Qiao Shuqin’s footsteps paused in the distance.
What had she seen?
The ever-arrogant Qiao Shuyi, from childhood till now, was actually leaning against a corridor pillar, a trace of melancholy she had never seen before flickering between her brows.
Qiao Shuqin almost thought she had misread it.
Qiao Shuyi, who got whatever she wanted, whom no one in the entire household dared to provoke, whom even their father coddled in the palm of his hand—did she have worries too?
An indescribable feeling churned in Qiao Shuqin’s heart.
By the time she could remember things, she had already become a concubine’s daughter. But all these years, her mother had constantly whispered in her ear that it was Liu Jinyu and her daughter who had stolen everything from them.
On top of that, Qiao Shuyi had lived a life ten thousand times better than hers all these years, so naturally, she had come to hate Liu Jinyu and her daughter.
Over the years, she and her mother had not been without complaints.
Qiao Shuyi snatched her jewelry—they complained. It was useless; Father said her younger sister was young and she should yield.
Liu Jinyu mistreated them—they complained. It was useless; Father said the mistress managing the inner household was only proper.
Qiao Shuyi beat and scolded the servants in their courtyard—they complained. Still useless; Father said the legitimate daughter disciplining a few servants was nothing to make a fuss about.
Even when some matters were instigated by her and her mother, Father never bothered to distinguish right from wrong, favoring Liu Jinyu and her daughter in every single instance.
This favoritism was even more unbearable.
Later, she learned to be clever and stopped complaining.
She endured, yielded, and lived cautiously.
But every time she saw Qiao Shuyi’s flamboyant, want-it-all demeanor, she still couldn’t help but feel envy and hatred.
Why?
Why could Qiao Shuyi live so freely, so arrogantly, so recklessly?
Yesterday’s kneeling had pushed the hatred in her heart to its peak.
She was merely passing by, merely saying a few words, merely feeling a tiny bit of pity—
And Qiao Shuyi made her kneel for two hours.
Two hours!
Although she had pretended to faint in the end and was sent back to her courtyard after only kneeling for one hour.
The humiliation in her heart tormented her more than the physical pain.
Qiao Shuqin bit her lip, a shadow flashing in her eyes.
If one day she could make Qiao Shuyi fall from her pedestal, make her taste what it felt like to be trampled underfoot—
She would do anything.
Anything.
Qiao Shuqin took a deep breath, concealed the emotions in her eyes, and put on a concerned expression, gracefully walking forward.
“Shuyi, why are you leaning against the pillar in a daze? Did something upset you?”
As she spoke, her gaze secretly assessed Qiao Shuyi’s expression.
Qiao Shuyi was someone who couldn’t hide her thoughts.
From childhood till now, happy meant happy, unhappy meant unhappy—it was all written on her face.
If she could probe something out…
Hearing the voice, Qiao Shuyi looked up. The melancholy from earlier had completely vanished from her face, replaced by her usual radiant smile.
“Has Sister recovered? I heard from Fuzhi that you fainted last night. How come you’re out for a walk today?”
The smile on Qiao Shuqin’s face stiffened slightly, and she replied awkwardly:
“Yes… I’m still not feeling well, but the Spring Banquet is the day after tomorrow. I wanted to try on the newly arrived clothes to see if they fit.”
Qiao Shuyi gazed into Qiao Shuqin’s eyes—
Fear hidden within, and hatred too, like a cat backed into a corner, not daring to extend its claws yet unwilling to simply shrink back.
She suddenly smiled.
Perhaps… she knew how to save her mother now.
“Then you must choose carefully, sister. I heard from Mother that she plans to select a husband for you at the Spring Banquet. You’ve reached the age where marriage arrangements should be made.”
Upon hearing this, Qiao Shuqin’s smile nearly faltered.
She lowered her eyes, her nails digging quietly into her palm.
Liu Jinyu, choosing a husband for her?
Over the years, how many complaints had she and her mother lodged against Liu Jinyu in front of Father? How many obstacles had they set? How could Liu Jinyu not know?
Her calm demeanor was merely for Father’s sake.
Now, she had finally seized the opportunity to meddle in her marriage. Who knew what kind of person she would pick for her?
Biting her lip, she replied softly:
“Yes… I understand, sister.”
Qiao Shuyi nodded, watching Qiao Shuqin’s retreating figure.
Standing in place, the smile at the corner of her lips deepened bit by bit.
Rebellion was a grave crime, punishable by the extermination of the entire family, with no exceptions.
To survive, there was only one way—to no longer be a member of the Qiao family.
And to keep Liu Jinyu alive, the only method was for Qiao Nanyu to divorce her.
As long as she was no longer a Qiao family wife, the family’s crimes would not fall upon her.
When the court exterminated the family, a divorced former wife would not be implicated.
But how could Qiao Nanyu easily let her go?
Liu Jinyu was his treasury, the source of silver for raising his troops.
Unless something happened that made him feel this woman could no longer be kept, forcing him to divorce her immediately—without delay—
For example, being cuckolded.
Qiao Shuyi gazed in the direction where Qiao Shuqin had disappeared, the light in her eyes gradually gathering.
Qiao Shuqin and her mother had hated her mother for so many years.
If given an opportunity—a legitimate chance to bring down Liu Jinyu—
Would they not be tempted?
Would they not seize it?
How could a man like Qiao Nanyu, who valued his reputation so much, endure such a thing?
As for the Liu family’s wealth, with Qiao Shuyi present, Qiao Nanyu could still legitimately obtain money from them.
Qiao Shuyi took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
She knew what this meant.
It meant she was personally smearing Liu Jinyu with filth, forcing her mother to bear the stigma of “infidelity.”
But compared to death, what was this small grievance?
Only by living could there be a future.
Only by living could she explain, clear her name, and make her mother understand her heartfelt intentions.
As for what Qiao Shuqin and her mother would think or do—that was their affair.
She was merely giving them an opportunity.
A chance to take revenge on Liu Jinyu.
A chance to make them believe they had finally won.
As for what lay hidden behind this opportunity, they would never know.
Qiao Shuyi turned around, gazing at the last sliver of twilight on the horizon, the smile at the corner of her lips slowly spreading.
Apart from her mother, she cared for no one.
Those innocent, unaware, or implicated members of the Qiao family—
She could not save them.
Such were the laws of this world.
Even if they knew nothing, even if they had never been involved, what could be done?
The law showed no mercy.
She was no savior.
She only wanted to save one person.
The woman who had cherished her in the palm of her hand for sixteen years.
That was all.