The Marquis doesn't support his beloved wife's ambitions, so I'll take the imperial e

Jiang Zhenxue's hand rested on the doorknob, and the icy touch made her shiver.

She didn't turn around, her back to the persistent man, her voice filled with barely suppressed sarcasm and disgust.

"Otherwise what? Does the Marquis want to keep me here so he can slap me again?"

Behind me, there was a deathly silence.

Immediately, Xiao Qingyan's icy voice rang out again, this time without any pretense, leaving only a naked threat.

I'll give you three days.

Jiang Zhenxue stopped moving.

"Close down your run-down shop and get rid of that half-dead brat. Three days later, obediently come back to the capital with me." Xiao Qingyan's voice seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, each word carrying a suffocating pressure. "If you disobey..."

He paused, a cruel smile playing on his lips: "All these things you painstakingly built, your Qingyun Pavilion, your Golden List of Success, and your loyal servants—I guarantee they will all vanish completely from the territory of Lizhou Prefecture within an hour."

"At that time, you will have nowhere else to go but back to me."

That was his answer.

He didn't care what she wanted, her dignity, or her career. All he wanted was to stuff her back into that golden cage.

Jiang Zhenxue slowly turned around.

She looked at him, at that face that was both extremely handsome and extremely crazy, and suddenly laughed.

That smile was bright and radiant, yet it didn't reach his eyes; it carried a reckless madness.

"Xiao Qingyan," she called his name softly, as if calling someone insignificant, "you are truly... an incurable idiot."

Amid Xiao Qingyan's astonished gaze, she quickly stepped forward.

*Smack!*

Another crisp slap rang out, louder and harder than the last one!

Jiang Zhenxue used all her strength, and her palms went numb from the shock.

Xiao Qingyan's head was knocked to one side, and another clear five-finger mark quickly appeared on his handsome face, forming a humiliating symmetry with the previous mark.

Fu An, Ye Ying, and the others outside the door had their eyes practically popping out of their sockets.

This woman…has she gone mad?! She actually dared…slap the Marquis of Ningguo twice in a row?!

Although... it's happened before, but doing it twice in a row is just too much.

Xiao Qingyan slowly turned his head, and in his unfathomable phoenix eyes, a storm was gathering and killing intent was surging.

Jiang Zhenxue met his gaze without fear, and snorted, her voice full of contempt.

"This slap is on behalf of Xiao Yu, returning the favor to you."

After she finished speaking, she didn't look at him again. She suddenly opened the door, straightened her back, and walked out without looking back, amidst everyone's shocked gazes.

This time, Xiao Qingyan remained silent.

He just stood there, pressing the tip of his tongue against his swollen cheek, feeling the burning pain.

The pain was so clear.

Even clearer than the pain was the undisguised hatred and determination in her eyes.

After a long while, he chuckled softly.

The laughter was chilling and violent, making the temperature in the entire room drop to freezing point.

"Good, very good."

"Jiang Zhenxue, you are really... very good."

……

Jiang Zhenxue practically ran all the way back to Qingyun Pavilion.

She pushed open the door, and Kang Mingyan immediately rushed over as if he'd seen a savior, anxiously pacing back and forth: "Xue'er! You're finally back! Are you alright? That person... that person didn't give you any trouble, did they?"

Jiang Zhenxue didn't have time to answer. Her gaze swept quickly around the lobby, but she didn't see that familiar figure. Her heart sank to the bottom.

"Where's Xiaoyu?" Her voice was trembling.

"I've already had the best doctor in town come to see me in the guest room in the backyard!" Kang Mingyan said hurriedly.

Jiang Zhenxue immediately lifted her skirt and rushed towards the backyard.

The room was filled with a strong smell of medicine. Shen Yu lay on the bed, his face as pale as paper, his lips chapped, and dried bloodstains still visible on his shirt.

He was already awake. When he saw Jiang Zhenxue come in, his dim eyes lit up instantly, and he struggled to get up.

"Sister Jiang..."

"Don't move!" Jiang Zhenxue rushed forward and pressed him down. "Lie still! What did the doctor say?"

Kang Mingyan followed him in, looking worried. "The doctor said that Xiao Yu suffered severe internal injuries, and his sternum was almost fractured. Luckily, he is young and in good health, so his life wasn't in danger. But... but he needs to rest for at least three months. He can't fight or do anything strenuous."

Jiang Zhenxue looked at Shen Yu's bloodless face, and her heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, causing her so much pain that she could hardly breathe.

All of this is because of her.

Shen Yu seemed oblivious to his own pain; his gaze was fixed on her face, meticulously tracing her features with worry. When he saw the clear red swelling on her cheek, his pupils contracted sharply, and an overwhelming hatred and murderous intent erupted from his frail body.

"Did he hit you?" The boy's voice was hoarse, yet as cold as ice.

"I'm fine, just a few scratches." Jiang Zhenxue didn't want him to worry, so she forced a smile. "You should focus on recovering and not think about anything."

"Who exactly is that person?" Shen Yu stared intently at her, refusing to let the question go. "Why...why would he treat you like this?"

"Yes, Xue'er," Kang Mingyan chimed in, his face filled with lingering fear and confusion. "Just who is that person? Their attack was so ruthless, and their aura...it was terrifying! Have we gotten ourselves into some serious trouble?"

Jiang Zhenxue remained silent for a moment.

She knew she couldn't keep it a secret any longer.

She sat down, supporting herself on the edge of the bed, her voice tinged with weariness: "He was a powerful figure I offended when I was in the capital. I thought that by fleeing to this place, thousands of miles away, I could get rid of him, but I never expected..."

"The powerful and wealthy?" Kang Mingyan gasped. "Then... what do we do? The common people can't fight against the officials, so what do we..."

"Who said we were going to fight him?" Jiang Zhenxue interrupted him, raising her head. Her eyes no longer held any weakness, only a cold, resolute flame. "He asked me to close the shop and go back with him, but I didn't agree."

"Then wouldn't he be going to..." Kang Mingyan was so frightened that his face turned pale.

"If he wants to come, let him come." Jiang Zhenxue's voice was not loud, but it was firm and resolute.

She turned to Shen Yu and said, word by word, "Xiao Yu, your only task right now is to recover. I will handle the business of Qingyun Pavilion. Don't use the Kang family's connections for now, lest you get burned."

She stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the bustling street scene outside. The suppressed anger in her heart finally found an outlet.

I've never been hit by my parents in my entire life! Who do you think you are, Xiao Qingyan, to dare lay a hand on me?!