Chapter 194: Disappointment and a Chilled Heart
Xiang Minghou’s heart took another blow. His voice was resolute. "But... I’m your son, too."
His voice was resolute, yet it held so much more—disappointment, a chilling sense of betrayal, and accusation...
’Why?’
He was her son, too.
"Father!"
Ye Qianning sprinted over, grabbed the Old Madam, and flung her away with a single arm.
The Old Madam flew in an arc and crashed to the ground, instantly spitting up blood.
"General."
Du Yi had no time to be shocked by the young miss’s arm strength and quickly steadied the teetering Xiang Minghou.
"Father! Father, don’t scare me." Tears streamed uncontrollably down Ye Qianning’s face.
"Cough... Pangtuan, don’t cry. Father’s fine." Xiang Minghou clutched his abdomen with one hand and raised the other to wipe away her tears.
Ye Qianning couldn’t stop her tears. "Father, don’t talk. Let me see."
His abdomen was soaked in blood, which dripped onto the ground.
"Father’s fine. A small wound like this won’t kill me..." Xiang Minghou said, even trying to get up.
The moment he moved, the pain in his abdomen made cold sweat bead on his forehead.
"You can’t move! Don’t move!" Ye Qianning pressed him down.
"HAHAHAHA... Die! Everything will be better once you’re dead." The Old Madam staggered up from the ground. Seeing the fallen Xiang Minghou, she burst into maniacal laughter, looking utterly deranged.
Ye Qianning had no time for her. ’A jewel-encrusted dagger is buried to the hilt. I can’t just pull it out.
’Judging by the hilt, it’s a high-quality piece. For the Old Madam to have plunged it all the way in, the blade must be incredibly sharp. Pulling it out will injure him again. He needs surgery, fast.’
Elder Gu trotted into the front courtyard, and his expression immediately turned grim when he saw the scene.
"Minghou, this... this..."
"HAHAHAHA! Good, you’re dying! This is what you get for daring to harm my son..." the Old Madam cackled.
Ye Qianning shot her a chilling glare.
The Old Madam, as if possessed, laughed even louder when she saw Ye Qianning. "You little bastard! He’s dying, and you’ll die too! You’ll die too..."
Elder Gu instantly understood what had happened. Unable to stomach her curses, he rushed over and gave her a resounding slap across the face.
"I have never struck a person in my life, but I’ll make an exception today! I’ll beat you to death, you vicious woman! You’d even kill your own son!" Elder Gu’s eyes were red with fury.
In her half-crazed state, the Old Madam felt no fear and began to scuffle with Elder Gu.
"Whoa, Elder Gu! Old Madam! Stop fighting!" The butler and a few servants rushed to pull them apart.
Elder Gu’s hair was disheveled, and two fresh scratches marked his face from the Old Madam’s nails. He muttered a curse and went to Ye Qianning’s side, looking at Xiang Minghou.
He had practically watched the Xiang boy grow up; to see him injured so badly made his heart ache.
"Du Yi, Luo Wen, Luo Xuan, carefully carry my father back to the Yuehua Small Building," Ye Qianning commanded, her voice cold.
"Yes."
"Pangtuan... Father... I’m so sorry..." Xiang Minghou gripped Ye Qianning’s hand tightly, refusing to let go. He felt that if he did, he might never see her again.
"Father, let’s not talk about that. Save your strength." Ye Qianning tried to pull her hand away, but he only gripped it tighter.
"I’m sorry... Father is so sorry..." Xiang Minghou repeated over and over.
"Father, don’t fall asleep! Don’t sleep! Quick, lift him! Don’t jostle him at all, keep him lying flat." Since she couldn’t free her hand, Ye Qianning had them lift him and walked alongside.
Xiang Mingli stared blankly at the sudden chaos. His mother, hair disheveled like a madwoman’s, was being restrained. His older brother was being carried away, looking like he was at death’s door...