Chapter Sixty: Listening Behind the Tree, There Is Always a Higher Mountain

Qi Rongzhi had accompanied Qi Tianyu to the Tranquility Nunnery. In truth, she had not wanted to come, but Qi Tianyu had persuaded her repeatedly, promising that the visit would help her calm her mind. After the incident involving herself and Qin Yuru, her reputation had been utterly ruined. Gossip about her abounded, and Madam Li had confined her, forbidding her from leaving the house or even approaching the General’s mansion.

Hearing Qi Tianyu’s assurances—especially his offer to intercede with Madam Li on her behalf—Qi Rongzhi reluctantly agreed to accompany him to the nunnery. She cared little for the act of worship. Though she found herself inside a Buddhist hall, she wandered aimlessly, uninterested. Qi Tianyu had disappeared somewhere, and they had barely arrived before the two of them lost each other. Now Qi Rongzhi was left with nothing to do and nowhere to go.

After idly strolling through the hall, she decided not to return and instead wandered toward the back mountain of the nunnery. The scenery there was renowned; almost everyone who visited made their way to the rear mountain. As for her brother, Qi Rongzhi was unconcerned—this was hardly their first visit, and he wouldn't simply leave without her. He was likely chatting with someone and would soon come looking for her.

Beyond the winding mountain path lay a grove; outside it, though technically still within the bounds of the nunnery, it was no longer part of the main grounds. Most visitors stopped at the edge of the grove. Outside were scattered farmhouses—few in number—and most women avoided venturing beyond for fear of unwanted encounters.

The grove was deep and lush, and a winding pebble path threaded through it. Occasionally, she glimpsed octagonal pavilions, stands of bamboo, and clusters of small chrysanthemums. The flowers were at their peak, lending an air of refined tranquility to the place.

“Where is the young lady? Strange, wasn’t she supposed to meet Miss Shui?” Suddenly, a maid’s voice broke the silence of the grove. Qi Rongzhi paid no attention and took a few more steps, but then paused.

“I don’t know where the young lady went. I think I saw the eldest young master earlier—could she have gone to meet him again?” another maid’s voice responded.

“Are you sure you didn’t mistake him?” the first maid asked, sounding surprised.

Qi Rongzhi’s steps had halted. Her gaze shifted toward several trees to her right. Beyond them, a large thicket and the forest itself made it difficult to see clearly, but she could make out two maids standing there, clad in familiar uniforms from the General’s mansion.

No wonder her brother was so eager to bring her to the nunnery today—it was because of Qin Yuru. Qi Rongzhi’s brows drew high, and she suppressed her anger to listen further.

“How could I be mistaken? Even if I was, others saw him too. The eldest young master was hiding in the rockery, and the young lady stood outside. From my angle, I could clearly see his robes—such beautiful robes, the very ones the young lady made for him before. There’s no doubt!” the second maid’s voice dropped low.

But even in a whisper, the empty grove carried every word to Qi Rongzhi’s ears. Her face drained of color; she had had her suspicions, but now, hearing the maid describe Qi Tianyu’s attire so precisely, she was convinced.

After Qin Yuru and Qi Tianyu were formally betrothed, Qin Yuru had made him a set of robes—delivered to him through Qi Rongzhi herself. No wonder her brother’s outfit looked familiar today—it was Qin Yuru’s handiwork.

Piecing together the events, Qi Rongzhi understood everything. Her brother wanted to see Qin Yuru and had used her as a pretext. Old grievances welled up inside her; she gritted her teeth fiercely. This time, she would not forgive Qin Yuru.

Not only had she lost her reputation, but she had also lost her betrothal. Now, gossip about her swept through Jiangzhou. All of it was Qin Yuru’s doing.

Suddenly, the two maids seemed to be approaching, and Qi Rongzhi turned hurriedly, dragging her own maid behind a large tree by the roadside. She wanted to hear more about Qin Yuru.

“The young lady goes to meet the eldest young master herself—why call Miss Shui out as well?”

“Who knows? Perhaps she’s up to something again. This place is so secluded; if something were to happen, blame could be shifted onto others. And with the young lady having an alibi, she’d be safe, but others wouldn’t be.”

“The young lady is truly... formidable!”

“Of course. Qi Young Lady is formidable, but look at her now—she’s fallen right into the young lady’s hands. The young lady’s reputation may be poor, but Qi Young Lady’s is even worse. Now, when Jiangzhou mentions the two, they find them both disgraceful.”

Qi Rongzhi’s face shifted from pale to green. She clenched her handkerchief so tightly it became a crumpled ball. If not for Qin Yuru, she would never have been embroiled in such scandal.

No doubt, this was all Qin Yuru’s deliberate scheme. That wretch!

Though she didn’t turn, she pressed her head against the tree, disregarding her own dignity, determined to hear every detail of Qin Yuru’s plotting. Using her brother as a witness—if she couldn’t get him to testify, she herself would become the suspect?

Qi Rongzhi was beside herself with fury.

But, as much as she wanted to listen, the two maids took a detour, whispering as they walked, never coming close.

“We’d better hurry—there are too few people here, it’s unnerving.”

“Let’s go, quickly!” ...

Their conversation turned to idle chatter and faded away as they walked off.

Only when they were gone did Qi Rongzhi emerge from behind the tree, her face dark, eyes cold as she watched their retreating figures.

“Miss... we should go back,” her maid Chunxi whispered, tugging at her sleeve and glancing around uneasily. The conversation she’d overheard had frightened her.

“Let’s go back!” Qi Rongzhi ordered coldly, turning with a dark expression. “Later, you’re to ask the boy who follows my brother what he’s been doing today—whether he was ordered to do anything. If he dares lie, he’ll be beaten to death when we return. Even if my brother tries to protect him, as long as I expose his involvement in covering up my brother’s secret meetings with Qin Yuru, no one will be able to save him!”

Qi Rongzhi was certain Qin Yuru was plotting something again. She would never let her succeed! To think Qin Yuru was flirting with young men from the capital while entangling herself with her brother—and her brother believed her! The more Qi Rongzhi thought, the more it stabbed at her heart.

Qin Yuru, just you wait!

Startled by Qi Rongzhi’s tone, Chunxi quickly replied, “Yes, Miss, I’ll ask him right away.”

Shui Ruolan, upon leaving Qin Wanru’s quarters, did not return directly to Madam Qin. Madam Qin had instructed her not to rush, but to take time and pray sincerely. Unlike many others, Shui Ruolan truly believed in her prayers. Earlier, Qin Wanru had urged her to pray as well—sincerity would bring blessings, and perhaps her grandmother’s recovery was thanks to the Buddha’s protection.

Moved by Qin Wanru’s advice, Shui Ruolan decided not to hurry. She took Qionghua and headed toward the nearest temple to fulfill her vow, hoping for her aunt’s continued health.

Shui Ruolan was devout; she prayed at every hall, never simply wandering as other pilgrims did, who often prayed as an afterthought while sightseeing.

“Ah!” In one hall, as Shui Ruolan rose to leave, she suddenly stepped back, nearly stumbling. Qionghua, quick of eye and hand, caught her. She glared at the person opposite, about to speak—but that person walked out the door without even glancing at Shui Ruolan, who had nearly fallen from the collision.

“Hey, how can you be so rude—knocking someone over and not even apologizing!” Qionghua exclaimed angrily, stamping her foot and shouting at the retreating figure.

Steadying herself with Qionghua’s support, Shui Ruolan looked at the person who had bumped into her, but saw only a back. He seemed to be a servant—whose servant would be so ill-mannered?

“Qionghua, let it go,” Shui Ruolan said softly, pulling Qionghua’s sleeve. Their commotion had attracted many stares. They were in the main hall of the nunnery, crowded with pilgrims; being jostled was not uncommon.

“Miss, it looked deliberate!” Qionghua muttered angrily, lowering her head.

“Forget it, don’t get upset over someone like that,” Shui Ruolan replied with a gentle smile. She checked her direction and, with Qionghua, moved toward another hall.

Though Qionghua remained indignant, the crowd had already swallowed up the culprit, and she had never seen his face—only his back—so she followed Shui Ruolan away, still fuming.

After they left, on the path outside the temple, Qi Tianyu’s servant gleefully weighed the sachet in his palm. For dealing with young ladies of noble families, bumping into them and snatching a sachet was the simplest trick—much easier than earrings or necklaces, which were worn against the skin.

The young master could never forget Miss Qin. Gaining her favor meant pleasing the young master as well. The servant was proud to be able to help Miss Qin; the young master always cared about her affairs and rewarded generously. No doubt, he would be handsomely rewarded this time.

The thought made the servant smile.

But in the next moment, his smile froze. The path ahead was blocked, and he saw his own young lady standing in the middle, face cold as ice, eyes chilling. The servant panicked, instinctively hiding the sachet behind his back. In truth, this whole business had been Qin Yuru’s private request; Qi Tianyu had no idea.

“Don’t you see the young lady? Come here at once!” Chunxi stepped out from behind Qi Rongzhi and barked at him.