When she woke and returned to the mansion, it was only during her bath that she discovered the Jade Jue hanging around her neck. Yet no matter how hard she tried to recall, her mind remained blank regarding the incident of her lost chastity and the origin of this jade.
Recalling what Zhou Ranfang had said in her previous life—that Liang Tingjian had delivered her to a nobleman’s bed—Chen Wanqing’s heart clenched.
This Jade Jue must have been left behind by the nobleman behind Liang Tingjian after violating her!
Chen Wanqing tightly gripped the Jade Jue, her eyes filled with icy hatred!
To scheme against her and even leave behind evidence—how utterly brazen!
Once she uncovered who it was, regardless of how noble he might be, she would drag him down into the dust!
Chen Wanqing pondered bitterly—could there be some drug in this world capable of erasing crucial memories from a person’s mind?
And then there was the vile seed in her womb; it should be dealt with as soon as possible. Yet as soon as this thought arose, Chen Wanqing felt as if a knife were twisting in her heart.
Her hand involuntarily moved to her lower abdomen, and before her eyes instantly appeared the tender face of her daughter Shiyin from her previous life, along with the soft, sweet calls of “Mother—” echoing in her ears, one after another.
Her Shiyin, her daughter, her treasure!
Chen Wanqing’s heart tightened into a knot, and a glistening teardrop slid from the corner of her eye…
The next morning, at dawn.
After breakfast, Chen Wanqing entered her father Chen Sheng’s study, selected a book, and sat by the window to read.
Lü’e brought in tea and gently placed it beside Chen Wanqing’s hand. “Miss, I heard that last night, Third Madam didn’t return to her courtyard but went straight to Old Madame Chen’s residence and hasn’t come out yet!”
Chen Wanqing responded indifferently, turning a page of the book in her hand.
Lü’e’s expression grew grave. “Miss, Third Madam is surely going to complain to Old Madame!”
Chen Wanqing was already accustomed to this. “The fire last night was so large that anyone who isn’t blind could see it!”
“Even if Third Aunt doesn’t complain, Grandmother won’t let this opportunity slip by!”
“Don’t worry, Grandmother’s people won’t be able to get in.”
Lü’e looked puzzled.
As they spoke, a commotion arose outside the courtyard. The maidservants from Old Madame Chen’s residence tried to enter but were stopped by the guards at the gate.
The two sides argued, with the guards refusing to yield. “This is an important study area. By order of the Duke, idlers are not permitted to enter!”
The maidservants, relying on their status as attendants serving Old Madame Chen, pointed at the guards and haughtily shouted, “Step aside!”
“If you delay Old Madame’s business, can you bear the responsibility?!”
With that, they attempted to force their way in. The guards drew their sharp blades in unison, stepping forward and sternly shouting, “Step back!”
The snow-white blades reflected a cold, pale light, and a murderous aura swept over them. The maidservants collectively retreated. The leading maidservant’s cheek twitched, her eyes widening as she pointed inside and yelled, “Then why are they allowed in there?!”
The guards glanced in the direction the maidservant pointed, then swept their eyes over the maidservants, disdainfully refusing to answer, their gazes contemptuous.
Lü’e walked out and stood on the steps, hands on her hips, looking down her nose at them. “This is the Duke’s study. Our Miss is the beloved daughter of the Duke. Why do you think she’s allowed?”
Chen Wanqing stepped out and said with measured calm, “What’s all this fuss? Since everything in Ning’an Yuan burned, shouldn’t you hurry and have someone select clothes and necessities to send over?”
Lü’e nodded emphatically, still looking down her nose at them.
The faces of the maidservants flushed with anger and shame, and they abruptly turned and ran back toward Old Madame Chen’s courtyard.
“Hmph!” Lü’e straightened her back, letting out a breath of pent-up frustration. “Let them be as arrogant as they want. Though the third branch manages the household, the Chen family is still the young lady’s home!”
Chen Wanqing signaled to Lü’e, who gracefully descended the steps and smiled warmly at the guards. “Thank you for your hard work guarding…”
She handed over several pouches. “When you’re off duty, buy some wine to drink!”
The guards uniformly stepped back, replying respectfully, “We all serve the Duke. There’s no need for this, young lady!”
Lü’e was utterly taken aback.
After ordering the storeroom opened to retrieve various supplies and having clothes hastily made, Lü’e finally headed back.
As she walked, she glanced around, muttering to herself, “Why haven’t Zhusha and Gongfen returned yet?”
Then she sighed. “Forget the Panlong Temple outside the city—just the Jinchuanmen Qianhu Office is far beyond Jinchuanmen. Who knows when they’ll make it back!”
“And who knows how Yudie’s medicine testing is going!”
Having failed to summon anyone over, how could Old Madame Chen let the matter rest?
Servants from the old madame’s courtyard came in wave after wave, only to be turned away by the guards.
Lü’e grew increasingly anxious, but Chen Wanqing remained oblivious to the outside commotion, absorbed in her books.
A servant who was usually on good terms with Lü’e secretly passed along news: early that morning, the Liang family had made a grand show of sending a matchmaker to propose marriage. The old madame and the third madame hadn’t even shown their faces, directly ordering the matchmaker driven out.
It was also said that the old madame had stormed out of her courtyard and was heading this way. Lü’e, frantic with worry, rushed outside.
She hurried all the way to the outer courtyard and asked the guards, but there was no sign of Chen Wu’s return, nor any trace of the other madames. Lü’e had no choice but to wait anxiously in the outer courtyard.
Before long, she suddenly heard footsteps and conversation approaching and couldn’t help but look toward the sound.
“First Master?”
Disgust filled Lü’e’s eyes, and she turned to flee.
The newcomer was none other than Chen Hanying. Seeing the maid fleeing in panic, his face darkened as he rebuked her, “What are you running from? Where are your manners?”
Lü’e had no choice but to steady herself and stand with her hands at her sides.
Chen Hanying demanded sharply, “What’s the panic about?”
Lü’e blurted out urgently, “The old madame is going to beat someone to death again—”
“Silence!” Chen Hanying’s face turned stormy as he cut her off, then cupped his hands toward the person beside him. “…My household is poorly managed. I apologize for the embarrassment, Lord Xiao.”
Only then did Lü’e notice the man beside Chen Hanying—it was Xiao Xin.
She froze instantly, her eyes darting about nervously.
Xiao Xin carried an imposing aura. With just a light glance in her direction, Lü’e immediately lowered her head, not daring to breathe, inwardly lamenting her misfortune.
Truly, when it rains, it pours—to have run into the first master, who not only wouldn’t help the young lady but even struck people!
Bowing her head in anger, she didn’t see the fierce glare Chen Hanying shot her way, only hearing him respectfully invite Xiao Xin to proceed. “My lord, please!”
Xiao Xin responded indifferently, seemingly asking offhandedly, “Any progress on the investigation into yesterday’s fire?”
Chen Hanying fell silent for a moment before replying cautiously, “It’s still under investigation.”
Xiao Xin chuckled, his meaning unclear.
Only after the two had walked far away did Lü’e seem to come back to life. She turned to head back to the outer courtyard study, but seeing that Chen Hanying and the other were also heading there, she rolled her eyes and quickly followed them.
Outside the study courtyard came the sound of hurried footsteps and a sharp, scolding voice: “Old Madame Chen is here, why haven’t you stepped aside yet?”
Chen Wanqing set down her book, turned, and entered Chen Sheng’s study, slipping something into her sleeve.
Seven or eight maidservants crowded around Old Madame Chen and Madam Song as they arrived. Old Madame Chen leaned on a cane with one hand while resting the other on a servant’s arm. Following behind, Madam Song had thick white bandages wrapped around her hands and face, looking utterly ridiculous.
The guards at the door repeated their earlier statement. Old Madame Chen, furious, thumped her cane heavily on the ground. “I am the matriarch of the Chen family. Is there any place in this household I cannot go?”
The guards replied bluntly, “The Duke has given orders: aside from the masters, only the young lady is permitted to enter the outer courtyard study!”
Old Madame Chen raised her cane and swung it toward a guard’s head, only to have it blocked by a slender, sharp blade.
“Wanqing, what are you doing?”