A surge of panic washed over Old Madam Xiang.
"Mother, she beat up Prime Minister Gao like that! When she wakes up, she's going to come settle scores with us. We're never getting our things back from the gambling den. What are we going to do?" Xiang Mingli burst into tears.
The sight of him only annoyed Old Madam Xiang more. "All you do is cry! Go find your older brother, now!"
"Alright, alright." Xiang Mingli turned to run out the door.
"Wait."
"Mother, what is it?"
"Take a knife with you. With your older brother's temper, he'll never give in unless you give him a good scare."
Xiang Mingli nodded vigorously. "I understand. I'm on my way."
"Old Madam, should I serve breakfast?" a maid asked softly.
Old Madam Xiang waved her away, then paused. A sense of unease crept over her. "You, go get a dagger for me as well."
The maid understood perfectly. She turned and retrieved a patterned dagger from a drawer.
