The street where Qianjin Hall stood became lively again, like during New Year celebrations.
There were even people who hadn’t finished breakfast, holding their bowls as they stood in the crowd looking inside.
“…Last time it was said someone died and caused trouble, is it the same this time?”
Newcomers inquired.
“No,” someone told them.
“Then what is it?” the person asked in confusion.
But the previous person didn’t answer, or more accurately, they weren’t quite sure why there was trouble again either.
What was going on with this Qianjin Hall? Had they accidentally worshipped the wrong patron deity and turned into a theater troupe?
“Why can’t we smash it?” a man said loudly, looking at the Qianjin Hall people glaring at him angrily. “This is our Marquis Dingxi household’s property. Forget smashing it – even if I tore it down, what business is it of yours?”
“This belongs to Young Madam Qi…” a disciple couldn’t help but shout, covering his face – clearly he had been beaten in the earlier conflict.
The man had been waiting for exactly this response. Hearing it, he laughed loudly.
“Young Madam Qi?” he snorted. “I wonder which family’s young madam that would be? Our family doesn’t have a young madam!”
What?
The disciples present were all somewhat stunned, and the clamoring immediately quieted down.
“This sir, please come over here. We can talk about whatever it is slowly,” Liu Pucheng said hurriedly, with some nervousness.
Most of the Qianjin Hall disciples didn’t know about Qi Yue’s divorce. Although it was divorce rather than being cast out, to the world there was no difference – they would only think the woman was at fault.
He couldn’t let this man announce this matter in broad daylight in front of everyone. How would Lady Qi be able to establish herself in the future…
Although this matter couldn’t be hidden forever, he could conceal it for as long as possible. At least it couldn’t be loudly proclaimed in such a setting.
Liu Pucheng felt uneasy and apprehensive as he bowed to the man.
Seeing Liu Pucheng’s reaction, the man couldn’t help but feel smug.
He was originally just an ordinary steward in the household, usually in charge of the carriage and horse business. Such external affairs normally wouldn’t fall to him, but early this morning everyone in the compound was running around in chaos. It turned out the Marquis wanted someone to lead people out to handle business, but couldn’t find anyone.
The head steward was said to have overindulged last night and had diarrhea this morning, unable to get up. Several other capable stewards either had sprained ankles or were suffering from colds and headaches – in short, they were either deathly ill or had mobility issues. Anyway, they just couldn’t go out. The Marquis Dingxi was furious and cursing at home. Everyone wasn’t stupid – even a blind person could see they were dodging the assignment.
What kind of assignment was it? Worth all this – it was just smashing a shop bought by the former young madam, just a young madam who had been thrown out! This woman was arrogant, but that was before, when she had the Marquis and the Marquis Dingxi household backing her up. Now that she’d been swept out the door, she was not only nothing, but an enemy of the Marquis Dingxi household. What could she be arrogant about now!
The man looked down on those usually high-and-mighty stewards who had plenty of opportunities for profit. See, when they were truly needed, they all turned cowardly.
The man had volunteered to lead the household guards, though the guards selected were also of mixed quality. But for a small shop, it was sufficient.
Look, what was there to fear? What could these people do? This was their property – what business was it of theirs!
Surely after returning from this, his position could be changed.
“Why go over there to talk? What can’t be said here?” the man said coldly, looking toward the crowd of onlookers. “This shop was originally bought by Marquis Dingxi’s young madam, so naturally it belongs to our Marquis Dingxi household, doesn’t it?”
Of course it was. The idle spectators cheered in response – when watching excitement, the bigger the better.
“Then we can do whatever we want with this shop, right?” the steward said loudly, raising his head high. “Moreover, now the young madam has become a cast-off wife of our Marquis Dingxi household.”
With these words, the noisy crowd suddenly quieted down.
What?
Liu Pucheng raised his hand to rub his face, feeling only bitterness in his mouth.
Poor child…
“You’re lying!” a disciple was the first to react, unable to help shouting loudly.
The steward laughed coldly.
“Have you ever seen anyone lie about such a thing?” he said.
Indeed, no one had…
The quiet crowd immediately erupted in noise again.
Heavens, that divine physician young madam had been cast out!
Heavens, the Marquis Dingxi household didn’t want her anymore!
The street immediately boiled over.
This was when Qi Yue walked over. Yuan Bao, following behind her, had a pale face. He turned to look at Qi Yue, but saw this woman’s expression was calm.
“Yuan Bao, see that one there? The one sticking his neck out – beat him hard!” Qi Yue turned her head toward him, pointing at the smug man in the center, and said.
She wanted to add another sentence – “don’t be afraid, I’m here” – but before she could open her mouth, Yuan Bao had already charged in.
“…How can we not smash my family’s shop? Forget smashing it, even if we tore it down for fun, what’s the— ow…” the man was speaking smugly when suddenly someone charged at him head-on. Before he could see clearly, he was heavily struck on the head with a broom. The twigs and dust made the man choke and stumble.
“Who…” he shrieked, having just shouted one word when the broom came crashing down on his head and face again.
Only then did the guards react, raising their clubs to move forward, but the guard at the front stopped, and those behind, not understanding why, crashed into him.
“What’s wrong? It’s just a half-grown kid – are you scared already?” those behind laughed mockingly.
Those in front weren’t laughing, but were looking toward the crowd.