Chapter Thirty-Seven: An Unforeseen Visitor, Calling to Apologize

“Let Second Miss come in,” the old lady said.

Qin Wanru entered with Qingyue, first bowing to the old lady, then approaching the bedside and gently pressing her own soft, pale hand to the old lady’s forehead, followed by her own. A sweet smile blossomed on her face. “Not hot!”

This method was one the old lady had used in the past when Qin Wanru was ill. Now, seeing this young girl imitate her, it warmed the heart even more—such gestures were far more attentive than a simple inquiry.

“It’s nothing serious, just old ailments,” the old lady replied with a smile, coughing quietly and reaching out to pull Qin Wanru to sit beside her.

“Grandmother, at this time in previous years, your cough wasn’t so severe, and it hadn’t started so early,” Qin Wanru’s smile faded, her delicate face tightening with concern. Something felt off to her.

“It’s nothing, my dear. With age, each year is worse than the last,” the old lady spoke kindly, gently patting Qin Wanru’s hand. “Zhuozhuo is growing up, and so am I growing old. It’s normal for illness to come earlier each year.”

“How can that be normal? Zhuozhuo just thinks it’s not right!” she protested, childish and stubborn, which made the old lady laugh even harder, though she soon started coughing again.

Qin Wanru quickly leaned in, carefully rubbing the old lady’s back.

“The old lady is elderly; a few coughs are nothing. Since you’re here, Wanru, accompany me to apologize to your eldest sister!” Qi Rongzhi, who had come that day originally to confront Qin Wanru, grew impatient seeing her engrossed in conversation with the old lady.

“You can handle matters with my sister yourself. I want to stay with Grandmother,” Qin Wanru replied without even turning her head, continuing to gently pat the old lady’s back.

“Ah, mind your manners! Be careful…” Qi Rongzhi, who had always disdained Qin Wanru, was instantly angered by her retort and stood up abruptly, ready to lash out.

But when her eyes met the old lady’s, she stopped at once, forcing a smile. “Wanru, you see, I accidentally slapped your sister yesterday. She won’t want to see me now, so please help me. Our two households have always had a good relationship—you wouldn’t want me and your sister to grow apart, would you?”

In front of the old lady, she knew how to disguise herself.

Her words were sharp—if Qin Wanru didn’t accompany her, it would seem she was deliberately sowing discord between Qi Rongzhi and Qin Yuru, damaging the relationship between the two families. Such a reputation would be a severe disadvantage for a girl; it might even be used against her in the future, making her undesirable as a bride.

A cold light flashed in Qin Wanru’s watery eyes. Qi Rongzhi always knew how to drag her down in public. Though it was clearly Qi Rongzhi’s fault, the way she spoke made it sound as if Qin Wanru was to blame.

She lifted her gaze, long lashes trembling as she looked at Qi Rongzhi, about to speak, when her hand was tugged by the old lady. “Zhuozhuo, accompany Miss Qi to your sister’s place. Once the apologies are done, everything will be settled, and Miss Qi can return home in peace!”

That was the old lady’s final word.

The meaning was clear: Qin Wanru should go with Qi Rongzhi once, and then Qi Rongzhi need not stay at the General’s Mansion any longer. Afterward, the two families could maintain whatever distance they wished—no need for close relations.

“Yes, Grandmother,” Qin Wanru nodded, since the old lady had spoken.

“Miss Qi, please wait outside. I have a few words for Zhuozhuo,” the old lady said politely to Qi Rongzhi.

Qi Rongzhi’s goal achieved, she was obedient. “Second Miss, I’ll wait for you outside.”

She left with her chin held high, not even bidding the old lady goodbye—a display of manners that was hardly commendable.

“Zhuozhuo, be careful when you go. If she causes any trouble, you needn’t be polite—our families are already at odds, and things will never be as they were,” the old lady whispered anxiously once Qi Rongzhi departed, worried that Qin Wanru might suffer again.

The old lady saw it clearly: because of Qin Yuru, the two families were barely maintaining a façade of cordiality. Since that was the case, why demand her beloved granddaughter to swallow her pride?

“Don’t worry, Grandmother. I’ll be careful,” Qin Wanru assured her, fetching a cushion for the old lady and adjusting it. “Grandmother, when I fainted for the second time, who re-bandaged my arm? Where did the medicine come from?”

The first time, she’d bandaged her own arm. The second time, Chu Liuchen had pressed hard on her wound, and when she awoke, she was already in the old lady’s room.

“The second time?” The old lady was puzzled.

“Old lady, it was when I brought someone to help carry Miss Qin to your room for rest,” Qingyue reminded. That day, after Qin Wanru fainted, Chu Liuchen’s guards had deposited her in a pavilion outside. Qingyue, unable to move her alone, had gone to the old lady’s courtyard to ask for help, and only then was Qin Wanru brought into the old lady’s room.

“That time, Zhuozhuo had just applied medicine—what would need changing?” the old lady asked, confused.

“But… but there was blood before…” Qin Wanru suddenly felt uncertain. Chu Liuchen’s hand had pressed so forcefully at her wound that she’d seen blood on her arm just before fainting, but when she awoke, the wound was clean and freshly bandaged.

“When you arrived, there was no blood on your hand,” the old lady confirmed.

There was clearly a discrepancy. Could it have been Chu Liuchen who changed her bandage? Her heart skipped. Had she misunderstood something?

Qingyue was confused as well. She’d been so flustered that day she hadn’t noticed whether Qin Yuru’s hand was bleeding. After arriving at the old lady’s, she’d been sent back to the courtyard by the old lady, so she didn’t know if the bandage had been changed, or by whom.

“If it wasn’t changed, then never mind. I thought it had been, since it hurt so much at the time,” Qin Wanru decided not to mention it further, lest she worry the old lady.

“Silly girl, an injured hand is bound to hurt!” the old lady said, fondly stroking Qin Wanru’s hand.

“Grandmother, I’ll go accompany Miss Qi now, but I’d like to trouble you to send for someone from the Qi household immediately. In case things escalate, it won’t be our fault,” Qin Wanru said with a smile.

“Very well. I’ll have the magistrate’s wife invited over,” the old lady agreed after a moment’s thought. No matter how the apology went, Qi Rongzhi staying at the General’s Mansion was inappropriate.

Besides, Qi Rongzhi didn’t seem the type to apologize sincerely.

“When the Qi family arrives, have them go straight to my sister’s courtyard,” Qin Wanru said, rising.

“Go on, Zhuozhuo. Grandmother understands,” the old lady waved her off.

With everything arranged, Qin Wanru left the old lady’s room.

“Why are you only just coming out? Hurry up!” Qi Rongzhi, waiting outside, snapped impatiently. She never cared for Qin Wanru, and now suppressed her temper only for the sake of her malicious scheming.

A cold light flashed in Qin Wanru’s eyes, but she ignored her, leading Qingyue toward the courtyard gate.

“What’s the meaning of this, Qin Wanru?” Qi Rongzhi, unable to restrain herself when ignored, reached out to slap Qin Wanru as she passed—a habit of hers.

But Qin Wanru caught her hand and flung it aside forcefully.

Qi Rongzhi hadn’t expected resistance, stumbling several steps and nearly falling. Though two years older, taller, and heavier than Qin Wanru, she was still thrown off balance. Furious, she demanded, “What are you trying to do, Qin Wanru?”

“What are you trying to do?” Qin Wanru retorted coolly, standing her ground despite being shorter. “Miss Qi, this is the General’s Mansion, and no one here welcomes you. Do you really think we’re afraid of you?”

She struck back without politeness, well aware of Qi Rongzhi’s venomous nature—always the aggressor, never the victim.

Yet yesterday, Qi Rongzhi had suffered a setback, and now her anger was directed at Qin Yuru and her mother. So today, her main target would be Qin Yuru, not Qin Wanru.

“Let’s go see your wonderful elder sister,” Qi Rongzhi ground out, Qin Wanru’s words having redirected her fury toward Qin Yuru.

Her priority was to deal with Qin Yuru. Though Qin Wanru wouldn’t escape entirely, if she argued now, she couldn’t confront Qin Yuru later.

Seeing Qi Rongzhi suppress her anger, Qin Wanru didn’t acknowledge her, simply turning and walking ahead. The two, now at odds in both heart and face, proceeded silently, their maids trailing behind as they headed for Qin Yuru’s courtyard.

Once they had departed, the old lady’s maid hurried off to the Qi household, which was not far away.

Qin Yuru had just risen and had no intention of visiting the old lady to pay respects. She planned instead to consult with Madame Di on how to manipulate Qi Rongzhi into harming Qin Wanru, ideally maiming her or ruining her face to exact revenge.

After washing up, her maid and nurse brought in breakfast.

“Miss, Miss Qi and Second Miss are here,” a maid reported.

Qin Yuru paused but nodded. “Let them in.”

Her gaze fell on the steaming porridge before her, and an idea sparked in her heart. A sinister smile spread across her face as she instructed Meixue, “Serve some hot porridge to the two young ladies. Since they’re here, let’s share breakfast. It’s chilly this morning—a bowl of hot porridge will warm them up. Make it as hot as possible!”

Qi Rongzhi was reckless, fond of throwing things and slapping people. If provoked, she might fling a bowl of scalding porridge—if it hit Qin Wanru, she’d be left crippled or disfigured, and that would be vengeance enough…