Chapter Eight: The So-Called Secret Conception

Inside the room, Qin Yuru was so terrified that she collapsed to her knees, staring in shock as Qi Tianyu burst through the door. Her whole body trembled, making her appear both delicate and pitiable.

In the past, whenever he saw Qin Yuru like this, Qi Tianyu's heart would ache for her. But now, his eyes brimmed with nothing but fury. He snatched the sandalwood box from her hands, opened it, and pulled out a letter at random. Even after glancing through it briefly, those few lines were enough to confirm that everything Qin Wanru had said was true.

“Well, well, our Qi family is not worthy of you. Since we're not good enough, you could have simply asked to break off the engagement…” Qi Tianyu sneered coldly, a glint in his eyes as sharp as a blade. He looked as though he wished he could tear the still-fragile and pleading Qin Yuru to pieces.

“Tianyu, it’s not—it’s not what you think…” Qin Yuru panicked, reaching out to clutch Qi Tianyu’s leg, sobbing as she spoke.

Qi Tianyu kicked her away, rage flaring, his face turning from white to blue. He thought of how he had devoted himself to marrying Qin Yuru, how all these years he hadn’t even kept a personal maid at his side. In the end, he was nothing but a backup for Qin Yuru. The meaning on that letter was all too clear.

There had obviously been intimacy between her and another, and the young heir of the Yongkang Marquis in the capital had even mocked him for being a toad lusting after a swan. The fire in his heart nearly consumed what little reason he had left. “You let your younger sister take your place in this engagement, then came to my house claiming your sister was trying to steal your marriage, that you would never be happy for the rest of your life because of it. Not happy? You and your cousin have been sneaking around behind my back, making a fool of me!”

Qi Tianyu’s words were as harsh as he could make them, hatred twisting his every syllable.

After he finished speaking, he tore the letter in half and flung the pieces into Qin Yuru’s face. “Since you and your cousin have already conceived in secret, let’s break off the engagement. Why drag your sister down with you?”

With that, he turned and strode out.

His hatred was at its peak; the more he had once loved Qin Yuru, the more he now despised her. As a scholar, he knew exactly what words wounded most deeply.

Though those outside had not seen the letter in Qi Tianyu’s hand, they had heard every word exchanged within. Faces turned to one another in disbelief.

Not only had there been a secret affair, but the eldest Miss Qin was pregnant!

The news was staggering.

As Qi Tianyu departed, the crowd immediately followed. After such a scandal, the engagement would be broken for certain. They had thought smashing the bridal sedan was a great uproar, but this was an even greater shock—Miss Qin pregnant before marriage!

Inside, Qin Yuru could no longer withstand the turn of events and fainted.

Outside, Madam Di nearly fainted as well, but she managed to keep hold of her senses. She rushed to the Old Madam, weeping and begging, “Old Madam, please, quickly send someone to stop Young Master Qi! If these words get out, it will cost Yuru her life!”

“Is this true?” The Old Madam swayed as though about to collapse, her face as pale as snow. She stared blankly at Madam Di, heartbroken. Though she never liked Qin Yuru, the girl was still her granddaughter.

“Mother, it’s not true, Yuru didn’t—Young Master Qi is slandering her, how could he say such things?” Madam Di was desperate, kneeling and wailing loudly.

“What a sin, what a grievous sin!” The Old Madam’s knees buckled and she almost fell. Qin Wanru quickly reached out to support her, then calmly said to the panicked, sobbing Madam Di, “Mother, you’d better go send someone yourself to stop Young Master Qi. I will help Grandmother back.”

She paid Madam Di no further heed, and together with the Old Madam’s maid, slowly began to lead the Old Madam away. After a few steps, she turned instinctively, only to meet a pair of enchanting, deep-set eyes. Her hand trembled, and her steps faltered—she nearly fell.

Could she be seeing things? Why would this imposing figure be standing in the pavilion across from her own home?