The Marquis of Changle’s estate was exceptionally lively these days, with a constant stream of visitors.
After Prince Pingnan’s men inspected the dense, massive network of roots beneath the ancient trees, they immediately reported back. The Prince had experts calculate the water storage capacity; if used only for daily necessities, these roots could supply half the population of the capital for over six months.
The water-storing roots were merely offshoots of the main taproots. The primary roots of the two trees did not store water but instead plunged deep into the earth, seemingly bottomless. Harvesting the water-storing roots wouldn’t harm the trees; on the contrary, it would stimulate a “second life,” causing the trees to sprout new water-storing fibers.
It was a miraculous discovery. Consequently, Prince Pingnan’s men moved in to protect the north side of the estate.
The Marquis, being a relaxed man, didn’t mind the Prince’s involvement. However, Cheng Ruyi had a strong sense of territoriality. Seeing strangers stationed in her yard made her feel invaded and grumpy.
Her father, ever the doting parent, immediately ordered a wall built around the ten-acre orchard in the north, creating a separate entrance for the Prince’s men so they wouldn’t disturb his daughter. This made Cheng Ruyi very happy.
No one knew that the deepest roots of these trees tapped into an underground river hundreds of meters below the surface, acting as a natural filtration system. Cheng Ruyi had no interest in the science of it; she was too busy in the kitchen with the chefs, perfecting various flavors of meat jerky.
While she was occupied with snacks, Rong Susu was busy hosting a parade of military wives. Upon learning their true purpose, Rong Susu was stunned. All her prepared excuses were useless. In the end, she had to bring up Rong Mo, rejecting every marriage proposal—including the one from the Grand Marshal’s wife—by stating an engagement was already in progress.
The news that the Eldest Miss of the Marquis of Changle’s house was being sought after by so many military families—with official matchmakers in tow—hit the capital like a thunderclap.
The Marquis walked with a new spring in his step. Meanwhile, the noble girls who had looked down on Cheng Ruyi were shaken to their core. Wait, wasn’t she supposed to be the one no one wanted? The one who would never marry?
The person most devastated was Cheng Qingyao. Perhaps due to the streak of bad luck she’d been having, she actually vomited blood and fainted upon hearing the news. Her courtyard was thrown into chaos.
“Miss has coughed up blood! Nanny Zhao, find a doctor! Qiuju, inform the Madam!” Qiulan, her maid, shouted orders as she tried to stay calm.
In the Jian’an Marquis’s estate, everyone was frantic. Cheng Qingyao had recently caught the eye of the Marchioness of Jinyang, and there were rumors of a potential match with the Heir. An accident at such a critical moment could ruin everything.
The Marchioness of Jian’an, Madam Cheng-Han, rushed over. Seeing her pale, unconscious daughter, she was furious. As a shrewd woman, she quickly deduced that the cause of this “illness” was the news of the proposals for Cheng Ruyi. Her face darkened. Read this novel at novelping(.)com for the best experience.
She felt a flash of disappointment. Her daughter had been swapped at birth and raised as a concubine’s daughter for over a decade. It seemed she had developed a narrow-minded, jealous temperament. To spit blood over such a small matter?
Madam Cheng-Han realized that her daughter had hidden her true nature well. She had thought Qingyao was like her—scheming yet dignified, far superior to the daughter she had raised, Cheng Wanru. It seemed she had miscalculated. That wench Song Ya truly left a poisonous legacy in this child.
The doctor arrived and sighed. “Madam, the Second Miss has suffered a great emotional shock, damaging her liver qi. She needs rest and peace.”
After the doctor left, the Marchioness lectured the servants, ordering them to keep the incident quiet on pain of death. But as soon as she left, an ordinary-looking maid slipped away to pass the word.
In another part of the estate, Cheng Wanru—once the proud legitimate daughter, now demoted to “concubine’s daughter”—was copying scriptures. When she received the news from her spy, she set down her brush and revealed a chillingly beautiful smile.
The past months had been a nightmare. She had fallen from grace to a status where even scullery maids could step on her. Her stepmother (the Marchioness) had even arranged a terrible marriage for her, all while the world praised the Madam’s “generosity.”
And it was all thanks to Cheng Qingyao.
But having been the “legitimate” daughter for so many years, Cheng Wanru still had cards to play.
“Getting married next month?” she murmured, looking at the vibrant flowers outside with cold indifference. “It’s time to move.”
“Miss! Miss! Great news!” Moxiang burst into the pavilion where Cheng Ruyi was struggling to learn how to check account books under a nanny’s supervision. This chapter was taken from NovelPing without permission.
Cheng Ruyi looked up, her beautiful face twisted in misery. “What great news?”
She was internally regretting agreeing to the engagement so quickly. Being the mistress of a house is not a job for humans! Her mother had found a strict Nanny Yang to teach her household management.
Moxiang winced under Nanny Yang’s sharp glare. “Nanny Yang, hello…” Then she turned back to her mistress excitedly. “Miss, I heard that Miss Qingyao from next door was so angry yesterday that she coughed up blood and fainted!”
Cheng Ruyi perked up instantly, her face full of schadenfreude. “Haha! Is she that fragile? Over such a small thing? How embarrassing!”
She had no idea she was the “small thing” that caused it.
Nanny Yang’s lip twitched. Thank goodness I’m only teaching her accounts and not etiquette, or I’d be the one spitting blood.
“I don’t know the details,” Moxiang gloated, “but the whole capital knows. People are saying she’s narrow-minded and can’t handle any grievance. Her carefully crafted reputation has taken a real hit!”
Cheng Ruyi was overjoyed. Anything that made Cheng Qingyao miserable made her day.
However, while Cheng Ruyi was laughing, her cousin Rong Mo had grown impatient. Instead of waiting for the jewelry shop to finish the custom engagement jade, he had already contacted an official matchmaker to begin the formal betrothal process.
Little did they know, a smooth engagement was not in the cards.
Sansukini: Today’s my birthday so I’m gonna give you guys an extra chapter.
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