Not long after Qingrong was born, Concubine Xia passed away. At that time, Madam Hu took the child under her wing to raise. After more than ten years, Qingrong had learned to be just like Qingru—if Madam Hu said one, she would never say two.
The onlookers all had their measure of the situation, guessing that Madam Hu was determined to force Fourth Miss to her death this time. Having Third Miss testify—how was that any different from directly ordering her to frame Fourth Miss? Poor Fourth Miss, now that they had their teeth in her, it seemed she would have difficulty escaping. In the end, it would depend on the Old Madam’s intentions. If the Old Madam also hated her, this hurdle would be extremely difficult to overcome.
Everyone was waiting for Qingrong’s answer. Qingrong seemed somewhat surprised, looking blankly at Madam Hu.
“Madam…” she stammered, “I was just fanning Grandmother the whole time. My second Sister said she wanted to go out for a walk, but I found it too hot and preferred to stay inside. I even advised Second Sister against it, warning her about heatstroke, but she wouldn’t listen to me… I didn’t go outside, so I didn’t see whether Xiaoxie came with any message.”
No one present had expected Third Miss to turn the tables at this moment, completely distancing herself from the situation. Heaven seemed to think Madam Hu hadn’t suffered enough blows today and added one more at the end. She stared at Qingrong in disbelief—this girl who would grovel at her feet like a cat or dog even after being kicked had somehow become a stranger.
Madam Hu was speechless now, but Lvzhui proved to be a loyal servant, jumping out to say: “Third Miss, how can you tell such blatant lies? When Xiaoxie came, we were all clearly present!”
“Based on your word alone, if you say I was there, must I have been? Second Sister and I have always been close—if this happened, I would naturally report it to my Grandmother. I don’t need you to rebuke me.” Qingrong coldly rebuked Lvzhui, then turned to Madam Hu with a helpless expression: “This isn’t a small matter. In minor matters, I might accommodate Madam’s wishes and testify against Fourth Sister, but in such a major issue where lives are at stake, I dare not speak falsely. Please forgive me, Madam.”
Everything had fallen into chaos. Half of Madam Hu’s world had collapsed, as new wounds layered over old ones, making her almost doubt whether this was a dream, all her imagination.
But these words were Qingrong’s carefully considered decision made over the journey. At this point, there was no need to rely on Madam Hu anymore. One must know how to read the situation and seize the opportunity to fight for oneself when the time is ripe.
Only she truly knew how she had lived these past ten-plus years. Since childhood, she had suffered Qingru’s bullying, and Madam treated her even worse than a well-regarded maid. When there were delicacies, Qingru got the first pick. In clothing and accessories, she had to wait for Qingru’s leftovers. When Qingru wore gold, she could only wear silver; when Qingru used kingfisher feather ornaments, she could only use cloisonné. She was like Qingru’s shadow, always one step below. Even for the palace selection, she had to accompany Qingru. No one asked if she was happy—she dared not imagine how terrifying it would be for this nightmare to continue from the family compound into the deep palace. If they were both selected, she would never escape this spoiled young lady for her entire life.
Who knew that heaven had eyes? This time Qingru had thoroughly fallen. So she began weighing the pros and cons—which was more important, revenge or prospects?
Of course, she hated Qingyuan. If Concubine Jin hadn’t killed her mother, she wouldn’t have had to live under others’ roofs, spending her days bowing and scraping before Madam Hu. Who doesn’t hope for a mother’s love? Who doesn’t wish for a good marriage like Qinghe’s? But she didn’t have such fortune—she wasn’t even as well off as Qingyuan, who at least had lived fourteen good years in the Chen family. In this family, she didn’t have a single person who cared about her welfare. So this long-suppressed hatred fueled her determination to become someone of status. She knew well that if she testified against Qingyuan now, Qingyuan would surely make a scene. Among the sisters, one would be defiled, another would become a suspect and caught between them, she would miss the palace selection and rot away in the Xie family with Qingru. But if this matter had nothing to do with her, if Qingru’s misfortune was just an accident, then she could continue with the selection. Better to have one less trouble—why not take this path?
Moreover, Qingyuan now had connections with Shen Run. By taking this stance, she had shown her position, and at least Shen Run wouldn’t deliberately make things difficult for her. As for the revenge for her mother, that could be temporarily set aside. When she achieved success in the future, she could collect that debt from Qingyuan with interest.
The onlookers, seeing Madam Hu abandoned by all, even felt some sympathy for her. While the inner chambers couldn’t conclude, the three brothers waiting for news in the outer hall sat dully, occasionally raising their eyelids with sighs.
Zhenglun grew somewhat impatient, frowning as he said: “In my opinion, we should first capture those two beasts and subject them to death by a thousand cuts to vent our anger.”
Zhengjun asked: “How do we capture them? Report to the authorities?”
“We can’t report to the authorities…” Zhengze snapped in a low voice, adding irritably, “If you still want to show your face in public, we absolutely cannot report to the authorities.”
So, if they had decided to swallow this bitter pill, what was there left to discuss? But this stain was like stable muck splashed on their faces, truly nauseating. Zhenglun turned his head and spat: “What rotten luck! While we’re here behind closed doors calculating, who knows how it’s being spread outside? Probably all of Youzhou knows by now—no wall’s completely windproof!”
Zhengjun, also enjoying the spectacle, thought for a moment and said: “If we’re worried about people gossiping behind our backs, why not report it to the Palace Guard? Isn’t Commander Shen interested in our Fourth Sister? Now that Fourth Sister is involved, even if just to clear her name, he can’t sit idly by.”
Hearing this, Zhengze felt his head would explode. He stood stomping his feet, “Perfect, as if we haven’t lost enough face, now you want to broadcast it outside. Until the Old Madam gives orders, no one is to act rashly!”
Zhenglun and Zhengjun had no choice but to drop it. Looking back at the room behind them, they were secretly delighted. Ever since Madam Hu had poisoned Concubine Mei’s reputation, they had been waiting to see the primary branch make fools of themselves. They had thought they would need to be patient for a while longer, but unexpectedly this ill wind had blown so quickly, showing immediate results.
Low crying could be heard from the inner room, sounding like Lvzhui from Qingru’s household, sobbing: “This servant is guilty. If only I had stayed with Miss, she wouldn’t have met with this misfortune.”
Second Madam Ming picked up the thread: “I was just about to say the same thing. If Madam wants to blame someone, she should blame the Second Sister’s maid. It was her failure to protect her mistress that led to Second Sister encountering such a thing. Now that she admits her fault, I think thirty strokes of the paddle should suffice…” As she spoke, she raised her voice to call the servants outside, “Someone come, take this maid away…”
“Second Sister-in-law is being too hasty. With the Old Madam and Madam present, it’s not our place as daughters-in-law to interfere.”
Just as the First Madam finished speaking, Madam Bai exclaimed, “Elder Sister-in-law’s words aren’t right. The second Sister-in-law only has the Second Sister’s interests at heart. Keeping such an ignorant maid by one’s side is ultimately harmful. In the future, following her mistress as a personal attendant, forget about being helpful—she might even bring misfortune to her mistress.”
Madam Bai usually seemed like a closed bottle gourd, but once she spoke, she was devastatingly on target. Now that Second Miss was in such a state, what man would want her? What was the point of talking about personal attendants? These words were rubbing salt in the wound. After all Madam Hu’s scheming, this was the result—looking around the room, there wasn’t a single person speaking in her support. Her head spun, her chest tightened, and she could only sit in her armchair, barely able to breathe.
However, things weren’t over yet. The thunderous sound of footsteps approached. The gate guard was tossed aside like a pulled weed as a line of Palace Guards marched straight in, their manner suggesting they were conducting a household search.
The three brothers—Zhengze and the others—hurriedly went out to meet them from the outer hall. The Old Madam, who had been in a daze earlier, also stood up and rushed to the corridor.
“Commander…” Zhengze tried to block him. “If Commander has official business, please state it out front. The inner quarters are full of womenfolk…”
Shen Run smiled. “There’s nothing improper. I have urgent matters concerning your Second Miss to report to your Old Madam.”
Zhengze couldn’t stop him—the man had already reached the main hall. The Old Madam had no choice but to gather her spirits to deal with him. “To what do we owe the honor of Commander’s visit?”
Shen Run made a casual salute. “Old Madam, the incident at your residence has been reported to the Palace Guard. I was concerned and came specifically to check on Fourth Miss.”
This time he needed no pretense, directly naming whom he came to see. Though Qingyuan hid behind others, he found her and pulled her into the lamplight, examining her carefully from head to toe. The young lady’s delicate skin still showed clear handprints that hadn’t faded, five finger marks raised like graves, swollen high. Looking at them, a cold smile crossed his face. “Fourth Miss, who struck you?”
Since returning to the Xie family, Qingyuan has endured too much unfair treatment. Having no one to rely on, she had to bear everything herself, always staying strong when no one was watching. But now, strangely, with just one question from him, tears began welling in her eyes.
She felt fear too—if she hadn’t been constantly on guard, what state would she be in now? When she first returned, she had foolishly hoped to win the Old Madam’s favor, hoping to live like a normal young lady in this deep compound. But it was difficult; no one accepted her, all treating her like some demon. Yet this outsider, willfully and persistently interfering in her life—after so much interference, she thought of him in times of danger. Now that he had truly come, her grievances burst forth. Though she felt ashamed, she fully played the part of a wronged child.
She remained silent, but even without words he understood. Turning to glance at the people in the room, he addressed the Old Madam: “Does the Old Madam remember my previous warning? Though Fourth Miss escaped harm today, she was only one step away from disaster. Your Xie family has had far too many misfortunes—has the Old Madam never wondered why? While the Commissioner fights beyond the frontier, why is his household so unsettled? Whose fault is it truly?” That piercing gaze moved across the room, finally settling on Madam Hu. “I command the Palace Guard, responsible for the safety of court officials and their families. Those two fake monks have been captured and taken to the yamen for strict interrogation. It’s just a pity about the Second Miss—originally awaiting the palace selection in two days, but now with this incident, entering the palace is impossible. I will inform the Department of Internal Service to remove her name, avoiding the matter reaching His Majesty and adding the crime of deceiving the throne.”
Madam Hu’s face turned pale. Hearing that the two men had been captured, she felt indescribable emotions—wanting them cut into a thousand pieces, yet hoping they wouldn’t reveal the truth. But Shen Run’s eyes cut across like knife blades, and she understood that he likely knew the whole story already. She couldn’t help feeling afraid—the trouble she had caused this time was too great. Looking at everyone in the room, at the two concubines she had suppressed for twenty years, they all wanted her to fall, to take her place. And the Old Madam—how would she punish her if she learned that Qingru had been ruined by her hand?
Unable to think too deeply, her legs weakened, fortunately supported by Cailian. She could only nod weakly, “Thank you for your trouble, Commander. Please handle everything as you see fit.”
Hearing these words, Shen Run slowly gave her a meaningful smile. “Madam need not worry. If there are developments in the case, I will certainly send someone to inform you. However, one thing—Madam must not strike others arbitrarily in the future. You hold an imperial title—if not for dignity’s sake, at least don’t disgrace the court’s favor.” As he spoke, he saluted the Old Madam, “To be frank with Old Madam, I am waiting for Fourth Miss’s response. No matter whom she ultimately marries, I will look after her. I hadn’t planned to say this, but now it seems… your household appears to barely tolerate her. Today you give her a cold look, tomorrow a slap—a motherless child’s life is too difficult. If Old Madam won’t cherish her, even if she wishes to repay her maternal family in the future, no one will be worthy of such generosity.”
Having said what needed to be said, he grabbed Qingyuan’s wrist and started walking. “I will escort Fourth Miss back.”
He moved through the Xie family’s inner quarters as if it were his garden, coming and going as he pleased, completely disregarding others’ feelings.
The women of the household stood dumbfounded. Madam Ming stammered, “How can… this be proper!”
The dozen or so guards stood with drawn swords at the moon gate, making the garden like a closed bag from which no one could escape. Someone muttered lowly, “The Master is also a Second Rank official like him, but he’s being too arrogant…”
This brought a rebuke from the Old Madam: “Keep your foul mouth shut! Haven’t we had enough chaos in our family?”
Meanwhile, Qingyuan was being pulled along through the long corridor. She had thought he knew where Danyue Pavilion was, but after walking for some time, she realized he was simply wandering. She stopped and pulled her hand free, “Where exactly are you taking me?”
He stopped, looking around in confusion. “Where is your courtyard?”
Qingyuan sighed, “I know the Commander wants to stand up for me, but…”
But what? But she had promised Li Congxin to wait for his message, so she couldn’t respond to him now.
Lanterns hung on the distant courtyard walls, dim like moons in the sky. He stood before her, looking down at her. “Fourth Miss, you can cry now.”
Qingyuan was startled, sniffling as she said, “I’m not crying… why should I cry…”
He stretched out his long arms and suddenly pulled her into his embrace, saying softly, “I can lend you my chest to cry on. I deliberately didn’t wear armor today so I could hold you.”
The person in his arms struggled briefly at first, struggling to maintain a young lady’s dignity and propriety. But soon her sobs could be heard. He stroked her small head, thinking that after all, she was just a young lady—her heart wasn’t black enough, her hands not cruel enough.
Madam Hu’s little tricks couldn’t escape his eyes. If Qingyuan hadn’t noticed, he would certainly have intervened. But later, seeing she had her calculations, taking each step carefully and steadily, he stood aside watching, like an adult watching a child learning to walk—she needed to handle these troubles herself. Now that it was done, the dust settled, she probably had regrets, probably felt guilty. Crying it out, washing away the accumulated sand in her heart, would help everything pass.
But this young lady was too proud—though her head pressed against his chest as she wept great tears, her arms hung down, absolutely refusing to embrace his waist. With such a stubborn child, one must be more proactive. He placed his hands on her shoulders, sliding down her arms to find her hands, trying to guide them to his waist. But Qingyuan didn’t know how to take advantage of the situation, only stubbornly grabbing the sides of his official robe, and twisting the material under his arms into flowers.
“Feeling better?” he asked when her breathing gradually steadied, saying wistfully, “I fear you can’t stay in the Xie family anymore. When a suitable opportunity comes, you should marry.”
Qingyuan didn’t respond. For a young lady to embrace someone like this was improper, but at this moment she felt an inexplicable attachment. The thick night provided the best cover—she couldn’t see his expression, and he couldn’t see her blushing cheeks. The perfect moment, the perfect stirring of the heart… She suddenly felt somewhat sad, knowing that acting this way would likely lead to playing with fire.