The entire room was stunned. How could anyone not be surprised when one person suddenly transformed into another?
Madam Wang was the first to react. She lunged forward and slapped Li Qing, causing her head to turn to the side, her phoenix coronet askew.
"You wretched little slut, where is Nuan Yatou? Hmm? I knew it. A dog can't change its ways. Your hearts are rotten, how could you possibly realize your mistakes and come to apologize? So it turns out you were jealous of my Nuan Yatou's good marriage, and you used despicable methods, trying to substitute the real for the fake. Fine, you've gotten bold! You've really got some nerve!"
Li Qing, clutching her swollen cheek, glared venomously at Madam Wang. "It was just a little bit more, just a little bit more, and I would have been in the sedan chair, arrived at the Qian family, and performed the wedding rites. I would have been Madam Qian! Why, why wouldn't you give me even this little bit of time? What did I do wrong? I just wanted a good marriage, why did you all stop me?"
Li Qing slowly turned her head and looked at Qian Yuanbao. "I'm prettier than Li Nuan, and I'm the legitimate daughter of the Li family. Don't marry Li Nuan, marry me, okay?"
Qian Yuanbao, leaning on Gu Sinian's arm, managed to stand up straight. He looked down at Li Qing, who was slumped on the ground. "You're prettier than A Nuan? Who gave you that confidence? A Nuan is kind and beautiful, but you are malicious, cruel, and overbearing. You're not even as good as a single strand of A Nuan's hair. I advise you to tell us where A Nuan is immediately. If A Nuan suffers even the slightest harm, I will not let you go, nor will I let go of anyone who conspired in this."
"You want to know? I simply won't tell you, hehe." Li Qing looked as if she had nothing left to lose.
Qian Yuanbao clapped his hands, and two men in black appeared, cupping their fists and kneeling on one knee.
"Bring that old woman outside in, and find the woman who came with her," Qian Yuanbao ordered.
Madam Lu was thrown in. Upon seeing the disheveled Li Qing, a chill ran down her spine. The plan had failed, and the second branch of the family would certainly not let this go easily. She was truly foolish; even such a foolproof plan could fail. What else could she do? All the effort she had put into obtaining the lifelike mask was in vain. It was all over. Her money was wasted, and she wouldn't be marrying into the Qian family.
"Mother-in-law, do you have nothing to say?" Madam Wang asked through gritted teeth.
On this joyous occasion, they had come and delivered such a 'grand gift.' This truly showed they had no regard for the second branch. Fortunately, Zhenzhen and the others had discerned the truth; otherwise...
Madam Wang felt suffocated just thinking about it. If the wedding rites had been completed, and Li Qing had become Madam Qian, what would be left for Nuan Yatou? Even if the son-in-law was displeased, it would be difficult to go back on the marriage after it was done. With the Master now in officialdom, for the sake of appearances, they would have to swallow this. A perfectly good marriage would have served as a stepping stone for the eldest branch, enough to disgust her for a lifetime! After this incident, Nuan Yatou's future would also be ruined, and the Qian family would blame them. In the end, instead of a close relationship, it would turn into enmity, and her son would have no sister or brother-in-law to support him...
The more Madam Wang thought about it, the angrier she became. "You truly are my good mother-in-law. Ever since I married into this family, I have served you humbly. For so many years, if you had shown even a shred of pity towards me or the second branch, you wouldn't have done something like this at this critical juncture. Where do you place Second Master? Where do you place the second branch? Nuan Yatou also calls you Grandmother; if you had even a sliver of affection for her!"