Rao Yufang stood on a stool, stretching to reach the white silk sash, tiptoeing to poke her head inside.

She took a deep breath, then deliberately lowered her feet, experiencing that instant feeling of suffocation. "Pull the right side, pull the right side." A female voice below her urged anxiously.

Rao Yufang fumbled, wrenching the right side of the sash where a hidden knot lay.

She tumbled to the ground, clutching her throat and gasping for air in great gulps. "Miss!" The maid hastily knelt down, trying to help her breathe, her face etched with terror. "That was terrifying! Let's...

let's not play this game anymore..." Rao Yufang took a long time to recover.

The sensation of hanging truly was dreadful, but...

Her hand rested over her heart as she recalled the scene at the gate of the Marquis of Dingxi's residence, what Chang Yunqi had said, her uncle's impatience and her aunt's weeping in the study, and the dashing figure of the man on horseback...

That Marquis of Dingxi prized his reputation so highly.

After this scandal—breaking the engagement and causing a death—let's see if the Marquis of Dingxi's estate dares to save face! "Terrified of what? Anyone who doesn't want to die doesn't end up dead," she hissed at the maid, biting her lower lip. "Get up quickly.

A few more times, and you'll get used to it; what's there to fear?" The maid dared not object and helped her rise.

After two or three tries, Rao Yufang had become adept.

She kicked away the stool and the time she spent suspended on the white silk grew longer and longer, the act becoming effortless.

A few times, she even couldn't help but laugh. "Take away the quilt," she said, standing up again, glancing at the bedding spread on the floor to cushion any accidental fall.

This was going to be for real! No, this was the official performance starting! The maid looked at Rao Yufang with residual tension. "Miss," she voiced her unease again.

Rao Yufang shot her an impatient glance. "Hurry up," she commanded. "Tidy everything so no one can tell." Only then did the maid obey, anxiously rolling up the quilt, bustling about for a while before finally stowing it away. "Quick, tie the knot now," Rao Yufang instructed.

The maid stepped onto the stool, tying the knot with trembling hands.

Rao Yufang scrutinized her reflection in the mirror one last time: swollen, red eyes, pale lips, utterly worn out.

She nodded in satisfaction, then picked up the letter paper from the table and reread the suicide note she had penned. "Done," she declared, carefully placing the paper aside before stepping onto the stool.

The maid stood below, biting her lip, her face bloodless and body shaking as she watched. "Xiao...

Miss..." she called out, her voice trembling. "Get out!" Rao Yufang snapped impatiently, casting her a sidelong glance.

The maid remained rooted to the spot. "Hurry! Stick to the plan.

Don't mess anything up, or if anyone finds out, I won't forgive you," Rao Yufang insisted, reaching out to grasp the white silk.

Only then did the maid hesitate before stepping out. "Close the door," Rao Yufang commanded.

The maid hastily shut the door.

As the door gradually closed, Rao Yufang, now entirely focused on the white silk, failed to notice the look of sheer horror on the maid’s face vanish, replaced by a faint, inscrutable smile.

Rao Yufang took a deep breath, gauging the time as right.

She inhaled deeply, expertly slipped her head into the loop of silk, and kicked the stool away without hesitation, leaving her body dangling.

Although familiar, the sensation of strangulation was truly unbearable.

Rao Yufang felt her breath growing shallower, her mind growing hazy.

Knowing she had reached her limit, she faintly heard the sound of numerous footsteps approaching from nearby...

Almost here...

Almost here...

But the footsteps never arrived...

And no one burst through the door...

No one screamed in alarm...

No, I can't hold on any longer...

Rao Yufang began to kick unconsciously.

This won't work, not this one.

Let's switch to something else; this is too agonizing...

She flailed, desperately reaching for the knot on the right side—once, twice, a third time...

Slowly, her legs ceased their frantic kicking, and the hand gripping the knot finally dropped limply.

The door was slammed open with a crash, and a shriek split the air above the Scholar's Residence.

Are you satisfied now? Chang Yunqi smiled faintly. "Is the money you earned enough to buy your freedom? They won't make things difficult for you, will they?" he said calmly after listening to the account.

He looked at the young maid across from him, his gaze gentle and concerned.

The maid smiled and shook her head. "It's enough.

With something like this happening, the Master and Mistress have lost all face.

All of us who served the young lady will surely be sent away," she murmured, lowering her head with a hint of bashfulness as she spoke. "You go stay with your aunt and uncle for now," Chang Yunqi advised. "After the autumn Imperial Examinations in the eighth month, I will send someone to bring you over.

Though, I might have to bind you with a life contract, perhaps starting as a maid again." The word "first" pleased her; where there was a first, there would naturally be a later one. "To be able to serve by Young Master's side, Yu'er is already extremely content," she said, kneeling.

Then, remembering something else, she added, "Then, this servant congratulates Young Master on passing the autumn exams with high honors, and congratulates Young Master...

on being enfeoffed as the Heir Apparent." Chang Yunqi laughed. "Thank you for your good wishes." He replied.

He didn't stop her from saying what she dared not fully articulate, instead admitting it outright.

This showed she truly considered him family to confide such deeply held aspirations.

The maid rose, unable to contain her delight, and accepted a cup of tea as persuaded by Chang Yunqi. "I should be going now," she said, bowing before taking her leave.

Chang Yunqi nodded, watching the maid depart.

He walked to the window, drew back the curtain, and found his vantage point perfectly framed the main gate of the Marquis of Dingxi's residence in the capital, which was currently teeming with activity.

The people from Scholar Rao's household, along with those from the Duke of Deqing's estate, had completely surrounded the entrance.

Officials from the Five-City Military Guard had also arrived upon hearing the news, and the street was now choked with onlookers. "Anyone who threatens suicide by hanging is an idiot..." Chang Yunqi scoffed dismissively, then checked himself as the words left his mouth, because he recalled someone else who had acted in just such a manner...

That person....

He didn't want to call her an idiot; at least, he certainly didn't want to equate her with this Rao Yufang! He glanced down toward the street and then spotted that person.

That foolish woman! Chang Yunqi lowered the window, walked to the table, picked up the teacup the maid had used, concealed it in his sleeve, and headed out. "It's really blown up!" Qi Yue finally managed to squeeze through, followed by Hu San and a few others.

The area in front of the Marquis of Dingxi's residence was already cordoned off by yamen runners, preventing anyone from getting close. "She really is dead," Hu San was still emphatically telling A'Hao. "I heard that Mrs.

Rao followed suit and tried to hang herself too..." "Two dead?" Qi Yue turned back, asking in surprise. "No, Mrs.

Rao didn't succeed," Hu San quickly corrected. "But Miss Rao is truly dead." Why did it have to come to this... "...I heard it was because the Marquis's estate broke their promise.

They had initially betrothed the Rao family's young lady, then regretted it, and the Rao young lady killed herself out of shame and indignation..." "...Is that true? That's too cruel..." "...Exactly! That Miss Rao was truly resolute..." "...They can't let this family off easily...

they truly caused a death..." Listening to the noisy gossip swirling around, Qi Yue frowned deeply.

This time, the Marquis of Dingxi's estate was truly...

finished! How was Chang Yuncheng doing right now? "Why are you here?" Someone pushed through and grabbed her arm, shouting.

Qi Yue turned and saw the speaker, her face immediately brightening with joy. "Yunqi, you've arrived just in time! How is your brother? Hurry and take me in to see him," she urged. "Are you mad? Why are you here at a time like this!" Chang Yunqi pulled her away without a word, forcing a path through the crowd. "What exactly is going on?" Qi Yue asked.

They were already standing further away, having escaped the clamorous, surging throng. "I don't know either," Chang Yunqi replied, shaking his head. "Because the examination period is approaching, I've been studying with several classmates at the Jinyang Academy in the suburbs and rarely come home.

I only heard about this incident today." Qi Yue gave a soft 'oh' and remained silent, her brow furrowed.

Chang Yunqi lowered his gaze, masking his disappointment.

She hadn't even asked about the exams... "How could this happen..." Qi Yue murmured, looking toward the Marquis of Dingxi's residence. "How far along had the arrangements for this marriage progressed?" This was the crucial point for resolving the matter. "I'm not entirely clear either," Chang Yunqi continued, tinged with helplessness. "But regardless of the stage, this is now a massive headache.

First, because of the Rao family's standing, and second, this Miss Rao wasn't Scholar Rao's biological daughter, but an adopted ward.

If they don't provide an explanation..." If a foster orphan dies without parents, the main branch of the Rao family, as her guardians, would face overwhelming public condemnation and scrutiny.

Based on this alone, Scholar Rao would never let the Marquis of Dingxi's estate off the hook. "You absolutely shouldn't have come now.

If the Rao family spots you, they are like cornered dogs right now; if they latch onto you, you'll never shake them off," Chang Yunqi warned. "But...

this actually doesn't concern your family, does it? It has nothing to do with Chang Yuncheng, right?" Qi Yue asked.

Chang Yunqi shook his head, offering a wry, bitter smile.

He wasn't sure if he was smiling bitterly for Chang Yuncheng or for himself. "If the Heir Apparent is safe, then Madam Xie is in trouble.

If Madam Xie is safe, then the Heir Apparent is in trouble," he hesitated for a moment before saying quietly, looking at Qi Yue.

In any case, these mother and son would absolutely not escape unscathed this time.

Those who humiliated you have met such an end; are you happy? Chang Yunqi looked at Qi Yue, but those words could not leave his lips.

Yet Qi Yue’s attention was clearly elsewhere.

Qi Yue understood the current consequences; she looked back toward the Marquis of Dingxi's residence.

Chang Yuncheng, how was he doing now? "Are you satisfied! Are you satisfied!" In a room, Madam Xie cried out.

She tried to grab something to smash but found everything breakable had already been destroyed. "You didn't want the living, and now you don't want the dead! Are you only satisfied when you've destroyed yourself?" Madam Xie shrieked, striking Chang Yuncheng before her.

Chang Yuncheng allowed her to strike him. "...It's over...

it's all over..." the Marquis of Dingxi muttered, his face ashen.

This incident was too sudden, too unexpected, too terrifying... "You wouldn't listen to me, are you satisfied now? Are you satisfied!" Madam Xie continued her tirade.

The door was violently banged upon just then. "Who is it? Stop them, stop them!" The Marquis of Dingxi jumped up in alarm, shouting while trying to hide.

Had the Rao family stormed in? But what entered was a short, stout old woman leaning heavily on a cane, marching straight toward them. "Mother?" Madam Xie was momentarily stunned, looking at the newcomer. "How could you..." She didn't finish her sentence before Old Madam Xie stood directly in front of her and raised her hand. "Are you satisfied?" she cried out, her voice trembling, and she raised her hand again. "Are you satisfied?" Smack! "Are you satisfied now?" Smack! The crisp sound of slaps and the old, trembling questions echoed through the room, striking the heart and lungs of everyone present, one after the other.