Chapter 54: Jiang Lingyao is Missing?

Pei Xingzhi's face was as pale as ice. He stared fixedly at Jiang Ling窈 in his arms, recalling the smooth-tongued words of the man just moments ago. He had a strong impulse to throw her out, yet the scent of blood drifting into the air made his expression grow even darker.

He lowered his gaze and saw the bloodstain spreading across Jiang Ling窈's thighs. Without hesitation, he tore off a strip of fabric, bound her upper thigh tightly, and ordered angrily, "Someone get a maid here! Find a suitable change of clothes, and have someone clean this place up immediately!"

Clutching her close, he rose and strode toward the inner chamber, his hands clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Was she really lying to him for the sake of a man like that?

What on earth was their relationship?

Jiang Ling窈! Jiang Ling窈!!

***

The Jiang Residence.

When Jiang Xiuyuan woke up, he wept and wailed, raving like a madman as he demanded to see Jiang Ling窈.

The Duke of Zhenguo looked at his utterly useless son, whipped his head around, and roared, "Why has it come to this? How are you managing this household?"

Madam Jiang's expression grew stiff. "It... it is my fault. But since Xiuyuan had fallen out of favor with the Old Lady, how could I dare to say anything?"

For the entire day that Jiang Xiuyuan had been bedridden, not a single person had come to visit him. Now that a scene was being made, nearly all the residents of the estate had gathered here.

The moment Song Lian'er entered, she threw herself beside his legs and began to wail. Hearing the Duke's fury, she cried even louder. "Father, look at how ill the eldest brother has become! All he wants is to see Jiang Ling窈 just once. Where on earth is she?"

"How can her heart be so cruel? The man lying on this bed is her own biological brother! No matter how well the eldest brother treated her, she refuses to even come and take a look."

Her weeping was heart-wrenching, and everyone present wore varied expressions.

Jiang Xiuchu lowered his eyes, a mocking sneer forming in his heart.

Jiang Ling窈 deserved this. If she had come to see Jiang Xiuyuan today and stayed quietly within the estate, none of this would have happened. When all was said and done, what he had done was merely acting on behalf of heaven. As for an ungrateful, cold-blooded woman like Jiang Ling窈, who didn't even care about her own brother, she deserved to be taught a lesson by him!

Hearing Song Lian'er steer the conversation toward Jiang Ling窈, Madam Jiang quickly joined in through her tears, "Quickly, go find Mingzhu! Where on earth is she? Even if she and Xiuyuan had a falling out these past few days, she shouldn't be heartless enough to do this!"

Hearing the clamor, the Duke's anger flared even higher, and he smashed the teacup in his hand violently onto the floor. "Go and drag Jiang Ling窈 here to me!"

Song Lian'er pressed her face against the quilt to conceal the triumphant smile in her eyes, a trace of quiet mockery rising within her.

They would never find Jiang Ling窈.

Just as they spoke, the maid who had been sent out to search hurried into the room, her voice trembling. "My Lord, Madam, the Young Miss took Wenqiu and went out, and she hasn't returned yet."

"Wretched girl!"

The Duke's breathing grew heavy and ragged. "Search for her! I refuse to believe she has flown out of the capital! Even if she is hiding inside the imperial palace today, I will drag her out!"

"She actually knows enough to hide?" Consumed by rage, his face turned ashen. "She's been completely spoiled! Look at the fine mess you've all made! You are the ones who spoiled her rotten!"

Madam Jiang did not dare to utter a word, her body trembling slightly.

Song Lian'er, however, cried out, "Father, please don't! If we make such a public spectacle of searching for her, what will happen to Sister's reputation?"

Her words were like pouring oil onto a raging fire. Upon hearing this, the Duke slammed his hand down on the table. "What reputation does she even have left! Find her! This troublemaker turned the entire household upside down the moment she came back. In my opinion, she should never have returned at all!"

Those words struck like needles directly into the mind of Jiang Xiuyuan, whose gaze had remained blank and hollow. Having suffered too great a blow, he had been staring vacantly ahead ever since he woke up, but at this declaration, he gave a violent start.

"No! Mingzhu is my sister! It was my fault, I should have gone to fetch her home!"

As he spoke, two lines of tears slowly spilled from the corners of his eyes. It was impossible to tell whether he truly regretted bullying Jiang Ling窈 in the past, or if he only regretted that Jiang Ling窈 now blamed him and refused to treat him.

He was consumed by genuine hatred, his voice rising in volume with every word. "No! We are the ones who owe her! We were wrong! Back then—"

"Slap—!"

A single blow sent Jiang Xiuyuan's head snapping to the side, his mouth filled with the coppery taste of blood.

"Insolent fool!" The Duke glared down at him coldly and struck him across the face once more. "Shut your mouth! If word of this gets out, the entire Duke's Estate will lose its reputation along with you!"

Jiang Xiuyuan froze.

Indeed. Bullying his own biological sister born of the same father and mother, and making her take the blame for someone else—if that were to leak out, not only would he be branded as heartless and universally despised throughout the capital, but he would also be guilty of deceiving the royal family, having dared to lie even to the Empress Dowager.

If it ever came to light, it would mean certain death for him, and the honor of the Duke's Estate would be dragged down in ruins.

In an instant, his entire body grew ice-cold, his heart devoured by a remorse so agonizing it left him gasping for air.

How could he ever apologize to Jiang Ling窈? How could he ever make her forgive him?

The Duke swept his gaze across the stunned servants and snapped in an icy voice, "What are you all staring at for nothing?! Go find her! A bunch of idiots!"

"No! No!"

Jiang Xiuyuan cried out fiercely, "You can't go! Mingzhu's reputation is what matters most, Father! I beg you, think this through!"

The Duke turned to look at him, his eyes deeply shadowed.

Off to the side, Jiang Xiuchu quietly exchanged a subtle signal with the servant standing behind him.