The news of the incident at the Southern Residence quickly spread throughout the capital. However, what exactly happened was shrouded in secrecy. The matter had reached the Emperor, and until a verdict was reached, who would dare to speak ill of it?
Nan Yuan'er found Zhang Silang, covered in injuries, in a separate courtyard of the Southern Residence. Zhang Silang's wounds had been crudely bandaged. The most severe bleeding was from the back of his head, as if he had been struck by something or had fallen against something.
Nan Yuan'er summoned a physician. After examining Zhang Silang, the physician lifted his outer garment. "Miss Nan, Young Master Zhang has multiple fractures. There is also a contusion on the back of his head. It appears he fell from a height. Judging by the abrasions on his body from tumbling down, it can be concluded that Young Master Zhang fell down a staircase and his head struck the ground, causing him to lose consciousness."
"Fortunately, someone及时bandaged his wounds, so there is no danger to his life!"
After speaking, the physician used splints to set and secure Zhang Silang's broken bones, bandaged him, and then left a prescription for Nan Yuan'er, informing her that the patient would awaken an hour after taking the medicine.
"As for Miss Nan's face..." the physician dared not look too closely. It wasn't that Nan Yuan'er's facial wounds were severe; her skin was merely scratched. The physician dared not look, fearing he might stumble upon the secrets of this deep, secluded mansion and meet his death without knowing how.
"Miss Nan's facial injury is not serious. A good hemostatic ointment will suffice. However, remember to avoid getting it wet for the next day or two."
"Alright, thank you, Doctor!" Nan Yuan'er thanked the physician, gave him his payment, and then sent a servant to escort him out of the residence.
When the incident occurred and when Wang Qiancheng returned to report, Madam Liu was not present. She only heard about it after the commotion. Upon hearing that Nan Yujin was in trouble, Madam Liu walked in, laughing heartily.
"Hahaha, this is too amusing! Who would have thought that the one to marry the Great Li princess would be our very own Young Master Nan! If you ask me..."
Hearing the almost unrestrained laughter from behind, Nan Yuan'er turned around with annoyance. Upon seeing Nan Yuan'er's face, Madam Liu's laughter came to an abrupt halt, and she let out a high-pitched scream. "Yuan'er, what happened to your face? Have you called for a physician? Is it serious? Which damned scoundrel injured you like this? Tell Mother, and Mother will have her torn to shreds!"
Madam Liu rushed to Nan Yuan'er's side, reaching out to touch her face, then hesitating, fearing she was in pain, and held her hands in a supportive gesture. Her eyes instantly welled up with mist, and large tears began to fall. Nan Yuan'er's annoyance gradually faded. She hugged Madam Liu tightly, burying her head in her neck.
"Don't cry, Yuan'er, don't cry. Mother is here, Mother is here!" Madam Liu repeatedly stroked Nan Yuan'er's head as she spoke and cried, her heart aching as if being cut by a blunt knife.
...
Qin Residence.
Qin Qiancheng stared blankly at the body of Qin Yushan, sent back by a servant from the Southern Residence, unable to utter a word for a long time.
"Master..."
"You may leave!"
"But..."
"Leave!"
"Master, please take care. We shall wait outside the door. You..."
"Scram!"
The servants scurried out. Once the door was closed, only Qin Qiancheng and Qin Yushan remained in the room. In truth, when he had allowed Qin Yushan to leave the residence that day, he had already considered the consequences. Yet, when Qin Yushan's body was returned, he still found it difficult to suppress the grief in his heart.
"Shan'er!"
Qin Qiancheng lifted the white cloth covering Qin Yushan and, upon seeing her tragic state, let out a mournful cry like a cuckoo weeping blood.
The door was suddenly pushed open. Qin Qiancheng looked up sharply and was slightly stunned to see who had appeared.
"General Qin, please accept my condolences!" He Wei entered the room, casually closing the door. He walked to Qin Qiancheng, bowed to Qin Yushan, then stood up and, looking at Qin Qiancheng's blood-red, ferocious eyes, sighed softly. "I know this is not the time to say this, but I still wish to ask, General Qin, are you willing to shift your support from Ji Jinmo?"
Qin Qiancheng did not reply, only glancing down at Qin Yushan. He Wei shook his head regretfully. "In just half a year, General Qin has lost two beloved daughters."
Qin Qiancheng suddenly looked up, his gaze like a sharp, cold blade. He Wei, however, remained unfazed and continued, "General Qin is loyal to that Ji Jinmo. But that Ji Jinmo is a fool blinded by lust, allowing Nan Shiying to treat your daughter in such a manner. If it were before, he might have been someone worth assisting, but now..."
"Even if General remains loyal to him, do you think Ji Jinmo will still trust you?"
"After all, the revenge for your daughter's death is irreconcilable!"
"You need not say more!" Qin Qiancheng suddenly let out a cold laugh. As he laughed, tears streamed down from the corners of his eyes. "To think that I, Qin Qiancheng, a general who has served for half my life, cannot even protect my own daughter's life."
"Do you know what they told me?"
"They said my daughter attempted to assassinate the Princess Consort, that she tried to obstruct the peace talks between the two nations, suspected to be a remnant of Xiliang or the Changsheng Sect. They said returning my daughter's body was already a gesture of mercy, given my years of fighting for the country."
"Hahahaha, hahahaha..."
He Wei watched Qin Qiancheng, saw his laughter echo, saw his tears fall like rain. When Qin Qiancheng finished laughing, he looked at He Wei, his voice as gloomy as a scythe dipped in a cold pool. "Please convey to His Majesty that I, Qin Qiancheng, am willing to become His Majesty's blade."
"Good!" He Wei shouted, promising, "When His Majesty stabilizes the throne, that will be the day General avenges your daughter. General, you will not regret your choice today. Believe me, His Majesty is far more powerful and terrifying than you can imagine!"
"Your subject awaits that day!"
After He Wei left, Qin Qiancheng looked at Qin Yushan's body, closed the white cloth, and wiped away the tears from his eyes. "Shan'er, your death was not in vain!"
"Someone, prepare to wash and dress the young lady, and place her in the coffin!"