“Even if Second Brother returns, he can’t blame us. If he must blame someone, let him blame her own ill fortune!”
Madam Song stared blankly for a moment, then instinctively raised a hand to cover her mouth. Immediately afterward, her eyes lit up with a flash of delight, her face beaming with joy: “Mother truly has a way!”
“I’ll go take care of it right away!”
In Yilan Courtyard, a maidservant hurried in and whispered a report into Zhou Ranfang’s ear.
Zhou Ranfang’s expression instantly changed. “Madam Song sent someone to prepare an abortion potion?”
The maidservant nodded repeatedly.
Zhou Ranfang’s face darkened in an instant. Her hand unconsciously moved to her abdomen: “No, I can’t let them ruin my plans!”
“Go to the Left Army Governor’s Mansion immediately. Inform Chen Hanying of the situation and ask him to return and stop Madam Song!”
After the maidservant acknowledged and left, Zhou Ranfang looked toward the direction of Ning’an Yuan, her eyes filled with determination: “Chen Wanqing, you truly have good fortune. If it weren’t for the noble’s order that you must marry into the Liang family, I would have gladly watched you die!”
“I’ll allow you a little more time. Once you marry into the Liang family and pave the way for my child, it will be your end!”
As dusk fell, Zhou Ranfang hurried into Ning’an Yuan. “Wan’er, something terrible has happened—!”
Chen Wanqing slowly rose to her feet. She glanced at Yudie and Lü’e, and the two maidservants gave a slight nod before withdrawing.
Her cold gaze fell upon Zhou Ranfang, and Chen Wanqing directly issued an order to leave: “Get out. You are not welcome here!”
Zhou Ranfang’s expression stiffened, her face full of concern: “Wan’er, I heard from the servants that the old madam ordered Auntie to prepare an abortion potion!”
“You’ve been frail since childhood. Abortion potions are fierce in nature—what if they damage your health?”
“You should listen to me. Marry into the Liang family; at least you can save your life!”
Chen Wanqing sneered inwardly. Sure enough, she had come to persuade her to marry Liang Tingjian!
“Someone, see the guest out!”
Zhou Ranfang’s eyes instantly reddened. “Wan’er, are you still blaming me?”
“I didn’t mean to harm you, to make you lose your virtue to Liang Tingjian. If you don’t want to marry Wu Mao, marrying Liang Tingjian is the best solution…”
“I only want what’s best for you!”
“If the old madam and Auntie tamper with the abortion potion, will you even survive?”
Chen Wanqing scoffed inwardly. Zhou Ranfang must already be pregnant with Liang Tingjian’s child by now, right?
Otherwise, how could it have been such a coincidence in her previous life that the two of them gave birth only three days apart, and Liang Tingjian even switched her child with Zhou Ranfang’s?
Calculating the timing, Zhou Ranfang was about to falsely accuse her stepbrother of assault. She needed to think carefully about how to turn the tables!
Once she married her cousin Chen Keying while pregnant, she’d see if Madam Song could still laugh.
In this life, she would let Zhou Ranfang and the third branch tear each other apart like dogs. After they married, she would gradually expose Zhou Ranfang’s pregnancy with the Liang family’s child and her fabricated background. The third branch would surely be thrown into chaos.
Having made up her mind, Chen Wanqing looked coldly at Zhou Ranfang, her eyes filled with disgust.
Meeting Chen Wanqing’s gaze, Zhou Ranfang’s tears fell silently, large as beans. Appearing soft and timid, she showed a hint of helplessness as she pleaded earnestly: “Wan’er, please listen to your elder sister’s advice. Become the Liang family’s wife, and even the old madam won’t be able to touch you!”
Chen Wanqing’s expression remained icy, showing not the slightest sign of being moved.
A flicker of something dark passed through Zhou Ranfang’s tear-filled eyes: “Do you still have some other concern?”
“Liang Tingjian comes from a respectable family. His demeanor is outstanding—countless women admire him!”
“Moreover, the two of you have already been intimate and conceived a child!”
Chen Wanqing let out a derisive laugh: “The Liang family has already fallen into decline. Why should I marry into it?”
Zhou Ranfang’s eyes grew even gloomier, her expression urgent: “Even if the Liang family has fallen from power, his grandfather was after all the former Crown Prince’s tutor, the leader of the upright literati faction. He is still a worthy match for you!”
“Moreover, your uncle has often assisted the Liang family before, and he also praised Liang Tingjian as an outstanding talent. With your uncle’s help, the Liang family’s restoration is just around the corner!”
Hearing these words, Chen Wanqing felt increasingly sorrowful and indignant, her eyes almost blazing with fury. Her father often taught her that one should harbor kindness and perform good deeds. Was her father’s teaching wrong, or was the human heart truly unfathomable?
It was clearly the Chen family who rescued the Liang family from dire straits, and she herself who saved Zhou Ranfang. Why did these two insist on repaying kindness with betrayal?
“Get out!” Chen Wanqing’s eyes reddened as she sternly shouted.
The moment she walked out, Zhou Ranfang’s face twisted into a vicious expression, a flash of murderous intent crossing her eyes. She hissed at the attendant who had followed her: “Send word out, intercept Chen Hanying. Make that bitch suffer a little first!”
The golden crow sank in the west, the waning moon began to rise.
Under the shroud of night, the Duke of Qi’s mansion resembled a colossal beast, silently crouching.
A long string of white lanterns, winding like a swimming dragon through the pitch-black night, entered Ning’an Yuan.
Madam Song sat in the main hall of Ning’an Yuan, holding a teacup, smiling as she surveyed the exquisitely decorated room, feeling a sense of triumphant vindication and the sweetness of hardship finally ending.
After tonight, with Chen Wanqing—this thorn in her side—removed, the entire Chen family would belong to the third branch!
Just as she was about to lower her head to sip her tea, she faintly caught a whiff of alcohol. Madam Song’s expression turned displeased, assuming some servant woman had been drinking on the sly again.
Lifting her eyelids to glance at Chen Wanqing standing tall and straight in the center of the hall, Madam Song’s face darkened: “Wan girl, it’s not that your aunt doesn’t care for you, but you have truly brought shame upon our family!”
“What kind of young lady gets pregnant before marriage?”
“For the sake of the Chen family’s reputation, you should drink this abortifacient!”
“Once you rid yourself of that bastard in your womb, after tonight, no one will be the wiser, and you will still be a pure and innocent young lady!”
Several servant women pressed forward, the one at the forefront holding a bowl of pitch-black medicinal soup, still steaming.
Chen Wanqing’s expression was mocking, “Aunt, are you overstepping your bounds?”
“My mother and father are still alive. What right do you have to discipline me?”
Madam Song’s slanted eyes instantly shot up, fierce and menacing: “Your mother and father are not here at the moment, so your aunt has no choice but to act in their stead!”
“Act in their stead?” Chen Wanqing’s face darkened slightly, “My mother is alive and well. Aunt, I’m afraid you lack the capability!”
Madam Song’s chest heaved with agitation, her eyes filled with malice. She merely lifted her chin: “What are you all waiting for?”
“Attend to the Second Young Lady and make her drink the medicine!”
With a loud crash, Chen Wanqing slapped the medicine bowl away. Black liquid mixed with shards of porcelain splattered everywhere, the intense bitterness instantly spreading through the air.
Madam Song slammed her teacup down heavily, “I knew you wouldn’t obey willingly!”
“Pour another bowl!”
The servant women opened the food box they had brought, took out the medicine pot, and poured another bowl.
Madam Song abruptly stood up, her voice sharp and severe: “Seize her!”
“Force the medicine down her throat!”
Several servant women surged forward, surrounding Chen Wanqing.
Chen Wanqing looked coldly at Madam Song, “Aunt, are you truly determined to do this?”
“Aren’t you afraid of death?”
Through the crowd, seeing Chen Wanqing still so arrogant even at death’s door, Madam Song seethed with hidden resentment. If not for her, her son Chen Keying would have long been the heir to the Duke of Qi. Why would they need to go through the trouble of seeking marriage with the daughter of the Vice Minister of Revenue? If they had inherited the second branch’s position, they could have even married a princess!
Madam Song’s face twisted with rage as she snatched up a teacup and smashed it heavily to the ground. “Do it!”
The maidservants closed in, working together to seize Chen Wanqing.
Chen Wanqing grabbed a Ru-ware gourd vase from the table and, with a loud crash, smashed it against the head of one of the maidservants.
Blood instantly gushed from the maid’s head, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed unconscious. The other maidservants paled in unison, retreating several steps.
“Useless fools!” Madam Song cursed, preparing to take matters into her own hands. “Hold her down—I’ll pour it myself!”
“Third Aunt, have you thought this through…” Chen Wanqing picked up the lamp from the table and walked toward her. “If you don’t stop now, you might just take a trip to the gates of hell!”
Madam Song sneered. “Who are you trying to scare?”
“The manor gates are closed for the night. Surely you aren’t planning to send someone to beat the Dengwen Drum and lodge a complaint with the emperor again?”
Chen Wanqing did not refute her, only smiled faintly.
Madam Song immediately grew wary, glancing around nervously. “Impossible!”
“Where are your maids?”
Chen Wanqing raised her hand and hurled the lamp at Madam Song.
Lamp oil mixed with flames tumbled through the air, tracing a fiery orange arc before splashing across Madam Song’s robes. With a whoosh, the flames leaped upward, climbing instantly.