Chapter 262: Isn’t This Inappropriate?

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

This confidence doesn’t come from her husband, a fifth-ranked county governor, but from herself.

Qiao Mai placed one hand behind her back and made a welcoming gesture with the other.

She sat tall in the main seat, receiving them as the hostess. Her demeanor alone demanded respect.

The Duke of Zhenguo humbly took a seat below her. He promptly gestured for his children to approach and pay their respects. Qiao Mai glanced at them briefly and gave a slight nod.

The Duke signaled to his attendants in the background, and a stretcher was brought in.

Qiao Mai asked with a cold face, “Is this the Duchess?”

The Duke thought, “You’re pretending, aren’t you? You’ve been at my house for God knows how long. You’ve turned her into this, and now you act like you don’t know?”

But he replied, “Yes.”

“Tell your people to leave, leaving only our two families.”

The Duke waved to his attendants, and they reluctantly exited the room, leaving only the family members inside.

Qiao Mai then lightly waved, and all the windows and doors in the room immediately closed.

This simple action astonished the Duke. The level of inner power required to accomplish this was beyond imagination. It was unbelievable.

Observing this lady, who appeared to be in her twenties, he didn’t expect her inner power to be so profound.

“Madam Qiao, what is this for?”

“Your wife sent assassins to kill my son. Do you know about it?”

“I do. She acted on her own, and I have already—I’

“Nonsense! When it comes to someone’s life, what have you done? If it weren’t for my son’s martial skills, he would be dead by now.” “I’m sorry.”

“Is sorry enough? Should I kill your son right now?”

Upon hearing this, Miss Mu immediately knelt on the ground and pleaded, “Aunt, I’m sorry. The whole incident started because of me and Feng’er. If there’s a punishment, please let it be upon me.”

Qiao Mai waved her hand, sending Miss Mu tumbling to the ground with her palm strike.

Qiao Mai looked down at her and said, “Is a county princess allowed to do whatever she pleases? Is it justified to use schemes for my family’s possessions? Surprisingly, you’ve been boasting about your family’s uprightness and loyalty, but now you’ve disgraced them.”

A single statement rendered the country princess speechless.

Furious, the Duchess lay on the ground and said, “How dare you!”

Qiao Mai walked over and grabbed her by the neck. “You sent assassins to kill my son. If I were like you, your son would be dead right now.”

“Come after me!”

“Of course, I have to come after you. How else did you think you’d get to this point?”

Qiao Mai swung her hand, throwing the Duchess aside, making her tumble to the ground like a rag.

Miss Mu and her two younger brothers rushed forward to shield their mother, who was still lying on the ground. “Madam Qiao, please, have mercy.”

“Did she show any mercy to my son?”

Qiao Mai looked at the Duke’s two sons with anger in her eyes. “So, it’s okay for you to come after my child, but I can’t speak my mind? Is it because you’re relying on the status of a Duke?”

Kneeling on the ground, Miss Mu made a few steps toward Qiao Mai and pleaded, “Aunt, I’m sorry. It was all my fault. Please spare my mother.”

The Duke also stood up and knelt beside his wife. Qiao Mai truly admired his dedication.

“Madam Qiao, I’m at fault. All the wrongs are mine. Please spare her.”

Qiao Mai clenched her fists behind her back.

“When you sent the assassins to kill my son, I found your household that very night. I’m vindictive and honestly contemplated exterminating your entire family that night.”

Sweat glistened on the Duke’s forehead while his wife coldly snorted.

“You’re just bragging!”

Qiao Mai turned around. “Bragging?”

Without noticing her movements, she made a gesture, and Miss Mu’s brothers found their necks in a vice-like grip. The one-meter-eight figures were helpless against her increasing force, and their faces turned from red to purple.

The Duke regretted it deeply. He had said to come here and apologize in advance, but his wife’s mouth was still so stubborn.

Qiao Mai’s grip tightened, causing the two young men’s faces to turn blue. The Duchess was terrified and no longer dared to confront Qiao Mai.

“Madam Qiao, I’m truly sorry. Please spare my children.”

Qiao Mai contemptuously sneered, “Is this all you’ve got? I thought you’d keep up your defiance.”

The Duchess turned red from humiliation. Qiao Mai released her grip, sending her two sons flying away.

“It seems your sons’ lives are worthless. But my sons are valuable. If anyone dares to harm them, I’ll wipe out their bloodline. Duchess, you should be thankful that my son fell for your daughter, or I wouldn’t even blink an eye at killing anyone related to you.”

The Duke wiped his sweat and thought about his wife, “You deserved it. Your arrogance led to this situation. You should be grateful that someone could humble you.”

Hastily, he smiled. “Madam Qiao, let’s sit down and discuss this.”

“No need to discuss. I’ve poisoned your wife. If she dares harm my son, be prepared for the punishment.”

“How long should she endure this punishment?”

“Within a year, the poison will naturally dissipate.”

“I’m sorry. Is there anything we can do to make amends for our mistakes?”

“No need. Have your daughter stay here and help me cultivate the greenhouse for a year. If she doesn’t cause any more trouble, I won’t hold this matter against you. But if you dare to repeat it, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

Upon hearing this, the Duchess exclaimed, “You want my daughter, a noble princess, to do farm work for you? On what basis?”

“On the basis that your family’s lives are in my hands. Is that enough?” Visibly frustrated, the Duke shouted, “Ziyan, can’t you say a word less?”

He was genuinely disappointed with his wife’s behavior. It had gone on long enough, yet she still had a defiant attitude.

She couldn’t accept the fact that a commoner had outmaneuvered her despite her high status.

The Duke, who had better judgment, realized Qiao Mai was a formidable person. They were in no position to challenge her.

Miss Mu quickly agreed. “I’ll stay behind, and I’ll work the land for Aunt Qiao. Whatever Aunt Qiao tells me to do, I’ll do.”

“Only one maidservant can stay; the rest must return to the capital.”

The Duke stood there, his mouth agape, taking a while to regain his senses. “Is that all?”

“What else do you suggest?” “Who left the words in mid-air?”

“It was me. So what?”

“Why did you ask us to come all the way here?”

“It’s your punishment. Your wife must lie low for a year. Go home to serve her. She won’t die. As for the matter of Miss Mu staying here, I hope you can understand. As long as this pair of young lovers doesn’t break up, our engagement is established.”

“What?”

The Duke felt like he was in a dream. It seemed as if he were the subordinate, and Qiao Mai was the superior, and he had to follow her orders. This made him somewhat uncomfortable.

“What? Do you feel like you’re being treated unfairly?”

“No, no. It’s just that since our families are to be connected through marriage.

Shouldn’t there be some procedures involved?”

“No need. It was your daughter who seduced my son first. If it weren’t for her, my son wouldn’t have encountered this fatal calamity. I’m sentencing her to stay in my house for a year and cultivate a relationship with my son.”

“Is this appropriate?”

“If I say it’s settled, then it is. Don’t waste any more time, or I’ll slaughter your family.”

“Alright, you’re a formidable person, and you’re in charge,” The Duke didn’t dare to say anything more. He couldn’t afford to have any backbone when it came to someone who held their lives in her hands.

He glared at his daughter. It was all her fault. Why did she have to get involved with the son of that family? This time, they paid a high price.

Having said what needed to be said, Qiao Mai waved her hand, and all the windows and doors opened again.

The Duke quickly had his attendants place his wife on the stretcher and signaled the people outside to come in.

Bowing to Qiao Mai, Miss Mu said, “Aunt, may I see my parents off?”

“You can. After they leave, come back. Remember what I told you: you’re allowed to bring only one maidservant to attend to you. The rest should return to the capital. If you dare to run, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

“Yes, Aunt..”

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