Chapter Two: Schemes, a Color Too Vivid

“We’ve already sent several times. The matrons reported that if you don’t get up soon, the Old Madam will come herself to scold you!” Qingyue announced. Last night, before Qin Wanru went to bed, she had already instructed her—if anyone from the Old Madam’s side came to hurry her before she woke, Qingyue was to handle it.

In her past life, she hadn’t known that Qi Tianyu had actually been aware of this matter all along. He believed she had ruined his perfect marriage, and, consumed by hatred, he pretended ignorance. He escorted her, veiled and seated in the bridal sedan, all the way to the Qi residence, only to rip off her veil at the gates in front of a crowd, shove her from the sedan, and berate her as malicious and deluded.

Thus, in her previous life, she was disgraced at a young age and became the greatest laughingstock in all of Jiangzhou.

Her long lashes veiled the bloodshot bitterness and fury in her eyes. When she looked up again, they were as cold and detached as someone far beyond her years. She rolled out of bed, her feet touching the floor. “Is the bridal sedan almost here?”

“It should be arriving soon. I heard people say the auspicious hour is nearly upon us,” Qingyue replied, crouching to help Qin Wanru into her shoes.

“Everything should be ready over there, then?” Qin Wanru asked, rising to her feet.

“Rest assured, Miss,” Qingyue said, standing up as well, her eyes shining with excitement. “Just now, Brother Fengzi had someone sneak over and tell me everything on his side is prepared. They’re only waiting for the sedan to arrive!” She was genuinely thrilled; since yesterday, she felt her mistress had changed somehow, but it was a change she welcomed.

Her mistress had grown shrewd—not only rescuing Matron Yu from the laundry house, but also recognizing the true faces of the lady and the eldest miss, and arranging all that was to come.

Wang Feng was Matron Yu’s son.

Smashing the bridal sedan—this was the key spark Qin Wanru had planned to ignite all the events that would follow.

Qin Wanru was determined to uproot, before they could ever take hold, all the shame that Qin Yuru and Qi Tianyu had thrust upon her in her previous life.

She wanted everyone to know that it was Qin Yuru who didn’t wish to marry and pushed it onto her, and that she herself did not want this marriage either!

“Go invite Grandmother in again,” Qin Wanru instructed. Now that the time was almost right, if she didn’t go out to dress and prepare, Qin Yuru would lose patience and surely send someone to hurry her.

“Yes, Miss. Do you need me to help you change into another gown first?” Qingyue blinked, reminding Qin Wanru.

“No need. Just go and invite Grandmother,” Qin Wanru replied, shaking her head. Beneath her long, curled lashes, her eyes were icy and deep. She wore only a white undergarment, clearly just risen from bed.

She looked all the more convincing—just awakened, with nothing yet done.

Qingyue accepted her orders and hurried off. Alone, Qin Wanru walked to the dressing table. The girl in the mirror was still a tender child, frail and delicate, her cheeks as pale as snow and lips a brilliant red. Even at such a young age, one could see the promise of a devastating beauty.

Yet, the colors were perhaps too vivid…

The son of Jiangzhou’s prefect was marrying the legitimate daughter of the General of Ningyuan—an event that stirred the entire city. Especially outside the gates of the General’s residence, crowds gathered, eager to witness the grand procession.

An empty bridal sedan, followed by Qi Tianyu, was carried from the prefect’s mansion. The wedding procession, with raucous music and festive cheer, arrived at the gates of the General of Ningyuan’s manor. Qi Tianyu swung off his horse, ready to stride inside, when suddenly several people armed with brooms and sticks burst from the crowd and hurled themselves at the sedan, smashing it without a word.

Everyone was stunned. For a moment, no one reacted. Some even thought it was a new wedding custom, but seeing these people ruthlessly battering the sedan—breaking a pole in just a few strikes and toppling the whole thing to the ground—they realized something was wrong.

“Stop! Grab them!” Qi Tianyu recovered quickly. After a brief daze, he shouted in fury.