Sure enough, after a while the unsigned letter was handed to Madam Chen. The old servant who had conducted the search stood with her head bowed, hardly daring to breathe.
Madam Chen already knew the contents of the letter, so even though Second Master Xiao was reluctant, it was still placed before him, the head of the second branch.
“Look, my lord!” Madam Chen’s face was full of anger.
Second Master glared at Xiao Jinrong, unwillingly took the letter, and under the watchful eyes of both wife and son, opened it.
Xu Shuyao kept her eyes lowered, but her lips curved faintly.
What was it?
After a moment of anger and tension, the Second Master suddenly exhaled in relief. He shook the paper, and a smile began to creep across his face.
Seeing Madam Chen lean closer, he tossed the paper to her. “See for yourself!”
She snatched it up—and found not a love letter, but a sketch of a little cat, crouching under the eaves to shelter from the rain, its eyes drooping.
Impossible!
Madam Chen’s heart burned with frustration. She turned to the servants, but they all stood silent, heads bowed, terrified.
Meanwhile, her husband looked on coldly, and Xiao Jinrong’s eyes gleamed with mocking laughter, as though ridiculing her overreach.
In that instant, Madam Chen understood. She quickly masked her shock, and with tears in her voice said, “My lord, it was all my fault. I wrongly accused Jinrong.”
The Second Master clasped his hands behind his back and gave a cold snort.
Madam Chen glanced at her niece, who was watching with a faint smile. For a moment she wondered—had Shuyao switched the letter? But she had seen her stepson’s calm demeanor with her own eyes. She had underestimated them. Though she did not know which part of her plan had failed, she knew she had to smooth things over.
Meanwhile, Xiao Jinrong picked up the discarded paper. Seeing it was not the letter he had once written—signed “Young Master Qiu”—he too was surprised. He looked toward Xu Shuyao, but she walked past him as if she hadn’t noticed, stopping beside Madam Chen.
Her voice was soft and gentle: “So it was all a misunderstanding. Since Aunt and Uncle are visiting Jiyun for the first time, why not come inside for tea before you leave?”
Grateful for the excuse, Madam Chen’s face brightened. “Good child! Do not blame your aunt for coming here. You know how important a girl’s reputation is. If anything were to happen to you, how could I face your late mother?”
She took Xu Shuyao’s hand and even wiped away tears.
Xu Shuyao was stunned, but she had no choice but to play along with this show of family affection.
“Aunt, I know you mean well. But you misunderstood me—and Second Cousin too. He would never do such a thing.”
Even as she spoke, Xu Shuyao felt a chill. She thought of the letter she had swapped. She had never heard of this “Young Master Qiu,” but she knew someone meant her harm.
If she had not replaced it, and the letter had been revealed, how could she have endured? But now, she had to speak as she did—for Madam Chen’s blunder still needed to be patched over. Even if her aunt had schemed against her, she had to pretend not to know.
Xu Shuyao knew well that in the Duke of Cheng’s household she had to rely on Madam Chen, and in the eyes of others, they were one and the same.
Perhaps her words had worked, for Madam Chen now wiped away her tears. She walked up to Xiao Jinrong, ignoring his cold gaze, and spoke with full contrition: “Jinrong! Do not grow estranged from your mother because of this. Your cousin Shuyao is a girl who lost her parents. When I first heard, I naturally worried. And since you are now discussing marriage, I grew anxious and rashly believed the maid’s words. I hope you can forgive your mother.”
She was about to kneel, but Second Master Xiao pulled her up. “Enough. Since it was a misunderstanding, let it end here.” With a flick of his sleeve, he left.
Madam Chen’s scheme had failed, leaving her humiliated. She had no desire to linger.
Watching their retreating figures, Xu Shuyao sighed. Her invitation to drink tea had been mere courtesy—who had the mood for tea now?
Besides, glancing at the rooms left in disarray, there was hardly a place to sit.
Xiao Jinrong remained. His eyes scrutinized Xu Shuyao, and after a long pause he said, “Cousin Shuyao, you are quite capable.”
With the others gone, he spoke without restraint—and so did she.
She lifted her head sharply, her gaze fixed on him. Her voice was no longer soft and yielding, but firm: “Though I live here as a guest, Second Cousin must not think I am easy to bully.”
She meant the swapped letter. Since he had noticed, why try to trap her in disgrace?
It was the first time Xiao Jinrong had seen this orphan girl so defiant. He thought to himself: so her meekness had all been an act.
He did not believe she was ignorant of Madam Chen’s plan. The failure today was only because the letter was not the original. How else could she have known so quickly?
Her eyes held stubborn fire—more pleasing, in fact, than her usual quiet decorum.
His gaze lingered on her slender, pale neck; his fingers twitched unconsciously at his side. Then he gave a cold snort, unwilling to say more, and turned to leave.
But behind him came her voice, cold and steady: “Believe it or not, Shuyao has never wished to be entangled with you.”
He curled his lips, a laugh escaping.
This Xu orphan’s tongue was just like her aunt’s. Madam Chen loved to act before Father; she had learned it perfectly. She wore the guise of a virtuous maiden—did she think he would believe it?
When all had gone, only the wreckage of Jiyun Hall remained.
Nanny Zheng ordered the maids to tidy up. Looking up, she saw Shuyao sitting dazed, clutching the paper. Her heart ached, and tears she had held back spilled at last.
Xu Shuyao herself had not cried, but was startled by the sight.
“Do not weep, Nanny. I am well.” She sat beside her. “It has been long since I picked up a brush. Who would have thought the next time would be under such circumstances? Look—quite lifelike, isn’t it?”
Her words left Nanny Zheng half laughing, half crying. Wiping her tears, she suddenly remembered. “The young master will be back soon, won’t he?”
She quickly dabbed her eyes again. “Since you are fine, I must hurry the maids to finish tidying, lest…”
Before she could finish, Xu Shuyao had already gone inside to put away the paper with the sketch of the little cat.