Chapter Twenty-Six: Aunt Shui, Because of You!

Seeing her speak with such grave expression and words, Shui Ruolan was startled. She reached out to take Qin Wanru’s hand, leading her to sit on a bench to the side, then sat down opposite her.

“Who is trying to harm you and your aunt?”

“Have you, Aunt Shui, spent these days in the ancestral hall, not concerned with outside affairs, nor letting Qionghua report anything happening beyond?” Qin Wanru asked.

“Aunt Shui just wanted some peace these past days,” Shui Ruolan’s gaze became evasive.

“Aunt Shui must know about Eldest Sister’s marriage with Qi Tianyu. Eldest Sister herself wants to attach herself to the Yongkang Marquis’ household in the capital. Mother then encouraged Nanny Fang beside me, telling her that Qi Tianyu wants to marry me, asking me to go, and saying not to reveal it to Qi Tianyu—so that on the wedding day, lifting the bridal veil would surprise him!”

Qin Wanru spoke calmly, as if she were recounting someone else’s story, yet the meaning carried in her words made Shui Ruolan’s expression change dramatically.

She was no longer the former Qin Wanru, nor a child, and saw through many things. “This... how can this be? Qi Tianyu must have chosen your elder sister; the two have always shown affection when together. If you truly married him, Qi Tianyu would surely hate you for life!”

“Not only hate, they would ruin my life forever,” Qin Wanru lowered her head slightly, gaze falling to the floor of the ancestral hall, a mocking smile playing at her lips. In her previous life, this was exactly what they had done, and they had succeeded.

“Then... what happened afterward?” Shui Ruolan asked nervously, trembling.

“Afterward, I realized something was wrong, had the bridal sedan smashed, found the secret correspondence between Eldest Sister and the Yongkang Marquis’ heir, and only then did Qi Tianyu believe me. Once the matter blew up, both families had to withdraw the engagement!” Qin Wanru recounted simply.

Hearing that Qin Wanru had not been deceived, Shui Ruolan finally breathed a sigh of relief, but then, thinking further, her expression turned surprised. “Didn’t your father know about this?”

Di-shi was never kind to Qin Wanru, and Shui Ruolan had always noticed, but she herself was merely a guest in the General Ningyuan’s household.

“My father... should have known as well!” Qin Wanru lifted her head, glanced at Shui Ruolan, and bit her crimson lip gently. “Father has always loved me, and should never have agreed to such a thing, but this time, he watched Mother and Eldest Sister act, saying nothing.”

“Why?” Shui Ruolan’s face darkened in anger. She didn’t believe Qin Huaiyong was that kind of person; they had grown up as childhood friends, and if they hadn’t each had early betrothals, Shui Ruolan would have married Qin Huaiyuan herself.

“Aunt Shui, because of you!” Qin Wanru looked at Shui Ruolan with a hesitant expression.

“Me?” Shui Ruolan was stunned, not understanding at first.

“Don’t you find it all too coincidental, Aunt Shui? The letter from the Yongkang Marquis’ family arrived ten days ago. Immediately after, something happened to you, and you entered the ancestral hall. Then Nanny Fang began encouraging me, saying Qi Tianyu wanted me and sought to marry me, urging me to complain to Grandmother. Eldest Sister immediately agreed, while Father stood by, indifferent!”

Qin Wanru spoke slowly.

The girl’s voice was soft and gentle, yet in the gloomy ancestral hall, each word rang clear, carrying an indescribable sense of solitude.

Shui Ruolan’s face blanched, then turned pale, and finally anger flared in her eyes. Some matters, left unsaid, seemed trivial, but once voiced, she understood instantly.

“Di-shi set me up?” Shui Ruolan suddenly stood, “Not only that, she made your father feel guilty, so that he would ignore your affairs entirely!”

The latter sentence was not a question, but a direct assertion.

The thought that her own innocence had become a bargaining chip in Di-shi’s scheming made even gentle Shui Ruolan unable to contain her rage.

She preferred quiet and was gentle by nature, but that did not mean she was meek. In fact, when her temper rose, it burned fiercely.

At this moment, she was so angry she clenched her teeth.

Qin Wanru also stood, gently pulling Shui Ruolan’s sleeve to soothe her. “Aunt Shui, don’t be angry. Earlier, I asked Qionghua in the courtyard, and she said the dishes she used that night were different from yours—someone deliberately gave you less food.”

This evidence might not matter to others, but it was significant to Shui Ruolan.

“It must be Di-shi’s doing!” Now, Shui Ruolan had no doubts. Thinking of how Di-shi had maneuvered her into such a difficult position, her lips quivered with anger.

“Aunt Shui, if you plan to spend your days under the lanterns and statues, it will only please Mother. And afterwards... no one will protect Grandmother anymore. You know Mother has never liked Grandmother, and Father will likely feel guilty towards Mother forever, letting her do whatever she pleases!”

A sharp light flashed in Qin Wanru’s eyes as she looked at Shui Ruolan and spoke softly.

“I will not let her have her way!” Shui Ruolan said fiercely, then grabbed Qin Wanru and turned to leave. “Come, let’s see your father. Let him give us an explanation! Let him see Di-shi’s true colors!”

Qin Wanru quickly pulled Shui Ruolan back. “Aunt Shui, wait. Father won’t believe it!”

“Let Qionghua investigate in the kitchen—there must be some evidence!” Shui Ruolan said.

“Miss, Second Miss, this servant has returned!” Suddenly, Qionghua’s voice came from outside. Both women turned and saw Qionghua walk in, panting.

“Did you find anything?” Shui Ruolan asked urgently.

“No, the kitchen maid took leave, saying she had to return home for some reason!” Qionghua shook her head as she caught her breath.

“When did she leave?” Qin Wanru wasn’t surprised by the result; Di-shi wouldn’t leave such obvious traces.

“The day after Miss had her incident, she said something came up at home, took a long leave, and no one knows when she’ll be back. She’s not one of the maids who came with Madam, just a regular maid from our General Ningyuan’s household,” Qionghua said after regaining her breath.

That meant there was no way to investigate further. Di-shi had covered her tracks flawlessly.

“Aunt Shui, don’t be angry, sit down first.” Qin Wanru pulled Shui Ruolan back to the bench, poured her a cup of tea, and placed it before her. “Aunt Shui, you must first decide what you will do next. Will you remain here, surrounded by lanterns and statues, never again concerning yourself with Grandmother or me, nor seeking justice for Mother’s actions against you?”

If she truly decided to live quietly in the ancestral hall, fully devoted to worship, it meant turning away from the turmoil of the mortal world, neither judging right nor wrong.

Shui Ruolan’s heart had been in chaos these days, so chaotic she didn’t know what to do, which was why she had retreated to the ancestral hall. Yet, forced by Qin Wanru’s words, she found herself unable to reply.

She took a sip of the tea by her hand, her brows tightly knit.

“Let me think about it…”

Her words held a hint of avoidance. She still hadn’t sorted out what she wanted. What happened that night left her ashamed and unable to face others, the main reason she had hidden away here.

“If Aunt Shui feels she can truly do all that, then my words today are wasted. As for what Mother might do to me and Grandmother, or how she might use this to force Father’s hand, it will have nothing to do with you. Aunt Shui need only live as a quiet nun and ignore it all.”

Qin Wanru would not allow Shui Ruolan to escape at this moment; she pressed her once more.

It struck a chord. Shui Ruolan had been raised by the old lady since childhood, who was as dear as a mother. How could she bear to watch the old lady be forced to such extremes by Di-shi? Not to mention that Qin Wanru, whom she treated as a daughter, and Qin Huaiyong were involved as well.

The feelings of youth stirred again, still tinged with bitterness.

“I will go to her!” Even a clay Bodhisattva has temper; once Shui Ruolan understood, she spoke coldly.

“Aunt Shui, there’s no need to rush. She will come to you, just wait,” Qin Wanru said confidently, keeping hold of Shui Ruolan.

Leaving the cold, deserted courtyard of the ancestral hall, Qin Wanru first went to the kitchen and picked out a few warm, exquisite pastries, placing them on a small plate. She had Qingyue carry the food basket and headed toward the Carved Flower Gate.

At the gate, the maid guarding the entrance stopped them.

“Our Miss is going to the general’s study to see him,” Qingyue declared loudly.

Hearing this, the gate maid dared not stop Qin Wanru any further, stepping aside. Although Madam had forbidden Miss from going out, she had not forbidden her from seeing the general.

However, the maid, still uneasy, turned and hurried inside to report to Madam as soon as Qin Wanru left.

Qin Huaiyong’s study was not far from the Carved Flower Gate, just to the right. He handled affairs there daily, and for convenience, had placed his study near the gate.

When Qin Wanru reached the study, Qin Huaiyong was busy with work. Hearing she had come, he nodded and let her in.

Qin Wanru took the food basket from Qingyue, brought it in herself, set it on a side table, and first paid her respects to Qin Huaiyong.

Qin Huaiyuan waved his hand, signaling her not to stand on ceremony.

“Father, these are fresh pastries from the kitchen. I thought they tasted wonderful and brought a few for you!” Qin Wanru rose, took a small plate from the basket, and placed it before Qin Huaiyong’s desk with a smile.

The pastries were exquisite, pressed in flower-shaped molds, sprinkled with a few bits of red bean paste. Their fragrance was laced with the refreshing scent of red beans, truly delightful.

Qin Huaiyong stared at the flower-shaped pastries in a daze for a moment.

“Father, please try them—do you like them?” Qin Wanru gently pushed the pastries toward his hand, her smile sweet.

Qin Huaiyong did not care for such overly sweet treats, but hearing Qin Wanru’s words, he found himself unable to refuse. He picked up a piece and took a bite, chewing slowly.

“Father, do you like it?” Seeing him obey her and eat one, Qin Wanru’s eyes curved in a happy smile.

“It’s quite good,” Qin Huaiyong said, though it tasted bland to him. Yet seeing the anticipation in his daughter’s shining dark eyes, a faint smile appeared on his face as he nodded.

“I knew Father would like them. Grandmother said the flower mold was invented by you and Aunt Shui when you were children, so you must enjoy pastries made with it!” Qin Wanru spoke with childish enthusiasm, her eyes wide with curiosity. “Father, did you really love making fun things with Aunt Shui back then?”