Chu Nianci threw on her peacock-feather cloak and hurried toward the western side chamber.
As soon as she entered, she saw the maids Tuanyuan and Hong Ying bound tightly and thrown on the floor, cloth stuffed in their mouths.
She rushed forward to untie them.
“Miss, are you alright?” Hong Ying, who knew martial arts, sprang up and checked her over. “I was useless—someone knocked me out from behind. It must have been those black-hearted people in the mansion trying to steal the dowry…”
Plump Tuanyuan, panting heavily, struggled to her feet. “This is too much! They even overturned the sweet milk pudding I just steamed…”
Looking at these two maids who had grown up with her, Chu Nianci felt a pang in her heart.
Both maids were the same age as her—Hong Ying was one month older, while Tuanyuan was two months younger.
In her past life, the pretty and fiery Hong Ying had defended her by confronting her mother-in-law, only to mysteriously disappear later. When she was finally found, she had been violated and killed.
Tuanyuan had stayed with her until the very end, but was tied up and starved to death in a water dungeon by her sister-in-law.
She grasped their warm hands, unable to hold back her tears.
Hong Ying quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears. “Don’t worry, Miss. I heard the young master has returned. I’ll go beg him to take charge!”
“Don’t go,” Chu Nianci coldly stopped her. “From now on, I have nothing to do with him.”
The two maids exchanged a glance, both puzzled…
Whenever Miss saw the young master before, wasn’t she always overjoyed?
Why did she now look at him as if he were an enemy?
“My in-laws wanted to use their eldest son to ‘leave a seed’ with me. The young master just came to catch us in the act, and his sister was right there in my room…”
She recounted the events of the night, altering only one detail—claiming she had sensed something amiss in advance and thus was prepared.
Hong Ying’s willow-leaf brows shot up, her almond eyes wide with fury. “How heartless! Miss brought so much silver into this household, and they treat you like this? I’ll go settle accounts with them!”
“Sister Ying,” Tuanyuan quickly stopped her. “That person was sent by that old witch. Who are you going to settle accounts with?”
Hong Ying’s eyes reddened, with nowhere to vent her anger. She slammed a fist on the table in frustration.
“Don’t be angry, Ying’er. Be careful not to scrape your hand,” Chu Nianci said calmly. “I have my own way to deal with these people.”
Tuanyuan’s eyes lit up. “Miss, what are you planning to do?”
“Lin Jingfan took an aphrodisiac. It will take effect soon. Ying’er, send someone to the front to fetch Lin Jingrui. He’s drinking with friends up there—perfect for reuniting their family of three…”
Tuanyuan was stuffing a pastry into her mouth when she heard the words “family of three reunion.”
She choked instantly.
Coughing, she rubbed her chest.
Hong Ying, red-eyed, sulked in silent anger.
Seeing Tuanyuan coughing violently, she couldn’t help but laugh through her tears. Pouring a cup of water for her, she said, “Since it’s a fight to the death, should we call all our people over to prevent them from acting desperately?”
“No need. I doubt they’ll dare make a scene,” Chu Nianci said with certainty.
Lin Jingfan had deserted and run back. They had bribed the Ministry of War to report him as killed in action, and he had even been commended by the court.
If this got out, the first to suffer would be her dear mother-in-law.
Chu Nianci sat at the table and calmly instructed, “Ying’er, notify our people immediately to pack their belongings overnight and prepare to leave. Then, deliver a letter to my uncle’s place on Tongluo Lane.”
Sitting under the lamplight, Chu Nianci finished writing the letter and handed it to Hong Ying.
Although her uncle, Qiao Zhaoling, was a merchant, he was no ordinary businessman.
Three years ago, when the Northern Rong invaded the border, he had donated military funds and was awarded the golden plaque “Exemplar of the Realm” by the late emperor. He also maintained good relations with the Duke of Zhenguo’s estate.
With his assistance and support, everything could be ensured to proceed flawlessly.
“I’ve long wanted to leave this wretched place,” Hong Ying said with excitement. “I’ll escort you away tonight.”
But Chu Nianci shook her head. “We can’t leave secretly. This marriage concerns the entire clan. If we flee privately, the Count’s estate could turn around and accuse us of absconding with funds. Then we’d have no way to defend ourselves.”
“We mustn’t implicate Mother. If we leave, it must be done openly and honorably.”
At the thought of her mother, Chu Nianci’s eyes grew moist.
Her mother, Qiao Yanshu, was the beloved daughter of Yangzhou’s wealthiest merchant, cherished like a pearl since childhood.
Unfortunately, coming from a merchant family, her marriage prospects were neither high nor low. By the age of eighteen, unable to withstand the gossip, she finally married her father—Yangzhou’s Assistant Prefect Chu Maolin—who already had a concubine.
Her mother was strong-willed by nature. After giving birth to her, she moved into separate quarters from her father and even took the initiative to arrange another concubine for him.
Unexpectedly, her father brought back a courtesan named Yao from outside—Chu Shunqing’s birth mother.
Her mother absolutely refused to allow a woman from the pleasure quarters into the household. Over this, she completely broke with her father and thereafter devoted all her attention to her daughter.
Fearing her daughter would suffer due to her background, her mother arranged a marriage for her in the capital early on, hoping that a generous dowry would protect her for a lifetime.
To ensure her daughter could protect herself within the deep courtyards of a noble household, she even sent her to study medicine.
At sixteen, she returned from her studies at Medicine King Valley. When she first met Lin Jingrui, she found him exceptionally handsome and dignified, and her heart was instantly captivated.
The following year, her mother tearfully saw her off to her wedding: “At last, I’ve found a good match for my child. May you and your husband live in harmony and peace all your lives.”
Little did she know that would be their final meeting.
Not long after she married into the Count’s estate, her mother fell ill and passed away. Yet they conspired to conceal the news, preventing her from returning for the funeral.
It wasn’t until the day she received her honorary title.
Chu Shunqing, consumed by jealousy and resentment, let it slip: “Your mother died long ago. Now my mother is the legitimate wife, and I am the rightful daughter too!”
In this life, she would protect her mother and never repeat the same mistakes.
Thinking of this, she asked Hong Ying, “How much have we subsidized over the past six months?”
“We’ve spent over eight thousand taels in scattered silver. The jewelry, jade pieces, and rare curios we gave away are worth roughly over ten thousand taels. Fortunately, that million-tael banknote and the deed to the medicine shop in the capital remain untouched.” Hong Ying recounted meticulously. Skilled with the abacus, she managed all the accounts.
Hearing the amount, Chu Nianci felt a pang in her heart.
When the Count’s estate married her, the betrothal gifts amounted to only a few hundred taels. Yet after she arrived, she discovered the “deficit” was nearly a hundred thousand taels.
Fortunately, she had been cautious and, using the pretext that the marriage was not yet fully settled, had not filled this financial gap.
Hong Ying stomped her foot in anger beside her. “Miss, we absolutely cannot let these ungrateful wolves take advantage. We must make them return everything we gave!”
Looking at this fiery, pretty maid, Chu Nianci smiled faintly. “Don’t worry, they will return it. First, retrieve all the decorative items and pack them into chests.”
When she came to the capital, she brought over fifty servants. Since she had decided to enter the palace, these people naturally could not be left for the Count’s estate. She would arrange for them to stay temporarily at her uncle’s place.
“Miss,” Tuanyuan quickly asked, “what about the jewelry?”
Hong Ying chimed in eagerly, “I’ll search every household and get it back!”
Chu Nianci couldn’t help but laugh. “The jewelry isn’t urgent for now.”
If she gave the word, this maid truly could snatch it from others, but she didn’t want to push them to desperation over such matters at this time.
As they were speaking, movement could already be heard from the neighboring room.
Chu Nianci glanced at the two young maids, waved her hand, and signaled Hong Ying to proceed as planned. She then led Tuanyuan to listen intently to the commotion next door.
Tonight, she would confront the tigers, leopards, and jackals of this world.
Seeing her sister leave, Chu Shunqing stood up and blew out the oil lamp, leaving only a faint bedside light.
Noticing a pot of rose dew on the table, she casually poured herself a bowl and drank it.
After removing her outer robe, she slipped into the bed curtains wearing only a pink sleeping gown.
Filled with sweet anticipation, she waited for Lin Jingrui to return, hoping to surprise him.
The day after tomorrow was the wedding, and she was determined to tear off the hypocritical mask of forced composure that Chu Nianci wore.
But before long, she began to feel something was wrong.
An inexplicable heat surged violently through her body, her consciousness gradually blurred, and her face flushed with warmth.
Saliva uncontrollably dripped from her mouth.
She writhed and moaned with unbearable discomfort.
Hidden in the secret chamber, Lin Jingfan had heard everything clearly.
As the moans reached him, his breathing grew heavy.
Gently pushing the door ajar, he saw a figure moving within the bed curtains, appearing ambiguous under the flickering light of the lamp.
Desire clouded his mind, and he murmured, “My beauty, your husband is here…”
Then, driven by instinct, he lunged forward…
In the front hall, the Spring Hall, Lin Jingrui was chatting and laughing with a few close friends.
The news that he would marry both Chu sisters tomorrow had already spread throughout the capital, and many envied his stroke of luck with women.
Flattery continued to pour in, and he basked in it.
At that moment, an unfamiliar young maid entered with her head bowed and whispered to him, “Young Master, the mistress asks you to come over…”
Lin Jingrui was taken aback, but a look of understanding quickly flashed across his stern face.
It seemed Shunqing had persuaded that stubborn woman—she was finally yielding and seeking reconciliation!
His cold brows relaxed slightly, and he felt a surge of pride.
After all, a woman should regard her husband as her heaven. She should have learned long ago from Shunqing to be calm, gentle, and obedient—that was the proper way for a wife.
Lin Jingrui gracefully cupped his hands toward his friends. “Please wait a moment, everyone. I’ll be right back.”
Under the meaningful gazes of his friends, he strode confidently toward Wei Rui Pavilion.
A full moon hung in the sky, and the beautiful night made his steps even lighter.
But as he reached the corridor, he suddenly halted, his refined brows furrowing.
Unmistakable, indescribable moans were clearly emanating from the bridal chamber…
Lin Jingrui’s noble and dignified face
instantly turned pale.
He felt all the blood in his body rush to his head, his face alternating between green and red.
His fists clenched until they turned white.
His aloof and elegant demeanor could no longer be maintained.
Fury reached its peak.
His heart felt as if it had plunged into an icy abyss.
Even his eyes grew slightly moist.
“She truly is a lowly woman raised by merchants…”
A wave of humiliation and betrayal instantly consumed him.
All thoughts of careful planning and mature restraint vanished.
He slammed his fist against the door, then lifted his foot and kicked it open with a loud “bang.”
In the flickering candlelight, he saw on his new bed…
“Chu Nianci” entangled with a man.
Lin Jingrui’s mind exploded with a “boom.” His vision darkened, his entire body turned ice-cold, as if drenched by a basin of freezing water…