Chapter Thirteen: The Treachery Ten Days Ago...

Aunt Shui was in fact Qin Huaiyong’s cousin, Shui Ruolan, the daughter of the old Madam Qin’s younger sister. Because Madam Qin’s sister passed away early, Shui Ruolan was raised at Madam Qin’s knee from a young age. Later, she married, but her husband died not long after, leaving her a widow without children. Madam Qin then brought her back to live at the General’s Manor of Ningyuan.

Shui Ruolan was a gentle woman; even when life was hard, she never complained of her lot. Qin Huaiyong had always felt affection for this cousin since childhood, but since both had been betrothed to others from an early age, he always behaved properly around her, never daring to overstep propriety. After Shui Ruolan returned as a widow, their interactions remained proper; even though they lived under the same roof, they rarely saw each other, and if they did, there were always others present.

Yet, unexpectedly, ten days ago Qin Huaiyong, having drunk too much, accidentally wandered into Shui Ruolan’s room at night and fell asleep on her bed. As fate would have it, just as he drunkenly embraced the struggling Shui Ruolan, Lady Di burst in and saw the scene. She was so heartbroken that she broke down in tears on the spot.

When Qin Huaiyong sobered up, he was filled with guilt toward both Lady Di and Shui Ruolan, unsure how to resolve the situation. Afterward, Qin Huaiyong wanted to take Shui Ruolan as a concubine, but Shui Ruolan could not bring herself to accept and nearly shaved her head to become a nun.

Madam Qin counseled her repeatedly, and in the end, Shui Ruolan decided to stay in the small Buddhist hall to calm her mind. In the previous life, because of Madam Qin’s declining health, Shui Ruolan finally became Qin Huaiyong’s concubine. Grief weighed on her, and when she became pregnant, she suffered a premature birth at seven months, losing both her life and the child’s.

Only later did Qin Wanru learn that this entire affair had been orchestrated by Lady Di, including the premature birth. The events of ten days ago, which had seemed accidental, now appeared all too clear. Wasn’t it precisely when the Marquis of Yongkang’s family had sent a marriage proposal?

The proposal arrived, and immediately after, the incident with Shui Ruolan occurred. With guilt weighing on her father, he turned a blind eye to the schemes of Lady Di and her daughter. The true reason was to pave the way for today’s farce.

To achieve their ends, Lady Di and her daughter truly stopped at nothing. On the surface, they appeared humble and long-suffering, but beneath, their hearts were as black as ink.

“Your Aunt Shui is in such a state… she must feel so ashamed!” Madam Qin sighed, the lines on her brow deepening. This was yet another vexing matter—news had spread throughout the household, and Shui Ruolan, as an unmarried woman, could hardly bear such humiliation.

“It’s been ten days since the marriage proposal from the capital arrived, and it was at that very time Aunt Shui’s incident occurred. Father has always treated me well, but this time he follows Mother and Sister’s wishes, disregarding even my reputation. Grandmother, don’t you find that strange?” Qin Wanru prompted gently.

Madam Qin was no fool. She thought carefully, and her expression changed dramatically. “Could it be that your Aunt Shui was set up and used as a pawn?”

“You saw it yourself, Grandmother. Father clearly knows what happened, yet he sides with Mother and Sister,” Qin Wanru said, her long lashes casting shadows as she lowered her eyes.

Seeing the calm yet aggrieved look on Qin Wanru’s face, Madam Qin’s eyes flashed with disgust. She slammed her hand on the table. “It must be that vile woman, Lady Di! For the sake of her precious daughter, she’s willing to destroy both Ruolan and you!”

Looking at the chain of events, there was little left unclear. Lady Di had used this incident to manipulate Qin Huaiyong into feeling guilty toward her. When the subject of shifting the marriage arrangement arose, Qin Huaiyong fell silent. Madam Qin understood his reasoning: sending a younger daughter to marry Prefect Qi was not a bad match, especially compared to the elder daughter who had already climbed the social ladder. Sacrificing one daughter seemed acceptable—besides, he still felt guilty toward Lady Di over Shui Ruolan.

All the more reason for him to say nothing!

“I’ll go fetch your Aunt Shui at once. I won’t let that wretched woman have her way!” Madam Qin declared angrily, having made up her mind.

To have used Ruolan so and made both herself and her son feel guilty, and even to manipulate her own granddaughter’s marriage—Lady Di really thought she could control everything.

“But what if Aunt Shui refuses?” Qin Wanru reminded her in a small, wronged voice.

In the last life, Shui Ruolan had secluded herself in the small Buddhist hall for more than half a year, becoming a lay devotee. When Madam Qin’s health worsened, Shui Ruolan returned to care for her and finally became her father’s concubine.

Because Shui Ruolan had no feelings for her father, she never vied for favor, even going so far as to push him toward others. Thus, in the end, one of Lady Di’s maidservants, raised to concubine status, gained favor and joined Lady Di in tormenting Shui Ruolan, leading to her tragic end.

In that previous life, Shui Ruolan had always treated her with kindness. After Madam Qin passed, Shui Ruolan did her best to protect her, but Shui Ruolan could barely protect herself—how could she protect anyone else?

In this life, she would never again let Shui Ruolan be so tormented by Lady Di. But it all depended on Madam Qin. Shui Ruolan was a proud woman who had never considered becoming a concubine; that was why she never sought favor.

She needed to give Madam Qin a hint—a way to elevate Shui Ruolan’s position.

As for Shui Ruolan herself, she would help her untangle her heart’s knot. Though gentle, Shui Ruolan was far from foolish; her mildness concealed a quiet strength.

“I’ll explain everything to Ruolan. She won’t be used so easily again!” Madam Qin sneered coldly, her face dark in the candlelight. She had survived many battles in the inner quarters and could see through Lady Di’s vicious intentions. If that wicked woman didn’t cherish Ruolan, someone else would.

With her grandmother taking matters in hand and knowing Shui Ruolan would not be wronged, Qin Wanru finally felt relieved. She leaned back, her eyes losing their cold edge, and changed the subject. “Grandmother, do you still have your Phoenix-glaze Crystal Lamp?”

She could not afford to be careless regarding Prince Chen.

At this, Madam Qin’s face changed dramatically.