It was only then that Qin Liangyu spoke: "Second Sister is right. Liangyu also believes that this insolent servant's actions could not possibly have been done at Mother's bidding."
She then looked toward Madam Fang: "Mother, is Liangyu correct?"
Madam Fang clenched her teeth and said, "Indeed."
Qin Cun, having been given a way out, finally let the matter drop.
Qin Liangyu went to sit off to the side.
Before long, a servant came to report that the Wang family had arrived.
Qin Liangyu looked up. Leading the way was a matchmaker—a woman with a most auspicious and cheerful appearance, clearly one who knew how to speak well.
Behind her followed a man.
He had the bearing of a scholar, dressed in plain cloth. He was not particularly handsome, but carried an air of learning. Upon entering, he bowed respectfully to those seated at the head of the room: "Elder Madam, Uncle, Aunt."
The moment Qin Cun saw him, a smile broke across his face: "Good nephew, you've arrived. Was the journey smooth?"
It turned out that Wang Ran was the son of an old friend of Qin Cun's.
The Wang family had long since fallen into decline, and by now, only Wang Ran remained.
Qin Cun had somehow learned that Wang Ran was traveling to the capital for the imperial examinations, and so he had conceived the idea of having Wang Ran marry his eldest daughter, allowing the young man to take up residence at the Qin estate with propriety.
Wang Ran clasped his hands and said, "I thank Uncle for his concern. All has been well."
The elder Madam seated at the head kept her eyes closed and said nothing, clearly dissatisfied with this proposed match.
Only Qin Cun showed great enthusiasm, summoning a maidservant: "Go and see if the eldest young lady has finished dressing. Have her come out to meet the guests."
The maidservant acknowledged the order and withdrew.
Qin Liangyu sat to one side, observing that in Wang Ran's conversation with Qin Cun, the young man did speak with substance. By her estimation, he might very well accomplish something in the future.
"The eldest young lady has arrived," someone announced from outside the door.
Qin Liangyu looked at the woman who entered. She was dressed in the utmost finery—a light pink silk gown, with several delicate hairpins slanting from her coiffure, tassels brushing against her face and making her features appear especially lovely. Yet there was a hint of gloom between her brows, and she wore an expression of great reluctance.
This was the eldest daughter of the Qin household by a concubine—the one whose marriage was to be discussed today—Qin Yi.
Qin Yi entered and paid her respects to all those in the room.
Qin Cun looked at her, a note of warning in his eyes: "Today is an important day. Sit here for a while, and the matter will be settled."
Qin Yi glanced at Wang Ran, her fist clenching slightly beneath her sleeve, before she spoke in a sweet voice: "Yes."
Qin Liangyu took this in and understood at once—Qin Yi was clearly unwilling, yet she had to put on the appearance of an obedient daughter.
For the next half hour, Qin Liangyu watched as Qin Cun's mouth never once rested, showering his "good nephew" with endless solicitous concern, while everyone else in the room was completely forgotten.
The matchmaker's witty remarks punctuated the conversation from time to time.
As for Qin Yi and Wang Ran—the very subjects of today's discussion—they exchanged scarcely a few words from beginning to end.
Finally, after the exchange of birth-date slips, the matter was formally settled.
…
After Wang Ran and his party had left the estate, and the red-ribboned trunks had been carried to the rear courtyard, Qin Liangyu finally returned to her own quarters with Lu Yi.
The courtyard was quite humble. Since waking, Qin Liangyu had examined it carefully—there were no books, no ink, and the only things of any note were the two willow trees planted in the center of the yard.
Lu Yi held the packet of medicine in her hands and said, "Young miss, rest for a while. I'll go brew the medicine."
Qin Liangyu gave a soft sound of assent.
Before long, a bowl of medicine was brought over. Qin Liangyu took it—the white porcelain bowl was scalding to the touch—yet she seemed not to notice, only lowering her head to drink the medicinal broth in slow sips. Steam rose before her eyes, brushing against her face, leaving her momentarily dazed, and an involuntary trace of bitterness flickered in her gaze.
If Shen Weiyi were to see her reduced to this state, would he clap his hands in glee? Would he think that this princess who had forced her way to his side had ultimately come to no good end?
After taking the medicine, drowsiness crept over her, and Qin Liangyu's mind grew hazy. She lay down and slept for a while.
Unexpectedly, she had a dream.
She dreamed of the battlefield, where her father, his face resolute, waved the banner of the Song family army, declaring that he would never retreat until the Great Xia was defeated.
But the scene shifted, and it became that day at the execution ground, with blood flowing everywhere.
Blood that could not be washed clean for days—how much pain must they have suffered?
How laughable that she, unworthy as a daughter and a sister, had unknowingly become a blade in another's hand, bringing harm to them.
She woke with a start, all drowsiness gone, cold sweat beading on her forehead. Qin Liangyu looked at her own hands, which were trembling uncontrollably.
She clasped them together, trying to steady them, but they only shook harder, and she accidentally knocked over the medicine bowl beside her.
Lu Yi heard the sound of the bowl shattering and hurried over. Looking at her, she said with relief, "Now that you've broken a sweat, you'll be fine."
But there was also some worry in her voice.
These past few days, for some reason, her young mistress had been plagued by nightmares, waking up in this state every time.
Qin Liangyu was momentarily stunned, her throat tight with emotion. She looked around the room and asked, "Where's Yuezhi?"
Lu Yi sighed. "She's probably run off to another courtyard again."
Qin Liangyu's eyes turned cold.
She had two maidservants in her courtyard. Lu Yi had been by her side since childhood, while Yuezhi had come from Madam Fang's household.
In the few days since her rebirth, she had barely seen the girl, and on the rare occasions she did appear, her service was perfunctory at best.
"Keep an eye on her recent movements. If anything seems amiss, come and tell me directly."
Madam Fang had suffered such a great loss at her hands today—she would hardly let the matter rest. It was better to be on guard.
Qin Manor, Ruyi Hall.
This was Madam Fang's courtyard, situated in an excellent location, built beside the manor's garden. It stood in stark contrast to Qin Liangyu's own quarters.
Madam Fang reclined half-lying on the couch, casting a glance at Qin Yi, who knelt on the ground.
"You've been kneeling for quite a while. If you have something to say, say it."
A shadow of resentment flickered across Qin Yi's pretty face before she spoke: "Mother, I just heard everything. That girl Qin Liangyu repeatedly defied you today and even caused you to be scolded by Grandmother. Her offense is truly deserving of death."
Madam Fang sat up straight, took a sip of tea, then slammed the cup down hard on the table, splashing tea across its surface, before speaking: "If you've been kneeling here all this time just to speak ill of her, then you may leave."
Qin Yi hesitated for a moment before pouring out the thoughts that had been circling in her mind for so long: "Mother, that scholar has no family background to speak of, and he doesn't look like he'll amount to much. But Father is set on having me marry him."
As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes. "You know that my mother is weak-willed and refuses to lift a finger to help me in this matter. I have no other recourse, which is why I've come to beg you."
Madam Fang narrowed her eyes and dismissed the attendants around them.
"You know as well as I do that your father has set his heart on this. Even if you come begging to me, what could I possibly do?"
Qin Yi lifted her head, speaking rapidly: "Father simply wants Wang Ran to marry one of his own daughters. If his daughter can be married off, so can anyone else—after all, what does it matter who the bride is?"
Madam Fang let out a scoff. "And this 'anyone else'—you mean Qin Liangyu?"
Qin Yi nodded.
She could hardly come to Madam Fang to scheme against her own daughter, Qin Qiong. If this marriage was to be pushed aside, the only candidate was Qin Liangyu, who—like herself—was a concubine's daughter.
"Right now, only the birth-date slips have been exchanged. If something goes wrong in between, no one can blame us. Mother, please help me—won't you?"
With that, Qin Yi began kowtowing.
Madam Fang watched coldly, a flicker of thought passing through her eyes.