Before Chen Liu finally left the room, she opened the window. Steeling her heart, she walked forward, thinking that all of this was what her father and the Chen family owed her. Now, to secure a good future, she had to invest some capital.
Her thoughts went further than Old Lady Chen’s. She intended to use this as leverage, confident that they would have no choice but to agree to her demands in the future. Even if she couldn’t become Su Zhi’s wife, it wasn’t impossible for her to marry into a noble family through the Pingzhang Houfu.
After she left, the window was quickly closed again, and two charcoal braziers were even added to the room.
Princess Qinghe couldn’t understand it. “Did she go to all this trouble just to marry someone? This is practically attempted murder. If I had really fallen and accidentally drowned, what then?”
Even Second Brother Su Jin couldn’t hold back. “Miss Chen is also the daughter of an official family. Why would she do such a thing?”
“Mother, Second Brother, you could say Chen Liu is also a pitiful person. I interrogated her personal maid and found out that her father is a beast who…” Yingzhen paused. “Her father hasn’t made any progress in his career these years, so he wants Chen Liu to secure a good marriage, and she herself is very willing.”
She emphasized, “I only happened to notice her ill intentions, but I was afraid Mother wouldn’t believe me, so at first, I just avoided interacting with her.”
When Chen Liu was born, her grandfather was still a first-rank court official, and her father was the son of a minister, making their family a distinguished scholarly household. Yet in just ten short years, they had declined to the point of obscurity.
None of the Chen family’s descendants were particularly outstanding, except for Chen Liu, who had been exceptionally intelligent since childhood, surpassing even boys in her studies, and was stunningly beautiful. Chen’s father hired specialists to train his daughter, but after her upbringing, he himself developed improper thoughts. This led Chen Liu to develop an extreme distrust of men. She wanted to rise through men but also believed that all men were despicable. This deeply distorted mindset drove her to commit many vile acts.
Princess Qinghe said to her daughter, “We’ll be arriving in Tongzhou in a few days. I’ll handle this matter. Jin, you stay with your sister from now on.”
She was afraid her younger son might also get entangled. Su Jin shared her concern. “Understood, Mother.”
Later, no one knew exactly what Princess Qinghe did, but she caught Chen Liu red-handed attempting to kill her grandmother. With the evidence and the crime scene secured, Su Run, as a third-rank official, had already sent people on a small boat ahead to report to higher authorities. For some reason, Old Lady Chen no longer spoke of wanting to die but instead cooperated actively, cursing Chen Liu for her unfilial behavior.
Princess Qinghe told her daughter, “Chen Liu will definitely turn around and accuse Old Lady Chen. Both of them will have to face the authorities with me.”
Now, soldiers guarded Old Lady Chen’s door, and Chen Liu was tied up and placed elsewhere.
Soon, the ship arrived at the Tongzhou port. After disembarking, Su Run called over the local officials and personally escorted Old Lady Chen and Chen Liu to prison. Chen Liu’s attempted murder of her own grandmother was a grave offense in a dynasty that upheld filial piety as paramount. Chen Liu herself was sentenced to fifty lashes and three years in prison. Meanwhile, Chen Liu accused Old Lady Chen of applying tung oil to harm the County Princess, leading to a vicious cycle of accusations that piled more charges onto both of them.
Yingzhen, wearing a veil, boarded the carriage, feeling greatly relieved. No matter what, Chen Liu would never have the chance to enter the Pingzhang Houfu again.
She rewarded Yingtao with ten taels of silver. “You handled this well.”
Yingtao said with lingering fear, "Thank goodness Third Young Miss sensed that this grandmother and granddaughter pair harbored ill intentions, otherwise we would all have been finished."
Who in their right mind would suspect in-laws? If not for her past life experiences, Yingzhen might have still held quite a favorable impression of Chen Liu.
Su Run left people near the prison to handle matters, ensuring in any case that nothing could be traced back to them. As for the rest, he let the grandmother and granddaughter tear each other apart. Seeing her granddaughter had no hope of entering a noble household, Old Lady Chen, to save her own skin, would surely pile on countless accusations. Meanwhile, Chen Liu, to clear her own name, would undoubtedly drag her grandmother down with her.
"Father handled it cleanly and decisively," Yingzhen agreed.
By directly handing them over to the authorities, both would have criminal records. Even becoming a concubine would be problematic due to their tainted status, let alone becoming a wife. This completely eliminated any future trouble.
Princess Qinghe shook her head, "Such people who are so ruthless even to themselves would be a great disaster if they entered our household."
However, this incident made Su Run and his wife realize they could no longer treat their children merely as children. They were gradually growing up, especially Yingzhen, who was already capable of distinguishing right from wrong.
Fufeng Jun was about a thousand li away from Tongzhou. Traveling day and night, they finally arrived home.
Knowing the two children were unfamiliar with their hometown, Su Run pointed it out to them, "Look, that entire area is where our Su clan lives. Over there, the third house from the left with two stone lions is our home."
Fufeng Jun was not too far from the capital. Now that the widow of Eldest Uncle Su Fu, Princess Ningyuan, had returned with her children to escort the coffin back, Yingzhen changed into plain mourning clothes in the carriage before alighting.
As the saying goes, to look charming, wear mourning white. Her already striking features now carried the grace of a young maiden, causing the stewardess who came to greet them to pause for a moment.
The newcomer was a plump woman in a dark brown dress, her hair neatly combed, with a small cherry-like mouth. She was a servant attending to the Heir's wife, Princess Ningyuan, known as Dame Dong Gongyuan.
She appeared very warm, "Old Madam and Madam heard that the County Princess and Second Master were returning, and have been waiting together. Just now, I had Quan'er keep watch here, and indeed we have been eagerly awaiting you."
Princess Qinghe also said, "Upon receiving the letter, our Second Master immediately brought the family back. Dame Dong Gongyuan, how is Eldest Sister-in-law? We are terribly worried. Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law have always been so close—this is truly—"
She wiped her tears, and Yingzhen followed suit, dabbing her eyes. Dame Dong Gongyuan quickly said, "Our Madam nearly cried herself into a faint. Fortunately, Eldest Young Master and Eldest Young Miss comforted her, so she is somewhat better now."
As she spoke, she glanced at this Second Madam, Princess Qinghe. She had actually learned to put on an act now—she had improved quite a bit. Then she looked at the Third Young Miss beside her. While they were talking, she kept her head slightly lowered, not looking around, her neck slender and posture dignified, completely unlike her mother.
Mother and daughter each entered in a small blue sedan chair. Yingzhen slightly lifted the curtain. The place was just as she remembered—lush and verdant with plants and trees. Even as winter approached, there was not a single withered leaf in sight. But all this was maintained with money; most of the Marquis Household's income was spent on such appearances.
After passing through the second gate, they changed to a carriage pulled by a few people to take the mother and daughter further. The carriage stopped before a painted screen wall, where several maids approached.
Supporting them past the ceremonial gate, through two hanging flower gates, and crossing the hall, they saw pots of rare flowers placed on both sides. Passing through the covered corridor, they finally reached the main courtyard. The main courtyard consisted of five principal rooms, which were simple and elegant in appearance. Though not overtly luxurious, every detail exuded opulence—for instance, the steps were unlike those of other households.
Two young maids lifted the curtain, and Princess Qinghe entered with her daughter. As soon as they stepped inside, someone came forward to greet them. She wore her hair in a high cloud-like bun, dressed in a stone-blue peony and butterfly sleeved jacket. With an oval face and clear, bright eyes, though nearly forty years old, she looked like a beauty in her twenties. This was her eldest aunt, Princess Ningyuan, who resembled a lady from a classical painting.
Princess Qinghe had not seen her for over a decade, and upon meeting again, they both felt the sentiment of a long-awaited reunion. "Eldest sister-in-law, how have you been?"
Princess Ningyuan smiled faintly. "My in-laws and clan members have treated me very well. Although my husband passed away early, with Duan’er and Ya’er, I have enough."
She then guided the mother and daughter forward. "Come, let’s first pay respects to the Old Madam."
A maid placed a cushion in front, and Yingzhen followed her mother in kowtowing three times. Someone from above personally stepped down to help them up—this was her grandmother, Lady Zhou. Lady Zhou was nearly fifty years old, but due to her natural beauty, she only had a few wrinkles at the corners of her eyes and a few strands of white hair.
"Old Madam, how could we trouble you?" Princess Qinghe hurriedly said.
Lady Zhou smiled kindly. "This is my first time meeting my granddaughter. How could I not take a good look?"
As she spoke, she personally introduced her around, pointing to a woman in purple robes. "This is your third aunt."
Yingzhen immediately curtsied. The room was filled with people. Pingzhang Hou had three sons and three daughters. His first wife, Lady Meng, gave birth to the Heir, Su Fu, the eldest daughter Su Huazhang, who was the wife of Prince Dongping of the Commandery, and the second daughter Su Huarong, who was betrothed to the son of the Guozijian Jishou but passed away early, leaving her daughter to be raised by Princess Ningyuan. His second wife, Lady Zhou, gave birth to Su Run, and aside from that, there was also Old Concubine Wu, who gave birth to the third uncle, Su Chao, and the third aunt, Su Huacai. Su Chao had one legitimate-born son and daughter and one concubine-born son and daughter. The concubine-born daughter was raised in Lady Zhou’s quarters due to a dispute between the third aunt and third uncle.
Just as they finished the introductions, they heard the young maids outside calling, "Second Master has brought Third Young Master to pay respects."
After all, it was her own son. Lady Zhou looked quite emotional. When Su Run entered, she immediately burst into tears. Although Su Jin also cried, he was not as emotional as Su Run.
"Third Sister, come sit with me over here so the adults can talk."
The speaker had a round face, fair and delicate skin, and a pair of dimples on her cheeks. This was Princess Ningyuan’s legitimate-born eldest daughter, Su Yingya—the elder sister she had once regarded as her closest, the one who later brazenly stole her marriage. It was then that she learned what it meant to be two-faced and that appearances could be deceiving.
Like her mother, Princess Ningyuan, Su Yingya had a kind face and was meticulous and considerate in all matters. Yet, such people were precisely the ones who would stab you in the back.
Yingzhen nodded. "Eldest Sister."
She led her to the side room, where the Su sisters gradually gathered. Her concubine-born elder sister, Yingyue, wanted to approach her to show closeness, while Su Yingmei from the third branch wore an angry expression, likely having just quarreled with her cousin, Lin Wan.
Only Su Yinglan watched her with a curious expression.
Su Yingya replied to her, "We originally had another sister, the daughter of our second aunt. She caught a chill, so she couldn't come."
At that moment, Su Yingyue said to Yingya, "Elder Sister, Sister Yuan was perfectly fine yesterday. How did she fall ill today?"
These words were filled with provocation. Perhaps Grandmother Lady Zhou did not want her own son to inherit the Heir's position, but Yingyue's mother thought otherwise.
Yingyue's mother was originally Lady Zhou's senior maid, Manzhu. Seeing her as capable and reliable, Lady Zhou gave her to her son as a concubine. After Princess Qinghe gave birth to the eldest son, restrictions on the concubines were relaxed, and Manzhu successfully became pregnant. At the time, Su Run was assigned to a post outside the capital, and because she was in confinement after childbirth, she stayed at home and helped Lady Zhou care for Su Zhi. Of course, this Manzhu—no, Concubine Zhao—had never been particularly favored before, and now, with age and fading beauty, she was no match for the bond between Princess Qinghe and Su Run.
However, she considered herself Su Zhi's foster mother. If Su Zhi were to become the Marquis one day, she could claim the status of a half-dowager. In her previous life, this Concubine Zhao had stirred up plenty of trouble, and now her daughter was doing the same, fearing that if they grew close to the Eldest Branch, they would fulfill Lady Zhou's wishes and relinquish the Peerage.
In her previous life, Yingzhen, out of pure naivety, did not want to stir up conflict upon her return and tried to mediate. Only later did she learn that Yuan Mengying was not suffering from a chill at all—she had gone ahead to meet the teacher at the girls' academy. So now, she remained silent, watching how Su Yingya would respond.