Chapter 127: The Lively Shangguan Household

Before nightfall, the Letter of Repentance that Shangguan Qingyun had stayed up all night to write was brought back by Leng Yue.

“Her Majesty says that Lord Shangguan’s choice of words was inappropriate and certain viewpoints were biased. She orders you to rewrite it. The deadline remains half a month.”

Hearing this, Shangguan Qingyun felt as if the sky had collapsed.

Writing it once was not enough; he had to write it again. Even if one intended to humiliate another, it should not be to this extent…

In a fit of pure rage, Shangguan Qingyun fainted on the spot.

Leng Yue didn’t spare a single glance at the man collapsed on the floor. She simply turned and departed.

With her departure, the Shangguan household truly became “lively.”

News of Shangguan Qingyun fainting outside his study spread through the rear chambers like a gust of wind.

The various “Solaces”—his concubines who had avoided the study for the past two days for fear of his wrath—now flocked to the Main Courtyard to visit their master, each carrying various soups and tonics.

Seeing these concubines arriving under the guise of concern but actually intending to provoke her, Madam Shangguan, who had dominated the household for most of her life, was in no mood to endure it. She stood outside the door and began to scream abuse.

“You low-born things… using your vixen wiles to seduce the Master… Don’t think that because he smiled at you for two days, you can forget who you are. Do not forget who the true mistress of this inner court is!”

One quick-tongued concubine couldn’t help but retort, “We are only worried about the Master…”

Before the woman could finish, Madam Shangguan ordered her servants to pin her to the ground and slap her across the mouth.

The scene fell silent for a moment, leaving only the rhythmic crack-crack of hands hitting flesh.

Madam Shangguan looked at the gaggle of beauties she had successfully cowed, a flash of smugness crossing her eyes. Her tone shifted as she continued her threats.

“If you stay in your place, this Madam is not someone who cannot tolerate others. For the Master’s sake, I might provide you a living. But if not…”

“If anything should happen to the Master… this Madam will ensure you never see a comfortable day again.”

Inside, Shangguan Qingyun slowly regained consciousness under the care of the family physician. Before his eyes were even fully open, he heard Madam Shangguan’s remark about “anything happening to the Master.” His eyes snapped open in fury, and he nearly choked on his own breath.

The wife he had respected for so many years, the woman he had trusted for so long—was she actually wishing for his death?

Especially when he heard her final line about ensuring they would “never see a comfortable day again,” a flicker of sinister darkness appeared in Shangguan Qingyun’s weary eyes.

Though he did not value his concubines’ children, they were still his flesh and blood.

He was still very much alive, yet his wife was already plotting against his concubines and sons. If he were truly gone, wouldn’t this ignorant woman ruin and scatter the entire family?

Noticing the gloom and violence in Lord Shangguan’s eyes, the family physician instinctively lowered his gaze.

The door let out a soft creak as it was pushed open from the outside.

Madam Shangguan, having vented her anger, rounded the corner only to collide with Shangguan Qingyun’s terrifying gaze.

A flash of guilt flickered in her eyes, but she quickly adjusted her expression. She stepped forward with the air of a virtuous wife and mother, her voice filled with feigned anger and concern.

“A few days ago, Chi’er and Shi’er advised you to take care of your health, but you simply wouldn’t listen. If something were to happen to you, how would our large family survive?”

In the past, if Shangguan Qingyun heard his wife speak this way, he might have believed she truly cared for his well-being.

But now, recalling the piercing words he had just overheard and looking at her tearful, worried expression, he only felt that she was being affected and disgusting.

As for the mention of Shangguan Chi and Shangguan Shi, to Shangguan Qingyun’s ears, it sounded like she had an ulterior motive.

He thought of how he had spent years handing the power of the inner household entirely to her. Yet, she only cared for her own children, ignoring and even allowing his other sons and daughters to be bullied in their own home. His anger flared.

If not for this woman’s narrow-mindedness, why would his relationship with his daughter, Shangguan Liqian, have become so cold and distant?

The more he thought, the more his rage burned.

Seeing Shangguan Qingyun’s expression turn suddenly dark, Madam Shangguan was startled.

She asked a few more caring questions, but received no response. Her heart began to race with anxiety.

She wondered: Could he have heard what I said in the heat of the moment?

She hadn’t expected him to wake up so quickly, otherwise, she never would have said those things aloud.

“Master? Master?”

Madam Shangguan stepped forward and gently shook his arm.

Shangguan Qingyun snapped back to reality. Seeing his wife’s hypocritical face, he struggled to contain his fury.

However, considering the current state of the household, he temporarily suppressed his anger. He let out a long sigh and waved his hand weakly.

“I am tired. Go and appease the people in the house first.”

Madam Shangguan wanted to say more, but she feared those “wenches” would cause trouble at this critical juncture. After a moment of thought, she tried to negotiate.

“Then shall I have Chi’er and Shi’er come to attend to your illness?”

Seeing no reaction from him, she continued, “Both brothers were very worried when they heard you fainted.”

In the past, he would have praised them, saying “Chi’er and Shi’er are filial,” followed by “Thank you for your hard work, wife,” before letting her handle the arrangements.

But now, Shangguan Qingyun rejected the idea without a second thought.

After driving Madam Shangguan away, he remained silent for a while. His gaze landed on the family physician, who was trying his best to shrink into the shadows.

Just as the physician was trembling, wondering what excuse he could use to escape this den of trouble…

He heard a cold, chilling voice whisper in his ear.

“When you go back, prepare some medicine that can make someone quiet—something that leaves them with no energy to cause trouble.”

The physician froze. He looked at the Lord’s face, which was as still as stagnant water, and asked cautiously, “Does the Lord require a calming sedative?”

Shangguan Qingyun pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head.

“A simple sedative is not strong enough.”

The physician’s heart skipped a beat as he vaguely guessed the intent. Cold sweat dripped down his temples, but he forced himself to remain steady.

“May I ask the Lord… who is to take this medicine?”

Hearing the probe in the doctor’s voice, Shangguan Qingyun didn’t hide it. He spoke indifferently.

“The Madam.”

Meeting the ruthless glint in Shangguan Qingyun’s eyes, the physician instinctively shuddered. He lowered his voice.

“I… I understand.”

Seeing that the physician grasped his meaning, Shangguan Qingyun waved him off dismissively.

“Withdraw.”

“Yes.”

The physician responded and hurried away.