Xue Liu closed her eyes and lowered her head. “Yes… yes, he’s my neighbor’s elder brother. We had feelings for each other, and this time I asked him to help me.”
Ye Qingyu sneered, looking at her as if she were a fool. “Feelings for you, yet he goes to violate another young lady? Miss Xue Liu, don’t you find your words contradictory?”
“Or do you think everyone here is stupid and easy to deceive?”
Xue Liu shouted angrily, “I did it! I admit the crime! What more do you want?”
Ye Qingyu’s lips curved into a smile. “You may not want to live, but this young man doesn’t seem to share that thought.”
She turned her gaze to the bound man, her voice gentle yet laced with persuasion. “Young Master, surely you know my Third Cousin is already a *juren* (provincial graduate). To collude with Xue Liu and slander a scholar’s reputation is a crime punishable by prison.”
At once, the man panicked. “I—I didn’t! I was forced! They made me do it!”
Ye Qingyu cut him off. “Young Master, you should understand the situation. You’ve ruined Fifth Miss’s reputation. She has only two paths left.”
“One, she marries you and becomes your proper wife. All these noble ladies present are discreet—they won’t spread gossip. You’ll have a respectable marriage.”
“Two, to preserve her chastity and the Minister’s household’s honor, she hangs herself with a white silk cord. Then she’ll be remembered as a virtuous martyr, praised as a good woman.”
“And you? You’ve destroyed a noble young lady’s reputation, tarnished the Minister’s household, and driven her to death. What do you think will happen to you and your family then?”
Ye Qingyu was warning him not to speak recklessly—only by marrying Zhao Qianmei and becoming the Minister’s grandson-in-law could he save his own life.
The man was no fool. He quickly understood the hidden meaning in her words. “Xue Liu lied. It was I and my cousin who were in love, meeting here in secret. She resented my cousin for punishing her, so she exposed us. To draw attention, she falsely claimed it was the Duke’s third son.”
Ye Qingyu smiled with satisfaction. This was exactly what she wanted—the matter must not touch her Third Cousin at all. He should remain as pure and untarnished as the clouds in the sky.
Zhao Qianmei hadn’t expected her cousin to say such a thing. She stared at him in shock.
The gazes directed at Madam Zhao shifted.
Dragging the Duke’s household into their own scandal—was she mad? Or did she think the Minister’s family didn’t have enough enemies and wanted to add another? Truly, what a fine granddaughter of Minister Zhao.
Some of the ladies even looked at Madam Zhao with sympathy. The main branch of the family had been thoroughly disgraced. After this uproar, Zhao Qianxue’s marriage prospects would be difficult indeed.
“What is going on here?” The Minister himself arrived, accompanied by the eldest master and the third master, with Gu Huaizhi following behind.
When the crowd saw Gu Huaizhi in his moon-white brocade robe, radiant and refined, their expressions shifted in various ways.
Minister Zhao took one look at the scene and immediately understood what had happened. He turned and glared at the third master. “This is the fine daughter you’ve raised? She has utterly shamed the Zhao family!”
The third master dared not lift his head under the reprimand.
“Find a day to settle their marriage and have it done quickly.”
The third master cried out in alarm. “Father, no! That boy is just a worthless opportunist. How can Mei’er marry him?”
Minister Zhao shot him a fierce glare. “If she doesn’t marry him, then Zhao Qianmei can die!”
With a sweep of his sleeve, Minister Zhao turned to Madam Xu. “Madam Gu, I will personally visit the Duke to explain today’s matter.”
Madam Xu, hearing this, nodded. “I will be sure to convey your words to my father.”
The farce was finally over. Madam Xu walked to Gu Huaizhi’s side and quickly looked him over.
Gu Huaizhi reassured her. “Mother, your son is fine.”
“Hmph! You still have the face to say that? We’ll discuss this further once we’re back at the estate. Come.”
Once inside the carriage, Madam Xu looked at her son. “Tell me, what exactly happened today?”
Gu Huaizhi glanced at Ye Qingyu, uncertain how to explain. Although his cousin had warned him and he had indeed been cautious—avoiding the wine—he had still been drugged and lost consciousness. When he awoke, he was already in the carriage. He truly knew nothing of what had transpired.
“Let me explain,” Ye Qingyu said with a smile. She recounted how she had overheard Zhao Qianmei and that man plotting to frame her Third Cousin, intending to ruin her own reputation so that she would be forced to marry into the Duke’s household.
“What audacity!” Madam Xu exclaimed furiously. A concubine’s daughter daring to scheme against her son—who had given her such courage?
Madam Xu shot her foolish son a glare. “Today’s matter was resolved thanks to Qingqing. Aren’t you going to thank your cousin properly?”
“Of course. I must thank Cousin well. In a few days, I’ll present a grand gift.” He was genuinely shaken. If not for his cousin’s foresight, his betrothal would have been annulled, his examination prospects jeopardized, and his career ruined. A man’s reputation was everything.
Back at the Duke’s estate, Ye Qingyu was utterly exhausted. Her heart had been burdened all day, fearing something might go wrong. At last, her Third Cousin’s crisis had passed. She could finally breathe easier.
Unknowingly, Ye Qingyu drifted into sleep. During her stay at the Duke’s household, her two aunts had been doting on her, preparing delicious food in endless variety. Her little face had even grown rounder from all the indulgence.
One day, after lunch, she was sipping tea with her aunts to aid digestion when a servant came to report: the Old Madam of the Marquis’ household had arrived.
Third Aunt glanced at Ye Qingyu.
Ye Qingyu smiled faintly. “Let Grandmother come in.”
It was indeed time to return to the Marquis’ household.
As soon as Old Madam Ye entered, she saw Ye Qingyu. Leaning on her cane, she walked forward with a face full of loving concern. “Qingyu, last time your Second Aunt came to see you, she said you were gravely ill. Are you recovered now?”
Ye Qingyu looked at the old lady with a distant gaze and replied softly, “Second Aunt also attended Zhao Qianxue’s coming-of-age ceremony yesterday. She should have already told Grandmother that I’ve recovered.”
Old Madam Ye showed no embarrassment at being exposed, her face still full of affection. “As long as you’re well, that’s all that matters. This old woman was worried sick.”
Madam Xu truly couldn’t stand Old Madam Ye’s false display. Impatiently, she asked, “And what business brings Old Madam Ye here today?”
Old Madam Ye smiled. “Naturally, I came to see Qingyu. She’s been staying at the Duke’s household for some time. If she wishes to return home, I can take her back.”
She turned to Ye Qingyu. “Qingyu, you’ve been away from home these days, and your grandmother has missed you dearly. When I heard you were ill, I was so worried I couldn’t eat or sleep. Now that I see you well, I can finally be at ease.”
Madam Xu rolled her eyes, unable to bear the old lady’s shameless lies.
Ye Qingyu replied calmly, “I’ve troubled Grandmother with worry. Thanks to the care of my two aunts, I’ve already recovered.”