Yan Qin pointed at Yan Qing and said angrily, “Although Sixth Sister and I did not get along when we were at the Yan Mansion, there was no deep enmity between us. Father was the one who took the initiative to propose changing the marriage agreement to the Marshal — that was never my wish. Yet I never imagined she had been harboring a grudge all this time, secretly seducing her own brother-in-law. And she had just gotten engaged to Director Shi — to behave so shamelessly and immorally is truly the height of indecency.”

Yan Qin’s words immediately plunged Yan Qing into a sea of trouble. The ladies and misses around them all turned to look, and a stream of whispered commentary filled the air without pause.

“This Sixth Miss simply couldn’t accept marrying the Seventh Young Master.”

“Indeed. The engagement to the Shi family’s Second Young Master was originally meant to be hers — having someone else take her place, of course she’s resentful.”

“Even if she’s resentful, she shouldn’t do something this shameless. Eating from the pot while eyeing the bowl — how is that any different from playing both sides?”

Qiao Yiran also looked at her with an expression full of anxious concern. “Yan Qing, what is going on?”

Yan Qing pressed her lips together lightly, set down the teacup in her hand, and let her calm gaze settle on Yan Qin, whose face was twisted with fury. “Fifth Sister says this item was sent by me — do you have evidence?”

“Naturally.” Yan Qin looked toward where Yan Ling was sitting. “Fourth Sister, come and say your piece.”

Hearing this, Yan Ling hurriedly scrambled to her feet in a flustered manner. “Fifth Sister, what do you want me to say?”

Yan Qin took the scarf out of the bag. “Does this scarf look familiar to you?”

“Yes — it does look a little familiar.” Yan Ling’s eyes shifted evasively.

“Have you seen it somewhere before?”

Yan Ling didn’t know how to answer, but her eyes drifted in Yan Qing’s direction. “This… this…”

“Say what you know.” Madam Shi spoke up at that moment with evident indignation. Clearly, even she had not anticipated things taking this turn.

In the past, Shi Guang had wanted to take Yan Qing as a concubine, but the Second Concubine’s side had interfered and ruined the arrangement. This matter had left Madam Shi harboring resentment ever since, making her look unfavorably not only on Luo Huaimeng and her son, but also on Yan Qing, whom she regarded as a thorn in her side. Now, hearing that Yan Qing had supposedly seduced her own son, she was naturally furious beyond measure.

Yan Ling hurriedly bowed toward Yan Qing. “Sixth Sister, I’m sorry. I… I’m only saying what I saw. Please don’t blame me.”

She pointed to the scarf in Yan Qin’s arms. “Sixth Sister’s wedding is coming next year. At Mother’s instruction, I have often been going to Sixth Sister’s courtyard to help. During this time, she has been learning to knit a scarf. I asked her if it was for the Seventh Young Master of the Shi family, but she wouldn’t answer. I never imagined it would be something she sent to the Second Young Master. If I had known, I would have spoken up to dissuade her then and there. After all, she is engaged to the Seventh Young Master of the Shi family — to do something like this not only shames our Yan family, but also puts the Shi family’s face at stake.”

“Fourth Sister has sharp eyes indeed — she can recognize the scarf as mine from a single glance.” Yan Qing, who had remained silent all this while, gave a light smile. “Are you so certain?”

“Sixth Sister, don’t blame me. I’m only telling the truth. As for whether this scarf is actually one you knitted — I, I’m not sure either…” Yan Ling seemed as though she had been threatened, and shrank back fearfully.

“Sixth Miss, if you made it, what is there to deny?” Ma Xiaotong said sarcastically from nearby. “And there’s no need to intimidate your sister — we all have eyes and we’re all watching.”

“Yan Qing.” Madam Shi slapped the table. “With both witness and evidence before you, do you still refuse to admit it?”

Yan Qing steered her wheelchair to Yan Qin’s side, leaned forward, picked up the scarf, and examined it. “This scarf does resemble the one I knitted, but there is a fundamental difference.”

“What… what do you mean?” Yan Qin glared at her.

“The scarf I knitted was indeed meant as a gift, but a gift for someone dear to my heart. If everyone here wishes to see, that person can be brought here to show you.”

The moment the words fell, someone walked in from outside — a man of tall, elegant bearing, carrying himself with extraordinary grace. The moment he appeared, the young ladies in the hall turned to look.

He wore a brown lapel leather jacket. Around his slender neck was wrapped a grey scarf, and behind him stood a sharp and capable attendant.

“Madam.” Shi Ting gave Madam Shi a slight nod. “I was just on my way out when I heard the commotion here, so I came to take a look.”

Madam Shi naturally spotted the scarf around his neck. “That scarf of yours?”

“Oh, this one? Yan Qing had someone send it to me this morning. It’s cold outside — the scarf came at just the right time.”

Yan Qing looked at him and pressed her lips into a smile.

“Impossible.” Yan Qin immediately cried out upon seeing this. “Then you knitted two — one for Director Shi, and one for Shi Guang. You’re playing both sides, fickle and shameless.”

Yan Qing listened, then sighed softly. “I’ve heard that Madam Qin is an expert in knitwear — might I trouble Madam Qin for a small favor?”

The addressed Madam Qin hurried to step forward. “Whatever help is needed, Sixth Miss, please say so.”

Yan Qing said, “These two scarves look similar, but the yarn used is of different materials. For warmth, I specifically added rabbit fur when purchasing yarn. My maidservant blended the rabbit fur into the yarn, so it is difficult to detect at first glance. I would trouble Madam Qin to examine which of these two scarves contains rabbit fur.”

Madam Qin first took the scarf that Shi Ting had removed and examined it carefully, then took the one in Yan Qin’s hands and compared them.

“Well?” Madam Shi asked urgently.

Madam Qin said, “The one worn by the Seventh Young Master does indeed contain rabbit fur woven within, while the other is made of ordinary yarn only. Furthermore, the stitching on the Seventh Young Master’s scarf is slightly clumsy — there are even several obvious dropped stitches, which suggests a beginner’s work. As for this other scarf, the stitching is skilled and accomplished, the work of an experienced knitter. In my years of experience, these two scarves were not made by the same person.”

The moment Madam Qin finished speaking, the discussion in the hall erupted once more.

Qiao Yiran couldn’t help but glance toward Yan Ling, who wore an expression of visible panic and seemed completely at a loss. Having spent so many years in journalism, Qiao Yiran had seen all manner of people. Observing Yan Ling’s reaction now, she already understood what had happened.

“You’re talking nonsense.” Yan Qin shouted at Madam Qin. “You’re in league with her — you’re making it all up.”

Madam Qin’s expression turned cold, her anger evident. “I would not dare to call myself a master of knitwear, but in Shun Cheng, mention the name Qin Lanxiang and there is not a person who doesn’t give a thumbs up. In nearly forty years of living, this is the first time I have heard someone say I am ‘making things up.'”

Seeing that Madam Qin was clearly angered, Madam Shi could not help but rebuke her. “Yan Qin, do you know who Madam Qin is? How dare you show her such disrespect.”

She then turned to Madam Qin to apologize. “Madam Qin, I am truly sorry — I have failed in my upbringing.”

Madam Qin let out a cold snort. “Madam Shi’s family affairs are best settled by Madam Shi herself. I will take my leave.”

With that, Madam Qin flicked her sleeve and strode away.

“This scarf looks very familiar to me.” Jin Shan, who had been standing behind Shi Ting all along, pointed at the scarf in front of Yan Qin. “Isn’t this the one the Second Young Mistress sent to the Seventh Young Master?”

The moment these words were spoken, the entire hall erupted into an uproar.

Having been bystanders for so long, the revelations coming from those directly involved were each bigger than the last — so big they were hard to digest.

“You’re lying.” Yan Qin leapt to her feet.

Jin Shan turned to Madam Shi with a somewhat innocent expression. “Madam, I am not mistaken. This scarf is indeed the one the Second Young Mistress sent to the Seventh Young Master. The Seventh Young Master refused to accept it, but she kept finding ways to send it again. If none of you believe me, there is a small ink stain on the lower left corner of the scarf — it got on there by accident when I was returning the scarf.”

Qiao Yiran stepped forward, snatched the scarf from Yan Qin’s hands, unfolded the lower left corner, and looked. There was indeed a patch of black ink staining it.

“So it was the thief crying thief,” came laughter from among the ladies.

“She was the one seducing her own brother-in-law, and now she’s turned around and blamed it on Sixth Miss.”

“Exactly. The Seventh Young Master received Sixth Miss’s scarf this very morning and put it on without delay — while the thing this Yan Qin sent was treated like trash.”

“You… you all…” Yan Qin listened to these words, her powdered face flushing crimson with rage. Yet she couldn’t produce a single word in her own defense.

“And this Fourth Miss — she clearly conspired with Yan Qin. The way she performed just now was quite convincing.”

Yan Ling stood there gripping her own hands tightly, cold sweat pouring down. No matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t understand: she had clearly had someone take the scarf Yan Qing had been knitting day after day — so how had it ended up being one Yan Qin had knitted by the time it was given to her? Which step along the way had gone wrong?

And beyond that, word of this would quickly reach Master Yan’s ears. If Yan Qing’s “crime” had actually been established, that would be one thing — but not only had she walked away unscathed, she had also turned the tables and pushed Yan Qin in. If Master Yan learned what she and Yan Qin had done, her days in the Yan household would only grow more difficult.

Yan Ling was a clever person. After weighing the costs and benefits, she dropped to her knees before Yan Qing with a thud. “Sixth Sister, I have wronged you. I was led astray by Fifth Sister and agreed to help her harm you. I beg Sixth Sister, in the name of the many years we have been sisters, to forgive me this once.”

“Fourth Sister, I really don’t understand what you’re saying.” Yan Qing gave a gentle smile. “I haven’t blamed you for anything — what are you asking my forgiveness for?”

“I…”

“Fourth Sister, rest easy. You only said what you saw. I won’t hold it against you.”

Yan Qing’s words left Yan Ling completely speechless. She knew that Yan Qing would not blame her — but Master Yan would. Yan Qing wouldn’t deal with her, but Master Yan certainly would.

She regretted it bitterly now. Why had she listened to Yan Qin? Compared to that foolish Yan Qin, this Sixth Sister of hers, who appeared gentle and fragile on the surface, was the one who truly concealed depths unfathomable.

“Yan Qing, you did this on purpose.” Yan Qin lunged at Yan Qing with a slap — but the raised hand was blocked halfway.

Jin Shan smiled cheerfully at her. “Second Young Mistress, when you’re furious you resort to hitting people, do you?”

“Enough.” Madam Shi slammed the table hard and glared at Yan Qin, whose face had contorted into a frightening expression. “Haven’t you caused enough of a spectacle today? Do you not feel you’ve embarrassed yourself sufficiently? Someone come — clean up the Sanheyuan. The Second Young Mistress will live there from now on.”

“I won’t go.” The moment Yan Qin heard the words “Sanheyuan,” her face drained to an ashen white.

—