Hearing the conversation between Madam Liu and Liu Sujiang, Liu Junqing stood stunned for a moment before saying to Madam Liu: “Mother, I’ll leave the matters here to you. I’ll take my leave first.”

Madam Liu immediately became furious. Liu Junqing’s behavior just now had all fallen under her watchful eyes—could it be that he truly held Qin Shuying in his heart? How could this be acceptable?

Liu Junqing didn’t even glance at Yun Jingshu lying on the ground and strode away with large steps.

Madam Liu suppressed her emotions and immediately had someone fetch a physician from near the opera house to examine Yun Jingshu, while also arranging for someone to return home with the news.

Qin Shuying brought Ziteng and Lu Ye to the “Human Character Number Two” private box, where Mi Luo sat with Hong Juan and Lan Chou.

Hong Juan was still trembling, and Mi Luo was speaking to her in low tones.

Seeing Qin Shuying enter, Mi Luo and Hong Juan quickly stood up. Qin Shuying said to Hong Juan: “Hong Juan, you were frightened today.”

Although Hong Juan was still trembling, she gripped the armchair and forced herself to remain composed: “Miss, this servant managed not to disrupt your arrangements. Miss, today’s matter wasn’t difficult to accomplish. Ziteng and Lu Ye are so capable—they actually pressured Madam Liu and Miss Liu into emotional instability. This servant feels inferior.”

So it turned out that the woman who had impersonated Qin Shuying while wearing the veil was Hong Juan.

Lu Ye sighed: “What I did were all small matters. Ziteng is the one who has experienced several life-and-death situations, and Miss has nearly been harmed to death several times.”

Hong Juan took a deep breath, and her trembling body gradually calmed down.

Mi Luo said: “Miss, the money has also been delivered to the family of Miss Yun’s maid.”

Qin Shuying nodded.

Five hundred taels of silver was enough for that maid’s family to live comfortably for about twenty years.

And that maid had merely gone with the flow and skillfully guided events, helping her own young miss achieve her wish of becoming Liu Junqing’s woman. After Mi Luo’s persuasion, she had quickly agreed to such a beneficial arrangement.

Ziteng said: “Miss, Miss Yun has gotten her wish. But Luo Jinniang and Princess Fu’an haven’t gotten theirs yet!”

Qin Shuying laughed: “You’re becoming increasingly good at mocking people.”

Lu Ye said: “Miss, with the Liu family being such people, simply breaking off the engagement like this really lets them off too easily.”

Qin Shuying smiled: “Then what else would you have me do?”

“They bully people like this—they should pay a price.”

Qin Shuying smiled without speaking.

Ziteng said: “No, not only should we not make them pay a price, we should also send them a great gift.”

“What great gift?”

Lu Ye was somewhat confused. Although she could always complete the tasks assigned to her well, whenever it came to setting traps, she invariably felt her brain was insufficient.

Mi Luo also smiled: “Now, Miss Yun will certainly think that our miss cannot tolerate her, and she won’t be willing to accept the position of concubine. She’ll probably try to find ways to deal with our miss next.”

Lu Ye’s eyes rolled around a few times before she said: “Then we’ll find a way to help Madam Liu achieve her wish—Liu Junqing marries a princess, and preferably Luo Jinniang also marries into the Liu family. Would that count as a great gift?”

Ziteng laughed: “Lu Ye, your great gift couldn’t be better! Madam Liu gets her wish, Princess Fu’an, Luo Jinniang, and Yun Jingshu all get their wishes—it truly couldn’t be better!”

Lu Ye burst into giggles: “The Liu family will certainly be lively then!”

“Liveliness is good. Look, didn’t we come out today to watch opera precisely to see such excitement?”

As Qin Shuying spoke, the curtain on the stage slowly opened, the gongs and drums sounded dong-dong-dong, and the good show began!

They had only been watching for a short while when someone outside asked: “May I inquire if Seventh Miss Qin is inside?”

Ziteng lifted the curtain and went out to look—it was actually Liang Yanjun, so she invited him in.

Liang Yanjun entered and said: “Seventh Miss Qin, our master happens to be here today as well and requests that Seventh Miss Qin come speak with him.”

Qin Shuying showed no hesitation whatsoever. After giving Lu Ye and the others some instructions, she brought Ziteng and followed Liang Yanjun.

At this time, with the good show having begun, only maids and servants could be seen in the corridors, making it quite quiet. As Qin Shuying walked through the corridors, no one paid her any attention.

Soon, the three arrived at the “Heaven Character Number Twelve” private box. Pushing open the door and entering, they found only Liang Zhe sitting boldly in an armchair, with a cup of hot tea placed beside him.

Just looking at his tall stature and nonchalant attitude perfectly matched his reputation as both a hegemon and a profligate son.

Although he was seated, his height was still imposing, giving one a sense of overwhelming pressure. Moreover, when he looked at her, his eyes were deep and dark, making Qin Shuying feel inexplicably flustered.

He was indeed someone who had come from the battlefield, with natural nobility in his bones, so his entire person was like an unsheathed sword—both making people feel he was magnificently unattainable and carrying a sharp edge.

This sharpness came whistling toward her, making Qin Shuying, who had been invincible for nearly a year, feel somewhat afraid.

This was completely different from the feeling at Princess Yongjia’s residence.

It seemed this was the real him.

The Liang Zhe at Princess Yongjia’s residence—idle, unreasonable, treating life as a game—that was merely another face of his.

Everyone sat down according to propriety. Liang Zhe withdrew his gaze, looked toward the stage, and said quite casually: “What a coincidence to meet Seventh Miss Qin here.”

He could be casual, but Qin Shuying dared not be casual.

His reputation preceded him, and now that she had seen his other face clearly, Qin Shuying became alert.

His opening was quite amiable, but she didn’t know what he truly meant. Although she had always wanted to repay favors, there had to be some bottom line.

With such a formidable person, it would be better for her to be direct.

Qin Shuying nodded: “Indeed. I imagine Young Master Liang has something to discuss with me—please speak directly.”

Liang Zhe put away his casual expression and looked at her properly: “Seventh Miss Qin is truly straightforward. I indeed have something to discuss with you—it’s about the Guangbin Tower incident. I imagine Seventh Miss Qin is also very concerned about how that matter has developed.”

“Precisely. This matter has had no news whatsoever leak out, which makes me somewhat uneasy.”

Liang Yanjun thought to himself: Seventh Miss Qin, you’re uneasy? You’re uneasy yet still had the mood to scheme against the Liu family, then turn around and trap that Liu scholar again?

Liang Zhe must have also thought of something. He picked up his tea for a sip, and a slight crack appeared on his facial expression.

Liang Yanjun’s mouth twitched: Master, just now you took advantage of Seventh Miss Qin not paying attention to go meddle and trap that scholar Liu so thoroughly he can’t recover, and now you’re pretending…

Liang Zhe glanced at Liang Yanjun, who immediately assumed a serious expression.

Liang Zhe said seriously: “Seventh Miss Qin need not be uneasy. I have already handled this matter completely. Remember this: you changed clothes and left that day, and you know nothing else.”

Qin Shuying agreed and dared not ask how he had handled it.

“The Shuntian Prefecture hasn’t targeted me, which must be because Young Master Liang’s profile is too prominent, diverting their attention. You engaged with them for my sake, so Shuying owes you another favor.”