquis’s household. It would be better if the child never came to be.

If Qingqian wished to punish that shameless woman, so be it.

Losing the child would not matter.

Qingqian never expected Madam Qin to defend her so firmly. She accepted the grandmother’s goodwill and said softly, “Then your granddaughter-in-law will obey.”

Sitting beside Madam Qin, Qingqian suddenly assumed the commanding presence of the mistress of the house.

“Aunt Lu, your lax control has allowed your maidservants to insult the Marquis’s reputation at will. If left unpunished, all the concubines in the household will lose discipline, and chaos will ensue. Therefore, today I must punish you as a warning to others.”

Qingqian gave a signal to Nurse Zhao, who immediately stepped forward, intending to slap Lu Hongzhao.

But Qin Lang kicked Nurse Zhao away, causing her to stumble and nearly fall.

His eyes blazing with anger, Qin Lang shouted at Qingqian, “Qingqian, you’ve gone too far! Zhaor is pregnant—how can you be so cruel as to lay hands on her?”

Qingqian remained unafraid. She stood, her gaze icy as she met Qin Lang’s. “Heir, I am merely enforcing the household’s rules. Aunt Lu committed the offense and deserves punishment. Besides, Nurse Zhao intended only a mild reprimand—how could she harm the child she carries? Yet you, in shielding her, are defying the family rules.”

Madam Qin, witnessing this, scolded even more fiercely, “Lang’er, you have no respect for discipline! Qingqian, as the mistress, has the authority to punish the errant concubines. If everyone in the Marquis’s household were like this seductive fox, willing to do anything to climb higher, the household would collapse into chaos! I have already entrusted Qingqian with the management of the Marquis’s inner affairs. With your behavior, do you still respect me as your grandmother? Do you still honor the family laws?”

Lu Hongzhao, feigning weakness, dabbed at her eyes and said plaintively, “Heir, please do not quarrel with the old madam and sister on my account. I am willing to accept punishment, as long as it can appease their anger.”

Madam Qin snorted coldly. “Don’t play the pity card here. Your true intentions may be hidden from others, but not from me. You must be punished today—no one will stop it!”

Qin Lang clenched his teeth but stubbornly declared, “Grandmother, I cannot stand by and watch Zhaor suffer injustice. Whoever dares to harm her today must first step over my dead body!”

“Ha! The heir is truly loyal and righteous. But without rules, there is no order. If that is the case, then Qingqian must punish you!”

Qingqian turned to Nurse Zhao. “Nurse Zhao, bring the disciplinary whip!”