Chapter 36: Miss Qi, Pleased with Herself

“Miss Qin, my lady invites you to visit the eldest young lady tomorrow and bear witness!” It was Chunyi, the maid attending Qi Rongzhi, who approached with a beaming smile, bowed respectfully to Qin Wanru, and delivered her message.

“Witness to what?” Qin Wanru asked calmly, her expression unchanged.

“If our lady and Miss Qin have a quarrel, we hope you will truthfully recount the cause when questioned. Tomorrow, our lady plans to search the eldest young lady’s quarters for evidence,” Chunyi replied with a smile.

“Is your lady planning to make trouble for my sister?” Qin Wanru frowned.

The question was so direct that Chunyi was momentarily at a loss, forcing a strained laugh before she explained, “Our lady isn’t seeking trouble, just wishes to clarify whether what Miss Qin said is true—regarding the broken engagement with our young master, and today’s events.”

“So in the end, it’s still about making trouble,” Qin Wanru lifted her clear gaze to Chunyi, her tone cool.

Chunyi was left speechless, feeling that Miss Qin truly had a way with words that made it impossible to respond further.

“Tell your lady I’ll be tending to Grandmother tomorrow and have no time for her antics. She’d best mind herself as well. This is the General’s Mansion. Qi Rongzhi may act as she pleases in her own home, but here, neither Mother nor my sister will allow her to run amok,” Qin Wanru warned coldly, her meaning clear: Qi Rongzhi should refrain from causing trouble, lest Lady Di and Qin Yuru take matters into their own hands.

Chunyi could not help but feel a flicker of anger, bowing stiffly before leaving in a huff.

“Miss, do you think Chunyi will complain to Lady Qi about you?” Qingyue asked anxiously, watching Chunyi storm away.

“She will,” Qin Wanru replied casually, turning toward her own courtyard.

“What should we do? Lady Qi is so temperamental… Will she come charging over?” Qingyue followed, worried. Lady Qi was notoriously arrogant, never showing Miss Qin any courtesy; she beat and scolded her as she pleased, and Lady Di and Qin Yuru always sided with her, leaving Miss Qin at a disadvantage.

“This time, she won’t,” Qin Wanru said with confidence. Qi Rongzhi was not truly foolish; it was only because Lady Di and Qin Yuru indulged her that she became so domineering in this house. But now, she was at odds with them.

Besides, Qin Wanru was no longer the timid girl who endured bullying.

“If she won’t come, that’s good!” Qingyue sighed in relief, patting her chest.

“She will come, and certainly will!” Qin Wanru entered her chamber, and Qingyue, surprised, hurried after her. “Miss, do you mean Lady Qi will still cause trouble for you?”

“Yes, tomorrow she’ll come,” Qin Wanru smiled mildly, settling into her chair and picking up a book—a medical text she had found herself.

Qingyue remained at her side, puzzled. “Will Lady Qi go to Grandmother’s place to intercept you tomorrow, since you said you’d be tending to the old lady?”

“Of course. She’ll go earlier than us, trying to persuade Grandmother to have me accompany her. She needs someone to back her up against Qin Yuru,” Qin Wanru’s smile grew ever more serene as she flipped open her book, her gaze falling on an illustration.

She had no concern for Qi Rongzhi’s next move; the more Qi Rongzhi was provoked, the better.

“So will you go?” Qingyue paused, apprehensive.

“I will. Why shouldn’t I? Qi Rongzhi has begged me so earnestly—let’s go and watch the spectacle! The bigger the commotion, the better.” Few in the mansion knew she wasn’t Lady Di’s biological daughter; outsiders had no idea. Through Qi Rongzhi’s mouth, the truth could spread.

The picture showed an herb. Qin Wanru felt it was familiar, though upon careful inspection, she didn’t truly recognize it. Her eyes lifted, reading the annotation: “July Fragrance”—three flowering stalks, golden yellow, small and inconspicuous blooms, rhizome with seven forks, slender and pointed, spherical roots, blooming in July or August, hence the name.

Root and flower were medicinal, used to treat weakness and coughing blood.

Why did it feel familiar? She couldn’t recall, yet sensed it was important. After her rebirth, she realized certain memories from her past life were vague, unclear.

Could July Fragrance be a crucial part of those blurred memories?

“Miss, please have some tea,” Qingyue hastily prepared a cup, seeing Qin Wanru’s brows knit in thought.

Qin Wanru rubbed her forehead, took the tea, and sipped. Her gaze returned to the illustration. She truly felt she’d seen it before—or at least should know it.

Yet in her previous life, she hadn’t needed this herb.

“Miss, are you worried Lady Qi will use you tomorrow?” Qingyue asked, seeing her rub her brow repeatedly.

Qin Wanru shook her head, folded the page marked with July Fragrance, closed the book, and drank another sip of tea, staring at the curling smoke in silence.

She wanted to learn medicine.

It seemed she needed to visit Quiet Heart Abbey. Suddenly she recalled how the abbess had asked about her wound’s medicinal powder; she still hadn’t asked Grandmother about it. She would do so tomorrow, though she wondered why the abbess had inquired who applied the powder—was there some hidden reason?

Chunyi was Qi Rongzhi’s favored maid, respected not only in Qi’s residence but also here. Yet she’d been repeatedly stymied by Qin Wanru’s words, and the warning sounded like mockery.

Angry, Chunyi recounted Qin Wanru’s words verbatim to Qi Rongzhi.

“What does she mean by that?” Qi Rongzhi slammed the table in fury.

“Miss, I think the second young lady is too timid to go,” Chunyi said, her irritation evident.

“She doesn’t want to go? I’ll make sure she has no choice!” Qi Rongzhi sneered. Qin Wanru claimed she’d visit the old lady tomorrow? Then Qi Rongzhi would go to the old lady’s courtyard first, before seeking out Qin Yuru.

Once her plan was set, she decided to block Qin Yuru in the old lady’s courtyard the next day. She had already said she’d stay at the General’s Mansion for several days, so she hadn’t returned home.

The two families had always been close, and Qi Rongzhi often stayed at the General’s Mansion.

Early the next morning, Qi Rongzhi rose, dressed, and took Chunyi to pay respects in the old lady’s courtyard.

The old lady was awake but not up, leaning against her headboard chatting with Nanny Duan. Hearing Qi Rongzhi’s arrival, she frowned but still had her invited in.

Qi Rongzhi entered, bowed, and feigned concern. “Is the old lady feeling better today?”

“I’m all right. At my age, there’s always something or other,” the old lady replied, coughing softly, her voice low from frequent coughing.

“The old lady must take extra care, especially now that the weather is cold,” Qi Rongzhi said, her eyes darting about. Not seeing Qin Wanru, she felt smug, knowing she had arrived much earlier. If Qin Wanru wished to avoid her, she had no chance.

Seeing her exchange pleasantries while glancing around, the old lady was unmoved, feeling no inclination to entertain her. She leaned back wearily. “At my age, even resting is exhausting. I feel tired again now.”

The implication was clear: Qi Rongzhi should leave.

“Old lady, I truly regret yesterday’s events. I fell into the lake and… I hit the eldest young lady, and I feel terribly guilty. I wanted to apologize to her today,” Qi Rongzhi said, clutching her handkerchief in feigned remorse.

“You’re too polite, Miss Qi. You and Yuru are like sisters. A misunderstanding cleared up is nothing,” the old lady replied, coughing softly and offering a weary consolation. She could see no real repentance in Qi Rongzhi—just the same false show she had witnessed many times. But this time, her beloved granddaughter was the one who suffered; she found Qi Rongzhi’s fake remorse utterly distasteful.

In the past, Lady Di and Qin Yuru would always claim it was just childish squabbles and nothing serious. The old lady, even if displeased, could not object, lest she be accused of bullying the young and narrow-mindedness, which could damage the families’ relationship.

“Old lady, Second Miss has come to see you!” someone reported from outside.

Qin Wanru had indeed arrived. Qi Rongzhi was secretly pleased, a violent glint of triumph flashing across her face. She loathed both sisters now, and was determined to make Qin Yuru and Qin Wanru suffer.

None would escape.