Chapter 82 -
Chapter 82: Chapter
The dining hall of the Xi estate fell into a tense, expectant quiet as the servants finished setting down the heavy platters of food.
Yunhao swallowed his mouthful of steamed bun, his eyes darting between his mother and his older brother. He cleared his throat, leaning forward slightly. "Mother, is it true what the servants in the western wing are saying? Is Sister-in-law really taking care of Mingyu now?"
Wenzhe, who had just raised his teacup to his lips, froze. His dark eyes widened in sheer disbelief. He slowly set the cup down, his knuckles tightening against the porcelain until they turned white.
"What?" Wenzhe’s voice was sharp, laced with immediate disapproval. "You let her take care of Mingyu? Mother, how could you allow this?"
Mingyu was the youngest son and the most fragile. He had spent his entire life fighting a weak constitution, confined to a dark, stagnant room while the finest imperial physicians failed to cure him. For the family to hand his care over to Su Yueqing.. a notoriously haughty, reckless noblewoman who had never worked a day in her life seemed like absolute madness.
"She knows nothing of medicine," Wenzhe argued, his voice rising in frustration. "Mingyu is at death’s door. If she treats him with her usual cold indifference or acts recklessly, she will kill him! Why would you place his life in her hands?"
The Duchess calmly picked up her embroidered silk handkerchief, delicately dabbing the corner of her lips. She did not look at all swayed by her son’s outburst.
"And why shouldn’t I?" the Duchess replied, her voice cool, steady, and filled with an undeniable authority. "Yesterday, when we were all helpless, your wife was the only one who stood up to do something. She has closed herself in his chambers, demanding clean water, fresh air, and absolute quiet. She has taken full responsibility for him."
The Duchess turned her gaze directly onto Wenzhe, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Furthermore, I believe Yueqing possesses a rare, dedicated heart beneath her sharp exterior. If she wishes to use her own methods to save your brother, she has my full permission and trust. I will hear no further arguments on this matter."
As the Duchess’s words echoed through the room, the entire dining hall fell into a profound, heavy silence.
The younger siblings and cousins quietly lowered their chopsticks, exchanging wide-eyed, stunned glances. Lanyin kept her head down, staring at her tea, her mind racing as she remembered the loud, frantic, yet deeply caring thoughts she had heard from Su Yueqing the night before.
The rest of the family was completely shocked. The Duchess, who was usually so fiercely protective of her children, was openly siding with the "villainous" Young Madame. She had placed her absolute trust in Su Yueqing, establishing a solid wall of maternal defense around her that no one at the table dared to cross.
Wenzhe looked around the silent table, his chest tight with a mixture of exasperation, disbelief, and a strange, budding curiosity.
What on earth did she do in that room last night to make my mother trust her this deeply?
Wenzhe stood up, scraping his chair loudly against the floor. He didn’t say a word. With a dark, angry look on his face, he turned around and walked straight out of the dining hall.
As the doors shut behind him, the Duchess just shook her head.
She then turned her sharp eyes toward her other sons, Yunhao and Yunchen. The two boys immediately froze, afraid to even chew their food.
"Let this be a lesson to both of you," the Duchess said, pointing a finger at them. "Never doubt or mistrust your future wives. Unless she literally picks up a knife to cut your throat, you support her! Do you understand?"
Yunhao and Yunchen started sweating nervously. They quickly swallowed their food and began waving their hands to calm her down.
"Of course, Mother! We would never doubt our wives!" Yunhao squeaked.
"Yes, Mother! You are completely right, please don’t be angry!" Yunchen begged.
Seeing the two tough boys so scared of their mother made Qianqian, Gu Yue, Lanyin, and Aunt Ronghua burst out laughing.
The Duchess then turned her gaze to the Duke, who was quietly trying to hide behind his bowl of soup, hoping she wouldn’t notice him.
"And you," the Duchess said, glaring at him. "You saw how your son just walked out on me. He showed no respect! And you, the leader of this family, couldn’t even yell at him for walking out on his mother!"
The Duke coughed nervously into his sleeve, nearly spilling his soup as his wife’s sharp gaze locked onto him. He tried to look as small as possible, despite being a powerful noble.
"My love," the Duke pleaded softly, raising his hands in defeat. "Wenzhe is just... stressed. The estate was attacked yesterday, and he is carrying a heavy burden trying to keep us all safe."
"We are all stressed!" the Duchess snapped, though her tone softened just a fraction. "But stress is no excuse for bad manners. You are too soft on him, husband. If you do not teach him how to respect his wife and his mother, who will?"
The Duke quickly nodded, not wanting to argue any further. "You are right, of course. I will speak to him later."
Seeing their father get scolded so easily made Yunhao and Yunchen quietly sigh in relief. The spotlight was finally off them.
Meanwhile, Wenzhe marched down the long, covered walkways of the estate. The cool morning air did little to soothe the hot anger and confusion brewing in his chest.
He couldn’t understand it.
His mother was a highly intelligent, cautious woman. Why was she suddenly risking his little brother’s life by trusting Su Yueqing? What did his wife do or say to gain such absolute support overnight?
Without realizing it, Wenzhe’s feet carried him straight toward Mingyu’s courtyard.
But as he reached the entrance, he was immediately stopped. Two heavily armed guards stepped forward, crossing their spears to block his path.
"Stand down," Wenzhe commanded, his voice cold. "I am going in to check on my brother."
The guards looked terrified, sweating under their helmets, but they didn’t budge. "We apologize, Young Master! But the Duchess gave strict orders. No one is allowed inside this courtyard without the Young Madame’s permission. Not even you."
Wenzhe’s jaw clenched. He stared at the locked wooden doors of the inner chamber.
Inside that quiet, sealed room, his chaotic wife was supposedly saving his brother. He wanted to burst through the doors, but he knew he couldn’t disobey his mother’s direct orders without causing a massive family scandal.
With a frustrated grunt, Wenzhe turned around and walked away, determined to find another way to uncover what Su Yueqing was truly planning.