Outside the window, the sunlight was just right.
Qiao Shuqin knelt on the floor, one hand pressed against her cheek.
“Qiao Shuyi, do you really have no weaknesses?”
She pushed herself up from the ground, rising slowly and unsteadily to her feet.
“Do you know what people are capable of when pushed to the brink?”
Of course, she knew Qiao Shuyi was right.
In the inner chambers, which woman’s hands were not stained with schemes?
Her mother had indeed harmed Liu Jinyu, but every time, even without evidence, Qiao Nanyu had always sided with Liu Jinyu.
Just like her and Qiao Shuyi—both his daughters, yet Qiao Shuyi had everything.
Bringing a man back to the estate? He indulged her. Refusing to marry? He spoiled her. Even when she made mistakes, he would simply laugh it off.
And her? She had nothing.
She hated.
She had hated for so many years.
Hated the heavens for being blind, giving all the good things to Qiao Shuyi.
Hated that she was born the legitimate daughter, hated that she could have everything without lifting a finger, hated that even when she did wrong, no one dared utter a word of criticism.
How she longed to see her fall just once.
Even just once.
She had thought that with Liu Jinyu being divorced, she and her mother would finally have a place in the prince’s estate, finally be able to stand tall before Qiao Shuyi—
But Qiao Shuyi had slapped her in the face in the most direct way possible.
She had killed her mother.
Killed her.
At that moment, Qiao Shuqin felt as if the sky had collapsed.
Hatred.
Such deep hatred.
Hated the heavens for favoring this woman so unfairly.
Hated that Qiao Shuyi had never suffered a day in her life since birth.
Hated that she lived her life freely and boldly, while she herself had to tread carefully, surviving in the shadows of the inner chambers.
Qiao Shuyi gazed at the undisguised hatred in Qiao Shuqin’s eyes, her heart utterly calm.
Of course, she knew Qiao Shuqin hated her.
But she didn’t care.
In truth, before long, the entire Prince of Jin’an’s estate would be reduced to ashes along with Qiao Nanyu’s rebellion.
She could have spared Song Chengyin, letting her die alongside Qiao Nanyu.
But she had killed her anyway.
Because she couldn’t wait.
Qiao Shuqin’s tragedy had never been her doing.
Qiao Shuyi was born the legitimate daughter—it was fate, decided by Qiao Nanyu, and Song Chengyin’s own failure to secure her position as the rightful wife.
What did it have to do with her?
All these years, she had only wanted to live well as the legitimate young lady, indulging in food, drink, and pleasure, living freely and happily.
It was Qiao Shuqin and her mother who had repeatedly provoked, schemed, and struck from the shadows.
This time, they had even used despicable means to frame her mother.
If not for her cunning, if not for her trust in no one, if not for her preparedness—
Her mother would have long been disgraced and left without a place to rest in death.
And now, Qiao Shuqin had the nerve to act aggrieved?
What was she aggrieved about?
That she had lost her status as the legitimate daughter?
If she had the ability, she should take it up with Qiao Nanyu.
Qiao Shuyi sneered.
“I do have weaknesses, but I protect them well.”
“Before, in the prince’s estate, my weakness was my mother. No matter what you did, as long as my mother wasn’t truly harmed, I could let you off with a light punishment.”
Her gaze suddenly turned cold.
“But you—you made her so heartbroken.”
“I was furious.”
“So, I could only make you feel the same heartbreak.”
Qiao Shuqin’s pupils contracted sharply.
But Qiao Shuyi didn’t look at her again, speaking only in a calm tone.
“Now, the estate is filled with my people and the Liu family’s people. Even if my mother is divorced, she will live well. And you—don’t even think of harming her again.”
“Right now, the only one I care about in this manor is Zhi Gui.”
“But he’s with me every day. You can’t harm me, and you can’t harm him.”
With that, she turned and walked away without looking back.
Behind her, Qiao Shuqin watched the receding figure, the hatred that had been suppressed for years finally bursting forth:
“Qiao Shuyi—!”
She almost screamed, her voice sharp and cracking:
“I will make you pay! I will!”
Qiao Shuyi didn’t pause her steps, only curling the corner of her lips as if hearing a joke.
Pay?
The price you want me to pay—is nothing but the trap I dug for you myself.
Fool.
Qiao Shuqin staggered out.
Just as she stepped out of Jinglan Garden, she heard two low voices speaking nearby.
Two maidservants were walking back, chatting as they went, unaware of her presence.
“…You say Zhigui Gongzi and the young lady sleep together every day, so why haven’t they consummated the marriage yet? The bed is clean every morning.”
“I heard from Sister Fuzhi that the young lady really likes Zhigui Gongzi. The young master said he wanted to deepen their feelings first and consummate the marriage only when their affection is strong enough—and the young lady actually agreed!”
“Really? With our young lady’s temperament, when has she ever compromised herself? She must truly like this young master.”
“Exactly…”
As they spoke, they looked up and met Qiao Shuqin’s pale face.
Their words cut off abruptly.
The two maidservants paled, quickly lowered their heads, gave a hurried bow, and fled into the courtyard like escaping.
Not far away, behind a corridor pillar.
Qiao Shuyi leaned against the pillar, watching this scene.
Qiao Shuqin, don’t disappoint me.
She raised a hand to adjust her sleeve, her gaze deep and thoughtful.
The final step between me and Zong Zhengheng still needs you—to give it a push.
Funeral hall.
White candles wept tears of wax, illuminating a dark coffin.
Qiao Shuqin knelt before Song Chengyin’s spirit tablet, one hand resting on the coffin’s edge, the other stroking the wood.
“Mother… I hate this so much.”
She leaned over the coffin, tears silently falling:
“I know perfectly well that the one who killed you is Qiao Shuyi. But I… I can’t kill her.”
Her fingers tightened on the coffin’s edge:
“Everyone in this manor—without benefit, no one speaks the truth, no one does real work. I’ve investigated these past few days and found nothing. Those maids and old women, they all agree with their mouths, but turn around and who takes me seriously?”
“Hah, but… even if I found evidence, what then? Would Father truly punish Qiao Shuyi?”
She gave a cold laugh.
“You died, and he didn’t even come back to see you. When has he ever cared about you? When has he ever cared about me, his daughter?”
“Mother, do you know? All those dowry funds you saved for me over the years—I’ve thought it through. I want to spend all that money, hire assassins, and kill Qiao Shuyi.”
“But I know she’s been protected by hidden guards given by Liu Jinyu since childhood. Just as she said, I can’t kill her.”
“Mother, I had already lost hope. I didn’t know what I could do for you.”
“But now, I’ve thought of something.”
“Isn’t she fond of that male concubine she snatched?”
“Then I’ll take him from her. I’ll try every means to take him—if I can’t steal his heart, I’ll steal his person.”
“Mother, I’m sorry.”
“I cannot live up to your expectations—marry into a good family and live a peaceful life. Even if it means mutual destruction, I will make her suffer.”
The mourning hall was silent, save for the soft sound of candle wax dripping.
She remained kneeling there.
After a long while, she raised her hand and wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve.