Once the Imperial Dragon Guard intervened, it mattered little whether there was evidence or not. Just as wet nurse Dong couldn't withstand the torture of the Imperial Dragon Guard, Madam Wu knew they had the authority to execute first and report later. Not only herself, but the entire Wu family, if they fell into the hands of the Imperial Dragon Guard, they would surely break.
Shedding the fragile demeanor she displayed moments ago while crying and clinging to Qiu Bingde's legs, Madam Wu stood up, wiping away the residual tears on her face. Her gaze swept across the entire hall before finally settling on Qiu Bingde.
"If it weren't for you and Chen ge'er, why would I have to be the villain!" Madam Wu's still beautiful face lacked its usual gentleness. She sneered and continued, "Back then, I married you precisely for the position of the Qiu family's matriarch. But Mother always favored Huaixin, and Father had already begun grooming Huaixin. What do you think I did it for?"
It was not poverty but inequality that caused distress. Although Qiu Bingde was the eldest son and had entered officialdom, Madam Wu saw no effort from Lord Qiu in grooming his eldest son. The Qiu family's connections and resources had not fallen to Qiu Bingde. Despite being a fifth-rank official, he was still stuck in the position of Tongzhi, just accumulating seniority.
However, Lord Qiu had instructed Qiu Huaixin to visit relatives and old acquaintances on behalf of the Qiu family. This was a right typically reserved for the family heir. Furthermore, Lord Qiu and Madam Qiu intended for Qiu Huaixin to marry a young lady from the Gu family of Nanling. This made Madam Wu increasingly dissatisfied and uneasy.
Qiu Bingde seemed to hear a great joke. He stared blankly at Madam Wu, her eyes filled with jealousy and hatred, as if he were meeting his wife of seven years for the first time.
"Because of this, you ordered people to try and kill Huaixin at Hesheng Xuan?" Qiu Bingde pointed a finger at Qiu Huaixin, who was still seated, a deep sense of guilt welling up in his heart. If Zhan Feiyu hadn't intervened that night, Huaixin would have already been dead by the sword.
"Foresight is paramount; thinking of danger in times of peace ensures long-term stability." With matters having come to this point, Madam Wu no longer needed to conceal anything. She coldly watched Qiu Bingde, who only cared about brotherly affection. "If Huaixin had no ambition or greed, he should have refused Father's proposal, and he wouldn't have been so close to Zhan Feiyu!"
Without waiting for Qiu Bingde to speak, Madam Wu turned her gaze to Qiu Huaixin and sneered, "Your husband may be deceived by you, but I am not. If you truly only wanted to be a decadent young master, you would associate with other decadent young masters. But you are sworn friends with Jiao Lianyu and maintain close contact with those scholars from the Prefectural Academy!"
In Madam Wu's eyes, Jiao Lianping was a true decadent young master. In his leisure time, he would either go to brothels to listen to music or parade through the streets on horseback with a group of unlearned sons of officials, indulging in all sorts of vices.
The Prefectural Academy consisted of scholars who had passed the imperial examinations. Not only were there disciples from humble backgrounds like Qi Changlin, but also scholars from official families like Jiao Lianyu. For Qiu Huaixin, the young master of a second-rank official, to associate with them, these individuals would become Qiu Huaixin's network and influence once they entered officialdom through the imperial examinations.
Qiu Huaixin was amused by Madam Wu's accusations. "When one wants to condemn, one can always find a pretext. So, in your eyes, Elder Sister-in-law, I should be a hopeless case, so that you can be at ease?"
Madam Wu's face was cold, and she did not answer, but her expression implied everything. Qiu Huaixin's decadence was merely a disguise. Perhaps he lacked talent in his studies, so he had to find another way to strengthen himself and prepare for future attempts to seize the position of family head.
Qiu Bingde did not want to look at the now deranged Madam Wu. He could only apologize to Qiu Huaixin again, "Elder Brother was mistaken in his judgment and caused you undeserved suffering."
"Elder Brother is too kind," Qiu Huaixin said dismissively, waving his hand. The human heart is unfathomable. Who would have thought that his usually gentle and virtuous Elder Sister-in-law had another face?
Lord Qiu and Madam Qiu were relieved to see that there was no estrangement between the brothers.
Perhaps unable to bear the sight of her failure while the Qiu family remained harmonious, Madam Wu clenched her fist tightly and sneered with unwillingness. "Well said, brotherly affection. Huaixin, if you truly have no wolfish ambitions, why do you wish to marry into the Gu family of Nanling? Do you think Miss Gu Wu would be content to be a sister-in-law without power or influence, receiving only twenty percent of the family property in the future and becoming a collateral branch of the Qiu family?"
The rules for marriage in aristocratic families had always been thus. The eldest legitimate son would inherit the family business, so his wife must be from the best family background, otherwise, how could she suppress her sisters-in-law in the future? How could she establish authority and credibility within the clan!
The Qiu family was a century-old aristocratic family, an official family. However, the Qiu family did not have the rule of the eldest legitimate son inheriting the family business; it was meritocracy!
Once Qiu Huaixin married a young lady from the Gu family of Nanling, it would be a powerful support. Coupled with the favoritism of Lord Qiu and Madam Qiu, in Madam Wu's eyes, even if Qiu Huaixin himself had no such ambition, with the influence of his wife, who could guarantee that Qiu Huaixin would not waver and attempt to seize the position of family head?
Even if Qiu Huaixin had no such intentions, what about his son? Madam Wu thought of her mediocre son, Chen ge'er.
The Gu family had produced many talents. The most outstanding of this generation was Gu Qingzhou, the Grand Scholar of the Cabinet, who held the first rank. If the child born to Qiu Huaixin and Miss Gu Wu was also so intelligent, then where would Chen ge'er have a place in the Qiu family in the future? The position of family head would be passed from her husband to his nephew. How could Madam Wu accept this?
Regarding Madam Wu's obstinacy, the Qiu family members present were too lazy to speak further. She had become possessed. Even if Lord Qiu guaranteed that the position of family head would only be passed to Qiu Bingde, Madam Wu would not believe it. She would even consider it a delaying tactic by Lord Qiu, intended to deceive her.
"Take her away," Lord Qiu said in a deep voice. From the moment he learned that Madam Wu had colluded with the Wu family to attempt to kill Qiu Huaixin, Lord Qiu had given up on this daughter-in-law. His only concern was his eldest son and grandson. Fortunately, Qiu Bingde's performance just now had not disappointed Lord Qiu.
"Thank you, my lord," Chong Guang said with a cupped fist salute. The Imperial Dragon Guard feared no one and no force, but Lord Qiu's cooperation also saved the Imperial Dragon Guard a lot of trouble.
Seeing the two Imperial Dragon Guards approaching, Madam Wu, who had been unwilling, was stunned. A great sense of dread spread from the bottom of her heart. At this moment, Madam Wu finally knew fear.
She instinctively took two steps back, her face pale, and murmured, "Don't come near!"
Once her arms were twisted behind her back and she was unable to move, Madam Wu panicked. Filled with terror, she pleaded with Qiu Bingde, "Husband, I was wrong, Husband, Chen ge'er cannot be without his mother..."
Thinking of her well-behaved and sensible son, Qiu Bingde felt a moment of weakness, but then his demeanor instantly returned to coldness. He allowed the crying and pleading Madam Wu to be taken away by the Imperial Dragon Guards, along with wet nurse Dong, Ma Qi, and others.
Worried about her grandson Chen ge'er, Madam Qiu hurried to the back courtyard. Qiu Wangshu and Ming Shi exchanged glances and also excused themselves. Even though Madam Wu had been taken away, they still needed to maintain a distance.
Only Lord Qiu and his sons, Qiu Bingde and Qiu Huaixin, remained in the room.
"Father, is the marriage between Huaixin and Miss Gu Wu just a lure?" After calming down, Qiu Bingde also keenly discovered something amiss.
Madam Wu had not been entirely wrong. A young lady from the Gu family of Nanling would certainly not be willing to be a third son's wife and later become a collateral branch after the family division.
However, Qiu Bingde trusted his father, Lord Qiu, more. Therefore, he was certain that this marriage was merely a ruse, a trap to trick Madam Wu and the Wu family.
Lord Qiu nodded. "Scholar Gu has almost severed ties with the Gu family of Nanling over the years. The Gu family sent Miss Gu Wu to the capital. This was a test, and also an attempt to mend relations with Scholar Gu."
No matter how indifferent Scholar Gu was to the Gu family, he would not make things difficult for a junior, especially a young lady. Once Miss Gu entered the Scholar's mansion, the Gu family would have a reason to resume contact with Scholar Gu.
Moreover, Miss Gu Wu was of marriageable age. The Gu family of Nanling might also have the intention of "following the dragon to success." If Miss Gu Wu married a prince, or married into a prominent family in the capital, the Gu family could use this as a stepping stone to interfere in the succession struggle.
"But if Huaixin interferes, won't that ruin the Gu family's plans?" Qiu Bingde frowned. Although this marriage was definitely ruined, Qiu Huaixin was, after all, a man, and the impact on him was not significant. However, Miss Gu Wu's reputation would be damaged, which might affect her future marriage prospects.
A Gu family lady, meticulously trained by the Gu family, was ruined by Qiu Huaixin. If Qiu Huaixin remained in Qianzhong Dao, it would be fine. This was the Qiu family's territory, and the Gu family would have to reconsider before retaliating.
However, once Qiu Huaixin left Qianzhong Dao, his situation would be dangerous. Although it might not lead to loss of life, the Gu family would definitely not let it go.
"Elder Brother, you don't need to worry. At worst, I won't leave Qianzhong Dao in the future," Qiu Huaixin said, seeing Qiu Bingde still looking worried. He continued, "This matter was caused by Zhan Feiyu. If the Gu family really wants to retaliate, she will be the one to block them."
As the saying goes, "Better to let friends die than to die oneself." Qiu Huaixin chuckled ungraciously. Zhan Feiyu had Scholar Gu as her backing, so the Gu family would have to weigh their options before making a move.
Lord Qiu picked up his teacup and took a sip. He looked at his two sons, who were planning ahead, and said helplessly, "Scholar Gu did not want the Gu family to get involved in the capital. With this move, he has thwarted the Gu family's plans. If the Gu family truly wants to retaliate, Scholar Gu will be the one to block them. You have no need to worry."
The Gu family sending Miss Gu Wu to the capital was a test, and Scholar Gu's intervention was a warning. If the Gu family remained stubborn, Miss Gu Wu would be the best example. How many unmarried young ladies did the Gu family have that they dared to "sacrifice" in such a manner?
If the Gu family had sent out the younger generation of the Gu family, it would have been even better. With Scholar Gu's power in the capital, these Gu family talents would surely be "sent out and never return." After all, Scholar Gu was so cold and ruthless towards the Gu family women, let alone others.