Qin Yunyun’s tears fell one by one. She was already fully dressed in her wedding attire, with elaborate and exquisite hair ornaments. Even if she wanted to strike Lu Ye, it would be very inconvenient.

If she let that wench Lu Ye pull and tug at her a few more times, tearing her clothes and displacing her hair ornaments, Elder Sister-in-law would certainly notice and tell Father.

Father already looked at her with disgust now. If he learned she had fought with Lu Ye, who knew how he would treat her.

Qin Shuying sat properly and said: “Sixth Sister, the family Elder Sister-in-law found for you has Old Ancestor’s approval, so it can’t be wrong—it’s definitely a good family. If I were Sixth Sister, I would forget all past matters and wholeheartedly live my life. What wouldn’t you have in the future? Life is about seeking peace and joy, which Sixth Sister can completely achieve.”

Qin Yunyun said hatefully: “Qin Shuying, don’t stand there talking without feeling the pain. If you’re so well-behaved and proper, why did you seduce Liang Zhe? Liang Zhe is fourth rank at such a young age, a favorite before His Majesty—how could you understand my suffering?”

Qin Shuying smiled: “Ziyu has the ability to achieve such status, and I also earned Ziyu’s regard through my own abilities. Could it be that just because you call people demons at every turn, believing whatever others tell you without using your brain even once, Ziyu would take a fancy to you?”

Qin Yunyun flew into an embarrassed rage: “You… what good do you have to say? Weren’t you also rejected by the Liu family?”

“Sixth Sister, why would I want to marry into the Liu family? Is the Liu family so good? Is the Liu family better than Ziyu?”

Of course Liang Zhe was better.

Although Liu Junqing was exceptionally talented and strikingly handsome, at present he truly couldn’t compare to Liang Zhe.

Qin Yunyun’s mind thundered as she blurted out: “The Liu family’s rejection was your design!”

Qin Shuying didn’t answer, only saying: “Sixth Sister, I advise you to think more about cause and effect when speaking and acting. Sixth Sister, we are sisters after all. These are my heartfelt words, and I hope Sixth Sister can understand my well-intentioned advice.”

Through her teary eyes, Qin Yunyun saw Qin Shuying smile, then turn and walk out.

Qin Shuying—wasn’t she afraid that she would tell this secret to others?

Or was what Third Sister said true?

Qin Yunyun covered her face, the burning pain reminding her that she had been struck. On her wedding day, she had been struck. But she couldn’t strike back, couldn’t strike back.

Every word Qin Shuying spoke was like a thorn piercing her chest—unable to be pulled out, invisible, yet she could feel that pain, that presence.

Thinking of Li Youwang, who would become her husband for this life, Qin Yunyun covered her face as tears fell silently.

Though he was quite talented, he currently had no official position. By the time Li Youwang climbed to Liang Zhe’s current position, she, Qin Yunyun, would already be old.

She could have married into a noble family from the start, rather than someone like Li Youwang who, though called scholarly family, was actually a destitute fallen household.

Her life, her dreams…

All had become bubbles!

When Qin Shuying came outside, she said to Qin Lulu and the others: “Sixth Sister, about to marry, thinking of leaving home, couldn’t control her emotions and is crying. I tried to console her for a while, but Sixth Sister became even more sorrowful. I don’t know how else to comfort her.”

It was normal for women to cry before marriage. Everyone sighed for a while, then entered the room again to comfort Qin Yunyun.

Qin Yunyun covered her face, saying she looked ugly from crying and needed to fix her makeup herself. No one thought anything else of it.

Only Xu Peiwei, looking at Qin Yunyun, felt something wasn’t quite right.

But after a while, there were various things requiring Qin Yunyun’s personal attention. Time was pressing, and in the busy chaos, they heard the happy matron’s joyful voice outside: “The young master has come to fetch the bride!”

Qin Shuying and Qin Lulu walked hand in hand, chatting in the garden for a while. Rarely having such a relaxed and comfortable time, Qin Shuying lingered for a bit.

When she reached Xuan Hall, she found Qu Linglong wasn’t there. Xiangchun told Qin Shuying that Qu Linglong had gone to Rongfu Courtyard with Qin Yue.

Thinking of Qin Wei, Qin Shuying frowned slightly.

However, she didn’t chase after them to Rongfu Courtyard, instead staying in Xuan Hall to keep Old Madam Qin company and entertain the female guests.

Soon, Xiangqin came to report that Li Youwang had reached the second gate and was being blocked by Qin Kaiyu and other men for a poetry contest. They said Li Youwang’s thinking was quick and his verses came readily—even the maids and matrons listening from the side praised the sixth son-in-law’s great talent.

Old Madam Qin’s smile deepened.

Li Youwang was nineteen years old, having just earned his juren degree this year. Though his ancestors for three generations hadn’t held high office, the family clan also had third-rank officials, so it could be considered scholarly lineage.

Currently he lived only with his elderly father, keeping the household simple. When Qin Yunyun married over, she would be the mistress.

Old Madam Qin sincerely hoped Qin Yunyun’s temperament could change, that she would live properly. For Li Youwang to earn her an official title in the future wouldn’t be difficult.

Seeing the gratified smile in Old Madam Qin’s eyes and thinking of Old Madam Liang’s expression, Qin Shuying felt deeply moved.

Both were grandmothers, yet Old Madam Qin and Old Madam Liang differed by thousands of li.

Thinking that she still had to deal with Old Madam Liang when she returned, Qin Shuying felt somewhat troubled.

Old Madam Liang was no easy lamp to tend—who knew what secrets lay behind her.

After another while, Xiangqin came to report that the sixth son-in-law had passed the second gate and gone to Fangfei Courtyard. Then Qin Yunyun came to Xuan Hall, first bidding farewell to Old Madam Qin, then to her parents, before boarding the bridal sedan.

Outside, the suona music played joyfully toward the heavens. Qin Shuying accompanied Old Madam Qin and the female guests in speaking various auspicious words, though her thoughts drifted several times.

Qin Yunyun had said Lu Changxuan was dead, and Qin Shuying naturally knew this. The day after Lu Changxuan died, Ziteng had told her.

Qin Shuying hadn’t arranged for Ziteng to watch the Lu family—Ziteng had done this on her own initiative.

Ziteng said Lu Changxuan died miserably. Without money to buy opium, when Lu Changxuan died, his nose ran constantly, he was thin as a skeleton, and every day the pain left him without strength even to moan.

When Lu Changxuan died, Qin Shuying felt nothing.

After more than a year had passed, Lu Changxuan seemed like someone she’d known long, long ago. Qin Yaoyao’s past seemed like events from long, long ago, carrying some unreality and haziness.

She only thought of Feng’er, thought of Uncle Zhou’s family.

The tender body gradually growing cold in her arms, the gasping breath that gradually hurt too much to cry aloud in her ears, his soft face seemed still before her eyes.

Uncle Zhou’s loving gaze, his worried gaze seemed still before her eyes.

Lu Changxuan was dead. Old Madam Lu was now destitute, the Lu family members were all suffering torment, and Qin Feifei lived like a homeless dog.

Was this enough?

No, not yet.

There was still Xu Shi, still Lianpin.

She was just this vengeful. She hadn’t forgotten, would never forget.