Chapter Four: The Torn Bridal Gown

"At a time like this, why are you insisting on seeing the old madam? Second Young Lady, you’d better focus on getting dressed up, or you’ll be late for your bridal sedan!" Suddenly, an old maidservant entered the room—it was Madam Fang. She picked up a red wedding gown from the side and coaxed, "Second Young Lady, look, this is the wedding dress the eldest young lady prepared for you. Isn’t it beautiful? Why don’t you try it on?"

Looking at Madam Fang, who was trying to cajole her into putting on the wedding dress, Qin Wanru’s heart filled with cold amusement.

"Second Young Lady, wh-what’s wrong?" stammered Madam Fang, uneasy under Qin Wanru’s icy, dark gaze. The second young lady, always known for her lack of sense, now looked at her with a bloodthirsty glint; her beautiful eyes seemed to pierce straight into Madam Fang’s soul.

"Qingyue, hurry up!" Qin Wanru ordered coldly, ignoring Madam Fang.

Qingyue hastily came forward, picked up the comb by the dressing table, and deftly arranged Qin Wanru’s hair into a double bun, appropriate for her age.

"Second Young Lady, what are you up to now? The old madam will be angry if you keep this up!" Madam Fang said anxiously, feeling as if Qin Wanru had become a different person today.

The teacup was close at hand. Qin Wanru’s chilling gaze swept over the scheming Madam Fang, and she suddenly grabbed the cup and hurled it at her.

Startled, Madam Fang dodged instinctively. The teacup shattered at her feet, plunging the entire room into silence.

"Bring me a pair of scissors!" Qin Wanru pointed at the wedding dress on the table, her voice cold.

"Th-this..." Madam Fang opened her mouth, but under Qin Wanru’s gaze, she couldn’t meet her eyes and fell silent.

Qingyue obediently fetched a pair of scissors from the writing desk by the window.

Qin Wanru took them, stood up, walked to the box where the wedding dress was kept, picked up the gown, and slashed at it with the scissors. Instantly, a gaping hole appeared in the exquisite fabric—and from her expression, she intended to keep cutting.

Qingyue was taken aback, but then quickly understood and joined Qin Wanru in tearing the gown.

"Second Young Lady..." Madam Fang cried out in alarm, lunging forward to grab Qin Wanru’s hand and snatch the scissors away.

If the wedding dress was ruined, the Second Young Lady couldn’t wear it, and the wedding couldn’t go on. The plot to frame her would fail, the eldest young lady’s plan to withdraw safely from the marriage would be thwarted, and Madam and the eldest young lady would surely take it out on her!

She was still unaware that even the bridal sedan outside had been smashed.

Seeing Madam Fang leap at her to seize the scissors, Qin Wanru sneered. She shifted the scissors slightly, and, following Madam Fang’s movement, stabbed them hard into her own arm. Blood gushed instantly.

Madam Fang stared in horror, her limbs spasming; she could no longer stand and collapsed to her knees with a dull thud.

Agonizing pain radiated from her arm. Qin Wanru staggered back, lost her footing, and fell heavily to the floor. She closed her eyes briefly, fighting off the dizziness. Footsteps were already approaching—right on time. Her grandmother had arrived…