Since matters had already reached this point, the two of them wasted no more words. They went inside to tidy up and retrieved the bundles they had brought with them.
They hadn't brought much to begin with—the most valuable items in their bundles being the few medicinal herbs.
Lu Yi held up the herbs and asked, "Miss, what should we do with these herbs? We haven't had the chance to exchange them yet."
Qin Liangyu simply said to let it be, and that they would find another opportunity to go out another day.
The two carried lanterns and walked to the front of the temple. Sure enough, the carriage was already waiting there, along with many more servants.
It looked rather imposing.
Presumably, Qin Cun had personally given the order, and Madam Fang and the others dared not delay. Before long, they all arrived.
The carriage wheels rumbled as they sped through the silent night.
With few people about at night, they quickly arrived at the streets of the Qin estate.
They alighted from the carriage, but were all escorted without explanation to the main hall.
Qin Liangyu walked at the very back, and seeing the brightly lit residence, couldn't help but yawn.
It was already this late—she wondered what could have happened that required such a grand display of summoning them back from the temple.
As she drew closer, she saw Qin Cun seated in the hall, dressed in wide robes with flowing sleeves, sporting a beard, his gaze sharp and cold, with a somewhat wrathful expression.
In truth, the first time Qin Liangyu had met this man, she felt he had quite the bearing of a renowned scholar, and he was handsome as well—otherwise, he couldn't have fathered a daughter with the original owner's looks.
When Qin Cun saw them enter, he raised his hand, and the servants all withdrew.
The doors closed, and the room immediately became much quieter.
Only then did Qin Liangyu discreetly survey the people in the room.
Everyone in the household had arrived, except for Qin Haoxuan, who was away on business, and Qin Wenyan, who had returned to the Guozijian yesterday.
There was also one other person who looked quite shrewd and was about the same age as Qin Cun. Judging by his dress and bearing, he was likely the household steward.
Qin Cun then looked at them and spoke: "Do you know why you have been summoned here tonight?"
Qin Liangyu hadn't known at first, but upon seeing Wang Ran in the room, how could she not understand?
Presumably, Wang Ran had already explained the whole matter to Qin Cun, but she hadn't expected Qin Cun to take this marriage so seriously, with a faint air of confrontation about him.
Her intention in speaking as she had yesterday was precisely to make Wang Ran call off the engagement—firstly, because she genuinely didn't want to see such a clever man walk into a pit of fire, and secondly, because she wanted Madam Fang and Qin Yi to lose face before Qin Cun.
After all, regarding what had happened that day, if Qin Cun had any sense at all, he would know who was truly behind it. Yet she hadn't expected him to hold Wang Ran in such high regard that he would summon people back in the middle of the night.
This outcome was somewhat beyond her expectations.
Since it had nothing to do with her for the time being, Qin Liangyu kept her head down and stood in the back, remaining silent.
Madam Fang also knew that Wang Ran must have said something, and her heart grew uneasy: "It was merely a case of the Wang boy accidentally entering the wrong room. It's nothing serious. Let's just drop the matter."
Qin Cun was furious. He stood up and struck Madam Fang across the face, having completely lost the scholarly composure he had maintained while seated just moments before.
"Drop the matter? You still think what you did was flawless? Young Master Wang came today to break off the engagement! Others may not know, but you do—back then…"
Madam Fang staggered from the blow, barely able to keep her footing.
Yet her gaze turned fierce as she pointed at Wang Ran, who stood off to the side, and said with mournful resentment: "Qin Cun, put your hand on your conscience and tell me—is it because of Wang Ran's father, or because of his wife!"
At this sudden statement, everyone present was caught off guard, but Wang Ran made no move, as if he had anticipated it all along.
Qin Liangyu observed quietly, her mind growing more active by the moment.
Madam Fang continued, "What? Having wronged someone back then, now you want to make up for it through your own daughter? Was I wrong to do what I did!"
"Don't think I don't know what you were planning—you wanted Qiong'er to go, didn't you? Fortunately, I privately exchanged the betrothal tokens with the Zheng family on her behalf… It's nothing but an old affair from years past, and you—"
Before she could finish, Qin Cun cut her off with a sharp rebuke.
"Silence! After all these years, you still don't know your place! I should never have allowed you to remain in this household. Say one more word, and don't blame me for disregarding our years of marriage."
Madam Fang immediately slumped to the ground, all her earlier fire extinguished, looking utterly lifeless.
Having vented his anger, Qin Cun turned his gaze to Qin Yi, who had not dared to make a sound: "I don't care what you've been doing behind my back. From today onward, you will stay put and prepare for your marriage. Do not entertain any thoughts you shouldn't have."
Qin Yi had long feared her father's authority, so she stammered out a meek assent, all trace of a young lady's charm gone from her.
His anger spent, Qin Cun finally looked to Wang Ran at the side: "Nephew, you must forgive the spectacle. It's all just foolishness from the womenfolk. Rest assured, the marriage will proceed as planned—your uncle will not let you suffer the slightest grievance."
Wang Ran was silent for a moment before finally giving his assent.
Qin Liangyu watched this dramatic scene unfold before her, marveling inwardly—even the most elaborate opera scripts could hardly rival the twists and turns of what she had just witnessed.
Though both parties had left much unsaid between the lines, it was enough for her to piece together a tale of love and resentment from the older generation.
She clicked her tongue inwardly, looking at the ever-composed Wang Ran on one side and the disheartened Madam Fang and Qin Yi on the other—she found the whole affair increasingly intriguing.
The crowd had been summoned with great fanfare, only to have the matter sealed with a few words from Qin Cun. Once he left through the door, the others filed out one by one.
Walking to the tree outside the gate, Qin Liangyu had Lu Yi hold the lantern further away when she heard a voice from behind.
"Qin Liangyu."
She turned to look—it was Qin Qiong.
Her expression was cold, but it could not suppress the arrogance in her eyes: "You've recovered rather quickly, running about outside so soon."
Qin Liangyu looked at this culprit responsible for the original owner's death, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. She had no intention of being courteous, deflecting the remark with practiced ease.
"Elder Sister might do better to concern herself with your own mother. Everyone saw clearly just now—the one who lost tonight was certainly not me."
Qin Qiong had always been quick-tempered, and these words sent her chest heaving with fury: "You—!"
But Qin Liangyu had already turned away, leading Lu Yi off into the distance.
The storm within the household had yet to fully settle, though word had it that Qin Yi had become quite docile, dutifully embroidering her wedding gown within the manor.
Qin Liangyu was relieved of that worry and paid no mind to whatever schemes might be brewing behind the scenes. She went about her usual routine of paying her respects to the old matriarch at Anningtang.
Since that conversation with Qin Wenyan, and after meeting Qin Cun and realizing she could not rely on this father of hers, Qin Liangyu came to the old matriarch's side every day. She understood clearly that having burned bridges with Madam Fang, her only hope of establishing a foothold in the household lay in securing the old matriarch's favor.
Only by rising to prominence within the manor could she gain the opportunity to see Shen Weiyi—and only then could she avenge the massacre of the General's household.